Well, I was having lunch in Melbourne on Wednesday in the popular suburb of Richmond. Being on my own, I was reading the newspaper, and to my utter surprise, on the bottom right corner of one page, there was an ad for Elipson!
Could not believe my eyes...On further inspection, one of the dealers advertised was in Richmond.
Jumped on Maps on my iPhone (how did we lived before having one???) to find out that the dealer in question was about 50m from the restaurant I was in.
So, here I am, entering this nice Hifi shop called Encel Stereo, bumping into some Cabasse speakers right there...(84-88 Bridge Rd - Richmond - tel:+61 3 9428 3761)
I announced myself by asking if they are so kind of French Hifi experts, and it turned out that they had just ordered the system on the photo from the new Elipson distributor: AUDIO DYNAMICS, system you could describe in short as a Bose Lifestyle system well done (or should I say rare...).
It is certainly a very smart attempt at getting the younger crowd out there equipped with MP3/iPhone/iPod/iPad as their main source of musical software into serious 2-channel hifi systems.
I had a chance to listen to the Planets L (and to the Planets by Holt as well...) at the last Hifi Show in Paris.
Although they are nowhere near the sound of the famous vintage Elipson spheres, they are nevertheless a proper pair of hifi speakers, and way way better than any Acoustimass on the planet (pun intended...)
Full description of the Music Centre here:
http://www.elipson.com/en/model/211_Music-Center.html
And the Planet L here
http://www.elipson.com/en/model/137_Planet-L.html

I will keep you posted on the delivery date, so you can rush to Encel to listen to this extraordinary piece of French engineering, and you can kill two birds with the same stone by listening to the Cabasse Artis line.
Find out more here:
http://www.encelstereo.com.au/encel/Brand03pop.asp?id=3845

Update: Len Wallis Audio in Lane Cove, Sydney also stock this product.
If you are a Sydneysider, you ought to go and have a listen!

ELIPSON
Emotion
Leon (Joseph, bien sur...)
Innovation
Professional
Sphere
ORTF (Office de Radio & Television Francais)
No compromise
This is how the new Elipson communication is structured, a good balance of nostalgia and revival.
The new 4260 is certainly a fine example of all these attributes, and I am sure, Joseph Leon would approve of the new design.
Interestingly enough, PHL Audio, and Philippe Lesage, are providing the main drivers of exceptional characteristics, as you would expect from a manufacturer of pro drivers.
So, the midrange is left to a 21cm (8") driver with a phase plug, and the bass to a 38cm (15") unit, both paper based and very high efficiency, as the final product has a 92db efficiency - not a small feast for a speaker that size!
The power capacity is a whopping 250Watts RMS ( real watts...you can read about the different ways of measuring power for loudspeakers on the PHL Audio website).
The tweeter is custom made from Scanspeak, a very well known Danish manufacturer.
Elipson had prepared quite an extensive demo on CD, although a turntable was also on hand for the vynil enthusiasts.
The sound was spectacular on jazz and percussions particularly, thanks to the 38cm and the tweeter.
On the only classical recording played, the orchestra sounded a bit dull and not full-bodied, but I guess, it was that particular recording.
On female voices, the 21cm gives its full delivery, smooth, precise, quick.
After only six pieces of music, overall the result was splendid and very much part of the Elipson heritage.
For a more thorough review, (and the story of another hifi freak...) I recommend you go to www.passion-elipson.com
I had an extensive chat with the mechanical designer of the 4260, a young man called Cedric Leon (sic!, and he is not related...) who was very enthusiastic about the product and clearly very happy to work for Elipson.
It was very refreshing to meet somebody from a much younger generation being as passionate as I was when I first heard the 4040 in the 70s...
Maybe he will have his own blog one day...
Browse through my collection of photos of the stand and the 4260s as well.
Another product that seems to be the next one to be revived is the sphere with the diffuser, using (maybe...) the coaxial driver used in the new Planets.
Can't wait to hear them!