REVIEWS
If you can't bring the artist home; clone the performance! ArtistCloner; cloning audio experiences!
November 2022 Café Audiophile Presentation
First impressions of the ETHER floor standing loudspeaker
Nous assistions à une première pour l’écoute de l’enceinte Ether. Il s’agit d’une enceinte autoportante de 2.5 voies équipée d’un tweeter SB Acoustic de la série SATORI avec un dôme en béryllium. Les deux woofers médium/basse sont du réputé fabricant Scanspeak avec une membrane en pulpe de cellulose traitée, qui est particulièrement performante pour transmettre les fréquences médianes. Ses transducteurs sont interreliés par des filtres de fréquences configurés en série, une technique rarement employée chez les fabricants d’enceintes acoustiques car elle est compliquée et dispendieuse à mettre en œuvre. Une fois bien appliquée, cette technique procure à l’enceinte Ether une balance tonale qui est des plus agréables avec des hautes fréquences cristallines et douces à la fois. Celles-ci se marient parfaitement avec le médium qui est d’une bonne neutralité et d’une très belle ouverture. Quant aux basses fréquences, elles sont profondes, bien contrôlées et elles remplissaient facilement le local du Café Audiophile qui fait 24 pi de longueur par 20 pi de largeur pour une hauteur de 9 pi.
Michel D'allaire |
With its impeccable stone finish, the 2.5-way Ether floorstander is equipped with a smooth-sounding beryllium-dome tweeter mounted in its own internal chamber. The speaker’s dual woofers also each have their own chamber, as does the crossover, to insulate it from bass vibrations.
Powered by the company’s 50Wpc Coléo amplifiers, the system’s sound filled our large 24" x 20" x 10"-sized room with sound effortlessly. The synergy between the ArtistCloner components is in a class of its own. I was transported to a parallel universe. The real world no longer existed. What a wonderful audition! Michel Plante Alimentée par les amplificateurs Coléo de 50w, elle remplissait la vaste pièce d’une supeficie de 24” x 20” x 10” avec une aisance inouïe. La synergie de l’ensemble ArtistCloner est dans une classe à part. J’étais transporté carrément dans un monde parallèle. Le vrai monde n’existait plus. Quelle merveilleuse audition ! Michel Plante |
Montreal audio fest 2019 salon audio Montréal
TED (Québec audio)
ArtistCloner est un fabricant de la rive Sud de Montréal dont la qualité d’exécution et la sonorité de ses produits sont d’un très haut niveau. ArtistCloner is a manufacturer from the south shore of Montreal with a very high level of quality of execution and of sound. Michel Dallaire 
Enjoy the music
Sylvio Comtois continued on the road of excellence with only minor modifications to his Artist Cloner line of solid-state integrated amp, stand mounted monitor and cables. The darkened room with spot-lighted components created justifiable drama for the excellent sound here. The monitor ($16,000 w/stands) had taken on a different shape than I recalled from two years ago with clipped upper corners and a creased front baffle to time align the drivers. All told, one of the Best Rooms at the show. Rick Becker 
Must have vinyl-records
Saw ArtistCloner at Toronto Audiofest 2018 - tied for best sound at the show in our opinion, and again this weekend at Montreal Audiofest I would say the same. When people get up to leave your room, and then turn around and sit down again to listen more because it sounds so good, you know you are doing something right! Keep up the great work, You truly deliver hi-end sound! ...may have the best sound at the show! Video of room with Tin Pan alley-Stevie Ray Vaughan
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SoundStage HIFI
“The Best of Montréal Audio Fest 2019.” What’s interesting about this year’s roundup is that only one of the brands is Canadian....I felt it time to give ArtistCloner and the Scorpi the praise they’re due -- over and over at MAF 2019, writers and other attendees asked me, “Have you heard the ArtistCloner room? It sounds really good.” I checked it out myself, and they were right. The sound of their all-ArtistCloner system -- a prototype music server, Rebel Reference speakers, and their own interconnects and speaker cables -- was among the best of the show: smooth, spacious, and detailed. I think it’s high time we requested a sample to review.'' Doug Schneider 
Novo
''The sound was silky smooth and transparent combined with impressive flow and musicality. Yet, even these fine qualities were not as amazing as the depth and control that the two mid-size stand-mount speakers exhibited; quite amazing.'' George de Sa Copper magazine -PSAUDIO
