Kimber Presents the Fry Street Quartet Posted Mon Oct 15, 2007, 0:28 AM ET
By John Atkinson

Ray Kimber of Kimber Kable strongly believes that audiophiles need to be exposed to live music. He arranged for one of the ensembles he records with his Isomike system, the Fry Street Quartet, to perform a series of concerts at RMAF. After the players finished a Haydn Quartet in the Marriott's lobby, the audience went into the Kimber listening room across the corridor to hear the same piece on Ray's $500k reference surround system, described earlier in the blog.

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Reason to Dally Posted Mon Oct 15, 2007, 0:21 AM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

It was 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. As Day Two was coming to a close, this sleep-deprived audiophile determined to end the day on a high note. Ah, the Cary/Dali room. That's sure to be a winner. Thank God, it was.

The combination of Dali Helicon 400 Mk.II speakers complete with ribbon tweeter and recent upgrade of woofer and crossover ($6300/pair), Cary SLP05 preamp ($7500), CD306 SACD player ($7500), CAD P205 power amp (60Wpc in triode, 120Wpc in Utralinear), Audio Magic power conditioner, and MIT mid-level cabling was a joy to listen to. The system did a marvelous job of communicating the wonderful, rich warmth of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's singing, the smile on Latin vocalist Marta Gomez's superbly smooth voice, and the subtlest dynamic nuances of soprano Arleen Auger’s blessed artistry. The sound was especially rich at the bottom of the range, and reproduced music with a most inviting sense of air and space. I left the room smiling.

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Will Wonders Never Cease? Posted Mon Oct 15, 2007, 0:15 AM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

Walter Liederman and Danny Richie next showed me the mammoth LS9 (named for its nine planar magnetic drivers). Priced at an unbelievable $6000/pair considering their size and complexity, the LS9s were coupled with Al Stiefel's fine Red Rock Audio 50Wpc Renaissance Monoblock amplifiers ($39,750/pair), Red Rock prototype preamplifier, Abbingdon Music Research CD-77 player ($8500), Grand Prix Audio Monaco turntable ($19,500), and Red Rock Audio cables. Components were supported by the Monaco Modular Isolation Rack ($4750) and Monaco Amplifier Isolation System ($1499). Grand Prix designer Alvin Lloyd says of these plexiglass shelf stands, "I will argue that our stands are the most efficient and highest-performing isolation products in the industry."

Truth be told, these huge speakers need more than 50Wpc to shine. Nevertheless, what I could hear was so inviting that my appetite was whet to hear them in my own listening room once they become available in a month or so.

A word on AV123's speaker cabinets. When Mark Schifter told me that his cabinets are sourced and assembled in either China or Colombia, I asked if he was using rare hardwoods from endangered species. Mark assured me that all his wood was sourced from sustainable, renewable forests, and that his veneers are certified eco-friendly. In fact, one of the reasons Mark shifted some of his manufacturing from China to Colombia was his desire to honor the planet's ecology and not become part of the problem. Bravo, Mark!

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How is it Possible? Posted Mon Oct 15, 2007, 0:09 AM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

Mark Schifter and Walter Liederman of AV123 continue to blow my mind. To their astoundingly low-priced line of quality loudspeakers, only available through the AV123 website, they have added two large loudspeakers from GR Research. Designed by Danny Richie, who previously designed the Epiphany Loudspeakers and is now redoing the crossovers in the Ushers—I am told that Wes Phillips will be reviewing one of Danny’s Usher make-overs for Stereophile—Danny is shown standing next to the GR Research LS6. Priced at $4500/pair, the speakers feature eight 6.5” woofers and six planar magnetic drivers. The LS6 not only boasts a 20Hz–20kHz frequency response, but also features bass drivers that are adjustable according to what the room and system can handle.

The pair I heard was cobbled together at the last minute, and was far from broken-in. Yet, coupled with a neutral, sensational-sounding pair of custom built Dodd Audio KT-88-based 280W monoblocks (normally $50,000/pair, available at the Show for a mere $30,000), Dodd battery-powered tube preamp, Dodd 1500W balanced power supply, and Kool Cables pure gold Silkworm cables and custom built power cables, the system sounded phenomenal. While the room itself overloaded during the final moments of the Ivan Fischer Mahler Symphony 2—Mahler is not made to be played softly—and it could not handle the full measure of Mahler’s percussion, the sound was full, rich, and monumental in scope. I was especially impressed with the glistening highs. This system made my mouth water. Even before their December release date, 100 pairs had been pre-committed to eager music lovers.

