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GTT Audio Visit: A Progression of Performance
When Bill Parish of GTT Audio redecorates his showrooms, he doesn’t change couch and ottoman material, he swaps out his tried-and-true YG lineup (which isn’t going far, simply to the facet of the room for this occasion) for some new adorning trinkets, the total line of Vivid Audio audio system. And I’ve by no means heard decor sound so good.
GTT Audio is positioned in Long Valley, NJ, an hour to hour-and-a-half drive from NYC, however a 25-minute drive from my house. One of my favourite bike paths is an outdated, decommissioned practice line by the mild hills of Long Valley and past. And I’ve to say there are some nice eating places and pubs within the neighborhood. That is to suggest that, whereas it sounds distant, there are a number of causes to move out Bill’s method.
Now comes the half the place I’ve to be sincere. I’ve by no means been a fan of Vivid audio system. So, I went in a skeptic. I’ve all the time appreciated their appears, their build-quality, their engineering, and their driver know-how. But I’ve simply by no means been blown away by their demos at reveals. I’ve colleagues and buddies who suppose extremely of Vivid; so, I knew I used to be by no means getting what they might actually do. But the chance has not introduced itself to listen to them in a correct atmosphere with correct tools. Until now.
This is a go to write-up and never an tools evaluation, so we’re speaking impressions and feelings right here, together with a abstract of what the mannequin lineup encompasses. The go to was damaged up into 4 rooms. I used to be carried on a palanquin from room to room, whereas being fed caberlot grapes and gently stored cooled by the wafting of a feather from a phoenix. Well, not likely. But I actually felt like royalty as I used to be escorted round, tasting Vivid delicacies with a touch of Mola Mola, a splash of Kubala Sosna, and an occasional facet order of True Life Audio. At one level, I used to be teased with a superb platter of Mola Mola’s new Lupe phonostage and a Kronos analog rig. It was fairly scrumptious.
Vivid audio system come within the Kaya variant and the Giya variant. The Kaya lineup begins beneath $10k with the S12 bookshelf and ends with the K90 within the $28k vary. The Kayas are fitted with a mix of an alloy 26mm tube-loaded dome tweeter (suppose B&W Nautilus infinite-tube-loaded driver design, since Vivid’s Laurence Dickie additionally designed that speaker) together with a 125mm and/or 100mm alloy-cone low-frequency and mid-frequency items in varied mixtures. The cupboard design resembles the Shmoo, for these Al Capp followers on the market, and feels very natural. The complete Vivid lineup is visually inoffensive and will have a higher-than-usual spouse-approval issue, however I discovered the Kaya line particularly enticing in an unobtrusive, sculptural method.
Speakers within the Giya sequence are all similar in form and vary in measurement from cute to spectacular. Half of my time listening, they appeared to me like a well-twisted, soft-serve ice cream cone, the place the tip falls again on itself, and the opposite half like a backyard gnome. They are enticing however make rather more of a visible assertion than the Kayas do. The Giya drivers range extra in measurement, however all are organized in a 4-way, 5-driver system, together with a three-driver complement upfront and two side-firing woofers with a novel rear-facing, side-venting port, clearly designed to remove buffeting and chaffing. The Giya line is a way more acquainted design if in comparison with the Nautilus; you may see the genetic connection simply.
To keep away from going by an in depth and perhaps not so involving description of every room and every mixture, since there have been many, let’s converse by way of oohs and ahs. I used to be, directly, taken by the efficiency of the primary speaker I heard, the voluptuous little K25 floorstander. Its look and efficiency caught me off guard to be sincere. Bill provided at hand me the iPad to pick my favourite evaluation tunes, however in a second of submission I let Bill take the DJ reigns and wow me. We listened to the identical tracks in every room and with every system, so the variations in presentation have been simply identifiable. The listening record included
“The Curse” with Agnes Obel, “Celestial Echo” with Malia and Boris Blank, “These Days with Ane Brun, “Hey Now” from London Grammar, “Limit to Your Love” by James Blake, and the Jaws Theme from John Williams.
The little K25’s provided a way of textural presence and expansive stage quantity (the measurement of capability, not amplitude) that was very satisfying. Yes, they lack deep low-frequency extension, however I didn’t miss it. The speaker sounded unconstrained, as if the music have been flowing from nowhere into everythingness. Yes, I mentioned everythingness! I actually appreciated this speaker and immediately pictured it in my workplace, subsequent to my little Maggies. As we moved up the Kaya lineup, what I obtained what was I anticipated to get—extra dynamics, extra headroom, extra depth, extra refinement. If you want what the Kayas provide, then choose what you may afford and go as excessive up the road as you may financially handle. I’ll admit within the $18–20k worth vary, there’s some stiff competitors.
The Giya line was superior in each method. It must be. It’s higher engineered, higher strengthened, higher designed, and mo’ cash. At $30k and actually pint-sized, the G4 was not proven, although I want to hear a pair. I believe the aesthetic design fits a smaller kind issue, and I can see the G4 doing for the Giyas what the K25 did for the Kayas—leaving you concerned, intrigued, and keen to listen to extra. The G3 shared the soul and signature of the Kaya however kicked issues up a notch. The 4-way design supplied subtlety and refinement that not solely confirmed a extra complicated cupboard design and driver complement however a greater crossover and inner wiring. It struck me that this cupboard design would profit from isolation. I used to be pondering a set of isoAcoustic footers is perhaps a pleasant match and lift the motive force top a contact, as nicely.
I appreciated each speaker I heard. Finally! I now get what my reviewing colleagues have been praising and having fun with. As we moved from room to room and diverse supply tools, the audio system (like their little brothers) elevated in efficiency as anticipated. The room turned extra part of the equation, and the music turned extra part of the room. In-room bass response by no means got here near what I’m used to with my Wilsons, however I used to be by no means upset. As the costs escalated above $40k, then to mid $50s and at last to $95k, the enhancements turned subtler however extra apparent on the identical time. I discovered that the Mola Mola/Kaya and Audionet Scientist Series/Giya synergized, to my style, extra engagingly than the combo of TLA (True Life Audio) and Giya. The huge G1 Sprint in Bill’s reference room powered by a statement-level mixture of Audionet Scientist names and Mola Mola elements left me awestruck. I’ve been in that room a number of occasions with the massive YGs, and I most popular what the Sprints have been doing. Yes, I’d need subs, and no, the Vivids didn’t have the general affect and presence of YG’s huge multi-tower system. But they grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. The G1 was quick paced and easy. It introduced what was on the recording, gently stepping out of the best way. I appreciated the subtlety and maturity of what was happening and simply needed to maintain going and going. And that’s what it’s all about.
Vivid is clearly price contemplating. Its audio system have a novel aesthetic attraction that can should be your factor. But whether it is, then discover someplace Vivids are nicely introduced, plunk your butt in a chair, shut your eyes, open your ears, and pay attention. You could also be glad you probably did. I used to be.
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