GAMUT’s loudspeakers have made a positive impression on many a hi-fi punter, but as with all things in life, anything good can always get better. Trying to top his achievements seen and heard in the RS Series of loudspeakers, designer Benno Baun Meldgaard has now unleashed his “Mona Lisa”, the Zodiac.
“The Zodiac is basically my dream loudspeaker,” says Meldgaard, whose passion and skills are such that in Europe, he has earned the nickname “the best ears in the business.”
“This is my Mona Lisa,” he explains. “It’s me taking loudspeaker design and engineering to the ultimate, removing any and all constraints – including cost – to create a genuine masterpiece of musicality. As an audio designer and passionate lover of live music, this is the kind of project you live for.”
The Zodiac’s highlights are extended frequency response of 16Hz to 60kHz; phase-aligned drive units from 400Hz to 12kHz; newly custom-designed drive units individually matched by Meldgaard himself; highly complex cabinet with a new system of internal spacing, semi-separated by bespoke acoustic filters; and a new crossover featuring superlative quality components sourced from Danish experts Janzen Audio.
A true masterpiece doesn’t typically go into mass production and the Zodiac is no exception. Just 12 pairs will be handcrafted each year, one per month, and each will bear the relevant sign of the astrological zodiac. No serial numbers here, just a star sign. Maybe Meldgaard can be persuaded to do a concurrent run based on the Chinese Shengxiao (zodiac) for his Far Eastern clients?
Potential owners will need some substantial financial wherewithal to own a pair of these Zodiacs. Buy a pair and Meldgaard will visit you within 12 months of purchase to fine-tune the Zodiac set-up in your listening room!