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The Ascent of Mark Schifter Posted Mon Oct 15, 2007, 0:04 AM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

Mark Schifter is well on his way to becoming a legendary figure in high-end audio. From his small-box, low–price-point Audio Alchemy and Perpetual Technology components, Mark has gone on to found one of the first genuine bargain high-end websites, AV123, and build speaker cabinets for many major players. Here he stands next to one of his extremely fine-sounding, amazingly low-priced speakers and subs, all sourced from renewable forests and finished with eco-friendly veneers.

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Really Beautiful Posted Mon Oct 15, 2007, 0:01 AM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

Driven by the Triode Corporation Japan's TRV-M300SE 20W 300B parallel single-ended monoblocks ($4199/pair) and TRV-4SE tube preamp ($1799), and fed by a very-slow-to-cue dCS SACD player, the Cain&Cain Wall-O-Sound (W3) ($3300), designed by Gordon Rankin of Wavelength Audio, did a superb job reproducing the true timbre of a piano. Throwing a huge soundstage, with wonderful height and depth, this little system had me writing "really beautiful" in my notebook.

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Looking as Handsome as they Sound Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 11:55 PM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

I've always wanted to win the lottery so I could buy a pair of Jed Barber's much-coveted Joule Electra tube amps. I've spent hours in the Joule-Elrod room at several CESes, always entranced by the sound, but have never before heard the Joule LA150 Mk.2 preamp ($7000) and VZN 100 OTL monoblocks ($19,000/pair) paired with Merlin VSM MXE loudspeakers ($10,500.pair) and the Audio Aero Prestige CD player ($14,000). Wired with Cardas Golden Reference, this system did a superb job of bringing out the lovely, warm, full-range sound and delicious richness of Gary Karr's double bass on his Cisco Systems Adagio d’Albinoni CD.

Perhaps I fall in love too easily. But at least I pick handsome components. These babies not only make for a really stylish, sophisticated-looking match, but their sound mates beautifully. Yes.

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Now I Know What All the Fuss is About Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 11:48 PM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

I've always wanted to hear Harbeth loudspeakers, but never before had the opportunity. All I knew about them was that they were quintessentially English, whatever that was supposed to mean.

Walter Swanbon of Fidelis Audio Video brought the first pair of Harbeth’s Monitor 40.1 (left, $10,995/pair) ever exhibited in the US to RMAF. As the speaker favored by the BBC for monitoring classical music, the Harbeths provide full-range sound, extending down to 25Hz. Although their cherry finish is quite lovely, these speakers and their $495 stands are coveted far more for their sound than for their looks.

With a sensitivity rating of 86–87dB, and presenting a 6–8 ohm load, the Harbeth is said to need a good 40W to truly shine. Here the speakers were mated with a complete system from Tim G. Ryan's SimpliFyAudio.com that only provided 23W of power. Specializing in minimalist, "less is more" systems from Harbeth, Resolution Audio, and DNM, SimpliFy's choice of electronics included Resolution Audio source equipment ($6419 total), and the DNM pre- and power-amps ($19,995 with speaker cable). The entire set-up requires only one power cord, and uses 25-pin connectors that eliminate the need for interconnects.

I could not believe how warm and rich this system sounded. Soprano Kate Royal sounded amazingly rich on her new EMI recital, and my Channel Classics Revueltas SACD exhibited marvelous solidity. All I could manage to write in my notes was that the system's "very neutral, full sound" was "pretty damn amazing." To be perfectly honest, if I had bucks to spare, I'd be listening to the Harbeths in the large living room of our 80 year-old Oakland carriage house tomorrow. I loved, loved, loved the sound of this system. I hope everyone attending RMAF 2008 gets the opportunity to hear how full and rich the Harbeth Monitor 40.1 can sound.

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Sonic Correctness Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 11:44 PM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

While being PC is always a bone of contention in the audiophile community, sonic correctness goes without question. In a nice-sized room in the Marriott Tower, Lyngdorf’s Steve Colburn held a series of extremely convincing demonstrations of the complete Lyngdorf room perfect correction system. Using Triad speakers, Colburn’s before and after treatment samples of a percussion CD with lots of low bass were eye-opening. Quelle difference! If only Steve could have corrected for the people in the far corner who insisted on blabbing through the entire demo as if no one else mattered.

