To the first part of this review
Where were we? We were in Umbria, a not fortuitous context relating to music. Let’s just think only of the excellences of the Umbria Jazz Festival or the Festival dei Due Mondi di Spoleto. Right near Spoleto the new Diesis Audio showroom earn a chance to be another of these excellences, rather than audio, audiophile… So let’s see in detail how much you could discover and how much you could enjoy a listening session by Diesis Audio. Of Giuseppe Gabbarini, audiophile, dealer of quality Hi-Fi, and Diesis’ arm and mind, we covered here in the first part of this article. Let’s move now, going in order, to see other aspects of his passion: the vinyl, the appliances, his current catalogue and some hints on the production spaces.
The vinyl collection
I state that I consciously use the singular of the term “vinyl” because I am against the same term brought to the plural as a result of modern trendy politically correct drifts. As children fifty years ago, we wondered how many vinyl you have, shortening the phrase “how many vinyl records do you have”, so I don’t see why it should be changed. Of course, Italian is a living language and bring the term to the plural is absolutely correct by meaning the matter for the subject a simple metonymy. In short, saying “vinyls” sounds bad to me. And if it sounds bad you can’t hear it. At least not on ReMusic.
Garrard 401 turntable
As an audiophile of the first hour, Giuseppe is a vinyl worshiper and an avid collector. I know, “passionate” is a recurring term that I used and will use to describe or connote his modus operandi and the general approach: but what can I do if “he is like that” and that is the truth? But even calling him a collector is partially misleading because Giuseppe is more of a compulsive serial accumulator of LPs, I add out of my teeth! In short, even on this subject he is not moderated at all… There is no corner of his showroom that does not have in plain sight a series of vinyl chosen for both sound and musical quality, not only the so vituperated “test discs”, often dull collection of boring songs... rare if not very rare LPs, rock and pop, classical and jazz music, national or foreign: there is no limit to what you could listen by him.
Telefunken PS 81 broadcast turntable
This without counting your microgrooves. The ones you could take with you to make them sit on turntables of the calibre of the broadcast Telefunken PS 81, the Sony CD-R1 with 10 inches Audio-Technica tonearm, the VPI turntable with Eminent Technology tangential arm or the esoteric Horo WJE 168. It is worth pointing out, ubi maior, that the latter has a piano-shaped frame and a tonearm made from a violin bow. Made in Italy with the advice of luthiers and musicians, it treats the vibrations of the arm-plinth-cartridge assembly by tuning them rather than damping them in a similar way to the vibrations of a guitar string or a piano.
The collection of audio equipment
We have mentioned just some, only a few, possible analogue setups that you can enjoy by Diesis Audio. Know, however, that from the collection of appliances and Hi-End components which Gabbarini – and potentially his guests – has available in Diesis Audio showroom, is not possible to bring back a worthy list, many are scattered everywhere in the listening room and in those of production.
Alchimista Audio 800 SE integrated amplifier
We therefore try such a list, in a lesser tone in terms of quantity, but definitely very strong in quality. We start with fine pieces such as the Alchimista 800 integrated tube amplifier, the Jeff Rowland 625 power amp and the 511 S2 preamp, the Jeff Rowland Capri preamp, the Nagra PLP preamp, the Nagra PMA mono power amps and the Nagra MPA stereo power amps, the Nagra Professional DAC and the Nagra BPS phono preamp.
Diesis has practically available all the Rockstars M2Tech production and, to stay within the Italian borders, also the high quality Aqua Formula DAC, while among the vintage but references pieces we also mention the Sony CDP-R1 and DAS-R1 and the Urei preamp and power amp, the Italian one, with HEXFET technology.
The current catalogue
The current Diesis Audio production, now mature and consolidated, includes the Ludos, Aura, Caput Mundi, Roma, Roma Triode floor loudspeakers and the Bonham Tribute subwoofer. This is the core of Diesis Audio expertise also joined by valuable electronics such as the Diesis Neptune Audio Player media player, which powers a M2Tech DAC section, and the hybrid Evento 20-11 integrated amp.
Back view of the Diesis Audio Roma Triode
By the way, instead of the “recipe” of the Diesis loudspeakers, I can only confirm my initial impressions, those to which I mentioned in the first part of this article, and that you can find in full here. In brief, expect articulated and deep bass, those that the pistonic speakers dream of, since here they are devoid of the resonances given by any cabinet, transparency and together density of the scene, materic character of the instruments.
In addition, and it is not a small thing, without that sound compression or hardening that plague most traditional systems, either for the many watts that the latter require to move, or for the complexity – and losses – of heavy crossovers or the limited excursion/efficiency of their speakers.
Diesis Audio Roma speaker and double Bonham Tribute subwoofer
We have rightly attributed this completeness of the performance to their creator, but it also right to remember that, at the time, the solid technical design is due to the engineer Maurizio Spera, while, even now, the eye to the design – is the case to say it - is due to the architect Ino Piazza. This designing and aesthetic rigour also has an impact on the choice of external suppliers, which are relied on everywhere, in Italy and abroad, exclusively according to the only and not at all simple quality of the results, finishes, performances.
The location, the workshop, the showroom
When you arrive at Diesis’, you are hit, not in a literal sense, by the silence that surround us. It’s the beauty of Umbria, baby. In an area, however, considered industrial, in addition to the productive premises, which would already worth a guided tour, you can have three different listening rooms, equipped with everything, and, as you might have seen, willing to do anything, such is the abundance of software, hardware sources and amplifications.
Imagine here being able to hear and compare some of the best speakers in the world for integration between the emission speed of the medium-high range and the controlled power of the bass. At your disposal dozens of sources, preamps, power and integrated amps, cables and accessories, to put them in the conditions of playing as you were looking for, as their project allows, as the music requires.
This is the secret and opportunity of the Diesis showroom, that of being able to demonstrate, as few other producers in Italy do – and some I know – the better of their production at its best: the first true dipoles historically placed on the market available with bass precisely at dipole and horn mid-highs.
Reviewer and creator: the dynamic duo G&G...
I admire Giuseppe, not because he calls like me. Not because we have the same name. But because I know, and I have seen how much he does and how much he is dedicated to our passion. Giuseppe Gabbarini on his professional life, the one that led him to create Diesis Audio and a series of speakers - not to mention electronics – that didn’t exist yet, that did not exist as a common commercial typology, did much more than I myself, sick to the core of High Fidelity, have ever done. I know. I recognise it. It can be seen when you frequent him: you notice it right away. He lives and breathes high fidelity; he knows everyone and is known by everyone. High Fidelity and his life are not “lent” to High Fidelity. Between the green of Umbria, the green lung of Italy, and the spirituality of Saint Francis, between wine, gastronomy, oil, world famous that do not spoil, come and discover how a modern dipole plays.
Ends | To previous part
For further info: to Diesis Audio website
