June 2-4, 2017

Jason Approaches the Finish Line at LAAS
By Jason Victor Serinus | Jun 9, 2017

Yet another winning system surfaced in the room where Nola Metro Grand Reference Gold 2 loudspeakers ($40,000/pair) met a Synthesis A40 V integrated amplifier ($6395), Deja Vu/Western Electric Audio Vintage Collection preamp with Western Electric tubes, transformers, and vintage parts ($25,000), Deja Vu/Western Electric DAC ($25,000), Esoteric P-05 transport, and Nordost Odin 1 and Odin 2 cabling.

Shirley Horn's brightly illuminated voice on "It Had to be You" sounded positively gorgeous, with excellent midrange textures, revealing intimacy, and not a hint of glare.

Switching to my CD of the rousing last movement of Lou Harrison's Violin Concerto, all instrumental timbres were excellent, with both the metal and skin of Lou's wild assortment of percussion conveyed with ease. The system wasn't as tight as can be on the bottom end, but its depiction of depth and believable tonalities was excellent.