3-D Audio Makes an Appearance AT RMAF
Alsyvox Boticelli with optional external Crossover, Omega Audio Concepts DNA CDP, DNA DAC, and DNA mono amplifiers
Eye-catching as all get-out, Alsyvox Boticelli loudspeakers ($89,000/pair)—having arrived from Spain with their optional external crossover ($25,000) —made a useful connection with Italy’s Omega Audio Concepts DNA CDP disc transport ($12,000), DNA DAC ($9000), and DNA mono amplifiers ($20,000/pair complete with integrated preamps) to produce intriguing sound.
AMG Viella Forte 12 Turbo Engraved Turntable Debut
The big news in the Musical Surroundings room was the introduction of the AMG Viella Forte 12 Turbo turntable ($30,000), shown in its engraved version ($32,000).
AudioSolutions Virtuoso M speakers, Vitus Audio SIA-030 and SCD-025MK II, United Home Audio Ultima4 OPS-DC, Ansuz Acoustics cabling
High End by Oz and United Home Audio joined together to present the US premiere of Vitus Audio’s SIA-030 30W class-A/200W class-AB integrated amplifier ($40,000) and AudioSolutions Virtuoso M loudspeakers ($32,000/pair).
Børresen 01 monitor loudspeakers, Aavik U-380 integrated amplifier, Naim CD5XS (as transport), D-TC Supreme Power Box and Power Distribution, Ansuz DTC Supreme cables
The all-one-family of Børresen loudspeakers, Aavik electronics, and Ansuz cabling, distributed by Gated HiFi and displayed by Chicago dealer NextLevel HiFi, was having a really rough time of it until their new Aavik U-380 integrated amplifier ($39,000) showed up several days late.
Bryston’s New BDA-3.14 Streamer/DAC
Before the revelation of Bryston’s new BDA-3.14 streamer/DAC/digital preamp ($4195) came another, far less welcome one: The Gaylord Resort and Convention Center is huge. Ridiculously huge, and constructed with less-than-penetrable logic.
EMM Labs Optical Equalizer Phono Stage, Focal Utopia Scala V2 Loudspeakers, Kimber Kable Interconnects and Speaker Cables
Ed Meitner goes analog?
Not really. But the famed digital pioneer and founder of EMM Labs, known especially for his work with DSD/SACD, was showing his prototype optical phono preamp, the Optical Equalizer. Designed solely for use with DS Audio's optical cartridges, it can be described as a marriage between analog and digital. With specific filters for the different DS Audio cartridge models, it's expected in the first quarter of 2020.
Endow Audio’s Remarkable FS301 Loudspeaker
What is this strange creature with an upper driver that looks like something from a Marvel movie? Is it benign, or is it the blob that obliterated Kansas?
Göbel High End Divin Noblesse; CH Precision M 1.1, L1, C1, and P1; Kronos Pro w. Black Beauty tonearm and SCPS power supply; Göbel Lacorde Statement cabling; Nordost QX-4, QKore 1, QB-8, QK1 and QV2
I hadn’t planned to visit the Göbel/CH Precision/Kronos/Bending Wave USA room, having spilled a lot of ink on Göbel and CH products at Munich High End. But, given that I’d heard everything in the room before and was familiar with the excellence of its sound, I wanted to see if it could surmount the sonic difficulties posed by the Gaylord Convention Center's huge rooms.
Haniwa Loudspeakers, Amplifier, and Complete Vinyl Front End
Haniwa's chief designer, Tetsuo Kubo, surprised me with the sound of his new Clear Focus speakers plus digital phase control system amplifier ($25,000 total). With a much larger cone than in previous versions and an impedance of 1.3 ohms, this loudspeaker sounded totally smooth, with a very strong midrange presence, when mated with their 400Wpc amplifier. Even the bright voice of Luciano Pavarotti was pleasant to listen to, and thrilling as well.