AXPONA 2025

[sbnx]

When I was in the PranaFidelity room at T.H.E. Show in SoCal in 2023 I could throw any music at the speakers that I wanted. I brought and played my own CDs, from Black Sabbath over piano sonatas to string quartets to jazz to challenging orchestral music (e.g., Rite of Spring) and so on. In effect, I could thoroughly test-drive the speakers. In the end I bought a pair.

I would never be a buying customer at a show demo with a fixed playlist. Exhibitors are delusional if they think they can accomplish anything that way.

In the Avantgarde room we were playing a varity of different genre's of music. I played Rachmaninoff's prelude in c-sharp minor, various vocal tracks (male and female), Beethoven's 6th, Dave Mathews and various jazz tracks. People coule request music. I played Nirvana, Rolling Stones, Toto, Daft Punk and many other non-audiophile music tracks by request. I believe a properly setup system should be able to play any type of muisc well.

 

[unboxed]

When I was in the PranaFidelity room at T.H.E. Show in SoCal in 2023 I could throw any music at the speakers that I wanted. I brought and played my own CDs, from Black Sabbath over piano sonatas to string quartets to jazz to challenging orchestral music (e.g., Rite of Spring) and so on. In effect, I could thoroughly test-drive the speakers. In the end I bought a pair.

I would never be a buying customer at a show demo with a fixed playlist. Exhibitors are delusional if they think they can accomplish anything that way.

But then, Steven Norber from PranaFidelity is known for consistently having good setups at shows. If other exhibitors have to play easy music in order not have their systems fall apart, that's their problem.

Steven Norber is exceptionally talented. I always enjoyed his rooms. I considered them some of the best and a bargain for the price. And he always appreciated my selections.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I went to a Magico room at RMAF in 2010. They had a playlist and would not deviate from it. Requests from the audience were flatly denied.

This instance seems a little stale. Perhaps they have changed their protocol in the last 15 years?

 

[treitz3]

At the very least, have something (even if one or two songs) that offered a bit of a challenge. A strong challenge would be even better.

Tom

 

[treitz3]

This instance seems a little stale. Perhaps they have changed their protocol in the last 15 years?

It was 2 years ago that I experienced the same thing. Boring, very easy music to play. Your typical audiophile crap that never allowed one to truly "experience" what the system was actually capable of.

Tom

 

[Ron Resnick]

Fair enough. My experience was different.

When I was in the M9 room with Jonathan Valin and Alon was at the controls, out of four tracks Alon played a simple vocal, a big classical symphony orchestra piece and a jazz track.

Everything sounded extremely resolved and very detailed.

 

[PeterA]

This instance seems a little stale. Perhaps they have changed their protocol in the last 15 years?

It may be old, but it’s not stale. I’m just relating my own experience from the last show I attended where I heard a Magico demo. I forgot to mention that they did not allow anyone to adjust the volume either. I tried because it was way too loud, and the guy got a bit miffed.

You go to a lot of shows Ron. Surely you can tell us if Magico has changed their “protocol in the last 15 years”. What is your experience? You interviewed Alon Wolf. Did you ask him about this stale protocol and tell him that people do not seem to like it?

 

[PeterA]

Fair enough. My experience was different.

When I was in the M9 room with Jonathan Valin and Alon was at the controls, out of four tracks Alon played a simple vocal, a big classical symphony orchestra piece and a jazz track.

Everything sounded extremely resolved and very detailed.

Did he take any requests or alter the volume?

 

[Ricky64]

I thought a "sleeper" room was the ampsandsound room. Anyone else hear it?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Did he take any requests or alter the volume?

I'm sure he played anything Jonathan asked for. The volume was very normal, so that question did not arise.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I thought a "sleeper" room was the ampsandsound room. Anyone else here it?

Yes; several people thought it was Justin's best ever show speaker.

 

[PeterA]

M9's are 94db efficient, Inefficient? I drive my M7s (92db efficient) with 50 Watt Kondo Kaguras with no issue.

