Vitus, Thrax, Børresen: United Home Audio and High End by Oz

When I walked into the large Twinbrook room, which was hosted by dealer United Home Audio and distributor Hi End by Oz, its Bulgarian-made Thrax Audio system, complete with reel-to-reel tape deck, was playing Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” Once I calmed down and got a grip, I found Oz Curran’s Hi End by Oz room to be a delight.

Curran’s system included the following sources: the Vitus Audio SCD-025 Mk II CD/DAC (used as a transport; $26,400), Thrax Audio's Maximinus Mk III 32/384 DAC ($38,500), and the UHA Super Deck reel-to-reel ($89,998). The Thrax Audio Dionysos preamplifier ($23,000) and Teres II Mono Amplifiers ($34,500/pair) amplified the signal, the latter driving Børresen 05 Silver Supreme Speakers ($214,500/pair). Hi-Fi Stay Mythology racks ($4900 each) and Ansuz D-TC Supreme Cables ($17,600–$70,000) completed the setup. Thrax makes each element of every component in-house, except for the tubes.

This highly resolving system exposed the overly processed reverb of an Agnes Orbel CD, while framing her rich voice and cello within a deep soundstage. Tomas Örnberg's Blue Five & The Swedish Jazz Kings performing Duke Ellington’s "Black Beauty," from an Opus 3 sampler on open-reel tape, knocked me flat with its microdetail, woody-sounding tuba, and precise acoustic bass; the reproduced bass showed clearly that the microphones were focused on the upper body of the instrument, giving every string pluck lifelike attack. A tape of Bizet’s Carmen played on the United Home Audio (UHA) Super Deck was dynamic and dead quiet, reproduced with lovely tone and delicacy.

COMMENTS
Anton's picture

The tweeters remind me of Sonist and their 'wave guide.'

They look lovely.

Can we actually see the reels spinning in this pic?

I blame the Super Lotto for holding back my dreams.

X