RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Hear No Evil brings me the best KEF ever?
I almost hate to say it, but I’ve never been that big of a KEF fan. It’s not that I hate on the brand, or hate on the sound, or had my kitty kicked, or […]
Month: October 2012
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: On my own audio Odyssey
Would it be a cliche to say that Klaus Bunge is our latter-day Ulysses, on a quest for heroic sound quality? Whatever. All I have to say is, well, anyone who names his audio company […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Audio Video Logic presents a TAD/Pioneer one-two punch
If I found a TAD CR-1 ($37k w/o stand) and a Pioneer S-2EX ($7k/pair retail) in the same room, wired into the same rig, I’d have been a/b the living daylights out of them. Sadly, […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Antelope and their Rubicon
Somewhere here at RMAF, Antelope was doing their insane live-conversion-from-vinyl demos (can you tell the difference?) that blew me away when I heard it at Newport this past year. I didn’t bother to search them […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Incredible shrinking components at Wyred4Sound
Ken Kessler, at this year’s RMAF, made headlines talking about how the audio industry is pretty much dead and the only hope there is — at all — is at the very high end. Think […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Peachtree bringing the rain
David Solomon and Jon Derda of Peachtree Audio put on a marvelous show. A far cry from the passive “drive-by” approach to doing product demos at audio shows, these guys put on a dog-and-pony. They […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Coming home to eFicion and Plinius
If you’ll pardon the promotion, but every time I find a demo room with either Plinius or eFicion, I kinda feel like a judge who refuses to recuse himself when hearing a case he himself […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Black Cat takes the Red Pill
Black Cat Cables has been something of an experiment in progress for cable designer/manufacturer Chris Sommovigo. With success in the Stereovox, and later, the Stereolab, line of audio cabling, it’s almost curious as to why […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: High Water Sound presents Cessaro, TW Acustic, Tron, Silver Circle
Jeff Catalano of High Water Sound is not a digital guy. In fact, if you’re looking for a way to rile him up, ask him if he’ll play your CD. Tell him, “Yes, I’m serious.” […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Bringing it with Zesto Audio, TAD and WyWires
I’ve said before, somewhere, that it takes a special kind of confidence to choose to show with TAD loudspeakers. Specifically, the kind of ballsy that borders on cocksure. Why? Because they’re really not very system-friendly. […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: BorderPatrol, take me away to The Living Voice
Sometimes, you need to get away from it all. I mean, that is why we set up those man-caves, isn’t it? I always thought that the very idea was absurd — why would Daddy want […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Hi-Fi meets Computer-Fi with Mojo Audio, Volti Audio and BorderPatrol
The mojo here came from a combination of things — the best kind of mix — including the new Feastrex-enabled Veretta from Volti Audio. This single-driver loudspeaker was, obviously, fully coherent and seductive sounding. From […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Seductive sound and vintage looks from Volti Audio and BorderPatrol
I saw a brief write-up of this room on Stereophile where Art Dudley said to Volti Audio designer Greg Roberts: “My first question to Mr. Roberts was, “Who do I have to kill to borrow […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Acoustic Zen and Triode Corporation
“Sure things” usually aren’t. Except when they are. Want in? Here you go: if you’re at an audio show, the Acoustic Zen room is going to sound really, really good. It’s a lock. Anyway, this […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Purity Audio meets Carver and King Sound
The Empire State’s Purity Audio has been quietly building a reputation for world-class preamps. In fact, some are saying that their preamps are among the best they’ve ever heard. Heady stuff. New models have been […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Soundsmith is not just another pretty face
Friends Kirsten and Mal offered up this about the Soundsmith room: Why does nobody realize these guys make electronics and speakers? Best sounding small room. Easy. I think this is an excellent place to start, […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: United Home Audio brings the +5 Tape Deck of Awesomeness
I’ve had this argument before with United Home Audio‘s Greg Beron. Why “tape” — isn’t this just a pointless throwback? Totally redundant to good vinyl? I mean, seriously, why another analog source — isn’t everyone […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Strength in wood and steel with Daedalus and ModWright
I feel like I owe you (and Lou Hinkley of Daedalus) an explanation. At CAF, I might have had a bit of fun at Lou’s expense, but in all fairness, I blame Bill Baker of […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Estelon and Vitus Audio
I first ran across Estelon at RMAF last year. There, the big, beautiful, top of the line, $64k X Diamonds were a very pleasant shock, and earned a nod toward Best in Show. Here again, […]
RMAF 2012
RMAF12: Mad for Joseph Audio, Bel Canto, VPI and Sound-Smith
“Only a few find the way, some don’t recognize it when they do — some … don’t ever want to.” ― The Cheshire Cat It wasn’t a total surprise as Jeff Joseph of Joseph Audio […]