RMAF 2008 Show Report

Vinyl Digging Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 11:08 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

Old and young—I mean, young and younger—dirtying their fingers and nourishing their souls, digging through the crates of vinyl.

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Besflores, la di da Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 11:04 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

And it's always a pleasure to catch up with Music Direct's Besflores Nievera.

What a name! It's like a song.

Here we see Bes standing proudly beside the new Avid Diva 2 ($3000 including Jelco tonearm). Along with Focal 928 loudspeakers (now on sale from Music Direct at 50% off retail for $2750/pair) and dashing Marantz electronics, the sound was excellent.

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We're All Audiophiles Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 10:53 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

Newcomer Virtue Audio made its debut at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest showing a colorful collection of affordable Tripath amplifiers. The 45Wpc Audiophile One ($249) integrated amp was engineered by Audience's Roger Sheker and uses VirtuCap input capacitors designed for Virtue by Audience. Inside the chassis, you'll find the cutest little heat pipe designed to maximize space and keep things cool. On the rear panel, propeller post binding posts makes making connections easy, and the amp's aluminum chassis is available in five bold colors (black velvet, snow [a kind of frosty white], red brick, clouds [a kind of frosty blue], and mesa [a kind of mustard]).

In the vendor's area of the Marriott's lobby, Virtue was selling similarly colorful t-shirts that read: "I AM AN AUDIOPHILE." The tagline on Virtue's press cards reads: "We're all audiophiles at www.virtueaudio.com."

I like the message these guys are sending out, breaking stereotypical notions of what it means to be an audiophile. I took a shirt in a green that'll match my Rega P3-24.

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Frank Schroeder Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 10:32 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

Hey, have you met Frank Schroeder?

Frank, these are the Stereophile readers. Stereophile readers, this is Frank Schroeder.

Look at that smile! I mean, have you ever seen a more charming smile? That smile could win a zillion bucks. Doesn't it just make you want to smile right along with him? Doesn't it make you wonder what his tonearms are like?

Frank Shroeder makes tonearms. They are as exquisite as his smile.

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Santa Fe Audio, The Signal Collection, and Covenant Audio Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 9:57 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

Something funny happened to me when I walked into the Marriott's Room 422. I had been feeling particularly stressed and particularly drained, and I really didn't want to listen to any more music or exude any more pleasantries. But I was suddenly relieved of all that negative energy—seriously, I could feel it!—upon walking into Room 422.

It was kind of miraculous.

And you would hope for miracles from a system that costs a zillion dollars.

Not a zillion, really. But close. Room 422 was home to Santa Fe Audio, The Signal Collection, and Covenant Audio Consulting. The system was made of: Continuum Criterion turntable with Copperhead tonearm ($55,595) and Air Tight PC-1 cartridge ($6000); WAVAC EC-300B SET amplifier ($26,490), PR-T1 3-chassis preamp ($29,000), LCR-X2 3-chassis phono stage ($25,000); Lansche Audio 4.1 loudspeakers with purple-glowing Corona ion tweeter ($55,595); EMM Labs DAC2 ($9000) and TSD1 transport ($11,500); Dragon Shotgun Widowmakers cables ($36,000/3m); Pranawire Cosmos speaker cables ($7850/2m), interconnects ($4650/1m), and Satori power cords ($1795/1m); IsoClean 80A3 80AMP power conditioner ($4200) and PT3030GII isolation transformer ($2100); and (whew) the Sistrum component rack ($2000).

Does that add up to a zillion? Might as well. It also adds up to seriously revitalizing, fricking therapeutic sound.

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Jolida JD10 Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 9:32 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

Check this out.

See that little blue box filled with wondrous, glowing tubes? That's the first piece in JoLida's new Glass Fx Series of affordable components aimed at younger music lovers.

JoLida's JD10 integrated stereo tube amp ($399!) is housed in safety-rated glass and features a chassis available in black, blue, or silver. The remote-controlled JD10 is rated to deliver 10Wpc into 8 ohms and provides two line inputs, a side panel input for MP3 players, and a headphone output. An iPod dock is in the works. In addition, JoLida's Michael Allen told me that they're already working on a matching DAC, CD player, and phono preamp. Each unit will share the same compact dimensions and, keeping space considerations in mind, the entire range will be stackable.

Though the little amp only provides 10W of power, it had no trouble at all with playing at high volumes. Mated to a pair of 88dB prototype speakers, the JD10 wasn't shy about rocking out. Allen waited for the room to clear out before cueing up a Linkin Park track. Though I could sense where the amp was struggling, the music was nonetheless vibrant and powerful with an impressively wide, deep soundstage. Allen admitted that 88dB was probably the amp's limit; it would be more comfortable driving speakers of at least 91dB sensitivity.

