Toronto Audio Fest Show Report, Friday, 18 October - Sunday 20 October 2024
Encouraging an audiophile with a cabling and equipment addiction to attend the 2024 Toronto Audio Fest, (herein referred to as TAF 2024), is like encouraging an alcoholic to fly to Scotland and take a three week tour of Scotch Whiskey distilleries. Such a journey will trigger nothing but PTSD flashbacks, lunatic behavior, and an unbridled passion for all things audio (or rampaging alcoholism).
Yes, I'm an audio addict. There, I said it. I'm currently undergoing therapy for—and in recovery from—a hopeless audio addiction. For TAF 2024, I'd hoped to curb my audio addiction a bit by consuming slightly less caffeine and spending far less money on impulse purchases of cables, tweaks, SACDs, and records. I was hoping to somehow leash my near lunatic obsession and better control my spastic/drooling enthusiasm to buy more and more and still more audio goodies. 'Twas not to be. Less than an hour into visiting exhibitor rooms, I found myself dropping more cash on yet another pair of ultra high-end bi-wire speaker cables. Ohhh well… you can't win 'em all. And even if you could, where would you put all of the trophies?
As I just admitted, I'm an audio addict. I'm not proud of it. And yet, as addictions go, listening to well recorded music on audiophile 2-channel stereo systems isn't the worst thing to be a slave on bended knees to.
Last year's 2023 TAF show was held entirely inside of the Toronto Airport Westin Hotel™. This year, TAF 2024 further expanded into the Airport Holiday Inn™ that's located right next door. If you're counting, that's two hotels. Regardless of how poor the Canadian economy is purportedly doing, high-end audio seems to growing.
The Toronto Westin Hotel
There is no way that a single audio journalist could properly cover every exhibitor at TAF 2024. Barnstorming from floor to floor in both hotels, I heard some great sounding stereo systems. I also heard some not-so-great rigs and rooms. Germane to this, my show report will only document what I felt were the best sounding rooms and (sonically speaking) the most memorable moments for me at this year's TAF.
Before I do that, I must thank all of the exhibitors for bringing their goods to TAF 2024. Punters outside of the consumer electronics (CE) industry simply do not understand how much stress exhibiting anything at a high-end audio trade show causes. TAF 2024 was busier than a linen-boy in a New Orleans cat house during Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). To every one of the CE companies that attended TAF 2024, I offer a sincere "Thank You" for all of your efforts that make TAF one of the world's most vibrant audiophile trade shows.
Please enjoy reading about the rooms where the stereo systems made me drool and/or, once again, forced me to open my wallet and spend more money on gear and cables in pursuit of sonic nirvana.
Bryston
Located on the ground floor of the Westin in the Sutton Suite, venerable Canadian audio manufacturer Bryston had a large compliment of their stunning solid-state gear on display. Bryston hadn't been at TAF since 2019 (i.e. before the Covid-19 pandemic hit full force). It was great to see and hear their heavyweight sonic presence back at TAF for 2024.
In the Bryston room
The main Bryston 2-channel rig
Showcasing a Pi-3.14 streamer/DAC ($4995 CAD) as a tablet controlled source, Bryston's main 2-channel rig was powered by a 20-Amp Bit-20 A/C power filter ($6995 CAD). The stereo system was controlled by a Bryston BP-19 solid-state preamplifier (base model $5795 CAD) that fed signal to a pair of Bryston 7B solid-state mono-block amplifiers ($16,600 CAD for a pair of 1-ch amps). These single-channel amplifiers can be bought individually for $8300 CAD + applicable taxes for Home Theatre (H/T) applications.
Bryston speakers
Listening to a Stevie Ray Vaughan track, what I immediately noticed was how cohesive, full, and musical Bryston's 2-channel rig sounded. While the overall sound had oodles of solid-state finesse and muscle, the sonics were also refined, cogent, and duck-feather delicate.
Many of the larger rooms that I heard in the Westin sounded harsh—especially in the higher frequency registers. Bryston was one of the few—indeed, very few—larger rooms where the sound let me sink right into the music and forced me to stay far longer than I (probably) should have. By the end of the first day, Bryston's system was already competing for my annual "Top 3 Best Sounding Rooms at TAF" award.
I should also mention that Bryston were using no-name cabling and no-name racks. I could only imagine what their gear hooked-up with 5-figure level cables, posh equipment racks, and intelligently implemented acoustical tweaks could potentially sound like.
