CONVERGENT AUDIO TECHNOLOGY

“Real music played here” is most certainly what the banner should have read upon entering the room. This is what was, decidedly, happening in the Convergent Audio Technology (CAT) room, and it was not subtle.

It was another one of those rare big rooms where the music filled the room, holographically, beautifully, and, well, magically, while it easily captivated my attention. Even as I was engaged in discussions with either Michael Griffin of Essential Sound Products or Ken Stevens ‘the man’ behind CAT, I kept being drawn back into the music time and time again.

“Just as I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”
—Michael Corleone, Godfather…

It was clear to see how CAT’s storied reputation had persisted all these long years—”It’s the Music.” Well, the CAT SL1 Legend Black Path Extreme preamp and the CAT JL5 Black Path Extreme Limited Edition monoblocks were clearing putting on a show, as assisted, very deftly, by VPI’s Classic Signature turntable, Audio Aero’s Prestige SACD/CD player (a brand that I have truly missed), and the Magico S3 loudspeakers. A phalanx of Essential Sound Products, the umbilicus of the system from stem to stern, brought power to everything with exacting precision.

This is clearly my last candidate for Best of Show performance and there was absolutely nothing to argue with the music being made. Bravo gentlemen!