Axpona 2016 Thoughts, Best Of's and more...

[nc42acc]

I am sure Mr. Stone is a delightful person and an avid audiophile. Pressures of being associated with TAS can surely sway an opinion.

Oh c'mon, I said this:



Steve said this:

"I’d also never heard the YG Acoustics Sonja 1.2 ($72,800) sound more natural and incisive as it did with this source."

I also said this:



Steve said:

"Best Sound (cost no object)
Paragon Sight and Sound’s room on the second floor won easily, populated by Wilson Audio Alexxloudspeakers ($109,000/pr.), Doshi Audio 3.0 linestage ($16,995), Doshi Audio 3.0phonostage($16,995), Doshi Audio 3.0 tape stage ($16,995), Doshi Audio Jhor mono amplifiers ($29,995/pr.),"

He can't be all bad.

[FlexibleAudio]

I am sure Mr. Stone is a delightful person and an avid audiophile. Pressures of being associated with TAS can surely sway an opinion.

Ya, I take your point and don't disagree. We just happened to both like those two rooms.....or maybe he had other reasons.

[nc42acc]

All the rooms using the YG sounded very good except the MSB room which to me was marginal. They especially sounded good in the Mola Mola room.

[FlexibleAudio]

All the rooms using the YG sounded very good except the MSB room which to me was marginal. They especially sounded good in the Mola Mola room.

Well I am not paid by Absolute Sound but I can't disagree more strongly.

[Mike]

Reviewing Stereophile's Axpona coverage. They had an entire team of people and they can't even make it to every room? I'm shaking my head.

I like what Valin said about the new Avantgarde Uno XD's:

"While were on the subject of horns, Avantgarde debuted its $34.6k UnoXD digitally optimized three-way horn/cone hybrids, driven by Avantgarde’s XD amplifier with DSP for crossover and bass optimization. The source was a Bergmann Sindre ’table. On my Buena Vista Social Club disc, timbre was dark with terrific transient response and astonishing detail. (The liveliness of horns was goosebump-raising!) Though there was a bit of a room-induced thump in the bass (which seemed to be coming from a separate driver a la the Everests), the sound was otherwise superb—on voice and brass and percussion. Smooth and fast fast fast and rich in the mids and treble. (The Class D XD amps lack bloom, though, and were, as noted, dark in timbre.) All in all, I thought this was a very impressive introduction. But then I like Avantgarde horns."

Any room induced thump can be completely eliminated by adjusting the EQ on the back of the speaker (like I did on Saturday to remove that thump!)

[Mike]

Reviewing Stereophile's Axpona coverage. They had an entire team of people and they can't even make it to every room? I'm shaking my head.

I like what Valin said about the new Avantgarde Uno XD's:

"While were on the subject of horns, Avantgarde debuted its $34.6k UnoXD digitally optimized three-way horn/cone hybrids, driven by Avantgarde’s XD amplifier with DSP for crossover and bass optimization. The source was a Bergmann Sindre ’table. On my Buena Vista Social Club disc, timbre was dark with terrific transient response and astonishing detail. (The liveliness of horns was goosebump-raising!) Though there was a bit of a room-induced thump in the bass (which seemed to be coming from a separate driver a la the Everests), the sound was otherwise superb—on voice and brass and percussion. Smooth and fast fast fast and rich in the mids and treble. (The Class D XD amps lack bloom, though, and were, as noted, dark in timbre.) All in all, I thought this was a very impressive introduction. But then I like Avantgarde horns."

Any room induced thump can be completely eliminated by adjusting the EQ on the back of the speaker (like I did on Saturday to remove that thump!)

As for the Avantgarde Integrated amp they showed with - it isn't class D, it is class A - and I've always maintained - if you're getting horns, dude, seriously, you're getting tubes! 300b, 45, 211, 845, GM70, 6L6, some sweet little SET.

[Mike]

ROSEMONT, IL (April 21, 2016) - - AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) welcomed 5,934 attendees and 400 exhibitors to the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont, IL, April 15-17, 2016, offering music lovers, audiophiles, and musicians three jam-packed days of incredible sounds, technology, seminars, live music and the very latest products in the industry. Attendance was up 16% over 2015 with 137 students at the show as part of the new Student Day Program.

[FlexibleAudio]

Reviewing Stereophile's Axpona coverage. They had an entire team of people and they can't even make it to every room? I'm shaking my head.

