AudioSolutions Virtuoso M speakers, Vitus Audio SIA-030 and SCD-025MK II, United Home Audio Ultima4 OPS-DC, Ansuz Acoustics cabling

AudioSolutions Virtuoso M speakers, Vitus Audio SIA-030 and SCD-025MK II, United Home Audio Ultima4 OPS-DC, Ansuz Acoustics cabling

High End by Oz and United Home Audio joined together to present the US premiere of Vitus Audio’s SIA-030 30W class-A/200W class-AB integrated amplifier ($40,000) and AudioSolutions Virtuoso M loudspeakers ($32,000/pair).

Troy Audio Hellena MKII, Thrax Audio Electronics, Schroeder Turntable

Troy Audio Hellena MKII, Thrax Audio Electronics, Schroeder Turntable

The Hellena MK II uses a 604-8E alnico coaxial driver, made by Great Plains Audio, that owes its design to the original Altec 604-E. Its woofer, Great Plains Audio’s handmade Model 515-C low-frequency loudspeaker, incorporates a massive alnico V magnetic assembly. There's also an alnico horn supertweeter.

Børresen 01 monitor loudspeakers, Aavik U-380 integrated amplifier, Naim CD5XS (as transport), D-TC Supreme Power Box and Power Distribution, Ansuz DTC Supreme cables

Børresen 01 monitor loudspeakers, Aavik U-380 integrated amplifier, Naim CD5XS (as transport), D-TC Supreme Power Box and Power Distribution, Ansuz DTC Supreme cables

The all-one-family of Børresen loudspeakers, Aavik electronics, and Ansuz cabling, distributed by Gated HiFi and displayed by Chicago dealer NextLevel HiFi, was having a really rough time of it until their new Aavik U-380 integrated amplifier ($39,000) showed up several days late.

PS Audio DirectStream DAC, P20 and P15 PowerPlants, AN3 loudspeakers, and AC Series cables; BHK Signature preamp, Stellar phono preamp, and Signature 300 Monos; VPI HW40 turntable

PS Audio DirectStream DAC, P20 and P15 PowerPlants, AN3 loudspeakers, and AC Series cables; BHK Signature preamp, Stellar phono preamp, and Signature 300 Monos; VPI HW40 turntable

The story in the PS Audio room was the company's new loudspeaker, the AN3, various prototypes of which have been demoed at audio shows throughout 2019. The RMAF demo pair was described by the company as the final prototype. The design—strongly influenced by the late Arnie Nudell, the "AN" in AN3—includes servo-corrected powered woofers, a folded ribbon tweeter, a rectangular planar midrange, and an 8" cone "mid-bass coupler."

YG Acoustics Sonja 2.3 speakers; Nordost QPoint, QSource and cables; VTL Siegfried Series II amplifiers, TP-6.5 Series II phonostage and TL-7.5 Series II preamplifier; dCS Rossini player and clock; VPI direct drive turntable; Lyra Etna Cartridge

YG Acoustics Sonja 2.3 speakers; Nordost QPoint, QSource and cables; VTL Siegfried Series II amplifiers, TP-6.5 Series II phonostage and TL-7.5 Series II preamplifier; dCS Rossini player and clock; VPI direct drive turntable; Lyra Etna Cartridge

That the first big room I visited sounded as good as it did, which was far from the best I’ve heard those components sound, was due to the expertise of setup wizard Stirling Trayle. A lot of room treatment was brought in at first, but after Trayle did his thing, most of it was stashed in a hallway. The system, from Nordost, VTL, and YG Acoustics, was headlined by VTL’s Siegfried Series II monoblocks ($75,000/pair), TP-6.5 Series II phonostage ($12,500), and TL-7.5 Series III linestage preamplifier ($30,000); a special edition of YG Acoustics Sonja 2.3 loudspeakers wired with Nordost ($112,800/pair); and enough Nordost Odin 2 cabling and power products to keep several silver and copper mines operating for weeks.

Jadis Orchestra Black, Chord Dave and Blue 2, Vienna Acoustics Haydn

Jadis Orchestra Black, Chord Dave and Blue 2, Vienna Acoustics Haydn

Occupying a small but significant place in Bluebird Music’s outer suite, the new Jadis Orchestra Black integrated amplifier ($3995) was producing sweet and enjoyable sound that, on a track from Count Basie Meets Oscar Peterson, felt like a lovely warm kiss.
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