This will come as a surprise. Not many will have heard of this Montreal-area company which has been around for about 5 years now. And what about that name…weird or what? Even their room was a bit weird. Sort of like the deep interior of Tom Hanks’ cave on “Cast Away”. The lighting was deeply subdued (which my photo doesn’t do justice to) and the décor…out there. But let me tell you, there’s nothing weird about the sound they were able to generate. Artist Cloner makes everything themselves – the speakers, the electronics, the streamer…even the cables. We were listening to their bookshelf 2-way speakers Rebel Reference ($15,500), powered by the integrated amplifier Scorpi ($12,700), driven by an as-yet unnamed streamer which was hidden from view in what looked like a washed-up packing crate. Maybe they’ll call the streamer Wilson?…. These are not insignificant prices we are talking about here, but neither was the sound. Very, very easy on the ear, with a wide soundstage, and benefitting from a well-judged room set-up... Richard Murison |
Toronto audio fest 2018
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Stereophile
<<I didn't have much time to listen to the system, but my impressions were very positive: a well-balanced sound, with credible dynamics and precise imaging.>> Robert Deutsch |
6MOONS
<<One product line that surprised was ArtistCloner from designer Sylvio Comtois.....incredibly quick, belting out dynamic nuance and power with good warmth and a Cinerama-style soundstage. Count me impressed again.>> Glen Wageknecht |
TED (Québec Audio)
ArtistCloner, a young Quebec manufacturer, arrives in Toronto with a complete ArtistCloner audio system and with the Merging Nadac as source. Made up of the Scorpi integrated amplifier and the Rebel Reference loudspeakers, this sound system has literally hit the hearts of audiophiles in Toronto. I stayed there a long time to listen of course, but also by pride, just to watch the reaction of people … which was really very positive. And with good reason, it sounded heavenly with a lot of dynamics and fine details; the Rebel Reference loudspeakers filled the room of music with a swing that had little comparable. Congratulations to Sylvio Comtois and Isabelle Fortin for this beautiful presentation, you have something to be proud of and keep up the good job!
Jean-Denis Doyle
ArtistCloner, a young Quebec manufacturer, arrives in Toronto with a complete ArtistCloner audio system and with the Merging Nadac as source. Made up of the Scorpi integrated amplifier and the Rebel Reference loudspeakers, this sound system has literally hit the hearts of audiophiles in Toronto. I stayed there a long time to listen of course, but also by pride, just to watch the reaction of people … which was really very positive. And with good reason, it sounded heavenly with a lot of dynamics and fine details; the Rebel Reference loudspeakers filled the room of music with a swing that had little comparable. Congratulations to Sylvio Comtois and Isabelle Fortin for this beautiful presentation, you have something to be proud of and keep up the good job!
Jean-Denis Doyle
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Positive Feedback
This room was the biggest surprise of the Show....The sound in this room totally blew us away. It was big, bold, imposing and true-to-life. The midrange was as smooth as a baby's bottom and the bass was tight and very tuneful. Even at higher volumes, the compression and distortion was surprisingly low. For a maiden attempt, we think that Sylvio has hit this one out of the ballpark. We have no hesitation in declaring that in the $15,000 price point, the Rebel Reference was the best value, best sounding bookshelf speaker at the Show. Malcolm J. Gomes |
Wall of Sound
Next up, ArtistCloner. Ahh, finally.. my chance to find out what the fuss is all about. Sean introduced me to Sylvio Comtois and his wife Isabelle, both very charming people, and then someone asked me if I wanted to hear Pink Floyd “done right”. After that, details are sketchy. Possibly I was abducted by aliens? I don’t know. But I’m not sure if I’ve ever heard digital music (via Merging NADAC) sounding so….analog. Sylvio had made a major effort in getting this room to sound good. I heard new details on tracks from The Wall, and a three dimensional soundfield like I had not heard before. Outstanding. Noam Bronstein |
Canuck Audio Forum
A few comments below from the Canuck audio forum's multiple posts on ArtistCloner.
