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The Vivid G1Giya’s midrange drive-unit is connected to a tapered tube transmission line, which runs the depth of the speaker and attaches at the speaker’s rear via a long hex screw.
Upon opening the package, which had been shipped from South Africa, we found that one of the two replacement drive-units had been severely damaged. Crikey!
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The replacement midrange drive-units for the Vivid G1Giyas arrived in this well-packed and clearly labeled box.
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Near the end of Wes’ auditioning, the domes of both upper-midrange units were inexplicably damaged.
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Every job requires a specific tool and replacing the Vivid G1Giya’s midrange unit would take a 6mm hex key, which we didn’t have. On our way to Wes’ place, therefore, John Atkinson and I made a quick stop at the local hardware store and purchased a hex key set. Then, we were ready to get to work.
We’re currently working on our July 2010 issue, which will include Wes Phillips’ review of the Vivid Audio G1Giya loudspeaker ($65,000/pair). Near the end of Wes’ auditioning, the domes of both upper-midrange units were inexplicably damaged. As you can see from the picture, it appears the domes were poked by some sort of dull object. Wes didn’t do it; Wes’ wife didn’t do it. We’ll never know how the damage occurred. What we do know is that the aluminum-dome midrange unit is incredibly delicate and has a strong magnetic pull.
The damage occurred after John Atkinson had…
Exactly six months after we’d seen them perform in Puerto Rico, at that strange island bar, Bamboo Beach (see “Records to Die For,” February 2010, pages 71-72), the Vivian Girls performed on Saturday night, this time so much closer to home, at Maxwell’s in Hoboken. I bought tickets for the whole crew—Rizzo, Fritzy, Papi Chulo, Fuzzy, and Tigga—so that, together again for the first time since that memorable trip, we could relive the magic. We ate well, drank too much, laughed, danced, and sang along as the Vivian Girls burned through their energetic set.
And on Saturday, April 24th, Attention Screen performed at Yamaha’s Artist Services concert hall. The performance was recorded by John Atkinson for a future Stereophile CD, the band’s third, scheduled to be released at the 2010 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in October. It was an excellent night of music. Check out the images in our Gallery.
I was directed to this video via the Stereophile Twitter page, in a tweet from Bowers & Wilkins, who’d seen it first at Audiophilia. Moments after I’d watched the video, Stereophile contributor Jim Austin also sent me the link.
“Seen this yet?” he asked.
Funny how the internet works.
Anyway, it’s an awesome video, and I can’t wait for the film. Because, really, there are few things in this world as cool as vinyl. The vinyl LP is one of humankind’s greatest achievements and deserves to be celebrated. I’m thinking an opening night party is necessary…