Bob, why do you think we often see the M9 with big amplifiers then? The room at Axpona did not look very large, and those Dagostino Relentless amplifiers have a lot of power, perhaps 1000 W into eight ohms. I don’t know the exact model number. In the video, you can see the needle bouncing around indicating I think that a lot of power was being used, and Ron said the volume was at normal listening levels. It just seems curious.

 

[Rhapsody]

Bob, why do you think we often see the M9 with big amplifiers then? The room at Axpona did not look very large, and those Dagostino Relentless amplifiers have a lot of power, perhaps 1000 W into eight ohms. I don’t know the exact model number. In the video, you can see the needle bouncing around indicating I think that a lot of power was being used, and Ron said the volume was at normal listening levels. It just seems curious.

I really don’t know Peter. I have never used the DA amps so I just don’t know. You come to New York City occasionally you should come and visit and listen to the 50 Watt Kagura SET’s on the less efficient M7s and see what you think for yourself. You can bring any vinyl that you want or I will hand you the iPad and let you play whatever you want. That’s how I do my demos.

The only comment I would make is when you have a room that is actually a pretty good size not giant size but pretty good size and you put 30 people in the room, they act as absorbers, and it takes a lot of power to pressurize the room.

Edit: i’ve actually had a few M7 and M9 actual customers visit me over the last several months and they listened to the VAC 300 mono blocks, and a large PILIUM Zeus, and then the KONDO Kaguras with 1940s Amperex tubes. Most of the time they love the KONDO Kaguras and are always surprised that they drive the M7 pretty much to the same level as the other two options. My room is.15’ x 28’ x 9’.

Btw, I have sold two pairs of M9s and a pair of M7s(Wyoming) in the last three months. One is installed in Dayton, Ohio, and the other will be installed in June in Clevland Ohio. The one in Dayton is available for demonstration now, and you can listen to vinyl or digital to your choosing and the one in Cleveland will also be available for demonstration for serious buyers.

 

[microstrip]

Bob, why do you think we often see the M9 with big amplifiers then? The room at Axpona did not look very large, and those Dagostino Relentless amplifiers have a lot of power, perhaps 1000 W into eight ohms. (...)

The D'Agostino Relentless mono amplifiers and preamplifier are exceptional sound quality electronics, independently of power. I have now listened several times to this system, and although I have always preferred tubes, if I did not have to pay for them , they would be easily my preferred electronics.

I can imagine that sound quality per se is enough to justify this choice.

 

[Audiohertz2]

Bob, why do you think we often see the M9 with big amplifiers then? The room at Axpona did not look very large, and those Dagostino Relentless amplifiers have a lot of power, perhaps 1000 W into eight ohms. I don’t know the exact model number. In the video, you can see the needle bouncing around indicating I think that a lot of power was being used, and Ron said the volume was at normal listening levels. It just seems curious.

Why Curious , all speakers sound best with power and at a show the back ground noise floor is usually significant to need additional power , peaks on high DR recordings can easily exceed 200-400 watts even at a low 1-2 watts RMS playback ..

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Were Kharma speakers showing? They had a full page ad in the latest issue of Stereophile advertising their presence&premiere, yet not one of any usual reporting sites or bloggers has mentioned them......

 

[PeterA]

The D'Agostino Relentless mono amplifiers and preamplifier are exceptional sound quality electronics, independently of power. I have now listened several times to this system, and although I have always preferred tubes, if I did not have to pay for them , they would be easily my preferred electronics.

I can imagine that sound quality per se is enough to justify this choice.

It is an interesting choice of amplifier for Magico, considering that Wilson is often demonstrated with them. I wonder what cables were used in the demo.

 

[tima]

I do think that some on point well written text with a few stills and supporting video (of a system playing reference music) is still the best mix for communicating audio info and experience (short of actually being there).

Of course. That's how it's done. It is not a drive-by. It's not about the reporter.

 

[Rhapsody]

It is an interesting choice of amplifier for Magico, considering that Wilson is often demonstrated with them. I wonder what cables were used in the demo.

All VYDA cables.

 

[Davehg]

Anyone hear the Tone imports room? Leben was supposed to be paired with Devore.