Capital AudioFest 2024

Supreme Acoustic Systems and Axiss Audio brought the kind of equipment that gooses my reviewer’s jones for new review gear. From the Brutalist looking Bergmann Audio turntable to the fantastical YG speakers to the fetish worthy AirTight amps, I tried to maintain dry palms while taking notes.

Specifically, the SAS system in Room 628 consisted of the Danish Bergmann's Galder & Odin Signature turntable ($43,615), mounted with an AirTight Opus 1 cart ($15,975).

AirTight amps included an AirTight ATE-3011 Reference Phono Amplifier ($34,975), new AirTight ATC-7 Stereo Line Control Amplifier ($34,975), featuring two 12AU7 and two 12AX7 tubes, and a pair of mammoth AirTight ATM-3211 power amplifiers ($99,975/pair), offering 120W output from 211 Triode push-pull circuitry. Not visible is the AirTight ATH-2 Reference Step-Up Transformer ($6975).

The gorgeous, reptilian green YG Acoustics Hailey 3.2 Loudspeaker ($63,400/pair; special green color option, $79,400) “includes new technologies and design innovations based on novel theoretical models, detailed multi-domain simulations and thousands of hours of listening,” stated the YG website. “Loudspeakers which convey every nuance of emotion, each musical cue from the tiniest micro-detail to the visceral impact of the most thunderous crescendo.”

Over in Room 626
SAS compiled another fancy system: Turntable: Benny Audio Odyssey turntable including tonearm ($36,190), mounted with a Hana Unami Red MC cart ($3950) feeding a Soulnote P2 Phono Equalizer ($8500). Digital signal was gathered and expressed via a Soulnote D3 DAC ($22,950) and Soulnote Z3 Network Transport ($14,500).

A Soulnote P3 Preamplifier ($22,950) was allied to Soulnote M3 Monoblock Amps ($21,950/pair), which drove a pair of brown earth YG XX3 loudspeakers ($234,800/pair). Cardas Clear Cables and a Hifistay rack ($14,500 each).

SAS was playing Elvis 24 Karat Hits! Was playing in 630 but I had to pack, and Michael Trei’s Mercedes was overparked. But I the Benny Audio may be on its way to Chez Micallef for review…