Florida Audio Expo 2025

Big Sound, Tough Space: High End by Oz, Viva Audio, Wolf Systems, Wireworld

Ken Micallef  |  Mar 17, 2025

In one of Joe Parvey and House of Stereo’s five rooms at FLAX, the Jacksonville, Florida dealer presented horn-loaded speakers and tubed electronics. Be still my beating heart!

In Brandon 1—presented in conjunction with Oz Turan of High End by Oz—the room was painted completely black. I kissed the floor, and it kissed back. Oops, wrong song, wrong venue.

A Wolf Audio Systems Alpha 3 SX Pure Digital Edition Music Server ($9295) was coupled to a Viva Audio Numerico DAC ($26,000), which fed a Viva Audio Linea preamplifier ($32,000), and a 10Wpc Viva Audio Solista MK III integrated amplifier ($30,000), which drove Viva Audio Nuda Systems loudspeakers ($195,000/pair), an active design that includes a subwoofer, midbass driver (horn), midrange driver (horn), and a high-frequency unit.

Unfortunately, the Brandon 1 room wasn’t doing this system any favors by damping dynamics, presence, and presentation into something recalling a wet walrus curled up at my feet. I’m dying to hear this system in the right space, at the right time. Hey Joe, bring this mighty system to AXPONA and I’m forever yours.

COMMENTS
justmeagain's picture
Submitted by justmeagain on March 17, 2025 - 9:38pm

a bad room can overcome any equipment, no matter how awesome.
On the other hand, a friend of mine has a pair of Altec Voice of the Theaters in a 14 x 20 basement room with a low ceiling. Crank it up with more than one watt and you can't hear the room at all. In fact, you can't even hear yourself think.

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