LATEST ADDITIONS

RMAF 2019

Raidho Acoustics TD2.2 speakers; Moon Evolution 700i V2 amplifier, 780D v2 DAC/streamer, 610LP phonostage; VPI HW-40 Signature turntable, Van Den Hul The Black Crimson cartridge, Nordost Valhalla II cables

Jason Victor Serinus Sep 10, 2019

In the Gaylord Hotel’s North Tower, where room after room, regardless of its size or layout, seemed conducive to good sound, Raidho Acoustics was making a major impression with the world premiere Raidho TD2.2 2.5-way loudspeakers ($46,000/pair in black).

RMAF 2019

Paradigm Persona 7F loudspeaker and Persona SUB, Anthem STR preamplifier and STR power amplifier, Wolf Alpha 35X server, Torus RM20 power conditioner, Clarus Aqua cabling.

Jason Victor Serinus Sep 10, 2019

Paradigm’s Canadian-designed-and-engineered Persona 7F loudspeakers, which have beryllium diaphragms, anchored a system that received additional grounding from the Paradigm Persona SUB ($6500). The sub’s six 8" woofers are powered by a 1700W “Ultra Class D” amplifier that, aided by DSP and other stuff, descends to a formidable 12Hz.

RMAF 2019

Göbel High End Divin Noblesse; CH Precision M 1.1, L1, C1, and P1; Kronos Pro w. Black Beauty tonearm and SCPS power supply; Göbel Lacorde Statement cabling; Nordost QX-4, QKore 1, QB-8, QK1 and QV2

Jason Victor Serinus Sep 10, 2019

I hadn’t planned to visit the Göbel/CH Precision/Kronos/Bending Wave USA room, having spilled a lot of ink on Göbel and CH products at Munich High End. But, given that I’d heard everything in the room before and was familiar with the excellence of its sound, I wanted to see if it could surmount the sonic difficulties posed by the Gaylord Convention Center's huge rooms.

News

Dealer Event: Customer Appreciation in Newport Beach, California

Stereophile Staff Sep 10, 2019

Saturday September 14th from 6 pm–10 pm, Excel Audio in Newport Beach, California, will be hosting its second annual Customer Appreciation night. In attendance will be representatives from Wilson Audio, D’Agostino, Luxman, Clearaudio, and Impex Records.

RMAF 2019

Alsyvox Boticelli with optional external Crossover, Omega Audio Concepts DNA CDP, DNA DAC, and DNA mono amplifiers

Jason Victor Serinus Sep 09, 2019

Eye-catching as all get-out, Alsyvox Boticelli loudspeakers ($89,000/pair)—having arrived from Spain with their optional external crossover ($25,000) —made a useful connection with Italy’s Omega Audio Concepts DNA CDP disc transport ($12,000), DNA DAC ($9000), and DNA mono amplifiers ($20,000/pair complete with integrated preamps) to produce intriguing sound.

RMAF 2019

AudioSolutions Virtuoso M speakers, Vitus Audio SIA-030 and SCD-025MK II, United Home Audio Ultima4 OPS-DC, Ansuz Acoustics cabling

Jason Victor Serinus Sep 09, 2019

High End by Oz and United Home Audio joined together to present the US premiere of Vitus Audio’s SIA-030 30W class-A/200W class-AB integrated amplifier ($40,000) and AudioSolutions Virtuoso M loudspeakers ($32,000/pair).

RMAF 2019

Troy Audio Hellena MKII, Thrax Audio Electronics, Schroeder Turntable

Jason Victor Serinus Sep 09, 2019

The Hellena MK II uses a 604-8E alnico coaxial driver, made by Great Plains Audio, that owes its design to the original Altec 604-E. Its woofer, Great Plains Audio’s handmade Model 515-C low-frequency loudspeaker, incorporates a massive alnico V magnetic assembly. There's also an alnico horn supertweeter.

RMAF 2019

3-D Audio Makes an Appearance AT RMAF

Jason Victor Serinus Sep 09, 2019

RMAF 2019

Børresen 01 monitor loudspeakers, Aavik U-380 integrated amplifier, Naim CD5XS (as transport), D-TC Supreme Power Box and Power Distribution, Ansuz DTC Supreme cables

Jason Victor Serinus Sep 09, 2019

The all-one-family of Børresen loudspeakers, Aavik electronics, and Ansuz cabling, distributed by Gated HiFi and displayed by Chicago dealer NextLevel HiFi, was having a really rough time of it until their new Aavik U-380 integrated amplifier ($39,000) showed up several days late.

RMAF 2019

PS Audio DirectStream DAC, P20 and P15 PowerPlants, AN3 loudspeakers, and AC Series cables; BHK Signature preamp, Stellar phono preamp, and Signature 300 Monos; VPI HW40 turntable

Jason Victor Serinus Sep 09, 2019

The story in the PS Audio room was the company's new loudspeaker, the AN3, various prototypes of which have been demoed at audio shows throughout 2019. The RMAF demo pair was described by the company as the final prototype. The design—strongly influenced by the late Arnie Nudell, the "AN" in AN3—includes servo-corrected powered woofers, a folded ribbon tweeter, a rectangular planar midrange, and an 8" cone "mid-bass coupler."