GtTAudio Works GTA 2 Planar

rollo · « **on:** 24 Oct 2012, 02:38 pm »

A new Kid on the block. Made a visit to NJ to check them out. Started off using an older Bryston 4B. Explosive dynamics and slam. However the character of the older Brystom was a bit too much. We tried a Triode Wire Labs 7+ PC and the character was more natural but still not our cup of tea. Bass was tight and low, down to 27HZ. The intergration of the subs and main panels was seemless. Joey Defrancesco CD "Live at the Five Spot" was intense. Joey's organ kicked butt filling the room like a roller rink. Houston Pearsons Sax was natural with great tone and harmonic structure. Decay of notes were scary The soundstage was large with good scale. Not overblown of diffuse. VG separation between instruments with oddles of air.
These are neutral speakers. Every change in gear or power cords was evident. Both good and bad. We like that.
At Gregs request we brought over a pair of Arion class "D" hybrids to check out. The speaker is rated at 4 ohms. The Arions provide 1000w/ch into a 4 ohm load. the resu;lt was staggering. Next up fot kicks and giggles an PIA Uberbuss replaced the Synergystic power conditioner. The Hi fi sound was gone. Greg uses a Audible Illusions preamp in his demo system. A bit warm with the Arions but not dull in any way. Actually any amp that is not bright in character would be a good match. They are so revealing of anything upstream as they just do no harm.

Pipedream 924 model have replaced the Maggie 3As in my main system for some time. The GTA planars got me thinking again. Thinking I want them.
With the right associated gear [ your choice ] these speakers will give ya goosebumps and a pathway to emotional nirvana.
At $3495 including a pair of outboard subs is just too good to be true. If one is in the market for planars give these a serious listen.
We are not dealers for GTA. Just a happy to be customer.

charles

Rocket_Ronny · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 05:33 pm »

Thanks for sharing Charles.

I thought you were a Analysis dealer?

Do the ribbon tweeters compare to Maggie 3.6s or Apogees, in giving a lively presentation?

My concern with the GTs, and I talked with Greg about this, is how well do they image? Being dipoles they no doubt would throw a tremendous soundstage, but would they image as well as the best out there? Example, Apogess are wonderful, yet when I compared them to speakers that imaged better I found the Apogees individual imaging to be flatter, more forward, and larger in size. Very much like comparing a push/pull tube amp to the better imaging SET amp. I attributed this to the ribbon being at the back of the 3/4" baffle. Can you comment on this please?

If rated eff. is 90 db at 4 ohms we are talking a 87 db speaker. So I would think a good 100 watts is whats needed to start with. What would you use for power on them given a choice?

Thanks a bunch.

Rocket_Ronny

rollo · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 07:46 pm »

I am a proud dealer of Analysis. However like Macy's will send ya to another vendor if a good product. They image very well if set up properly. I like the tweeters on the outside as I did with my maggie 3As. The recessed tweeter may or may not be an issue. Just do not know.Image as well as the best out there. For the price that is a tough act. We had no issue with the soundstaging or imaging. if I was to nitpick depth could have better defined. Separation of instruments was fine and believeable. If anything a matter of omission compared to fault. They are not my Pipedreams in that regard, however I necer felt we missed anything. Like all planars the more space you have the better. These are no exception.
Apogees are a warm sounding speaker the nemisiss of Maggie. I have heard Apogees sound restricted in soundstage and others with a VG soundstage. It is all about the room and set up.
In general I will agree with your analogies given. However one size does not fit all. Too many other factors involved.
The GR is a winner and for the price "king" of the hill.
Amps ?? I'm partial to the Arion hybrid. However a Plinius, Parasound Halo, Bryston SST2 [ only] or CJ ,VAC . Stay away from any bright sounding amp. Bad karma.

charles

Rocket_Ronny · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 11:55 pm »

Awesome response Charles.

Thanks a bunch.

Rocket_Ronny

JohnR · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Oct 2012, 12:13 am »

Pic... helps to know what's being discussed

Rocket_Ronny · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Oct 2012, 12:44 am »

Rocket_Ronny

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Oct 2012, 06:01 am »

A YouTube video....from Capital Audiofest...

DTB300 · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Oct 2012, 01:00 pm »

As a planar fan, I was excited to hear these at the CAF this year. I was disappointed in the sound, but I took it with a grain of salt as we were in a Hotel Room.

I hope to hear them again someday in a better environment to see what they really can do.

Rocket_Ronny · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Oct 2012, 01:08 pm »

Can you explain what sound you heard? What was poor?

Rocket_Ronny

pelliott321 · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Oct 2012, 01:33 pm »

I also heard these at Audiofest also and was very impressed. Not paying much attention to what he was using as source, I felt they were very open and very clean, good sound at both extremes. I think they are a steal at under $3k. If I was looking for new speakers these would be on my short list to audition in my home

bpape · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Oct 2012, 02:08 pm »

Quote from: DTB300 on 25 Oct 2012, 01:00 pm

As a planar fan, I was excited to hear these at the CAF this year. I was disappointed in the sound, but I took it with a grain of salt as we were in a Hotel Room.

I hope to hear them again someday in a better environment to see what they really can do.

Supposedly there is a Model 3 coming out that uses a panel bass driver instead of the 2 8" dynamics. I'd be interested to hear that one for sure.

Bryan

DTB300 · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Oct 2012, 02:26 pm »

Quote from: Rocket_Ronny on 25 Oct 2012, 01:08 pm

Can you explain what sound you heard? What was poor? Rocket_Ronny

Let me see if I can find my notes to remember specifics......

