Dynaudio Excite X12
Dynaudio's Michael Manousselis palms the Excite X12 loudspeaker ($1200/pair).
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Simaudio: Reaching for the Moon
Simaudio's Costa Koulisakis was excited to tell us about the company's new "Reach For The Moon" trade-up program. For up to a year after initial purchase, Simaudio customers interested in moving up the Sim price ladder can receive a 100% refund on their well-maintained gear. After the first year, Sim owners can receive a 75% refund on their used gear. "It's a way to stimulate the economy, while building brand loyalty," he said.
Monitor Audio
Monitor Audio took advantage of one of the show's larger suites by setting up a home theater system, a two-channel hi-fi, and a static display. Starting from the far right, here we see Monitor's entry-level Bronze series, the Silver series, and the Gold series. The flagship Platinum series, including the <a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/ssi2009/monitor_audio_pl200/">new PL200 floorstander</a>, is just outside the frame.
Monitor Audio PL200
Monitor Audio's Sheldon Ginn is very excited about the company's new PL200 loudspeaker ($8000/pair). This attractive floorstander fills the gap between Monitor's PL100 bookshelf and the much bulkier PL300 floorstander, and uses a three-driver configuration with a ribbon tweeter. It's available in ebony, rosewood, and piano black finishes, and boasts a real leather front baffle.
Totem Wind Design
Totem's Vince Bruzzese was happy to tell me about the Wind Design, an enhanced version of the company's flagship floorstander. It uses a "skid plate" decoupling system with a front "claw" which is user-adjustable to complement the phase interactions between the speaker and various associated electronics. Totem strives to create loudspeakers that will mate happily with all sorts of associated equipment, and today they were making music with an Arcam FMJ disc player and Bryston amplification.
Cut and Thrust: RIAA LP Equalization
Until the Recording Industry Association of America hit the headlines in recent years with its antipiracy campaign, the initials RIAA meant one thing to seasoned audiophiles: the vinyl-disc equalization characteristic introduced in the 1950s to standardize what had previously been an anarchy of different EQs. Three decades later, as CD gained ascendance, a large proportion of audiophiles still knew what RIAA equalization was, and a good number of them had some idea or better of what the RIAA EQ curve looked like, and why it was applied.
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Salon Son & Image, Day 1
It is just about as beautiful a day as you can imagine. You can see both the sun and the moon in this clear, blue sky. It is the kind of day that you hope for throughout the cold, winter months.
Parts Connection Assemblage DAC-1 D/A converter kit
"Dinner's fried chicken, honey."
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Recordings of February 1991: Surf's Up, etc.
<B>THE BEACH BOYS: <I>Sunflower</I></B><BR>
Caribou/Brother/Epic ZK 46950. Stephen W. Desper, eng. TT: 36:48<BR>
<B>THE BEACH BOYS: <I>Surf's Up</I></B><BR>
Caribou/Brother/Epic ZK 46951. Stephen W. Desper, eng. TT: 33:36<BR>
<B>THE BEACH BOYS: <I>Holland</I></B><BR>
Caribou/Brother/Epic ZK 46952. Stephen Moffitt, Rob Fraboni, engs. TT: 48:13<BR>
All three: CD only. The Beach Boys, prods. Digitally remastered by Joe Gastwirt. AAD.
Drummond and Saint-Catherine
Okay, so I'm outside the hotel, attempting to take a photograph of the show banner, but it's far too dark to capture adequately. After a few failed attempts, I give up, and decide to go for a quick walk. It's not too cold and I'm not too tired, and I may not have another chance at this.