I'll admit up front I had a limited amount of time to attend the show this year. I was only there on Friday for about four hours. In my defense I have, in between attending the show and taking the time to write this article, had some serious health issues resulting in recently having a heart pacemaker installed. At least now I know why I was not feeling well while roaming around the show. Also, instead of just seeking out the "lower cost, higher value" gear I normally write about, I just stopped in rooms that seemed interesting. I did skip a few of the really high-priced rooms, as they just don't interest me, though a few are included here. If any room is missing from this article, it is only a sign of either my not visiting it, or just my not writing it up. No negative intent should be assumed by it.
One key point to mention - T.H.E Show, though seemingly still the same name as always, is now is actually something new and different. T.H.E. Show now stands for Total Hifi Experience Show. It no longer stands for The Home Entertainment Show.
In somewhat alphabetical order:
ACA
ACA is the brand of speakers designed and built by Southern California's Angel City Audio. I've long admired their Seraphim speakers in their various levels; they range in price from $12,500 for the standard Seraphim up the $25,000 for the Seraphim Prime Limited Edition on display here. Also in use were an Eversolo AMP-F10 ($2480), Eversolo DMP-A10 Streamer/DAC/Preamp ($3999) and an Onix SACD transport ($2499). Cables were XLO. Overall, the system sounded great and the Seraphim speakers need to be more widely known.
Audio Café and Hear This - Clarysis, Westiminter Lab
Unfortunately, I stopped here first, and before the show actually opened. They were still working on setup so the few tracks I heard were not something on which I could legitimately comment. However, everyone I spoke to (at least those whose opinions I value) said it was a standout room throughout the show with excellent sound. Clarisys Audio Studio Plus speakers ($69,000/pair); Von Schweikert Foundation 15 Subs used for room node correction ($23,000 each); Westminster Lab Rei Monoblock Class A amps ($37,900/pair); Westminster Lab Quest preamp ($27,900); Trafomatic Luna tube phono stage ($19,900); Taiko Olympus Server/Streamer ($95,000); Denon DP-100M turntable (from the 1970s, rare pro-market deck). A bunch of other stuff too.
Audio Note UK
As I've said in every show report about Audio Note UK, either you get what they are doing and love it, or you walk out shaking your head. I am on the loving it side of that. The big thing here was the AN-E-SPK field coil speakers ($65,000). Rest of the system included Meishu Phono 300B Konzertmeister integrated amplifier ($65,000), AN-TT Three Deluxe turntable with PSU3 power supply ($16,535).
AVRoom Services
Norman Varney's AV Room Services' primary business is designing or fixing acoustically correct (or at least much improved) rooms for playback, recording or performance venues, they also have a line of products they manufacture. I use their EVPs (Equipment Vibration Protectors) under my speakers and can attest to the significant impact and improvement they provide.
Brane Audio
Probably the best Bluetooth speaker I've heard. The sound from this demo made their $499 price seem better than just reasonably priced. You can use their phone app to adjust, control, and equalize the sound. Even better, you can use two of them in stereo mode, where one plays each channel, or use up to eight of them to set up a portable surround system!
Chesky Audio
In the long run, this may prove to be one of the more significant products on display at this show. I normally don't care too much for small stand mounted speakers, but, driven by Wells Audio electronics, these not only sounded excellent, but also sounded right, if you know what I mean. The fact that LC1 speaker ($996/pair) was designed by seventeen-year-old Lucca Chesky, who is also the CEO of Chesky Audio bodes well for the future of this industry. And yes, Lucca is the son of David Chesky, whom I take it most anyone reading this already knows about. So, we know he was raised understanding music and sound. The speakers are notable for their cabinets, which are 3D printed and have a very complex inner design to handle all the necessary acoustic issues of small box speakers. Even the exterior design around the tweeter is designed to control diffraction. The cabinet houses a one-inch dome tweeter, a 6.5-inch bass/mid driver on the front, and two 8-inch passive radiators, one on each side. I have requested a review pair and hope to get them sometime later this year.
