The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest is a large and well-respected show by anyone’s estimation. If this is the only show you’re going to attend this year, how do you make sure that you see the “best of the best” for 2017?
This article sets out what you should see in our opinion. We’re trying to identify “must see” products based on what was the best at shows held earlier this year. Here’s the method to our madness for this article. AV Showrooms gave out 10 Gold Show Awards for Best Sound at AXPONA and 10 for the Los Angeles Audio Show. This year, Jack and I attended the Los Angeles Audio Show and the California Audio Show. Jack gave out Beatnik Bongo Awards for showrooms that, in his opinion, deserved special recognition.
So, this article is a bit of research compiled for you. Identifying the AXPONA and LA Audio Show winners and cross-referencing them with The Beatnik’s winners provides a pretty good list of the “best of the best” for 2017, especially if you consider vendors who were recognized multiple times. Then, by eliminating vendors who aren’t planning to be in Denver, the list gets manageable when matched with an RMAF floor plan.
Codes we are using below:
* Indicates AVS recognition at both AXPONA and the LA Audio Show
B Indicates a Beatnik Bongos Award winner at the LA show or California Audio Show
D Indicates the exhibitor will be at RMAF and the room number is in ( )
**Exhibitors may or may not have the same system at each show.
***Exhibitors may be in Denver but sharing a room under another name.
AVS Gold Show Awards for AXPONA
Read more about these winners and watch videos here.
Audience, Sadurni Acoustics, Wolf Audio Systems
Nagra, Resolution, Grand Prix
D – Nagra (1030)
Aurender*-GamuT*
D – Aurender (8010), (8014)
D – GamuT (6018)
Emerald Physics-EXOGAL-Core Power
D – EXOGAL (539)
GTT Audio*
YG Acoustics*, Audionet*, Kubala-Sosna*, and Kronos*
D – Kubala-Sosna Research (1030)
High Fidelity Cables
Jolida-Black Ice Audio, Von Schweikert*B
D – Von Schweikert (550)
ModWright, Daedalus Audio, WyWires*
D – ModWright (CANJAM A18), (Iris), (555), (9013)
D – Daedalus Audio (555), (Iris)
D – Wywires (9013), (Iris)
Odyssey Audio, Magnan Audio Cables, VPI
D – VPI (2003), (2001), (2030)
Synergistic Research
D – (5018)
Von Schweikert Audio*B-VAC* B /Valve Amplification Company
MasterBuilt Audio*, Kronos/SCPS*, ASC, Lampizator*, J-Corder*, Artesania Audio, and YFS
D – Von Schweikert (550)
D – VAC / Valve Amplification Company (Maroon Peak)
D – MasterBuilt Audio (550)
D – J-Corder (1121)
AVS Gold Show Awards for the Los Angeles Audio Show
Read more about these winners and watch videos here.
The Audiophile Zone Room
Spendor, Jadis, Chord, Baetis, Transrotor, Artnovion, WyWires*, Torus, Taoc
D – Chord (CANJAM), (1118)
D – Transrotor (Blanca Peak)
D – WyWires (9013) (Iris)
GamutT Audio* Room
Pear Audio Blue, Audio Skies
D – GamuT (6018)
GTT Audio & Video*
Audionet*, Kronos*, Kubala-Sosna*, YG Acoustics*
D – Kubala-Sosna Research (1030)
High End Zone Room
Perfect 8 Speakers, Ypsilon
Aurender* A-10, W20, Wireworld, ASC TubeTraps, Delta H Design
D – Aurender (8010) (8014)
D – Wireworld Cable Technology (CANJAM)
Questyle, HeadSonix
Stein Music
Synergistic Research
D – (5018)
The Source A/V
D’Agostino, Focal, Nordost, Esoteric
D – Focal (8025) (8024) (Cottonwood) (CANJAM)
D – Nordost (Humboldt Peak) (2030)
D – Esoteric (521)
Von Schweikert* B -VAC* B /Valve Amplification Company
Kronos*, Lampizator*, Aurender*, Master Built Cables*, J-Corder*
D – Von Schweikert (550)
D – VAC / Valve Amplification Company (Maroon Peak)
D – MasterBuilt Audio (550)
D – J-Corder (1121)
Voxativ, Lyric electronics, HighEnd Electronics
D – Voxativ (5000)
Beatnik Bongo Awards – Los Angeles Audio Show
Spatial Audio – Best Speaker Under $20,000
Read The Beatnik’s review here.
D – (3018)
High Water Sound – Best Room Under $100,000
Read The Beatnik’s review here.
(Will not be at RMAF)
Vinnie Rossi/Spatial Audio/Anticables Audio Company – Best Room Under $50,000
Read The Beatnik’s review here.
D – Vinnie Rossi (3018) (3021)
D – Spatial Audio (3018)
D – ANTICABLES (LOBBY 15), (4009), (7024), (3018)
Beatnik Bongo Awards – California Audio Show
Von Schweikert* / VAC* – Valve Amplification Company – Best Room, Cost No Object
Read The Beatnik’s review here.
D – Von Schweikert (550)
D – VAC / Valve Amplification Company (Maroon Peak)
Audio Federation – Best Room Under Half a Million
Read The Beatnik’s review here.
Audio Note UK – Best Room Under $100,000
Read The Beatnik’s review here.
Volti Audio – Best Room Under $50,000
Read The Beatnik’s review here.
Pass Labs – Best Room Under $10,000
Read The Beatnik’s review here.
So What will be the “Best of the Best” in Denver
Obviously it’s difficult to tell what is truly best, but we hope this rundown of award winners helps a bit. Go see the Von Schweikert / VAC room. This same system has been shown this year at Munich, the LA Audio Show. and the California Audio Show. Yes, it costs nearly $1,000,000, but like a super car at a car show, I still want to see/hear it. If the Vinnie Rossi/Spatial Audio/Anticable Room has the same system they had at LA, we also highly recommend that you hear it.
Whether or not you are at RMAF, we will be posting pictures and articles throughout the show and for days afterwards, so follow The Audio Beatnik Facebook page to learn when new content is posted. And, be sure to read The Beatnik’s article on how to get the most from attending an audio show.