Forum can be found here.
A few comments below from the Canuck audio forum's multiple posts on ArtistCloner.
Forum can be found here.
...the Rebels have been added to the Christmas list. These mid sized book shelf speakers kicked it out of the park. |
These were the highlight of the show for me. For a one man show to produce some of the best sound in the show is an accomplishment to be commended! |
...one of the best sounding rooms! |
This company is definitely on my watch list. |
+1 I believe new ground has been broken with the Rebel speakers. ...the integrated and those speakers sounded really nice. |
I for the life of me, cannot get these speakers out of my mind. I had trouble putting them out of my mind as well! |
...the ArtistCloner room was excellent. I asked if he had a sub-woofer in the room because the bass was so good. |
Lastly the ArtistCloner room that a lot of members have mentioned was a big surprise. Sylvio is on to something. |
Checked out most of the set ups and the one I went back to multiple times was the ArtistCloner room. I've never heard a large stand mount speakers that sounded so good. These speakers soundstage and imaging was jaw dropping. By far my best of show. Time to start saving up the $$$
Rocky Mountain audio Fest 2018
The Audiophile Weekend Warrior - TAWW
<<Another Canadian speaker outfit that sounds like they know what they're doing is ArtistCloner, a relative newcomer out of Montreal. Their Rebel Reference ($16k with stands) immediately caught my ear with its natural, spontaneous presentation - on a Bossa nova-style number played by jazz trio (piano, string bass, percussion), the tone of the piano's lower register was full and vibrant, the bass was tuneful and rim shots had great pop and crispness. There was an organic speed and incisiveness that reminded me of the beloved Merlin speakers of yesteryear, but with even greater resolution and dynamic verve...a wonderfully open and continuous quality with a sense of "rightness">>
<<Another Canadian speaker outfit that sounds like they know what they're doing is ArtistCloner, a relative newcomer out of Montreal. Their Rebel Reference ($16k with stands) immediately caught my ear with its natural, spontaneous presentation - on a Bossa nova-style number played by jazz trio (piano, string bass, percussion), the tone of the piano's lower register was full and vibrant, the bass was tuneful and rim shots had great pop and crispness. There was an organic speed and incisiveness that reminded me of the beloved Merlin speakers of yesteryear, but with even greater resolution and dynamic verve...a wonderfully open and continuous quality with a sense of "rightness">>
Pictures are from The Weekend Audiophile Warrior
Auspicious Debuts
ArtistCloner Rebel Reference
ArtistCloner, of Montreal, played Edition 6 of their Rebel Reference 16" x 9" x 14.5" powerhouse....The advertising copy promises “a bookshelf speaker that thinks it’s a full-range” and the Rebel Reference, powered by a Scorpi integrated amplifier and playing files from a Merging PL8 NADAC + player, acquitted itself more than adequately with Iván Fischer’s Channel Classics recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3.
ArtistCloner Rebel Reference
ArtistCloner, of Montreal, played Edition 6 of their Rebel Reference 16" x 9" x 14.5" powerhouse....The advertising copy promises “a bookshelf speaker that thinks it’s a full-range” and the Rebel Reference, powered by a Scorpi integrated amplifier and playing files from a Merging PL8 NADAC + player, acquitted itself more than adequately with Iván Fischer’s Channel Classics recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3.
Some comments from visitors at the rmaf 2018
Best imaging!
Electrostatic like!
Top five at the show!
Dynamic and deep!
See our Facebook for pictures and videos of the room.
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TED MAGAZINE
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Happy customer comments on the STAGE ONE INTERCONNECT (July 2018)
''I have been listening to high end audio gear for nearly fifty years as a producer of live acoustic concerts, an electrical engineer and a physicist. You can only imagine the innumerable audio products that have been part of my system during this time. Your ArtistCloner Carbon interconnects are beyond any competition.
When my wife, Suzanne, the daughter of a sax player, heard them (without knowing) for the first time, she immediately began dancing to the music, saying “Wow David, what did you do to the system?” These IC deliver more emotional energy, by far, than any I have heard previously at any price. Congratulations!!''
David G.
