Herb's Postscript from the Park Lane Hotel

The super cool Rudy Dupuy of Dupuy Acoustique (in Congers, NY) says he used to make loudspeakers, but then he realized that the time-delayed and out-of-phase reflections from the wall behind the speakers always sabotaged any hope of loudspeaker coherence. So he stopped making speakers and developed the tunable Phase Restoration Acoustical Panel (PRAP). As Rudy tells it, "The PRAP can render a higher level of musical realism than any standard rig—no matter the cost." As the Dupuy brochure tells is, "The PRAP addresses a structural deficiency inherent in the listening room acoustics that directly affects the reproduction of recorded music. No other room treatment can claim to do this."

The PRAPs come in two sizes: small ($12,000) and large (seen above, $30,000). There was no way to remove them for comparison, but South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela sounded pretty damn real. The PRAPs were beautifully made and attractive, but I could not help wondering whether I'd hang a painting or a target on that big one between the speakers.

Who says audiophile gear is overpriced? Not me (I'm always finding bargains). And not Sandy Gross, the "golden ears" behind GoldenEar. The best things about Sandy Gross (beside his good taste in food, wine, and art) are: he knows exactly what a fine audiophile speaker should sound like, and he knows how to manufacture and deliver them at, like, one-third the price that others might charge for similar quality level.

Today, Sandy was demonstrating his $8500 flagship Triton Reference speakers (which will go up in price to $9000 on December 1st) by playing hits from his personal demonstration CD. I listened closely to the Beach Boys' "In My Room" via a modest $2290 Peachtree Nova 300 integrated and a $6999 Marantz SA10 SACD/CD player. (Cables were all by AudioQuest.) The sound was wet-smooth and delicious, with all the color a connoisseur could ask for. This was an under-$20k system—not one where the interconnects cost $30k/each—and the Beach Boys were definitely happening.

How about an under-$10K system? The Golden Ear room was only one of four sponsored by Scarsdale, NY dealer Value Electronics. Others showcased Technics and Dynaudio, while this one featured a distinctly satisfying system with Definitive Technology Demand 11 speakers ($999/pair), a Marantz PM-K1 Ruby integrated amp ($3999), and the $3999 40th Anniversary Ken Ishiwata Signature Ruby SA-K1 SACD player—of which only 3000 were made. Add in some matching $399 Def Tech speaker stands and a few AudioQuest cables and the whole kit comes in under $10,000. Say Amen, people! This little system could rock and boogie and deliver genuinely good tone and satisfying levels of spatial articulation. (If you don't know Marantz's nattily dressed brand ambassador Ken Ishiwata, please Google him. Some call him "Comme des Marantz" because he definitely does not need fashion tips.)

Who saw it coming? After the demise of venerable Technic SL1200MKII turntable, I figured that was the end of that brand in America. I was really wrong. Technics' well-orchestrated, phoenix-like return to the American audio scene was aided by a most skillful and loveable brand rep named Bill Voss. Now, after only a few years, Bill Voss is standing here at the Park Lane Hotel, talking about and pointing at some of the hippest gear going. Chief among them was the new smart, high-tech(nics)-looking Ottava SC-C&0 all-in-one hi-fi ($999).

What I listened to, and what sounded really damn good, was Technics' big rig: starting with the $27,000/pair SB-R1E tower speakers, driven by the oh-so-beautiful-luminous-meters SE-R1 amplifier ($17,000), the not-free ($9000) SU-R1 network audio player and ST-G30 music server ($5000). And the breathtaking new SL-1000R turntable ($18,000 complete with plinth and arm). Today, Technics in America is really happening.

• • • • • •

I spent one fun day at the 2018 New York Audio show, and experienced fewer than half of the exhibits. I saw tons of cool people. I ate lunch at the elegant Plaza Food Hall with Steve Guttenberg and Jana Dagdagan. And when the show closed at 7:00pm, it was raining nicely—so I went for a solitary fog-and-memory-filled walk under the cast-iron street lamps in the Hallett Nature Sanctuary. (I forgot my umbrella, so I hid the White Album under my coat to protect it.) I wish all my audio show days were like this.

COMMENTS
DougM's picture

It never fails to amaze me how far removed from reality you people are! To call a $2300 amp and $7000 CD player modest is like calling a Ferrari a "family car". You do realize that 30% of the workers in our country earn less than $25000 a year, don't you? It sure doesn't seem like it. You need to leave your ivory tower and mingle with the common folk more often. Most people can't afford $2300 for a whole system, let alone for just an amp. Get a grip on reality! Otherwise, you're all going the way of the Dodo.

Audio_Phil's picture

A lot of the expensive products you are offended by today possess technology and advancements that will trickle down to become systems and etc. within your reach in a few short years. How is that any different from any other technology or industry, and why do you come on to a site that glorifies in the high end and bleeding edge and bitch about it? Would you ridicule Car and Driver for writing a piece on the new Ferrari? There are groups on Facebook like Blue Collar Audiophile where you might be more at home.

RoryB's picture

Audio products exist at every price point, for every person, including the person on welfare who still has an iPhone and airPods, or the person not on welfare who can only afford a Discman and earbuds, and some CDs from Goodwill. The audio products in this show are products for those people who have made something of themselves and are able to afford them. And someone is certainly buying, otherwise they would not be sold. Exceptional individuals who create value in society need to experience a benefit to being exceptional, otherwise you discourage innovation, creativity, and productivity, and encourage people to be slugs who do as little as necessary to "get by" - until the government runs out of money to support them. (This is why no one in a nominally communist or socialist country is truly happy or engaged, except for those that have embraced some level of capitalism and have allowed some level of individual success.)

