Vivid Audio & Mola-Mola Show in Antwerp, June '17
 

Our dealer organised another show with Vivid Audio, a couple of weeks ago.
He really seems to love the brand now.
It took me some time to convince him. :D

He has 3 models on permanent demo in his shop, but the star of this show was Laurence Dickie's new flagship, the G1 Spirit.

Sorry, Meta didn't join me so you'll have to do with my iPhone pics.

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The main set-up was of course with the new Spirit.
Driven by the Mola-Mola electronics.

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The Makua is the preamp.

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Very well built, pure lines.
Lots of inputs.

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You have the possibility to get a phono stage built in, and a DAC.

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On top you find the phono stage.
Just underneath it: the DAC.

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The phono stage is very well reviewed. It adds 2.5K to the bill. (The pre retails for 8K).
The DAC clearly outperformed the Esoteric DAC that was compared to it. 6K.
There is space to add a streaming board, as you see. But Mr Putzeys, the creator is still thinking about it.

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These little gems provided the power: the Kaluga power amplifier.
6K each.
350W into 8 Ohms, doubling into 4 Ohms.

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The importer brought 4 of them.
He said: "Why not, if you can do it?"

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We heard mostly the Mola-Mola DAC, with the Esoteric as a pure drive, but did a few comparisons with the Esoteric DAC (with also some SACDs).
Cabling: Audioquest and Wireworld; power conditioner: Audioquest.

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The room is not ideal.
There are some upper bass resonances.
But you could get a clear idea of what the new Vivid Audio is capable of.
The main room is getting a thorough treatment, that is why the gear was installed here.

The new woofer magnets of the Spirit are impressive.

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The bass was visceral, but remained very clean.
We heard a couple of really loud rock (Led Zeppelin for example). Wow!
Effortless, and natural are the words that come to my mind.
Huge soundstage.

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Behind the glass panels, you can see a pair of G2 Giyas.
I really liked that colour!

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External cross-over:

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Gives you the possibility to turn it into an active speaker.

Then Mr Bruno Putzeys came to explain about his electronics.
He worked with Philips to develop class-D amplification.
He was given quite a bit of freedom there.
This path lead to the N-Core modules that are used in quite some designs.
He started his own company with a partner, and developped also the Kii Three speakers.

http://www.kiiaudio.com/en/

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A very modest man.
A bit shy even.
But he clearly knows what he's doing.

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He talked about 40 minutes.
But the audience was interested.
Very much so, we asked questions for more than an hour.
An integrated in in the pipeline.
The DAC will be sold in a separate box also.
That box will resemble the mono blocks.

This Esoteric remains a beautiful piece of kit, served very well as a CD drive, but was no match for the built-in Mola-Mola DAC.

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I'm curious about this upcoming DAC!
And I'd love to compare these beautifully shaped Mola-Mola boxes with my tube gear.
Can it equal the delicacy and musicality?

In the main room, under construction as I told before, the G4s with T+A gear.
I love T+A, and this system sounded really good.
A bit less authority of course, but still the typical Vivid Audio 'auditory acuity' that I've become addicted to.

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Last room: the B1 and Burmester:

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I quite liked the red B1 Decades:

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And a 911 is always a feast for the ear and eye:

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So is the 151:

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