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Snappy Indeed Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 11:39 PM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

The Manley Snapper monoblocks ($4250/pair) sure have snap. Playing one of those classic percussion demo CDs with drum thwacks galore, the combo of Manley amplification, Bel Canto DAC/preamp, Joseph Audio RM25XL speakers ($4400/pair), Apple iBook transport, and Cardas Golden Reference interconnects was as sharp and crisp as could be. But they were also far more. With the system playing an LP of La Fille Mal Gardée on the VPI Super Scout Reference Master Turntable (one of only two available) equipped with a Silversmith phono cartridge, the sound was beautifully warm and sweet, the soundstage all-enveloping.

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Ah, the Rose A'Bloomin' Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 11:34 PM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

Although he looks a bit burned from being asked to play one too many Columbia LPs, whose harsh string tone belies the myth that vintage analog recordings are de facto superior to CDs, Dan Meinwald has a lot to be happy about. The EAR Acute CD player ($5900), 890 Primary Drive 70W stereo amp, 868 preamp complete with phono stage ($6900), Discmaster turntable ($20,000 without tonearm), Dynavector XVIS cartridge, and debut 3-way, open-baffle dipole loudspeakers ($7000/pair—also available in a larger model) were creating a wonderful, magical soundstage on Stokowski’s monumental recording of Smetana’s The Moldau. It’s no wonder that so many dedicated audiophiles continue to be seduced for life by EAR’s vaunted sweetness and bloom.

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Audio Note UK Debuts USB-Input DAC Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 11:28 PM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

Audio Note UK, shown at RMAF by its US distributor AudioFederation.com, chose the Denver Show for the world premiere of its first USB-input DAC. The DAC 0.1X, an entry-level product that features neither anti-alias filtering nor oversampling, and uses a teeny little 6111WA dual-triode output tube that is said to behave like a 12AU7 but last a staggering 100,000 hours, was making fine sound paired with a complete line of Audio Note components and cables.

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The Big Boys Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 11:26 PM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

Audio Federation doesn't play around. Its top-of-the-line, no-holds-barred system centers around the Marten Coltrane Supreme loudspeaker ($250,000/pair), Audio Note UK Ongaku amplifier ($85,000), EMM Labs/Meitner Design CDSD SE transport ($8400) and DCC2 SE DAC ($13,500), Brinkmann Balance turntable ($29,900), Lamm LP2 Deluxe phono preamp ($6990), and, for this system, modestly priced Lyra Titan cartridge ($5000). Cabling is no less than Nordost Valhalla, Stealth Indra, Jorma Design No.1 and PRIME, while power cords and distributors include Nordost Valhalla, Elrod Statement II and Signature III, and Acrolink Mexcel 7N-7100.

I went wild over this system at last year's RMAF. Its greatness, besides its wonderful full-range sound, is its ease and naturalness, and complete absence of a phony, bloated midrange. Last year, I heard a major difference when cables were swapped while I was in the room. This year, a slight attenuation of high frequency overtones suggested that a little more cable swapping or room setup adjustment was still to come. Regardless, few systems at the Audio Fest could begin to approach this level of high-end accuracy.

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"The Best Loudspeaker in the World. Period" Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 11:39 AM ET
By John Atkinson

So read the flyer promoting YG Acoustics' dem in room 446 I picked up in the Marriott's lobby. So I went by room 446. Twice. Neither time could I get in, such was the throng inside. But I did manage to hold my camera above the avid listeners' heads to take a shot of the Colorado company's Anat Reference speaker, which had very much impressed me when I heard it at the 2006 CEDIA Show. I am going to try to get a listen on the Show's final day, but the news that YG has hired veteran sales manager Dick Diamond away from Kimber is a sign that this new speaker manufacturer is aiming high.

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Desktop Decco from Peachtree Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 11:33 AM ET
By John Atkinson

Musical Fidelity/Era Design distributor SignalPath's David Solomon is also interested in the desktop and enthusiastically demmed the new Peachtree Decco for me. The $700 tubed D/A processor/60Wpc integrated amplifier has a rear-panel bay that will accommodate the popular Sonos ZP80 WiFi media player and will take either digital or analog signals to its own, higher-quality DAC circuitry and output stage. It also has a USB input. The revolution is here.

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Audioengine Pushes the Envelope Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 11:24 AM ET
By John Atkinson

Audioengine is making a name for itself with its extremely affordable powered speakers. But rather than photograph the speakers being demmed at RMAF, I concentrated on the Apple iBook running iTunes being used as the source. "What's that?" I asked, pointing to the dongle.