For more information, please visit Bryston's website at:
Bryston — Music for a Generation
Acora Acoustics
Located in the Sutton 'A' suite on the ground floor, Acora Acoustics™ brought a pair of their SRB bookshelf monitors with matching Acora Bedrock Bass Modules ($49,900 CAD for the four cabinet system).
Acora Acoustics 2-channel system
Acora bi-amped their gorgeous loudspeakers with solid-state amplifiers from two different high-end audio companies. They used a McIntosh MC-462 power amp ($9000 USD / $14,000 CAD) to drive the Bedrock Bass modules. The SRB bookshelf monitors were powered by a Gryphon Essence class A amplifier ($33,600 CAD). Their source was a Lumin U2 streamer ($7500 CAD) and an MSB Reference DAC with MSB's Premier Power Base ($79,070 CAD). The equipment stands were Acora's own 4-shelf rack ($7500 CAD) and two Acora dedicated amp stands ($2000 CAD / ea). Cables were a full loom of Nordost's Valhalla-2 series wires.
Consulting my notes about the sound of this 2-channel stereo later that night, Acora's system stuck out in my memories as having an extremely clear, dynamic, and lively sound. Was this due to the room acoustics? No. Several other 2-channel rigs located in this area of the Westin hotel sounded congested, muddy, and sluggish.
For more info on Acora's speakers and other components, please visit:
Charisma Audio
Riding an overcrowded elevator up to the 3rd floor of the Westin, I quickly entered and then exited several rooms that had… eh hem… less than pleasing sound. After decades of attending audio shows, it still amazes me that so many exhibitors think that cranking their stereos up to deafening 130+ dB concert volume levels is the best way to showcase their equipment, cables, and tweaks. Believe me, it isn't.
Located in Room 363, local Toronto audio retailer Charisma Audio had a diminutive pair of Caprisse bookshelf monitors ($8500 CAD / pair) mounted on a matching pair of Cabriolet speaker stands ($1570 CAD / pair).
In the Charisma room
Demonstrating vinyl sound, Charisma brought a Well Tempered Labs™ Amadeus 254GT turntable ($11,250 CAD) that was outfitted with a Musiko tonearm cable ($350 CAD) and a YYZ LOMC (Low Output Moving Coil) cartridge ($10,815 CAD).
Running this analog signal through a Well Tempered Labs Bill's Phono (MM/MC) phone stage ($3680 CAD) into a German-made Audio Exclusiv P112 hybrid integrated amplifier ($11,730 CAD), the sound was captivating.
Charisma components
Tiglon™ is a well-respected Japanese high-end audio company that many North American audiophiles may not be familiar with. Wired up with a 3.0m pair of Tiglon TPL-2000SP speaker cables ($3250 CAD) and a 1.5m pair of Tiglon TPL-2000 (RCA) interconnects ($1900 CAD), the sound was energetic, engaging, and precise. At the same time, the music was also relaxed and non-fatiguing.
With the components nesting on a Tiglon Grand Magnesia 4-tier audio rack ($3830 CAD), this 2-ch rig definitely suited the tight dimensions of the smallish hotel room. The entire system was powered by a Polish-made Giga Watt PC-3 EVO+ A/C power conditioner and a Giga Watt LC-2 EVO A/C power cord ($8030 CAD).
Charisma's owner Bernard Li took the time to show me a motorized Wonder Audio Labs™ LP/CD demagnetizer ($1095 CAD). Although I've yet to try a demagnetizer on my records, CDs, or SACDs, this wee rotating unit twerked… er… tweaked my interest.
For more info, please visit Charisma Audio's website here:
Saturday 19 October
Saturday morning arrived with the bleary-eyed realization that I can no longer replace 8 hours of quality sleep with a cup of heavily caffeinated coffee. The discount hotel I was staying at was hosting guests of an international soccer tournament for under-21 aged competitors. My 'wing' of the hotel had been invaded by boisterous teenage Brazilian footballers who—not figuratively, but literally—did not absorb a minute of sleep before their bus departed at 7:30am.
That's right… on Friday night I got about 40 minutes of semi-quality sleep before I awoke with the shaky realization that I had to get back to the Westin to cover the TAF 2024 extravaganza. From the start of that glorious morning, I knew that the whole day I'd be running on way too much caffeine, shivering adrenaline surges, and journeying through a surreal fever dream immersed in all things high-end audio.
