AudioCircle
The Commercial Zone => Audio Shows and Events => Rocky Mountain Audio Fest => Topic started by: Tyson on 11 Oct 2013, 04:54 pm
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Oh yeah, coming to you LIVE from Rocky Mountain Audio Fest! Hahahah, I LOVE the first day of RMAF! Looking around you can see the bleary eyed, slightly panicked look among a bunch of the vendors - a result of desperately trying to get good sound in crappy rooms under a crazy tight deadline. And we are here to tell you (Audiocircle) just how well they succeeded! (or not).
Jason and I woke up ready and raring to go. Well, actually, Jason didn't sleep at all last night and I am not a FREAKING MORNING PERSON. Which is ironic, since I am staying at Jason's place over the next few days so we can cut down on the time spent commuting to and from RMAF. Jason has bunk beds, who knew?
2013 Changes
Biggest change this year in our process is our method for hitting rooms. In the past we had a huge list of vendors that we felt compelled to hit and it took us sprinting from room to room for 3 days to get it all in. This year, we have a much smaller list and we are going to try to hit them all today. That will leave Saturday and Sunday for us to just roam the halls and look for cool shit. Don't forget, if you know of something that is really cool, just let us know and we can try to swing by. (And no, a 6 inch driver and a one inch tweeter in a box is NOT interesting! If you suggest that, we reserve the right to reach through the internet and b!tch slap you!)
Methodology
Same as last year - we have a CD with 5 pieces of music, each edited down to about a 90 second snippet. First 3 selections are awesome classical stuff, last 2 are crappy Pop music (from Jason). We walk into a room, drop in the CD, I listen to the first 3 tracks and comment on the sound while Jason takes pics, then I swap spots with Jason and he listens and comments on his tracks. If it sounds good, we will post that. If it doesn't, it doesn't. If we happen to not like a room that has gear that you love, be an adult about it. This is ALL subjective. In fact you will notice that Jason and I don't even agree with each other, in the same room, at the same time! So it's like I tell my 6 year old daughter - you get what you get, and you don't pitch a fit.
Music
This year our music selection is:
Saint-Saen's - Danse Macabre (transcribed for Violin and Piano) - Shaham & Feltman performing.
Handel - Aria - Lascia ch'io Pianga - de Niese performing
Mahler - Symphony 5 - Bertini conducting
The Civil Wars - The One That Got Away
Tom Waits - Walk Away
OK, Jason is getting antsy and about to stab me with a fork. So we are off!
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Tyson pretty much covered it. Hope you guys enjoy.
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Next stop we're going to get our press badges. I forgot to mention that I will be posting as Tyson sometimes today. So if he sounds more intellectually enlightened than usual that's the reason why.
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PEZ: The ceremonial getting of the press badge. Note the lobby and how crowded it is it is absolutely insane here already and it's only 11:30!!!!
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Our very own Mike Galusha poses in the midst of all the craziness.
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2nd stop.
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The definition of irony, buying an eyefi SD card putting it in your camera finding out it is incompatible for some reason so youhVe to plug and unplug it from the camera and iPad.
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PEZ: Silent auction system. Looks very nice.
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Yes, this is the system to get for that dickish CEO or Corporate Saleguy in your life. You know, the one that has a laptop with a wood trimmed cover. Screw how it sounds, it'll look GREAT in that corner office!
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Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – First room of the year! And we actually got in! Usually the TAD room is super crowded. But we started at the top of the tower and are working our way down. All the other lemmings are down in the mezzanine, hahaha.
We can’t listen to our CD because there’s no CD player, but there is a very nice vinyl setup. Starting with Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, Bernstein and the NYPO.
Sound is very good, as always in this room. I am a big fan of concentric drivers, and not many people do it for some strange reason. And ever fewer do it “right”. TAD absolutely does it right. There is a coherency and pace and micro dynamic capability that is just astonishing. An downsides about this room? Only a slight one – these are not warm sounding speakers, so if you want anything other than the truth, they are probably not for you ☺
Jason's notes
Zesto wywire tad. We are listening to vinyl only so our routine is instantly thrown off!!! The only way to start RMAF. :thumb: Stravinsky - firebird suite: very smooth and violin sounds very nice. Even outside of the sweet spot everything is nice and coherent. Dynamics are pretty effortless and clean. Tonality is spot on for my personal preferences. On larger dynamic passages they do get a bit strident but nothing offensive. I think they did a good job of taming much of that with the use of a decent amount of room treatment.
Dire Straits Communique. Now I'm in the sweet spot and let me tell you, it's deep and wide despite being relatively close to the wall. Track is Once upon a time in the west. Wow that imaging is superb!! Great groove factor on this track. The performance is very convincing. This is every bit of what I think people love about a good hifi system. Great stuff!
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PEZ Sshhhhhhhh traveling in style.