It was the Audioengine WI, which uses IEEE802 WiFi hardware (but not the protocol itself), to send the audio signal to the Audioengine 5 speakers, which have a socket in the top for the receiver. The transmitter/receiver combination will cost $149 and is the easiest way of eliminating wires from your listening room, or perhaps more importantly, your desktop.

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Unknown Unknowns Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 11:11 AM ET
By John Atkinson

To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, it is the "unknown unknowns" in audio that scare the pants off me at times. Synergistic's Ted Denney pulled me into his room. "Sit down. Listen to this."

We listened to a track called "Fade to Black." Was it Bob Dylan, was it Mark Knopfler? No-one knew. But the sound of the Thiel CS2.7 speakers was full and enveloping. Ted flipped a switch. The low frequencies became a bit boomier, but the soundstage expanded even more.

"Okay, I heard a difference. What did you change?"

Ted pointed to the Synergistic Enigma Transporter Active Shielding Power Supply, which sported two antique tubes on its top. "I changed from a 1943 Western Electric regulator tube to a 1932 Tungar 4B27."

This tube is the series-pass element in the power supply for the DC bias voltage used by the Synergistic cables. It is not in the signal path. There is no reason why it should change the sound. But change the sound it did!

Ted then showed me the effect of Synergistic's forthcoming AC conditioner, which he says uses opposed, balanced, electromagnetic fields and which will sell for $2500 with six outlets. But all I could think about is what I heard in the first dem.

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Esoteric Materials in Esoteric Speakers Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 10:59 AM ET
By John Atkinson

I went into the Esoteric room to take a listen to the digital components that build on the performance of the excellent SA-60 universal player that graced our October cover. But my attention was drawn to a pair of elegant loudspeakers sporting the Esoteric name. The Mg20 floorstander ($8410/pair) and bookshelf Mg10 ($5500/pair plus stands) feature tweeters and woofers fabricated from the very light metal magnesium, which is said to have an optimal combination of stiffness and self-damping. It has not been previously used in speakers (other than in alloys) because it degrades with exposure to the air. However, Esoteric collaborated with a British company to develop an effective protective coating.

The Esoteric speakers use a trapezoid-plan cabinet, ClarityCaps in the crossover, and van den Hul internal wiring, and are assembled by Tannoy in Scotland. Esoteric is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. With products like these new Mg-series speakers, it looks as if they will be around at least another 20 years.

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A Canadian Amplifier Shootout Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 10:40 AM ET
By John Atkinson

Well, not really. But the Thiel CS3.7 speakers set-up in the Denver Audio Designs room could be driven either by an all-Bryston system—the new BCD-1 CD player ($2395), BP26 preamp, and a pair 7B-SST monoblocks—or an all-Simaudio Moon system: SuperNova CD player P7 preamp, and W7 power amp. I listened to "Comfortably Numb" from Pink Floyd's The Wall with both set-ups and the differences were both audible and surprising. The Moon system favored David Gilmour's paradigmatic guitar solo; the Bryston the contribution of David Mason's drums and Roger Waters' bass. I could have lived with either.

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Soul Posted Sun Oct 14, 2007, 10:35 AM ET
By Jason Victor Serinus

In Hebrew, the number 18 is called "chai," which also means "life." As my final (and 18th) blog entry from Day One at RMAF, I was happy to report how thrilled Jeff Wilson and I were with the sound in the Gill/Art Audio/Daedalus room.

Talk about system synergy. The thankfully large space easily accommodated the Daedalus Audio Ulysses speakers ($8800/pair), as well as the DA-RMA monitor which I didn't hear ($4450/pair); Gill Audio Alana preamp ($5000) and Gill Elise DAC ($6000); Art Audio Quartet monoblock amps ($14,500/pair) and unheard Art Audio Adagio ($29,000); and Empirical Design cables. Playing the great mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's Avie hybrid SACD of Handel arias, I was transported by this system's ability to convey the soul of Lieberson's singing. Not only were dynamic contrasts breathtaking, but Hunt Lieberson's intentional softening of her voice in order to better transmit the love that lies at the core of her artistry also went straight to the heart. And that's in a hotel whose electrical outlets were not even grounded, which made for a lot of unwanted brightness in a lot of systems!

Joe Freitas of Art Audio is a musician; the man understands what it takes to transmit what music is all about. Although I have less experience with Gill and Daedalus, it is clear that Joe did not create such fine sound alone. My sincere thanks to everyone whose gifts contributed to the experience. Check it out, boys and girls, check it out.

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