Who’s going to the Florida International Audio Expo?

[Elliot G.]

As an exhibitor at the show I felt attendance on Friday and Saturday was good. We had over 300 visitors in our room each day. Sundays are always slow at shows and IMO a waste of time.
I would prefer longer hours on Friday and Saturday and then go home on Sunday.
The hotel had issues . It needs modernization, it needs more and better food choices but it was not terrible and we all made it work. I think the organizers generally did a very good job and deserve credit for that.
Large rooms at shows are always a huge challenge. They are not designed for audio for sure. Our room at Axpona was a nightmare but each year we learned a little more however I don’t think it was possible in that space in the time allotted to do much better than a C or C plus even after 6 years .
I wish the new occupants a lot of luck as we are not going to try that again, for us there wasn’t much value in doing it again.
I did enjoy FAE and plan on returning as it is close to our home and gives us the real opportunity to have some ROI

 

[Elliot G.]

Really not much feedback from this show...seems kinda of weird

I was told that TAS did not send anyone!!!!
Good job by them , not!
I only saw Ken from Stereophile and Michael Fremer not sure how many other press members showed up. I think that might affect what people hear and see.

 

[Elliot G.]

I was told that this issue was due to the very poor set up they did of their turntable and not knowing how to isolate it correctly. In fact I was told they did not believe this until it was proven to them.

People seem to have a problem with a show failure and that does not mean it’s a product failure . The execution of their display and room did not give a good result . They did not prepare or plan any other source option.
Making excuses rather than accepting the reality is sad. I wish everyone the best but to pretend it was something it wasn’t is totally denying the facts.
I don’t know what the speaker sounds like I and others I spoke to just could not get the opportunity to listen to it. They had excellent gear around it and their issues were NOT break in. Every single exhibit has the same issues with cold start until the gear settles in whether it’s new or not.
Let’s just be real, move on and for their sake get a better result next time

 

[Audiohertz2]

I was told that TAS did not send anyone!!!!
Good job by them , not!
I only saw Ken from Stereophile and Michael Fremer not sure how many other press members showed up. I think that might affect what people hear and see.

Im sure you know the drill , message sent….!

 

[Audiohertz2]

I was told that this issue was due to the very poor set up they did of their turntable and not knowing how to isolate it correctly. In fact I was told they did not believe this until it was proven to them.

Incompetence is common in most rooms , 1M + of stereo rigs begging for a reason to justify bad sound ..!

Pluuuuuueasee

 

[Synaxis]

As an exhibitor at the show I felt attendance on Friday and Saturday was good. We had over 300 visitors in our room each day. Sundays are always slow at shows and IMO a waste of time.

Sounds like you had a great turnout!

 

[Lee]

I was told that this issue was due to the very poor set up they did of their turntable and not knowing how to isolate it correctly. In fact I was told they did not believe this until it was proven to them.

I don’t think this is accurate. I helped break down the room and the VPI appeared setup correctly. The suspended floor and horrible room acoustics were the real issue as far as I could tell.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I don’t think this is accurate. I helped break down the room and the VPI appeared setup correctly. The suspended floor and horrible room acoustics were the real issue as far as I could tell.

Several people told me that above about 70dB there was acoustic feedback. In my listening room at home I listen at about 80 to 90dB. At an audio show 70dB just ain't gonna work.

A suspended floor does not cause acoustic feedback. Room acoustics don't cause acoustic feedback.

It seems like they had an unfortunate vinyl playback set-up, and they did not have a CD backup. I'm sure they will do better next time.

What's the point of trying to whitewash this?

 

[Elliot G.]

thought the Oneiros room was one of the best at the show in terms of midrange purity. It was very natural and effortless. I thought the overall presentation was very open sounding.

Lee
Didn’t you just say the above on Post #71?

And suspended floor and horrible room acoustics were the real issue as far as I could tell.

This seems extremely hard to comprehend and rectify

 

[Elliot G.]

Please someone explain to me
Why the floor under one room was different and a problem than other rooms on the same floor?
Front Row Theater was on the same floor using a Linn Turntable with no issues and I am sure others on the same floor as well used turntables.
So quoting My cousin Vinny
Are your grits magic grits?
Or why is this room different than any other room? ( it’s not Passover lol)
The plot moistens ….

 

[Elliot G.]

 

[vpi]

@Elliot G. – I want to clarify this because, as someone in the industry, I believe your comments don’t reflect a fair understanding of the situation.

At audio shows, unexpected challenges often arise, and exhibitors have to adapt in real time. These events are far from an ideal representation of a product’s true performance due to the wide range of variables—many of which cannot be resolved on the spot without disrupting the schedule. In real-world installations, industry professionals have the ability to fine-tune, adjust, or supplement equipment to optimize a system’s performance.

In this case, our stand includes additional isolation components that weren’t initially installed on all three active setups. The accessories were misplaced during delivery and weren’t found until after the systems were assembled. However, after extensive listening—including War of the Worlds and other records—there were no immediate signs that additional isolation was necessary. Our manufacturing partners were pleased with the performance, especially given the room’s challenges.

