The Estelon X ($70,000/pair) was on the cover of the TAVES 2014 Show Guide, with the printed admonition “Don’t miss Estelon in the Yorkville East Suite, 4th floor.” Since they were kind enough to provide direction to the demo room, I just had to comply.
What I saw was a speaker with an appearance that seemed both artistic and organic, high-tech and yet natural. Sound—with Accuphase DP720 digital source, Brinkman Balance turntable, Benz Micro Ruby cartridge, Burmester 100 phono stage, Ayre KX-R Twenty preamp and Ayre MX-R Twenty amps—was absolutely topnotch, with delicacy as well as power.
By Robert Deutsch