NY Audio Show 2013

Wes Bender Studio

Stephen Mejias  |  Apr 17, 2013

Because I know Wes Bender and E.A.R.’s Dan Meinwald are always open to new sounds, I took the opportunity in the Wes Bender Studio room to play the title cut from Aidan Baker’s latest release, Already Drowning.

As always, the duo put together a system that was beautiful to both the eyes and ears: Making its NYC debut, Redpoint Audio Design’s Model D turntable ($29,000) was equipped with Helius Omega Silver Ruby ($5225) and Tri-Planar Ultimate ($9800) tonearms and Dynavector DRT XV-1t ($9250) and Transfiguration Proteus ($6000) cartridges. The signal went to the gorgeous Hagerman Trumpet phono preamp ($6600) and then to E.A.R.’s 868 preamplifier ($7595) and 890 power amplifier ($8295) whose 70Wpc had no problem driving Marten Design’s Form Floor loudspeakers ($6500/pair). Speaker cables, interconnects, and power cords were all from Kaplan Cable. Accessories included Redpoint Audio’s Blakhole isolation feet and Quadraspire’s Q4 Evo equipment rack.


The Hagerman Trumpet Reference phono preamp made its world debut at the New York Audio Show. I love its angular, purposeful appearance.

My review of Aidan Baker’s Already Drowning will appear in our June issue. I’ve been listening to the album a lot, but I was thrilled to hear it sound so intensely physical, vibrant, and emotionally compelling. The system did a fine job of communicating the violence in track’s thick, abrasive distortion while never losing sight of the underlying melody: As the song grew in volume, complexity, and intensity, I only heard deeper and deeper into the music.

COMMENTS
Et Quelle's picture
Submitted by Et Quelle on April 17, 2013 - 3:21pm

What style of music is Aidan? Lets here the samples at Amazon

SET Man's picture
Submitted by SET Man on April 17, 2013 - 5:50pm

Hey!

    Wes' room was one of my favorite room at the show. Those Marten speakers are small but sound great. As a New Yorker I think they are perfect for small living space most New Yorkers are in. 

    Just before the show ended I stop by and they were spinning Pink Floyd "The Wall" on that pretty and clean looking Redpoint turntable, those little Martens can rock.... that was fun! 

Patrick Butler's picture
Submitted by Patrick Butler on April 18, 2013 - 3:51am

If it's anything like his work as Nadja, count me in!

Stephen Mejias's picture
Submitted by Stephen Mejias on April 18, 2013 - 6:20am

There is definitely some Nadja influence in this new work, but it's also the most accessible and song-based material Baker has ever released. I love it.

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