AXPONA 2023

[Bobvin]

If one wants to take it serious you need to reposition the speakers with every song played
Most song are mastered on different studiomonitors thus have a different balance

(Or you can cut of the high freq all together for around 10 db like some here opt /do)
No high freq no error

Vta adjust for each record, speakers too—i see a whole new field of automation gestating.

 

[Al M.]

If one wants to take it serious you need to reposition the speakers with every song played
Most song are mastered on different studiomonitors thus have a different balance

No, that's what tone controls are for.

But of course, misguided audio purists detest tone controls.

I have one, even though I use it rarely (if I would listen to pop and rock more, I might use it more frequently).

(Or you can cut of the high freq all together for around 10 db like some here opt /do)
No high freq no error

Hehe. The easy way out. Combine that with curtailing of low frequencies, and it makes sure that "nothing sticks out".

 

[andromedaaudio]

But of course, misguided audio purists detest tone controls.

I have one, even though I use it rarely (if I would listen to pop and rock more, I might use it more frequently).

Left bottom corner .

 

[Lagonda]

Left bottom corner .

View attachment 108034

Are those your latest creations andromedaaudio ? I know you like side firing subs !

 

[andromedaaudio]

Are those your latest creations andromedaaudio ? I know you like side firing subs !

No thats rockport off course .
He has the woofers firing to the outside , sometimes you see the arrakis with the woofers firing at each other this will change the balance also off course .
Audiophiles come in all shapes / sizes.

(Im currently designing cheap small speakers , nobody wants to buy a 250 kg a piece behemoth )

 

[Lagonda]

No thats rockport off course .
He has the woofers firing to the outside , sometimes you see the arrakis with the woofers firing at each other this will change the balance also off course .
Audiophiles come in all shapes / sizes.

(Im currently designing cheap small speakers , nobody wants to buy a 250 kg a piece behemoth )

My name is Nobody !

 

[andromedaaudio]

Hehe. The easy way out. Combine that with curtailing of low frequencies, and it makes sure that "nothing sticks out".

And then you play/ record girl guitar music like " TRULY " to be utra safe.

Luckily there are demonstrators like FM acoustics

 

[cjfrbw]

LOL! Trash talking shootout narrative between Alsyvox and Clairysis is not appropriate. They are different paradigms and executions. I don't think Alsyvox has anything to worry about.

 

[andromedaaudio]

My name is Nobody !

" nobody wants to buy a 250 kg a piece behemoth"

So you wanna buy them ??

 

[Lagonda]

" nobody wants to buy a 250 kg a piece behemoth"

So you wanna buy them ??

I am definitely a behemoth guy, but i am all speakered out these days, i have 3 different setups in different ends of my listening room !

 

[andromedaaudio]

I am definitely a behemoth guy, but i am all speakered out these days, i have 3 different setups in different ends of my listening room !

Your Martin Logan statements are a great buy indeed

 

[Al M.]

And then you play/ record girl guitar music like " TRULY " to be utra safe.

Yes, then you are *TRULY* safe!

I guess most of those show systems would fall apart if you would play Jeff Beck, Live at Ronnie Scotts. LOUD.

Or worse: Stravinsky, Rite of Spring. LOUD.

Luckily there are demonstrators like FM acoustics

Good for them.

 

[Lagonda]

Your Martin Logan statements are a great buy indeed

I still enjoy my MBL 101's too, they are now set up on the long wall with about 5 meter to the side walls on each side, they have a foot tapping immediacy, currently without subwoofer towers.

 

[PeterA]

Just last night I was agonizing again about two speaker positions in my system, differing in nothing but a toe-in change of only maximal 2 degrees, possibly less (subtle change, but with significant impact on the sound), both with pros and cons, and other people might have different reactions to the resulting changes in sound than I do. Everything matters. And that's in a system that otherwise has been optimized over years by me.

I know well that feeling, Al. I found that when I could not decide between two different speaker positions because they both had pros and cons, neither was right. I kept going until I found a position that did not have compromises. It took a long time, but once there I was done and never thought about it again. I found the location that had the fewest compromises. And I knew it when I heard it. Dependent on the individual listener of course.

 

[Al M.]

I know well that feeling, Al. I found that when I could not decide between two different speaker positions because they both had pros and cons, neither was right. I kept going until I found a position that did not have compromises. It took a long time, but once there I was done and never thought about it again. I found the location they had the fewest compromises. And I knew it when I heard it. Dependent on the individual listener of course.

Yes, I am now at a point where I am at a position with the fewest compromises as well. I now know very well what my system can and what it simply cannot do in its current configuration (it can do much more than not), and I know that I am working close to its maximum. It's just the last bit of deciding about what's most to my taste, and it's personal indeed.

