I just wanted to update quickly on an audition that I was able to make at Christoph's in Liechtenstein. I was very curious regarding it, especially because of the what I had heard about the Apogees. He was more than patient to let me play around with the electronics he has. I was also very curious, because I wanted to compare his Lampizator DACs (GG and GA+) to the Resolution Audio Cantata, that I also have. Here is the system:
SBT Touch w/ alternative PSU>Lampizator GG/GA+/RA Cantata>Silvaweld SWC 1000>Lamm M1.1/Kronzilla VA350i>Apogee Studio Grand (with disconnected subs, so basically a Duetta)
After adjusting a few things at the beginning of the audition I heard the fastest, most transparent and true-to-source speakers that still retain all the musicality that is on the recording up until today. For the first time I now know what box coloration is all about, because these had none. This becomes evident especially with low frequencies, where there is no overhang whatsoever, something that from now on I will always associate with box enclosures. This did leave the low frequencies slightly more lean than I'm used to, but the decay and speed of it is unparalleled without loosing deep bass. With the baby Kronzilla LF became more robust and had more body, but also a tad slower and a little less extended in the HF. Mids were also more robust with KR, but a little less transparent. For evaluation purposes I preferred the Lamm, especially because I wanted to compare the DACs.
On that topic: it took me less than a minute to know that the Cantata was out of its league against the GG. GA+ wasn't very close to GG until we used the same recti in it (PX25 as I was told by Christoph, but I know NOTHING about valves). Then the difference was smaller. Still love my Cantata due to versatility, but it doesn't come close in sound. Lampi owners can be justly proud. Once I look in that price bracket I'll probably be hard-pressed to find something that will give it a run for its money.
We also played around with interconnects and using Goertz balanced yielded the best results, even when comparing the same ICs with RCA. I guess the Lamm and and Silvawed prefer balanced. The other IC was dead last compared to the Goertz Sapphire.
We had only a couple of minutes to play with the mains system upstairs, since I was so enticed by the Apogees. It consisted of the SBT>Lampi GG>Silvawed>Kronzilla SXI>Odeon 38. I'm not a great fan of horns, because I'm pretty sensitive to the cupped-hands syndrome, especially because it manifests itself in the mids. These speakers, however, had the least amount of that syndrome, although it was still there. One great thing about it, though, was that "reach-out-and-touch" palpability. I get why they have a great following.
For me though, the Apogees were the main deal. If I had the option of setting up speakers that size my quest would end here. Now that I know that you can have all that information and transparency without losing the texture, tone, timbre and musicality my search for a speaker just got so much harder. I will try to find the best possible speaker within my budget which will resemble the qualities that I heard there the best. Thanks to Christoph for being a great host and representing the best audiophiles are all about.
BTW, what a friggin view!!!