I'll add my comments about the show...
Before my comments I have a story to tell. I brought my girlfriend along in hopes of having her appreciate music reproduction more deeply than her Sonos setup can allow. Boy, did this idea backfire in the worst way.
This wasn't her first audio show. She attended RMAF with me last October. She was not scared away by the the idiosyncratic people - I'm an engineer (enough said) - or the lack of young women present at the show. What prevented her from fully grasping how incredible music reproduction can be was the overwhelming size and the amount of things to see at RMAF, especially for an introduction into non-Sonos systems. AXPONA 2013 was her round 2 and my final round in the (audio) ring with her.
One of the first rooms we visited was the Volti Audio room. This is one of those rooms where it's best to be left alone with the designer, the speakers and nothing else. Mr. Roberts selected a few tracks to play for us which I loved. I wanted to see the speakers as much as I wanted to hear them but that is besides the point. On my way out of the seat I tapped my girlfriend on the shoulder to exit the room. I hadn't realized, at that time, she was close to falling asleep. If you guys know anything about these Volti speakers you know they aren't played at low listening levels. She was enjoying the music so much she collapsed under the sonic nirvana.
She was getting it; how music can sound so good. Things started off great!
Fast forward to Saturday we were given special treatment in the Sonus Faber room. She commented on how pretty their speakers were on Friday and one of the representatives from Sumiko (in the Sonus Faber room) overheard her. Before this, all speakers were ugly.
When he saw us walk in he immediately pulled two seats from the Amati demo so we could hear (and see) the Venere Model 3.0. I was embarrassed and apologetic to the folks who were enjoying their demo. Anyway, it was explained to us that the speakers could come in white (speakers have to be in white) and in under 2 weeks. Oh crap! She was SOLD.
Just like that. She was ready to build her own music system in our house we haven't even moved into yet. I have to tell you guys these speakers sounded wonderful. They had room to breathe but nonetheless sounded, and looked, great.
http://www.sumikoaudio.net/sonus/prod_venere_30.htmIf you are still reading this you are most likely wondering what my fuss is. Well, I was taking my time to create my own dream system and she wants me to give her what I have accumulated over the years to support her FUN room. This is my hobby dear
I had to explain to her that one does not just unbox a speaker and have it sound magical. I tried to explain how other factors come into play regarding electronics, how you will listen, and how the money doesn't stop there. She wants to hide the amplifier behind the couch. How will you turn it on, I asked? She can't sit still so big speakers aren't necessarily a good thing when you are two rooms away. That's what Sonos is for my lovely friend. I had to spend the rest of Saturday talking her out of her purchase and back into letting me have mine. There isn't room both of us in our house
Moving on...kudos to a great show! I felt I saw more rooms using acoustic treatment than the last RMAF. It seems more and more is going into the rooms to produce good sound. The imaging was much improved, in general, than the shows I have been to in the past.
I have a few highlights from the show. The first was the Scaena room. My girlfriend is part Indian which is AWESOME. She hit it off with the designer/builder/owner of Scaena who is part Indian himself. He kindly let us play our test CD which was snippets of nine different songs. Once you get past how luxurious (or not luxurious) you think the speakers are they sound beautiful. That was a fun room to spend time in.
Another one of our favorite rooms was Bogdan Audio Creations. Mr. Petrescu was very friendly to us and say how my eyes lit up when I got to see his Petra loudspeakers in person. I wanted to hug them
My girlfriend thought they looked like water heaters, but that's OK, it was her idea to hear them a second time on Saturday. Mr. Petrescu took our test CD to demo the tracks on the Petras. After hearing all of the tracks it occurred to me that I have never, in my life, heard speakers disappear like that. He then offered to let us audition the Catalinas using the same demo disc. These speakers were equally as wonderful sounding as the Petras. The two speakers sounded different but the music sounded to good to spend time correlating what I was hearing with my thoughts. The Petras may have loaded the room with too much bass but I loved that about them. The Catalinas did not have the low frequency reach of the Petras but it certainly didn't leave me un-enthralled. These two speakers were the best I have heard the RAAL tweeter sound, ever. I think the 140-15D version is slightly better than the smaller version and that's why I use them in my own personal speakers.
I'll repeat what many others have, and will continue to say, the Salk, Selah, and Vapor rooms never disappoint. I have witnessed Jim's speakers over a dozen times and they just get prettier and prettier. The Soundscapes are the real deal. They always sound spectacular without providing a single, powerful word that can describe their sound. Sometimes I read how a speaker can be sterile, or thick, milky, lush, etc. There is none of that for these. They just always sound like Salk; they just play music!
I got to hear one of Rick's line arrays and his Tempesta. I remember the arrays sounded sweet and delicate. I wasn't expecting that kind of softness to the music. After hearing these I became much more intrigued with this line of Rick's offerings. My girlfriend thought they were pretty as well.
That leads me to the Tempesta which is like an iPad compared a 10 year old computer. So much freakin' performance in a small package. Rick, fascinating work sir. If I didn't have my heart set on replacing my speakers with a set of floorstanders, with the 140-15D, I would be in the market for a pair of these.
For the last two shows the Vapor Audio room has been my favorite to visit. I'd run the room if they let me. I love the cabinetry design/concepts and I am particular to the RAAL and AudioTechnology drivers (Accutons are catching up). I am biased, I will admit that. I wish I had spent more time in the room during my two visits at the show. The music playing left me desiring more of what I heard at RMAF. I should have waited until I had a chance to pop in my demo disc. The imaging was spectacular for as close as I felt I was sitting. The Cirrus reminds of a super car. They have the unique styling and performance for only those who dare (maybe I am over-compensating for something). They are fun to drive with so much in reserve a race track is required. Ryan is creating an audio company with a speaker for every range or listener. I want his super car. This Cirrus speakers are my Audi R8. At some point, they will be affordable for my situation. The Joules, I heard at RMAF, are the Lamborghinis in my world.
Another notable performer was the Waterfall Audio Victoria Evo speakers. These diminutive speakers produced a rather large, detailed sound I wasn't expecting. These were also good looking enough to put in the house.
Next time I hope the Seaton guys get themselves a bigger room. They did not begin to show off what I know their stuff is capable of in that hotel room.
I did not think the Madisound room sounded good. I think the Seas A26 was playing. It did not sound anything like I expected it to.
I've learned that it's hard for a speaker to sound great unless you get time to spend with it. Many of the rooms don't leave a lasting memory with me because I didn't get a good listening spot or I am too unfamiliar with the music playing. Sorry for the long write-up and I hope it was worth the time reading.