2018
Montreal Audio Fest / Salon Audio de Montréal
Pictures below
THE RED BOOK
The RED BOOK is a book left at the front entrance of the rooms of audio shows. The quotes below are mostly in french and we have translated them to English. If you want to see the original text where the quotes were taken from the link is here. The book expresses a good description of how people feel after hearing the complete ArtistCloner system.
<<My second session listening to ArtistCloner and already amongst the big players of the world of high level audio reproduction!! 2X Bravo>>
Audio Hospitality
<<Extraordinary! Bravo! Beautiful in balance of style and sound!>>
Jerome F.
<<Great Demo! WOW!!>>
Chris McDonald
<<Bravo. Extra. What sound. Fantastic and from Quebec. WOW>>
Thank-you
<<Exceptional product and from Quebec, BRAVO!!!>>
Signed with a smiley face and a wink
<<A complete system with a very good feel. Very nice discovery!>>
Héloise
<<...the best there is>>
Signed
<<Really adored>>
Signed
<<BEST SYSTEM FOR THE PRICE!>>
Signed
<<Always as musical!!>>
Signed
<<Super work from someone evidently passionate!>>
Jean-Pierre and Anne
<<Magnificent! The best at the show!>>
P.C.
<<BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM! MUSIC TO OUR EARS!>>
No signature
<<Off this show (2018) The ArtistCloner speakers and the Elac flagship speakers are at the top. Both have their advantages, but the ArtistCloner speakers have a three dimensional quality that only series crossovers can provide. Well done with a fantastic system wide design philosophy and one of so very few speakers designs that defy their physical space.>>
Brad .P.
<<Good luck Sylvio, Isabelle Tristan for your success. A product from Quebec that merits to be known and built by passionates for the fervent of sound!!>>
Signed with kisses
<<Excellent system! I am proud to be a Quebec-er! Keep up the good work! To the pleasure of seeing you guys next year!>>
Benjamin C.
<<Excellent sound...thank-you for the demonstration>>
Ghyslain
<<I thought that I didn't have a musical ear... now I know that I have a very musical ear....all that what missing was the best system of diffusion for me to realize. Thank-you ArtistCloner.
Vincent L.
<<Super sound. Thank-you>>
Signed
<< Why go and listen to the other systems when ArtistCloner has attained Nirvana? Super sound and realization.>>
Dave
<<Ditto>>
Signed
<<Congratulations on the demonstration! One of the nicest demos at the show!>>
Félix
<<Once again, 1000 times Bravo!!>>
Seb
<<Bravo Sylvio and Isabelle. Another magnificent performance!!>>
Sean
<<I like electronic stuff, your sounds are really brilliant!>>
xxxGrace (I am a child)
<<Superb!! Excellent!!>>
Not Signed
<<Wow the best at the show BRAVO!!!>>
Christian D.
<<My second session listening to ArtistCloner and already amongst the big players of the world of high level audio reproduction!! 2X Bravo>>
Audio Hospitality
<<Extraordinary! Bravo! Beautiful in balance of style and sound!>>
Jerome F.
<<Great Demo! WOW!!>>
Chris McDonald
<<Bravo. Extra. What sound. Fantastic and from Quebec. WOW>>
Thank-you
<<Exceptional product and from Quebec, BRAVO!!!>>
Signed with a smiley face and a wink
<<A complete system with a very good feel. Very nice discovery!>>
Héloise
<<...the best there is>>
Signed
<<Really adored>>
Signed
<<BEST SYSTEM FOR THE PRICE!>>
Signed
<<Always as musical!!>>
Signed
<<Super work from someone evidently passionate!>>
Jean-Pierre and Anne
<<Magnificent! The best at the show!>>
P.C.
<<BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM! MUSIC TO OUR EARS!>>
No signature
<<Off this show (2018) The ArtistCloner speakers and the Elac flagship speakers are at the top. Both have their advantages, but the ArtistCloner speakers have a three dimensional quality that only series crossovers can provide. Well done with a fantastic system wide design philosophy and one of so very few speakers designs that defy their physical space.>>
Brad .P.
<<Good luck Sylvio, Isabelle Tristan for your success. A product from Quebec that merits to be known and built by passionates for the fervent of sound!!>>
Signed with kisses
<<Excellent system! I am proud to be a Quebec-er! Keep up the good work! To the pleasure of seeing you guys next year!>>
Benjamin C.
