Unique Home Audio, LLC, Room 2
Popori Acoustics WR1 Sicambria speakers, Linear Tube Audio ZOTL40 Reference+ amplifiers, $28K, MicroZOTL preamplifier level 3, $TBD, Aero DAC, $3950, Innous Zen NG server, $14K, Innuous PhoenixNet switch, $4800, Albedo cables
Unique Home Audio's other room featured the larger Popori WR1 speakers. These speakers sounded a little better than the WR2 room; the WR1s demonstrated a bit more resolution, openness and soundstaging. I'm just hoping that the distributors put their best foot forward at an upcoming show.
United Home Audio and High End by Oz
Stenheim Alumine Five.SX speakers, VIVA Linea preamplifier, VIVA Solista preamplifier with 845 SE, United Home Audio Apollo-EVO reel-to-reel tape deck, Albedo cables
How the reel-to-reel tape machine landscape has evolved since Greg's first CAF showing in 2010. Mocked and ridiculed, Greg's had the last laugh. (Much as turntable manufacturers encountered during the dark days of digital.) This room featured latest iteration of Greg's Apollo-EVO tape deck equipped with his latest thinking on tape heads along with VIVA tube electronics driving Stenheim speakers. As Greg said, there's new materials available for manufacturing heads that weren't around in the heyday of tape machines.
VAC/SAT room
Acora VRC speakers, $318K (Mari Blue finish), $218K (standard finish), VAC Master 300 iQ Mk II Musicblocs, $88K, VAC Statement Linestage, $85K, VAC Statement phonostage, $85K, SAT XD1 turntable, $218K, SAT CF1-09 tonearm, $71K, Lyra Atlas Lambda cartridge, $13.2K, Aurender N30SA Music server/streamer, $27.5K, Lampizator Genya DAC, $19K, Cardas Clear and Clear Beyond cables
One of the best sounding rooms at the show despite the wide speaker spacing. But for whatever the reason, instruments located on the outside front edge of the soundstage sounded like they were inside the speaker. Other than that, the soundstage was enormous, the sound was silky smooth and no part of the frequency spectrum sounded exaggerated. PS. You have to admire that designer who places so much pride in their craftsmanship that they put a clear cover on top of their equipment!
VPI (Adams Room)
Acora MRB1 speakers, $8000, VAC Integrated amplifier, VAC Signature preamplifier, VPI Forever Model One turntables with arm, $5850, VPI Goldy cartridge, $1300, Shyla cartridge, $2200, Luminous Audio cables
VPI's new take on the old VPI HW-19, the Forever turntable, was front and center in their accompanying room at CAF along with the diminutive Acora speakers. The sound was very solid and detailed marred only by a slight edge to the sound.
