I'd already reviewed his Trafomatic Audio Experience One 2A3 integrated amplifier, then later the Experience Reference parallel 300B monos with interstage transformer coupling to appreciate just how gifted this man was. But it was the personal visit to his operation in Mladenovac where something else crystallized. You see, achievement is relative. If you start out with wealthy parents, the best schools and fanciest opportunities, you should be expected to excel. If you start out far more humbly, your road is longer and harder and arrival far more uncertain.

The next step in my growing appreciation for the Trafomatic Audio phenomenon was chronicled here. Still, nothing could prepare me for encountering in Munich a week ago the plethora of seven brand-new Cokic-designed and built WLM Acoustics models and a fair smattering of Trafomatic Audio models that had undergone a significant face lift (without raising their prices, incidentally) since I'd reviewed two of their components and seen others in Serbia. Just what Team Trafomatic and chassis master Milorad 'Mica' Despotovic had accomplished since my first review was truly off the charts. And again, it must be understood and viewed against the background of operating out of Serbia where nothing works as efficiently or easily as many of us have come to take for granted in Europe or the US.

Given the above evidence -- and I'm not doing this lightly -- I felt compelled to formally recognize this accomplishment and create the Harvest Moon Achievement Award. Others like Hannes Frick who contracted with Sasa Cokic for the creation of his WLM Acoustics line have their own story to share, their own satisfaction and excitement to talk about. Future owners and reviewers will weigh in on performance and value of Cokic-designed valve audio no matter its brand name. I've seen, heard and felt enough to need no further proof. Alora as the Italians would say -- let's get on with it in plain English -- here is our first-ever award for human achievement. It goes well beyond clever capacitors, coils, resistors and circuit boards. And, of course it also pertains to all of that, the things we obsess over and write about.

Everything in this emerging picture mattered so here's some additional evidence of the 'geeky' kind.

Then there was Munich with its rollout of the Phonata phono stage, Gamma DAC with USB, Linea line stage, Sonata EL34 integrated and stereo amp (the latter with input transformers), Minueta EL84 integrated and Allegra monoblocks (also with input transformers), all circuitry and iron designed and manufactured by Sasa Cokic and Trafomatic Audio.

"I had to take out credit to finance this entire venture and all the cash our Trafomatic Audio sales generated we invested in a new facility just for amplifier manufacture, a CNC machine and hiring and training added personnel. Once Hannes places his first sizeable order post Munich, our bank accounts should be recovering from all this expansion."


Taking risks, burning the midnight oil, rolling up the sleeves, going the extra mile, not taking can't and won't for an answer - all those chestnuts apply and then some. In short, I hope to have painted for you the picture of why and how this award came about and the significance of it. By implication, it'll be a very rare thing. I'm not sure I'll ever quite encounter such a sudden from-nothing-to-big rise again. I salute Sasa Cokic and the entire Trafomatic Audio team. Incroyable!