Stenheim Alumine 3 speakers, CH Precision C1 D.A Controller, D1 SACD / CD Drive, L1 preamp, P1 phono stage, X1 power supplies, and A1.5 2-channel amplifier; Technics SL1000R turntable, Lyra Etna SL cartridge, Harmonic Resolution stands, Etc.
There was a helluva lot of burnished silver jewelry in this room, and it sparkled like a sharply polished diamond.
Synergistic Research PowerCell AC Conditioner, McIntosh MC462 Amp, Elac Adante Speakers, Bluesound Streamer
Scott Walker Audio staked out its own mini-empire at the Hilton Long Beach, occupying six of the hotel's largest suites on the third floor. The first one I encountered revealed the inimitable Ted Denney of Synergistic Research staging a pretty ballsy demo. Ted set up two identical systems in adjacent rooms, both with a McIntosh C2600 tube preamp ($7500) and MC462 Amplifier ($9000), Elac Adante AF61 floorstanding speakers ($4995/pair), Bluesound Node 2i streamer ($500), and Solid Tech Rack ($2600). The difference was that one system took advantage of a Synergistic Research PowerCell 8 UEF SE power conditioner ($2995), new Synergistic Research entry-level Foundation interconnect and speaker cables plus UEF Blue power cords ($4000), and a host of various Synergistic Research room acoustic products ($6500), which in my experience are quite effective if nonetheless baffling to many.
T.H.E. Show Preparations at the Hilton Long Beach
It's Thursday afternoon at the Hilton Long Beach in Long Beach, California, and signs of T.H.E. Show, which opens on Friday, June 7, at noon, are everywhere in evidence.
The Marketplace: Busy, Busy, Busy
From the metaphoric opening bell on, the Marketplace was filled with music lovers hunting for analog and digital media as well as audio products. This photo, taken at 10:30 AM on Saturday, attests to the draw. Note MA Recordings’ Todd Garfinkle on the left, hawking his superbly recorded wares, some of which are available on vinyl or for download in hi-rez.
Tune Audio Anima Loudspeaker; Wavac EC-300B Amplifier, AC-2 Conditioner, and PRZ1 Linestage; Nagra CDC and Classic DAC, Crystal Ultimate Dream Cabling
Eye candy, eh? Tune Audio’s Anima 3-way fully horn-loaded loudspeakers ($58,000/pair) claim 109dB sensitive. THEY certainly were drawing in listeners, to the extent that I had to visit twice before I could get into the room then slowly inch my way closer to the sweet spot.
TW-Acustic Raven GT II Turntable, Charisma and Miyajima Cartridges, Horning Aristotle Ellipse PM65 Speakers, Tron-Electric Atlantic Integrated SE amp and Convergence Signature Preamps, Silent Running Audio Scuttle and Ohio XL, etc.
Jeffrey Catalano has come cross-country to exhibit. I missed him at the last show. I simply must go to the High Water Sound room.
VAC Master Signature Preamp, Magico M2 Speakers, MSB Premiere DAC, Synergistic Research Cables, Power Tech Stand
Tonal beauty, clarity, and transparency were just some of the hallmarks of a system that, to my ears, was musical to a "T." (Should that be "M"?) I loved the warm yet neutral sound of a recording by Ana CaramI detected no extra "tube-like" sweetness, for exampleand the system's ability to present music with a quality I can best describe as "grace": not scientific, I know, but when the spirit moves you, the least you can do is acknowledge it.
Vandersteen Quatro loudspeakers and M5-HPA monoblocks, Jeff Rowland Corus Stereo preamplifier + PSU and Conductor phonostage, Brinkmann Nyquist Mark 2 DAC and Bardo turntable with 10.0 tonearm & Lyra Delos cartridge, Roon Nucleus, Etc.
To these ears, the pairing of Vandersteen Quatro loudspeakers ($15,499/pair) and the company’s smaller M5-HPA monoblocks ($15,800/pair) with the Jeff Rowland Corus Stereo preamplifier + PSU ($21,900) and Conductor phonostage ($8500) is a winner.
Von Schweikert Endeavor E-5 MKII Speakers, Grand Prix Audio Rack, MasterBuilt Cabling and AC Management, Esoteric Grandioso Series PIX Transport, D1X Monoblock DAC, N-03T Network Audio Transport, G1 Rubidium Master Clock, C1 Linestage Preamp, Etc.
I don’t know about you, but I find the design of Esoteric’s Grandioso series enclosures quite attractive. In Long Beach, they also sounded great. Paired with Von Schweikert Endeavor E-5 MKII Speakers ($40,000/pair), an entire SUV full of Grandioso gear (including multiple outboard power supplies) impressed as exceptionally lively, solid, and musical.
Wells Audio Innamorata II Level II Amplifier and Commander Level III Line Stage, Usher Mini Two Loudspeakers, and Verastarr Cabling
Dragon, Commander, Innamorata . . . did you ever get the feeling that Jeff Wells wants you to know that Wells Audio means business?
Not that you needed to heed the names: The sound was sufficient to let show attendees know that, as with the Esoteric/Von Schweikert system I had just heard, this system excelled in healthy, alive sound that included a fine midrange and a lively shine to the sound. I really enjoyed the sound on a track from JT Coldfire, and sat amazed that an exhibitor not only loved but also chose to play, of his own volition, Luciano Pavarotti's "Una furtiva lagrima."