Capital Audiofest 2025

[Audiohertz2]

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.

Really , football over Audio ….

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Really , football over Audio ….

Yes , its like saying Sheldon Cooper would prefer attending the rugby match instead of going to the Comic-on

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Really , football over Audio ….

not everyone is a serious sports fan. i happen to be one of those guys. but i'm picky on which sports and how significant the game is. with football, especially the NFL only 18 game weeks a year so i'm all in. other sports way more selective. so Fall/Winter Sundays for me is NFL Football. and i spend as much time on hifi as anyone anywhere.

the longest running and highest post count thread on this whole forum ever is a basketball thread i've never even looked at.....as i don't care about the NBA much. i'll avoid all the usual negative comments that fit it like a glove. playoff time i will watch selected games. besides the fact i don't want to mix my sports (or politics, or religion) with my hifi stuff....a sports thread here is just not me.

next year the World Cup is coming to my town. might need to do that.

 

[Gregadd]

Aretai 200F FL

 

[Gregadd]

2024@Florida

 

[Gregadd]

350F p powered 1200w 12 inch woofers. Not auditioned.

 

[Audiohertz2]

not everyone is a serious sports fan. i happen to be one of those guys. but i'm picky on which sports and how significant the game is. with football, especially the NFL only 18 game weeks a year so i'm all in. other sports way more selective. so Fall/Winter Sundays for me is NFL Football. and i spend as much time on hifi as anyone anywhere.

the longest running and highest post count thread on this whole forum ever is a basketball thread i've never even looked at.....as i don't care about the NBA much. i'll avoid all the usual negative comments that fit it like a glove. playoff time i will watch selected games. besides the fact i don't want to mix my sports (or politics, or religion) with my hifi stuff....a sports thread here is just not me.

next year the World Cup is coming to my town. might need to do that.

WC , ok i get that one ..

A bit different, thats once every 4 yrs , damn they even stop wars to watch during the WC …

 

[Al M.]

I saw younger folks at the show—they seemed to aggregate around the headphones and headphone amplifier areas.

That's not unexpected. The future of high-end audio seems in large part to lie in headphone audio. I started with a headphone system myself. Once I switched to speakers, my neighbors complained. Finally, when I could afford my own house, this was not a problem anymore (I also installed window plugs for sound insulation, my area is densely built). But how many young people or even 40-year olds can afford to live in their own freestanding house?

My sons also commented on the amount of “affordable” gear in many rooms. They told me later the show allowed them to see that the barrier to entry for higher sound quality was not as steep as they thought.

Great to hear there was affordable stuff. Indeed, you can get very good sound quality for modest money these days.

FWIW my sons loved the Prana Fidelity room where Steven held court. They stopped in all 3 days. Very entertaining…great musical selections and excellent energy.

Yes, Steven has great music selections and you can bring your own, and he routinely has good sound at shows. I bought my PranaFidelity Dhyana floorstanders at T.H.E. Show in SoCal 2023 where he also had a room. I could spin all my challenging test CDs on his system (including Black Sabbath and my favorite Stravinsky Rite of Spring at loud volume) and at the end I knew. I love the speakers, they are my end game speakers for my mid-sized room.

 

[gleeds]

Also, no Clarisys or Alsyvox, undortunately!

There are real reasons why the industry-leading brands do not attend regional shows. Magico went to Axpona last year, grabbing Elliot's two-level suite at the last minute. Wilson and other big players rely on their regional dealers to run these events, which makes logistical and financial sense for manufacturers with established retail networks but not for consumer-direct producers or smaller manufacturers without retail networks. Gryphon decided it was not worth attending. Only Munich (now Vienna) brings out the factories, and competition for rooms is fierce. The US is currently the most significant high-end market (ahead of China), and it will sadly never compete as an International venue for the industry. Those are the cold, hard facts, and as someone who always has ideas at the moment, I am at a loss.

Now if only someone can get Mike B., and Bob V. to host a shootout among the planar titans Personally, I love them both!

And now for some CAF show news........
Four years ago, my friend Fred Ainsley invited me to share a room at CapFest featuring the then-unknown WestminsterLab Rei amplifiers. A small, talented maker made the speaker, Greg Takesh of GT Audio Works. I trusted Fred's ears and said I'm in. It was a fun event, and we made a great sound that year.

