Florida Audio Expo 2020 Show Report
Florida Audio Expo 2020 Show In Tampa, Florida.

The Audio Company
VAC, Von Schweikert Audio, Esoteric, Kronos, AirTight, Critical Mass, Masterbuilt, Acoustic Sciences
Report By Frank Garofalo

  The Audio Company nailed it this year with their massive Von Schweikert Ultra 11 loudspeakers ($325,000) powered by four VAC Statement 452iQ power amplifiers ($75,000), preamplifier duties carried out by the VAC Statement line preamplifier ($80,000) which was fed by Esoteric digital front end consisting of their Grandioso D1x monoblock DACs ($50,000) with the GI Grandioso clock ($26,000), Grandioso P1x CD transport ($50,000). Streaming from the Esoteric N-01 ($22,000) and the Aurender W2OSE ($22,000).

The Audio Company was also spinning records on the Kronos Pro turntable ($51,000) with an Airtight Opus 1 cartridge ($16,000) going to the VAC Statement phono preamplifier ($80,000). All this gear is sitting on Critical Mass rack and brought together by Masterbuilt Ultra cables. It may be hard to tell by the photos, but these speakers are ginormous. Not only do they present a very large physical presence, the soundstage that this system produced was HUGE, coupled with great imaging made for a blissfully immersive listening experience.

The Audio company seemed to have success in orienting their system on the opposite side of the room compared to last year, big improvements from last year. I'm impressed at how well they were able to get this system sounding given the room. My listening notes state, "Clear non-fatiguing detail, with a big but not overwhelming presentation."

The Audio company additionally had a secondary system on display in the back of the room, as shown within the photo above.

Gear Listing Is As Follows:

VAC Statement Phono Preamplifier: $80 000 
VAC Statement line Preamplifier: $80,000 
VAC Statement 452iQ (stereo/mono power amplifier): $75,000 /each 
Von Schweikert Ultra 11 (loudspeaker system): $325,000 /pair 
Von Schweikert V-12XS Shockwave (subwoofers): $11,500 /each 
Esoteric Grandioso P1 x (CD transport): $50,000 
Esoteric Grandioso D1x (monoblock DACs): $50,000 /pair 
Esoteric N-01 (streamer / renderer / DAC): $22,000 
Esoteric GI Grandioso (clock): $26,000 
Aurender W2OSE (music server / streamer / renderer): $22,000 
Kronos Pro Turntable: $51,000 
with Black Beauty tonearm and Ultracap Power Supply 
Airtight Opus 1 (cartridge): $16,000 
Critical Mass Olympus V-12 Luxury (rack): $10,150 /component Space
This system uses 6 component spaces 
Critical Mass Maxxum (rack): $6,150 /component space 
This system uses 6 component spaces 
This system uses Masterbuilt Ultra cables throughout

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