July-August 2006

Bolzano Villetri Torre + Vecchio

Bolzano Villetri is a young and dynamic Italian company born from the common passion for the high fidelity, by an audiophile and a professional musician. The strong point of Bolzano Villetri, based in Milan, but having offices in London and elsewhere in Europe, is to dispose of important financial means. This constitutes a security which avoids unpleasant surprises, a customer knowing not always that it is not that simple to produce a prototype, even in little series. Bolzano Villetri has given itself important means at that level, as much concerning the laboratories of R&D, as on the level of the factory where the most recent production machines are, including for the wood production.

The high model of the Campanile, in version 2.1:

At Bolzano Villetri, the catalogue is composed of the series ‘Citta Ideale’ (the most evolved), which is followed by the series ‘Campanile’, and finally by the center and the subwoofer for home cinema extensions. The Torre, referenced HF3005, is the most evolved columnar model of the series Campanile. This Italian name had been given to those ancient towers next to the churches which were to house the bells. While the thin Piazzetta columns tested in last February, where made primarily for a use in surround home cinema, the Torre tested here are conceived for use in either two channel or multi channel, the centre advised for home cinema use being the model Cantoria. Those elegant columns of 1,60 m height, have a side section measuring 41,5 cm. As for the Piazzetta, one finds again the ultra luxurious wood panel which is varnished seventeen times. The whole of the cabinet work is realised in the factory itself and the walls plated with real wood, are given shape in very sophisticated computerised presses. The surface completion is so beautiful that a non specialist may nearly believe it to be printed vinyl in wood imitation. On the Torre, Bolzano Villetri takes over the principle of the two audio sources, facing each other vertically, with a face to face positioning for the medium bass and a back to back positioning for the tweeters. The whole thing can be assimilated on the acoustic level with a sphere of pulse, emitting sound in every direction. It is the ‘Roundstream’ principle, which needs a special architecture in vertical symmetry, the two tweeters built vertically back to back being maintained by a very rigid structure (wood & aluminum), decorated with grey enamel. The medium-bass reproduction is given to two loud speakers of 21cm, each built in deadening acrylic tease and syncronised by a tubular channel flow. They are built on a frame of aluminium and equipped with polypropylenic membranes, high diameter cables with high power resistance. The magnetic circuit with ferretic magnet of 130mm diameter is completed by a core with diffusing warhead. The tweeters are built back to back. They are protected by grills under which a phase is installed which egalises the omnidirectional response. The principle of placing the loud speakers in vertical symmetry also has the benefit to considerably limit parasitic vibrations by opposing the forces in movement. The flexible links of the fixation of the tweeters eliminate the vibratory residues located in higher frequency levels. The elegant line of the Torre intelligently hides a very rigid construction. Bolzano Villetri is going as far as to use loudspeakers supported by 52 mm of thickness to form a perfectly stable and inert mechanic bass.

The passive filter:

It is a two lanes version with slopes of the optimised second order. The frequency of cutting has been fixed at 4,5 kHz. The quality components are grouped behind a golden double connector block.

The subwoofer Vecchio:

Its shape being nearly that of a cube, it matches the Torres with the same elegance. It houses a loud-speaker of 30 cm of diameter, equipped with polypropylenic membranes. It is very complete, and equipped with an amplifier of 500W. The filter can be adjusted between 40 and 140 Hz. It weights 45kg.

Our opinion:

Jean Hiraga: The test of the columns Piazzetta in last February had posed some difficulties with measures and with the ideal placement in the room. The Torre and Vecchio in 2.1 configuration tested here, have been far better. It is possible that the constructor has meanwhile made some modifications of the passive filter. The measures have been excellent and stable in spite of the omnidirectional diffusion. The listening results clearly surpass those obtained on the Piazzetta: subjective answer more uniform and wider. The low levels Vecchio brings a generous expansion to the first octaves, allowing the contrabasses or large orchestra formations to plainly express themselves. This formation has the advantage that it can be listened to from the front and from the side, without particular loss of sound precision, nor without defocalisation of the virtual sources. Even though one wishes for 40m2 or more, the placement of the Torre in relation to the lateral and back walls must be adjusted with precision. It is important!

Romain Buthigieg: After the last test on the Piazzetta, which use in frontal placement had not much impressed Hiraga & Lacrampe, the Italian constructor has given us this pair of Torre (higher level model & for front use) with the Vecchio. The system uses the principle of omnidirectional diffusion, which is probably one of the most difficult to produce. The transductors do not need to hide themselves as they are of very high quality, the components selected for use are of the highest quality too, it is difficult to try and reproach Bolzano Villetri to save money. The Sweet Point of the Torre is not, in my view very focused, but overtakes the form of an inversed cardioide, from the position of the loudspeakers. This means that if the listener is placed too far from the loudspeakers, on the median, he receives a less good sound than if he goes on the left or right. All this depends on the placement of the loudspeakers and on the size of the room. With the Bolzano’s, one can really obtain an excellent result. You will not have to hesitate to take your time to set them up, this configuration is worth it.