These things are ultra-cool, high-end speakers that pack a wallop for audio aficionados who care as much about form and function as they do about fashion. The scientific approach that manufacturers Vivid Audio have taken in designing loudspeakers has led to the development of the GIYA, the brainchild of company head Laurence Dickie.
These 6-foot, 150-pound wonders are rated for a frequency range between 23Hz and 44kHz, which equates to as complete a range or sounds you’ll ever need to hear. The hefty price tag of $54,000 shouldn’t make much difference for the audience Vivid appeals to, who’d sacrifice more than cash for the level of performance one would expect at such prices.
Dickie, who also created the equally ugly Nautilus speakers for B&W, is no stranger to stereo design. The strange-looking enclosure is actually designed to prevent audio distortion, with its pair of 12″ drivers mounted on each side of the speaker. With the ability to 800 watts of power, the gentle giant’s stature begins to make sense.
Some industry aficionados are taking notice, as Stereo Sound Japan recently gave Vivid a Grand Prix Award and a Golden Sound Award for the GIYA design. Check them out here.
