WGH
Full Member
General RMAF 14 Thoughts
I didn't take any notes or photos this year, just browsed the halls with a couple of buddies from Tucson. Friday and Saturday's attendance seemed way down, it was real easy to get the center seat.
I always start and end at Salk Sound, no surprise there since I have the HT2-TL's. The Exotica is seductive, smooth and well balanced, this could easily be a final speaker purchase for many. One thing I did note was while playing "Keith Don't Go" by Nils Lofgren (I thought that song was banned?) the guitar's attack was not as sharp as it should be, not bad but the RAAL's do it better.
Goldmund room - holographic to the max, speakers completely disappeared, excellent sound too.
Dynaudio - yawn
TAD - too analytical, Zesto amps(?), Andrew Jones' demo with TAD amps a couple of years ago was much better.
Bryston - very nice, the Middle T speakers with Bryston electronics is a combination I could happily live with.
Odyssey - always excellent sound with one of the most affordable high end packages anywhere although the speakers still look like they are made in a garage.
Vapor Audio - the speakers look like audio jewelery and sound like a million bucks, they could cost twice as much and still be a bargain.
Wilson Audio - The Sabrina was a static display, nice box but no drivers. The new stand mount speakers were up against the wall and still have very limited bass so they sounded bright. All the seats were taken and nobody was moving for the Sasha Series 2 demo so didn't get a good listen, something classical (boring) was playing - average age of the listeners: 104.
Von Schweikert - The new 55's are great, switching to Constellation amps is a big step up in quality compared to previous shows.
Daedalus Audio - 2 rooms and always excellent sound but I liked the big ones better.
Nola Studio Grand Reference Gold Speaker - excellent full bodied, spacious sound. Check it out if you can but like all Nola speakers the price is a jaw dropping $19,800. Judge it by it's sound and not by the size of the drivers.
Single driver speakers - there were quite a few but they remind me of a dog that can sing opera, it's amazing to watch but it's still bad opera. (ouch)
Why do Jeff Roland Design Group and Wilson Audio have to be so snooty? And play boring music?
Fritz Speakers wasn't showing this year but Fritz was there prowling the halls, there were Fritz sightings all over RMAF. It was good to catch up with him.
Wayne
