Capital Audiofest 2025

[beaur]

My quick impressions of CAF 2025

Sure it wasn't packed but the people who were there were engaging and interested. Lots of conversations with random people who asked for impressions. Anyone who claims this is an old man's hobby either has eyesight issues or was in the wrong rooms. There were enough of the younger crowd to stay positive. Overall a well run show with some interesting new products.

I could spend a lot of words giving my impressions on friend's rooms and manufacturers that have been around a while so instead just know that; Highwater Sound, Robyatt, Charney, Triode Wire and Border Patrol and Well Pleased AV were playing great music and sounding great.

New things and rooms that impressed;

Chesky - don't have any pictures but the new monitor is a big step up from version one. Will be interested to see where this goes.

MCAudiotech - A brave choice of just having speakers, integrated amp and iPad but simplicity can be engaging and very musical as this room proved.

Gestalt Audio - 2 rooms that were based around SWx1 and Cinnamon with Wolf van Lange and Primary Control. Their "larger" room with the open baffle speakers was among the Best of Show for me. Very impressed. The "other" room wasn't far behind.

YG/Alieno - Not the biggest YG fan over the years but somehow these tube amps were making them sing much better than I had ever heard before. Wish I had spent more time here.

Alma/Von Schweikert - I'm a horn guy but the "tricks" these Von Schweikert's use with active subwoofers make we want a pair. The room was outstanding and I spent a lot of time here asking about the Hz Project server as it piques my interest. Many thanks to Alex for indulging and Lenny Mayeaux, (who is probably a relation we discovered!) for allowing me to play some LPs I brought.

LaDolce - I wouldn't have bet going in that the rooms I enjoyed the most was essentially a DIY paradise. The open baffles and current drive amplifiers were amazing, especially when the tape machine got hooked up.

And finally a little 70s throwback from Anthony Chiarella!

 

[Bloomie]

Regardless of what one might think of the pictured gear. (Transparency, I'm partial to the SW1X gear). This is a room in which thought has gone into the layout and placement of not only the gear but the greenery/foliage. It is an inviting room, and I wish more exhibitors would take the time to make attendees feel more at home in their surroundings.

Yes, room acoustics are important, but if you don't like the look or the feel of the room in which you're sitting, it's going to turn you off to the experience.

Hey exhibitors, if you want attendees to spend more time in your room, you have to put in the time to make it all that it can be.

 

[gleeds]

My quick impressions of CAF 2025

Sure it wasn't packed but the people who were there were engaging and interested. Lots of conversations with random people who asked for impressions. Anyone who claims this is an old man's hobby either has eyesight issues or was in the wrong rooms. There were enough of the younger crowd to stay positive. Overall a well run show with some interesting new products.

I could spend a lot of words giving my impressions on friend's rooms and manufacturers that have been around a while so instead just know that; Highwater Sound, Robyatt, Charney, Triode Wire and Border Patrol and Well Pleased AV were playing great music and sounding great.

New things and rooms that impressed;

Chesky - don't have any pictures but the new monitor is a big step up from version one. Will be interested to see where this goes.

MCAudiotech - A brave choice of just having speakers, integrated amp and iPad but simplicity can be engaging and very musical as this room proved.

Gestalt Audio - 2 rooms that were based around SWx1 and Cinnamon with Wolf van Lange and Primary Control. Their "larger" room with the open baffle speakers was among the Best of Show for me. Very impressed. The "other" room wasn't far behind.

YG/Alieno - Not the biggest YG fan over the years but somehow these tube amps were making them sing much better than I had ever heard before. Wish I had spent more time here.

Alma/Von Schweikert - I'm a horn guy but the "tricks" these Von Schweikert's use with active subwoofers make we want a pair. The room was outstanding and I spent a lot of time here asking about the Hz Project server as it piques my interest. Many thanks to Alex for indulging and Lenny Mayeaux, (who is probably a relation we discovered!) for allowing me to play some LPs I brought.

LaDolce - I wouldn't have bet going in that the rooms I enjoyed the most was essentially a DIY paradise. The open baffles and current drive amplifiers were amazing, especially when the tape machine got hooked up.

And finally a little 70s throwback from Anthony Chiarella!

On behalf of Von Schweikert, a compliment from a horn guy means a great deal to us. I also love Wolf Von Langa speakers, and Colin always sets up an impeccable room!

