Capital AudioFest 2024

Robin Wyatt always gives great room, and this year’s CAF appearance was no exception. Prancing like a jolly bartender offering beautiful audio reproduction in place of libations, Wyatt’s room creates anticipation and soon enough, audio ecstasy.

Wyatt’s curated audio assemblage included a bespoke VPI HW-RA DD turntable ($17,995), with a Tzar DST V1 stereo phono cartridge ($10,000) mounted on a hai-Scandinavian Engineering Bird of Prey tonearm ($15,950). Amplification included the April Sound Pre head amp ($1875), into the popular Java HiFi Double Shot integrated amplifier ($15,995), driving Quad ESL-2912 electrostatic loudspeakers ($11,995/pair). Cables were provided by Finley Audio. A Sonore Signature Rendu SE and Robin’s own Robyatt SU1 step-up transformer ($995) were also in the mix.

Wyatt’s rig was super transparent, fast, and musical at CAF, improving over his last appearance, which I believe was at AXPONA. There, the Quads sounded muffled and dead; here they were alive and kicking.

Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk is a beast of an album, a fat, pugilistic behemoth, clean-shaven and a touch too bright. Ike Quebec, that soulful tenor titan, poured out heart and soul—a rich, resonant river of sound via the Robyatt rig. Dr. John’s “Makin’ Whoopee” sounded rock-solid, and Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy”? A brutal, bass-heavy assault, a vise-like grip on the listener’s attention.