Symposium hosted a most convincing demo during
which company president Peter Bizlewicz played the same track twice, once with his Svelte
Shelf (from $179) placed on the CD player and power supply and once with the Svelte
Shelves removed. The differences were not subtle at all and entirely in
Symposium's favor. SoundStager John Crossett immediately purchased a Svelte Shelf after
the demo. Backing up the demonstration were Emotive Audio Vita tube monoblocks ($30,000
per pair) and an Epifania line-stage preamp ($16,995), along with a Naim CDX2 CD player
and XPS2 power supply. The components rested on a Symposium Isis Svelte Ultra rack
($4999). Speakers were reasonably priced Spendors. The product demo aside, this system
produced wonderful sound that didn't lack detail or body. It seduced.