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Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – Salk Room! Love, love, love the fit and finish on the Salk Speakers every year. This year is no different – beautiful. And the AVA gear looks great in it’s silver with blue LED’s.
Saint-Saens Violin & Piano – Man it really rips into that violin part with a lot of gusto. Very nice. Good flow and pace.
Handel Aria – Oh, the absolute acid test this year – Opera for the first time as a test track! And the system is doing great. If it’s poor then this can just rip your ear off, but here it just flows beautifully. Nice!
Mahler Symphony – Nice opening horn call. Macrodynamics area a little disappointing on the big orchestra crash. Sounds a bit distant on this track.
Civil Wars – Ugh, Jason’s crap pop music. I guess it sounds good – they singer sounds appropriately whiney and desperately trying for emotional depth. Note – if you visit this room, get a front row seat, it sounds better than the back row.
Tom Waits – Tom Waits is DA MAN! System does a decent job of capturing his gruffness. Smooths over the edges a little bit, makes him seem like he’s only smoked 100,000 cigarettes in his life, not the ONE MILLION that he’s actually smoked. Instruments are a bit recessed on this track to. More vocal centric.
Tonally sweet and smooth. While I like the rosey beautiful emotion that this system is capable of it certainly is less precise and more emotive. Civil wars is a great track to make these speakers emote and emote they do!
Tom waits: I feel this system smooths over some of Waits grit and gruffness in place of a more smooth sound. Not a bad thing by any means I like it, but not personally my cup of tea. These bigger rooms really need more treatment. That back wall really wreaks havoc vocal coherence and I think that's a bit of what we're hearing.
Well I would read this room as a B+ A-!
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Lava lamps and magic post electron somethings. This room has it all.
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Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – Got the whole Lava Lamp vibe going on! Even a couple of room treatments in the back corners. Kudos! These are crazy looking speakers. The baffles closely mirror the shape of the drivers. Seems like a great idea, should give them a real leg up in the imaging department.
Saint-Saens Violin & Piano – I was kind of wrong – imaging is pretty flat and diffuse. Surprsing. Good dynamics, but more of a “wall of sound” coming at you. Not much depth on this track. Good pace though
Handel Aria – Reverb on this track sounds artificial. Instruments are really crowding out the singer. On a good note, it’s a smooth enough sound that I’m not being driven out of the room by this track. Can’t say that about every room.
Mahler Symphony – Dynamics – oh crazy good. For such small speakers, these scale up like crazy. The system sounds really great on this track.
Civil Wars – This track is recorded hot and compressed to sound “big”. And it really does sound life sized on this system. For such small speakers they sound much larger than they really are.
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Would you guys be able to check the resonance Labs DAC equipments???
V
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Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – No CD Player, so we are stuck listening to the record player. A really freaking nice looking turntable!! Holy cow, it’s is amazing looking, with dual platters, spinning in opposite directions simultaneously.
Sound, eh, OK. A bit bright, a bit thin. Very clear, but not my cuppa. YG is really hit or miss. Sometimes they sound amazing, sometimes they sound just good. So far they are not blowing us away.
YG always technically good, very nice speakers that don't offend in any major way. Honestly a lot of talking going on in this room so I'm going to keep comments to a minimum. They don't evoke some deep emotional response in me they perform way better than I would expect any speaker to perform in an untreated room, but leaves me wanting so much more.
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Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – Emerald Physics is always a favorite room of mine. I love open baffle speakers and I love coax speakers and EP does both! But, I have to be honest, every year they underwhelm me. Fit and finish is usually not all that great and the overall sound is very “pro sound”-ish.
BUT, this year they look AMAZING. They went with a BMW automotive finish and they look tough!
Saint-Saens Violin & Piano – Hey, these sound very, very similar to my DIY speakers at home, and that is a GREAT thing.
Handel Aria – Ah, finally an actual soundstage. Way, way smoother sound than last year.
Mahler Symphony – Ah, finally a big orchestra. Best room at conveying orchestral size and hall space of anything so far this year. And not by a little. In such a small room with no treatments, that’s a pretty neat trick.
Civil Wars – Hey, it actually sounds like emo chick has real emotions instead of skim milk. “Skim milk is water, that is lying about being milk”. Gotta love Ron Swanson. Love what these speakers do with the soundstage depth and sense of acoustic space.
Tom Waits – Haha, I have to just laugh every time Tom Waits comes on. He just the MAN! Crystal clear sound, great tonality, and most importantly, all his rough edges are preserved. Whisky and cigarettes abused over decades. When this track is over you should feel like you’ve been in a fist fight. And I do.
So far, my vote for most improved room at RMAF.
Jason's Notes
Thus far this room is great! The finish on these speakers looks to me like luxury automobile quality. From what I'm hearing from Tyson's three tracks they sound pretty dynamic and I'm sure he is all about this sound. I know my buddy. Open box concentric drivers?!!?!? Oh ya he's all about this one.
