Usually when I listen to a system with TIDAL Audio components and speakers, my focus is on TIDAL Audio itself. I’m truly impressed with this German brand, especially after hearing the Tidal for Bugatti system at Munich–which PTA chose as its 2023 Product of the Year. When I entered the Artisan Fidelity and TIDAL Audio room at AXPONA 2024, however, I fixated on something else completely–that amazing, gorgeous Garrard 401 turntable from Artisan Fidelity.
Words and Photos by Marc Phillips
When I first heard of Artisan Fidelity, some years ago, they took classic turntables such as the Garrard 301 and 401s and the Thorens TD-124s and placed them, fully restored, in a gorgeous and massive wooden plinth. (I could easily spend the rest of my life with one of these, or maybe an EMT 927, as my forever-ever reference rig.) Now Christopher Thornton of Artisan Fidelity has expanded his business over the years into more of a dealership, where he assembles systems around his glorious turntables. After spending time in the Artisan Fidelity and TIDAL Audio room, I can understand why he chose TIDAL for amplification and loudspeakers. This system was easily one of the most enjoyable at AXPONA.
We’ll start off the equipment list for the Artisan Fidelity and TIDAL Audio room with that magnificent, record-spinning artwork known as the Garrard 401 Statement SE Macassar Ebony with LDA power supply, which costs $39,835. The Schroder CB-1L 11″ tonearm is $5,900, and the Van den Hul Grand Cru cartridge is $14,000. That’s where TIDAL comes in with the Piano G3 loudspeakers ($64,000/pair), Intra power amplifier ($30,000), Prisma preamp and phono stage ($41,000), Camira DMC DAC ($42,000), and Arkas streamer ($30,000). All cabling was from another my favorites, Signal Projects from Greece.
That’s a pretty impressive system on paper, but in the Artisan Fidelity and TIDAL Audio room it was a surprisingly compact and very attractive rig, one that quickly cast its spell over me. Yes, I’m talking about the looks AND the sound–in a system at this level, you should have both. I could look at this system all day, transfixed, and then you listen to music and you think, “Oh, I get this part too?” The Artisan Fidelity and TIDAL Audio room at AXPONA 2024 might just be the “getting off the merry-go-round” system for 2024.
If you would like to hear even more coverage from AXPONA 2024, check out our recap report and highlights from our audiophile-oriented show The Occasional Podcast. You can stream the episode direct from the embed below, or from your favorite podcast platform including iTunes, Android, Google, Deezer, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more.
1 Trackback / Pingback