RIHPA Awards - do you agree?

Mike

Mike

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Rocky Mountain Audio Fest International HiFi Press Awards [RIHPA]

http://www.stereophile.com/content/rmaf-2016-departures-and-arrivals#cEGXKetmC2e6sYqv.99


2016 RIHPA Award Winners

> = winner

CD Player/Transport
Audio Note CDT One/II
dCS Rossini Player
dCS Vivaldi Transport
McIntosh MCT450
> MSB Technology Universal Media Transport

DAC
AudioQuest Dragonfly Red
Aqua La Scala MKII
> Chord Electronics DAVE
Exogal Comet Plus
MSB Technology Analog DAC

Digital Control Unit
> AURALiC ARIES
CH Precision C1
DigiBit Aria
iPad
Meridian 818V3 Reference Audio Core

Computer Audio Server
Antipodes DX Reference
> Aurender N10
Burmester 151
Naim UnitiServe
SOtM sMS-1000SQ

Mobile Player
Astell & Kern AK380
FiiO X7
Lotoo PAW Gold
Pioneer XDP-100R
> Questyle QP1R

Turntable
Dohmann Helix 1
Kronos Pro
Rega RP8
> TechDAS Air Force One
Technics SL-1200GAE

Tonearm
Abis SA1.2
AMG 9W2
Audio Origami PU-7
> Kuzma 4 Point
Schroeder CB

Pickup Cartridge
Benz Micro Gullwing SLR
Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement
> DS Audio DS-W1
Hana SL
Lyra Etna SL

Phonostage
> Aesthetix Rhea Signature
Lyra Connoisseur 4.2 PLE
Karan Acoustics KA PH reference
Thöress Parametric Phono Equalizer
Thrax Audio Orpheus

Integrated Amplifier
Devialet 200
> Gryphon Diablo 300
Line Magnetic Audio LM-518IA
Jeff Rowland Design Group Daemon
Vinnie Rossi LIO

Preamplifier
> Audio Research GSPre
Ayre Acoustics P-5xe
Bespoke Audio Company
Octave HP700
Robert Koda Takumi K-10

Stereo Power Amplifier
Accustic Arts AMP II-MK3
> (Tie) Audio Research Reference 75 SE
Benchmark AHB2
First Watt J2
> (Tie) PS Audio BHK Signature 250

Mono Power Amplifier
Audia Flight Strumento No. 8
AVM M30
> Ayre Acoustics MX-R Twenty
Thrax Audio Teres
VTL Siegfried Series II Reference

Bookshelf Speakers
Crystal Cable Arabesque Minissimo Diamond
> ELAC Debut B5
Focal Sopra No. 1
KEF LS50
KEF Reference One

Floor Standing Speakers under 15,000 EUR
DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93
> Focal Sopra No. 2
PMC twenty.26
PSB Imagine T3 Tower
Ubiq Audio Model One

Floor Standing Speakers over 15,000 EUR
> Bowers & Wilkins 800 D3
Diapason Dynamis
Focal Sopra No3
Magico S3
Vandersteen Model Seven Mk II

Loudspeakers over 100,000 EUR
Estelon Extreme
Focal Grande Utopia EM
Living Voice Vox Olympian
> Wilson Audio Alexx
YG Acoustics Sonja 1.3

Subwoofer
JL Audio Fathom f113v2
JL Audio Gotham g213v2
REL Acoustics 212/SE
> Wilson Audio WATCH Dog
Vandersteen Audio Sub Nine

Headphones
Audeze LCD-4
Focal Elear
HiFiMAN Edition X
MrSpeakers Ether C Flow
> Sennheiser HD 800

Headphone Amplification
aune X7S
> Chord Electronics Mojo
Lake People Violectric HPA V281
Pass Labs HPA-1
Woo Audio WA8 Eclipse

AC Cable
Crystal Cable Absolute Dreamaune
Göbel High End Lacorde Statementauneaune
IsoTek Evo3 Syncro
> Nordost ODIN 2
Shunyata Research ZTRON Sigma

Signal Cable
AudioQuest Wild Blue Yonder
> Crystal Cable Absolute Dream
Göbel High End Lacorde Statement
Nordost ODIN 2
Nordost Valhalla 2

Racks and Supports
Artesania Audio Aire floor platform
Box Furniture Racks
HiFi Audio Rack Grandstand
> Harmonic Resolution Systems M3X
Subbase Audio Shambala TSS

