Prices listed in CA$.

Perrenial Audiofest exhibitor Wynn Audio hosted a large space subdivided into three setups, but I’ll stick to two here since one of them included gear from Audio Group Denmark, which I’ve already covered in my EQ Audio Video room report.

The setups were divided in analogue and digital-sourced ones, with the digital-based one including a Kalista DreamPlay XC SACD/CD player with streamer and volume control ($130,000), a Vinnie Rossie duo of Brama preamp ($57,000) and 300W monoblocks ($87,000/pair), a pair of standmount Vimberg Amea speakers ($28,000/pair), an Entreq Olympus Infinity T ground box ($8190), and cabling by Fono Acustica, rack and amp stand by Critical Mass System, and footers by O-Bit Audio.

Most notable was the sound’s spatiality, soundstage reconstruction, deep-view transparency, and authentic instrumental timbre, especially notable on piano, one of the hardest instruments to reproduce—and this system seemed to do it effortlessly.

The second system used a Thiele TT-01 turntable (45,000) / TA-01 Zero Tracking Error Tonearm ($20,800) as the source, feeding a Kondo Audio Note trio of SFz MC step-p transformer ($20,000), M7 Heritage preamp with phono stage ($90,000), and an Ongaku integrated amp ($158,000). Accessories included an Entreq Olympus Hero Groundbox ($36,300), a Critical Mass System rack, footers by Center Stage and O-Bit Audio, and cabling by Crystal Cable.

The resulting sound was uber-transparent, tactile, with excellent timbres and a wide dynamic range. Trumpet notes made the instrument sound like it was here in the room, while orchestral music was well sorted and gave a good approximation of a live event unfolding in front of me.