Tone Imports: Revival Audio, Dynavector, Audio MusiKraft, FonoLab, Leben, Tellurium, Sugden, Box Furniture
Meeting up with Tone Imports’ Jonathan Halpern and Pitch Perfect Audio’s Matthew Rotunda was like a family reunion for me. Along with John DeVore and Twittering Machines’ Michael Lavorgna, Halpern is one of my oldest friends and audio guides. His east coast (or Midwest) appearances are rare since he restationed himself in the sunny California desert. His and Rotunda’s ability to assemble a beautiful sounding system remains the same as it ever was.
An Audio MusiKraft MC Phono Cartridge / Bronze ($3650) was mounted on a Dynavector DV507mkII Tonearm ($7250) on a DV500 Turntable ($6750). A FonoLab EQVES moving coil step-up transformer (SUT) ($1200) and a FonoLab Qvattvor Balanced MC SUT ($3750) completed the analog front end.
A classic in its own time, a Leben HiFi RS-28CX Tube Preamplifier with phono ($7995) drove a Leben HiFi CS-1000 Stereo Tube Power Amplifier ($13,995). A Sugden Masterclass IA-4 Integrated Amplifier ($6750) was also in the room but disengaged.
Halpern and Rotunda carry the Revival Audio Atalante 3 Loudspeakers ($2695/pair), which I’ve been dying to hear. The Atalante 4 loudspeakers ($4295/pair) were on static display, and the Atalante 5 loudspeakers ($4995/pair) were making music. Revival Audio 3 and 5 Stands ($495/pair) held the speakers, and Tellurium Q Ultra Black II Speaker Cable 2.5M ($1800/pair) and Tellurium Q Black II ($350/pair), Ultra Black II ($525/pair) and Black Diamond Interconnects ($1100/pair) carried signal. Anthony Abatte’s Box Furniture MS4S Modular Series Furniture (starting at $2210) supported everything.
Oh, the music. From Kenny Burrell with Coleman Hawkins on Prestige to an Analogue Productions reissue of Pablo’s The Alternate Blues, the Tone Imports/Pitch Perfect system played music with popping-fun dynamics, beautiful tone, and the kind of ambient cues and radiant resonance that few systems can deliver. Who says you can’t go home again?