RMAF 2014 Audioshark Awards

elegy said:
Glad I did not go since CH was not there along with Zellaton. Definitely dying to hear the new M1 amps. What about Gryphon? Not represented as well? Looks like Munich is the only game in town for serious high end...
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Gryphon has not been at a U.S. show in a decade or more. They haven't had a US distributor in over a decade.

Did you look at the show exhibitors? If you did, I don't know how you could make that statement. You had the top analog and digital front ends there. Arguably some of the best speakers. Plenty of cost no object gear. Besides you are comparing apples and oranges.
 
It's tough for a manufacturer. We all want to hear everybody's cost no object stuff, but we're not likely to buy it. And how does he decide what demos are most likely to result in increased sales, which is the main reason to exhibit at a show.
 
rbbert said:
It's tough for a manufacturer. We all want to hear everybody's cost no object stuff, but we're not likely to buy it. And how does he decide what demos are most likely to result in increased sales, which is the main reason to exhibit at a show.
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That certainly is true. As is putting a large speaker in a hotel room is sure recipe for disaster. And then all the attendees will, after the manufacturer spent 50 or 100 grand to ship and install the gear--trash you. Happened to Krell years ago when they brought their big amps and had them driving Martin-Logan Monoliths at a Chicago CES.
 
Myles B. Astor said:
Who was there last year that wasn't this year? No one that I can remember. In fact, pretty much everybody had the same rooms as last year. There were six floors of exhibitors in the tower, two in the atrium plus the conference rooms on the main floor. In fact, this show with around 150 rooms is probably 3X as large as any other consumer show in the US. So what actually is the problem?

I don't see any threat to the show continuing. Every manufacturer was quite pleased with the turnout. Also remember it's quality over quantity. What good, for instance, is it if you have 100,000 show up if only 10% are serious?
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Its not that much larger than Newport if you're numbers are correct.

As far as the audio societies shading attendance data, of course they do that. they are marketing as well.
 
Newport will be larger again next year, and in new quarters which might be more attractive. Still, I've enjoyed RAMF more, at least up 'til now.
 
Mike, Myles, and Nelson...thank you for the show coverage/commentary/pics
 
madfloyd said:
I'll be interested to see what you think about the Elgar. It's got only one review on AcousticSounds and it's bad.
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Regarding the Reference Recordings two LP set:
RM-2508 - Elgar - The Enigma Variations
Vaughan Williams - The Wasps - Greensleeves
Michael Stern / Kansas City Symphony

After reading the review on Acoustic Sounds from that listener, I guess I would have a couple questions for him/her:

1. What is meant by "sonic soup"?
2. What constitutes the music as "anemic"?

All I can say is that I like it and it sounds fantastic. The recording quality is superb with instruments precisely placed/mic'd (that I'm aware) and it's dynamic/explosive as heck with a serious bottom end and clean top end. In addition, the vinyl is of a super quality to allow a dead quiet background during playback.

Maybe the person that gave the review on Acoustic Sounds just didn't like the music?
 
rbbert said:
Newport will be larger again next year, and in new quarters which might be more attractive. Still, I've enjoyed RAMF more, at least up 'til now.
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The new hotel at Newport will be a welcome change.

I'm looking forward to attending both next year. RMAF for a change of pace. Although this year's lineup didn't seem as encouraging.
 
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Originally Posted by MDP Thanks to Mike,Myes, and Nelson for some great coverage and pics !!
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Mark Jones said:
+1000
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++1000
 
Mike said:
The Vapor/Allnic room also sounded good. The consensus in our group was that the combo lacked ultimate dynamics, but sure sounded sweet.....

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
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Mike, Do you by chance recall what Allnic stuff was used?
 
Mike said:
The Vapor/Allnic room also sounded good. The consensus in our group was that the combo lacked ultimate dynamics, but sure sounded sweet.
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Vapor1 said:
We had the DHT DAC and their T2000 integrated running in Triode the vast majority of the weekend.
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Thanks for the help Vapor. Your thoughts on Mike's feelings regarding dynamics?? Was the T2000 enough for the room?
 
Thanks Bruce.

Would that be 17900 Jamboree? I did a search and "Irvine" in the search triggers many responses.
 
FlexibleAudio said:
Thanks for the help Vapor. Your thoughts on Mike's feelings regarding dynamics?? Was the T2000 enough for the room?
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Well, I'd never tell anybody they're wrong to walk away with a certain impression. If Mike had introduced himself to me and said something like "hey, I feel the dynamics are a bit lacking", I would have been happy to play tracks that I feel highlight their dynamics. I might have also put the amp into Pentode for such an occasion.

I know I know, nobody wants to hear "the room". But in the front row of our room I felt dynamics were fantastic, truly. The layout of the room being one of the suites, it had a large opening to the right, where if you were in the 2nd or 3rd row, I can easily see thinking dynamics weren't what they could be. The balance, sweetness, and purity of tone was still there. Actually there wasn't a bad seat in the house for those things, but that opening did eat up some of the punch. Nobody sets up a home for 3 rows of seating and 15 listening chairs. In a show setting like that we can't just turn up volume to give the back rows the needed power, if we did the front row would have peoples ears ringing! Overall we were quite happy with the room, so I'm not complaining at all.

Now with the same system back at home, I can say whole-heartedly that the T2000 is a fantastic match for the speakers. It has no lack of drive or control, and I do like to listen loud! I'd even go so far as to say that my main rig is sounding better now than it ever has with the Joule Black and the Allnic gear. If I could have given everyone at the show the same experience I'm getting at home, I'd have driven home with a Costanza wallet from being stuffed full of checks.

Cheers, Ryan
 
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