Inside Bardhi’s Zurich Hi-Fi System With Dan D’Agostino and Rockport Technologies

There are hi-fi systems that are built around a collection of familiar high-end components, and then there are systems where every major component makes it clear that the owner is chasing something much further up the performance ladder. Bardhi, who is based in Zurich, Switzerland, has built his system around the Dan D’Agostino Momentum MxV, Rockport Technologies Atria 2 loudspeakers, and NBS IIIs cables. It is an uncompromising combination that puts some serious high-end hardware at the heart of his listening room. Dan D’Agostino Momentum MxV Meets Rockport Atria 2 The centerpiece of Bardhi’s system is the Dan D’Agostino Momentum MxV, partnered with Rockport Technologies’ Atria 2 loudspeakers. Both brands occupy a very different part of the hi-fi market from the mass-market and mainstream premium equipment that many enthusiasts encounter. Rockport Technologies has built its reputation around meticulously engineered loudspeakers, while Dan D’Agostino is known for amplifiers designed with performance and construction quality at the forefront. Bardhi has chosen the Atria 2 as the speakers for his system, giving the Momentum MxV a pair of serious high-end loudspeakers to work with. The combination is completed with NBS IIIs cables. It is a system that clearly reflects an enthusiast who has spent considerable time deciding what he wants from his audio system rather than simply following the most familiar names in hi-fi. Why Bardhi Moved Away From Bowers & Wilkins Interestingly, Bardhi's current system also represents a departure from Bowers & Wilkins. He says that he moved away from the British loudspeaker manufacturer some time ago. While he still acknowledges the quality of Bowers & Wilkins speakers, his current preferences have taken him toward a very different level of high-end audio. “Bowers speakers are good, but they are far from the crème de la crème of hi-fi,” Bardhi says. That comment gives some insight into what he is looking for from his system. His current setup is not about choosing equipment simply because it is popular or widely recognized. Instead, the Dan D’Agostino and Rockport combination places the emphasis firmly on the pursuit of top-level performance. Bardhi’s Current System The system is relatively straightforward on paper, but the components themselves tell the story.

Room: living room