 

[tony22]

The speakers in the lager of the VPI rooms were the JBL Everests. I also felt the room sounded very good.

Beau

The mighty DD66000s, just to add a bit of detail.

 

[beaur]

Regardless of what one might think of the pictured gear. (Transparency, I'm partial to the SW1X gear). This is a room in which thought has gone into the layout and placement of not only the gear but the greenery/foliage. It is an inviting room, and I wish more exhibitors would take the time to make attendees feel more at home in their surroundings.

Yes, room acoustics are important, but if you don't like the look or the feel of the room in which you're sitting, it's going to turn you off to the experience.

Hey exhibitors, if you want attendees to spend more time in your room, you have to put in the time to make it all that it can be.



View attachment 161756

As someone who has helped set up plenty of rooms over the years I can say that even if it doesn't look like it most have tried to be accommodating but sometimes Murphy just gets in the way. Unless a manufacturer has a long history of shows it's hard to invest in the extras that make the room "homey" but I have made many a late night run to Ikea or Lowes to get accent lighting or furniture to try. I noticed more greenery this year so a trend might be starting.

Beau

 

[beaur]

The mighty DD66000s, just to add a bit of detail.

Yes sir! These are HW's personal speakers and I have heard them on several occasions but mostly in rooms too small for them. They were singing in the large room like I hadn't heard before. Glad he broke them out.

 

[Gregadd]

Finally got my act together and will try to give my impressions and pictures of the show. I hadn't attended in a few years so it was nice to return and see that the show is getting better. I thought the show was well attended with a lot of friendly people asking questions and very interested in both the vinyl for sale on the floor and the equipment in the rooms.

Greg,

Sorry about the fall. Hoep you are on the mend.

The speakers in the lager of the VPI rooms were the JBL Everests. I also felt the room sounded very good.

Beau

I am fine, thank you.
Horns are making progress. Three of my notables are horns.

 

[Gregadd]

Regardless of what one might think of the pictured gear. (Transparency, I'm partial to the SW1X gear). This is a room in which thought has gone into the layout and placement of not only the gear but the greenery/foliage. It is an inviting room, and I wish more exhibitors would take the time to make attendees feel more at home in their surroundings.

Yes, room acoustics are important, but if you don't like the look or the feel of the room in which you're sitting, it's going to turn you off to the experience.

Hey exhibitors, if you want attendees to spend more time in your room, you have to put in the time to make it all that it can be.



View attachment 161756

I was treated rude in room. They just forthcoming about their speaking
Nothing gets people to hang around like good music and sound.
Good coffee does not hurt either,, Gary.

 

[Bloomie]

I was treated rude in room. They just forthcoming about their speaking
Nothing gets people to hang around like good music and sound.
Good coffee does not hurt either,, Gary.

Curious? Which room? The one whose picture I posted as an example. And about good music and sound, that only goes so far. If attendees are made to feel uncomfortable, whatever the reason, they're going to move on.

 

[KeithR]

I found the VPI room pretty shouty and I like horns. They also had the volume kicked up so that could be part of the reason. YMMV.

At lower price points, the Audience and O Audio speakers were quite interesting.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

I found the VPI room pretty shouty and I like horns. They also had the volume kicked up so that could be part of the reason. YMMV.

At lower price points, the Audience and O Audio speakers were quite interesting.

I second your opinion about the VPI room. However to my ears, the biggest disappointment of this show must have been the much hyped up O Audio Horns... I could not stay in that room for longer than couple of minutes ( and I had been actually seriously considering buying a pair of O Icon 12 up to that point). Along with the Borressen this must be the most hyped up brand in today's speaker market whose sound to my ears has sound character that is devoid of much of delicate musical textures, and is seems to be designed to show off hi-fi "fireworks", and taylored to folks with "particular" sonic tastes (not that there is anything wrong with it, to quote esteemed Jerry Seinfeld ) ....

The Audience speakers sounded quite good to me.

 

[Gregadd]

I found the VPI room pretty shouty and I like horns. They also had the volume kicked up so that could be part of the reason. YMMV.

At lower price points, the Audience and O Audio speakers were quite interesting.

Maybe they changed the DJ.

I found the VPI room pretty shouty and I like horns. They also had the volume kicked up so that could be part of the reason. YMMV.

At lower price points, the Audience and O Audio speakers were quite interesting.

Perhaps it was the music selection.

