Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Gallo Acoustics Reference III Speakers by Firebird

Model:	Reference III
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$2600
Description:	4-driver 3-way hybrid
Manufacturer URL:	Gallo Acoustics
Model Picture:	View

Review by Firebird on August 01, 2005 at 23:25:59
IP Address: 69.153.206.228

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for the Reference III

I had to hear a pair of these speakers at a local hi-end shop in Houston after reading several glowing reviews from 6moons, positive-feedback, and bound for sound. At first I was skeptical as they seemed a bit gimmicky, but I knew that Anthony Gallo has a well earned reputation for his sonic achievements. Seems everyday that you read the "latest and greatest" audio component out there. This is especially true with loudspeakers and you have to take everything with a grain of salt. Here's my take on them -
Model: Gallo Reference 3
MSRP: 2600.00
Driver layout - (2) 4.5" carbon fiber midrange drivers set in a D'Appolito array with a CDT (cylindrical dispersion tweeter made of kynar), a custom made side firing, dual voice coil 10" paper woofer w/butly surround.
Crossover - 125kz - 50kz (none), 34hz - 125hz (first order, 6 db p/octave)
Recommended breakin period - 100-200 hours
Dimensions - 35"H, 8"W, 16"D
Weight - 47lbs
Sensitivity - 88 DB W/Meter
Impedence - Nominal 8 ohms
First let me say something that is barely mentioned in most reviews. These speakers are miniscule in proportions. You have to see them to believe it. I nearly bursted out laughing when I first saw them. You just don't envision their size with the pictures all over the web and (complimentary?) angles. After the inital shock, I grew to love their size. The have greater mobility this way, and don't dominate the room like most towers do. In fact, they give the impression of a much slimmer profile than your even your typical bookshelf/stand combination. They come with a very attractive grill, but I must warn you. If you have any furry felines, then just store the grills and be content with their rather eccentric looks. Personally, I like them a lot - but the WAF can be a consideration if a hi-tech appearance is objectionable (usually is!)
Build Quality:
These are built like a tank. The entire speaker is made of industrial grade steel with the exception of the wood base. I got mine in a natural/maple finish and they are quite attractive. Ok - enough with the preliminary stuff, how about the sound? Read on my fellow inmates.
Sound:
If I could sum up the virtues of this speaker in one sentence, it would be this, "A highly musical, full range, utterly transparent, cohesive, and non-fatiguing presentation that is similar to Magnepans, but with the dynamics of cone transducers". Ok, so you want more details - you got 'em! I'll try to break this down by virtues.
Soundstaging- Enormous, at least from a width and depth perspective. Let me further elaborate. Although the soundscape is very three dimensional, the height of the singers don't get much taller than the speakers themselves (35"). You can angle the speakers more using the supplied floor spikes for a slight tilt to improve this, but you can also achieve similar results from sitting further back. In my listening room, I am about 15 feet away and I can pinpoint most vocals at close to 5 feet tall. Of course this can vary greatly depending on the recording. The height I get is about the average for me. This however, doesn't detract from their overall airy and spacious presentation. Perhaps the best I have heard in my system. The soundstage is presented slightly behind the speakers.
Transparency - Second to none. The fact that they have no baffle and are slimmer than most any speaker surely contributes to this. It's startling when you first hear them because the speakers just sit there as if posing as modern art pieces, while music just flows all around them.
Imaging - Again, second to none for many of the same reasons they are transparent. The CDT tweeter is very precise and due to it's near 360 degree dispersion pattern, allows for a very wide sweetspot. Localization of sounds is the illusion that is created from a stereo separation of higher frequency waveforms. And in this regard, we have a fine transducer that will disperse this same energy in all directions with virtually no loss of output along its circumference. As an example we have a couch that lays perpendicular to the right speaker that I lay down on sometimes when listening to music. I am literally directly in front of the speaker, but vocals still appear close to the center. I've never expeienced this before with any other speaker, and was actually quite thrilled with it.
