Capital AudioFest 2019

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Capital AudioFest 2019
Just In from CAF (Part II): VK Audio Room with Sparkler Audio CD Player, EleKit Amplification, AER Speakers, Mogami Cables
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 07, 2019  |  11 comments
Some products I review touch my heart and affect how I see all other products that I review afterwards. VK Audio's made-in-Japan $1785 EleKit TU-8600R 300B single-ended tube amp kit was one of those. This amp uses Swedish-made Lundahl transformers (and super-premium parts) to deliver near-state-of-the-art performance at a price anyone with a soldering iron could afford.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
Just In from CAF (Part I): Audio Note UK DAC and Cabling, Acapella Audio Arts Music Server, Integrated Amplifier, Loudspeakers, and Cabling, HRS Equipment Rack
Ken Micallef  |  Nov 07, 2019  |  6 comments
Veteran Palo Alto, California distributor Audio Federation presented a system that included large horn-loaded speakers and Audio Note UK gear, two of my favorite things.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
Tekton Moab, McGary Audio SA-2 Integrated Amplifier, Exogal Comet DAC and Ion Power DAC, Anticables
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 06, 2019  |  8 comments
I like speakers with dark wood finishes. My friend Sphere loves speakers painted red. My partner “bb” prefers blue ones that match her room. Tekton Design makes speakers in these and many other colors and finishes. Tekton speakers, though, also have many tweeters, which gives them a distinctive look.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
Cube Audio Mini Nenuphar Loudspeakers, EMIA Audio Electronics, TW Acoustic Raven GT Turntable with Schroeder Reference SQ and Schick Tonearms and Soundsmith Sussurro and Ortofon SPU Royal N Cartridges
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 06, 2019  |  2 comments
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Capital AudioFest 2019
The American Sound Rooms: Wadax Electronics, Avantgarde Loudspeakers, Transparent Cabling
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 06, 2019  |  0 comments
American Sound distribution presented three rooms featuring Avantgarde horn loudspeakers, and, in the two rooms I visited, Wadax digital products.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
ModWright Ambrose Ai325 Integrated Amplifier, PH9.0 Phono Pre, and modified Pioneer CD Player, Fern & Roby Tredegar Turntable (Schroeder Tonearm, Soundsmith Cartridge) and Raven Loudspeakers, Stereolab/Black Cat Cabling
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 06, 2019  |  10 comments
As a reviewer, I’ve been waiting to see a ModWright product that just jumped out of the deck and said, “Herb! Review me.”
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Capital AudioFest 2019
EMIA Re-Visioned Quad ESL 57 Loudspeakers, Garrard 301 Turntable, Schroeder and Schick Tonearms, Made-from-Scratch EMIA Phono Cartridge, and Everything Else
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 06, 2019  |  8 comments
Look at the photo. What you see is a re-imagining of the original Quad ESL 57s by Dave Slagle of EMIA (Experience Music Intact Audio). The only thing that remains from the original Quads are the PVC stator parts rebuilt to original standards by Wayne Picquet of Quads Unlimited in Longwood, Florida.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
Overture Room: Technics’ SL-1000RE-S turntable, Van Den Hul Master Signature Cartridge and Grail SB Phono Preamp, Magico M2 Loudspeakers, Esoteric Grandioso C1 Preamplifier and Grandioso M1 Amplifiers, Shunyata Cables, HRS Racks, Artnovation Room Tuning
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 06, 2019  |  24 comments
I saved the Overture room for last because for me and my taste, this room had the best sound at CAF 2019.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
Joseph Audio Loudspeakers, Unison Research DAC and Amplification, Balanced Audio Technology Phono Stage, Feickert Turntable, Schick Tonearm, My Sonic Lab Cartridge
Ken Micallef  |  Nov 05, 2019  |  14 comments
On the last day of the show, loudspeaker designer Jeff Joseph showed no signs of slowing down. Remote in hand, he bounced around his room like the proverbial battery bunny, welcoming attendees, switching his rig between analog and digital playback, and generally smiling his way through it all.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
Genesis Maestro Loudspeakers, Merrill Audio Christine Linestage and Element 116 Monoblocks, EMM Labs DAC2x, Genesis Racks, Cables, and Power Cords
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 05, 2019  |  5 comments
Do you know why New Yorkers are always depressed? Because the light at the end of the tunnel is New Jersey.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
Triangle Signature Delta Loudspeakers, Tsakiridis Orpheus Monoblock Amplifiers, Alexander Line Stage, and Zeuss Phono Preamp, Soulines Kubrick DCX turntable with SME Tonearm, Cabling by Analysis Plus
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 05, 2019  |  2 comments
Every time I encounter a system with Triangle speakers, I stop and take serious notice of their refined but lively sound. As I did Sunday in the room sponsored by The Antal Audio Group.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
VPI HW-40 turntable, Schroeder Tonearms, Miyajima and Tzar Cartridges, Mytek DAC, Metal Mat’s Platter Mat, Butler Amplification, Electrostatic Solutions Quad Loudspeakers, Finley Audio cables, Wax Rax Racks
Ken Micallef  |  Nov 04, 2019  |  2 comments
That Robin Wyatt (aka Robyatt) knows how to put on a show is obvious. That he assembles a fine sounding room is also a given. So, when Wyatt enlisted recording/mastering engineer Tom Fine to discuss and play records, representing the work of his parents, Robert Fine and Wilma Cozart Fine, the result was predictable: Standing room only crowds.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
Legacy Audio Studio HD Loudspeakers, Rogue Audio Sphinx v3 amplifier, NAD C658 network player/preamp/DAC
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 06, 2019  |  First Published: Nov 04, 2019  |  4 comments
It pleases me beyond words when modestly priced audio components overperform immodestly.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
MC Audiotech Forty-10 Loudspeakers, VPI HW-40 Turntable, Luminous Audio Arion Phono Preamp, Pass Labs XP22 preamp, Wolf Audio Alpha 3 Music Server, PS Audio DirectStream DAC, Parasound A23 Amplifier, Symposium Foundation Rack
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 05, 2019  |  First Published: Nov 04, 2019  |  13 comments
Two friends whose taste and hearing I respect—and who visited every room at this show—told me they thought the $35K/pair MC Audiotech Forty-10 loudspeakers made the best sound at CAF. No question, these almost five-feet tall decorator-friendly midcentury-modern-looking beauties sounded even better they look, and they look very nice.
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Capital AudioFest 2019
Luminous Audio and the Pure Audio Project
Herb Reichert  |  Nov 04, 2019  |  11 comments
I mentioned earlier how uncolored, detailed, transparent, and image-specific an open baffle loudspeaker can sound. Unfortunately, not all open baffle speakers are created equal, and making a coherent and musically satisfying open-baffle speaker is much more complex than just bolting a few drivers to a sheet of plywood. The question any loudspeaker designer must ask is, how far should I go? When is done right?
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