Curious? Which room? The one whose picture I posted as an example. And about good music and sound, that only goes so far. If attendees are made to feel uncomfortable, whatever the reason, they're going to move on.

VPI/JBL, Avantgarde, Esoteric/Aretai. All had good sounding horn hybrid speakers.
overall I , I find the presenters polite and engaging. They are willing to requests no matter how bad. I find the best time is early or late when the crowd is thin.
Occasionally some are rude and condescending.

 

[sbnx]

Maybe they changed the DJ.

Perhaps it was the music selection.

VPI/JBL, Avantgarde, Esoteric/Aretai. All had good sounding horn hybrid speakers.
overall I , I find the presenters polite and engaging. They are willing to requests no matter how bad. I find the best time is early or late when the crowd is thin.
Occasionally some are rude and condescending.

Can I confirm you were treated well in the Avantgarde room. If you feel someone was rude then I would like to understand more about that.

In my view, it is a show and people should be able to listen to something they are familiar with. It helps them get a better understanding of the sound that is presented. So, if someone asks for a song then I try my best to play it.

 

[Kbh57]

Can I confirm you were treated well in the Avantgarde room. If you feel someone was rude then I would like to understand more about that.

In my view, it is a show and people should be able to listen to something they are familiar with. It helps them get a better understanding of the sound that is presented. So, if someone asks for a song then I try my best to play it.

FWIW, I visited the Avant Gard room a couple of times, and the hosts were very courteous and welcoming. The room also sounded great-rarely heard horns sound better.

 

[morricab]

@gestalt is showing a couple of rooms, on 325 there is an analog-only setup, with a piano black Cinnamon Cassia up front, and our Galle Phono Stage & Balanced SUT on signal duties.

View attachment 161415

View attachment 161417

Looks like a good setup…hope it went well.

 

[morricab]

I visited practically every room at the show. Here is my list of rooms that stood out in some ways, or were otherwise, shall we say extraordinary.

Jay Truitt of 20/20 Evolution System of Potomac MD and his gracious wife presented the new Kharma Midi Signature, priced at $330 000. The speakers filled a huge conference room with ease, fronted by SW1X dac and driven by Conrad Johnson tube amplifiers. These for sure were one of the highlights of the show. I requested Ceciia Bartoli singing Salieri, first track, which on most systems sounds with sibilants and with varying degree of harshness.. This time I heard an almost live Bartoli, with slightly "golden glowish" sound, with no sibilants and as though she was there in the flesh. This year's set up of 20/20 Evo Systems to me for sure was much better than the last year. Too bad the prices for Kharma speakers have been going up to stratospheric levels last 4 -5 years.

View attachment 161531

Interesting to use this speaker with CJ electronics…only heard them with Kharma’s own amps and could never get into them.

 

[Gregadd]

Mea Culpa.
C

Can I confirm you were treated well in the Avantgarde room. If you feel someone was rude then I would like to understand more about that.

In my view, it is a show and people should be able to listen to something they are familiar with. It helps them get a better understanding of the sound that is presented. So, if someone asks for a song then I try my best to play it.

Yes it was a great experience in the Avantgarde room. aAs it has been over the years.

 

[Gregadd]

Here is what happened.
After being nightly impressed with the bass eminating from a median sized speaker there was a lull in the music. The speaker was relatively small as was the room. I asked. "Where's the bass coming from" The response was, From the bottom." This provoked laughter throughout the room.
It not prevent me from giving the speaker the praise it deserved.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Interesting to use this speaker with CJ electronics…only heard them with Kharma’s own amps and could never get into them.

The intensity of musical colors and various instrumental tonal texture differentiation of Kharma with the CJ gear and SW1X dac (or Lampizator dacs used in the past shows) to me sounded simply nopareil. The sound did have some golden overtones, but overall quite extraordinary to my ears. I did not like their last year's set-up though, even with speakers from Kharma's top range, it was too "hi-fi" ish, but this year's was quite special indeed.

 

[Gregadd]

The intensity of musical colors and various instrumental tonal texture differentiation of Kharma with the CJ gear and SW1X dac (or Lampizator dacs used in the past shows) to me sounded simply nopareil. The sound did have some golden overtones, but overall quite extraordinary to my ears. I did not like their last year's set-up though, even with speakers from Kharma's top range, it was too "hi-fi" ish, but this year quite special indeed.pluplus

Plis11