GTT AUDIO
THE BIG ROOM: The GTT Audio Big Room was sporting reference gear from A to Z and it certainly sounded like it to me. The Dejitterit Switch X network switch ($3,500) in its world premiere, Grimm Audio MU1 streamer ($12,500) and the Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC ($13,500), both DIAMOND AWARD winners for AKRMedia (that us), handled the digital bits and bytes, in a manner that I’ve grown quite accustom to—superbly. The Analog side of the reference system was undertaken by the Kronos Sparta turntable ($26,000), Kronoscope RS tonearm ($14,000), Kronos SSCPS power supply ($9,500), the My Sonic Lab Sig. Platinum cartridge ($11,000), and the Mola Mola Lupe phono-preamp ($9,850) on its world premiere. The Audionet reference duo—Stern Preamp ($48,950) and the Heisenberg Monoblocks ($105,000)—provided the amplification via the Vivid Audio Giya G1 Spirit speakers ($95,000). Kubala-Sosna via its Realization and Elation cable lines handled the various wire and cabling duties and the Kubala-Sosna Xpander ($5,400) provided power distribution.
THE SOUND: Well, suffice to say, that nearly three pages of notes floated from my pen, as I sat listening in the GTT Audio room, but well aware of the short format of this writeup, I’ll provide the “Cliff Notes.” If one were to characterize the actual size of the system—amplification, speakers, analog-rig—’Titan’ would just about sum things up, but that size-based summation would not address the sound. While the sound could itself be described as Titan, when called for, there was nuance, delicacy, and refinement coupled to a transparent, crystal clarity that was both “completely engrossing and gorgeous” as my notes clearly read. A shoulder-dropping-ease and naturalness, that spot-on blatt of trumpets which spoke to organically defined tone/timbre/texture, and deft bass articulation all summed to a sublime musical encounter. And this is a rare thing given showroom predilections. Let’s just say that I came to the GTT Audio Big Room (and Small Room) often, which threw me completely off schedule and late to no-show for my other rounds. Sorry folks. “Must learn bliss temperance, must learn bliss temperance!”
THE SMALL ROOM: It was great to see Dick Diamond again, who had recently travelled to AKRMedia to help with the Vivid Audio Kaya 45 ($19,500) speaker placement (review coming soon!). The Kaya 45s are, of course, the big brother to the Vivid Audio Kaya 25s which were on display in the GTT Audio Small Room and rocking the house down (I kid you not)! The Small Room was outfitted with the Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC ($13,500), which served as Roon Endpoint and streamer, the Mola Mola Perca amplifier ($9,850), on its world premiere, and the Vivid Audio Kaya 25 ($11,000), from which you’ll be hearing a great deal more.
THE SOUND: Eyeopening! Yes, a two-way, floor-standing speaker can have prodigious amounts of well defined, articulate, room-shaking. bass, outstanding transparency of the crystal-clear variety, and a naturalness of presentation that has one totally engrossed in the music, which ensured my ‘frequent-flyer’ status. And the Kaya 25’s big brother—Kaya 45s—is no joke. I have the Kaya 45s in for review with an ensemble that features the Grimm Audio MU1 streamer, Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC, Bricasti M1SE DAC, and the Audionet PRE G2 preamp and AMP monoblocks. It is a system ‘transduced’ by the Kaya 45s that is enticing me to sit before it for long, long hours, while listening to vast amounts of music (all kinds, types, flavors of music), every single day, covering its review session. Needless to say, I am behind on my other reviews! Ooopps!
The consummate gentleman, Joe Kubala, of Kubala-Sosna posing with the Vivid Audio Kaya 25, or speaker as sculptural art on its brushed aluminum pedestal and Mola Mola’s and Vivid Audio’s Ewald or “you can call me John” in action mode with the Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC and the Perca amplifier. Looking forward to reviewing the Perca with the Tambaqui and the Lupe.
Yes, I have found it quite rare to award a big room with Best of Show honors, as the difficulty of setting up a musically superb system in a big room appears to increase with the room’s size. The folks at GTT Audio nailed it in the Big Room and also in the Small room for Best of Show honors.