AC Distribution and Conditioners
> AudioQuest Niagara 7000
IsoTek EVO3 Mosaic Genesis
LAB12 Gordian
PS Audio PerfectWave P10
Shunyata Research Hydra Triton v2

System and Software Enhancers
AudioQuest JitterBug
Audirvana Plus
Daniel Hertz Master Class
Furutech DeMag II
> Roon Labs Roon

Set-up Aids and Tools
Acoustical Systems SMARTractor
Audio Systems Optimised
Ayre Acoustics IBE disc
Dayton OmniMic v2
> Dr Feickert Protractor NG

Digital
Bill Evans—Some Other Time: The Lost Session from the Black Forest 2xhd
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto 2, Channel Classics
Lyn Stanley—Interludes
Nicholas Alsteadt, Shostakovich, Weinberg Cello Concertos, Channel Classics
> Stripped by Macy Gray, Chesky Records

Analogue
Leonid Kogan plays the Brahms Violin Concerto, Electric Recording Co.
Stealers Wheel, Intervention Records
> Igor Stravinsky: Le Sacre Du Printemps/Minnesota SO, Eiji Oue, Reference Recordings
A Meeting By The River—Ry Cooder and V.M. Bhatt, Analogue Productions
Vanessa Fernandez, When The Levee Breaks, Groove Note

Innovation
Audioquest Dragonfly Series
Devialet SAM
Focal "M"-shaped headphone dome driver
> MQA by Meridian
MSB Technology Select DAC II

Value For Money
> AudioQuest Dragonfly Red
Chord Electronics Mojo
Crayon Audio CIA-1
ELAC Debut B5
Jerry Harvey Audio JH16 Pro

Lifetime Achievement
Andrew Jones
Bill Low
> Bob Stuart
David Wilson
Richard Vandersteen
 
Mike said:
Rocky Mountain Audio Fest International HiFi Press Awards [RIHPA]

http://www.stereophile.com/content/rmaf-2016-departures-and-arrivals#cEGXKetmC2e6sYqv.99


2016 RIHPA Award Winners

> = winner

CD Player/Transport
Audio Note CDT One/II
dCS Rossini Player
dCS Vivaldi Transport
McIntosh MCT450
> MSB Technology Universal Media Transport

DAC
AudioQuest Dragonfly Red
Aqua La Scala MKII
> Chord Electronics DAVE
Exogal Comet Plus
MSB Technology Analog DAC

Digital Control Unit
> AURALiC ARIES
CH Precision C1
DigiBit Aria
iPad
Meridian 818V3 Reference Audio Core

Computer Audio Server
Antipodes DX Reference
> Aurender N10
Burmester 151
Naim UnitiServe
SOtM sMS-1000SQ

Mobile Player
Astell & Kern AK380
FiiO X7
Lotoo PAW Gold
Pioneer XDP-100R
> Questyle QP1R

Turntable
Dohmann Helix 1
Kronos Pro
Rega RP8
> TechDAS Air Force One
Technics SL-1200GAE

Tonearm
Abis SA1.2
AMG 9W2
Audio Origami PU-7
> Kuzma 4 Point
Schroeder CB

Pickup Cartridge
Benz Micro Gullwing SLR
Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement
> DS Audio DS-W1
Hana SL
Lyra Etna SL

Phonostage
> Aesthetix Rhea Signature
Lyra Connoisseur 4.2 PLE
Karan Acoustics KA PH reference
Thöress Parametric Phono Equalizer
Thrax Audio Orpheus

Integrated Amplifier
Devialet 200
> Gryphon Diablo 300
Line Magnetic Audio LM-518IA
Jeff Rowland Design Group Daemon
Vinnie Rossi LIO

Preamplifier
> Audio Research GSPre
Ayre Acoustics P-5xe
Bespoke Audio Company
Octave HP700
Robert Koda Takumi K-10

Stereo Power Amplifier
Accustic Arts AMP II-MK3
> (Tie) Audio Research Reference 75 SE
Benchmark AHB2
First Watt J2
> (Tie) PS Audio BHK Signature 250

Mono Power Amplifier
Audia Flight Strumento No. 8
AVM M30
> Ayre Acoustics MX-R Twenty
Thrax Audio Teres
VTL Siegfried Series II Reference

Bookshelf Speakers
Crystal Cable Arabesque Minissimo Diamond
> ELAC Debut B5
Focal Sopra No. 1
KEF LS50
KEF Reference One

Floor Standing Speakers under 15,000 EUR
DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93
> Focal Sopra No. 2
PMC twenty.26
PSB Imagine T3 Tower
Ubiq Audio Model One

