Capital Audiofest 2023

[Elliot G.]

Elliot,

I was in the room for much more than the Tool cut. The rest of the time the sound was similarly excellent. I mentioned the Tool cut as impressed me almost as much as it did when I heard the LP on the WE system at Munich. Given my admitted bias towards horns is saying a lot.

Beau

Beau thanks again. I was trying to make a point about shows . I do appreciate your thoughts and we are glad you enjoyed it.

 

[beaur]

Beau thanks again. I was trying to make a point about shows . I do appreciate your thoughts and we are glad you enjoyed it.

Elliot,

Understood. Generally over the years I have found that the sound at shows correlates fairly well with the sound of the equipment in a well set up room/system. Given that most shows provide equally "challenging" environments the sound isn't perfect but does contain the DNA of the brands exhibiting. There are a few outliers in either direction given set up expertise or local conditions.

The Wadax in your room was the unicorn for me. Rarely have I experienced a 180 in my opinion of a line that listening to your setup at CAF. I had heard Wadax since they debuted and I had never been impressed but in your system the Wadax played nice. I don't have any illusions that I could tease out Wadax's contribution to the overall sound but what I do know is that I left your room with a smile each time.

Beau

 

[Bobvin]

…but what I do know is that I left your room with a smile each time.

Beau

Wow, in a forum with a lot of dust-up and sniping lately, its nice to see somebody say something nice.

Good on you.

 

[Elliot G.]

Elliot,

Understood. Generally over the years I have found that the sound at shows correlates fairly well with the sound of the equipment in a well set up room/system. Given that most shows provide equally "challenging" environments the sound isn't perfect but does contain the DNA of the brands exhibiting. There are a few outliers in either direction given set up expertise or local conditions.

The Wadax in your room was the unicorn for me. Rarely have I experienced a 180 in my opinion of a line that listening to your setup at CAF. I had heard Wadax since they debuted and I had never been impressed but in your system the Wadax played nice. I don't have any illusions that I could tease out Wadax's contribution to the overall sound but what I do know is that I left your room with a smile each time.

Beau

Wadax is truly a unique and special product and if I/We have failed in our set ups at shows well that is on us. As you know its never one thing its the system and the installation and set up of the system. I was thrilled this year to have a team of passionate people and we managed to achieve our goal. I guess a stubborn old man ( me) can still learn . Thank you to Brandon and Jonathan for the huge assists.

 

[beaur]

Wow, in a forum with a lot of dust-up and sniping lately, its nice to see somebody say something nice.

Good on you.

Bob,

Thanks. I too watch and wonder what causes such vitriolic disagreement in a space where joy should be the norm. I readily admit my preference for horns/SET /analogue, but I can still sit in front of the technological tour de force of a system like Elliot provided and admit that it's damn fun to listen to.

When people come over and don't like my system I'll usually give them another drink or more food until I force them to like it! Killing them with kindness is my motto.

Beau

 

[Alrainbow]

Wow, in a forum with a lot of dust-up and sniping lately, its nice to see somebody say something nice.

Good on you.

the Bayer room was typical Amazing sound as well.
at shows I tell anyone even strangers rooms to try if on that floor. It’s easy to pick out people who are just there.
While MBL seems to be more what’s commented on the bayers are far more interesting and play anything well.

 

[Alrainbow]

I too like horns as well as line source planners
box speakers can be amazing if done well.

 

[beaur]

One more tidbit about CAF. Think it was the Matterhorn Audio room with the big Kroma loudspeakers. Need to mention them using a "bad" room feature to their benefit. Somewhere up in the ceiling of their huge room there must have been a loose panel as there was an obvious rattle. The presenter played a very bass heavy track from a movie soundtrack (Bladerunner 2049) purposely(at least it appeared that way) rattle the panel to show what the speakers could do. Thought that was a creative way to positively call attention to the system's capabilities.

 

[Alrainbow]

One more tidbit about CAF. Think it was the Matterhorn Audio room with the big Kroma loudspeakers. Need to mention them using a "bad" room feature to their benefit. Somewhere up in the ceiling of their huge room there must have been a loose panel as there was an obvious rattle. The presenter played a very bass heavy track from a movie soundtrack (Bladerunner 2049) purposely(at least it appeared that way) rattle the panel to show what the speakers could do. Thought that was a creative way to positively call attention to the system's capabilities.

that room did everything well. it took while for the dsp to show it shelf to me.
At one point I asked him to play a tack he did
Jessica Williams live at YOSSI’s elbow room
very alive sound but at some points I thought I heard it clipping. I asked him to lower it just a bit 3 db or so and it stopped. it’s a huge room and it played wonderful music.

