Now that I have everyone's attention yesterday I felt the Q7 was scary good. However best sound I heard at the show after hearing most everything hands down was the Sonus Faber Aida with Audio Research front and back end. Second best was a Canadian speaker called Hansen. More tomorrow after we go to T.H.E Show.
OK here's another news flash. Another Canadian speaker company called Sona Wall by Persson. MSRP is $960 but show special of $349. I could not believe the sound coming out of speakers the size of a computer mouse. It's a full range driver and comes with a separate subwoofer. I am embarrassed to say that the sound was amongst the very best. They wouldn't even let anyone take pictures but here's the website. For a small system in an office etc this needs to be considered
www.sonawall.com
Now that I have everyone's attention yesterday I felt the Q7 was scary good. However best sound I heard at the show after hearing most everything hands down was the Sonys Fabrr Aida with Audio Research front and back end. Second best was a Canadian speaker called Hansen. More tomorrow after we go to T.H.E Show.
BTW John Atkinson was sitting beside me and shared the same sentiments re the Sonus Aida. It has a very tight sweet spot however. Once your tush is there the magic happens
The MBL room was also worth a listen and as always has their complete line on display. They were however playing their TOL speaker which I have never heard. Breathtaking (although Myles doesn't agree)
Shunyata was another room worth seeing. Caelin was demoing a live guitar solo played initially with a competitors cable and then with his new entry level cable using the new Z-Tron technology after which he played the sound of both through an oscilloscope and it was very convincing. This plus the fact that Caelin claims this cable is better than his TOL cable costing 6X as much but without Z-Tron
BTW I was a little disappointed in Vladimir's room with MAXX lll,LL1/ML3 combo (which I own). There was just something wrong with the room (which BTW had retail value of all components of $600K
The MBL room was also worth a listen and as always has their complete line on display. They were however playing their TOL speaker which I have never heard. Breathtaking (although Myles doesn't agree)
But agree on the Hansen's. Best sound and probably the best "room" they've had at a show. Also had to like that Clear Audio table and Statement cartridge. Shocking resolutionNAND transparency on the Decca Bartok Bluebeard's Castle that brought to show. Super job of capturing the echo of voices off the side walls.
BTW I was a little disappointed in Vladimir's room with MAXX lll,LL1/ML3 combo (which I own). There was just something wrong with the room (which BTW had retail value of all components of $600K
Think we talked about it maybe being that limiter imposed by the Venetian. Sounds the same as last year. Just dry, dynamically lacking and washed out. Hell you wouldn't put it in your system at home
BTW I was a little disappointed in Vladimir's room with MAXX lll,LL1/ML3 combo (which I own). There was just something wrong with the room (which BTW had retail value of all components of $600K
Guess it's different for different taste but I thought most of the good speakers/rooms did sound similar. The Q7 had too much bass to my taste and did like their smaller Q5s better in other rooms. I did like the MBL room and the Avantgard room for their unique sound from the common dynamic driver based rooms.
Jonathan T's small Evolution Acoustics produced pure and surprisingly good sounds - its sound that didn't match the speakers' size (and $$$$) for certain...
When you return to the Venetian, please stop by at 34th floor room 204 where April Music is demoing their new amps and DAC/Pre using the Wilson Sashas. I would like to get your unbaise opinon on the sound your would hear.
One room I forgot to mention and remains in my top 5 is Dan D'Agostino's room. His amp not only produced great sound through his Sashas but is also exquisite eye candy. Dan also had a static display of his soon to be released preamp with a gorgeous analog dial
Now that I have everyone's attention yesterday I felt the Q7 was scary good. However best sound I heard at the show after hearing most everything hands down was the Sonus Faber Aida with Audio Research front and back end. Second best was a Canadian speaker called Hansen. More tomorrow after we go to T.H.E Show.
Steve,
As one the best demos I have ever been at was the The Sonus Faber with ARC electronics, the Aida makes me nervous ... I expect to read your opinion with more detail after your are back.
Enjoy the show and thanks for keeping us informed. Did you learn if the ARC REF DAC will support DSD 128 fx?
I can say without hesitation that based on everything I have "heard" at the show ( didn't hear XLF) and if I were going to buy a speaker the Sonus Faber Aida would top the list with strong thoughts of the Hansen
Hi Steve,
In my opinion those amps are the best thing ARC has ever produced. I can't wait to hear the REF 750's. I have not heard the Aida yet and it seems the ultra high end of speakers has no ending. I have listened to the new Nola Baby Grand's with these amps and was blown away. I know there are a lot of new super speakers at the show including a new Scaena, New Wilson, New Magico etc. etc. Have you heard all of them?
E
Sony just acquired another Co.
