It was quite the upscale dance, given that the associated equipment included the Luxman M801A amplifier ($16,000), and Sonus Faber Audita M speakers ($5800/pair). Cabling included Transparent's Reference MM speaker cable ($10,000/8ft pair) and balanced interconnects, and Synergistic Research's…
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Music Lovers Audio of Berkeley and San Francisco had the big and small of the Wadia line on display. When I entered the room, the Wadia 571 CD/digital preamp/DAC ($13,950) was on standby, and Wadia's diminutive 170 Transport iPod dock ($379) and 151 PowerDACMini ($1195) were doing the iPhone.
Grant Fidelity of Calgary, Canada specializes in low-cost, high-value equipment from China. To get an idea of the huge number of components on display by the company whose motto is "Hi-End, Not High Priced," please check out the list on their website. There you'll find a complete list of components on display, descriptions, and pricing. You'll even discover a host of photos taken at the show.
Responding to my request to set up the combo Ian Grant and Sherry most wanted me to write about, I was treated to the Shengya 200wpc A206 integrated amplifier ($1650 factory-direct), Shengya…
Two more recent articles on the cassette tape revival: The Los Angeles Times tells us “Cassette tapes are back in the mix,” while Fact Mag offers “Cassette Playa: in praise of tapes.”
Both articles make interesting points.
From the LA Times:
And yet across pockets of America and especially among shoestring record labels, DJs and boutique stores in Los Angeles, this weird uncle [the cassette] is again a welcome guest. A tiny but busy tape-based music culture is growing from roots in economic necessity, thrift-store crate-digging and, yes, a pride in being…
David Maeshiba, designer and partner in Acoustic Technologies LLC of Chicago, had a surprise in store. He claims that his single titanium-cone loudspeaker ($2650/pair) can be turned in any direction and you will hear exactly the same thing. Counter-intuitive as that may seem, it would be perfect for non-obsessed music lovers who don't want to spend all their listening time stacking their friends in the sweet spot.
The speaker, which has a solid mahogany cap and base for the MDF walls of its patent-pending cabinet, had David's own 23-gauge silver wire attached to its Cardas binding…
Given the size and promise of this system, I was eager to audition it with Mahler's Symphony No.2. Through the Tigris 8" tower speakers ($9500/pair), Cinénova Grande 7 seven-channel power amplifier in two front-channel mode ($5999/piece), older B&K Reference 50 processor, Cambridge Audio Azur 840C CD player ($1700), Ethereal interconnects, and Nordost Valhalla speaker cable, the low bass was disconcertingly disconnected from the other instruments in Mahler's Symphony No.2. Given that the subwoofer was not being used, I have no explanation, either for that, or for a gray and muted…
I had heard much positive buzz about the fascinating-looking Salk SoundScape loudspeakers. Equipped with the excellent RAAL custom ribbon tweeter, an Accuton midrange, and a separate Acoustic Elegance woofer, the Soundscape 10 ($9999/pair base price, or $13,999/pair with a 12" woofer) is said to perform from 21Hz–60kHz, ±3dB. It also offers adjustable tweeter and midrange ambience, and looks like a baby that will attract lots of positive attention in your living room.
Completing the system were a Denon CD player, Squeezebox, Van Alstine Vision DAC/Preamplifier ($1599), Van Alstine…
Given how impressed John Atkinson and I were by the combination of Acapella High Violoncello II speakers ($80,000/pair) and Einstein electronics demmed at Axpona 2010 and CES last January, I was eagerly anticipating another opportunity to enjoy these imposing babies. The opportunity came in the room co-sponsored by Loggie Audio of Redwood City and Aaudio Imports. (They were the same samples that until recently had resided in JA's listening room for his review in the forthcoming September issue.)
Here, the sound was different. Instead of Einstein and friends in the Venetian,…
Fritz Heiler of southern California has been building custom loudspeaker systems for 37 years. Called into action at CAS 2010 were his Carbon 7s ($1750/pair shipped, or $1650/pair for show attendees who acted in time). Equipped with ScanSpeak drivers, these babies have a frequency response of 39Hz–20kHz, ±3dB, and a sensitivity of 88dB. Their special crossover is free of caps and resistors, having only one small inductor on the mid/bass driver.
In a system whose associated components include vintage Krell and Luxman gear, the speakers did a fine job of conveying air and pace. Given…
One of the reasons for Acoustic Zen's Robert Lee journey north was to visit his extended family, part of which lives in Millbrae. When I encountered them on the final day of the show, I could not get over how beautiful his grandchildren look. No wonder Robert's tweeter sings so sweetly.
Once again, Acoustic Zen's Robert Lee had me lusting after his Crescendo loudspeakers ($16,000/pair). This time, they were ensconced in the elegantly appointed Elite Audio Systems room put together by proprietor Michael Woods of San Francisco.
Featuring an excellent proprietary ribbon tweeter that Lee hand-builds in southern California, the Acoustic Zen speakers excelled in the high range. The sound of Renaud Capucon's violin in Beethoven's Violin Concerto was to die for, and soprano Elly Ameling's high voice was especially radiant and alluring on high. While the size of the…