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Most audiophiles choose equipment with an eye toward achieving delicious moments when they can suspend disbelief and drink in the sound of reproduced music in much the same way that they would enjoy a live concert. While tastes vary (as do perceptions of live music), most enthusiasts agree that great speakers should provide full- or nearly full-range sound, accurate handling of large and small-scale dynamics, neutral overall tonal balance, superb top-to-bottom resolution and focus, and convincingly realistic imaging and soundstaging. Most of us can name large, expensive “dream speakers” that meet all or most of these desirable criteria, but Gallo Acoustics’ Nucleus Reference 3 loudspeaker wins our 2004 Overall Product of the Year award precisely because it offers the lion’s share of these prized qualities without being either large or expensive. This 35"-tall, $2599/pair loudspeaker impressed us with the ingenuity of its design and quality of its construction, but most of all with its sound (whose uncanny three-dimensionality would be welcome, and rare, at any price). The end result is, really, a reference speaker for Everyman. Whether you view the Gallos as the endpoint of your sonic quest, or as a stepping stone toward bigger and even better dream speakers, the Nucleus Reference 3s stand ready to serve as willing and ever-so-capable partners in the exploration of music.
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