Consider me a newbie to this line of products and the school of thinking behind them. For the last several years, I have been a disciple of what I've often heard characterized as the "music lovers" philosophy. To be clear, I'm talking about products such as Shindo, Leben, Devore, etc. There is a certain simplicity and listening ease associated with these products that is appealing. I recall one reviewer's description of a Leben amplifier as "beguiling." I think that's a great word to describe those products. They have a velvety soft, beguiling nature. They are easy to listen to. But now that I have switched to Zellaton Emotion speakers, I have found, in my opinion, that the strengths of these "music lovers" products are also their weaknesses. Don't get me wrong, I do not intend to disparage these products. I have enjoyed them for many years. But my experience with the Zellaton Emotions is analogous to switching from contacts to glasses (for those of you who wear contacts, you will know what I mean). While you are wearing the contacts, you think you see images clearly and crisply. Everything looks grand but when you switch out for your glasses, images are clearer, more accurate, and more defined. Zellatons are no different. I could use the kind of hyperbole commonly seen in reviews, terms like "gob smacked," "stunned," "in awe," but that's just talk. You really need to listen to these speakers. They have an energy that I have not heard before in any speaker. And a sense of immediacy and speed that, to my ear, sounds like live music. In fact, these speakers have completely changed my view on what "high-end" really is. Take a track like "Company" on Patricia Barber's "Modern Cool" album. It is sparsely instrumented, just drums, bass, and her vocals. But that track brilliantly illustrates the strengths of these speakers. No one aspect of the sound outshines or outperforms any other, The cymbals sizzle, the vocals are well rounded with body, and the fingering of the base is clearly articulated. I get the impression that the only thing limiting the speakers is the amplification and front end. Presently, I am using a Musical Fidelity NuVista 800 integrated, but I will be upgrading. And speaking of upgrading, Gideon has been absolutely perfect to work with. He is as knowledgeable, if not more so, than any other distributor/dealer I've ever dealt with. Not just about his products, but various products on the market. He's prompt, courteous, and generous with his time. I will no doubt be upgrading from his product lines. He has a passion for them, and now I know why. Should you choose to buy the Zellaton speakers, or any of his other product lines, I suspect you will quickly learn as well.
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