I like what Valin said about the new Avantgarde Uno XD's:

"While were on the subject of horns, Avantgarde debuted its $34.6k UnoXD digitally optimized three-way horn/cone hybrids, driven by Avantgarde’s XD amplifier with DSP for crossover and bass optimization. The source was a Bergmann Sindre ’table. On my Buena Vista Social Club disc, timbre was dark with terrific transient response and astonishing detail. (The liveliness of horns was goosebump-raising!) Though there was a bit of a room-induced thump in the bass (which seemed to be coming from a separate driver a la the Everests), the sound was otherwise superb—on voice and brass and percussion. Smooth and fast fast fast and rich in the mids and treble. (The Class D XD amps lack bloom, though, and were, as noted, dark in timbre.) All in all, I thought this was a very impressive introduction. But then I like Avantgarde horns."

Any room induced thump can be completely eliminated by adjusting the EQ on the back of the speaker (like I did on Saturday to remove that thump!)

As for the Avantgarde Integrated amp they showed with - it isn't class D, it is class A - and I've always maintained - if you're getting horns, dude, seriously, you're getting tubes! 300b, 45, 211, 845, GM70, 6L6, some sweet little SET.

I had em third but they were right there with the best imo.

Re: Axpona 2016 Official Pictures Thread

I want to get this out early so people don't think I am copying off the kid in front of me. After a long second day today, here is where I come out. Please remember I have a hearing impairment.

Top Five
1 YG and MSB
2 Wilson Alexx and Doshi with tape and vinyl3 Raidho D1.1 and Aavik
3 Avantegarde Uno XD and Av Amp
4 Wilson and Dag
5 Martin Logan and McIntosh (seriously)

[Joe P]

I question Stephen Stones ability to accurately assess an audio system.

I'm sure Mr. Stone isn't going to lose sleep over your question.

[Rscotth]

There is another report done by TAS writer Jonathan Valin for speaker $20k and up that were at the Axpona show. He has a different view than Mr. Stone. JV's pick was the Sonus faber/ARC room!

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...rs-20k-and-up/

[nc42acc]

I'm sure Mr. Stone isn't going to lose sleep over your question.

I didn't lose any sleep over the fact he picked the Paragon room as best in show. Variety is the spice of life.

[FlexibleAudio]

I'm sure Mr. Stone isn't going to lose sleep over your question.

Friggin guy called me at 3:00 am last night wanting to play gin rummy.

[still-one]

There is another report done by TAS writer Jonathan Valin for speaker $20k and up that were at the Axpona show. He has a different view than Mr. Stone. JV's pick was the Sonus faber/ARC room!

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...rs-20k-and-up/

Why does it surprise anyone that those attending any show would have different products at the to of their list? Since when is there a Best in this hobby??

[Mike]

http://positive-feedback.com/show-re...to-the-mystic/

"One comment that struck home later was his forewarning about the sound that I was about to hear. I have had the pleasure of auditioning several Magico speakers over the years, but only with solid state preamps and amplifiers. Via this new speaker design and a tube preamp/amp combination from heaven, I was about to experience something quite exhilarating

Within a few seconds in my listening position, I was immediately struck by the immediacy and coherence of the sound across all frequencies. It was not an in your face thing—far from it. There was a very natural and organic sense of the real thing that just seemed to explode from various points in the soundstage. As Alon had alluded, bass was tight, weighty and with plenty of impact. Mids and highs were layered and layered with rich harmonics and plenty of detail."


This is what I'm hearing from my Magico S1 mk2/VAC Signature 200iQ/VAC preamp combo!!!!

[a.wayne]

Mike,

I see you are now carry Magico , congrats, its been awhile since i have looked at your Signature line , Wow ! I think you need to change the Industry affiliation headline , it's not necessary ,


You are the Industry ....

[Mike]

Mike,

I see you are now carry Magico , congrats, its been awhile since i have looked at your Signature line , Wow ! I think you need to change the Industry affiliation headline , it's not necessary ,


You are the Industry ....

Thank you.

[SteVen]

Axpona is always a great show. Lots of great exhibits. Six of us St.Louis Cardinals invaded Cubs territory and of course there was some polite ribbing. I had a terrible ankle injury and was in lots of pain. Some of you may have seen me limping down the halls. I didn't see much but did like the Lampi rooms, Tidal, MBL and Legacy displays. In general some great exhibits. My 5 friends had a great time and we'll be back next year for sure. If you live in the Midwest and haven't made it to Chicago Axpona give it a try next year.
Now if the Westin would install SOTA elevators . . . . The Chicago Audio Society were great hosts.

[Musicfirst]

As for the Avantgarde Integrated amp they showed with - it isn't class D, it is class A - and I've always maintained - if you're getting horns, dude, seriously, you're getting tubes! 300b, 45, 211, 845, GM70, 6L6, some sweet little SET.

Ahh, in my younger days I fondly remember this one girl...