And now for something completely different–a big pair of panel speakers in a big hotel conference room playing big music. I’m not sure why the CAT and Clarisys Audio room at AXPONA 2024 seemed like such an anachronism, but sometimes I wonder why fewer big panel speakers cross my path than in years past. The Clarisys Audio Auditorium speakers ($180,000/pair) certainly qualify as big panels that can energize the largest of rooms, within reason. And the sound was big–I could feel the music slamming me in the chest even with two full rows of show attendees between me and the speakers.
Words and Photos by Marc Phillips
But first, let’s talk about Convergent Audio Technologies, or CAT, an amplifier company that has been around for a long time while maintaining a low profile over the last few years. I see so many CAT amps in high end audio shows these days–Aretai, in particular, is a loyal show partner. I haven’t spilled much ink about CAT–yet–but I’m starting to notice that a lot of Cat Powered systems (pun intended) are really impressing me, and this CAT and Clarisys system made a forceful, passionate case for itself.
The CAT and Clarisys room system consisted of some killer Convergent Audio Technology gear–the CAT SL1 Legend aGS Extreme preamplifier ($99,995), and three sets of power amplifiers that ranged from $35K to $250K. Cables were from Black Path and Essential Sound Products, music server from Aurender and a solid-sounding CD player from circa 2000, the Audio Arrow Capitol Classic.
When I first wandered into the CAT and Clarisys room, the exhibitors were playing some solo Brendan Perry tracks, something which usually grabs my attention. The sheer scale of this hi-fi system, and its ability to conjure up such a visceral and sensational sound, was quite impressive in the context of the rest of the show. In other words, this was one of the finest AXPONA rooms for producing goose bumps and creating a strong sense of excitement.
If you would like to hear even more coverage from AXPONA 2024, check out our recap report and highlights from our audiophile-oriented show The Occasional Podcast. You can stream the episode direct from the embed below, or from your favorite podcast platform including iTunes, Android, Google, Deezer, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more.
I’ve never heard a CAT based system that was less than amazing. They do keep a low profile, but it’s because he’s still obsessed with the sound of his products, and that’s where he focuses.