GT Audio Works / Pass Labs / Basis Audio

This was actually the first room I walked into at the 2019 Capital Audiofest. After a 3 hour drive, quick check-in at the Even Hotel across the street, a half-decent latte at the Hilton Starbucks, a chat with Dr. Kirmuss (Record Cleaners), a brief look at the various vinyl and CD Vendors in the Atrium, I was ready for a sit down and a listen to some music!

I’m a sucker for a good planar speaker. Though not all necessarily a true planar design, I’ve owned Quad’s, Apogees, Magnepan and Carver Amazing Platinum speakers, at one time or another, and listened to many others.

It was perhaps a little unfortunate that the GT Audio Works was the first room that I hit-up, as they set an unbelievably high standard and level of expectation for the rest of the show.

Presented here by Steve Rabitz, VP of sales at ‘Sound Insight’ NY, the GT Audio Works planar quasi-ribbon speakers were supported by either side by a GT Audio Works open-baffle active modular subwoofer system with a MSRP starting at $7000 but considerably more for what was in use here. The main speakers, the GTA 3.1R have a MSRP of $23,500

Driving the GTA 3.1R was $65 grand’s worth of power amplification from Pass Labs; and upfront sources included the $140,000+ Turntable package of Basis Transcendence, Basis Superarm and My Sonic Lab Ultra Eminent Ex Cartridge. Leaving the last few bucks from your lottery win for the phonostage and preamp – also from Pass Labs (add another $90K).

Not mentioned very prominently, cabling, I was learned later in the show, was provided by Triode Wire Labs, who earned my award for best cable at the show!

Well enough of the preamble….this system sounded fantastic, as it should. The sound was warm, bold, holographic, dynamic and with the unmistakable midrange presence that only a good planar design can pull off.

In some ways I was disappointed that GT Audio Works chose such a high standard of supporting equipment. At $23K without subs, the GTA 3.1R is within grasp for a lot of us operating at the lower end of the higher end market ( huh?), but with well north of $300K on supporting gear, it put the system as a whole well out of reach. I think it might have been beneficial to assemble more of a ‘real-world’ system to demonstrate the undoubted prowess of the GT Audio Works speaker system, and I seriously doubt that too much speaker performance would have been left behind on the table.

Anyway, a great sound and a great way to get initiated at the 2019 Capital Audiofest.