At every audio show, there are a few “Best Products” that deserve to be recognized. This post covers my list of such products at the Capital Audiofest. And, stay tuned for distinguished room recognitions. I promise that post is coming!
Best Loudspeaker: DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/Reference Speakers
At RMAF 2018, John DeVore showed a prototype of the DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/Reference speakers that debuted at the Munich show this year. So, Capital Audiofest was my first time to see and hear these speakers that are now part of the DeVore line.
There are several improvements you can read about on the Orangutan O/Reference site that make them “Best Product” worthy. The one that most excites me though are the new bass units that have controls so that you can place them anywhere in the room. This means DeVore has created a true ultimate reference speaker that can go in a real-world size room.
I asked John, who has been in my listening room at my house if this means that the main speaker units can go where I have the Orangutan O/96s in my room with the bass units placed in the room’s corners. He said, “Absolutely!” Now, all I need to do win the lottery, which I don’t even play.
Read our full write up of this room here.
Best Turntable: VPI’s Vanquish Magnetic Drive Turntable System
It was a privilege to see and hear VPI Industries’ all-new turntable, the Vanquish Magnetic Drive. It includes VPI’s latest hi-res 3-D printed Fatboy tonearm, and it can be used with up to three tonearms. It also comes with the turntable stand/rack you see in the picture as well as the matching power unit and phono stage. This is truly a system for playing LPs, and compared to many reference turntables. The new Vanquish turntable seems to be a lot for the money and deserving of a “Best Product” designation.
I heard this table in three different rooms and in three different setups. In the room with the latest KEF Muon 2 speakers, the sound was simply breathtaking. In the AudioShield/LLC room with the DS Audio W2 Optical Cartridge and the Meitner Phono EQ for the DS Audio cartridge, the sound had a great tone, powerful drive and was incredibly transparent. You can read my post on this room here.
Best Power Amplifier: VAC Statement 452iQ Stereo/Mono
For the last few years, The Audio Company of Marietta, GA has brought a system they refer to as “The Ultimate in Sound” to many of the audio shows across America. The system has been built around VAC reference amps and preamps, Von Schweikert Ultra 11 loudspeakers with Von Schweikert V-12XS Shockwave subwoofers, and sources from Kronos and Esoteric.
Every time I have heard this system, it has sounded absolutely incredible, but this year the sound had moved to a whole new level. Let me be honest and admit it was a level that I did not know was possible. What was new in the system was Kevin Hayes’ new babies, the VAC Statement 452iQ Stereo/Mono amps, which are definitely “Best Product” worthy. These amps brought soul to this amazing system that I had not heard to this extent before. I can’t wait to hear this amp with more speakers.
Read more about our impressions of The Audio Company’s room in our post here.
Best Integrated Amplifier: Vinnie Rossi’s L2i ‘Signature Edition’
Because we missed RMAF in October, this was our first time to see and hear Vinnie Rossi Audio’s new L2i ‘Signature Edition’ Integrated Amplifier. Back in May, I reviewed and absolutely loved Vinnie’s L2 Signature Monoblocks. The L2i-SE, however, just shocked me. Yes, the system had the best sound stage at the show, and it had most of the other audiophile things. But what impressed me and made it “Best Product” worthy was the way this amp enabled the music to move my heart and soul.
Read our full review of the Vinnie Rossi/Well Pleased A/V room here.
Best Sound for a Small Space: Sound/Kaos VOX 3f Compact 3-Way Speakers
I first heard these tiny speakers, the Sound/Kaos VOX 3f Compact 3-Way Speakers, at the California Audio Show earlier this year. I was blown away by them then, and they were equally great in the Old Forge Studio room at CAF. So, again, I wasn’t surprised that I just had to include them as a “Best Product” at this show.
This tiny monitor with steam-bent solid wood cabinets appeals to me on so many different levels. Here’s just a few things to like: the artisan-quality of the hand-built cabinets, the presence these speakers make for their size, the beauty of the brass-colored metal grills for the side woofers, and most of all just how big they sound.
This big, beautiful sound comes from a design featuring a 10cm full-range driver with a wood fiber membrane and a ferrite motor system. Two custom made 13cm bass woofers are positioned in a back-to-back force canceling configuration that gives it a bass output to 35HZ. And, there is a custom made RAAL ribbon super tweeter mounted on the top of the cabinet with a bronze mounting plate. If you can’t tell, I love these little speakers and hope to review them soon.
