Finite Elemente Segment X, Pagode Signature and Pagode Reference review by Stereo
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 01:48PM Segment X, Pagode Signature and Master Reference
Stereo Magazine, Germany 07/2004
The new equipment supports from finite elemente are often misunderstood. However, they cleverly combine both visual and acoustic qualities. "Whatever you do, it's wrong" - Luis Fernandes, product developer and one of the heads of the audio furniture manufacturing company finite elemente, based in Bestwig in Germany's Sauerland region, knows all about this fatalistic attitude. "A lot of hi-fi enthusiasts have asked for our high-end racks from the Pagode series (see separate panel) to be more compatible with living room environments, but these new equipment supports, where we addressed this aspect, are too often labelled as mere designer furniture. The technical expertise and therefore their sound qualities are simply ignored", is a complaint often levelled by Fernandes and his partner, Bernd Brockhoff.
In fact, the wide Levelplus, which has a passing resemblance to a sideboard, seems more like a piece of furniture than an item for serious hi-fi equipment. Its appearance is filigree and stable at the same time. The black sides are made of sturdy resonance-free MDF panels that use thick, three-piece precisely manufactured stainless steel bolts to support the shelves that can accommodate up to 120 kilograms. Even the narrower version with two compartments weighs around 55 kilograms.
The second new model developed by these audio furniture specialists has a much more civilised price. Segment X is the least expensive system in the finite elemente range. The classic four shelves and the stylishly curved supporting side and back panels remind you of a hi-fi rack in the conventional sense.
Segment X is not only light, but is also so easy to assemble that Swedish giant Ikea might get jealous. The individual elements are simple slotted together, and then conically shaped tensioning bolts that you have to press into the prefabricated openings guarantee a secure footing, but this is only really achieved when the components are placed on the unit. A total weight of 100 kg is allowed, so 25 kg per shelf, and that is more than enough for most applications.
Like the Levelplus the shelves here are made of paper layers saturated with synthetic resin, a process intended to provide ideal acoustic properties at a reasonable price. Besides the obvious dissimilarity in design the major difference is in the shelf thickness. The ten-millimetre shelving material for the Levelplus results in a square meter weight of no less than 14 kilograms. This factor and the laminate design promise a high level of interior damping.
We were eager to experience the sound performance of these two new and attractive pieces of equipment supports, which are very different despite certain similarities. For comparison purposes we had set up finite elemente's Pagode Signature and also the top-of-the-range Master Reference, which offer absolute high-class components optimum conditions and I can no longer imagine carrying out listening tests without them.
Our extensive audio check once again clearly confirms two things. Firstly: the rack has an essential effect on the sound quality. Secondly: The differences are considerable.
But we'll get to that in time. We began with a smaller system comprising Rotel CD player with integrated amplifier from Exposure and oriented our listening initially using the Pagode Master Reference. It is really remarkable how good inexpensive components can sound nowadays.
But this was not the task in hand. So we moved the components into the Segment X, which costs not even a sixth of the price. Sure, it's an unfair comparison, but although the spatiality was more compact and the tones were more rustic than fine, the tonal balance remained intact when the components were played on the Segment X.
There was none of the thinning out especially in the mid-tones often found in popular glass/steel designs and no pushiness in the foreground areas in conjunction with a short-winded bass. In contrast there was lots of colour and energy in the performance, and vocals came across both sonorous and powerful, and there was no indication of annoyance.
As was to be expected from the similar materials, the Levelplus reproduction had a very similar tonality. No sign of harmonic distortion or hissing, but satisfying colours. The heavyweight hi-fi sideboard provided more format and dynamism in the lower end than the Segment X. Furthermore the representation of the spatial depth was considerably better, allowing large orchestras to seem much more realistic. It is astonishing how much power and energy the Levelplus provided. Played on Segment X it sounded just about as energetic, but the sound pattern in the lower end was softer and less concentrated.
We switched to higher-quality components, including the T + A G10 analogue turntable, Accuphase amps and the Burmester 001 CD player. The differences became even more apparent, but there wasn't much change in their actual definition.
And then we used the highly complex Pagode racks again. These revealed a different sound character with their tendency to slimmer diction, exceedingly gruff in the bass and open in the mid-range. The Levelplus ran a head-to-head race with the Signature. Whereas the Levelplus vocals were rather creamy and voluminous, they sounded a little paler on the Signature, but very subtly nuanced. Low end was given more energy by the sideboard, whereas the Pagode provided more contour. The spatial depiction was pretty balanced with both.
The Master Reference rack set the standard as could be expected. None of the other designs was able to make the music so shimmering and differentiated, so punctually precise and tight, and so spatially discerning. But at what a price!
