French manufacturer of glass loudspeakers Waterfall Audio is set to begin offering their product to the U.S. market.

 

Two models are slated to debut in the U.S., the 3-way, 40 inch tall Victoria EVO floorstander, and the 2-way, 34 inch tall Iguascu EVO. Stunning in glass enclosures and die cast aluminum bits, the EVO models enclosures are strong as well as elegant. The downfiring driver in the base plate extends the low end performance but compromises on the side of appearances by being passive. 

 

No specifications on the two models at this time. Pricing for the U.S. market is set at $5400/pair for the Victoria EVO and $3900/pair for the Iguascu EVO. 

 

Danish loudspeaker producer Dali has revamped their respected Helicon series of loudspeakers.

 

New for the Dali Helicon MK2 loudspeakers are piano black baffles, new binding posts, and upgraded crossovers. The Dali Helicon series was appreciated by fans and critics for the beauty of the cabinetry and the sound that emanated from it. Not a major overhaul, but the new Helicon's certainly are fetching with their glossy black baffles to accent the beautifully lacquered enclosures. By all appearances the wood-pulp bass drivers and hybrid ribbon and silk dome tweeter arrangement remain unchanged.

 

Dali loudspeakers produce beautiful, excellent performing loudspeakers at a variety of price points. If you're fortunate enough to live near a dealer, stop in to listen to a pair. You may wonder why they hadn't made it on your audition list sooner.

 

 

Vandersteen Audio has developed a version of their Quatro loudspeaker, clad in, of all things, wood veneer.

 

Stereophile gets the jump on everyone in their just-posted review of the Vandersteen Quatro Wood loudspeaker. As one would expect of a loudspeaker produced by Vandersteen, the Quatro Wood receives glowing praise from Stereophile. The Vandersteen Quatro Wood will set you back $10,700 a pair, a mere $3705 more than the cloth sock-wrapped version, but rest assured that the differences between the Quatro and Quatro Wood are more than skin deep. Richard Vandersteen's designs eschew traditional styling and looks to concentrate on what really matters: the sound. A veneer wrapped Vandersteen gets our attention because Richard's loudspeakers are mostly minimal-baffle designs that are wrapped in a cloth sock.

 

For those of you unfamiliar with Vandersteen, Richard Vandersteen is responsible for one of the most enduring designs in hi-fi, the Vandersteen 2. If you are anywhere near a Vandersteen dealer and haven't yet heard Richard's loudspeakers, make the effort to go do so. They may just end up on your Christmas list.

Anthony Gallo Acoustics has added a line source to their loudspeaker lineup, the Gallo Reference 5LS.

 

Utilizing seven of Gallo's proprietary CDT II tweeters mated with eight 4" carbon fiber midranges, each in their own 5" spherical housing, the slender 5LS is a mere seven inches wide and eleven inches deep. Twelve aluminum 4" woofers occupy a stainless steel enclosure on the back of the 5LS.  Gallo claims that configuration gives the surface area of a 15" driver, but with an order of magnitude faster response. Interestingly, the only crossover utilized in the 5LS is a first order on the bass drivers.

 

Expect more info on the statuesque, 78" tall Anthony Gallo Acoustics 5LS at CES in January.