Civil Wars: in a lot of ways this system is the polar opposite of the sound in the Salk room. Rather than the warmth and tendency to romantically editing things to sound sweet these tend to be a touch cold yet preserves the tonality and immediacy of the music. Bass is probably the most confident that I've heard today. I wonder if it's those subs they have
On the Tom Waits this is a much better match for the menacing timbre awaits presents. Though like all other OB speakers I've heard there's a slight disembodiment to vocals. Still great presentation.
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Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – Room treatment! Great improvement over the stupid teacups they used previously. And the speakers look very cool in their “Disney’s Black Hole – Maximillian” way.
Saint-Saens Violin & Piano – Top end is crystal clear, but a bit prominent and a bit light on the mids and upper bass.
Handel Aria – Ah, beautiful vocal presentation. Highs overpower the rest of the spectrum a bit when she really leans into a note. But otherwise amazingly coherent. The tweeter driver is pretty damn incredible.
Mahler Symphony – Good sense of space on the opening horn call. Things flatten a bit when the whole orchestra comes in. Lacking a bit in weight in the cellos and basses
Civil Wars – Again, good sense of space. Good sound. Just not blown away. The guy’s backing vocal is pretty lightweight. Honestly I think they just need a bigger driver. I’ve heard that before and it sounded phenomenal. I’m willing to bet that a good sub would make these guys into world beaters.
Tom Waits – From the midrange on up, these guys sound great, they just need a bit more oomph in the bottom to match those spectacular highs.
Jason's Notes
Civil Wars deep deep deep imaging just like every other year. Probably one of the more consistent performers at this show year over year. And this year they seem to have even stepped it up a notch. The one thing I never really liked about the German physiks speakers is the overall tonal balance is a bit on the lean side. Overall though matched with the rights electronics I could see this
Problem being rectified.
Walk Away while better than the civil wars track tends to suffer much the same issue. Just not enough body for my tastes and therefore emotionality is lacking. A bit.... German sounding perhaps?
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Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – The bigger brothers of the room we were just in. Just as beautiful, but way more badass looking, because bigger.
Saint-Saens Violin & Piano – Interesting, as much as I loved the last EP room, this one is underwhelming me. There’s a bit of a U shape to the curve of the FR. At least to my ears, the highs are a bit exposed and the bass a bit prominent.
Handel Aria – Interesting, she is placed further back than in any other room so far. But it sounds a bit distant. In the last EP room everything sounded more present and bigger. Which is odd, since those were the little brothers.
Mahler Symphony – Oh, scale very, very well on the big orchestral track. These speakers were made for Mahler. The drums in particular have a lifesize weight and presence.
Civil Wars – Bad music reproduced really well! Haha, I have a feeling that I’m going to strangle the first person that plays the Civil Wars around me after RMAF is over. It’s so odd that the last EP room was so compelling and this one leaves me cold.
Tom Waits – Whoah, when Tom leans into a note it’s way too forward. Time to go….
Jason’s Notes
Wyred for sound
TCW- definitely the best OP speaker I've heard today. Very full sounding I'm grooving to this room! The imaging isn't quite as good as some of the better rooms we've heard a bit compressed but those dynamics and bass!
Tom Waits double bass sounds much more like what it's supposed to be. Way more depth here. Waits is sounding the best I've heard today. Big big groove factor here too. Thus far I'm pretty sure this is my favorite system today which is surprising because as I just posted OP is usually not my thing. Big thumbs up emerald and wired for sound.
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You guys are rockin' it!!! Keep up the excellent work!
-dB
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Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – Man this room sounds terrible. Oh wait, there’s some Highland Park. Yum! Now its sounding MUCH better. Who know that there was such a thing as audiophile Scotch ;)
Great fit and finish on the speakers. Didn’t listen to our CD in this room, but we did get to listen to some opera on Vinyl. Good sound without being overwhelming.
Jason’s Notes
For once Tyson and I agree. The only thing worse than the sound is them music they're playing.
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Great job guys! almost as good as being there? (well, probably not)
One small request: could you try to identify some of the stuff in the rooms? sometimes there's signage, but already I'm not familiar with some of the pieces.
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I don't care what everyone says about you guys, your show report is always awesome. :icon_lol:
Looking reward to more of your posts! I also love the skim milk line and can't wait to steal it and use in conversation.
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It's been a while since any pictures were posted. What are you guys doing? Slackers. :duh:
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Sometimes it is not obvious whose room you are in and can you say which speakers were playing when there are multiple speakers in the photographs?? Just saying' ----- slackers! :whip:
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Isn't it obvious? The speakers in the last photo are from the "tower speaker with Scandinavian drivers" speaker company.
