TriangleArt exhibits a gold standard in Tube and Class-A solid state electronics, and Muraudio redefines the D’Appolito array.

The Story

Collaborating with TriangleArt, Muraudio Electrostatic Loudspeakers brought their lively sounding SP1 Point Source Electrostatic loudspeakers which are available in semi-gloss veneers and solid colors. However here at CAF 2018, they were on display in Muraudio’s signature SP1 Steller White High Gloss finish which is an additional $650 USD. The speakers are as contemporary as any at the show when it comes to design, and yet even with the classic luxury looks of the Triangle Art electronics, one could mistakenly assume they are all from the same manufacturer. The SP1 loudspeakers utilize a curved ESL panel and four six-inch traditional cone mid-bass drivers per channel. It occurred to me while photographing the system that the SP1 loudspeakers are the largest and most unique D’Appolito array I’ve ever seen.

Backing up the Muraudio SP1’s, was full buffet of Triangle Art electronics. Starting at the sources, an absolutely irresistible pair of turntables; the TriangleArt Master Reference and Maestro. Both featured their Apollo MC cartridge and Osiris Mk2 12” tonearm. A bold, but wise, move to showcase the same cartridge and tonearm on two drastically different levels of turntable. From there TriangleArt’s Reference Tube Phono Stage and Reference Tube Preamp, Fed into a matched pair of TriangleArt’s TA-200M Pure Class-A Monoblocks lighting the way. A total of forty carefully selected and matched powerful bipolar transistors fill the two chassis (200 wpc / 8-ohms, or 400wpc / 4-ohms). All tied together with TriangleArt Rhea Reference cables.

On static display during my time in the room, was the TriangleArt Ultimate TA-350M Tube Monoblock amplifier. The newly designed TA-350 Ultimate Tube Amplifier is a state-of-the-art monoblock amplifier offering the ultimate listening experience. With the use of eight KT88 output tubes, three 6SN7 driver tubes and one 6SL7 rectifier tube (per channel) under class-A push-pull triode mode, the TA-350 is capable to deliver 350 watts of power without stressing or pushing the tubes to their limit.

The Sound

The SP1’s did exceptionally well to disappear and image precisely. Using the small room boundaries and a little toe-in, I was impressed with how large in scale the sound of this combination was. Most of the demonstration rooms are this size, and I do not recall any of them comparing to this room as far as scale was concerned. As for the TriangleArt turntables, Many different viewpoints could be made by fellow show-going listeners. However in my time in the room, only the Maestro was playing.

The system’s sound? Undoubtedly tube. The supple sound portrayed by the ESL speakers and gilded mass of electronics was decidedly detailed and glossy, realistic and organic. The combination was pure in character without becoming the “tube-like” parody that some all-tube systems can become. I say this, because the amplification of the system was solid state Class-A. Overall the system was just as moving to listen to as it was to look at. If in fact you are looking for that “I’m in the Illuminati” look to your system, you’d also be equally proud of the sound it displayed. TriangleArt and Muraudio both are now on my short list of must see and hear components going forward into 2019.