The two rooms being recognized in this post are at opposite ends of the spectrum for me. The first room listed here is mostly made up of components that I’m very familiar with having seen them at AXPONA or other shows. The second room is primarily made up of components that I am delighted to get to know and will look forward to seeing again, maybe at RMAF since they are a Colorado company.
This post also wraps up my awards for this show. No, I’m not giving out as many awards as for some shows, but this was a smaller show. Still, the rooms I’ve recognized had systems that I truly believe would be in the running for top honors at any show. I’d also like to express my thanks to all of the vendors who participated at this show and thank them for their efforts.
Best Room Under $100K: Scott Walker Audio
Sponsored by Scott Walker Audio, I could have just as easily called this the best system under $75,000 and that would have include most if not all of the Synergistic Research cables, power conditioning and room treatment. I thought this was the second most musically involving system at the show, so thus the award.
I don’t know what it says about me or Magico, but every time they bring out a less expensive speaker, I seem to like it better than any speaker they have made before. When I heard Magico’s new A3 speakers ($9,600) at AXPONA using other electronics, I was very impressed, but this setup at T.H.E. Show really made them sing. They were being driven by a pair of VAC Phi 170 iQ amps ($9,900 each) along with a VAC Signature Line Stage ($20,000) and a VAC Renaissance Phono Stage ($9,900). The vinyl source was an Acoustic Signature Challenger III turntable and tonearm ($10,000). The digital source was a Sony HAP-S1 ($2,000).
If they had used the new VAC integrated amp and not quite as many tweaks from Synergistic Research, this system would have been under $50K, I found the sound to be especially emotionally involving. While the Magico speakers may not go quite as deep, have quite as much detail or quite as deep and a wide soundstage, they made up for all of this in sheer musicality when paired with the VAC amplification. I understand the first couple of runs of these speakers have already sold out before the official release date, and all I can say is that I understand why!
Best Room Under $50K: PranaFidelity
PranaFidelity is a small company from Denver, CO that designs and manufactures loudspeakers, amplifiers, and pre-amplifiers. Steve Norber is the founder, and he is also their head designer. If you are not familiar with Steve, he was a founding partner of EDGE Electronics.
The room featured their Bhava speakers that sell for $4,950 without stands. The Bhava speakers were driven by their own puna/ma amps at $8,950 and their puna/ca preamp with phono for $9,950. The vinyl source was the new Merrill-Williams R.E.A.L 101.3 at $7,995 with a Helius Designs Omega tonearm for $3,695 and a Kiseki Purple Heart N.S. cartridge at $3,500. The digital source was an EAR Acute Classic CD Player (retail price: $6,095), provided by Dan Meinwald, the EAR USA distributor–who distributes, also, the Merrill-Williams turntable and Helius Designs tonearms.
The only thing in this room that I was really familiar with was the turntable setup. I have no idea why I’m not more familiar with the PranaFidelity gear because it was incredibly musical. The Bhava speakers are a two-way symmetrical array that uses two six-inch woofers and a single 1¼-inch tweeter. According to Steve, the Bhava has a largely flat 8-ohm impedance and 89.5dB sensitivity, so practically any amp around 20 watts or more can drive them easily. This is a monitor speaker that truly sounds like a floor-stander. The sound was refined and focused with great dynamics and micro-dynamics. I was also impressed with this turntable setup.