After Greg skipped several years at the show to care for his ailing wife, he was back this year with an all-new three-way planar speaker, including his very fast dipole subs that fill out the spectrum below 50Hz. So once again, Fred and I got the band back together to support Greg and his latest work. Below are photos of Greg's latest creation (in a minuscule room).

The system consisted of a Small Green Computer server, Sonore streamer, Mangun cables, Lampizator Genya DAC, Trafomatic top-balanced preamplifier, and the small and mighty WestminsterLab Rei monoblock amplifiers. I was unable to attend, but by all accounts (and with little fanfare), Greg's newest creations were making some exceptional sound.

I, for one, love the efforts of small artists with exceptional skills creating new works like the GT Audio Guillieta's. Kudos to Greg for his perseverance, passion, talent, and determination in bringing his latest work to life. Highly recommended to anyone looking for top panels with incredible dynamics and real soul

 

[Kbh57]

I thought it was a good show and some great sound in many of the rooms-its not impossible. I didn't visit every room, but some knocked it out of the park. The big Kharmas with Conrad Johnson, Avant Gard, Bending Wave-the Gobel speakers were great and the Master Artist room with their speakers and Burmester electronics was superb. Those speakers are wonderful and a huge bargain relative to the quality of the sound.

Lots of less expensive gear that sounded great. The $2k Chesky speakers-really good out of a small box. The DIY Dolce speakers had a really great sound. You could replicate the system they showed for ~15 and have a very satisfying rig. AGD and Fisher and Fisher impressed-good in absolute terms-no longer necessary to say "for Class D." Same with Atma-sphere.

Burmester and T+A showed all in ones that were excellent-simpler will appeal to the next generation down. That might be the future. Volti speakers are gorgeous, sound great, and not ultra expensive. Lots of good stuff and there were some younger folks there, which was good to see.

Two old tropes proven wrong, at least to my ears. Some say the ultra priced gear isn't "better." It may not be universally true, but you generally get what you pay for. The big Kharmas were one of many examples-I thought they sounded sublime, but should for the price. On the other end of the spectrum, plenty of examples of systems that are relatively inexpensive that are really good and anyone would enjoy. Something for everyone-it doesn't have to be a competition.

I think these shows are important, particularly considering the dearth of brick and mortar stores-not many other opportunities to see and hear a variety of equipment. It was a flight for me, but worth it.

Thanks to the vendors that put in the work to make it happen.

 

[Kingrex]

I was watching some Audiophile Junkie. Odyssey Audio is ranked as best in show in a daily wrap up by his friend Pete the Greek. An $8500 speaker and a $8000 amp. Best of show. Packed and people hang out and don't leave. Its nice to hear great sound does not cost a lot of money.

 

[Al Stewart]

Yes, Steven has great music selections and you can bring your own, and he routinely has good sound at shows. I bought my PranaFidelity Dhyana floorstanders at T.H.E. Show in SoCal 2023 where he also had a room. I could spin all my challenging test CDs on his system (including Black Sabbath and my favorite Stravinsky Rite of Spring at loud volume) and at the end I knew. I love the speakers, they are my end game speakers for my mid-sized room.

Easily understood. I am always impressed with PranaFidelity speakers when Steven has set up the room. I told him, “Small speakers with big sound.”

 

[Porsche]

I thought it was a good show and some great sound in many of the rooms-its not impossible. I didn't visit every room, but some knocked it out of the park. The big Kharmas with Conrad Johnson, Avant Gard, Bending Wave-the Gobel speakers were great and the Master Artist room with their speakers and Burmester electronics was superb. Those speakers are wonderful and a huge bargain relative to the quality of the sound.

Lots of less expensive gear that sounded great. The $2k Chesky speakers-really good out of a small box. The DIY Dolce speakers had a really great sound. You could replicate the system they showed for ~15 and have a very satisfying rig. AGD and Fisher and Fisher impressed-good in absolute terms-no longer necessary to say "for Class D." Same with Atma-sphere.

Burmester and T+A showed all in ones that were excellent-simpler will appeal to the next generation down. That might be the future. Volti speakers are gorgeous, sound great, and not ultra expensive. Lots of good stuff and there were some younger folks there, which was good to see.