Floor Standing Speakers over 15,000 EUR
> Bowers & Wilkins 800 D3
Diapason Dynamis
Focal Sopra No3
Magico S3
Vandersteen Model Seven Mk II

Loudspeakers over 100,000 EUR
Estelon Extreme
Focal Grande Utopia EM
Living Voice Vox Olympian
> Wilson Audio Alexx
YG Acoustics Sonja 1.3

Subwoofer
JL Audio Fathom f113v2
JL Audio Gotham g213v2
REL Acoustics 212/SE
> Wilson Audio WATCH Dog
Vandersteen Audio Sub Nine

Headphones
Audeze LCD-4
Focal Elear
HiFiMAN Edition X
MrSpeakers Ether C Flow
> Sennheiser HD 800

Headphone Amplification
aune X7S
> Chord Electronics Mojo
Lake People Violectric HPA V281
Pass Labs HPA-1
Woo Audio WA8 Eclipse

AC Cable
Crystal Cable Absolute Dreamaune
Göbel High End Lacorde Statementauneaune
IsoTek Evo3 Syncro
> Nordost ODIN 2
Shunyata Research ZTRON Sigma

Signal Cable
AudioQuest Wild Blue Yonder
> Crystal Cable Absolute Dream
Göbel High End Lacorde Statement
Nordost ODIN 2
Nordost Valhalla 2

Racks and Supports
Artesania Audio Aire floor platform
Box Furniture Racks
HiFi Audio Rack Grandstand
> Harmonic Resolution Systems M3X
Subbase Audio Shambala TSS

AC Distribution and Conditioners
> AudioQuest Niagara 7000
IsoTek EVO3 Mosaic Genesis
LAB12 Gordian
PS Audio PerfectWave P10
Shunyata Research Hydra Triton v2

System and Software Enhancers
AudioQuest JitterBug
Audirvana Plus
Daniel Hertz Master Class
Furutech DeMag II
> Roon Labs Roon

Set-up Aids and Tools
Acoustical Systems SMARTractor
Audio Systems Optimised
Ayre Acoustics IBE disc
Dayton OmniMic v2
> Dr Feickert Protractor NG

Digital
Bill Evans—Some Other Time: The Lost Session from the Black Forest 2xhd
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto 2, Channel Classics
Lyn Stanley—Interludes
Nicholas Alsteadt, Shostakovich, Weinberg Cello Concertos, Channel Classics
> Stripped by Macy Gray, Chesky Records

Analogue
Leonid Kogan plays the Brahms Violin Concerto, Electric Recording Co.
Stealers Wheel, Intervention Records
> Igor Stravinsky: Le Sacre Du Printemps/Minnesota SO, Eiji Oue, Reference Recordings
A Meeting By The River—Ry Cooder and V.M. Bhatt, Analogue Productions
Vanessa Fernandez, When The Levee Breaks, Groove Note

Innovation
Audioquest Dragonfly Series
Devialet SAM
Focal "M"-shaped headphone dome driver
> MQA by Meridian
MSB Technology Select DAC II

Value For Money
> AudioQuest Dragonfly Red
Chord Electronics Mojo
Crayon Audio CIA-1
ELAC Debut B5
Jerry Harvey Audio JH16 Pro

Lifetime Achievement
Andrew Jones
Bill Low
> Bob Stuart
David Wilson
Richard Vandersteen
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing. Interesting options, interesting choices.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I was surprised to see the Diablo since Gryphon had withdrawn from US and I wouldn't consider this show to have an international draw, but I see on their website that they are inviting inquiries from interested distributors (they even note that service is available in the US; hey, Vitus), so I guess they're ready to re-enter now. This amp gets many favorable reviews from owners on the various audio forums.

Surprised that the Ayre AX5Twenty isn't even in contention. From the photos, I thought I saw it in three rooms.

Mike, what electronics were driving the B&W 800s and the Magico S3s (not M3s)?

Entire Focal Sopra range seems to have enjoyed some recognition.
 
Also, I agree with the Digital selection, with the caveat that I haven't heard the other four contenders. For fans of piano trio jazz, this recent Evans release is a gem. If unaware, Evans/Gomez/DeJohnette went into a German studio a week or two after appearing at Montreux in 1968 and recorded these tracks. Great musicianship and sonics.
 
aardvarkbark said:
I was surprised to see the Diablo since Gryphon had withdrawn from US and I wouldn't consider this show to have an international draw, but I see on their website that they are inviting inquiries from interested distributors (they even note that service is available in the US; hey, Vitus), so I guess they're ready to re-enter now. This amp gets many favorable reviews from owners on the various audio forums.

