HARDWARE
Tired of acoustically challenged computer systems, the folks at Evett & Shaw set out to design the world's finest tiny loudspeakers. The result, called Elans, are breathtaking in design, execution, and performance. Each speaker - lacquered like a Bosendorfer grand piano and precision-built like a Swiss watch - stands 10 inches tall, 5 inches wide, and 11 inches deep and weighs 15.5 pounds.
Evett & Shaw even matched my Elans' finish to my G3's blue-and-white color scheme - the complete system is exquisite, though, whether you customize the finish or not. The speakers arrived in the mail in their own APW Zero Centurion Elite suitcase, along with a separate case containing an amplifier called the Flatte 50. When I opened the amplifier case (also by APW Zero), I was floored. The Evett & Shaw amp is the most beautiful piece of audio gear I've ever seen. Its slim, almost featureless polished-aluminum form looks like a piece of modern art. The system comes with handcrafted cables to hook everything up, including what is probably the only audiophile-quality mini 2XLR cable to connect computer to amp.
Since installing these speakers on my desk, I haven't touched the stereo system sitting forlornly in my living room. Most people perch fairly close to their computer, so the Elan was designed for what's called near-field listening. The advantage of a near-field design is that it allows the sound coming from the speakers to reach your ears without bouncing off everything in the room. That means you can hear sounds that are nothing short of extraordinary - crystalline highs, pure midrange, and incredible bass. Disconnecting the output from my Mac, I hooked up the Elans to my portable CD player and got goose bumps listening to Moby's Play.
Elan: $4,195 per pair. Evett & Shaw: +1 (801) 293 8286, www.evettandshaw.com.
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