RMAF 2010

Dynaudio’s Mike Manousselis pulled me into his room with the familiar sounds of the XX. On display here were T+A’s more affordable R-Series components, less flashy than the V-Series, but no less elegant: G1260 R turntable ($3250 with tonearm; $3600 with arm and cartridge; $4300 with built-in phono), PA1260 R integrated amplifier ($5000), CD1260 R CD player ($3800), and MP1260 R DAC streaming client ($4200, providing internet radio, two USB inputs, and wired or wireless streaming abilities).

Speakers here were also a treat: The Special Twenty-Five has been reissued in a limited-edition run of just 75 pairs, celebrating the 15th anniversary of Dynaudio North America. They are available only in a Bordeaux finish and cost $5750/pair.

Manousselis also had some of my favorite music of the show: Sufjan Stevens, Panda Bear, The Knife, The XX&#151all on vinyl. We ended by listening to a couple of tracks from a fine reissue of the Smashing Pumpkins seminal Siamese Dream (on orange cream-colored vinyl!). We listened to “Today,” and I was immediately in high school, riding in the back seat of Kim’s old car, Stephanie in the front smoking a Marlboro. But the guitars never sounded this good back then&#151even the loud, distorted sections ringing with clarity and outstanding impact, the bass maintaining its drive and pull, the clean guitars singing sweetly.