Day 3--The Home Stretch

[MylesBAstor]

American Sound/Back Room

Equipment:

Speakers: Avantgarde Uno SD with passive crossover, Price, $35,800
Amplification: Phasemation MA2000, parallel SET, Price: $49,950
Preamplifier: Phasemation CA1000, Price: $51,500
Phonostage: Phasemation EA 1200, Price: $18,800
Turntable: Oracle Delphi Mk. VII, Price: $14,000
Tonearm: Glanz 9Bt, Price: $2889, Headshell, Price: $609
Cartridge: Phasemation PP-500 moving coil, Price: $4440
Cabling: Transparent Audio
Equipment rack: HRS

In some ways (but not all), I preferred the sound of the smaller Avantgarde Uno horns to their bigger brothers in the outer room. No, the Unos couldn't match the larger Duos size of presentation, bass extension or effortlessness. But the Unos didn't have that occasional instrument in the horn moment and just sounded a little more coherent and controlled in the bass than the Duos.

The Unos were exceptionally transparent and open on the Mel Torme and Friends at Marty's sounding. (Efficient horns are unmercifully revealing of noisy electronics noise and the 27 wpc parallel SET Phasemation amplifiers passed that test with flying colors.) So good, in fact, that Randy Forman, who was working the room, logged onto Discogs and ordered a copy on the spot. Best of all, the system's midrange palpability (in part due to the Phasemation cartridge that I recently reviewed for Positive-Feedback) really brought this live recording to life. At the same time, the Unos simply sailed through an extremely dynamic, hard hitting and explosive piece such as Cage's "Third Construction" from Pulse: Music for Strings and Percussion. Best of all, the Unos possessed that coveted speed that horn lovers so love.

[MylesBAstor]

American Sound/Front Room

Another room that received a follow-up visit on the last day of the show. The sound--not unlike many rooms--had markedly improved since Friday. Bass was more controlled, and that grainy quality seemed to have disappeared. Still I would have liked to hear the Phasemation parallel SET driving the Duos (these Duos had the built-in iTron amplification). No doubt the main issue with the Phasemation SETs is their ability to control the Duo's low end.

[MylesBAstor]

GTT Audio

Equipment:

Speakers: Vivid Audio Giya G1 Spirit, $95,000
Amplification: Audionet Heisenberg monoblocks, $105,000/pair
Preamplifier: Audionet Stern linestage, $48,950
Phonostage:Mola Mola Lupe, $9850
Turntable: Kronos Sparta, $26,000
Kronos SSCPS power supply, $9500
Arm: Kronos Kronoscope RS, $14,000
Cartridge: My Sonic Lab Signature Platinum, $11,000
DAC: Mola Mola Tambaqui, $$13,500
Digital Source: Grimm Roon Core/Streamer MU1, $12,500
Cabling: Kubala-Sosna Realization
Equipment rack: Finite Elemente

Bill Parrish (GTT Audio) asked after finishing spinning the last of my three LPs (Yello: Oh Yeah, 45 rpm maxi single; Jimi Hendrix Blues [Classic Records]; and Mel Torme and Friends at Marty's) whether I had any other records that I would like to hear on the big rig. After all, it was Sunday and am sure he was tired of hearing the music he had brought. Truth is I did and would have liked to stay and hear more music on this outstanding sounding system; it was, however, the last day of the show and there were still a lot of rooms to cover before the show doors closed at 4 pm.

Let me get to the point. This was the first time Bill was showing his new Vivid speaker line and arguably the best sound he has ever had at Axpona. Hands down. And Bill has an unsurpassed reputation for getting good sound at Axpona.

The first thing that struck me about the system was its immense soundstage. Oh Yeah filled the room with sound and the density of recording and the tracking was laid out in all its glory. Without detracting from the enveloping musical experience. The system's transparency was also outstanding; even the smallest details in the back of the soundstage were faithfully recreated. The dynamics of Hendrix's guitar On Blues, and the intensity of which he played each note was superbly rendered. (As my guitar teacher says, guitarists rarely explore how loud a guitar can play.) Bass for a show was really well controlled. This was definitely a system where the synergy among all the components was on full display. And the contribution from Kubala-Sosna's newest Realization cable line couldn't be minimized. Kubala-Sosna are a staple of of Bill's systems and they always sound good.

[MylesBAstor]

AXISS Audio

Equipment:

Speakers: Gauder Akustic DARC, $149,000
Amplification:: Soulution 511, $83,500/pair
Preamplifier:Soulution 725 with phono, $65,000
Turntable: Yukiseimitsu Audio Yuki AP-01, $60,000
Cartridge: Air Tight Opus 1, $17,500
DAC:f Soulution 760, $76,000
Cabling: Zensati

The news in the AXISS room was that long time owner Art Manzano had retired and sold his majority interest in the company to Cliff Duffey, former Founder and CEO of Internet security firm Cybera, Bon voyage Art and hope you finally have time to really enjoy your audio system!

[MylesBAstor]

Magico.

Speakers: Magico S3 Mk. 2, $45,000
Amplification: Convergent Audio Technology JL7 monoblocks,$33,900
Preamplifier: Convergent Audio Technology SL1 Legend Black Path, $42,000
DAC: WADAX Atlantic, $69,000
Digital Source: Antipodes Oladra, $25,000
Cabling: Stealth Audio

I don't think Magico lovers will be disappointed with the sound of the new S3 Mk. 2 speakers. Alon continues to improve--with the help of cutting edge speaker design technology--the sound quality of his ever evolving speaker lines. Nor is he afraid to demonstrate his babies----in this case, the highly respected Convergent Audio Technology electronics--with the best of transistors or tube electronics (as he did pre-pandemic at Axpona with the S5 Mk. 2s). And the newest S3 speakers just sounded so much more refined than the older model! Quiet, (as in speaker settling time) uncolored and Formula 1 fast are three qualities that came to mind while listening to the S3s.

[MylesBAstor]

Audio-Ultra

Equipment:

Speakers: Magico A1, $9400; Sound Anchor stands: $1139
Amplification: CH Precision A1.5 stereo, $39,500
Preamplifier: CH Precision L1 line stage, $34,500
DAC: CH Precision C1.2, $36,000
CH Precision D1.5 w/optional $2000 CH Link HD, $43,000
Digital Source:Aurender N20, $12,500
Cabling: AudioQuest
Power: StromTank Quantum MkII, $27,000
CH Precision X1 Dual Power Supply, $20,000
Equipment rack: Critical Mass Ultra Q Rack with Diamond Shelf, $23,960
Critical Mass Ultra Q Amp stand with Diamond shelf, $5290
Room Acoustics: Stillpoint Apertures

Just across the hall from Magico was the Audio-Ultra room. