Just got back from Capital Audio Fest 2021. It is my first audio show and it was like being in a candy store and you got to try all the candies! Connected with some really friendly audiophiles as well as learning from industry experts on their thoughts and processes.
The best of show room for me was the Kharma Exquisites Midi running with top of the line Conrad Johnson Monos and Pre in the 20/20 evolution systems room. The VR11s were impressive in scale and image definition but such a big speaker, in a huge room...just not a realistic room for 99% of us. They lacked the musical purity and liquidity the Kharmas played. The Midi sounded the most "realistic" and "natural" for me. People are not kidding when they said the Midis play big - way bigger than they look. They mostly just disappeared as if there the entire band was playing behind them. They were set out quite far into the room at 16' from the front wall in the 44' long room. Also they were absolutely gorgeous in person, the pictures do not do them justice.
The small rooms went from sounding bad to just ok but not one I was really impressed with. The best sounding rooms tended to be the medium to largish rooms on the main floor. They were roughly 20-26ft wide by 35-45ft wide. Yes, I bought my laser tape. Maybe this is the formula for a future room/build?
These are show conditions and my ears but in general I would categorize the vendors there in the following:
1) The "tinkerers" and "hobbiests" that produced unique products and sounds but much like you have modded street cars that try to be fast and cool. Intriguing but certainly not a Class A product and usually not worth what they were charging IMO. For example, the bass in those rooms were either bloated or razor thin. Hardly any rooms had it right.
2) The big industry names that sell tons of product to the audiophile masses, but to me never sounding exceptional, going by their reputation and mark ups for the dealers to promote.
3) Finally, the real deal manufacturers. The "professionals" as I would call them. Realistically convincing music. Very, very few of those from what I heard at the show.
The best of show room for me was the Kharma Exquisites Midi running with top of the line Conrad Johnson Monos and Pre in the 20/20 evolution systems room. The VR11s were impressive in scale and image definition but such a big speaker, in a huge room...just not a realistic room for 99% of us. They lacked the musical purity and liquidity the Kharmas played. The Midi sounded the most "realistic" and "natural" for me. People are not kidding when they said the Midis play big - way bigger than they look. They mostly just disappeared as if there the entire band was playing behind them. They were set out quite far into the room at 16' from the front wall in the 44' long room. Also they were absolutely gorgeous in person, the pictures do not do them justice.
The small rooms went from sounding bad to just ok but not one I was really impressed with. The best sounding rooms tended to be the medium to largish rooms on the main floor. They were roughly 20-26ft wide by 35-45ft wide. Yes, I bought my laser tape. Maybe this is the formula for a future room/build?
These are show conditions and my ears but in general I would categorize the vendors there in the following:
1) The "tinkerers" and "hobbiests" that produced unique products and sounds but much like you have modded street cars that try to be fast and cool. Intriguing but certainly not a Class A product and usually not worth what they were charging IMO. For example, the bass in those rooms were either bloated or razor thin. Hardly any rooms had it right.
2) The big industry names that sell tons of product to the audiophile masses, but to me never sounding exceptional, going by their reputation and mark ups for the dealers to promote.
3) Finally, the real deal manufacturers. The "professionals" as I would call them. Realistically convincing music. Very, very few of those from what I heard at the show.
