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"What do you think of 'digital' speakers' which connect to an iPod or computer directly by including power DACs? Do you think DSP arrays will grow in the near future and represent a serious audiophile alternative?"
Laurence Dickie: "I have no fundamental opposition to digital electronics or switch-mode amplification. As with any new technology there were endless issues to be sorted out at the beginning and there were those who denied the existence of those issues because a particular mechanism hadn’t been considered. But bit by bit mathematical reasoning and diligent observation have chipped away at imperfections. I believe that we are at the stage now where a fully digital system can work. And by work I mean that it can transport the listener to that space imagined or inhabited by the performer.
I fully believe that the use of DSP will grow although I would hesitate to estimate how long it will take before it will be possible to consider the result ’audiophile’. While it might be possible to record a 3D soundfield, I have a feeling that the raw quantity of data required might preclude its use for some time. On the other hand I can imagine an intermediate situation where it would be possible to record a basic sound with a few channels (as we currently do of course) and synthesise the 3D acoustics in real time during playback. Of course that basic idea has been around for some time but not in a manner capable of true wave-field synthesis of a concert hall experience.
Prototyping
"What is your opinion of multi-directional 'mono' speakers?"
Laurence Dickie: "I have been highly amused and impressed by the ability of these designs to send out independent beams of sound but it is if not a misuse than an under-use of the technology. And I should add that the basic sound was still many miles from audiophile but it is only a matter of time."
Prototyping
"Do you deliberately focus on the high-end segment? Have you ever thought to design mass-market products such as Laurence's previous Scandyna minipod speakers?"
Philip Guttentag: "As a company we feel it is healthier to grow organically. The high-end market undoubtedly requires much thought and careful design but quantities tend to be small and mistakes in both engineering and reading of the market can be corrected. The mass markets present different challenges and clearly the potential to enhance the lives of more people but the costs of tooling and hence risks involved are also much greater and not to be undertaken lightly."
"What are your main export markets and how many speakers do you sell annually?"
Philip Guttentag: "Our most important markets currently are Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and North America. In 2010 we sold over 1000 speakers."
"What about your domestic market in South Africa? Would you consider it mature or growing? Is it a kind of stronghold for Vivid?"
Philip Guttentag: "I consider South Africa a growing market. It’s an important market for us as we distribute here but we are not as well represented as we would like to be."
"Like many manufacturers you do not highlight your internal hookup wiring. Do you consider it crucial or more anecdotal?"
Laurence Dickie: "Internal wiring has to be as relevant as the external cabling. Back in the years of the original design phase we auditioned various wires and found Van den Hul to offer a good product. Clearly there is a constant stream of new products. If f we were to audition all the new wires available there would be no time to design new products. Actually I dream of the day we can employ someone to do nothing but audition cables and components. I can assure you that person would be very busy."
Molding Giya1
"What kind of amplification would you propose for a Giya owner?"
Laurence Dickie: "We tend to shy away from making recommendations simply because there are so many variables that we cannot be sure what element of a system is most relevant. We have happy customers using large push-pull valve amps as well as solid state. There are those with class D and those with class A. I use my own class AB amps built 20 years ago with bridged Mosfet outputs and a big old toroidal transformer.
We like to think we provide loudspeakers which will be fully revealing of the drive electronics while treating power amps kindly by not presenting too difficult a load."
Molding Giya1
"How do you manage the after-sale service and warranties on your products? It seems a bit complicated directly from Durban. Do you select dealers and agents to assume normal maintenance?"
Philip Guttentag: "We offer a 5-year warranty against latent defects or factory faults. This is part of our global distributor portfolio to maintain on our behalf with our assistance. We have chosen our distribution group carefully on both sales and service grounds to provide excellence in both areas and locally for each of our 32 key markets. I must add that although we have experienced a few driver failures due to mechanical damages we have never experienced any thermal damage. I am pretty sure that we are unique in this regard. From my experience of selling numerous other well-respected high-end brands this is an exception. I like to think this is a direct result of Laurence's work in professional audio."
Technical awakening. Perhaps these two words I shall keep in mind about this uncommon manufacturer. We are not dealing here with a huge technical revolution. It is simply solid audio engineering using modern tools and materials. Vivid Audio is an example of what the high-end ideally should be about - aesthetic, efficient and advanced modern designs.
