A large-scale, relaxed sound was produced by the Burmester 217 belt-drive turntable ($30,000 with cartridge and onboard phono preamp), 808 MK5 preamplifier ($65,000), 400lb, class-AB, 159 Mono power amplifier ($350,000/pair), 111 Musicenter ($55,000), and the new, three-way, bass reflex BC150 loudspeakers ($150,000/pair) (specified sensitivity of of 88.5dB/2.83V/m and impedance of 3 ohms). The BC150 includes two Air-Motion-Transformer (AMT) tweeters, a side-firing 12.5" woofer, and a 7" fiber-cone midrange unit with an oval-shaped voice-coil, which is said to "significantly increase the dimensional stability of the lightweight membrane." "The very lowest frequencies are delivered via the flow-optimized, carbon-fiber bass reflex port," stated the publicity materials. Cabling at AXPONA was also by Burmester, including the Burmester interconnect ($2000/pair) between components and Burmester Espirit Lumina speaker cables ($5060/pair).

The thick Burmester product manuals handed out in the Rutherford room cited the descriptive phrases, "Devotion Without Limits," "Elegance for Perpetuity," "Innovation for Eternity" and "Simplicity of Full Control," totem-like mantras for high-end audio lovers. After my visit to the Burmester room, I was a believer.

Log in or register to post comments