Two old tropes proven wrong, at least to my ears. Some say the ultra priced gear isn't "better." It may not be universally true, but you generally get what you pay for. The big Kharmas were one of many examples-I thought they sounded sublime, but should for the price. On the other end of the spectrum, plenty of examples of systems that are relatively inexpensive that are really good and anyone would enjoy. Something for everyone-it doesn't have to be a competition.

I think these shows are important, particularly considering the dearth of brick and mortar stores-not many other opportunities to see and hear a variety of equipment. It was a flight for me, but worth it.

Thanks to the vendors that put in the work to make it happen.

@Kbh57 thanks for the kind words, how do think our speakers/room faired against the bigger names

 

[Elliot G.]

 

[Audiohertz2]

@Kbh57 thanks for the kind words, how do think our speakers/room faired against the bigger names

Which room was yours …?

 

[Porsche]

Which room was yours …?

632/633, master artist audio and burmester @Audiohertz2

 

[Al M.]

Easily understood. I am always impressed with PranaFidelity speakers when Steven has set up the room. I told him, “Small speakers with big sound.”

Yes, I have heard the standmount monitors together with a friend at T.H.E. Show in SoCal 2024, a year later than I heard the floorstanders which I bought, and we both were impressed as well -- my friend in particular.

 

[Porsche]

pics from I initial setup

 

[Gregadd]

SHOW IMPRESSION
Personal disclaimer. A few days before the show I suffered a fall. I didn't break anything. I did a full faceplant onto the pavement I started to bypass the show. I only went on Saturday. When I learned the price had doubled. Moreover, the honor system was pretty much dead. We had a lanyard with a badge. The subway system was construction causing significant delay I stopped at the Genesis room for coffee and a chat with Gary. They were playing Kind of Blue. That made me feel better. My hope was to find something new. As you can see above I did. Gershwin speakers were show casing and speaker grill. Unfortunateltely it was dormant while I was there. There.
Maybe someone can help me out. I didn't take any pictures or notes.
Meze headphones with LLTA
amplification.
Very pleasant sound Detailed and smooth. I can't comment on bass. The selection did not have much content. It did have an electrostatic like quality.
Avantgarde G3
Very nice sound. It has moved on from it's hornlike quality.
VPI

I dis not bother to check the turntable model. It exhibited it's usual excellence
Noteworthy was a huge hybrid speaker. Looks like a two way. Horns on top. Two 15 inch woofers on the bottom. A pretty much flat black industrial design it resembled a sound reinforcement speaker. However the sound was excellent. Given its' appearance.
Audio Research and Conrad johnson
They were in different rooms. They seems to their classic sound.300watt Monoblock's I believe.
Those are the noteworthy products I heard. The hitters were there and sounded good
Note_ traffic was light. Govern tariffs and firlots are having an impact.

 

[beaur]

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.

SHOW IMPRESSION
Personal disclaimer. A few days before the show I suffered a fall. I didn't break anything. I did a full faceplant onto the pavement I started to bypass the show. I only went on Saturday. When I learned the price had doubled. Moreover, the honor system was pretty much dead. We had a lanyard with a badge. The subway system was construction causing significant delay I stopped at the Genesis room for coffee and a chat with Gary. They were playing Kind of Blue. That made me feel better. My hope was to find something new. As you can see above I did. Gershwin speakers were show casing and speaker grill. Unfortunateltely it was dormant while I was there. There.
Maybe someone can help me out. I didn't take any pictures or notes.
Meze headphones with LLTA
amplification.
Very pleasant sound Detailed and smooth. I can't comment on bass. The selection did not have much content. It did have an electrostatic like quality.
Avantgarde G3
Very nice sound. It has moved on from it's hornlike quality.
VPI

I dis not bother to check the turntable model. It exhibited it's usual excellence
Noteworthy was a huge hybrid speaker. Looks like a two way. Horns on top. Two 15 inch woofers on the bottom. A pretty much flat black industrial design it resembled a sound reinforcement speaker. However the sound was excellent. Given its' appearance.
Audio Research and Conrad johnson
They were in different rooms. They seems to their classic sound.300watt Monoblock's I believe.
Those are the noteworthy products I heard. The hitters were there and sounded good
Note_ traffic was light. Govern tariffs and firlots are having an impact.

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