Axpona 22’ pictures

[Ron Resnick]

If I were at the show I would have been most curious to see and hear the Avantgarde Trio G3 system. My biggest personal issue with the Trios I saw and listened to at the factory in 2015 was the flimsy structural construction.

I have always theorized -- pure vile speculation, I concede -- that one reason I (my ears, my personal and subjective preferences) hear too much treble energy from Trios (and from Avantgarde loudspeakers in general, really) was the formerly flimsy construction.

From the photos it appears that the G3 very seriously and comprehensively addresses this structural issue, and it looks like the new structure is very solid, heavy and robust.

I would love to hear Trio G3s driven by Viva Aurora or Absolare SET or Lamm ML3 mono amplifiers and playing vinyl with a ZYX or Benz-Micro or Air Tight or Koetsu or Grado Lineage cartridge.

 

[PeterA]

on the way to my flight now, hit Aries Cerat, Gobel/CH/Wadax and Vivid/JRM/Ideon on the way out finishing with the Avantgarde.

trying to wrap my head around those big horns. so much to like, but is it real?

Whether something sounds real or not is completely up to the ear and mind of the listener. Some would also add that it depends on what “real” means. Real compared to what? If there is a what, that is the reference. “So much to like” might be enough, regardless of whether or not it sounds real.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Whether something sounds real or not is completely up to the ear and mind of the listener. Some would also add that it depends on what “real” means. Real compared to what? If there is a what, that is the reference. “So much to like” might be enough, regardless of whether or not it sounds real.

I suppose it depends on one’s reference for a real presentation. Astonishing micro dynamics and vivid liveliness along with giant images and ballooned stage is a quandary in my mind. Close my eyes and I can’t relate it to any real experience I know of. Can’t make that jump. Yet there is a sense of clarity that is intoxicating. Like a flash of lightning that never shuts off.

no pain or discomfort but not sure it is enduringly satisfying.

yikes!

 

[PeterA]

I suppose it depends on one’s reference for a real presentation. Astonishing micro dynamics and vivid liveliness along with giant images and ballooned stage is a quandary in my mind. Close my eyes and I can’t relate it to any real experience I know of. Can’t make that jump. Yet there is a sense of clarity that is intoxicating. Like a flash of lightning that never shuts off.

no pain or discomfort but not sure it is enduringly satisfying.

yikes!

Could simply be set up, room, wires, source. Who knows? For me, it has to present more than what you were describing.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Could simply be set up, room, wires, source. Who knows? For me, it has to present more than what you were describing.

Of course it’s a compromised set up, which I commented about earlier. How much is the geometry of the stage due to the room? Some say not much. I don’t know?

but this data point does make you cautious about it.

again the question is can it be real……to…….me? It’s a looooog way away as presented in that room. Yet I’m drawn to it. Or I would not have taken the time to go there again and again.

 

[trekpilot]

The return of the psychedelic colors?

Of course it’s a compromised set up, which I commented about earlier. How much is the geometry of the stage due to the room? Some say not much. I don’t know?

but this data point does make you cautious about it.

again the question is can it be real……to…….me? It’s a looooog way away as presented in that room. Yet I’m drawn to it. Or I would not have taken the time to go there again and again.

Mike,
I thought the Avantegarde horns did a lot of things well and I would like to have heard them in a larger room with the hope that the image size would be more "correct".

scott

 

[trekpilot]

I don't know Ron. I didn't pay much attention to source material. I do think it's harder to set-up analog optimally at a show whereas digital is plug and play.

Also figure in transporting and handling all the albums you need to bring along.

 

[dminches]

To me, the issue with so many rooms being dependent on digital results in a challenge for the other electronics and speakers. There were quite a number of rooms using laptops as servers. My ears just heard lousy digital sound. On the other hand, rooms which used even modest turntables had a much better chance of producing pleasing sound. Others may disagree but a $1000 turntable is likely going to sound better than a laptop-based digital music server with a $2000 DAC. That’s been my experience at shows and has also been my experience in my own personal journey.

 

[marty]

Of course it’s a compromised set up, which I commented about earlier. How much is the geometry of the stage due to the room? Some say not much. I don’t know?

but this data point does make you cautious about it.

again the question is can it be real……to…….me? It’s a looooog way away as presented in that room. Yet I’m drawn to it. Or I would not have taken the time to go there again and again.

Uh Oh. I can hear it now. "Honey, don't bother mowing that field anymore. We're building a new barn for "the horns" I'm buying!

 

[microstrip]

One person says the Avantgarde was the best and couldn’t get enough and one says the worst of the show. I find that interesting.

We can learn a lot about such systems if people explain their opinions properly.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Uh Oh. I can hear it now. "Honey, don't bother mowing that field anymore. We're building a new barn for "the horns" I'm buying!

Funny the crazy stuff that goes thru your (one’s) mind.

 

[sbnx]

My take on AXPONA 2022. Not nearly as many people as there were in 2019. But still a decent amount of people and exhibitors. I enjoyed meeting Mike L. in the Goebel room. Always good to put a face with a name.

Like Marty, I also greatly enjoyed seeing and hearing the Wilson WAMM system from 1981. It is not everyday that you get to experience a significant piece of audiophile history. This system was purchased and setup by JS Audio from Maryland. They purchased from the original owner in an estate sale and have been working on restoring it. This is a very complex system and would certainly be difficult to setup properly in one day by anyone except Dave Wilson. I would not judge what this was capable of based on what I heard at the show but still sounded better than some of the rooms. I give a huge shout out to JS Audio for going to the effort to setup a system like this. I thought it provided some great press for Wilson.