Anton's picture

Try this guy out...

https://www.beliefnet.com/news/2003/09/the-gospel-of-supply-side-jesus.aspx

It might be fun reading while you are out supporting the economy by getting your pedicure.

RoryB's picture

I always think it's at least a little funny how many people that decry the excesses and problems in a capitalist society do so while personally enjoying all the benefits thereof. There are a dwindling number of communist nations in the world where they could get the full experience if they really wanted to, but instead they spend their time telling other people what they ought to be doing. By all means, be charitable and give what you don't need to those who are in need, and you don't need my permission. But it doesn't make sense to give up what makes life worth living to you in exchange for a little moral self-licensing or virtue-signaling.

Anton's picture

A person mentioning that he/she thinks certain objects are over-priced is not exactly reintroducing the communist manifesto and promoting central state control of all goods and services. It's just saying they think something does not offer value, in their opinion.

PT Barnum said there was something born every minute, you might call that something "someone exceptional."

;-D

ken mac's picture

Herb also mentioned the Definitive Technology Demand 11 speakers ($999/pair), and the Ottava SC-C&0 all-in-one hi-fi ($999). I guess your reality is blindness (or vision of the Dodo?), or you would have noticed.

er1c's picture

(a compliment not a critique.) I don't want to analyze why I vibe to your word art man... just want to say Go man Go.... your passion inspires, your honesty transparency and love of music and art and a walk in the rain .... Peace and respect brother.

Anton's picture

Thanks for the coverage.

I picture roaming the halls with a glass of fine vino and toasting the manufacturers for their efforts.

Shows are places of optimism and energy, for me. I think you captured that.

volvic's picture

Great write up from Micallef, Reichert and Austin, in fact so great it reminded me to renew my subscription for another two years. Sadly though my forgetfulness made me miss the October issue that reviewed the gorgeous Technics SL-1000, will have to try and find a copy. So happy Technics is back, want a 1200G. Well done guys! Coffee is on me if I ever run into you in the Hallett Nature Sanctuary.

rschryer's picture

...was featured in the November issue, which, for some reason, I didn't receive either, despite my subscription being active. The sub department promised me an extra issue at the end of my term, in 2049.

I won't forget.

volvic's picture

Don't have my iPad handy in the office now so I assumed it was October, but I am sure that my year subscription lapsed....oh god! hope I didn't renew with an already active subscription and didn't received my November issue like you over some glitch and not a lapsed subscription. Will have to investigate but I would like to find a copy of the November issue.

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Stereophile would be approx. 90 years old in 2049 .............. Wonder who would be reviewing for 'analog corner' then? :-) .............

rschryer's picture

Michael Fremer Jr.

misterc59's picture

I would imagine, there will be a "from Michigan" progeny hammering on Fremer junior as well!

Cheers,
Terry

Anton's picture

"Analog Planet editor, Malachi Lui, will be making an appearance at Michael Fremer's 100th birthday party to personally type in what songs are being played on the turntable so listeners of Michael's age can read what music being played..."

rschryer's picture

...our music will be fed directly into our brains. No need for our ears anymore, or for audio gear.

It'll be the great equalizer, when our hearing will be universally "golden", and we can each experience the greatest sound imaginable.

Bogolu Haranath's picture

The 'Precogs' (Minority Report) will be advocating for MQA DACs to be implanted in people's brains, so that the file size won't take up too much space :-) ................

rschryer's picture

...like a bad thing. :-)

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Yes, I'm "Bad" ............ Michael Jackson :-) ...............

Could cause "Brain Damage" .............. Pink Floyd :-) ................

Bogolu Haranath's picture

It was a Joke ......... Nothing against MQA :-) .............

Bogolu Haranath's picture

May be somebody from Stereophile could review the Technics top of the line SB-R1E tower speakers? ........ They are in the same price range as top of the line B&W, Revel Ultima, Sony, KEF Reference class, which were reviewed and are in the Stereophile Class-A recommended components :-) ..........

Bogolu Haranath's picture

If you like getting caught in the rain ....... "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" .............. Rupert Holmes :-) ........

Kal Rubinson's picture

PRAP? How about a large screen LED display that everyone says will destroy stereo imaging? They can be obtained with curved panels these days. ;-)

Anton's picture

Hi Fi needs video like fine wine needs red Solo cups.

;-D

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Make mine 'Han Solo' cup :-) ...................

Kal Rubinson's picture

I wasn't suggesting that you turn it on. ;-)

JimAustin's picture

P.S. This is an example of a product where, if I were to estimate the price, I would be off by more than an order of magnitude.

misterc59's picture

I like that, Solo cups! That will help keep Walmart and $$ stores in business!

Cheers,
Terry

JimAustin's picture

You'd have to turn your head sideways. :-)

Kal Rubinson's picture

Not if you keep the display off.

JimAustin's picture

:-)

Bogolu Haranath's picture

The Dark Side of The (display) Moon ..............

Anton's picture

You guys are great!

I agree completely with Jim on his price estimate. Back in the day, being off by a factor of two was typically my margin of error. Now I, too, am often wrong by a logarithm!

Happy to grow old with you guys!

JimAustin's picture

:-)

Thanks!

Bogolu Haranath's picture

The word PRAP sounds awfully close to a similar sounding word which starts with the letter 'C' :-) ..............

Bogolu Haranath's picture

"Curved'? .......... Bananas are 'curved' :-) .............

rschryer's picture

...for making a suggestive comment!"

The Censorship Guy from Pearls Before Swine

Bogolu Haranath's picture

Oh, "Shake It Off" ................ Taylor Swift :-) ..................

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