Common Wave - Harbeth
Southern California High end dealership Common Wave has become somewhat of a powerhouse, carrying many high-quality brands and having one of the coolest dealership facilities I've ever visited. At the show they had several rooms, which I will separate by the speakers on display. In this room, Harbeth M30.3 XD2 speakers ($6190/pair) were teamed up with Reed Muse 1C turntable ($17,500), Reed 3P 12-inch tonearm ($6604) though I'm not sure of the cartridge. Also used were electronics from Mola Mola - Makua preamp ($13,130), Perca stereo amp ($11,140), Tambaqui DAC ($14,600). A real source first setup that showed just how good a system can sound even when your speakers are the lowest priced part.
Common Wave - DeVore
I expected good sound in this room, as I've never heard a system with DeVore speakers that didn't at least sound very good, and more often than not, truly great. Here, the DeVore Fidelity O/93 speakers ($8950/pair) were mated to a Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable w/Linear Power Supply ($12,190) using a 12" Thomas Schick tonearm ($1995) and a discontinued Ortofon SPU Ethos MC cartridge. Electronics were all Accuphase, though I'm not sure which of the two integrated amps was being used; C‑57 phono stage ($13,975), E‑3000 integrated amplifier ($8950), E‑700 stereo integrated amplifier ($16,975).
If I had had more time to spend at the show, I would have spent more time in this room.
Common Wave - Klipsch
I have to start by confessing I have never liked the sound of any Klipsch horn loaded speaker I've heard, dating back to the 1970s era Heresy that a friend had when we were in college. The "heritage" lineup always sounded like PA speakers to me. So imagine my surprise when I walked into this room and saw the new La Scala AL6 ($15,400/pair) using Klipsch's new Heritage Active DSP Active Crossover ($3499), and powered by a pair of TEAC AP-701 Stereo Power Amplifiers ($3999.99 each).Source was a pair of Technics 1200 turntables played through a mixboard, DJ style. What can I say, I loved the sound in this room. Lively, energetic, real and with none of the old "horn" sound I always heard from Klipsch. We played a few different records, and this system nailed them all. One of my favorite rooms at the show.
Common Wave - QLN
I've long admired the QLN speakers for their overall sound quality, yet somehow, I've never had that feeling at a show that they sufficiently showed off anything near their true capabilities. This time was different. I thought this system sounded fantastic in every way and spent an extra bit of time here. The equipment was all Luxman. The turntable was their PD-151 Mark II turntable ($5995) with an LMC-5 cartridge. All the electronics were from their Black Edition Centennial series; L-509Z integrated amplifier ($12,995); D-07X SA-CD player ($10,495); NT-07 streamer ($7995). The speakers were the QLN Signature with stands ($24,500/pair).
Upscale Audio
This room hosted by SoCal dealer and importer Upscale Audio was getting excellent sound from Fyne Audio F704SP speakers ($25,999/pair). The analog part of the system included Reed Muse 3C Friction Drive Turntable ($27,975 w/o arms) with what I think is a Reed 3P 12-inch tonearm ($6604), playing into the two-piece Sutherland DOS LOCOS phonostage (one per channel, $9800 for the pair). Sorry but I didn't note what cartridge they were using. The rest of the electronics were: Grimm Audio MU2 Media Player / Streamer ($20,600), Pathos Synapse Reference Stereo Preamplifier ($26,995), a pair of Pathos Adrenalin Monoblock Amplifiers ($23,995 each). Everything was plugged into an AudioQuest Niagara 5000 Low-Z Power/Noise Dissipation System ($6999)
OnFilter
In the Marketplace section, OnFilter was showing a nice lineup of power conditioning and filtering systems, all at reasonable prices. The company mainly makes industrial and commercial products for the scientific, medical, and aeronautical industries, with a lot or serious engineering behind their line. Their foray into home audio is welcome and worth seeking out.
Oriaco - Tonian Labs
Tony Minasian is a recording engineer who offers his superb sounding recordings either on CD, or for purchase and download from his website at TonianLabs.com. He has also been designing and manufacturing a fine line of speakers for many years, originally under the Tonian Labs name, but for the past few years under the Oriaco brand name. Slightly bigger than your typical stand mount monitor, the Oriaco D6 speaker ($4500/pair), sounded thoroughly wonderful playing his CDs through a Denon PMA-3000NE amplifier and matching Denon CD player.