 

[Kingrex]

On a more serious note:
You like to try or change amps in your system. I am sure that at least some (no, certainly not all) of the differences that you hear with different amps, and which you like, could be mimicked by more or less slight changes in speaker position. It costs exactly zero dollars. You should try it.

I have an itch for a tube amp. I don't think speaker position will impact the SS/Tube Paradigm. I feel a can of worms opening.

 

[Al M.]

I have an itch for a tube amp. I don't think speaker position will impact the SS/Tube Paradigm. I feel a can of worms opening.

Yes, changing amplification *type* is usually a rather big step, even though obviously also in this case there are gradations.

I have also only suggested that *some* differences between amplifiers can be adjusted for with speaker positioning, and have explicitly stated it will not be all of them.

 

[Kingrex]

Yes, changing amplification *type* is usually a rather big step, even though obviously also in this case there are gradations.

I have also only suggested that *some* differences between amplifiers can be adjusted for with speaker positioning, and have explicitly stated it will not be all of them.

I'm just poking the bear Al. I fully agree speaker position is very important. That is an interesting feature of the BACCH. How it impacts part of what speaker placement is looking to do. It wont correct for frequency issues. But it does create an amazing soundstage that wraps around you. Its a bit of the final frontier.

 

[davidavdavid]

So, after all of that work with collecting and formatting data for the AXPONA 2023 exhibitor list, here's what caught my eyes and ears:

Pictures 1 & 2: ampsandsound Arches monoblock amplifiers, SW1X DAC IV, ( the Arches mono-blocks may very well be deemed iconic in their design. They are inspired by Harmon Kardon's noted Citation amplifiers and Justin Weber did HK quite proud. For those in the know, I am rather partial to the entire SW1X family of products, owning both a DAC II and an LPU I phono stage. The DAC IV did not disappoint.)

Picture 3: Studio Electric m5 speakers (I own pair #2 of these speakers and like them so much that I granted the designer Dave MacPherson the right to post pictures of them in my very own home on his site.

Pictures 4,5 & 6: Wolf van Langa Son speakers (These were a revelation to me. They don't discriminate as they are capable of playing with 8-watt tube amplification and much higher-powered solid-state gear. I was very much impressed). h/t Ron Resnick

Pictures 7 Janszen 9.5 electrostatic speakers (Note: David Janszen is the son of famed speaker pioneer, Arthur Janszen of KLH who designed the veritable KLH 9s. These speakers take them into the 21st century and as David is a neighbour of mine here in Columbus, Ohio I have gotten to hear various iterations of these speakers over the past few years. It was well worth the wait.

Pictures 9, 10 & 11: Clarisys ribbon speakers. (Mike Bovaird of Sun Coast Audio is on to something with these. They lived up to their advance billing and then some. As I'm to understand their appearance generated more than a handful of sales over the weekend, and there should be a slew of reviews on the horizon)

Nutshell: AXPONA 2023 was large, rather busy at some junctures and somewhat disjointed. I like the term "red wine and fish" as some of the pairings/partnerships did not always ring true. As to be expected there were some rooms which just fell flat, on deaf ears ... systems that would make Helen Keller blush. C'mon guys, exhibitors, let's give some care and thought to a: speaker positioning, b: room treatment, c: system-side manner. It would not hurt for those exhibiting and that which is being exhibited to be somewhat more engaging and personable.

 

[tony22]

It would not hurt for those exhibiting and that which is being exhibited to be somewhat more engaging and personable.

Gotta agree with you here. I was wandering the halls at about 9:30 AM on Sunday, as often it happens on the last day of a show some exhibitors will open up a bit earlier, I guess to get in a bit more show time as many start breaking down early. Or for other reasons, who knows? In any case, sure enough there were a few doors open at that time. Open, not partly open. In cases like this I will quietly wait outside by the door, or just inside, and politely wait to be invited in. One exhibitor (three guys in that room) looked at me with nasty looks, and one of them said in a nasty tone soto voce while he was by one of the speakers “We’re not open yet.” Now mind you, the door was open and music was playing, and I didn’t barge in like a drooling lunatic. If you didn’t want people to look in the room, why did you leave the door wide open? And even given that, a friendly “come back in a bit” would have been quite appreciated rather that a “we don’t want you” demeanor. It didn’t look or sound like anything was wrong with the system, but even so, a personable exchange would have been nice.

OTOH, I’ve had early morning invites into open door rooms that have led me to have very enjoyable listening, and friendly conversations with nice folk. I guess all kinds are in the industry.