LATEST ADDITIONS

A close-up of the Wavelength Cosecant v3 DAC ($3500) that I used for my hi-rez dems. Using a single 6GM8/ECC86 dual-triode to drive the single-ended, transformer-coupled output, this is one of a very few USB-input DACs on the market that runs the USB link in "asynchronous" mode, whereby the DAC controls the flow of data from the computer and not vice versa, thus drastically reducing word-clock jitter when those data are fed to the DAC chip. I was impressed by its sound, playing 24-bit/88.2kHz files from my laptop, so I have asked for a review sample.

As Jason <A HREF="http://blog.stereophile.com/rmaf2008/101208house/">mentioned earlier</A>, I gave 5 hour-long presentations at RMAF entitled "Hearing is Believing—Is Hi Rez Digital the Future of Audio?" To allow Showgoers to hear the differences between the hi-rez masters of my recordings and CD and MP3 versions, I used a system put together by <I>HiFi+</I> editor Roy Gregory for his demonstrations of system tuning&#151;Ayre A7-xe integrated amplifier, Avalon Evolution NP2.0 speakers (which I <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/708ava/">reviewed in July</A>, Vertex AQ cables, Stillpoints rack and speaker stands, and Quantum QX4 "field generator"&#151;to which I added a MacBook running iTunes 8 driving a Wavelength Audio Cosecant USB DAC.

There's nothing like being greeted as the audiophile equivalent of the Messiah to either make your day or impel you to run for cover. In the case of Peigen Jiang's Eficion speakers, I'm glad I got over my embarassment and stayed.

As I walked into the E.A.R./Marten room, Nat King Cole's voice sounded as beautiful as I have ever heard it reproduced. Through the modest-looking Marten FormFloor speakers ($6500/pair) and Marten FormSub ($4500), Reference Recordings' triumphant version of Rachmaninoff's <I>Symphonic Dances</I> was so thrillingly full and colorful that I could not hide my amazement. On <I>Dialoghi</I>, a demonstration-quality CD from Bob Attiyeh of Yarlung Records that Robert Levi of the Los Angeles Audio Society urged me to play, the sound of Elinor Frey' cello was as warm and beautiful as anyone would ever want it to be. I was in love.

Lou Hinkley's Daedalus Audio teamed up with an old friend, Art Audio/Gill Audio, and a new friend, Manley Labs. Showcasing the Daedalus Audio Ulysses loudspeaker ($10,950/pair), now boasting new improved internal wire, the system's dark presentation was very well delineated, with impressively three-dimensional sound. The midrange was especially mellow and inviting.

Um, can life get any better than it is right now for Dr. Christian Feickert?

Remember <a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/rmaf2008/mentoring_and_audio_shows/">that trend I mentioned earlier</a>, the one about manufacturers and dealers bringing their kids along to the show?