[Hugh]

Excellent.

See you in a bit.

Went through my wine selection and am packing a 2007 Sterling Diamond Mountain Cabernet. Never had it before and not sure if it qualifies as a "small batch" or not  Hope it's pretty good.

See everybody tomorrow and a few today.

[SoCalWJS]

Excellent.

See you in a bit.

See you there - gonna leave in an hour or so after the worst of the morning commute is over.

Got the room set up? Are you going to swap amps on a regular basis?

I'd ask more questions, but I'd embarass myself.

Oh - what time is dinner tomorrow?

[woofersus]

See you there - gonna leave in an hour or so after the worst of the morning commute is over.

Got the room set up? Are you going to swap amps on a regular basis?

I'd ask more questions, but I'd embarass myself.

Oh - what time is dinner tomorrow?

Room is set up, but there's not that much to swap, I suppose.  We may be trying one er...large swap this morning.  If somebody were threatening to buy it, that might convince us to hook up the AN211. 

[Cheeseboy]

Can Woodys accomodate us for dinner?

Hugh, I really would like to hear the new amps and the KR products if you have them.  Looking forward to seeing you guys and meeting Wooferus.

[soundofrockets]

DMR Cab is pretty good.  looking forward to my first audio show.  will check with Hugh.

[Cheeseboy]

Sunil, I found a Seghesio Zin that the Wine Spectator gave 94 points at lunch.   Are the Wine Spectator like audio reveiwers?  Give them plenty of samples and they'll write anything?  I better hush up or I'll be banned from the hospitality rooms those guys are hosting.

What are you bringing? 

[Hugh]

We are all set.

Can Woodys accomodate us for dinner?

Hugh, I really would like to hear the new amps and the KR products if you have them.  Looking forward to seeing you guys and meeting Wooferus.

[Hugh]

Also, big MN845 is playing.

[Cheeseboy]

I saw the pic on Facebook!  That amp looks mean!

[soundofrockets]

Also, big MN845 is playing.

 

[Hugh]

Just for YOU.

Also, big MN845 is playing.

 

[SoCalWJS]

At the show and having fun. I've already spent more $$$ than intended on records and discs. Listened to a bunch of rooms - only took pictures of the ones that were listenable (ran into several that were painful, but it's only Friday)

Gotta say, I liked the Melody/Angel City room a lot. Very enjoyable and listenable. Smooth. Good soundstage.







Sorry about the picture quality - it's just soooooooo much easier to carry around a point and shoot that a DSLR at these things.

Off to dinner

*edit/additional:

Hugh - enjoyed your room!

I even came back shortly before I left for the day in order to double check. This room sounds pretty bleeping good. There were no shortcomings that I could hear. The soundstage was wide and deep with very good focus. Bass was fast and plentiful. No "Glare" and not harsh at all. Great frequency extension on the top end gave plenty of "air" where it was supposed to be.

This system was playing "music" as opposed to so many rooms that had very impressive sound.

[Hugh]

Thanks for coming John.

See you guys tomorrow.

[SoCalWJS]

Wow. Dinner around here can be a chore w/o reservations. Thought we'd go someplace different. Took a while to find a parking spot, and I could see people standing around outside. Got in and told it would be over an hour wait for a table for 2. 

Friday night. Oh well. Went to an Italian food place down the road with no wait. Was "OK"

Anyway, started the day at the stores at the show.



Vinyl junkies would have loved this place. One guy selling boxes of records as low as one dollar each, but also had a bunch that I couldn't resist. UK and European pressings. Also found an import specialist from Japan for CD's/SACD's. Prices had jumped on the SHM-SACD's, so I refrained ($60/ea for the one's I wanted) Still picked up some other stuff I had been looking for (Doors LA Woman SACD re-issue)

Started out at the big rooms, and found Dynaudio had brought some of their big speakers.




Very impressive sounding. A gentleman was already doing what appeared to be a fairly serious audition, but he was shaking his head. Took him a few attempts to convince the Rep's that they had Left and Right backwards. - First day of the show issues.

Did see some impressive gear.





Went to the Magico room and bounced all over the place. The traditional "sweet spot" chair (Front row center) had very good focus, detail and depth (Ricky Lee Jones "Last Chance Texaco" was playing), yet the sound wasn't satisfying - no bass. Anne was a couple rows back and said the same thing. If I moved close to the side walls, there was plenty of bass. - more first day issues - hope to go back

[SoCalWJS]

I've decided that I've become very sensitive to issues in the top end of the midrange - I use the terms "harsh" and "glare" when I go into some of the rooms. There was one room that was packed to the hallway with a bunch of people that were all nodding and smiling while listening to some SRV. I only went in to see these small speakers with some unknown form of drivers with metallic screens over them giving the appearance of olg guitar amps from the 50's and 60's.

