CESSARO AFFASCINANTE SE

Pre owned. In excellent condition. Free from any obvious signs of wear. Original packaging not included.

The Cessaro Affascinante SE is an ultra-high-end horn loudspeaker designed according to the engineering philosophy of Cessaro Horn Acoustics, the German manufacturer renowned for its handcrafted high-efficiency horn systems. The Affascinante SE is an ideal solution for listeners seeking the dynamics and natural sound reproduction characteristic of large Cessaro horn systems, but in a more manageable format than the company's flagship models.

The design is based on a three-way horn-loaded configuration developed to deliver high sensitivity, fast transient response, and exceptionally realistic musical reproduction. The bass section employs an 11-inch Alnico-magnet woofer coupled to a rear-loaded horn system, while the midrange is handled by a 1-inch compression driver loaded by a spherical wooden horn measuring approximately 36 cm in diameter. High frequencies are reproduced by a 0.5-inch compression driver coupled to a dedicated 9 cm horn. For its compression units, Cessaro has traditionally employed Japanese TAD (Technical Audio Devices) components, widely regarded among the finest in the world for speed, precision, and tonal naturalness.

One of the most distinctive features of the Affascinante SE is its extremely high efficiency of approximately 100 dB (1W/1m), enabling very high sound pressure levels even when driven by low-power amplifiers, including refined single-ended tube amplifiers. The nominal 8-ohm impedance also presents a relatively easy load for most high-quality electronics.

From a construction standpoint, the loudspeaker stands out for its use of carefully selected materials and exceptional craftsmanship. The spherical wooden horns and cabinet structure are designed to minimize resonances and preserve the integrity of the musical signal. Cessaro's design philosophy focuses on reducing coloration to the greatest extent possible and recreating the live musical event with maximum realism through the use of reference-grade components and proprietary construction techniques.

In listening evaluations, the Cessaro Affascinante SE is highly regarded for its remarkable ability to create a spacious, three-dimensional soundstage, with a particularly natural and engaging midrange. The combination of highly efficient compression drivers, the speed of the TAD components, and horn loading results in reproduction characterized by exceptional micro-detail, instantaneous dynamics, and outstanding tonal realism. Voices and acoustic instruments are rendered with impressive presence and naturalness while maintaining excellent listenability even at low volume levels.

The Cessaro Affascinante SE ranks among the most exclusive horn loudspeakers in the European High-End audio landscape, offering much of the sonic performance of the larger Cessaro systems in a comparatively more compact configuration suitable for dedicated high-performance listening rooms.

Technical Specifications

• Type: Passive floorstanding loudspeaker
• Configuration: Horn-loaded, 3-way system
• Woofer: 11" Alnico-magnet driver; rear-loaded horn design
• Midrange: 1" TAD compression driver; 36 cm spherical wooden horn
• Tweeter: 0.5" TAD compression driver; 9 cm horn
• Sensitivity: 100 dB (1 W / 1 m)
• Nominal Impedance: 8 Ω
• Maximum Sound Pressure Level: Up to 117 dB
• Construction: Multi-layer wooden horns; handcrafted in Germany
• Amplifier Matching: Ideal for low-power tube amplifiers thanks to its high efficiency
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 600 mm × 1700 mm × 850 mm (including horn assembly)
• Weight: Approximately 70 kg each