I did. No really, I really did. The ever genial Mark Sossa of Well Pleased AV handed me the iPad remote and I played Taylor Swift. I did. I really did.
In a room by Falls Church, VA’s Command Performance AV, a hulking Gryphon Audio Diablo 300 Integrated Amplifier ($16,900) sat on a Gryphon Amp Stand ($4100) and powered the lovely leaning QLN Prestige Five Loudspeakers in Piano Burl Walnut ($20,000/pair | $17,000/pair for standard finishes), while an Innuos Statement 1TB music server ($15,100) served the bits to the Gryphon’s optional internal DAC module ($6350) which was also equipped with the optional Phono Stage ($2400).
I did not get to listen through this serious looking dual-armed J.Sikora Initial MAX turntable ($12,995) mounted with a J.Sikora KV-12 VTA Tonearm ($8495) and Origin Live ILLUSTRIOUS MK4 12″ Tonearm w/ DIN ($2985) sporting a Koetsu Urushi Sky Blue Cartridge ($6495) and Benz Ruby Z Cartridge ($4000) respectively. Looking back with less time-pressed eyes, I wish I had.
A Doshi Audio V3.0 Evo Phono Stage ($21,995 w/2 MC Option) was also in room (apologies for the nearly indecipherable photo) sitting on an SGR Symphony Model V Rack ($2600/per level) with cabling from Swiss Cables and a GigaWatt PC-4 EVO+ Power Conditioner w/LS-2 EVO Power Cord ($14,500) took care of power delivery.
But back to more important matters — I love, love, “Exile” from Taylor Swift’s Folklore album that features Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon who begins the vocals. And you’d be hard-pressed to guess Taylor Swift even after she joins Justin. This system played “Exile” with a deep and full voice, while beautifully highlighting the world of differences between these two distinct voices. I was moved. Really, moved.