Once I became aware the room was having an isolation issue, I returned to address the situation. However, by that time—Saturday—the room was full of engaged listeners enjoying the system. Rather than disrupting the experience, we opted to leave things as they were for the remainder of the show. The other two rooms with the same stand and turntable had no issue with the missing components. This is because it was an actual concrete floor, while the other was an unexpected suspended floor.

That said, there had been plans to recreate this system at Axpona, and I’d like to invite everyone to experience it there. With all components properly installed, we’ll have the opportunity to demonstrate its full capabilities—cranked up to full volume for a one's sound blasting enjoyment.

In discussions like these, it’s always valuable to consider the full context before drawing conclusions. Thoughtful questions and constructive dialogue help move the industry forward, and I appreciate the opportunity to provide more insight into the realities of audio shows.

 

[Lee]

Several people told me that above about 70dB there was acoustic feedback. In my listening room at home I listen at about 80 to 90dB. At an audio show 70dB just ain't gonna work.

A suspended floor does not cause acoustic feedback. Room acoustics don't cause acoustic feedback.

It seems like they had an unfortunate vinyl playback set-up, and they did not have a CD backup. I'm sure they will do better next time.

What's the point of trying to whitewash this?

Not trying to whitewash anything. I just was very familiar with the room unlike Synaxis who wasn’t even at the show. The table was setup by Mat Weisfeld. The stand was incredibly heavy and solid. I know because it I had to move the shelves which were super heavy.

 

[Lee]

thought the Oneiros room was one of the best at the show in terms of midrange purity. It was very natural and effortless. I thought the overall presentation was very open sounding.

Lee
Didn’t you just say the above on Post #71?

And suspended floor and horrible room acoustics were the real issue as far as I could tell.

This seems extremely hard to comprehend and rectify

There’s no contradiction here. The sound was excellent in the midrange in spite of the room issues and the lower volume level.

 

[Lee]

I was told that TAS did not send anyone!!!!
Good job by them , not!
I only saw Ken from Stereophile and Michael Fremer not sure how many other press members showed up. I think that might affect what people hear and see.

TAS sent Fremer.

 

[Synaxis]

Not trying to whitewash anything. I just was very familiar with the room unlike Synaxis who wasn’t even at the show. The table was setup by Mat Weisfeld. The stand was incredibly heavy and solid. I know because it I had to move the shelves which were super heavy.

Lee- they admitted it was setup issue when the CD player was brought in to prove to them it was.

I just don't care enough to belabor such a mindless point. You are welcome to believe otherwise.

 

[Elliot G.]

@Elliot G. – I want to clarify this because, as someone in the industry, I believe your comments don’t reflect a fair understanding of the situation.

At audio shows, unexpected challenges often arise, and exhibitors have to adapt in real time. These events are far from an ideal representation of a product’s true performance due to the wide range of variables—many of which cannot be resolved on the spot without disrupting the schedule. In real-world installations, industry professionals have the ability to fine-tune, adjust, or supplement equipment to optimize a system’s performance.

In this case, our stand includes additional isolation components that weren’t initially installed on all three active setups. The accessories were misplaced during delivery and weren’t found until after the systems were assembled. However, after extensive listening—including War of the Worlds and other records—there were no immediate signs that additional isolation was necessary. Our manufacturing partners were pleased with the performance, especially given the room’s challenges.

Once I became aware the room was having an isolation issue, I returned to address the situation. However, by that time—Saturday—the room was full of engaged listeners enjoying the system. Rather than disrupting the experience, we opted to leave things as they were for the remainder of the show. The other two rooms with the same stand and turntable had no issue with the missing components. This is because it was an actual concrete floor, while the other was an unexpected suspended floor.

That said, there had been plans to recreate this system at Axpona, and I’d like to invite everyone to experience it there. With all components properly installed, we’ll have the opportunity to demonstrate its full capabilities—cranked up to full volume for a one's sound blasting enjoyment.

In discussions like these, it’s always valuable to consider the full context before drawing conclusions. Thoughtful questions and constructive dialogue help move the industry forward, and I appreciate the opportunity to provide more insight into the realities of audio shows.

Dear Matt,
I see you at all the shows and I have done too many to count as well so sometimes there are issues.If you read all of what I said it is impossible for me to believe why one can't just say Damn it didnt work and move on. No where did I say anything about the gear it is only the end result.
You are just offering an excuse, we get it you did not get the result you wanted, so accept that and move on. The people that claim the room was something other than it was are being dishonest.
I have nothing against VPI or any other company but the facts are the room did not work properly , can we just agree on that and try again ...
I wish you nothing but success at the next show

 

[Elliot G.]

There’s no contradiction here. The sound was excellent in the midrange in spite of the room issues and the lower volume level.

WOW! just WOW!

 

[Jeffy]

Matt, if you would have used our Pneupod pneumatic isolation feet under your turntable from Pneuance Audio, your footfalls would have disappeared.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Matt set-up the turntable, so suspicion cannot fall on the turntable set-up.

To me, a footfall problem is not an acoustic feedback problem. Acoustic feedback is a specific thing, not a general purpose term for any unexplained sonic problem.

I understand from an attendee that there was a ceiling decoration directly above the listening couch in that room which was resonated by the music. Maybe there was no acoustic feedback problem. Maybe it was just the sound pressure resonating this ceiling decoration?