"Youngsters are very discriminating about their sound," said Allen. "We wanted to provide them with something they could afford and enjoy. It may not compete with higher-priced gear, but we think it's pretty good."

Damn good!

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Modified Transporter Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 8:43 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

And here's that sexy Modwright-modified "Truth" Transporter with its tubed analog stage. Transporter owners can have their units modified for $2000, plus shipping; Modwright provides new units for $3800. All Modwright modifications are only available factory-direct.

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Modwright Instruments Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 8:42 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

I was very happy to finally meet Modwright Instruments' Dan Wright, possibly best known for his Modwright "Truth" modifications to popular components such as the Sony '9000ES universal player and Logitech Transporter.

Here we see him with his new KWA-150 power amplifier.

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Allen Perkins Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 8:10 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

If you see this man, DO NOT approach him. Note your location and call your local authorities immediately. We have reason to suspect he is armed and dangerous.

I kid, I kid.

I enjoyed spending some time with Immedia's Allen Perkins. He is a kind, thoughtful, and interesting fellow. If you see him, be sure to introduce yourself and go out of your way to listen to his gear.

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Sonics by Joachim Gerhard Amerigo Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 8:07 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

Joachim Gerhard kneels beside his very attractive Amerigo loudspeaker ($5500/pair). The Amerigo is a 3-way bass reflex design with a 0.8" dome ring radiator tweeter and proprietary 6" midrange and 8" bass drivers. Gerhard uses expensive birch plywood because he feels it sounds better than MDF.

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Immedia Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 7:51 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

Allen Perkins and Immedia put together another great-sounding room.

Ah, the Spiral Groove SG1 turntable. Look at it. You love it. But it costs $25,000. Ouch. Oh, but you love it.

The Spiral Groove SG1 turntable looks totally bad-ass and has a removable armboard for easy swapping of tonearms. It made sweet, sweet music with the Lehmannaudio Black Cube Decade phono preamp ($2399; Michael Fremer's review will appear in our December 2008 issue), Spiral Groove's own Equinox series amplification (price TBA), and Sonics by Joachim Gerhard Amerigo loudspeakers in a handsome Zebrano finish ($5500/pair).

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Squeezed Box Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 7:16 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

Another thing that caught my eye in the Daedalus Audio room was this nifty, little wood case for the Logitech Squeezebox. Daedalus' Lou Hinkley told me that he had done it as a one-off project, but because so many people seem interested in it, he may decide to build more. The attractive wood case provides beneficial EMI shielding, Hinkley said.

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Daedalus Audio Ulysses Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 6:49 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

More beautiful woodwork was found in the Daedalus Audio suite. The Ulysses ($10,950/pair; add $500 for matching plinths) is Daedalus Audio's top-of-the-line speaker. It uses a 1" Eton dome tweeter, two 5" custom-modified Fostex midrange units, and two 8" proprietary woofers, and has a rated sensitivity of 97dB.

All Daedalus speakers are hand-built using solid North American hardwoods and boast hand-rubbed oli-varnish finishes.

Designer Lou Hinkley is a guitarist who may be better known for his acoustic guitar amps. His work in that arena led him to hi-fi. He told me a funny story: He began showing his loudspeakers at hi-fi shows, and showgoers would offer him demo discs with tracks by bands like String Cheese Incident and Rusted Root, which are bands that have used his guitar amps for years. While these showgoers had never heard of Daedulus Audio, they had actually been listening to Hinkley's work all along!

When I asked Hinkley if he had any acoustic guitar music, he quickly introduced me to the work of Martin Simpson, an accomplished guitarist who actually assisted Hinkley in the voicing of the first Daedalus Audio loudspeaker, 16 years ago.

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Oswald Mill Audio AC1 Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 6:13 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

Do you know about Oswald Mill Audio? Check out the website; it's fascinating.

Truth is: I'm not really into exotic loudspeakers.

I like my loudspeakers to look like loudspeakers. To me, a simple wood box is beautiful. But I was more than impressed by the extraordinary Oswald Mill Audio AC1. Completely hand-built out of solid Pennsylvania ash, it takes about a month to complete a single pair of AC1s. Each speaker uses a single 15" Alnico paper-cone woofer and a vintage compression driver for the midrange. Due to the finite quantity of the specific late '40s to early '60s driver, production of the AC1 is limited to just 25 pairs.

Designer Jonathan Weiss asked me if there was anything in specific that I'd like to listen to.

"Any rock and roll?" I asked.

Jonathan looked down to his stack of LPs, took a long pause, and soberly replied: "Not much."

"Oh well. How about…"

"Actually, I've got Prince. Wanna hear Prince?"

"Cool."

Prince's "Darling Nicky" sounded just as it should: Naughty! This was a speaker that managed to remove itself from the room despite its towering size and attention-grabbing looks. When Weiss informed me of the price of $53,000/pair, it almost seemed like a bargain.