 

[Triode Pete]

Unfortunately I was only there for Friday and a brief time Saturday morning. After having not been to CAF since the date switch I spent most of my time catching up with friends in their rooms and not really listening too closely. Missed many of the rooms but I will say that the quality of the rooms I visited was very good overall. No real clunkers from my sample. I decided to only comment on a couple of rooms that "surprised" me as I am generally a Horn/SET guy.

1. Bending Wave (Gobel/Riviera/Wadax) - I have heard Gobel before and my general impression has been, "nice for a box speaker" the room at CAF was fantastic. I almost walked out when I saw the Wadax in the room as I have been disappointed in them in the past, glad I didn't. I was lucky enough to be in the room when they played Tool's Fear Inoculum. That track was an awesome display of what a modern audio system can do.

2. Merrill Audio (Heed/Genesis/Wand) - Maybe it was meeting Gary in person for the fist time and having a nice conversation about aquariums or maybe it's because I like Heed but I thought that this simple little system was one I could live with if I was forced to buy a box type speaker. I sat there much longer than intended just listening to great music.

3. Border Patrol/Triode Wire/Living Voice - Heard this system many times over the years. Those new Living Voice speakers brought it to another level.

I briefly saw the back of Ron's head as he was boarding an elevator but he was moving too fast to catch. Sorry I missed connecting with others as I was too busy copying down Jeff Catalano's playlist for yet another LP buying binge to come!

Beau

Hey Beau - Great seeing you at CAF! Glad you enjoyed our room! You're always welcome to come over for a little "Music Appreciation" session with my Volti K-horns, BP Parallel SET 300B, BP preamp as well as some vinyl...

Cheers,
Pete

 

[Alrainbow]

There were two dart zeel rooms each very different
Anyone ha e a comments ?
Honest question ok

 

[Gregadd]

Both were equally bad. I can't explain the [problem.

 

[Rexp]

Anyone seen any reviewer 'best rooms' lists that chime in with their own experience?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I was completely baffled that Jacob Heilbrunn commented favorably on the darTZeel driving AG Duos that I heard.

Capital Audio Fest 2023 DarTZeel / Avantgarde Duo #highendaudio #music #loudspeakers #amplifier

youtube.com

You can hear what I'm talking about clearly in this video even.

 

[Ron Resnick]

There were two dart zeel rooms each very different
Anyone ha e a comments ?
Honest question ok

Yes, to these ears shockingly different.

I thought the 468s on Stenheim sounded excellent. DarTZeel is one of my favorite solid-state amplifiers on easy to drive box speakers.

Capital Audio Fest 2023 darTZeel / Stenheim #highendaudio #loudspeakers #music #amplifier

youtube.com

 

[Gregadd]

Excuse me Ron, I am getting old, but that appears to be at odds with your hot take on you tube. Perhaps you had a change of heart, or my memory is bad. .

 

[Ron Resnick]

Excuse me Ron, I am getting old, but that appears to be at odds with your hot take on you tube. Perhaps you had a change of heart, or my memory is bad. .

I don't think so. No, no change of heart on either darTZeel system.

 

[Salectric]

Did anyone hear the horn speakers in the Deja Vu Audio room? They used a YL 5500 driver on a YL horn. The bass was handled by a pair of 18” drivers crossing in around 200 Hz.

 

[Gregadd]

I did go to thier room. I di not stay because I did not care for the music they were playing at the time.
When it comes to classic audio they are the place to go. Especially for horns,set and vinyl

 

[wil]

I was completely baffled that Jacob Heilbrunn commented favorably on the darTZeel driving AG Duos that I heard.

Capital Audio Fest 2023 DarTZeel / Avantgarde Duo #highendaudio #music #loudspeakers #amplifier

youtube.com

You can hear what I'm talking about clearly in this video even.

This is the worst in room video I’ve ever heard! Exemplifies avant-garde at it’s absolute worst with the terrible horn coloration. If I didn’t see the vinyl playing, I would’ve guessed this was a very poorly set up digital streaming.

It’s a little surprising to me, because I tried DartZeel with my former AG duo mezzos And they sounded really nice together.