The Audio Company (VAC) and Von Schweikert

Hanging on the bar on the Hilton Twinbrook, one hears tales of audio offers gone dangerous, an actor absconding with a $500,000 system to an unknown Mexican vacation spot, or sordid tales of a peeved participant spiting bile at an unknowing colleague. Then there’s present organizer Gary Gill, whose upbeat, beneficiant persona is a first-rate contributor to the success of the Capital Audiofest.

Another valued participant, who possesses a way of interior calm I want I might generate, is Valve Amplification Company President Kevin Hayes, one in every of our business’s good guys since his firm’s founding in 1990.

Hayes introduced a number of new merchandise to CAF 2023 together with the brand new Essence collection: the Essence 80 Monoblocks ($9900 every), Essence Line Stage ($7000), and Essence Phono Stage. To quote the press launch, "the Essence Line Stage is solely class A, and options triode audio circuits, metallic movie resistors, silver contact switches, an Alps analogue RK27 quantity management, regulated heater provide, and mu metallic energy transformer shielding." A distant management, 4 line inputs, two units of outputs, and one 12AU7 and two 12AX7 twin triodes are a part of the Essence Line Stage bundle. Each Essence 80 Monobloc makes use of a pair of Gold Lion KT88s and a 14lb energy transformer. Two 12AU7 twin triodes function at school A; rhodium-plated binding posts present connection for nominal 4, 8, or 16 ohm speaker masses. Also new is the Signature 202 iQ Musicbloc ($22,000).

The Essence collection was on static show, whereas within the listening room, 4 VAC Signature 202 iQ Musicblocs (100Wpc in stereo, 220W in mono) biamped a pair of Magico loudspeakers for complete dwell motion. This system additionally contained the VAC Statement phono preamplifier ($80,000), VAC Statement line preamplifier ($80,000), Esoteric K1 Grandioso CD participant ($21,000), Esoteric N-01 XD streamer ($20,000), Aurender W20SE music server ($25,000), Aurender MC10 grasp clock ($16,000), Transrotor Rondino turntable with TR5003 tonearm ($23,200), and an Airtight PC1 Supreme cartridge ($11,000). Critical Mass and Artesania Audio racks, and Masterbuilt cables rounded out the rig.

I listened to Madonna’s "Vogue" and Roger Waters’s sound-effects bonanza, Amused to Death as Von Schweikert designer Leif Swanson defined the room setup. The music had glorious pulse and texture, and performed waaaaaaaaaaaaay outdoors the speaker boundaries. Impressive and thoughts titillating.

Elsewhere within the room, the Von Schweikert Endeavor Special Edition audio system ($27,000/pair) have been enjoying with a pair of Shockwave 12 subwoofers ($15,000/every).

HI-FI News

through InnerFidelity https://ift.tt/l0ju8dA

November 15, 2023 at 11:44PM