Capital AudioFest 2024

This all-Infigo-meets-Alta room was bathed in Infigo Audio’s Hans Looman’s usual blue light glow, showering the room with the same mystical vibrations I heard from this room at some CAF long since past.

Loomans brought the whole Infigo megillah to the show, including his Infigo Audio Method DAC 4 ($35,000) and Infigo Audio IS-1 Cryo Streamer ($7000), with analog source duties relayed by a VPI Shyla MC Cartridge ($2000) mounted on a VPI Avenger Direct Statement turntable ($50,000).

Loomans’s amplification included his Infigo Audio Method 7 Preamplifier ($20,000) into Infigo Audio Method 2 Mono Blocks ($55,000/pair), as well as Infigo Audio MD-1 Subwoofer amps ($5000/each). The Canadian company’s amps drove the new Alta Audio Aphrodite speakers ($50,000/pair) and a pair of Alta Audio Hades subwoofers ($5,000/each).

Curious to hear the tonalities of these contrasting vocalists, Hans happily accepted my request for FKA Twigs and Carmen McRae. Though the overall presentation was somewhat diffuse, the system crackled with dungeon-deep bass synths, Twigs’ smoky vocal tone, and McRae’s purity. A massive wall of sound, if a little dispersed in absolute terms.