At Audio Advice Live 2026, Playback Distribution's Rob Standley talks about the gear in this room at the show, which includes the North American debut of Vienna Acoustics's Schubert Grand Sonata loudspeakers, in an interview with Ken Micallef that's now posted on our YouTube channel.
Playing Frank Sinatra on a Dual CD 529 turntable fitted with an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge through the Vienna Acoustics Schubert Grand Sonata loudspeakers in this Playback Distribution room at Audio Advice Live 2026, I practically felt the space around Ol' Blues Eyes's skull, rife with the kind of detail that made vocal nuances pop and surprise.
Streaming was no less impressive. The baritone vocal overload of Geoff Castellucci's "Sixteen Tons" (a 2021 single) practically resurrected Tennessee Ernie Ford's original version from 1955—but with the modern full chorus spectacle of deep rumbling bass; immersive, near-Sensurround staging; mad layering; and a deep layer of baritone goodness that felt like chocolate fudge cake with a vodka chaser.
Equipment list: Analog source: Dual CD 529 turntable, with Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. Network switch: Silent Angel Bonn NX ($4199). Integrated amplifier: Advance Paris A-i190 Nova ($7999). Speakers: Vienna Acoustics Schubert Grand Sonata loudspeakers ($5495/pair); Velodyne MiniVee X subwoofer ($1499). Linear power supply: Silent Angel Forester FX ($4199).Cables: Advance Link cables; Esprit conditioner and power cables. Equipment racks: Quadraspire racks. Room treatments: Vicoustic absorption panels.
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