Without a single trace of doubt: Tidal Contriva loudspeakers (the 2005 model with ceramic mid drivers) last May.
I had been looking for "definitive" speakers for over 3 years and auditioned a number of B&W 8 series, Wilson Audio Sophia, Audiodata Avance, etc., and yes, I had also heard Avalons at audio fairs. In the end, I was "sure", it would have be the Sonus Faber Amati Hommage.
And then, I sort of stumbled across the Tidal Audio website. I had never heard of the equipment but was intrigued. It turned out, in Germany there aren't even stores that sell the equipment, so a pair of Contrivas was delivered to our apartment by the Tidal people for auditioning (250 kilos two stores high, poor blokes). They didn't have to worry about lugging them down again: After some Ron Carter, Rosa Passos, Sarah K., Marc Moulin and Glenn Gould both my wife and I knew we had to have these and sat listening to music until very late in the night! 3 years against a half hour to find the Holy Grail of Speakerdom! And, never mind their weight, they look blindingly beautiful on top (look at Audionut2005's system - hope you don't mind Jörg)
I had been looking for "definitive" speakers for over 3 years and auditioned a number of B&W 8 series, Wilson Audio Sophia, Audiodata Avance, etc., and yes, I had also heard Avalons at audio fairs. In the end, I was "sure", it would have be the Sonus Faber Amati Hommage.
And then, I sort of stumbled across the Tidal Audio website. I had never heard of the equipment but was intrigued. It turned out, in Germany there aren't even stores that sell the equipment, so a pair of Contrivas was delivered to our apartment by the Tidal people for auditioning (250 kilos two stores high, poor blokes). They didn't have to worry about lugging them down again: After some Ron Carter, Rosa Passos, Sarah K., Marc Moulin and Glenn Gould both my wife and I knew we had to have these and sat listening to music until very late in the night! 3 years against a half hour to find the Holy Grail of Speakerdom! And, never mind their weight, they look blindingly beautiful on top (look at Audionut2005's system - hope you don't mind Jörg)