The Gauder Akustik Capello 80 DV is a passive floorstanding loudspeaker built in Germany under the direction of Roland Gauder. It gathers the core Gauder design language, the Time Delay Control equipped crossover, and the full Double Vision upgrade package into a full range tower that is meant to disappear into a room and leave only the music behind. This guide walks through what makes it distinct, the kind of space it wants, how to feed it, and where it sits within the wider Capello DV family.
What Makes the Capello 80 DV Distinct
Every Gauder loudspeaker shares a design philosophy that is unusually consistent for a high end brand. At the heart of it sits an ultra steep symmetrical crossover, engineered to hand each driver only the band it is meant to reproduce and to keep the phase relationship between drivers coherent. The goal is a phase accurate presentation where instruments and voices occupy stable, believable positions in space rather than smearing across the drivers.
The Capello 80 DV pairs that crossover with Gauder's XPulse cone bass and midrange drivers and an aluminum tweeter. In this line the aluminum tweeter is upgradeable to beryllium, so you can specify the treble character you prefer at the outset or plan for a future step. The Capello line also adds Time Delay Control, a further refinement of the crossover that aligns the arrival of sound from each driver to your ears for a more focused image.
The cabinet follows the signature Gauder drop shaped, teardrop cross section. That form is not cosmetic. Curved, non parallel walls reduce internal standing waves and diffraction, helping the enclosure stay out of the way of the drivers. As with the wider Gauder catalogue, the emphasis is on a quiet cabinet that lets the crossover and drivers do the storytelling.
The Double Vision Upgrade Package
The DV suffix stands for Double Vision, and it is worth being precise about what that means. It is not a diamond tweeter, and no Gauder model discussed here uses a diamond tweeter. Double Vision is a package of internal upgrades. The Capello 80 DV carries finely selected Mundorf crossover components, upgraded internal wiring, and top grade WBT terminals fitted with rhodium plated bi wiring bridges. These parts refine the signal path at the points where a loudspeaker gains or loses transparency, and they support bi wiring if your system is set up for it.
Sound Character
The Capello 80 DV leans into what Gauder is known for: clarity, phase coherence, and a stable, precisely drawn soundstage. The ultra steep crossover and Time Delay Control combine to render transients cleanly and to keep the boundaries between instruments distinct, so complex passages stay legible. The aluminum tweeter delivers detailed, articulate highs, and moving to the beryllium option shifts the treble toward even greater speed and extension for listeners who prize that character. The XPulse cone drivers carry the midrange and bass with body and drive, and the Double Vision parts add a layer of refinement through the crossover and wiring.
If your listening tastes run toward accuracy and imaging rather than a deliberately warm or forgiving voice, this is a loudspeaker that rewards good recordings and good upstream components.
The Ideal Room
As a full range floorstander with adjustable bass, the Capello 80 DV suits small to medium rooms and can stretch into larger spaces depending on your amplifier and listening level. The teardrop cabinet and steep crossover reward careful placement, so give it some room to breathe from side and rear walls and take time with toe in to lock the image. Gauder's adjustable bass tuning helps you dial the low end to your room rather than fighting it, which is a real advantage in spaces that are lively or bass heavy.
Amplifier Matching
Gauder makes only passive loudspeakers and builds no amplifiers, so the Capello 80 DV needs a separate amplifier scaled to its level. Because this is a revealing, phase accurate design, it deserves an amplifier with control, low noise, and grip on the drivers.
For an elegant single box solution, the Luxman L-509Z Integrated Amplifier pairs beautifully, offering refinement and authority in one chassis, with the Luxman L-509Z Black Centennial Edition as a special variant of the same design. The Accuphase E-4000 Stereo Integrated Amplifier is another superb integrated match, known for its composure and precision.
If you prefer separates, combine the Accuphase C-2300 Precision Stereo Control Center with the Accuphase A-48S Class-A Stereo Power Amplifier. The Class A power amplifier brings a smooth, tactile grip that complements the Capello's clarity nicely.
On the source side, the Luxman D-10X CD Player is an excellent digital front end, and vinyl listeners will appreciate the Luxman PD-191A Turntable. A resolving speaker like this reveals what you feed it, so a strong source pays real dividends.
Where It Sits in the Capello DV Range
The Capello Double Vision family gives you a coherent path up and down depending on room and system ambitions. If you want a smaller footprint within the same line, the Gauder Capello 40 DV is the more compact option. Stepping up, the Gauder Capello 100 DV is the larger floorstander in the range, offering more scale for bigger rooms and higher output goals. For a home theater built around the same voicing, the Gauder Capello Center DV matches the family character for the center channel. Within the same Capello DV line, moving to a higher model legitimately brings more capability, so let your room size and listening habits guide the choice.
How It Compares to Other Floorstanders We Carry
The Capello 80 DV is one of several distinctive full range designs in our catalogue, each built around a different goal. The Klipschorn AK7 and Klipsch La Scala AL6 are horn loaded Heritage designs built for very high sensitivity and a big, immediate presentation, ideal if you love dynamic, effortless output. The Spendor D9.2 and Spendor Classic 200 follow a British tradition that many listeners choose for a natural, easygoing tonal balance. The Amphion Krypton 3X emphasizes controlled dispersion for stable imaging in real rooms. The Gauder distinguishes itself with its ultra steep symmetrical crossover, Time Delay Control, and the Double Vision parts upgrade, aimed squarely at phase accuracy and precise imaging. The right choice comes down to your priorities and your space rather than any one being superior.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Gauder Akustik Capello 80 DV distinctive?
Every Gauder loudspeaker shares a design philosophy that is unusually consistent for a high end brand. At the heart of it sits an ultra steep symmetrical crossover, engineered to hand each driver only the band it is meant to reproduce and to keep the phase relationship between drivers coherent. The goal is a phase accurate presentation where instruments and voices occupy stable, believable positions in space rather than smearing across the drivers.
What does the Gauder Akustik Capello 80 DV sound like?
The Capello 80 DV leans into what Gauder is known for: clarity, phase coherence, and a stable, precisely drawn soundstage. The ultra steep crossover and Time Delay Control combine to render transients cleanly and to keep the boundaries between instruments distinct, so complex passages stay legible.
What amplifier should I use with the Gauder Akustik Capello 80 DV?
Gauder makes only passive loudspeakers and builds no amplifiers, so the Capello 80 DV needs a separate amplifier scaled to its level. Because this is a revealing, phase accurate design, it deserves an amplifier with control, low noise, and grip on the drivers.
Where does the Gauder Akustik Capello 80 DV sit in the range?
The Capello Double Vision family gives you a coherent path up and down depending on room and system ambitions. If you want a smaller footprint within the same line, the Gauder Capello 40 DV is the more compact option. Stepping up, the Gauder Capello 100 DV is the larger floorstander in the range, offering more scale for bigger rooms and higher output goals.
How does the Gauder Akustik Capello 80 DV compare to the alternatives?
The Capello 80 DV is one of several distinctive full range designs in our catalogue, each built around a different goal. The Klipschorn AK7 and Klipsch La Scala AL6 are horn loaded Heritage designs built for very high sensitivity and a big, immediate presentation, ideal if you love dynamic, effortless output. The Spendor D9.2 and Spendor Classic 200 follow a British tradition that many listeners choose for a natural, easygoing tonal balance.
Let Us Help You Match It
All Elite Audio is an authorized Gauder Akustik dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate, so we invite you to contact us so we can help you match the right amplifier and source to the Capello 80 DV and to your room. We are happy to talk through placement, the aluminum or beryllium tweeter choice, and how this loudspeaker fits your listening goals.