Dynamics are a huge part of Model D's repertoire as well, with full orchestral climaxes punching you in the face, and leaving you with an involuntary grin to show for it. The sense of scale is startling, while the pace, rhythm, cleanliness, and depth of the bass extension remind you that the gargantuan speaker units - all 174kg and 2-meter height - are huge for a reason. Despite their size, their bases are designed to yield slightly in a fore-aft plane, so as to avoid transmitting vibrations into the floor.

While the Model D is a standalone audio system, it can nevertheless be easily integrated into a full home theater/surround system as the front and/or surround channels. Steinway Lyngdorf has also planned for a forthcoming concierge service that will help customers source original recordings.

The Model D succeeds with all kinds of music because of its winning combination of transparency, scale, and dynamic capability. That it not only looks, but feels so immaculate, made me reconsider my initial cynicism at its asking price. I once heard a similarly priced valve-amp and horn-speaker separate system that literally made me wince in disappointment, but the Model D has restored my faith - and love for - top-end audio.

Die-hard traditionalists may balk at the fact that it is all-digital, but its lucky prospective owners will simply marvel at its convenience, its looks, its ability to so utterly enrich a room, and its breathtaking sound quality. Only 100 sets of this exquisite system will be made.