<<Excellent sound...thank-you for the demonstration>>
Ghyslain
<<I thought that I didn't have a musical ear... now I know that I have a very musical ear....all that what missing was the best system of diffusion for me to realize. Thank-you ArtistCloner.
Vincent L.
<<Super sound. Thank-you>>
Signed
<< Why go and listen to the other systems when ArtistCloner has attained Nirvana? Super sound and realization.>>
Dave
<<Ditto>>
Signed
<<Congratulations on the demonstration! One of the nicest demos at the show!>>
Félix
<<Once again, 1000 times Bravo!!>>
Seb
<<Bravo Sylvio and Isabelle. Another magnificent performance!!>>
Sean
<<I like electronic stuff, your sounds are really brilliant!>>
xxxGrace (I am a child)
<<Superb!! Excellent!!>>
Not Signed
<<Wow the best at the show BRAVO!!!>>
Christian D.
Thank-you to all who took the time to write a message. It really helps us continue our goal to better music reproduction. Thank-you again
Sylvio Comtois
Sylvio Comtois
2017
Montreal Audio Fest / Salon de Montréal
Montreal Audio Fest / Salon de Montréal
STEREOPHILE
Art Dudley
<<the sound was so good on a recording of the first Bach unaccompanied cello suite—with richly colored, richly textured bass notes that were to die for—that I returned to their room later the same day and asked to hear it again. Sylvio Comtois may be on to something here . . .>> Article here <<the bass sounded excellent, with clear, powerful notes... so this was a very good room>>
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6MOONS
Glen Wagenknecht
<<A newfound high point was ArtistCloner. This was my first encounter with their products...looked and sounded audiophile upscale with refinement and dynamic kick, throwing out a vast soundstage with speed and power...I stopped by this room a few times and walked away impressed.>> Article here ENJOY THE MUSIC
Rick Becker
<<ArtistCloner who once again had a very fine sounding room featuring a complete ArtistCloner gear>> Article here |
the red book 2017
To see the original comments, click on the picture above.
The French comments have been translated to English. <<March 24, 2017, Super good products and good sound, also the painting is magnificient>>
Charles R. <<Bravo to the manufacturer with products from Quebec>> sighned <<SICK!!>> signed <<I am very surprised. I finally heard a system made in Quebec that is superior to the average. Thanks for the listening session>> André <<Really surprising, WOW!!>> not signed <<You are shaming a lot of people here. Excellent!!>> signed <<Exceptional product. Unique conception. WOW!!>> not signed <<WOW EXCEPTIONAL!!>> not signed <<Wonderful!!>> not signed <<Very spatial!!>> signed <<Very exceptional. It is what I heard as the best at the show!!>> Mr. Jasmin <<To be encouraged. Very interesting and it's local>> signed <<My favourite of the show! Exceptional musicality and we could spend hours at your demo. Congratulations>> signed <<Congratulations! Dandy>> Rachelle <<Best Demo!!>> Michel <<Congratulations my favourite at the show>> signed <<Definitely the best at the show!!>> signed <<WOW!>> signed <<HOLY CRAP!>> Mystic Audio <<Passionates of audio: here is true high fidelity!!! Dynamic and definition+++>> Charles D. <<It's all there! Realism, high end, low end simply the best sound at the show>> Mr Woofer <<It's airy, the integration of the mid and tweeter is imperceptible! The richness and impact of the bass is delicious. You where my ''best of the show'' last year and again this year!>> signed <<The nicest demo of the show and the nicest since many years!>> Robert B <<The award for the best sound at the SHOW goes to ArtistCloner. The award for the greatest value goes to ArtistCloner and finally for sheer pleasure there is no finer>> Sean <<BRAVO! BEAUTIFUL QUEBEC COMPANY! SUPER QUALITY SOUND. BEAUTIFUL AND FRIENDLY WOMAN AT THE ENTRANCE>> Mick Y. Thanks to all who took the time to write in our RED BOOK! Sylvio Comtois |
2017 Montreal Show pictures
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Thank-you to all who came! We really enjoyed that amazing weekend!