TRI-ART AUDIO - HORNS

TRI-ART AUDIO is a distinctive brand in its use of materials—bamboo, cotton, hemp oil—its price consciousness, relative to those of us who work hard for what little money we gather, and its fervor for musical fidelity. Fervor in the sense that their products from electronics to speakers to accessories to amp stands are built to elicit every last iota of high-fidelity reproduction from one’s music.

The TRI-ART AUDIO room represented an active musical experience, that was enlightening, profound, and captivating. There was a theatrically engaging element as well that saw a small mini-monitor, of limited bandwidth, transform into a floor-standing horn of wide bandwidth, as assisted by a subwoofer and two super-tweeters.

The S-Series mini-monitor ($799) pictured to the left begin the demonstration, holding down the room all by its lonesome. It performed very well and admirably.

For those taking the first step into a high-fidelity music systems the TRI-ART AUDIO S-Series mini-monitor is a serious contender and once supplemented with a subwoofer, it easily enters the realm of high fidelity, full-bandwidth music production. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The second movement of the TRI-ART AUDIO musical demonstration was, in fact, to couple the S-Series mini-monitor to the S-Series 24/33” Subwoofer system ($2,890, total) replete with built-in, mini-monitor speaker stands above the subwoofer, and crossovers. A decidedly upscale coupling, though less expensive couplings can be had via TRI-ART AUDIO. However, the overall fidelity of this mini-monitor/subwoofer coupling was incredibly synergistic and quickly became competitive with far more expensive, full-range speakers. A quick stroll around the Toronto Audiofest was all one needed to confirm this.

But that was just the midpoint. There was a great deal more to come. And while the musical demonstration continued, Steve Ginsberg—TRI-ART AUDIO founder and owner—regaled us with a rather poignant chronological understanding of what we were witnessing. The S-Series mini-monitor had became a floor-standing, full-bandwidth speaker, and then, almost as if by magic (and a good deal of hard work), an incredibly musical and natural, full-bandwidth horn speakers ($6,700). The transformation was, perhaps, one of the most profound, engaging, and eye-opening experiences that I have experienced.

Where mini-monitors once stood proudly giving a quite good measure of themselves, now there stood floor-standing, full-range horns, that had moved the overall fidelity of the system a quantum level or two above where it had been. And though quickly dialed-in, to reduce the overall performance time-stamp, there was greater refinement and ease, a much deeper soundstage, increased intimacy, and a naturalness that was, truly, breathtaking.Easily one of the Best Sounds of the Show, if not THE best!

I would, however, be remiss, if I did not provide kudos to the balance of the TRI-ART AUDIO system—turntable, phono-pre, preamp, power amp, that stood toe-to-toe with or topped assembled systems at the show that had a good deal more zeroes on their price tags than did the TRI-ART AUDIO products! This was a clear case and point wherein less costly truly provided a great deal more on every count. Suffice to say, that I will be keeping my eye on TRI-ART AUDIO and I will be looking forward to a personal review of their horn speaker system.