As I drove across Hwy 401 from the Dixie Road area, Motörhead's classic late-1970's era song "Motörhead" came blaring though my SUV's radio. At that moment, the lyrics really hit home:
"Sunrise… wrong side of another day.
Sky high… 6,000 miles away.
Don't know… how long I've been awake.
Wound up… in an amazing state.
Can't get enough.
And you know it's righteous stuff.
Goes up like prices at Christmas."
Audio Note
After sourcing an extra large triple-triple dark roast coffee injected with a double-shot of espresso and a splash of cinnamon, I ventured into the Dixon Room on the ground floor of the Westin Hotel. Germane to my not having had much of any sleep, I'd haphazardly thrown on a rather loud Slayer T-shirt from their now legendary 2019 retirement tour. The British lad (Rodger) piloting the Audio Note room gazed at my tour T-shirt, smiled a demented smile, threw the devil's horns up, and then aggressively shouted: "F**kin' Slaaaay-Yeerrrrr!" Which brought a contorted smile to my delirious face.
Audio Note showcased a 2-channel system comprised entirely of their gear and cables. AN custom fabricates all of their gear—including their loudspeakers and cables—in house. ANK® kits can be bought on-line for DIY'ers whom would like to try building Audio Note's components themselves. As AN designs and builds entire systems under one roof, the result is a sonic synergy with their components, cables, and speakers that few (if any) other companies in the high end audio industry can match; let alone beat.
Meanwhile, in the Audio Note room
Source components were an Audio Note CD 4.1x CD-player ($22,000 CAD), an Audio Note TT-3 turntable, ARM-3 tonearm, and IQ2 cartridge (Total $30,000 CAD for this TT package). Phono signal amplification was through an Audio Note Meisha phono TonMeister integrated amplifier/phono-stage ($24,000 CAD). Playing a gentle classical track, a luverly pair of Makassa ebony wood finish AN-E-SPE HE floorstanding loudspeakers ($18,500 CAD) sounded amazingly lifelike, coherent, and tactile.
Audio Note components
The system was cabled-up with an entire loom of Audio Note's E-SPE A/C power cords, interconnects, and speaker cables.
I chatted with Rodger for a few minutes about Slayer, speed metal, doom metal, and Norwegian black metal. With English perspicacity, he smiled a vainglorious smile and rather matter-of-factly commented: "You know what's wrong with our society today? No one drinks out of the skulls of their enemies anymore."
He dropped a CD from (I think?) a grindcore band called Agathocles into the CD player. The music came rampaging forth with a spine-crushing energy and anger. Although the specific song wasn't that inspiring, what surprised me was how much low-bass energy those Audio Note speakers created. I wrote down in my notes: "Tons of accurate low-end slam without losing mid-band texture or high frequency extension."
If you think that Audio Note's speakers are only designed to play delicate female vocals or gentle acoustic guitar lines, think again. Had I not heard this system, I never would've believed that AN's speakers could play that loud with so much gosh-darned bass while still maintaining the music's blistering PRaT (pace, rhythm, and timing), rhythm, and overall musicality.
That particular moment at TAF 2024 will ride with me fondly until my cold, black, doom-bile infused body is cremated and then my smoldering ashes are sprinkled at some wonderful dancer's feet at Le Crazy Horse™ gentleman's club in Paris, France.
It's the accidental and unexpected experience of discovering that certain audio components and speakers do not, in fact, sound the way you thought they would. That 15-minute block of being immersed in cripplingly-heavy music now seems to be worth more to me than a hot tub overflowing with $100 US dollar bills. This is why I absorb the financial cost(s) and punishing physical stress of attending audio shows. Kudos to Audio Note for letting me experience stereo sound with that kind of visceral impact and tactile energy.
For more info, please visit Audio Note's website at:
Music's Finest Conductor | Audio Note (UK) England
Audio by Mark Jones
For TAF 2024, Audio by Mark Jones™ was in the Easton Room of the Westin. Monsieur Jones brought a 2-channel vinyl system that featured a Vertere RG-1 turntable ($50,000 CAD), a Vertere Pathfinder tonearm ($26,000 CAD), and a Lyra Kleos SL LOMC (Low Output Moving Coil) cartridge ($4400 USD). The phono-stage was a CH Precision P1 Phono ($31,000 USD).
