Tower Speaker Reviews

Anthony Gallo Acoustics Reference 3 Speaker System

Speaker: Reference 3
Type: three-way, tower
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 300-degree Cylindrical Diaphragm Transducer
Midrange (size in inches, type): 4, carbon fiber (2)
Woofer (size in inches, type): 10, carbon fiber/paper
Nominal Impedance (ohms): 8
Recommended Amp Power (watts): up to 350 (RMS)
Available Finishes: Stainless Steel or Black with Natural Maple, Cherry, or Black Base
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 35 x 8 x 15
Weight (pounds): 47
Price: $1,300

Speaker: Dué
Type: two-way, monitor
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 180-degree Cylindrical Diaphragm Transducer
Midrange (size in inches, type): N/A
Woofer (size in inches, type):3, mical polypropylene compound (2)
Nominal Impedance (ohms): 8
Recommended Amp Power (watts): up to 100 (RMS)
Available Finishes: Powdercoat Black, White, or Silver
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 11 x 4 x 4.25
Weight (pounds): 9
Price: $600

At A Glance: Arcam AVR300 A/V Receiver

Features
Processing Modes: Dolby: Digital 5.1, EX, Pro Logic IIx
DTS: DTS, ES, 96/24, Neo:6 Other: None
THX Certification: No
Audio D/A Converter: 24-bit/192-kilohertz
Number of Amp Channels: 7
Power Rating (per channel): 100 watts, into 8 or 4 ohms
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +/–0.25 dB
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 5.5 x 17.1 x 16.9
Weight (pounds): 32.4
Price: $2,199

Connections
Inputs:
Video: component (3), S-video (5), composite (5)
Audio: coaxial digital (3), optical digital (3), 7.1-channel ana- log (1), stereo analog (7)

Outputs:
Video: S-video (3), composite (4)
Audio: coaxial digital (1), optical digital (1), stereo analog (3), preamp (8)

Additional:
RS-232 (1), 12-volt triggers (3), IR (3)

These listings are based on the manufacturer's stated specs; the HT Labs box below indicates the gear's performance on our test bench.

At A Glance: Arcam DV79 DVD Player

Features
Compatible Playback Formats: DVD-Audio, DVD, DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW, CD, CD-R/-RW, MP3/WMA, JPEG, Video CD
Possible Playback Resolutions: 480p/480i
Built-in Decoding: DVD-Audio, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS
Video D/A Converter: 12-bit/216-megahertz
Audio D/A Converter: 24-bit/192-kilohertz
Bass Management for Analog Audio Outs: Yes
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 3.25 x 17.1 x 14
Weight (pounds): 10.4
Price: $1,799

Connections
Inputs:
Video: none
Audio: none
Outputs:
Video: HDMI (1), compo- nent (1), S-video (1), composite (1)
Audio: coaxial digital (1), optical digital (1), 5.1-channel analog (1), stereo analog (1)

Additional:
RS-232 (1), remote in (2), SCART A/V out (1)

Ratings: Anthony Gallo Acoustics/Arcam System

Build Quality: 92
The Gallo speakers' stainless-steel and cast-aluminum construction oozes quality
The Arcam electronics are designed in the UK

Value: 92
Speakers with the Gallos' advanced technology typically sell for many multiples of the Reference 3's price The Arcam receiver's biamping capability is a tremendous perk

Features: 97
Gallo's advanced engineering humbles most competitors in its price class
The DVD player has an HDMI connector and state-of-the-art video processing

Performance: 94
This system's super-coherent surround sound approaches the state of the art
The Reference 3's subwoofer-deep bass will rock your world

Ergonomics: 94
Arcam's setup routines are fuss-free, and the Gallos aren't terribly fussy about placement details
The speakers are a lot smaller than they appear to be in pictures

Overall Rating: 94
In a field crowded with me-too boxes, Gallo's round-sound speaker designs really stand out. This multi-talented system extracts the audiophile sound from CDs, sounds even better with high-resolution DVD-Audio discs, and has the guts to maximize home theater thrills and chills.

General Information
AVR300 A/V Receiver, $2,199
DV79 DVD Player, $1,799
Arcam, distributed by Audiophile Systems
(888) 272-2658
www.audiophilesystems.com
Dealer Locator Code ARC

Reference 3 Tower Speaker, $1,300
Dué Monitor Speaker, $600
Anthony Gallo Acoustics
(818) 341-4488
www.roundsound.com
Dealer Locator Code ANY