Capital AudioFest 2019

VPI HW-40 turntable, Schroeder Tonearms, Miyajima and Tzar Cartridges, Mytek DAC, Metal Mat’s Platter Mat, Butler Amplification, Electrostatic Solutions Quad Loudspeakers, Finley Audio cables, Wax Rax Racks

Ken Micallef  |  Nov 4, 2019

That Robin Wyatt (aka Robyatt) knows how to put on a show is obvious. That he assembles a fine sounding room is also a given. So, when Wyatt enlisted recording/mastering engineer Tom Fine to discuss and play records, representing the work of his parents, Robert Fine and Wilma Cozart Fine, the result was predictable: Standing room only crowds. Hearing Fine discuss and play Janos Starker and other Fine productions was a thrill.

Robin’s analog front-end in the “Democracy” room consisted of a skeletal VPI HW-40 turntable with a 12" Fatboy tonearm ($15,000) mounted with a Miyajima Infinity Mono ($3350); a second arm—the Schroeder SQ Reference ($9950) —carried a Miyajima Destiny cartridge ($7500). A Schroeder BA Tonearm ($4850),) and Tzar DST cartridge ($10,000) were on passive display. The rest of the system was a Mytek Manhattan II Preamplifier ($6000 base, plus extras), Metal Mat’s CU180 Cirrus Platter Mat ($1375), Butler Monad power amplifiers ($19,000/pair), Electrostatic Solutions Quad 57s ($6000), Finley Audio cables, Wax Rax LP-H Console ($8500), TT-1 Turntable Stand ($7000), and LP-C Record Pedestal ($1650).

COMMENTS
MLP's picture
Submitted by MLP on November 5, 2019 - 3:59am

Thanks to all who attended the demo sessions Saturday and Sunday. I had a blast at CAF. Special thanks to Robin Wyatt for hosting and providing such a good-sounding system. We very much appreciate the coverage at Stereophile.com.

Readers may be interested to know that the platters I spun are new remasters I made last year with Ryan K. Smith/Sterling Sound of two Janos Starker Mercury Living Presence albums. Available for sale now is the Dvorak Cello Concerto with Starker, the London Symphony Orchestra and Antal Dorati:

https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/140355/Janos_Starker-Dvorak_Violincello_ConcertoBruch_Kol_Nidrei-45_RPM_Vinyl_Record

Coming soon (Chad Kassem says "late 2019") is a deluxe 6LP reissue of Starker's famous Bach Cello Suites:

https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/140354/Janos_Starker-Bach_Suites_For_Unaccompanied_Cello_Complete-Vinyl_Box_Sets

These are 45RPM 200G LPs cut on Ryan Smith's Neumann VMS-80 lathe and plated/pressed at Quality Record Production.

Our process was modern state of the art and these discs were cut the same as the original MLP records, directly from the first-generation 3-track master tapes. No interim media between the master tapes and the lacquers. Ryan and I made a 3-to-2 mix and Ryan then cut the LPs without any preview system, old-school, like George Piros cut the original MLP records.

We are all pleased with the results. If these titles sell well, we'll do more.

Again, many thanks to the MLP enthusiasts and open-eared audiophiles who makes the demonstrations so much fun.

-- Tom Fine

wkhanna's picture
Submitted by wkhanna on November 10, 2019 - 1:54am

Finley Audio was thrilled when Robin Wyatt informed us he was using our cables (the Cirrus line of Power, Interconnect, Phono and Speaker) for his CAF room this year. His reputation for putting together systems presenting a pure, musical synergy is legendary. To be included in his latest creation is high praise from a man known to make no compromise to attaining his goals.

Speaking of synergy, Kent McCollum’s Electrostatic Solutions Quad 57s provided a pure undiluted liquid dose of audio nirvana, along with all the other associated equipment, down to David Stanavich’s WaxRax turntable foundation.

The highlight for me was meeting Tom Fine. Spending time with Tom and learning details of the process involved in remastering and cutting the latest Mercury Living Presence reissues was fascinating. And Tom is such a wonderful, easygoing person. For all the knowledge and accomplishments in his portfolio, you would never guess he is so approachable. A laid back, unpretentious and a blue collar audiophile demeanor, but with a legacy that is vast and absolutely unique in the industry.

That Chad Kassem would devote his uncompromising approach to produce this historic music for us to relish is a true gift. It must be a very special personal and emotional milestone for Tom to have this opportunity to be a key element in the creation of this project by bringing the groundbreaking work of his parents, Wilma Cozart and C. Robert Fine to us, the music lovers of the world.

Congratulations to all involved with making this event so memorable.

Regards,
Billy Hanna
Finleyaudio.com

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