Show coverage day 1

Pez · « **Reply #20 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 09:12 pm »

Tad drivers.

JLM · « **Reply #21 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 09:20 pm »

What pics? I'm not seeing anything??

Pez · « **Reply #22 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 09:32 pm »

GR Research/Dodd

I'll let Tyson cover most of this one when he posts, but I'll say that the GR room is very very well treated and the super Vs sound is very very smooth and easy going. I definitely like it better than last years setup. Very nice imaging. I like the overall balance though it seems a touch rough in the midrange. What it is doing well is pretty much everything else. Great natural treble. Good timbre overall and if you are in to open box bass these will not disappoint. Great dynamics for sure!!!

Sorry for the dark pictures, but the way the room is setup its very difficult to take a good picture.

Tyson - Danny had an excellent room, as always. Funny, my overall impressions of the Super V's were a lot different this year than last. Last year I thought they were a bit bright and forward sounding, with mind-bending bass. This year I thought they were much better balanced, tonally, quite beautiful, actually, and very dynamic. But the bass wasn't up to the same gobsmacking level as last year. Probably a fine tuning issue, so I'll have to revisit. For me, the main point is that the areas that were weaknesses last year, became real strengths this year.

Pez · « **Reply #23 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 09:42 pm »

Quote from: JLM on 14 Oct 2011, 09:20 pm

What pics? I'm not seeing anything??

Just checked three different devices and all three are loading pics properly.

pardales · « **Reply #24 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 09:49 pm »

Great coverage.

Keep up the good work and thank you!

Pez · « **Reply #25 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 09:54 pm »

VTL/TAD

THIS Is audio porn. Unreal looking equipment.

The people running this room were total assholes. Giving us dirty looks and being overall very stoic. At one point they shushed us when we were whispering. Not nearly as amazing sounding as the other tad room and these guys acted like it was supposed to be amazing. Thumbs down bad experience. Writing this as I'm walking down a stair case.

Tyson - OK, this room pissed me the f' off!! The people running the room were complete jerks. I was going to ask them to play a track but they CLEARLY had WAY more important people to lick the boots off. I'd be really upset if I had to report that the room sounded great, but it was thin, nasal, and dynamically congested. Seriously, could not leave fast enough. And it's too bad, because we'd come from the smaller TAD room and it sounded great, and the main designer for TAD was in the small room and he was a wonderful guy and very gracious host. The people in the big TAD room sucked.

zybar · « **Reply #26 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 09:55 pm »

Nice job on the pics and brief descriptions.

What does it mean when I am more interested in seeing pics of fellow AC members and vendors than the product shots???

I am super happy with my system!!

Have a great time and hoist a few beers.

George

Hugh · « **Reply #27 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 09:58 pm »

Pez,

Come and enjoy a beer or 2.

Bring Chris with you.

We're in 442.

golfugh · « **Reply #28 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 09:59 pm »

Pez, et all; thanks for the great coverage!!

zybar · « **Reply #29 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 10:03 pm »

Quote from: Hugh on 14 Oct 2011, 09:58 pm

Pez,

Come and enjoy a beer or 2.

Bring Chris with you.

We're in 442.

Have a great show Hugh.

George

TomS · « **Reply #30 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 10:11 pm »

Awesome coverage already guys! It's great to see all the AC faces.

Hugh · « **Reply #31 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 10:13 pm »

Thanks George.

We got to meet up sometime.

Hugh · « **Reply #32 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 10:15 pm »

Quote from: TomS on 14 Oct 2011, 10:11 pm

Awesome coverage already guys! It's great to see all the AC faces.

Tom,

I guess I'll have to drink your beer this year then.

Pez · « **Reply #33 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 10:24 pm »

Empirical/BPT/YG/GIK/mach2music

This room is one of the more thoughtful rooms in the overall setup. Great speakers, great front end, great room treatment. No corners cut (other than the GIK corner traps

) overall the sound quality is very nice. I am pretty fond of the empirical room every year and this year is no exception.

This year I think the YG acoustics sound more balanced than the Salks did last year. My personal opinion, but it is much easier for me to enjoy this sound. The GIK art panels look awesome!!! Overall great room defiantly should see this one if you can. Among the top 5 rooms and probably more towards the top of that list.

Steve, Bryan, Chris

Tyson - Ack, more YG Acoustic speakers - and in a big space (I've never heard a YG speaker sound good in a large room). Man, as soon as I walk in I'm thinking "How can I report this room was no good, and not piss off the vendors, since I really like these guys!" But, thank god, the speakers (and the room) sounded great! YG speakers, who knew they could sound so good? Guess you just have to pair them with the right equipment

Second only to the TAD room in overall sound.

playntheblues · « **Reply #34 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 10:27 pm »

Thanks guys for the great work. Please keep the reports and pictures coming. Wish I was there with you.

dflee · « **Reply #35 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 10:49 pm »

Really exceptional pics and reports thus far. Am looking forward to what you give on the show.

mca · « **Reply #36 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 10:59 pm »

Although most of these setups cost more than my house, I still enjoy drooling over the purdy pictures. Thanks for the great coverage so far

Pez · « **Reply #37 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 11:00 pm »

Linkwitz labs/pass labs

Deep low bass excellent midrange control and much better than last year IMO. I like the sweetness in the treble and overall presentation. We are listening to organ music and they really bellow out the low end pipes without strain or lack of conviction. This is the first time I've heard the pass labs amps sound so sweet and mellow, I like it!!!

Tyson - Gotta disagree w/Pez here. I thought these speakers were underwhelming last year, and I think the same thing this year. Too prominent in the very low bass, and a bit underpowered in the mid/upper bass. Plus, metal cone midrange. Not as offensive as some I've heard, but I just could not live with metal midrange drivers. And it's too bad, because Linkwitz seems to be a really nice guy and I respect what he's doing, a lot.

Pez · « **Reply #38 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 11:06 pm »

Hansens audio/redpoint

Very nice sound. But way too quick on changing music to truly evaluate effectively. Vocals were not great.

Tyson - 2 years ago Hansen speakers powered by accuphase gear were my top sound at show. this year that vocals sounded thin and bass sounded boomy. Disappointing.

Pez · « **Reply #39 on:** 14 Oct 2011, 11:19 pm »

Dynaudio/Octave

Confidence speakers and octave were my number one favorite at RMAF last year. This year they do not fail to impress. Very emotional violin on the Sibelius concerto the violin is amazing.

Ani difrancos was very solid imaging and soundstaging. At least as good as the tad room. this is better than last year. Maybe tying the TAD room for best in show perhaps???? Great organ in this track that I have yet to appreciate until this room. No room treatment though on the Mahler piece was not very well controlled. As a matter of fact they are sort of compressed.

On Tool they just dont have the slam of the TAD room nor do they have the head banging quality that the TAD room accomplished with ease. This is certainly a great set, but just not as universally great as the still número uno TAD room. Great overall though.

Tyson - Finally, a tall speaker. I love tall speakers! And I always like the sound of Dyn's. Last year they were among the very best at show. This year, not so much. Still sound very good, everything in it's place, very even handed. But just not a standout. Kinda fell apart on the Mahler and the Tool tracks.