In the Paragon SNS room, they were using the Wilson Audio Sasha Series-2 speakers powered by the new DoshI Audio’s new amp.The source was a Brinkmann Audio turntable, a dCS digital setup or a Studer 810 using a Doshi V3.0 tape stage. The sound was very good with both analog sources.
In the VANA, Ltd room, they were using Audio Physic Avanti with the new McIntosh 252 hybrid integrated amp with no blue meters. The turntables were from European Audio Team. The sound was very musical, and it was a room I wanted to sit in for a long time to relax.
At any show that mbl comes to, one of the real treats is to hear their big system. This unique system offers a soundstage and a sense of breath and air that’s hard to imagine.
The Gingko Audio room used their ClaraVu 7 speakers, the Triode Corporation MK7 amplifier and the Wells Audio Electronics preamp. The room had a very listenable sound.
The Benchmark Media room was making great music with a smaller pair of MartinLogan speakers.
The Paragon SNS room had Wilson Audio XLFs driven by D’Agostino electronics. I can’t say much about the sound because even though they had a fabulous top of the line Clearaudio turntable, they didn’t play it, and they were so busy comparing different digital files that I couldn’t enjoy the music.
The Sonus Faber and Audio Research room used the big, beautiful Sonus Farber Reference speakers and the massive Audio Research Reference 750SEs monoblocks. The sound was simply stunning.
This Quintessence Audio room used the Wilson Audio Alexia 2 speakers with ARC Electronics, and an AMG V12 turntable with a V12 Turbo tonearm and a DS Audio optical cartridge and it sounded great. This is about as good as I have heard the Alexia 2 speakers sound.
Wynn Audio from Canada represents several international brands including the Penaudio Loudspeakers they were using with Karan Acoustics electronics Their analog sources were Thales turntables with their tonearms that use a unique tetragonal solution that reduces the tracking-error to 0,006°. The digital sources were from Metronome Digital. There was a lot of great gear here that we need in North America.
The big Vandersteen speakers and the Channel D electronics combined for one of the best systems at the show.
Fidelis Music Systems room was sounding very fine with the Stenheim Alumine Five speakers powered by the new VAC Sigma 170i integrated amplifier. Then, there was the beautiful new Acoustic Signature Double X turntable with a TA2000 9″ tonearm and a Dynavector XX2 cartridge. They were using an MSB Technology Analog DAC with an Aurender N10 music player. The cabling was the new Tellurium Q Statements. They were also using Stein Music’s new line of Harmonizers.