Surprised that the Ayre AX5Twenty isn't even in contention. From the photos, I thought I saw it in three rooms.

Mike, what electronics were driving the B&W 800s and the Magico S3s (not M3s)?

Entire Focal Sopra range seems to have enjoyed some recognition.
Click to expand...

Not so fast on Gryphon (unfortunately). I've had extensive dialogue with Rasmussen and he still has no interest in entering the U.S. market again. He told me he's been burned too many times.

Agreed on the Ayre. Great stuff.

The B&W's at RMAF were 802 D3's and driven by SimAudio. I thought they sounded much better at CES.

The Magico S3's were being driven by a full VAC stack - 170iQ monos and the VAC SE Preamp. Sounded superb!

I agree on the Sopra's. Focal Sopra's and KEF Blade 2's were my pick in the ~$20k is range and, keep in mind, both were driven with modest electronics: microMega on the Sopra's ($4k MSRP complete integrated) and Parasound on the Blade 2's.

MicroMega is a killer all-in-one. I plan on bringing one in very soon to demo. It's carried by my Focal distributor and now that they've parted ways with Devialet, all I will say is: look out!

The sleeper product for me at RMAF was isoAcoustics (a product also carried by my Focal distributor). Despite its name, it is dissipation rather than pure isolation. Their A/B demos leave little doubt of the significant sonic improvements they provide. I plan on bringing in a bunch to demo.
 
Nikhil said:
Amazing that Meridien can continue to perpetuate this scam.
Click to expand...

Scam? Have you heard it? I've probably heard more MQA than most people here. Just check out all my YouTube posts. I've heard it sound amazing and I've heard it sound meh. Until we really get it in our own systems, streaming through Tidal, and doing our own extensive comparisons, I would encourage everyone to keep an open mind. Not sure I would all it a scam to be honest. Confusing? Yes. To date, a lot of hype without substance? Yes. A big tease? Yes. But not a scam.

At RMAF, as I've done at other shows, I played extensively with MQA. I even got to compare Adele non-MQA vs the MQA versions. If that isn't a good test, I don't know what is! The MQA version sounded better by quite a bit.
 
Mike said:
Not so fast on Gryphon (unfortunately). I've had extensive dialogue with Rasmussen and he still has no interest in entering the U.S. market again. He told me he's been burned too many times.

Agreed on the Ayre. Great stuff.

The B&W's at RMAF were 802 D3's and driven by SimAudio. I thought they sounded much better at CES....
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike.

But just to defend my integrity, Gryphon does indeed have on their website in bold, all caps: "USA DISTRIBUTOR INVITED"

http://www.gryphon-audio.dk/dealers-distributors

One wonders why they would show at RMAF if they weren't planning a re-entry.

On Ayre, I'm not saying they're great stuff. My point was that while many others have said such, they're noticeably absent from the list of nominees for the integrated (even when competing against a company not made in the Denver area nor even available in the country!)

I saw your pics of B&W w/ Moon, but knowing that is only a 175 wpc (8ohm) integrated, assumed those were 802s. But since the nominee was the 800, figured there was another room.
 
aardvarkbark said:
Thanks Mike.

But just to defend my integrity, Gryphon does indeed have on their website in bold, all caps: "USA DISTRIBUTOR INVITED"

http://www.gryphon-audio.dk/dealers-distributors

One wonders why they would show at RMAF if they weren't planning a re-entry.

On Ayre, I'm not saying they're great stuff. My point was that while many others have said such, they're noticeably absent from the list of nominees for the integrated (even when competing against a company not made in the Denver area nor even available in the country!)

I saw your pics of B&W w/ Moon, but knowing that is only a 175 wpc (8ohm) integrated, assumed those were 802s. But since the nominee was the 800, figured there was another room.
Click to expand...

They do indeed! It's been there for months (years?). I reached out to inquire and that's when the dialogue started. I sure hope they do come back to the U.S.

I'm not sure the list directly reflected what was shown at RMAF. More general in nature I'm thinking.
 
Mike said:
....The Magico S3's were being driven by a full VAC stack - 170iQ monos and the VAC SE Preamp. Sounded superb!

I agree on the Sopra's. Focal Sopra's and KEF Blade 2's were my pick in the ~$20k is range and, keep in mind, both were driven with modest electronics....
Click to expand...