A few of the smaller rooms I thought sounded great and fun. First, the Chord room. They had a Hugo and M-Scaler setup and were doing A/B comparisons. I don't recall the speakers exactly...Maybe ATC or Harbeth. But switching in the M-scaler was not subtle. It is worth a try on your Chord or non-Chord DAC.



Skip had great sound in his room. The small 2-way Fiorentino really sounded fantastic. (I think this was the new Pienza) I have always liked the sound of the Fiorentino speakers. The setup I would have no hesitation recommending this speaker to anyone in the under $10k category. (Sorry the picture is not that great. Skip had it pretty dark in there.
Also in the under $10K category I liked the Sonner room. Sunny also had it sounding very nice. Another speaker I would have no hesitation recommending in this price range.

 

[PeterA]

We can learn a lot about such systems if people explain their opinions properly.

Francisco, what do you mean?

 

[sbnx]

For the big rooms the Stenheim/VTL/Nordost room was the most technically precise. Large soundstage, nice imaging, very dynamic and punchy. I went to this room many times. It is interesting that they mostly played Vinyl despite having the $200k+ Wadax digital rig. They played a lot of Jazz and not very loud for that size room. It was like driving a Ferrari at 55mph. But I got a real taste of what that system is capable of. Late on Saturday he put on an record of Rossini's 'La Italiana in Algeri'. This piece starts out extremely quiet and he had the volume up pretty high. When the brass came in -- BAM! You could hear what these speakers and electronics could do. I then asked if he would play 'Poem of Chinese Drum' which he obliged. He asked a couple times if I wanted it louder and I kept saying yes. This system never ran out of gas even in this huge room. The drums were very articulate. Never boomy.

 

[gds7368]

I suppose it depends on one’s reference for a real presentation. Astonishing micro dynamics and vivid liveliness along with giant images and ballooned stage is a quandary in my mind. Close my eyes and I can’t relate it to any real experience I know of. Can’t make that jump. Yet there is a sense of clarity that is intoxicating. Like a flash of lightning that never shuts off.

no pain or discomfort but not sure it is enduringly satisfying.

yikes!

Mike
I just wanted to take a minute and THANK YOU for taking the time to include us all in your experiences at AXPONA. Great pictures and details. I had tickets furloughed to last weekend but couldn't make the flight times work. I just let them keep my $35 or whatever it was (they've worked hard enough). Looking forward hopefully to meeting at another show. Much appreciated and safe flight home.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I suppose it depends on one’s reference for a real presentation. Astonishing micro dynamics and vivid liveliness along with giant images and ballooned stage is a quandary in my mind. Close my eyes and I can’t relate it to any real experience I know of. Can’t make that jump. Yet there is a sense of clarity that is intoxicating. Like a flash of lightning that never shuts off.

no pain or discomfort but not sure it is enduringly satisfying.

yikes!

Mike, you describe PRECISELY what I heard in a more optimally set up pair of Duos in a bigger room. Kind of a "Land Of The Giants" scenario.

 

[sbnx]

A couple pictures of the new Apex for the Gryphon fans. This amp is HUGE. It makes the Mephisto look small(ish)

 

[chet atkins]

Your wish……

my best musical moment of Axpona so far was this album…..played in this room. Mono on a Miyajima Infinity Mono .7mil cart.

no surprise there. Jeff’s rooms always have the best music at shows.

View attachment 91958View attachment 91959View attachment 91960

i have over 125 chet atkins albums

 

[caesar]

If I were at the show I would have been most curious to see and hear the Avantegarde Trio G3 system. My biggest personal issue with the Trios I saw and listened to at the factory in 2015 was the flimsy structural construction.

I have always theorized -- pure vile speculation, I concede -- that one reason I (my ears, my personal and subjective preferences) hear too much treble energy from Trios (and from Avantgarde loudspeakers in general, really) was the formerly flimsy construction.

From the photos it appears that the G3 very seriously and comprehensively addresses this structural issue, and it looks like the new structure is very solid, heavy and robust.

I would love to hear Trio G3s driven by Viva Aurora or Absolare SET or Lamm ML3 mono amplifiers and playing vinyl with a ZYX or Benz-Micro or Air Tight or Koetsu or Grado Lineage cartridge.

Hi Ron,
You are a very influential guy! I was fortunate to attend the show for a bit, and yes, the new Trios G3 seem to have a very solid, industrial looking, metallic structure. Thanks for harping on this, as this has been fixed by Avantgarde!

Sound-wise, it was BY FAR the most realistic sound of the show - for guys who find realism in macro and micro dynamics and tone. The usually sterile dCS vivaldi did not have any negative impacts on the experience (and it was a vivaldi new acme upgrade).

Regular audiophiles, who imagine their music to sound real or good with conventional box speakers, and are acclimated to that box sound, will probably hate it.

One important note in judging perceptions: The shape of the room was non-ideal. And the room was packed when I stopped by. However, the only really good seats were on the sofa. Those not sitting on the sofa in the sweet spot did not get to experience the speaker to its full potential.

 

[caesar]

One person says the Avantgarde was the best and couldn’t get enough and one says the worst of the show. I find that interesting.

welcome to a hobby based on subjective experiences. the brands supported by the loudest mouths win