Audio Reference Technology – Italian Audio Artistry
Luigi Basagni is not an Italian chef, but rather an audio engineer. Growing up with a love of music and the requisite engineer’s desire to make everything better, Luigi set out to make good sounding stereo systems great.
Audio Reference Technology was born…
Luigi’s vision?
Investigate and improve how the signal was transported between existing equipment;
the cabling between the CD players, amplifiers, speakers… Power delivery and isolation were also part of
the development focus, as was vibration control. After over 30 years in business, today you’ll
find a full array of signal and power cabling and connectors, not to mention
several tuning accessories, all created with the goal of making the sonic
result “real”.
With strictly in-house parts and manufacturing (no pre-made
parts are outsourced), Basagni and his team leave no stone unturned in the
engineering process, whether it be conductivity, insulation or termination. Everything has been addressed and fine tuned
to the A.R.T. methodology.
But just what is that A.R.T. sound? ……..
James Liu, A.R.T.’s Director of Business Development sent
over several review samples including the Power
Distributor and associated cable clamps, Super SE Mains
1.5M power cable, and a couple boxes of the Base Stands. I spent several months with these products
and ran everything through the usual battery of tests and comparisons. Configurations and setups were changed, some
components were swapped out, the audio room was painted (kidding)…
Through it all, there were certain sonic characteristics at
play. The first thing that struck me,
and stayed with me for the duration, regardless of the music genre, was the presentation
of the bass. The weight and decisive
manner of the lower octaves was striking, with no detectable smear or loss of
detail. It didn’t come off as
spotlighting, just an addition of correct foundation and pace. I also noted improvements in what I will
refer to as tone, texture and presence throughout the frequency range. A.R.T. refers to it as a “natural and
relaxed” sound, and I am inclined to concur. As can happen when attempting to
evaluate quality audio gear, many of my testing sessions evolved into hours
enjoying music. I am guessing this is
what Luigi and Co. intended…
A bit of food for thought:
If you own a tube-based system that already leans toward a honeyed
sound, this might not be the cable direction for you. I’ll let your ears decide. However, anyone with solid state equipment
should give the Audio Reference Technology gear a try. I think it can be an excellent addition and
you will likely be pleased with the results.
Keep in mind, this is rarified, high-quality (read: not inexpensive) equipment, so
your budget will need to be considered. The 1.5 meter Super SE Mains power cable MSRPs
at $2950.00.
Oh… just one more thing…
Did I mention Italian?
As with seemingly all things emanating from Italy, you get
the visuals to go with… The car not only
has to perform among the best, it needs to look amazing while doing so. Some might say this is what luxury and
artistry is all about. A.R.T. products
certainly adhere to that mindset…
Artistry and performance, the Italian way...!
Well done Luigi..!
Marty Feldmann, The Connoisseur, is the
highly sought after consultant who assists businesses and individual clients with
the acquisition of the finer things life has to offer. Whether you are planning a weekend getaway to
wine country, selecting audio equipment to outfit your home, planning your
dream vacation or purchasing your ultimate transportation, Marty is your
personal connection to the good life…
Marty can be contacted at: 916.952.9529
Marty@ConnoisseurCorner.com