Thanks for this too. Herein lies a conundrum. In their room, the S3's were being driven by $70K (including source) of electronics. Is a speaker manufacturer helping or harming themselves by mating with mega-expensive electronics which make their product sound great while possible alienating budget-minded consumers, or are they better off going the apparent Focal route and partnering up with more modest electronics whom their customers might be more inclined to buy? hmmmmm.......
 
aardvarkbark said:
Thanks for this too. Herein lies a conundrum. In their room, the S3's were being driven by $70K (including source) of electronics. Is a speaker manufacturer helping or harming themselves by mating with mega-expensive electronics which make their product sound great while possible alienating budget-minded consumers, or are they better off going the apparent Focal route and partnering up with more modest electronics whom their customers might be more inclined to buy? hmmmmm.......
Click to expand...

Great question! It's a delicate balance, isn't it?
 
....and I'm presuming there is general informed consensus that the whole 'Integrated' category is bogus with the absence of the PASS INT-250.....
 
Mike said:
Scam? Have you heard it? I've probably heard more MQA than most people here. Just check out all my YouTube posts. I've heard it sound amazing and I've heard it sound meh. Until we really get it in our own systems, streaming through Tidal, and doing our own extensive comparisons, I would encourage everyone to keep an open mind. Not sure I would all it a scam to be honest. Confusing? Yes. To date, a lot of hype without substance? Yes. A big tease? Yes. But not a scam.

At RMAF, as I've done at other shows, I played extensively with MQA. I even got to compare Adele non-MQA vs the MQA versions. If that isn't a good test, I don't know what is! The MQA version sounded better by quite a bit.
Click to expand...

Mike,

For all the reasons you mention - how do they manage to get an RIHPA award?
But I don't want to take this thread into an MQA tangent.

So I must say in answer to the original question - I disagree.

Regards.
 
There's a couple of awards I raised my eyebrows at.

CD Player/Transport: how on earth does Esoteric not win this? Pssst...note to Stereophile, half of your list are using OEM Esoteric transports!

Cartridge: so, so many great cartridges missing.

Integrated: Pass INT-60/250, Vitus SIA-025, etc.

Preamp: Ayre KX-R 20 preamp has to be on the list if the the MX-R 20's are best amps. The preamp might be even better than the amps - and that's saying something. ARC REF6/10 too. VAC Too.

Stereo amp: No Hegel H30? Hmmm.

Oh man...just looked at the speakers....too many to go on. BestBuy 800 D3's over Vandy 7's? Oh brother.
 
This really does raise the question of 'exactly who are these RIHPA folks?'

From Stereophile.com:

"Nominees and winners were chosen by anonymous ballot by representatives of “the world’s leading HiFi press publications.” In alphabetic order, those publications were The Audio Beat, AudioTechnique, AudioVideo, AVMentor.net, DAR, Fidelity, Head-Fi, Hi-Fi+, Innovation&Tech Today, Lyd & Bilde, Mono Stereo, NoMono, Stereo, and Stereophile."

I subscribe to TAS and check Stereophile.com periodically for general amusement. I think it's open to debate as to exactly whom is truly included in 'the world's leading HiFi publications.' Kinda smug for one to claim they are, eh Stereophile? Popularity doesn't necessarily confer credibility. See US prez candidates, e.g.
 
Nikhil said:
Mike,

For all the reasons you mention - how do they manage to get an RIHPA award?
But I don't want to take this thread into an MQA tangent.

So I must say in answer to the original question - I disagree.

Regards.
Click to expand...

That's easy to answer. Most everyone who has actually heard demo's or better yet owns a MQA capable product and software and plays it in their own sytem usually like what they hear. It's no different than A/B'ing other products. As Mike noted the MQA tracks or disc is are better or a least equal to (the meh tracks) what we have heard.
 
aardvarkbark said:
This really does raise the question of 'exactly who are these RIHPA folks?'

From Stereophile.com:

"Nominees and winners were chosen by anonymous ballot by representatives of “the world’s leading HiFi press publications.” In alphabetic order, those publications were The Audio Beat, AudioTechnique, AudioVideo, AVMentor.net, DAR, Fidelity, Head-Fi, Hi-Fi+, Innovation&Tech Today, Lyd & Bilde, Mono Stereo, NoMono, Stereo, and Stereophile."

I subscribe to TAS and check Stereophile.com periodically for general amusement. I think it's open to debate as to exactly whom is truly included in 'the world's leading HiFi publications.' Kinda smug for one to claim they are, eh Stereophile? Popularity doesn't necessarily confer credibility. See US prez candidates, e.g.
Click to expand...

Haha. I trust Audioshark members first!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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