So remember audio shows? About this time last year, we were getting ready to go to the Florida Audio Show. Little did we know that it would be our only show of the year. And, it’s still anyone’s guess when it will be safe to attend shows again. We hope it’s soon!
Meanwhile, here’s a look back at what caught our attention last year in Tampa. There were three standout rooms, none of which were a surprise, but all of which were great listening stops.
The Audio Company
We didn’t start out here, but there’s no surprise that we spent some time in this room. Their lineup for this show was almost identical to what they presented at Capital Audiofest in November, which we covered here.
The VAC Statement 452iQ stereo/mono power amplifiers (two pairs for a total of $300,000) were center stage in this room. The rest of the system in this room was also impressive with Von Schweikert Audio speakers and subwoofers, Esoteric Audio components, A Kronos Pro turntable, an Air Tight Opus 1 cartridge, an Aurender music server, and Critical Mass cables and racks. Here’s the complete list of components:
VAC Statement Phono Preamplifier ($80,000)
VAC Statement Line Preamplifier ($80,000)
VAC Statement 452iQ stereo/mono power amplifier ($75,000 each)
Von Schweikert Ultra 11 loudspeaker system ($325,000/pair)
Von Schweikert V-12XS Shockwave subwoofers ($11,500/each)
Esoteric Grandioso P1x CD transport ($50,000)
Esoteric Grandioso D1x monoblock DACs ($50,000/pair)
Esoteric N-01 streamer/renderer/DAC ($22,000)
Esoteric G1 Grandioso clock ($26,000)
Aurender W20SE music server/streamer/renderer ($22,000)
Kronos Pro Table w/Black Beauty tonearm
and Ultracap Power Supply ($51,000)
Airtight Opus 1 cartridge ($16,000)
Critical Mass Olympus V-12 Luxury rack ($10,150 x 6 component spaces)
Critical Mass Maxxum rack ($6,150 x 6 component spaces)
Masterbuilt Ultra cables
Magico
Magico, sponsored by Sarasota, FL dealer, Suncoast Audio, was in one of the boardrooms. Pardon the pun, but the sound was pure magic with a system made up of their speakers, Luxman amplification, power and cables from Audioquest and Critical Mass Systems racks. Sources were from Luxman, Avid, Studer, and Doshi Audio. Here’s a complete list:
Magico M6 Loudspeakers ($172,000/pair)
Magico QSUB18, Subwoofer x2 ($36,000/each)
Luxman C-900u, Control Amplifier ($14,995)
Luxman M-900 Monoblock Amplifiers x2 ($14,995/ea)
Luxman D-08u CD Player/SACD Player/DAC ($14,995)
Avid HiFi:
Acutus Classic Turntable ($17,999)
SME 5 Tonearm ($5,500)
Pulsare II Phonostage ($7,499)
Reference Ruby MC Cartridge ($8,000)
Studer 810 Reel-to-Reel ($15,000 approximately)
Doshi Audio V3.0, Tape Stage ($15,995)
Audioquest:
Niagara 5000 Power Conditioner ($3,999)
Dragon ZERO Speaker Cables ($33,900)
Earth Balanced Interconnects ($1,459)
Husky Subwoofer Interconnects ($674)
Tornado High-Current Power Cables ($1,299)
Hurricane High-Current Power Cables ($2,199)
Hurricane Source Power Cables ($1,699)
Diamond USB Cable ($1,299)
MBL
MBL brought a system of their products that ran well over a hundred grand, and the quality was there proving that while money might not buy happiness it can buy a fine high-end experience.
The stars of the show were definitely the 101 E MK II Radial loudspeakers at $70,000/pair. These are a full-range 4-way omnidirectional loudspeaker system with proprietary spherical drivers. The source was an N31 Dac – CD Player ($15,400). Amplification was the N11 Preamplifier ($14,600) and the N15 Mono Power Amplifier ($17,800/ch.). Cables were the WireWorld Eclipse Series 8.
We hope we will see you again soon at shows in 2021. Until then, take care and keep listening.
Does anyone involved with this website understand the depth of the irony of the name (Audio Beatnik), as it relates to content like this?
Only a tiny handful of the products listed are <$5,000, and not a single primary component is <$10,000!
And that's all that caught the attention of your intrepid reporter(s) at the show?
Absurd!
Thanks for your feedback. We really appreciate your comment. Our latest post was a look back at 3 rooms at the Florida show that had, granted very expensive gear. However, we also review gear that is much less expensive. So, take a closer look. Posts by Adam LaBarge and Drew Gagliano often feature lower-priced components. Again, we do appreciate the feedback.