But it wasn't only the system's musical truth that lifted my spirits. The exceptionally well-controlled and powerful bass, which was not something I had expected, lifted my spirits immensely during an energy low point that declared, once I had finished listening, it was time to break…
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"This actually sounds like music!" was the first thing I scribbled in my notebook. That might seem very bottom line, as in "I would sure hope so." But as readers who are familiar the sound of unamplified acoustic instruments and voices already know, it's not something you can take for granted at audio shows.
First, the big news from Pass Labs. As in BIG NEWS. The Pass Labs Xs preamplifier, which was removed from production after the manufacturer of the company's vacuum fluorescent displays discontinued them without advance notice, has found an LED matrix alternative that looks virtually the same and works perfectly. So, expect the return of the Xs preamp in the beginning of 2024.
But that's not all. A Pass Labs power amp upgrade is expected sometime in 2024, possibly in the fall. I have no other details to supply.
With those not available, Katli Audio opted for Pass…
The billboard below the Aurender marquee announced for different musically themed listening sessions during the show. Hoping for a classical music interlude, I opted for Sunday's 11AM Live from Carnegie Hall. As much as the hour began with classical, I hadn't taken into account that many pop and jazz artists have also performed in Carnegie Hall.
Aurender's Ari Margolis (above) happily surprised me with his diverse repertoire choices. First up, a 24/192 remastering, streamed from Qobuz, of Vladimir Horowitz's rehearsal before his triumphant return to Carnegie Hall. Beautiful…
Blitzed as I was, there was no way I was going to miss Emiko Carlin's performance at the 7pm "T.H.E. Label & T.H.E. Radio Show Kickoff Party and Concert."
So, with the help of a glass of red wine, I sat through an electric violin performance by Abigail Shelton that was handicapped from the start by an AWOL band that left her no choice but to play over MP3 accompaniment. A true trouper, Shelton managed to smile winningly through the din and play some fine tunes. I expect she was a borderline mess inside—I've certainly been when I've been put in similar situations as a performer—but she…
It was a joy to cross paths again with Tom Vu, lead designer of Anaheim-based Triangle Art, at T.H.E. Show. As my laugh-out-loud listen confirmed, there's far more than glitter behind his "Artisan Crafted Analogue" gold components.
Vu blew my mind by cueing up "Hernando's Hideaway" from Provocative Percussion Vol.2, a Command Records classic from 1960 by Enoch Light and the Light Brigade. I know this recording. At least I thought I knew it. Soon after I was declared a "man" at the tender age of 13, my mother designed a cabinet for our first "stereo." Consisting of two far too widely…
Focal Naim America mated its Vestia No.2 loudspeaker ($2800/pair), which resides one step up from entry level, with the Naim Uniti Nova 80Wpc integrated amplifier/streamer ($6900). It was a fine match.
First launched at CES 2023, the Vestia No.2 sits between Focal's Theva and Aria lines. The Uniti Nova can process signals up to PCM 32/384 and DSD128 with a wired connection, and 16/44.1 wirelessly. It can also accept files either via USB or on an SD card.
When played at volume appropriate to the room, as opposed to levels that exceed the room's limits, thereby spreading…
After an absence of several years, French speaker manufacturer Cabasse has returned to the US market. Distributed by Upscale Distribution, Cabasse showed the 43lb Rialto all-in-one streaming loudspeaker system ($3995/pair). Complete with built-in rear-firing woofers powered by a 450W amplifier, the Rialto has a two-way coaxial speaker in front whose treble and midrange are each powered by 300W amplifiers. That's 1050Wpc total! It also claims a frequency range of 30Hz–27kHz, can produce volumes up to 118dB, and can process PCM files up to 24/192.
"The vast majority of Cabasse speakers are…
Upscale Audio saved one of its finest lookers, the Pathos InPol Legacy 100Wpc class-A integrated amplifier ($49,995), for Klipsch Klipschorn AK6 loudspeakers ($16,448/pair) and a REL Acoustics 212/SX subwoofer ($4999).
The InPol Legacy seemed quite happy paired up with the AK6—the two sang beautifully together—but the 212/SX must have taken too strong a dose of testosterone before joining in on the date.
I quite enjoyed the fine clarity and lively top on a Red Book file of Lauren Dawes's "Stormy Monday." Ditto for Ray Brown and Laurindo Almeida's "Mondscheinsonate/Round…
The best sound I have ever heard from an ATC loudspeaker poured forth in the room commandeered by Audiophile Zone of Los Osos, CA. On a 24/192 file of the Engegärd Quartet performing Haydn, every timbre sounded spot and believable. Switching gears to DSD64, highs were excellent and depth convincing on Frank Sinatra's "When You're Smiling." And, on 24/96 tracks from Spirit Hiromi, I was blown away by the excellent bass, believable piano timbres, and musicality of the presentation. If I could have stayed longer, I would have.
The speakers, ATC SCM 40s ($5999/pair in the passive model heard…
It took three attempts and a show near closing time for me to squeeze into the Volt room. Not only were there only three seats, arranged in a line in the center of the room parallel to the side walls, but the space was also illumined by a frequently changing light show that proved as enticing to show goers as those transformative "Eat Me" morsels in Alice in Wonderland.
Finally able to follow the rainbow to the pot of gold, I happened upon Grant Dunn, the mastermind behind Volt Lighting/Integration/Audio of Burbank. Specializing in lighting integration, production rentals, media system…