The "Pagode"
was an excellent rack thought up by the small-sized Sauerland-based company
(stereoplay 2/99). And now finite elemente is spinning its web in the
sector of modular rack systems with the "Spider". The centre
is made up of a star of extruded aluminium, linking four solid beechwood
struts in a cross-shape.
Trick No. 1: The angle of the struts can be freely adapted to suit the
cabinet shape.
Trick No. 2: finite elemente offers the beechwood struts in three different
lengths all for the same price. Large-scale hi-fi/TV solutions can be
accommodated just as easily as the smallest components. Heavy-duty power
amps can be catered for by ordering strengthened struts. Assembly is helped
by the clear and concise instructions by finite elemente and the great
design advantage means that each expansion, separation or new arrangement
can be implemented without any loss. The initial assembly requires patience,
and even the final adjustment should not be carried out under pressure.
Because
Trick No. 3: The components do not stand on any sort of flat surface,
but are supported with their component base directly onto four pods. The
mixture of medium hard plastics proved to be ideal fine tuning in the
auditory test: The problematic measure between coupling and decoupling
achieves its perfection here in the interaction with the strut design.
In the comparison test the CD player uncovered spatial details with clearly
less effort; music with a tendency towards aggressive mixing (such as
the stereo remastering of certain Beatles tapes) was pleasantly dealt
with, but without the high degree of impulse fidelity being attenuated.
The small version is available at a price even students can afford two
Spider levels at a height of 30 cm for DM 750. The maximum price is restricted
only by the wishes of the buyer. The catalogue describes only up to a
magnificent Spider with ten levels at a design height of 150 centimetres
for a price of DM 3,450. |
A new sense of
lightness:
The Spider has a subdued appearance despite
its unusual design. As it does without shelves,
the freely presented hi-fi components dominate.
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