VPI (Jefferson Room)
Mat Weisfeld, VPI, giving the rundown on the equipment.
JBL Everest 66000 speakers, $60-70K (?), Audio Research Reference 160M monoblock amplifiers, $45K, Audio Research Reference 6SE linestage, $22.5K, Audio Research Reference 3SE phonostage, $22.5K, VPI Vanquish (Avenger Statement w/outboard PSU), $80K, VPI Fatboy tonearm, $6K; Bird of Prey tonearm (Robin Wyatt, distributor), $16K, Shyla ($2200, Grado Statement 3 ($3500), Audio Technical ART-20 ($3200) and Tzar DST ($10K) cartridges, Vanquish stand, $60K, Nordost Odin II cables
Check all your preconceptions about the large and heavy Greg Timber designed JBL Everest 66000 speakers at the door. These two-way horn transducers simply did things that other systems only dreamed of especially when it came to life, authority and low end. That was of course once Harry Weisfeld figured out the 16-ohm tap was the best to use with the Audio Research amplifiers. There were a few news items of note here including (and perhaps biggest) the ADS turntable speed control will soon be back in stock, the new walnut finish VPI Signature turntable and lastly the Avenger Plus turntables (an Avenger Statement equipped with the Vanquish outboard power supply).
YG Acoustics
YG Acoustics Sonja 3.3, $148.6K, Alieno 250B 330B amplifier, $85K, Alieno 6H30 Mk. II battery powered preamplifier, $75K, Taiko Audio Olympus Audio I/O, $27K, ArgentPur cables
This sound of this room was surprising good considering they had to shoehorn these speakers into a small exhibit room.
Show Wrap Up!
The Crème de la crème of Capital Audiofest 2025: Analog-Based
- VPI (Jefferson Room)
- Now Listen Here (Executive Lounge Room)
- Alma Audio (Room 850)
The Crème de la crème of Capital Audiofest 2025: Digital-Based
- GT Audio Works
- GTT Audio
- Gershman Acoustics
Show surprises
- Chesky Audio LC2 speakers, Gershman Acoustics speakers
Companies/Products Seen Most Around the Show
- Electronics: Atma-Sphere, Linear Tube Audio, VAC
- Speakers: Acora, Stenheim, YG Acoustics
- Analog: VPI, Lyra
- Digital: Aurender, Innuous, Lampizator, Taiko Olympus
- Cables: AudioQuest, Cardas Audio, Kimber Kables, Kubala-Sosna, Nordost
Auspicious Capital AudioFest/North American/World Show Equipment Debuts
- Gershman Acoustics speakers
- GT Audio Works Giulietta Bellissima planar ribbon speakers plus active OB subs
- Joseph Audio Pulsar Graphene speakers
- Lampizator Aphrodite DAC
- Thuono TH-400 turntable
- United Home Audio Apollo-EVO reel-to-reel tape deck
- Vivid Audio Giya G3 Cu bespoke color
Product (s) Most Want to Bring Home
- Gryphon Antileon Revelation stereo amplifier
- Aavik R-880 phonostage
- Aidas Violet Gold LE cartridge
