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Jana's Day Two at RMAF

Overheard in the hallway:
"Babe, can you please buy me that cable?"
"But I just bought you so much for your birthday!"
And just like that, day two begins.

"Everything is design": It's one of those phrases salespeople—and New Yorkers in general—like to throw around. I consider myself a humble student of design, constantly enamored of even the most basic packaging. Not even high-performing audio components are immune to my shallow, judging eyes. In the world of hi-fi, I find myself attracted to the angular, the modular, the funky, and the vibrant. There are plenty of good-…

Jason Ascends Higher on Day Three

Impressive bass control and speed on a recording of taiko drums, excellent timbres, and an equally captivating sense of spaciousness on Lyle Lovett's "North Dakota" left no question that this attractive mid-priced system from Paradigm and Anthem would make many an audiophile very, very happy. Even with the "Dance of the Tumblers"—it seems I cannot get through a single audio show without a listen to the well-worn, increasingly wearing music that seems to be one of those fallback tracks of choice for people who don't have much classical music on their server—the system nailed the recording's…

JVS Runs Out of Clever Titles as Day Three Continues

Wanna see the speaker component of my hands-down steal system of RMAF 2017? Introducing the intriguing Tekton Design Double Impact monitor ($2000/pair, or $3000 with upgraded paint finish). Perched atop low-cost Sanus SF 26 stands ($160/pair), and connected to Parasound's Halo Integrated ($2495), forthcoming Halo JC 3 Jr. phono preamp ($1495, shipping later this month), Marantz TT15-S1 turntable with Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood MM cartridge ($1495), and an Oppo BDP-105 ($1200) via low-cost Straight Wire cabling ($700/total), the Tekton monitors, in this excellent system, blew me away.

"What…

JVS Reaches the Top

For those who have been thinking it's time for the people in white coats to carry me away—they actually did. Oxnard, CA-based Dan Wiggins, who spent 25 years in audio development for Sonos, Harman, and lots of other audio brands whose names he keeps to himself, recently decided to follow his passion. A year ago, he founded Periodic Audio, whose BE (Beryllium) in-ear headphones (top price: $299/pair) won a headphone award at the Los Angeles Audio Show.

Not only was the sound good, but the invitation to settle into Periodic Audio's relaxation lounge chairs, which included cellphone…

Jana's RMAF Weekend Continues

In the Krell room, Pink Floyd reverberated through a Krell Vanguard Universal DAC ($4500), a Krell Duo 300 stereo amplifier ($9500), and Focal Sopra No.3 floorstanding speakers ($19,999/pair), with an AudioQuest Niagara 7000 AC conditioner and AudioQuest cabling throughout. “Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)”—an audio show classic—often sounds harsh and distorted, but here I heard it with a boldly convincing low end and an almost mechanical smoothness up top.

Did you ever buy into the inedible-objects-that-resemble-cute-candy craze? I did. And that’s precisely what drew me to the…

Sunday with Herb

Last year, Vaughn Loudspeakers' flagship Plasma Signature towers ($20,000/pair), featuring eight midrange drivers in a bipolar configuration (four front and four rear), a 12" powered subwoofer, and their signature plasma tweeter, were my BIG best-in-show discovery.

My runnin' buddy and turntable setter-upper, Michael Trei, texted me to come to room such-and-such: "you MUST hear these speakers." After listening to a few songs in silence, Michael leaned over and asked, "So? What do you think?" Beaming and smirking I sputtered (with 100% conviction), "They're the best speakers I've ever…

Jana's Final Rooms at the Denver Show

Day three began with me feeling sick and beaten down. I needed to pay a visit to the doctor. Dr. Vinyl. (But also probably a real doctor, too.)

Jose Ramirez (aka Dr. Vinyl) always knows how to make his listeners feel at ease. It doesn't matter if you are a member of the press or not—we're all here to have a good time. You feel it the moment you walk in the room. His system featured the Pear Audio Blue Reference preamplifier ($6495), Reference amplifier ($6495), Kid Howard/Cornet 2 turntable/tonearm ($4995), and Small Platform ($795), with a Hana SL cartridge ($750), Bob's Devices Sky…

Herb's Final Three Rooms at the Denver Show

Vana Ltd. had two rooms at RMAF. Both rooms had stereo systems set-up, but the first room I entered was filled by a hoard of standing, chattering people of all sexes. It looked like they were making big business deals so I decided to not eavesdrop or interrupt.

However, the sound of music coming from the Vana room next door was inviting. I slipped in and was greeted warmly by Nancy Weiner and Audio Physic's Manfred Diestertich. Manfred and I chattered about the German company's early days. I told him how one day, way back, Audio Physic founder, Joachim Gerhard, showed up at Sound by…

Herb's Rocky Mountain Coda

Sunday afternoons at audio shows are when the good sound is just kicking in. The rooms' components have recovered from the trauma of travel and are starting to purr. Unfortunately, that's when the toys go back in the boxes. That is also when this humble reporter looks like he's been dragged behind a car.

And this Sunday, just when I thought I was done being dragged, I get this mad call from an out-of-breath Jason Victor Serinus, saying, "Herb! Get your ass up to room 1125 (the Parasound-Tekton room). The sound is amazing, and you must listen to this speaker. Hurry up!"

I arrived…

The 2017 RMAF: A Show Well Done

"It was a love-fest all around!"—Herb Reichert

With those succinct words, Herb Reichert aptly summarizes the special spirit that is Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. There may be US shows with greater attendance, but there is a special energy about the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest that sets it apart from the rest, and keeps exhibitors and dedicated audiophiles returning year after year.

Thus was it fitting that, at the end of the Rocky Mountain International HiFi Press Awards (RIHPA) on the first night of the show, Gabi Rijnveld of Crystal Cable (left above) presented show organizer…