Crazy, I know.

Jonathan Weiss hopes to open an Oswald Mill Audio showroom in New York City by the end of the year. I cannot wait to hear these speakers again.

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Moscode 402 Au Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 5:39 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

The newest iteration of the Moscode hybrid power amp ($6495) retains the hefty aluminum faceplate which opens forward for easy access to the tubes.

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Effortless Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 5:33 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

Talk about effortless. Another room which I thought offered superb sound was occupied by Moscode, Von Schweikert, Esoteric, Placette, PS Audio, and Cardas. I think I heard the most beautiful music of all that reproduced at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in this very room. I don't even know what was playing, but what this system excelled at was communicating the all-important space between the notes.

The speakers were Von Schweikert's VR-5 Anniversary Edition ($28,000/pair); disc player was the Esoteric DV-50S; cables were Cardas Golden Reference; at the helm was the Placette Remote Volume Control; tying things together was a PS Audio Power Plant; and powering it all was the new Moscode 402 Au power amplifier ($6495).

Moscode's George Kaye explained that the latest iteration of the venerable hybrid power amp uses a gold-plated circuit board. Tubes have been repositioned for a lower noise floor, extra voltage regulation aims to produce a smoother top end, and the amp's unique faceplate has been upgraded.

Here I am, happy to stand with Moscode's George Kaye (l) and Gage Rommel.

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Vandersteen Quattro Signature Mk.2 Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 4:54 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

The more I hear Vandersteen Audio's loudspeakers, the more I find myself admiring their relaxed, controlled, natural sound. Richard Vandersteen, the fighter pilot featured in a recent banner ad on this website, was happy to present his Quattro Signature Mk.2 ($11,700/pair). It utilizes a 6.5" mid-bass driver derived from the Vandersteen Model 5A and sounded exquisite driven by Ayre amplification.

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DPS Ayre turntable Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 4:44 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

In my opinion, few rooms at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest could compete with the sound produced in the Ayre Acoustics/Vandersteen Audio suite. To me, the music created by this combination just sounded right. It was effortless, involving, and realistic without being overly etched or bright.

With all the new, well-kept hair on his head, Ayre's Steve Silberman was almost unrecognizable. Here we see him striking a dashing pose. Married life must be treating him well. Steve was especially excited about Ayre's joint venture with DPS. We first reported on the DPS Ayre turntable from January's Consumer Electronics Show. It's essentially DPS's basic turntable complemented by Ayre's three-phase power supply. Price is to be announced, and we can hope to see it available by the end of the year.

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ViV Laboratory Evanui Signature Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 4:20 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias & Jason Victor Serinus

When I ran into Tyler Beebout and Jackson Paddon, they were all wide-eyed and jittery.

"Have you seen those alien speakers yet? You have to check them out! After listening to them, I feel like I've spoiled myself for the rest of my life. I don't know what to do now."

Shit, I hadn't seen the alien speakers yet. They were talking about ViV Laboratory's exotic Evanui Signature single-driver horn-loaded loudspeaker ($60,000/pair).

"Wow," I said. "It kind of looks like a flower."

"No, E.T.!" exclaimed the Evanui's designer, Koichiro Akimoto.

The strange creature stands over four feet tall and extends nearly two feet wide at its base. The 3" "Floating Diaphragm Mechanism" drive unit has no surround, and nearly floats freely from the speaker itself. Akimoto demonstrated this for me by simply pulling the driver from its place, like pulling an eye right from it's socket.

"Evanui," says Akimoto, means "vanish" in Latin, and the design goal was for the speaker to vanish from the room, leaving nothing but music.—Stephen Mejias

READ MORE »

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Yokohama Plamokit Posted Mon Oct 13, 2008, 2:56 PM ET
By Stephen Mejias

Putting together a loudspeaker kit may be an art of an older generation. I had model airplanes and cars, but I often hear older audiophiles talk about the first loudspeaker they ever built. It always kind of freaks me out.

You BUILT a loudspeaker?

Jon Iverson did it, John Atkinson did it, John Marks did it, Art Dudley does it all the time, and countless others do it, too, I'm sure. I have never put together a loudspeaker kit, but it strikes me as being a whole lot of fun, and a way to gain a better understanding of how a loudspeaker works. At the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, Japan's Yokohama Baysidenet was showing their Plamokit loudspeaker kit ($600/pair). The kit includes everything you need to construct your own little loudspeaker, and seems simple and fun.

I listened to a finished pair, which looked lovely, and found that the sound was surprisingly large for the speaker's small size. Though the Plamokit speaker didn't match the sound quality in the room that I might expect from less expensive speakers (such as the $279/pair PSB Alpha B1 or $298/pair Paradigm Atom), I can't underestimate the value (and fun!) of putting together your own speaker.

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