Gallo hi-fi system - A'Diva, Due and Micro speakers with MPS 150 powered subwoofer

Gallo Acoustics Speakers Reviews

Hi-Fi+
Nov/Dec 2002 by Roy Gregory

When I reviewed, and was entertained and amazed by the performance of the Cabasse iO spherical speakers in Issue 19, I hardly expected it to open a can of worms. But in passing I mentioned the even smaller and even cuter Gallo Acoustics speakers from the USA. No sooner had I put fingers to keyboard than the Gallos landed on these shores, necessitating a rapid phone-call to the new importer, and the equally rapid arrival of review samples.

Of course, small, spherical speakers are hardly news these days, but the Gallos are a bit different. Firstly, Anthony Gallo has been building spherical speakers for longer than anybody I know, with the possible exception of Cabasse. Secondly, his designs have always been aimed at the quality end of the market: his original UK distributor was after all, Absolute Sounds. Thirdly, these come with the cutest sub-woofer I've seen in a long time.

The Nucleus Micro speakers employ a single, "full-range" driver, housed in a 4" metal sphere. That's about the size of a large orange. The front face is rounded out by a black grille, on the back are a pair of small 4mm binding posts. Gallo employ a proprietary technique to extend the low-frequency bandwidth of their speakers, claiming -3dB points at 80Hz and 18kHz from the diminutive units, along with a system sensitivity of 89dB. You get a choice of eight different anodised or paint finishes.

The matching MPS-150 sub-woofer is an unusual twin enclosure design housed in circular, tub like housings. One holds the amplifier and active cross-over electronics, the other a downward firing 10" pulp coned bass driver with a large, convex roll surround. The unusual arrangement offers a couple of benefits: already compact, the units can also be placed next to each other, roughly halving their height, which can be a real boon when it comes to discrete siting. You can also connect an additional speaker unit to the electronics module should you feel the need for extra bass reinforcement. It makes for a versatile and extremely user friendly package, a quality that's extended by the comprehensive controls. These include the standard variable level and crossover controls, along with a constantly variable phase control, sweeping from 0 to 180 degrees. There are connections for both high and low-level inputs, and an auto power mode that switches on the unit when it senses a signal.

The final part of the equation consists of mounting hardware for the Micros. In its simplest and most elegant form this consists of a pair of thick rubber O rings that simply prevent the spheres rolling about on a handy flat surface. There are also optional wall brackets, and the slender "Wall Flower" stands supplied for review. These consist of a sturdy, weighted disc base (not tapped for spikes) and a hollow tubular upright that will accept the supplied 18 gauge solid-core speaker cable. All in all it's an impressive, elegant and discrete system. Oh, and there's a 5.1 option too, as you might imagine.

However, it's the two-channel performance that I'm interested in, and that's really quite surprising. The Gallo set-up lacks the warmth, weight and scale of the Cabasse iO/Jupiter system, which if space isn't a constraint still offers the better sound for your money. But it also lacks its large satellites and even larger sub-woofer. The Cabasse option will never, ever be as discrete as the Gallo: nor will it have that astonishing "all that sound out of those tiny speakers" appeal either. Because, make no mistake, this system offers exceptionally good sound regardless of the aesthetic and stylistic considerations. Think of it as a thousand pound speaker system and treat it accordingly and it will repay your confidence handsomely.

Of course, like any sub-sat system the Gallo rewards time and care spent on set-up and integration of its elements. I ran it via the high-level inputs, hanging it on the end of Tom Evans/Hovland Sapphire amplification, and never felt cheated in any way. The sound is characterised by its lively agility and wide open sound-stage. Vocals are nicely focussed and held central, but it's the easy micro-dynamic tracking of the tiny shifts and inflections that really brings them to life. Whether it's Anne McCue or Shawn Colvin there's a directness and communicative quality to lyrics that is at once engaging and rewarding. Okay, so Steve Earle might lose a little gravel and the last crate of whisky, but he loses not one jot of grit or vitality, purpose or communicative power. That's the trade-off you're making. There are plenty of conventional speaker systems that'll give you more weight, but few that'll match the textural and informative nature of the Gallo Micros. Adjust the sub with the requisite care and even the absolute weight issue will be a close call (as Stewboss proved). Instead it's more a question of balance, with the Micros favouring detail, life and clarity over the last word in harmonic development.

It's an effect that's beautifully illustrated by the Albert Fuller recital of Bach harpsichord music (Reference Recordings RR-2105). Playing The Well Tempered Clavier, Book Two, you are presented with a capacious and beautifully focussed soundstage with the instrument solidly presented and clearly angled across it. The structure and symmetry of the piece is immediately apparent, as are any slight hesitations in the playing. The sound is complex and burnished bright, just as it should be, although it's also a little quick, the notes decaying a shade too soon, the resonance of the instrument's body a little short compared to the fulsome richness of a speaker like the (far more expensive) Living Voice Avatar OBXs. Overall the tone has a slightly silvery shade, but it's difficult not to be entranced by the sheer clarity of the tiny globes.

If you have need of a system that is at once discrete and musically engaging, majoring on communication, clarity and transparency, then look no further. Indeed, if it's the latter qualities that you prize then the Gallo Micros could easily be your speaker of choice regardless of type. Don't confuse these with the six in a box toys that everybody and their wife seems to be offering these days. This is a genuine hi-fi speaker. All it needs is someone to treat it that way.

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