I couldn't handle the sound at all.

Different strokes for different folks.........

I think I'm at the point where I only want to hear specific things that I'm interested in for myself, or sound that is, at least in some respect, better than what I have at home. It's tough to just walk into every room and give it a shot.
 

I am finding some new music (using Shazam to identify). I tagged one piece twice, so I'll have to check it out ("My Name" by Lhasa De Sela).

.....also noticing Diana Krall. Again. A lot.  - just gets too much play at these things and I get a bit burned out.

[Vapor Audio]

John, be sure you introduce yourself when you stop by the Vapor Audio/Empirical Audio/Arte Forma Audio room (206 Atrium).  We promise, no Krall.   
 
We got to meet the San Diego Audiophile group who had us up for wine after they stopped by for repeated listening sessions on Friday.  Nice bunch of guys for sure.  Came back for some after hours listening, which is always good, especially with a nice red wine in hand.  Thanks guys.  We're loving the SoCal vibe at the show.   

[audioengr]

I'm eating breakfast right now outside at the Atrium.  Beautiful weather here.  back to the room now, back to work.....

BTW those Vapor speakers are unbelievable.  No EQ needed there.  Bass rolls across the floor and takes you by surprise.  Deep too.  No problems playing
flight of the Cosmic Hippo.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

[SteveFord]

If anyone has a chance could they swing by the deHavilland room? 
I'd go myself but I'm on the other coast.

[SoCalWJS]

The DeHavilland room with Sonist speakers








Beautiful hardwood speakers in the room


And a very goog looking turntable


Didn't really get a chance to do much serious listening here.

[Jon L]

T.H.E. Show 2013    Walk through with me, but the usual caveats, "show-conditions," etc all apply.


EOSD3155 by drjlo2, on Flickr

Dynaudio speakers doing what they do best, filling the large room with big and effortless sound. Rather huge T&A electronics helping here with the cause.


EOSD3159 by drjlo2, on Flickr


EOSD3161 by drjlo2, on Flickr


EOSD3162 by drjlo2, on Flickr



EOSD3162a by drjlo2, on Flickr

Elac speakers driven by lovely Burmester amp, wired up by Wireworld.


EOSD3162b by drjlo2, on Flickr

Woody Audeze headphones found in quite a few places.  Headphones in general were alive and well throughout the show in various different places.


EOSD3164 by drjlo2, on Flickr

When one walks into a room and the whole room is pitch-dark, one knows it's a "home theater" room.  The usual names in HT Oppo, Parasound hiding on the side.


EOSD3165 by drjlo2, on Flickr


EOSD3166 by drjlo2, on Flickr

All sort of big headphones being driven by tiny little media player.  Luscious Final headphones and in-ears showing with


EOSD3167 by drjlo2, on Flickr


EOSD3169 by drjlo2, on Flickr

Astell & Kern AK120 media player


EOSD3170 by drjlo2, on Flickr

Final in-ear 'phones of all types, sure to fit everyone's needs.  The tiny media player fron Korea was explained to have more power, enough to drive the big headphones, and different models have difference output impedance to optimize different headphones.  Comes with 32 GB or 62 GB internally, but with expandable slots.


EOSD3171 by drjlo2, on Flickr
Astell & Kern  AK100 media player


EOSD3173 by drjlo2, on Flickr


EOSD3172 by drjlo2, on Flickr

The very popular Magico room, sonically.  Also a photographer's nightmare, with pitch-black speakers perched in pitch-dark room, blasted by harsh small spotlights.  Huge electronics had iron-clad grip on these Magico speakers, with incredible detail resolution and definition throughtout the ranges, especially with big, crisp bass attacks.


EOSD3174 by drjlo2, on Flickr


EOSD3177 by drjlo2, on Flickr

Audio Element room, which sported a rich, "analogue" like midrange and warm presentation, somewhat contrasting the Magico room.  Ayre electronics had lovely power over the ever-lovely Sonus Faber speakers.


EOSD3178 by drjlo2, on Flickr


EOSD3179 by drjlo2, on Flickr

Aesthetix Rhea phonostage in the room.


EOSD3180 by drjlo2, on Flickr

Quite a fiew rooms were showing off the Ayre QB-9 USB DAC including this one.


EOSD3181 by drjlo2, on Flickr