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Using as his source a MacBook Pro playing iTunes/Pure Music, Dusty Vawter of Channel Islands was using his Transient MK II asynchronous USB converter ($699) with the VDC-5 Mk.II upgrade power supply ($399), PLC-1 Mk.II preamp ($899), D-500 Mk.II monoblock amplifiers ($5000/pair), and speaker prototypes that, perhaps a year from now, will yield Channel Islands loudspeakers. Playing a cover of "Sounds of Silence" on an Usher sampler, the sound was invitingly warm. The system also did a beautiful job of transmitting the natural sound of cymbals, which is no easy task.
Time and time again, I’ve had the good fortune of running into VTL’s Luke Manley just as I arrive at a show. It’s always a pleasure to chat with Luke and just as fun to listen to music with him. While his room often represents my very first chance to listen at any show, the sound he and his partners create is one that stays with me for the duration. That was the case again here at T.H.E. Show Newport Beach.
This time, we heard VTL’s Siegfried Series II Reference monoblock amplifiers ($65,000/pair) driving Wilson Audio Sasha loudspeakers ($27,900/pair). The linestage was VTL’s TL-6.5…
Making good sound: VTL's Luke Manley, Jennifer Berdan and Brian Berdan of Brooks Berdan LTD, and Tempo High Fidelity's John Quick.
Stereophile's Stephen Mejias (left) is given the hard sell by the youngest audiophile at the Show, Shane Censullo. Shane was tireless throughout the weekend, handing out flyers on behalf of his father's company, Avatar Acoustics.
In a second Brooks Berdan room, we heard Aesthetix Atlas monoblocks driving a pair of Sonus Faber’s beautiful Amati Futura loudspeakers. An SME turntable equipped with a Benz Ruby Z phono cartridge spun the tunes, while an Aesthetix Rhea phono stage, Calypso preamp, and Cardas Clear cables and interconnects completed the system. Everything sat upon Grand Prix Audio stands and racks. Somewhat surprisingly, the sound was more literal and less lush than what we heard in the dCS/Wilson/VTL/Cardas room, but nonetheless lovely, delicate, and engaging.
Zach Galarza is a 20-year-old audiophile and music lover. I’ve met Zach a few times at different shows across the country, and I was happy to learn that he’s now working with AV Showrooms.
When people ask me about the future of the high-end audio hobby, I always become at least slightly annoyed. I’m tired of the question. To be honest, I was tired of the question from the very start. Because, first of all, I’m not a fortune-teller. Second, everywhere I turn there are obvious signs of growth in high-end audio, and even more potential opportunities. The biggest problem faced by the…
Pay no attention to the gentleman snoozing in the front row. The crowd at JA's seminar on loudspeakers measurements was riveted, captivated, enthralled.
Several excellent seminars were held throughout the course of T.H.E. Show Newport, including Friday afternoon’s seminar, “What Speaker Measurements Mean,” hosted by John Atkinson.
John discussed his measurements techniques and used a number of slides to show not only how individual graphs relate to one another but also how they can be used to interpret a speaker’s performance.
While describing the unusual frequency response of one unnamed loudspeaker, John commented that the speaker sounded “unacceptably colored” with nasally highs, too much energy in the upper midrange, and a…
First of all, I loved the way On A Higher Note’s Philip O’Hanlon coordinated his outfit with both his demo room and the Vivid B1 loudspeakers—the dude can rock a Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts, and slippers like nobody’s business. Second, it was awesome to hear O’Hanlon say, “Up next is a song by Destiny’s Child, with Beyonce, called ‘Bills, Bills, Bills.’
“And what’s interesting about this,” O’Hanlon continued, “is that you’ve probably heard it a million times on the radio, but you’ve never heard it like this.”
Philip O’Hanlon was right: I had never heard it like this…
Carlsbad dealer Audio Revelation put together a beautiful little system: Vivid Audio V1.5 loudspeakers ($7650), Luxman SQ-38u integrated amp ($5990), Wavelength Cosecant DAC ($3500), and Well Tempered Versalex turntable ($4400) with a Dynavector XX2 phono cartridge ($1950)—all you need to make music.
Also on display was Luxman’s cute D-100r digital docking station ($495) for your iPod.
Beside the D-100r was the handsome Luxman DA-200 DAC ($2800) with two analog line inputs, digital inputs (coaxial, optical, and USB), balanced outputs, and a front-panel…