AKFest 2010 Coverage

May 3, 2010

The Convergent Audio Technology and Vivid Audio Room

Kyomi Audio showed the uniquely designed Vivid Audio G2 Giya speakers ($55,000) with a CAT pre and power amp, a Brinkmann turntable, a bevy of Esoteric digital components, and Stealth cables. Although the styling is too over the top for me, they speakers did sound excellent.

The all Class A triode 100 watts/channel Convergent Audio Technology JL2 stereo amplifier ($19,995) was the driving force behind the Giyas. It is a bargain among other stratospherically priced tube amps in the ultra high-end arena.

The Convergent Audio Technology SL1 Legend preamplifier ($19,950 with internal phono stage) fronted the J2. The Legend is the lastest iteration of the SL1 design which has been at the top of the heap of tube preamps for two decades.

The analog front end chores were handled by a Brinkmann Bardo turntable.

An Esoteric VDRS Neo PO-1 CD/SACD transport (external power supply not shown) fed an Esoteric DO-3 24-bit 192kHz PCM/DSD DAC. The were kept in sync with the Esoteric GO-3 Rubidum Master Clock Generator.

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