Like I said, it was a hotel room, so I would definitely give them another chance to see how they perform. Last year the MBL room sounded good...this year, just so so, IMO.

pelliott321 · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Oct 2012, 03:32 pm »

DBT300
I agree with you about the MBL room. They brought a smaller system this year and it suffered in that big square room.
I heard from Gary that plans are afoot for next year in a different venue. A Sheraton just foo the metro.

Triode Pete · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Oct 2012, 04:41 pm »

I heard the GT Audio speakers at both the NY Audio show (April '12) and the Capital Audio Fest (July '12). They really impressed me both times, especially considering their low cost and high value. They were demonstrated with modest gear at these shows and I believe improvements in sound quality can be easily achieved by adding good power conditioning and cabling. I think at Greg Takesh's (GT Audio) home this past week, it was "ear-opening" for Greg what could be easily achieved by adding a PI Audio Uber BUSS along with one of my Triode Wire Labs power cord to his system.

I'm really looking forward to NY Audio Rave on November 3rd with Greg's speakers playing with a host of hi-performance amplifiers, including the Musical Fidelity Titans, TAD 1000 monoblocks, Arion Class "D" tube hybrid monoblocks and the Merrill Audio Veritas monoblocks (Hypex NC1200 based)...

Also, I hear there's going to be a Wavestream Kinetics preamp and well as some high end vinyl rig playback as well as the lowly CD... should be fun!!!

My $0.02,
Pete

rollo · « **Reply #14 on:** 26 Oct 2012, 04:20 pm »

Quote from: Triode Pete on 25 Oct 2012, 04:41 pm

I heard the GT Audio speakers at both the NY Audio show (April '12) and the Capital Audio Fest (July '12). They really impressed me both times, especially considering their low cost and high value. They were demonstrated with modest gear at these shows and I believe improvements in sound quality can be easily achieved by adding good power conditioning and cabling. I think at Greg Takesh's (GT Audio) home this past week, it was "ear-opening" for Greg what could be easily achieved by adding a PI Audio Uber BUSS along with one of my Triode Wire Labs power cord to his system.

I'm really looking forward to NY Audio Rave on November 3rd with Greg's speakers playing with a host of hi-performance amplifiers, including the Musical Fidelity Titans, TAD 1000 monoblocks, Arion Class "D" tube hybrid monoblocks and the Merrill Audio Veritas monoblocks (Hypex NC1200 based)...

Also, I hear there's going to be a Wavestream Kinetics preamp and well as some high end vinyl rig playback as well as the lowly CD... should be fun!!!

My $0.02,
Pete

Yes indeed. as stated above the TWL cord [ 7+ ] was a welcomed addition to the Bryston 4B. The UberBuss further improved the sonics and noise floor. However the biggest overall improvement were the Amps. With 1000w/ch into 4 Ohms oh my ! The Amp shootout should prove interesting using the Kinetics preamp. With the Merrill N-Core based amp which are on the brighter side of neutral and the Arions on the warm side of neutral the yin and yang so to speak two flavors to check out. Coolio.

charles

medium jim · « **Reply #15 on:** 26 Oct 2012, 04:30 pm »

Sounds like the Arion amps might be appealing to the tube guy and the Ncores to the SS crowd. I know I made a generalization...

I definitely will need to check out the GT's with the Arion's if at all possible on the west coast.

Jim

KLH007 · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 Oct 2012, 02:36 am »

I heard Greg's GT2s at the CAF in July, I visited twice, for an hour each time because I wanted to hear more of the music I brought to the show. The bass was a little muddy until some minor placement adjustments, then just deep and dynamic. I simply had fun listening to music in Greg's room. Now 3 months later I hear he improved the GT2 with a new sub configuration and drives the planar magnetic full range. I would describe them as transparent, detailed, revealing, wide & deep soundstage, dynamically exciting, full range, tight focus on vocals & solo instruments, sound involving at low levels but can play loud, and I mean fun loud, they are one of the best bangs for the buck in audio. I'm planning a trip up to Greg's to audition the production GT2s and pick out a beautiful veneer, the WAF is good and they look great in person, my wife can pick a veneer and everyone wins at our house.
To complete my best sound for the dollar, after the GT2s break in I want to audition some amps that don't break the bank. My top choice is the Wyred4sound mINT, 170 wpc into 4 ohms and a good pre and DAC as well and only a single power cord. I'll also be curious about the results from the NY Audio Rave with all those good amps driving the GT2s. I think Klaus' Odyssey amps should sound great on them as well. If I can get some tutelage from the DCDIY group, I might try some N Core modules and see if we can add a tube driver stage for a killer DIY project.
If you are in the mid Atlantic area, and are looking for speakers under $10K, surprise yourself and drive over to Greg's shop, bring lots of music to play, and enjoy a fun, musical experience!

Hank · « **Reply #17 on:** 2 Nov 2012, 02:28 pm »

I'd consider them IF I could get them without the pair of subs. I read their thoughts on designing compatible subs, but I'm going with W frame servo subs. Looks like you're going to get a lot of sound for a good price.

bpape · « **Reply #18 on:** 2 Nov 2012, 02:31 pm »

I would be interested to know how low just the mains would go also without the subs.

Bryan

KLH007 · « **Reply #19 on:** 2 Nov 2012, 07:08 pm »

Hank & Bryan, Just give Greg a call and he will answer any questions you have, 973 879-0915. Greg has made some recent improvements, direct driving the planar w/o any xover, better sub integration to panel, and a new cosmetic look. Thanks to Bryan for helping Klaus tame the small room, and give the Kismet speakers and Odyssey system one of the BEST musical experiences at RMAF.