Russ
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Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – Beautiful real wood speakers as always. Usually the sound is pretty average the first day in the Daedalus room. But 2 things have conspired to change that this year – the Rev 2 speakers and good room treatments. The sound this year is already better on the first day than it was last year on Sunday. Impressive.
Saint-Saens Violin & Piano – Really good microdynamics and tone, while still keeping the necessary grit when the bow digs into the strings..
Handel Aria – Smooth and beautiful. Could listen to this forever. Standout room of the show for this particular track (so far).
Mahler Symphony – Oh yeah, imaging is much sharper and more focused this year. Of course they scale with Mahler perfectly, but the again they always have done macrodynamics like nobody’s business.
Civil Wars – Hey, I actually kind of like this track in this room. If that’s not a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is!
Tom Waits – Did I mention that I love Tom Waits? Jesus, you hear that lifetime of pain and regret coming through here better than anything I’ve heard. Kudos.
Jason’s Notes
In the TCW track there female vocals are probably the best balance I have heard all day. There is so much balls to this sound it's crazy. Dynamics just pop and really grab your attention. There is a bit of bass overhang for sure.
Walk Away first time today that I feel like a speaker really actually completely gets the true sound of Tom's voice (yes I'm on a first name basis with Mr Waits). Best groove factor by far. This is a huge improvement over last year. The one thing that I think this room needs to improve is the imaging isn't quite locked in. I found myself trying to move my head around to get things centered and focused. I couldn't quite get it which is not normally my experience with any of the Daedalus speakers. But overall a big step up over most if not all that I've heard today.
Moved one row back and that seemed to fix the imaging issue completely. Big fat awesome soundstage with confidence and presence like you wouldn't believe.imaging way outside the speakers first time that Canberra said of any speaker today.
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Yes, we would post all the equipment in all the rooms, but that seems like it would be actual work. :P
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The Modwright DAC on the top shelf looks very nice. This is their new offering.
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PEZ: I can barely get photos download and my short blurb. If Tyson can get room info in he will otherwise it might not happen. Sorry there's a lot of info and not a lot of time to over it all.
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Plus, we kind of don't care.
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Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – TAD Room. Oh yeah, now we are cooking with gas! Even listening to the general music selected by the people running the room, it’s obvious that this room does everything we loved about the TAD room 2 years ago when they were best of RMAF for us. Having all TAD electronics certainly helps!
Saint-Saens Violin & Piano – Haha, microdynamics suckas! Amazing that it keeps the grit of the violin while being absolutely smooth and musical. Love the TAD room. Catches the interplay between Shaham and Feltsman superbly.
Handel Aria – Coherent and beautiful, huge soundstage. Can’t believe we are in such a small shoebox room and there’s such giant sound. Great, great, great.
Mahler Symphony – Horn call at the beginning is room filling, that’s something I’ve not heard in any other room yet. Holy shit the orchestral crash is INSANE!
Civil Wars – One of the few systems that doesn’t make the midbass sound like mush on this track. Just puts her vocals out there with real emotion and depth. Almost naked clarity. Beautiful. Soundstage is really amazing, just very real. Tactile almost.
Tom Waits – Hahaha, Tom Waits sounds like a junkyard dog with a bone and a bad attitude. Less sorrow and more “f-you” anger and resentment. Beautiful. I can clearly imagine him shaking his fists at kids and telling them “Get the hell off my lawn!”
Clearly the best room I’ve been in this year so far, and not by a little.
Jason’s Notes
The TAD room always sets my heart atwitter and this year is no different. I walked in and instantly loved the look. But the sound as usual is really what tad is about and this year is no exception. Tyson's tracks actually sound approachable and even beautiful. Actually got my attention! the Mahler especially had so much authority it you can't help but sit and just listen.
TCW. Yes now this is what it's about! Soooooo much grace soooo much emotional nuance it's almost outside of categorization. The guitar strumming and dynamic shifts are breath taking! So refined its ridiculous. So much power wow.
Waits. Just going to sit here and enjoy it. Holy shit..... Nothing more needs to be said.
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Plus, we kind of don't care.
That's awesome. :lol:
You guys are doing a great job. Those of us that can't make it are grateful for whatever you can manage to show us.
Regardless of how halfassed it seems from our perspective. :P
Rock on fellas...and thank you.
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(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/f5ba47bead83e4ba646dc39b8505b38a_zps05f6cdfb.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/2c62100dcc8dfb590db8dc2924dc4665_zps6cb59440.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/3a166c7ee000c05ed50ffad10cbed97d_zpsa2596699.jpg)
Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – YES, huge f’ing speakers!!!!!!! Nothing, and I mean NOTHING can touch a well executed line source speaker. Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever heard an open baffle line source before.
Kodo – Mondo Head – off da hook. Deeeep soundstage. I know I really liked the Super 7’s last year in this room, but I like the speakers this year even better. When you close your eyes, you just get lost in the soundstage.
