Capital AudioFest 2024

[gleeds]

I went with a short list of products that I really wanted to listen to, and the lower attendance from previous years meant that I was able to get some good time in the sweet spot with my little bucket list...

Maybe controversial, but:
I'm a big Apogee fan but the Clarisys Audio speakers sounded cold and hard. Lifeless.
I'm a panel speaker fan and while the big Sound Labs have wonderful tonal qualities, I couldn't live with their larger-than-life images. (Bloated).
The new Altec Lansing speakers - what, no horn drivers, really? And their 300b amps looked a lot like the ones on Ali Express, something that was brought to my attention by a number of folks in the Altec Lansing Facebook group.
I've never heard a Von Schweikert speaker sound great at a show. Nothing I've heard has ever made me think that I'd like to own one.
The big G.I.P horns sounded quite meh and the cabinetry looked very D.I.Y, whereas the Semrad Audio horns were $20K+ less expensive and sounded/looked way better.
I didn't expect to like them and I didn't want to like them, particularly, but all of the YG Acoustics speakers I heard sounded very good.
The Quads were a disappointment in the Robyatt room. There was something a bit hard and brittle about the sound that I didn't expect from Quads and something I've never heard from the 57's I've owned, unless I've over-driven them.
MC Audiotech's speakers were very good indeed, nicely balanced top to bottom and musically engaging.
Songer Audio - another world-class showing, they sounded even better than I recall from the previous show, in 2022.
Maco speakers - these open baffles using the Lii F15 drivers were shilled by a couple YouTubers and sounded bang average. They're fine on simple acoustic stuff but hit that driver with anything complex and crank the volume and the whole illusion falls apart.

I've read a lot of show feedback on various forums and realize that I'm in a minority with some of my opinions above, which is just the way I like it.
Looking forward to going again next year if I'm still around.

The Maco room had some issues on days one and two until midday. There were also electronics issues with their tube pre until noon when we loaned them WestminsterLab gear due to problems with the tube pre. Once settled, the speakers are pretty exceptional, especially considering they are $14k in top-model trim with granite baffles. Armando is a talented and devoted engineer. If you heard them on the right day, I take zero issue with your assessment of their sound. Not everyone finds full-range baffleless speakers their cup of tea. The YouTubers you referenced have no incentive to shill these handmade in-Canada speakers other than they sound good, and Deb and Armando are among the most likable and hardest-working people in the world. That, my friend, is the only issue where I did not find your remarks to be of sound mind

 

[Gregadd]

What does this actually mean? This is the typical exceedingly poetic yet meaningless, empty, misleading, bull**** that too many write and way too many are mislead by.

Snobbish-Many speakers require only the best amplification source , and cables. Others require a particular brand. Over the I have found the Gershman to shine irrespective of he associated components.
U gope that is verbose enough for you.

 

[Audiohertz2]

I use to like Axpona. Its just big. I bet it wains as well.

I wrote to Lou and Gary and said they should blend AV and Car stereo into a big show with 2 channel. Get the kids with cars and just a larger audience with Video. I would love to hear some tricked out rigs. I have had my fair share of Zapco amps and custom speakers.
I also like a good home movie experience. Drawing a wide audience together would expose people all around.

Zapco was good stuff , so was Early Fosgates , Audio mobile and the Nelson Pass designed class A Soundstream amps.. .

 

[Atmasphere]

Hahahaha very well said so may I ask how long did you last ?
there is a place for dsp but I am not sure it’s for playback in the entire sound.
to me bacch is a powerful tool to use but not a complete playback experience.
now having said this it’s fine if one likes it
like home theater applications.
I had fun in the main bacch room there the man there was very friendly and allowed me
To make some adjustments

IME bass is the hardest thing to get right and if you are dealing with standing waves no amount of electronic correction can fix it- a null simply cancels so you can put a lot of amplifier power into it with no improvement.

But if you use a Distributed Bass Array (multiple subs, asymmetrically placed, with no output above 80Hz so to not attract attention to themselves) its easy. The thing is, once you've done that, you fix about 90%-95% of room problems.

 

[Alrainbow]

Its not bluetooth streaming. The Mac mini version which is going away has a Babyface Pro attached to the Mac Mini. You usb your streamer to the babyface pro as well as a screen and preamp. You use Bluetooth to control settings on the screen. You don't need a keyboad. A friend has it and uses his phone to control the device. He has a tv attached so he can see the setting screen from the listening chair, run sweeps, make small adjustments, save settings to buckets.
Edgar is very down to earth and genuine for a true high IQ genius. And yes, its old technology. Our audio club has a analog cross cancelation device that is a rotary dial. Super simple. Edgar took it way further. So far, the microphones in your ear adjust for the shape of your ear and how you in particular pick up frequencies.

But the ORC room correction is over the top and what interests me. People complain DSP sucks as they can never get it just right. ORC can perform a single room sweep and nail a room.
FWIW, Edgar will tell you, a properly set up speaker in a proper room will give far better results. It's not a miracle. It can't overcome a bad room setup. But if your room is close, it will ice the cake.

