Capital Audiofest 2025

[AudioLibertarian]

Grandinote from Italy presented their their new flagship model, made out of carbon fiber. Price is $140 000. They sounded very dynamic and coherent, even in the smaller room. Also some of the best sound at the show.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Simco horn speakers sounded very dynamic and fun!

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Vivid's new speakers and new amps from Audionet sounded very refined!

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Audience new speakers were quite decent.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Grimm from Holland had their active speakers combined with their new preamp/dac/streamer. The sound in that room was very, very good, to say the least!

 

[AudioLibertarian]

The relatively modest set-up from Gold Note from Italy sounded very analogue, devoid of harshness, and quite enjoyable. Joni Mitchell's voice on LP playing sounded human. Definitely worth checking this brand out, as they build everything in house, from their highly regarded turntables, to amps, dac and speakers. Design, finish and build quality is very high as well.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

The Borg speakers from Fink Audio sounded excellent! In previous years at the CAF, these were always placed in the too large a room to truly show their true potential. Demoed in more appropriate for their size room, these were simply superb and definitely worth exploring for anyone with smaller to medium size rooms. Quite musically dense and suave sounding.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Thank you for this tour!

 

[slowGEEZR]

The Borg speakers from Fink Audio sounded excellent! In previous years at the CAF, these were always placed in the too large a room to truly show their true potential. Demoed in more appropriate for their size room, these were simply superb and definitely worth exploring for anyone with smaller to medium size rooms. Quite musically dense and suave sounding.
View attachment 161561

Thank you!

 

[Kingrex]

I'm super excited to see Conrad Johnson pushing a best of show. If there were any amp I would go back to, it would be a CJ Classic 62SE.

 

[Gregadd]

ONE B0X BASS BREAKTHROUGH? I THINH SO.
I am a big fan of the Esoteric line of electronics.
The room was l20lx10w. The speakers were mounted along the horizontal wall. They were spread about16' feet apart. I was seated about 6feet apart. This was not promising for any promise of big sound. The speakers were about four feet tall with two eight-inch drivers out the front and one out the back, I was told. It also appeared there was a horizontal port at the bottom. All told ,quite unassuming.
I was given the following price list.
Esoteric
Streamer/dac$45k
KTX SSCD/CD Player$44k
GTX Master Clock $32k
CTX Sol preamp $26k
STX Stereo Amp $37k
@Aretai 200F loudspeaker$31.9k per pair. Nov. Special. $25k per pair
Acc. Omitted
Let us cut to the chase. They played a recording from a digital synthesizer. Quite simply the best base I ever heard. No breakup, ringing or fatigue.
You could put your order in now and save$6k.
The question is, is the sound system dependent. I don't know
There is a lot of reasonably priced electronics out there. If you buy the complete system, you are definitely in the cost no object zone
IMO the speakers are undoubtedly not room dependent,
Sorry no pictures.
My vote BEST SOUND OF SHOW.

Contra Collection - Aretai

aretai.com

 

[AudioLibertarian]

There were no Magico or Wilson Audio speakers showing, nor any Bowers & Wilkins. Also, the crowds were noticeably smaller than even the last year, not to mention the first time the show re-opened after the Covid-19. Many rooms were practically empty on the upper floors, when I entered.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Also, no Clarisys or Alsyvox, undortunately!

 

[Alrainbow]

I'm super excited to see Conrad Johnson pushing a best of show. If there were any amp I would go back to, it would be a CJ Classic 62SE.

Every time I hear truit audio it's very good to me ,
I do agree kharma speakers are expensive but sound great .
Jay I think mods his cj devices , he is definitely a player who doesn't display rooms that are not musical .

 

[Alrainbow]

ONE B0X BASS BREAKTHROUGH? I THINH SO.
I am a big fan of the Esoteric line of electronics.
The room was l20lx10w. The speakers were mounted along the horizontal wall. They were spread about16' feet apart. I was seated about 6feet apart. This was not promising for any promise of big sound. The speakers were about four feet tall with two eight-inch drivers out the front and one out the back, I was told. It also appeared there was a horizontal port at the bottom. All told ,quite unassuming.
I was given the following price list.
Esoteric
Streamer/dac$45k
KTX SSCD/CD Player$44k
GTX Master Clock $32k
CTX Sol preamp $26k
STX Stereo Amp $37k
@Aretai 200F loudspeaker$31.9k per pair. Nov. Special. $25k per pair
Acc. Omitted
Let us cut to the chase. They played a recording from a digital synthesizer. Quite simply the best base I ever heard. No breakup, ringing or fatigue.
You could put your order in now and save$6k.
The question is, is the sound system dependent. I don't know
There is a lot of reasonably priced electronics out there. If you buy the complete system, you are definitely in the cost no object zone
IMO the speakers are undoubtedly not room dependent,
Sorry no pictures.
My vote BEST SOUND OF SHOW.

Contra Collection - Aretai

aretai.com

A few years back at Capital show they had a full stack of esoteric .
Big VAC mono blocks on huge speakers .
Best of show to me , there analog to me was below the digital .
I'm not a fan of there preamp nor amps though .
I would love to see pics and videos too if someone can share ?
Too much personal stuff to attend this year .

 

[Bobvin]

Also, no Clarisys or Alsyvox, undortunately!

Dude, your profile says you’re in NYC — you can get all the Alsyvox you want @ Rhapsody in Brooklyn, and hear them with solid state or tubes, or even both on the same visit. With whatever playlist you want to play. More fun than a crowded noisy show to be sure.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

There were no Magico or Wilson Audio speakers showing, nor any Bowers & Wilkins. Also, the crowds were noticeably smaller than even the last year, not to mention the first time the show re-opened after the Covid-19. Many rooms were practically empty on the upper floors, when I entered.

if you are referring to today, football on Sunday is a tough competitor. last year in September at the Seattle Show Sunday was almost empty. Friday and Saturday had been much better.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

if you are referring to today, football on Sunday is a tough competitor. last year in September at the Seattle Show Sunday was almost empty. Friday and Saturday had been much better.

Saturday

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Dude, your profile says you’re in NYC — you can get all the Alsyvox you want @ Rhapsody in Brooklyn, and hear them with solid state or tubes, or even both on the same visit. With whatever playlist you want to play. More fun than a crowded noisy show to be sure.

I ve heard Alsyvox speakers, and also even back when they used to be Leonardo brand and imported by Sam Laufer. ! Its just having both Alsyvox and Clarisys at the same show is so much better for comparison purposes. Sometimes its much more fun at the show

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Every time I hear truit audio it's very good to me ,
I do agree kharma speakers are expensive but sound great .
Jay I think mods his cj devices , he is definitely a player who doesn't display rooms that are not musical .

Yes he does mods to C J amps. This year he had on display his modified classic 350 solid state amp, priced at (ouch) 40 Grand.