Saint-Saens Violin & Piano – Oh, I almost forgot to type up my impressions – I was sort of sucked in to just listening to the music. I think that’s the first time that’s happened to me at the show this year.
Handel Aria – Detail is insane – you can almost “see” her mouth moving to form the words she is singing. Everything is exactly proportioned in it’s soundstage, exactly where it should be. One thing I’ll say is that the imaging and center focus is better than most OB speakers I hear. I guess the line source combo OB factor improves that sort of diffuse sound that OB’s can sometimes get. Very sharp imaging in this room.
Mahler Symphony – Oh yeah, all hell breaks loose on this track. Apocalyptic is what Mahler was going for, and that’s exactly what this room delivers!
Civil Wars – Much better separation of the guitars here. Usually all the instruments sort of bleed together on this track. Oh, and the tonality. This is the warmest, most beautiful sound I think I’ve ever heard here. Really nice job.
Tom Waits – Its amazing how human he sounds here. Not in the “frail” sense, because you know I’m convinced Tom Waits can kick Chuck Norris’ ass. No, more in the sense that he is just realistically presented, like he’s just sort of hanging out, over there by the piano, rhapsodizing about life’s tragic beauty.
Oh yeah, the bass. When that deep bass drops, it just just room shaking. And in the upper bass - one of the very, very few speakers I've heard that can give you that kick in the chest physicality that you get with truly live music. I might have to get a pair of these when I move to my new house with dedicated man cave.
Jason's Notes
Listening to kodo right now. And holy shit! The imaging is pretty off the hook.
Damn I think we hit the trifecta between Daedalus, TAD and GR/Dodd. Once again this setup just grips your attention like the two other rooms and demands your undivided attention. Immediacy, intimacy refinement. The amps are slightly being over driven sometimes on the operatic and it comes out a bit in the vocals but it's the little dodds that are playing I'm sure this would not be the case if the sexy blue beasts were on, but sadly there's some first day technical difficulty.
TCW. Sweet vocals great emotion, sexy as hell. Great air deep wide soundstage and phenomenal control. Wow this is what I come to this show to hear. Something that blows my mind and challenges my expectations.
Walk Away. So locked in and awesome. This is refinement yet the gruff harsh well used vocals of Waits are soooo powerful. 3 superb rooms in a row dayum!!!! Couldn't ask for a better room than this.
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Great stuff guys. Thanks, and keep 'em comin'. :thumb: :beer:
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Great coverage as always. :thumb:
I heard that Vaughn loudspeakers is showing their new plasma tweeters at the show this year. That should be a good listen if you have never heard plasma drivers before.
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(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/1075941686466f213a63374b97549a74_zpsd7596708.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/9f28c679da60587e8b91cb5bf418e170_zps51a2e64d.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/90259bbb648f49620e99fb9ffcc89514_zps5d33ad8f.jpg)
Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – last year we got to hear the Orion and after hearing soooooo much about it for soooooo long online, my expectations were very, very high. And I was disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, they sounded good, but I was expecting the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. And it was more like meeting the Buddah on the road (no, I didn’t kill him).
But this year the speakers with the numbers that I can’t ever remember sound way better. Maybe not quite at the TAD/GR Research/Daedalus rooms, but certainly within throwing distance. One of the more musical rooms we’ve heard, if not super razor sharp high resolution.
Jason's Notes
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Random pic. From the kimber room. This guy sits in front of a spooling machine running and making some sexy looking cable.... Errr. Kable.
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/b097f90ce310a3a2a0279073fc0c0ea4_zps342c520d.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/456bfab402961be8a0792878c77ee7aa_zps1a5e8b31.jpg)
-Pez
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(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/5cd82ff2de39a305977eabac99a02f54_zpsed334de3.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/16c87194d5f9ff68897dbecb7759a2ba_zps6bd4e880.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/e906c33ce5ae67b7b51f417c066f618e_zpsf7c3eeab.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/b525b964f0b6e8f3f6127985167dd419_zpsf21f74b8.jpg)
Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – Dammit, I lost my demo CD already! Luckily they had Tom Waits on tap on their music server.
It’s hard to believe these speakers with a very sophisticated cabinet and a ton of drivers are only priced at $9k, but indeed they are. It pays off in the area of microdynamics and especially with percussive stuff. The really crazy thing about these speakers is they just don’t get louder or softer in volume as you walk away from them or toward them. The even-ness of the sound and it’s ability to fill the room effortlessly is incredibly good.
Jason's Notes
Sounds like music being streamed via spotify, and is!!!!!! Yay. Now playing server music. Better but uninspiring IMO. Imaging and soundstage while there is not really gelling for me
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Hitting that wall guys. Things are starting to sound sorta similar to me. Sorry -Pez
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People, just ignore Jason, he's always surly when he gets tired. And I think I see him nodding off....