I believe I can use it to tri amp my speakers. It should do all the individual driver adjustments for all 3 amps on both speakers. I think. I have not got close enough to trying this to call him and ask.

I think the Adio is going to become the entry level when the Mac Mini is phased out. Like $12k or $15k. To rich for my blood. Still. Has a MSB DAC built in and I have heard of people selling their Select as the Adio is indistinguishable. And you get the BACCH and ORC functionality.
Gee, maybe I should get back on the channel.

When I said Bluetooth I meant it for jenzen alone.
Bacch I did not ask
Sorry I delayed in answering your post

 

[Alrainbow]

Gary of genesis room was very good even on Friday.
all days I went inside very good
Many other rooms needed time to get good.

 

[Alrainbow]

Each time I planed to meet some here this never happens my fault I guess
Ron I do know , what a hard working person
love his videos he always seems to ask questions that are needed yet not asked mostly
This year cap was good for me , I did wonder why I was able to get a room at the event hotel
Week before show date. I asked the man on the phone 3 times is this the right place lol. I was staring at my 3 monitors looking as well.
can someone answer what was with the wigs in the doshi , Sikora room ?
my first thought was is someone getting a cancer treatment!

 

[zermatt]

Question:
"can someone answer what was with the wigs in the doshi , Sikora room ?
my first thought was is someone getting a cancer treatment! "
and the answer:

The hosts had a cross dressing party................your blessed you were not invited!

 

[Alrainbow]

Hahahaha well any party is a worth while event.
VPI had a birthday party for his daughter with a magician
that went sideways fast but had great intentions
thanks for the reply

 

[Ron Resnick]

Please enjoy my interview with Mat Weisfeld of VPI Industries, and Walter Schofield of Nexus Audio Technologies, distributor for Stenheim:

In this interview Mat discusses:

-- the new Model 1 of the new Forever series of turntables
-- the VPI phono cartridges
-- the new VPI S tonearm
-- the Avenger phono stage
-- the new VPI stand system

In this interview Walter discusses the Stenheim Reference Ultime Two.

 

[Gregadd]

I was expecting great things from the new Kharma Veyron model at 300K USD! However despite being able to fill a very large room with bass heavy sound pressure, to my ears the set lacked "musicality ", "humanity"and refinement and sounded rather somewhat "mechanical" , which was strange given that I consider Kharma one of the best, (if not the the best) dynamic speaker manufacturer. Something was clearly off in the Evolution 20/20 room, which was puzzling given that its master set up man Mr Truitt has made Kharmas sing in the past shows like no other.
View attachment 139472

Ironic that I found them the polar opposite of your description. They were however fresh out the box. Go figure.

 

[Atmasphere]

Ironic that I found them the polar opposite of your description. They were however fresh out the box. Go figure.

I've never understood why speaker manufacturers will bring a speaker to a show that isn't broken in!

 

[Gregadd]

I've never understood why speaker manufacturers will bring a speaker to a show that isn't broken in!

In this case I actually have an answer. It belonged to a customer who had just taken delivery. The customer was actually hovering about.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Ironic that I found them the polar opposite of your description. They were however fresh out the box. Go figure.

This was one of the very few rooms where I took a breath for a few minutes and actually listened -- leisurely -- to at least one song.

As I said in my video summary report from the show I get nervous when I read about diamond encrusted this and beryllium that. It makes me think fatiguing. But this is nothing but unfair bias and prejudice. I know that implementation counts for far more than materials.

I agree with Greg. I thought this room sounded very good. Maybe the conrad-johnson was a wonderful match for diamond encrusted this and beryllium that?

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Ironic that I found them the polar opposite of your description. They were however fresh out the box. Go figure.

As far as I know, those drivers & crossover components need at least 1000 hours to break in, so very likely that could contributed to the type of sound that I heard. I have listened to many Kharmas ( as its been one of mine favorite brand) at various price levels, and sometimes preferred their less expensive models. The above strictly to my tastes, and ears, as we all hear differently, and have different sonic priorities.

 

[Atmasphere]

As I said in my video summary report from the show I get nervous when I read about diamond encrusted this and beryllium that. It makes me think fatiguing.

Beryllium is a very good material for a midrange or tweeter if its used correctly. The midrange compression drivers in my speakers have their first breakup at 35KHz so they are smooth and relaxed. Breakups aren't very pleasant; they can be fatiguing.

 

[Alrainbow]

As far as I know, those drivers & crossover components need at least 1000 hours to break in, so very likely that could contributed to the type of sound that I heard. I have listened to many Kharmas ( as its been one of mine favorite brand) at various price levels, and sometimes preferred their less expensive models. The above strictly to my tastes, and ears, as we all hear differently, and have different sonic priorities.

May i ask what source was being used?
They had two very good sources but not the exact same sound either
to add the man who I think supplied the Conrad Johnson tube Devices has modified them. They are not stock.
this same person seems to be a very knowledgeable and serous person in audio.
I’m curious on source then I can make some comments.