In the rarified world of high-end audio, where form often battles function for supremacy, Rosso Fiorentino’s Pisa loudspeaker emerges as a triumphant fusion of both. Hailing from the Icone seriesโreserved for the brand’s most audacious design statementsโthe Pisa is no mere speaker; it’s a floorstanding monument to Italian ingenuity, blending the raw power of a Renaissance sculpture with the ethereal grace of a Verdi aria. At 1204mm tall and tipping the scales at 68kg per unit, this 3-way sealed enclosure floorstander commands medium-sized listening rooms with an authority that belies its sophisticated restraint, delivering a frequency response that stretches from a room-shaking 35Hz to an ultrasonic 100kHz.
Noble and sophisticated character
Rooted in Rosso Fiorentino’s unwavering commitment to “noble and sophisticated character,” the Pisa embodies a philosophy that views loudspeakers as architectural artifacts. Its trapezoidal cabinet, crafted from a multi-layer composite of aluminum panels, solid HDF fiberboard, and rubber damping elements, eschews the visual bombast of some high-end behemoths for a profile that’s both dynamic and refined. Leather-wrapped top modules, front woofer panels, and plinthsโavailable in high-gloss automotive paint or matching leatherโlend an artisanal touch, while three distinct internal absorbent materials and strategically placed air-cushion resonators banish standing waves and resonant energy. The result is a cabinet that doesn’t just house drivers; it sculpts sound, suppressing vibrations through advanced damping systems that decouple the top section via viscoelastic discs and mount woofers with precision isolation.
Tour de force of driver integration
Technically, the Pisa is a tour de force of driver integration. A bespoke ribbon diaphragm ultrasonic generator extends the treble realm to 100kHz, enhancing spatial depth and airiness in ways that delta-sigma DACs can only dream of. Flanking it is a 28mm silk-dome neodymium tweeter, treated for damping to ensure smooth, fatigue-free highs, and a 165mm paper-diaphragm midrange wooferโlikely a nod to the acclaimed 18cm Scan-Speak unitโfor natural tonality and controlled dispersion. Anchoring the low end are dual 200mm aluminum-cone woofers, optimized for the sealed enclosure’s linear excursion and motion control, yielding a -6dB bass extension to 30Hz that’s as articulate as it is profound.
Italian magic
The magic, however, lies in the execution. Rosso’s distributed three-way crossoverโspanning 200Hz, 2.2kHz, and 30kHzโemploys premium components from elite manufacturers, augmented by custom coils and an impedance-optimization circuit that tames the nominal 6ฮฉ load (dipping to 4.4ฮฉ minimum) for effortless amplifier synergy. Recommended for 100Wโ300W into 8ฮฉ, this network weaves the five drivers into a coherent point-source illusion, preserving phase coherence for impeccable off-axis response and a three-dimensional soundstage that envelops listeners like a Tuscan sunset.
Performance-wise, the Pisa lives up to its pedigree with a sensitivity of 87dB SPL (2.83V/1m) and claims of “outstanding clarity, articulation, and natural tonal balance.” Early impressions from high-end salons suggest it excels in transient speed and low-frequency control, rendering orchestral swells with holographic precision and rock rhythms with visceral punchโall while maintaining the effortless flow that defines true reference playback. In a market flooded with analytical precision but starved for soul, the Pisa’s balanced acoustic presence feels refreshingly human, faithfully unearthing nuances from recordings with transparency that rivals systems twice its stature.
For audiophiles who demand not just sound, but an experience, the Rosso Fiorentino Pisa stands as a declaration: high-end audio isn’t about shouting from the rooftopsโit’s about whispering truths that resonate forever. As Rosso Fiorentino continues to push the boundaries of Italian design in the Icone series, the Pisa proves that strength and elegance need never compromise.
Dimensions: 1204 x 413 x 466 mm (H x W x D); Weight: 68kg each. Finishes: Leather or high-gloss automotive paint (custom options available). Pricing upon request via authorized dealers.