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THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY FOLKS!
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Big thanks for the hard work. :thumb:
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Usually the Orion's are quad-amped (per channel) with a 4-way electronic Xover, but this year's picture looks like a more traditional single amp (per channel) passive Xover; is that right?
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I come home from work to find THIS? Get a work ethic!
Seriously, just the right blend of facts, finesse, F U man!, and chutzpah. Keep it up, if you can.
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Great job men!
You've earned a coupl'a coldies. :beer:
Always fun reading your reports.
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Sounds like music being streamed via spotify, and is!!!!!! Yay.
Wait a second.....Spotify has demo quality streams? :o
Quality enough to be used at RMAF?!?!?!
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People, just ignore Jason, he's always surly when he gets tired. And I think I see him nodding off....
Come on, who wouldn't be surly from hanging out with Tyson for 10 fucking hours? :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:
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Usually the Orion's are quad-amped (per channel) with a 4-way electronic Xover, but this year's picture looks like a more traditional single amp (per channel) passive Xover; is that right?
Looks like 5 channel Emotiva amps per side, so I'd say 4 way, quad amplified.
Greg
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Surprised nobody has mentioned that Mark Schifter was at the show today. :scratch:
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Hitting that wall guys. Things are starting to sound sorta similar to me. Sorry -Pez
As always, the very best RMAF coverage available, anywhere. You two ROCK!!!
Thanks, Tyson & Pez; much enjoyed and appreciated! :thumb:
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Surprised nobody has mentioned that Mark Schifter was at the show today. :scratch:
Mark Schifter is at the show today.
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Mark Schifter is at the show today.
Work release?
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Mark Schifter is at the show today.
Sure was.
Work release?
Dunno. Doubt it.
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That takes quite a set to show up there....
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That takes quite a set to show up there....
Exactly my words!
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Wow, wish I was there. Thanks for the coverage guys!!
Be sure to give us some coverage of the after hours shagadelic Herr Bunge room.
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That takes quite a set to show up there....
Who on earth is associating with him?
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Who on earth is associating with him?
Underwood
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Who on earth is associating with him?
Felons :dunno:
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Anyone heard this room:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=88344)
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Anyone heard this room:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=88344)
Some on other forums are calling it their favorite sounding room so far
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Would love to hear your perspective on Dave Slagle's room - Intact Audio + Emia + Saskia.
---Gary
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Surprised nobody has mentioned that Mark Schifter was at the show today. :scratch:
GTFO! Ole Schifty Schifter huh? Did he have a parole bracelet on? :evil:
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That takes quite a set to show up there....
Or supreme arrogance.
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Anyone heard this room:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=88344)
Yes, it was really good... one of the best rooms I was in today.
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Good first day...thanks T & J............. :beer:
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The Modwright DAC on the top shelf looks very nice. This is their new offering.
The Daedalus / ModWright room is the best Ive heard yet and not by small margins. The new MW DAC is VERY nice along with with the new Daedalus .v2 speakers. Words just can't describe....
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Is Bent Audio there?
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tyson and pez, thanks for the coverage, for us down under its good to see photos and comments on live coverage for us shows.
cheers
henry
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Thx for all the hard work, really appreciate all.
Have you guys been to the room with Absolare and Rockport?
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(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/16c87194d5f9ff68897dbecb7759a2ba_zps6bd4e880.jpg)
These speakers looks a fresh design, it is screaming for a one way fullrange version... :eyebrows:
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Hi Tyson & Pez and all Audio Circle members.
Thanks for the virtual visit of the RMAF,
it's highly appreciated since I am in Vietnam
and cannot attempt.
Guy 13
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Hi Ryson & Pez and all Audio Circle members.
Thanks for the virtual visit of the RMAF,
it's highly appreciated since I am in Vietnam
and cannot attempt.
Guy 13
Well remembered Thanks too.
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Paragon is a large Wilson and Krell dealer in Ann Arbor. They play with big boy pants on.
Anyone heard this room:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=88344)
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I always figured beer (hint, hint) would be more enticing than lava lamps....but what do I know.
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I always figured beer would me more enticing than lava lamps....but what do I know.
:thumb:
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I wanna lick those Alexia's.
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BEER! :)
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I wanna lick those Alexia's.
My friend just got a pair a few weeks ago.
Beautifully finished speakers, but man they are a lot of coin.
George
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These speakers looks a fresh design, it is screaming for a one way fullrange version... :eyebrows:
The "Gamechanger" design is a major re-thinking of the way speakers project into a room. It is based on some astonishing analytical work by DB Keele, known as the "CBT" circular arc array. As I understand it, it attempts to equalize the pathways to most parts of the room to provide sound field uniformity throughout the space, creating the same sweet spot everywhere.
