Axpona Chicago 2015 - Analog and Digital related posts and photos online

[Dre_J]

Axpona Chicago 2015 - Analog and Digital related posts and photos online

AXPONA Chicago 2015: Digital and Analog Sources

If exhibitors were missed, the report either ran out of space, the room was missed, the product wasn't a new introduction, information came late, or information requests never came at all, etc.

Dre

[Myles B. Astor]

Thanks Andre for your concise, information packed capsules.

Some may not appreciate the immense task before Andre at Axpona. As some may be aware, SP and TAS generally send and assign writers to cover specific areas of the audio show eg. speakers, electronics, etc. because with the increasing sizes of shows, it's getting harder and harder for one person to cover everything. Well Andre drew the short straw and was assigned coverage of analog and digital front-ends eg. every room! Well done Andre!

[a.wayne]

CD's still taste better than vinyl .............

[Dre_J]

Thanks Andre for your concise, information packed capsules.

Some may not appreciate the immense task before Andre at Axpona. As some may be aware, SP and TAS generally send and assign writers to cover specific areas of the audio show eg. speakers, electronics, etc. because with the increasing sizes of shows, it's getting harder and harder for one person to cover everything. Well Andre drew the short straw and was assigned coverage of analog and digital front-ends eg. every room! Well done Andre!

Thanks Myles!

[a.wayne]

Thanks for the link Dre, interesting one of your picks had the magnapan 3.7 , yet Paul struggled with the 20.7 in the PS Audio room .

[FlexibleAudio]

I posted my favorite on Mikes's pix thread the day of the show (below). We agree on the Audionet, Kronos, YG room. It was wonderful.


- Favorite System
IMO a better question might be second place. First goes to SF/ARC. Second goes to Kronos, Audionet and the little YG's.

[FlexibleAudio]

Dre, I also really liked the optical cartridge. Do you think your findings regarding the upper mids having less energy in the Sonus Faber room have anything to do with the Nightrider? Do you have any thoughts more specifically regarding this cart from either the Sonus Faber or Magico rooms (i.e., did you compare to the Goldfinger in Magico M room)?

[Dre_J]

Thanks for the link Dre, interesting one of your picks had the magnapan 3.7 , yet Paul struggled with the 20.7 in the PS Audio room .

I believe you are referring to a different show (AXPONA vs. Munich), room, equipment, etc.

[Dre_J]

Dre, I also really liked the optical cartridge. Do you think your findings regarding the upper mids having less energy in the Sonus Faber room have anything to do with the Nightrider? Do you have any thoughts more specifically regarding this cart from either the Sonus Faber or Magico rooms (i.e., did you compare to the Goldfinger in Magico M room)?

Yes, The analog front-end contributed to the overall sound.

Regarding the complete Magico and Sonus Faber system configurations mentioned in my show report, the brief comments fit with anything more I could add.

The Nightrider and Goldfinger have many more characteristic differences than things in common. In the M-Project room, which wasn't mentioned in my show report, neither cartridge seemed to be fully optimized.

Dre

[rbbert]

Hardly a ringing endorsement of MQA; fine for streaming, sure.

[a.wayne]

I believe you are referring to a different show (AXPONA vs. Munich), room, equipment, etc.

Yep, you are correct , mixing shows .. By the way , whats the cost on the exaSound e12 DAC. you reported on ..?

[FlexibleAudio]

Yes, The analog front-end contributed to the overall sound.

Regarding the complete Magico and Sonus Faber system configurations mentioned in my show report, the brief comments fit with anything more I could add.

The Nightrider and Goldfinger have many more characteristic differences than things in common. In the M-Project room, which wasn't mentioned in my show report, neither cartridge seemed to be fully optimized.

Dre

Alas, the curse of being one of the planets best TT set-up guys. To your ears, I would guess few (besides your own) ever are fully optimized!

[Dre_J]

Yep, you are correct , mixing shows .. By the way , whats the cost on the exaSound e12 DAC. you reported on ..?

I'm pretty sure I listed the price in the report along with some other possibly useful information. If you can't find it let me know.

[Dre_J]

Alas, the curse of being one of the planets best TT set-up guys. To your ears, I would guess few (besides your own) ever are fully optimized!

Actually, I'm quite the opposite. I'm only critical of my own work (much more so than you would think). I make a point to never knowingly comment negatively on someone else's setup in that way. Chips are for woodpiles or meat smokers, not on my shoulders...

In the case of the Hanson Audio Video room with the M-Projects:
I only mentioned this because the setup person admits he changed the Goldfinger alignment and I also observed someone from Musical Surroundings making additional adjustments to the Nightrider.

Dre

[FlexibleAudio]

Actually, I'm quite the opposite. I'm only critical of my own work (much more so than you would think). I make a point to never knowingly comment negatively on someone else's setup in that way. Chips are for woodpiles or meat smokers, not on my shoulders...

In the case of the Hanson Audio Video room with the M-Projects:
I only mentioned this because the setup person admits he changed the Goldfinger alignment and I also observed someone from Musical Surroundings making additional adjustments to the Nightrider.

Dre

Yes Dre, I meant my comment as ones of respect and admiration. Still it must be tough to walk into others rooms with your ears and knowledge and remain silent. Back to my question about the optical cart; can I take from your comments that it had little in common with the Goldfinger that you were not impressed?

[Dre_J]

Yes Dre, I meant my comment as ones of respect and admiration. Still it must be tough to walk into others rooms with your ears and knowledge and remain silent. Back to my question about the optical cart; can I take from your comments that it had little in common with the Goldfinger that you were not impressed?

Not necessarily. The Nightrider is just different. I gave it the Most Technically Innovative Product award for my TAS RMAF 2014 show report. If you are asking because it is of interest to you, my suggestion is to give it (or any cartridge) a long listen to see if it will work in your setup if possible.

BTW: I'm not completely sure but I think the Nightrider cartridge/equalizer review may be in the next July/August edition of TAS #254.

Dre

[FlexibleAudio]

Not necessarily. The Nightrider is just different. I gave it the Most Technically Innovative Product award for my TAS RMAF 2014 show report. If you are asking because it is of interest to you, my suggestion is to give it (or any cartridge) a long listen to see if it will work in your setup if possible.

BTW: I'm not completely sure but I think the Nightrider cartridge/equalizer review may be in the next July/August edition of TAS #254.

Dre

Thank you. I look forward to the review. The science is pretty compelling imo and it sounded pretty good to me. All of the inherent benefits of low mechanical loading on the stylus like a straingage but no RIAA problems.

[Dre_J]

Thank you. I look forward to the review. The science is pretty compelling imo and it sounded pretty good to me. All of the inherent benefits of low mechanical loading on the stylus like a straingage but no RIAA problems.

Paul,

If you haven't check, The "Nightrider" is included in the analog equipment report of the July/August edition of TAS #254.

Dre

[MDP]

Dre, I just read your coverage of Axpona. Great job!

[FlexibleAudio]

Paul,

If you haven't check, The "Nightrider" is included in the analog equipment report of the July/August edition of TAS #254.

Dre

Thanks Dre, just got my copy. I need to give it a good read.

[Dre_J]

Dre, I just read your coverage of Axpona. Great job!

Thanks Mark.