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RMAF 2015

Jason's Adventures Continue on Day 2

Jason Victor Serinus Oct 08, 2015

Ah yes. Through the audio jungle I thrashed, through sound both thrilling and threadbare, until, having totally exhausted the alliteration resources of my thoroughly thumbed thesaurus, I alighted upon the thoroughfare of Thrax. Once there, I threw all literary pretense aside, and thrillingly cried, "Thanks be to Thrax!"

RMAF 2015

More from Mr. Matson on Day 2

Sasha Matson Oct 08, 2015

There are rooms at hi-fi shows, and then there are rooms. Kubotek/Haniwa were hosting the "Harry Pearson Memorial Concert" in Room 1122 of the Denver Marriott. I had seen information in advance, but it took me a moment to realize that I had walked into a unique event. It was a bit like viewing hours at a funeral parlor, but instead of a casket, arranged around the room were a selection of the legendary Harry Pearson's actual 3000-LP collection, which he bequeathed complete to Dr. Tetsuo Kubo, designer and president/CEO of the Kubotek Corporation, based in Osaka, Japan.

RMAF 2015

Starting Off Saturday at RMAF Right

Jason Victor Serinus Oct 08, 2015

When there are over 150 exhibits to cover at an audio show, as there were at RMAF, I usually have no choice but to skip entertainment. But when Joe Reynolds of Nordost told me that I "must" hear Irish songstress and songwriter Eleanor McEvoy, whose initial work as a symphonic violinist segued into work as a session musician for U2 and Sinead O’Connor before she concentrated on songwriting and performing, I vowed to briefly stick my head into the Aspen Amphitheatre, grab a photo, and stay for part of a song.

Then I heard McEvoy, the composer of the title track of A Woman's Heart, the six-artist compilation that became Ireland's all-time best-selling CD, begin to sing her own music. . .

RMAF 2015

Gold and More at the End of Jason's First Day

Jason Victor Serinus Oct 07, 2015

Voxativ may be one of the only companies in the high-end whose equipment list is designed as a flow chart. The visual presentation seems entirely apt, given how beautifully music flowed through the eye-catching and soul-pleasing Voxativ 9.87 system loudspeakers with its AC-4d wideband driver and bass extension ($34,900/pair).

RMAF 2015

Day 2 from Sasha Matson

Sasha Matson Oct 07, 2015

By the time I went to book a room for this year's RMAF there was no room at the Denver Marriott inn. Perhaps the same thing happened to Magico, as we both ended up one long suburban block away at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech. Which was nice for me, in that it allowed me to get a breath of fresh air between listening bouts.

RMAF 2015

The Reichert RMAF Report, Part 4

Herb Reichert Oct 07, 2015

When I first met Jeffrey Catalano, he used an AR-XA turntable, a Fisher 500C amp, and a pair of AR-1 loudspeakers. Nowadays, he always has a world-class super system. I love listening to records with Jeffrey and I always feel bad that my show reporting only lets me stay a short while in his High Water Sound room at a show.

RMAF 2015

Jason's First Day Continues

Jason Victor Serinus Oct 06, 2015

Andy Carr, Marketing Director of the UK's Cambridge Audio, introduced two of the company's systems: a CX series system that included Cambridge Audio Aeromax 2 bookshelf speakers ($649/pair), and an 851 series that used Aeromax 6 floorstanders ($1299/pair). Both speaker models incorporate Cambridge Audio's BMR (Balanced Mode Radiator) drivers and dedicated subwoofers. Playing a FLAC file of Eric Bibb's "Rocking Chair" through, I believe, the CXN upsampling network music player ($999), the lower priced system ($2700 total + XLO cabling) produced really nice, smooth sound that felt just right for grabbing a beer, settling down, and mellowing out . . .

RMAF 2015

Herb Gets Into His Stride at RMAF

Herb Reichert Oct 06, 2015

RockyFest Award Alert!

Best Sound: Vincent Bélanger
Best-Sounding Component: Monsieur Bélanger's 200-year old cello
Best Choice of Music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsdaTVKmjdY
Most Impressive Audio Demonstration: Audio Note UK

RMAF 2015

The Rocky Mountain International HiFi Press Awards

Sasha Matson Oct 05, 2015

The big story here at this year's RMAF has not been a particular superior room, or a manufacturer's particular success in bringing great music audio hardware or software into the world, but rather the inaugural Rocky Mountain International HiFi Press Awards 2015, which were presented during the evening of October 2nd, 2015 at the Marriott Hotel here in Denver.

RMAF 2015

More First Day Adventures from Sasha

Sasha Matson Oct 05, 2015

Continuing my tour on the first day of this year's RMAF, let me just say in the first sentence that the beautifully matched system I found up and running in room 9026 fit me like a glove. I have had direct experience over the years, as have many others, with several of the fine audio brands represented in the room hosted by The Audio Alternative, a retailer out of nearby Fort Collins. On show was excellent gear from Audio Research Corporation, Vandersteen Audio, AMG, AudioQuest, and Harmonic Resolutions Systems.