Last weekend, the Paris Audio Video Show 2024 opened its doors to the public at the prestigious Palais des Congrès! For two days, sound and image enthusiasts gathered around stands and listening rooms to experience unique demonstrations. Here’s a selection of the finest speakers that could be heard at the show.
Elipson’s new releases
Elipson took advantage of the Paris Audio Video Show to present its new Elipson Planet L Performance speaker for the very first time. This improved version of the famous Elipson Planet L incorporates a new 6.5″ coaxial driver equipped with a cellulose pulp cone with surface damping treatment. At its center is a 1″ treated silk tweeter with neodymium magnet. DAR (Double Asymmetric Rubber) technology, used for the surround, ensures exceptional control of the driver, even under the most intense stress. These innovations enable the French manufacturer to push boundaries and deliver great sound performance in a compact, ultra-elegant format.
The French brand also took advantage of the show to unveil its new Prestige Facet range, with the latest Elipson Prestige Facet 14F II on display. While the acoustic elements of this model are still secret, the design has been revamped for greater elegance and modernity, in particular with a beautiful metal stand. Musical performance is enhanced tenfold for an even grander experience.
We were also able to discover a pair of vintage Elipson 402 Tribute speakers, a tribute to the iconic Elipson 402 that marked the 70s and 80s. Designed and manufactured in France, this speaker is the result of a collaboration with Supravox, who produced the 6.5″ midbass driver with a paper pulp cone. The latter is combined with a large 1.14″ dome tweeter with a rear damping chamber. Vintage was the trends at the manufacturer’s stand, with the Elipson Heritage range in full view: the elegant Elipson Heritage XLS 15, XLS 11 and the recent XLS 7, with its charming retro design.
The ultimate Focal wireless speaker
Still on the French hi-fi front, Focal presents its new floorstanding speaker connected Focal Utopia Diva to the public for the first time. This €35,000 high-end model exploits the brand’s best acoustic solutions, with an M-profile beryllium tweeter, a W-profile driver midrange/woofer and four 16.5 cm woofers in push-push configuration combined with Naim amplification of 400 W per speaker. It features full connectivity with HDMI ARC input and numerous network functions for access to streaming services, webradios, as well as AirPlay 2, Bluetooth and Chromecast.
The Saint-Étienne based manufacturer also had the latest Focal Aria Evo X range on display, launched this year to replace its legendary Aria series. Equally well-suited to hi-fi and home theater, this new line integrates improved Flax drivers, a new TAM tweeter and a modified design to delight both the eyes and the ears. Finally, the brand’s different universes were well represented, with an overview of the manufacturer’s various ranges, as well as its outdoor speakers and numerous headphones.
The new Dali Rubikore ranges
Danish manufacturer Dali caught everyone’s attention at the Paris Audio Video Show 2024 with breathtaking demonstrations of its new Dali Rubikore and Dali Epikore ranges presented in their entirety. In particular, we discovered the impressive Dali Rubikore 8 floorstanding speakers with their triple 6.5″ SMC driver and hybrid tweeter consisting of a very large ribbon and 1.14″ dome for absolute precision. They were paired with the new Atoll IN400 Evolution amplifier, presented as a world exclusive. Finally, visitors could listen to the latest Dali Epikore 9s, little sisters of the Dali Epikore 11s, with MBL electronics.
Yamaha celebrated its 70th anniversary
Yamaha celebrated its 70th anniversary at the Paris Audio Video Show. For hi-fi enthusiasts, the brand organized demos of its new speaker series, in particular the Yamaha NS-600A bookshelves and the Yamaha NS-800A, recently awarded a Diapason D’or. The latter perfectly reflect the expertise of the Japanese manufacturer, with a total mastery of cabinet acoustics inherited from Yamaha instruments, combined with an exemplary lacquered finish inspired by the brand’s grand pianos. These speakers were combined with the latest Yamaha R-N2000A connected amplifier, capable of delivering 2 x 90W into 8 ohms, and featuring an acoustic calibration system to guarantee optimum performance in any listening room.
Transparent sound at Waterfall Audio
French manufacturer Waterfall took advantage of the event to present its latest creation: the Waterfall NIAGARA XT1. This sublime floorstanding speaker combines a glass cabinet with a solid wood top panel, on which a horn tweeter is mounted. These tweeters are matched and coupled, making each speaker pair unique. This model takes up the style and exclusivity of its larger counterpart, the XT2, in a more compact format, just 1m high.
Waterfall also caught everyone’s attention in Sony’s cinema room, where the French manufacturer was once again been chosen to accompany its projectors. The Waterfall Elora Evo L/R and Waterfall Elora Evo Center speakers were used to deliver the Dolby Atmos audio tracks of the film exerpts shown during the demonstration, with Waterfall HF2-250 subwoofers providing bass support.
New Klipsch Heritage speaker
Like every year, American manufacturer Klipsch pulled out all the stops, with numerous concerts and events throughout the weekend. The brand’s new Klipsch Heritage Ojas speaker, presented for the first time in France, set the pace at the show. Developed in close collaboration with the visionary founder of Ojas, this speaker is designed with custom materials such as a multi-cell molded aluminum horn, a Baltic birch plywood cabinet and an extra-large 12″ midbass driver. A truly prestigious model available in a very limited edition!