PBN
PBN has long been known for their very high quality, large, full-range speakers. Their room had too much equipment to list it all here, but it is important to note they make their own amplifiers too. They even make their own turntables, based on classic direct drive motors. The one used here was based on a Pioneer direct drive assembly, but is fully rebuilt, and powered by a PBN design. The speakers on display were the middle of their "M" line, the M2!5 ($34,500/pair) with an added pair of massive bass towers. The system sounded big, bold, and effortless with whatever they played.
Prana Fidelity
It seems every show report I write up, Prana Fidelity is always listed as one of the best sounds I've heard there. That was true again this year. Their setup was largely the same as the past few years, offering LP on a Kuzma turntable, CD playback with a vintage Pioneer Elite PD-65 CD player and tape playback with what I believe was a Tim de Paravicini EAR tape deck. Of course, they used their own electronics - purna/ca preamp and purna/ma amplifier. The speakers were the always beautiful sounding Dhyana ($19,500).
Sunny Components
SoCal dealer extraordinaire and all-around good guy Sunil Merchant had a few rooms at the show, but I only made it to this one, and I'm glad I did. In the past, Rockport Technologies was one of those ultra-high end brands of speakers that I just didn't get. They never moved me. The system here was Rockport Technologies Atria II ($38,000) driven by an ASR Emitter II Exclusive integrated amplifier ($27,500) fed by a Wadax Studio Player ($39,800). The Wadax is an all-in-one SACD player/streamer/DAC. Gotta say, this time, not only did I love the sound of this system, but I'd also be hard pressed to say it wasn't the best sound I heard at the show.
SVS
This room was one I certainly didn't want to miss. Ever since I reviewed their Ultra Bookshelf speakers back in 2013, while also getting to hear their Ultra Tower speakers in a good and well known to me system, I've admired the quality and clear value of SVS's speakers. This was a simple system consisting of the Ultra Evolution Pinnacle speakers ($5000/pair) and a Hegel H400 integrated amplifier ($7500) which includes a DAC and streamer built in. I wish I could say I was blown away by these, but I wasn't. Maybe it's because both times I visited the room, the constant talking of other attendees in the room created an ambient noise level that was just too distracting. Everything seemed less clear and less dynamic than I am pretty sure these speakers can do. As I've always said, when at shows, great sound needs to be commended, but less than great sound can most often be attributed to the reality of show conditions. I would never draw conclusions from something like how I felt after visiting this room. I hope to hear them again sometime soon, as I certainly heard the potential for great sound, and will be requesting a review pair of the smaller Ultra Evolution Tower ($3000/pair).
Wells Audio - Evolution Acoustics
Wells Audio also went with a fairly simple system setup, using their Commander Level I Preamplifier ($6000), Cipher DAC ($8,000), Innamorata III power amp (Starting at $8,500), and an Innous ZEN Mk3 CD transport music server (discontinued). Speakers were the Evolution Acoustics Model One ($3950.00/pr) and all cabling was from Cardas. Power conditioning was via the Wells Looking Glass Level II Power Conditioner ($7500). Other than a lack of bass weight and impact, understandable considering the speakers small size and 5.5" woofer, the sound was excellent.
Zesto
No visit to a show is complete without a visit to the Zesto Audio room. George and Carolyn Counnas consistently produce some the best sounding and best looking tube gear on the market. Though normally analog-centric highlighting their excellent phono preamps, this year they were also showing their new Athena DAC ($15,000), though using a pre-production model. The Athena is non-oversampling and handles PCM to 24/384 and DSD to 4X. The system included: Andros Deluxe II tubed phono stage ($8300), Leto Ultra II tubed preamplifier ($11,900), Eros 500 Select class-A monoblock amplifiers ($35,000/pair), Dr. Feickert Blackbird turntable with linear power supply ($9900), Tri-Planar Mk VII 9.8" tonearm ($7500), Benz Micro Gullwing MC cartridge ($3900), and YG Acoustics Summit speakers ($29,000/pair). Racks, stands, isolation feet and acoustic panels were from Stillpoints and all cables were from Cardas. I normally find YG speakers cold and uninteresting, but the Zesto gear had this pair sounding inviting and engaging in a way I've not previously heard from that brand. Excellent!
Okay, that's it for this year's show report. Hopefully, I'll get to some more shows over the next year.