Although the unit wasn't in use when I visited the room, Jones also had a Grimm MV-1 streamer ($12,500 USD) on static display. The one-box preamp / DAC was a Suisse-made CH Precision C1.2 ($36,000 USD).
Mark Jones room
Amplification was a CH Precision A1.5 solid-state amp ($39,500 USD). The loudspeakers were a pair of Magico S3 floorstanders ($45,500 USD). Using a full-loom of Nordost's Valhalla-2 interconnects, A/C power cords, and speaker cables, the sound quality in the mid-sized room was in my Top-3 rooms for the entire TAF 2024. Mark Jones' expertise is in choosing specific components that have sonic synergy and work well together.
I've often heard 2-channel stereo systems wired up with full looms of Nordost's higher-end cables sound harsh and fatiguing. Not so in the Mark Jones room. Fronted by world class electronics, the Magico S3 loudspeakers offered immersive sound with a warmth, weight, texture, and density that few—if any—of the other stereos I heard at the show could match.
Perhaps the most delightful thing was that Mr. Jones was sporting a Rush 2112 T-shirt. I think this speaks volumes about the different kinds of music that he personally enjoys. And how can I not appreciate him so loudly—visibly—expressing his love for way-cool heavier music like that?
For more info, please visit his website at:
Paradigm/Anthem
Last year for TAF 2023, I wrote:
"…based just west of Toronto in north Mississauga, Paradigm have been in business for… well… almost as long as the poor, sad, hopeless Toronto Maple Leafs have gone without being anywhere near Le Coupe Stanley. Unlike the Leafs who've invented new and exciting ways to lose during the playoffs, Paradigm keep engineering winning sound at affordable prices."
So nothing's changed. Back in May 2024, the Maple Leafs once again choked and got knocked out of the NHL playoffs in Game 7 of the 1st round. Well… at least they're consistent in their failures (plural). The only thing more reliable than the Leafs giving their die-hard fans a Polish sauna and choking in the first round is Paradigm's legendary build quality.
Paradigm hallway banner
For TAF 2024, Paradigm Electronics brought a dedicated 2-channel stereo system and a multi-channel Home Theatre (H/T) rig to the Algonquin Room located in the nether-regions of the Holiday Inn airport hotel.
Paradigm's 2-channnel stereo rig consisted of a streamer-based digital rig running signal through an Anthem STR solid-state preamplifier ($5250 CAD), an Anthem STR solid-state power amplifier ($7800 CAD) and a pair of Persona 7F Aria Blue floorstanding loudspeakers ($30,000 CAD).
Paradigm's main 2-channel system
My pictures of the Paradigm room do not do justice to the Lamborghini-level finish on these gorgeous speakers. Much like old-school Canadian fashion model and TV actress Pamela Anderson when she starred on the Baywatch™ television program in the 1990s, to behold these irrationally beautiful floorstanders with the naked eye is to feel the very presence of God in the room. Someone put their heart and soul into these loudspeakers and built them like it mattered.
Wired-up with no-name cables, for the asking price, this stereo system offered toe-taping rhythms, cohesiveness, and striking musicality. I could hear the sonic potential of this stereo. Cable-it-up with 5-figure wires and tweak the room out with acoustical traps, and you'll get a musically satisfying sonic experience at a real world (read: affordable) price.
I had a lengthy chat with Paradigm's energetic International sales manager Frank Pugliano about the complex engineering that's gone into their new MRX SLM ($1,300 CAD) network streamer.
MRX SLM network streamer
It truly does warm my cynical heart to see—and hear—that superb sounding audio and H/T gear can be had without having to auction off a kidney on eBay.
Paradigm's products are tangible proof that you don't need to win the lottery to put a decent sounding stereo system or multi-channel home theater rig together.
Please visit Paradigm's website at:
Paradigm® | High Performance Audio - Crafted in Canada
Audio Sensibility
Located in central Toronto, expert cable manufacturer Audio Sensibility was selling a wide range of audiophile cables and tweaks. CEO Steven Huang prides himself on his company's ability to custom-fabricate specialty cables, custom connectors, and unique power supply tweaks for audiophiles.
