This is the extent of my admittedly not-so-terrible trauma. Get-well cards optional.
The 801 D4s, introduced in late fall 2021, were driven by a couple of Classé Delta monoblocks ($10,995 each) connected to a Classé Delta Pre ($9995). Because it was the final day of the show, mid-afternoon, the atmosphere was maybe a little looser…
Mistakes were made. F-bombs were used. Obsessive rinsing and spitting ensued.
After that, I ventured out and got my second surprise, this one considerably more pleasant.
In one of the third-floor Saturday Audio Exchange rooms (SAE is one of Chicagoland's oldest audio stores), I encountered a new flagship Paradigm loudspeaker, the floorstanding Founder 120H ($8499/pair). Driving…
But first, some big news. As the name says, MoFi Distribution distributes products from all over the world, but they also have their own namesake brand: MoFi Electronics. Under that name, they've created turntables in collaboration with Allen Perkins of Spiral Groove, plus a limited edition Fender UltraDeck, phono preamps, etc. The big news?…
It took until Saturday for the Dynaudio crew to find the right position for the Dynaudio Confidence 60 loudspeakers ($50,000/pair), but once they did, the towering and far-from-lightweight Octave Jubilee Mono SE tube amplifiers ($80,000/pair), paired with Octave's Jubilee preamp ($32,000) with stepped-attenuator volume control, ensured that this system would sing with captivating beauty. The sound of a 24/96 track from Paul Simon's classic Graceland sounded warm and beautiful, with all the soundstage depth, air, and expanse one could hope for. I loved it. The system also used a power…
Aretai was founded in 2018 by Janis Irbe, the technical designer, and Edgars Zvirgzdiņ, the product designer, who hail from Latvia. At AXPONA Aretai presented the 100S entry model from their inaugural Contra collection of loudspeakers. That collection, which also includes the 200F floorstander and flagship 350F floorstander, won Irbe a Red Dot Award for Product Design in 2022.
The Aretai 100S stand…
It's funny, this "welcome home" feeling has nothing to do with cost, though it can be hefty; it's all about musicality, which is all too rare. Some megabuck…
The Vana Ltd. system included an E.A.T Fortissimo turntable with F-Note Tonearm and Jo No.8 MC cartridge ($17,998), E.A.T. E-Glo S Hybrid/Tube phonostage ($3599), an Ayre Acoustics QX8 Digital Hub ($5950), Ayre Acoustics KX-R Twenty preamplifier ($29,500), and Ayre…
Stratton's Pure Fidelity Harmony turntable ($9095) features an ultra MDF plinth, 48mm Delrin platter, an aircraft grade aluminum/stainless steel subplatter, built-in aluminum isolation platform, IsoAcoustics Gaia IV footers, CNC-machined parts, and Pure Fidelity's Maestro speed controller. Pure Fidelity's Illustrious SE MC cartridge (included) with Origin Live Zephyr tonearm ($1595) were also in use. The table's Quilted Maple…
Seen and heard were the new Polk Reserve R200 bookshelf loudspeakers ($749/pair), which are…