Musical Affairs Grand Crescendo PHY-HP KM30SAG

Stunning pair of speakers, designed and hand made by Hans Kortenbach of Musical Affairs. Based around the exquisite high efficiency PHY-HP KM30SAG coaxial broadband driver with time aligned tweeter, the cabinet itself is a work of art. Built in the style of a musical instrument, the cabinets are constructed of tonewoods such as sitka spruce, with an open baffle in the back. They are then individually tuned and braced by the designer, to resonate as would a fine concert guitar or cello. This concept is carried further to the extent that the speakers are even finished with a varnish coating, just as a fine instrument, in order to allow the wood to freely breathe and resonate. As a classical guitarist, I truly appreciate the conceptualization and craftsmanship that has gone into these gems. They are indeed, musical instruments in and of themselves. The sound is very open and organic. They excel at reproducing the "blattiness" of a brass instrument. The portrayal of cello or acoustic bass is the most natural and uncolored that I have yet to hear. At 97db sensitivity, and a flat 16ohm impedance, they were a wonderful match with my Viva Solista 845 SET amp (listed separately), as well as my 4.5 wpc 2A3 amp. As stunning as they appear in photographs, these speakers must be seen in person to truly appreciate their physical beauty. I am, however, rating them very conservatively at 7/10, as there is a dimple in the side of one speaker, and a chip on the edge of the veneer at the back of the top of the other. These are really not noticeable, however, unless one is looking for flaws. I would not consider the speakers to be fragile, but they do need to be handled with care. They were picked up directly from the dealer by the previous owner, and I have no packing crates for them. The speakers must therefore be picked up at my home. I would possibly be able to drive to meet the buyer within 250 miles of East Lansing, MI, as well. This is a flat out bargain opportunity, as these speakers would currently cost in excess of $14,000 new, I believe. The PHY-HP drivers alone would cost more than the price that I'm asking. I am physically downsizing my system, and may be open to a partial trade. Of particular interest may be a mint pair of Tonian TL-D1 speakers.