Steven Huang with his Audio Sensibility designs
More Audio Sensibility products
Following upon strong sales of their Signature OCC silver (Ag) speaker cables, Signature 75 Ohm single-ended plus 110 Ohm AES/EBU digital OCC silver cables, and Signature power cords, Audio Sensibility has recently released a re-engineered Signature Special Edition (SE) version of their top-of-the-line Signature A/C power cord. Please find a recent review of this power cable at Positive Feedback HERE.
Please also visit Audio Sensibility's website at:
OCC Silver / Copper Audio Cables - Audio Sensibility
Sonic Artistry
Stationed in Room 365 of the Westin, Sonic Artistry brought an amazing 2-channel system that demonstrated a Grimm Audio MU2 all-in-one analog preamp, DAC, and streamer ($23,675 CAD) with an 8TB storage capacity. Powered by a pair of Kora CSA-1120 Class A mono-blocks ($60,000 CAD per pair), the pair of Diptyque DP-140 planar magnetic loudspeakers ($20,000 CAD per pair) threw a huge soundstage. For TAF 2024, I'm honoring this system my annual Yennifer LowPez Big Ass Soundstage award.
In the Sonic Artistry room
Tweaked-out with custom-fabricated Canadian made Massif™ equipment racks, Seismion™ (German) Reactio-2 65Kg active isolation bases ($12,000 USD per each 40cm x 50cm base), and a full loom of Nordost cables, this system offered jaw-dropping resolution, addictive rhythms, and true 6-figure level stereo sound.
Please visit Sonic Artistry's website at:
Sonic Artistry | Sonic Artistry
Wynn Audio
Headquartered in Richmond Hill (north Toronto) Ontario, Wynn Audio brought a State of the Art 2-channel stereo system to TAF 2024. This system showcased Metronome (French) source components, Karan Acoustics (Serbian) components, Tidal Audio (German) loudspeakers, and a mixture of Crystal Cable™ (Dutch) and Spanish Fono Acoustica cables.
Wynn Audio room
Source components in Wynn's reference system were a top-of-the-line Metronome T/AQWQ2 CD/SACD transport ($46,500 CAD) and a Metronome C/AQWQ2 DAC ($43,500 CAD). Manufactured in Germany, Wynn also brought a Thiele TT01/X turntable + tonearm combo ($49,000 CAD), a Karan Acoustics PHONOa phono preamp ($51,000 CAD), and an X-Quisite GT cartridge ($22,000 CDN). Wynn's pre-amplifier was an American Vinnie Rossi Brama ($53,000 CAD).
Wynn Audio components
A pair of Karan Acoustics POWERa mono-block amplifiers ($145,000 CAD) drove a pair of Tidal Audio Piano floorstanding speakers ($93,500 CAD). Combined with Critical Mass Systems' MAXXUM-Ultra equipment racks ($16,500 CAD per rack), an Entreq Olympus Hero grounding box ($25,900 CAD), and a mixture of Dutch Crystal Cables + Spanish Fono Acoustica cables, this 2-channel system represented an all-out assault at what can be achieved with 2-channel stereo sound.
Wynn Wong is an expert at room tuning. Even set-up in a large open-concept basement room, Wynn's stereo system had a relaxed, organic, and natural sound that was a tactile joy to listen to. THIS is the sound quality that all serious audiophiles dream about hearing and owning.
If I ever win the lottery, Wynn Audio would be on my short list of audio retailers to visit. Their TAF 2024 system was the stuff that gives audiophiles wet dreams.
Please visit Wynn Audio's website at:
Final Thoughts
To conclude my TAF 2024 show coverage, if you've never been to a consumer electronics (CE) high-end audio trade show, there's no better way to dip your toes into the vast ocean of audiophile goods than to attend a 3-day weekend extravaganza like the Toronto Audio Fest. If you went to dozens of individual brick 'n' mortar high-end boutique audio retailers to listen to different gear and cables, it would take you years—literally, years—to see and hear so many different products.
The TAF show offers seasoned audiophiles and newbies a glorious opportunity to immerse themselves into 2-channel stereo sound and home theater equipment all in one location. For me, TAF 2024 was exciting, a bit chaotic, and perhaps most of all, fun. Yep… loving music and stereo reproduction systems can and should be fun.
Bottom line, if listening to music is a big part of your life, then attending the annual TAF show should be on your "short list" of things to do each and every October.
'Nuff said.
All photographs by Douglas Seth Brown. Drawing by Bruce Walker.