Here is one of his papers, comparing this design with other types of line arrays:
http://www.xlrtechs.com/dbkeele.com/PDF/Keele%20(2010-11%20AES%20Preprint)%20CBT%20Paper6%20Performance%20Ranking%20of%20Loudspeaker%20Line%20Arrays.pdf (http://www.xlrtechs.com/dbkeele.com/PDF/Keele%20(2010-11%20AES%20Preprint)%20CBT%20Paper6%20Performance%20Ranking%20of%20Loudspeaker%20Line%20Arrays.pdf)
Rick Craig at Selah audio is the only mfr. out there actively promoting this technology. I applaud him for it. I'd like to hear them someday.
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/16c87194d5f9ff68897dbecb7759a2ba_zps6bd4e880.jpg)
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Tyson and Pez. Thank you for all your efforts and great coverage of the RMAF for all of us not able to make it.
If you can I would love to hear your feedback on a few rooms.
The Grimm Audio room has new to the US market their all in one speaker, power amp and DSP system (it even comes with the cabling). It is an all new design that uses the Hypex Ncore amps and Grimm's Studio DSP. It is very well regarded in other parts of the world.
The exaSound room and their DAC's.
The Merrill Audio room with the TAD E-1 speakers.
I know there is one more but I can not think of it right now.
Again thank you for all your efforts.
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The "Gamechanger" design is a major re-thinking of the way speakers project into a room. It is based on some astonishing analytical work by DB Keele, known as the "CBT" circular arc array. As I understand it, it attempts to equalize the pathways to most parts of the room to provide sound field uniformity throughout the space, creating the same sweet spot everywhere.
Here is one of his papers, comparing this design with other types of line arrays:
http://www.xlrtechs.com/dbkeele.com/PDF/Keele%20(2010-11%20AES%20Preprint)%20CBT%20Paper6%20Performance%20Ranking%20of%20Loudspeaker%20Line%20Arrays.pdf (http://www.xlrtechs.com/dbkeele.com/PDF/Keele%20(2010-11%20AES%20Preprint)%20CBT%20Paper6%20Performance%20Ranking%20of%20Loudspeaker%20Line%20Arrays.pdf)
Rick Craig at Selah audio is the only mfr. out there actively promoting this technology. I applaud him for it. I'd like to hear them someday.
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/16c87194d5f9ff68897dbecb7759a2ba_zps6bd4e880.jpg)
Thanks for the heads up. :thumb:
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(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/0313ca2c5c4621f0c1e9f63b2244663a_zps14d990ea.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/7685405b9f72c977f1fbe86b68cf3d96_zpsf93ccf85.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/3e3c0c7debcf8fc658c333ef03ce9b92_zps4691d104.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/72adbe846c7efcfbd834a6e4f87c4ad2_zpscf3dd437.jpg)
Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – TAD Room. Oh yeah, now we are cooking with gas! Even listening to the general music selected by the people running the room, it’s obvious that this room does everything we loved about the TAD room 2 years ago when they were best of RMAF for us. Having all TAD electronics certainly helps!
Saint-Saens Violin & Piano – Haha, microdynamics suckas! Amazing that it keeps the grit of the violin while being absolutely smooth and musical. Love the TAD room. Catches the interplay between Shaham and Feltsman superbly.
Handel Aria – Coherent and beautiful, huge soundstage. Can’t believe we are in such a small shoebox room and there’s such giant sound. Great, great, great.
Mahler Symphony – Horn call at the beginning is room filling, that’s something I’ve not heard in any other room yet. Holy shit the orchestral crash is INSANE!
Civil Wars – One of the few systems that doesn’t make the midbass sound like mush on this track. Just puts her vocals out there with real emotion and depth. Almost naked clarity. Beautiful. Soundstage is really amazing, just very real. Tactile almost.
Tom Waits – Hahaha, Tom Waits sounds like a junkyard dog with a bone and a bad attitude. Less sorrow and more “f-you” anger and resentment. Beautiful. I can clearly imagine him shaking his fists at kids and telling them “Get the hell off my lawn!”
Clearly the best room I’ve been in this year so far, and not by a little.
Jason’s Notes
The TAD room always sets my heart atwitter and this year is no different. I walked in and instantly loved the look. But the sound as usual is really what tad is about and this year is no exception. Tyson's tracks actually sound approachable and even beautiful. Actually got my attention! the Mahler especially had so much authority it you can't help but sit and just listen.
TCW. Yes now this is what it's about! Soooooo much grace soooo much emotional nuance it's almost outside of categorization. The guitar strumming and dynamic shifts are breath taking! So refined its ridiculous. So much power wow.
Waits. Just going to sit here and enjoy it. Holy shit..... Nothing more needs to be said.