Cohesiveness - Very well balanced across the audible spectrum, but be careful how you face the side woofers. I placed mine firing in opposite directions and this seems to integrate the bass best in my room.
Midrange - Very smooth with none of the upper midrange brightness typical of kevlar drivers. The 4 1/2 carbon fiber cones are grain free and detail retrieval is very good. A good test for a speaker that excels in midband retrieval is the piano. As a piano is percussive in nature, the harmonics should be distinct with the vibration of the keys hitting the strings very clearly dileneated. This is done with aplomb on the Gallos.
Treble - One of my favorite parts about this speaker and truly unique. 300 Degree dispersion, completely grain free, fast and liquid, neutral, and a level of detail that allows musical instruments a greater sense of realism.
Also unique is the fact that the treble is just as clear and apparent *way* off axis as it is directly in front of it. Sit on the far wing seats and you won't be disappointed. Their is a bit of a drop off when standing, however this isn't as readily apparent as some reviewers would have you believe. Unless you listen critically standing up, or sit on a throne like a king - no worries here.
Bass - Goes to about 30hz in my room and very musical. Tuneful enough to clearly identify differing bass notes in complex passages. Drums take on excellent presence and are very punchy. The bass on these don't leave me wanting in my 15 X 22 X 10H loft. And powered by a tube amp no less! The bass never feels heavy, but rather an seamless integration with the lower midrange in normal music listening. Put on a hip-hop cd, and it WILL make it's presence known. Very well balanced, but visceral when called upon.
Gallo has an optional SA Subwoofer amp that will connect to the additional binding posts in the back. This will in turn drive the second voice coil of the woofer to take the speaker to subterranean levels (22hz) at about a cost of 900 bucks. And unless you're into pipe organs, or watching Jurassic Park without a sub, it's probably won't come into play for 97% of the time. Plus, my neighbors probably won't take kindly to the juxtaposition of our walls!
Although I've picked my parts of the performance aspects of the Gallo Reference 3's, how they come together is their greatest feat. Top to bottom, the sound is gelled together in uncanny fashion and is very engaging. They don't throw the sound in your face, but are communicative in a more sublime manner. And by the same token are very non-fatiguing. Not ala sonus faber, with a over-warmth that makes everybody sound like aaron neville and dianna krall, but in a delicate - but highly detailed manner. Nor do they laser incscribe in your ear every note like revels and b&w's can. Although they were designed using solid state amps, I would highly recommend tubes with them as well. In fact I use a 38 watt push/pull melody that are a synergestic match.
Ok - so finally you made it here. I guess it's pretty clear that I am ecstatic about these speakers. Try them out, they will startle you initially with their completely boxless sound, and will continue to amaze. I've heard a number of highly regarded speakers that will have a hard time competing. Try the $5-7K range for a start if you're comparing...
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Extra notes: BREAK THESE SPEAKERS IN FULLY AT HIGH LEVELS for as long as you can. Wire them out of phase and throw 5 or more thick quilts/comforters on them. 100 hrs minimum and preferably 200. They change like a chameleon. You can't break these in simply by listening to them at 70-80 db, it either won't work or take 5 years. Use heavy bass, heavy treble, and actual singing on repeat at 90db.
Previous speakers owned/extensively used: Merlin TSM-M's, Merlin VSM-M's, ACI Sapphire III, various B&W's, Magnepan 3.6, 1.6, MMG's , Onix Reference 2, Legacy Studios, ACI Jaguar, and Proac Response 2.5's

Product Weakness: Stand up and you lose some treble, walk to the far left and you don't. Funky looking for some and break-in process is a PITA.
Product Strengths: Fully transparent, cohesive, musical, full-range, and imaging that is *truly* world class.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Melody Tube Integrated
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Music Hall
Speakers:	Gallo Reference 3
Cables/Interconnects:	Plain Jane
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Rock, Acoustic, Jazz, orchestral
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Stand up and you lose some treble, walk to the far left and you don't. Funky looking for some and break-in process is a PITA.
Product Strengths:	Fully transparent, cohesive, musical, full-range, and imaging that is truly world class.