OK, I heard this system today and everyone making speakers that sell for over ~$25K should just acknowledge the vast superiority of TAD over their product and just throw in the towel.
And if you are lucky enough to be able to afford $30k speakers, just buy this system and know that the only people on earth that have a better system than you are the ones with larger and even more expensive TAD systems.
Edit... and everyone who builds less expensive gear should invest in a TAD system as a benchmark for their work.
Ok, that should be enough superlatives for one post... :wink:
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OK, I heard this system today and everyone making speakers that sell for over ~$25K should just acknowledge the vast superiority of TAD over their product and just throw in the towel.
And if you are lucky enough to be able to afford $30k speakers, just buy this system and know that the only people on earth that have a better system than you are the ones with larger and even more expensive TAD systems.
Edit... and everyone who builds less expensive gear should invest in a TAD system as a benchmark for their work.
Ok, that should be enough superlatives for one post... :wink:
Hi Dave, have you had a chance to hear the Vughnn speakers yet? They are $15K and include plasma tweeters. Even Gordon Rankin said the sound was great.
The plasma tweeters are $8K for the pair and will be able to be matched up with any speakers.
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Yeah, the tone, coherence and detail in the mids and highs on the Vaughns were excellent and up there with anything else, the plasma tweets are awesome and very well integrated with the fostex wideband. They're not even close to the TADs in many other respects though...
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Jim was afraid to take his Tower Line Arrays to the show because of the room acoustics in those small rooms. The Line Arrays are much better than those Triodes he has at the show.
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I love your reports! l had hoped that l could have gone in person this year, but your reports are the next best thing. You are hitting all my favorite spots. :thumb:
Bob
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The Daedalus / ModWright room is the best Ive heard yet and not by small margins. The new MW DAC is VERY nice along with with the new Daedalus .v2 speakers. Words just can't describe....
It doesn't matter how many times you have heard the Daedalus ModWright room in the past, the version 2 Daedalus speakers are a game changer. The soundstage is deeper and wider, improved low end response, great clarity and detail, more precise while keeping the accurate tonality that has always been a trademark of Lou's speakers. Check it out, you will be glad you did.
Laura
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T&P great coverage ...... :thumb:
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(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/194a1ae13b948db147ea345513472055_zpsae344a18.jpg)
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd370/pezacolypse/RMAF%202013/73595ae9e3a18887cb1bdcce709c6bec_zps1da01f2e.jpg)
Tyson Notes
General Room Notes – Room treatment! Great improvement over the stupid teacups they used previously. And the speakers look very cool in their “Disney’s Black Hole – Maximillian” way.
Saint-Saens Violin & Piano – Top end is crystal clear, but a bit prominent and a bit light on the mids and upper bass.
Handel Aria – Ah, beautiful vocal presentation. Highs overpower the rest of the spectrum a bit when she really leans into a note. But otherwise amazingly coherent. The tweeter driver is pretty damn incredible.
Mahler Symphony – Good sense of space on the opening horn call. Things flatten a bit when the whole orchestra comes in. Lacking a bit in weight in the cellos and basses
Civil Wars – Again, good sense of space. Good sound. Just not blown away. The guy’s backing vocal is pretty lightweight. Honestly I think they just need a bigger driver. I’ve heard that before and it sounded phenomenal. I’m willing to bet that a good sub would make these guys into world beaters.
Tom Waits – From the midrange on up, these guys sound great, they just need a bit more oomph in the bottom to match those spectacular highs.
Jason's Notes
Civil Wars deep deep deep imaging just like every other year. Probably one of the more consistent performers at this show year over year. And this year they seem to have even stepped it up a notch. The one thing I never really liked about the German physiks speakers is the overall tonal balance is a bit on the lean side. Overall though matched with the rights electronics I could see this
Problem being rectified.
Walk Away while better than the civil wars track tends to suffer much the same issue. Just not enough body for my tastes and therefore emotionality is lacking. A bit.... German sounding perhaps?
Hi Guys, I work for German Physiks and would like to make a few comments that I hope will not be seen as inappropriate.
Firstly many thanks for coming by our room. You obviously spent some time there which is appreciated.
Room treatments: We used the same treatments this year as last. We used the "cups" only once and I agree they did not do anything.
Bass: if you are seeking more bass the next model up but one, Borderland Mk IV, has a 12-inch rather than an 8-inch woofer and that should do what you are after at the bottom end.
The driver you referred to as the tweeter is actually covering the entire range from 200Hz to 24,000Hz. This is proprietary to German Physiks and is called the DDD driver. It was inspired by Lincoln Walsh's design that was used in the legendary Ohm F loudspeakers, though the DDD driver is a considerably more advanced driver. More details are on our web site for those interested at www.german-physiks.com.
Also I should like to mention Purist Audio from Texas who supplied the cables for our room.
Many thanks,
Robert Kelly
German Physiks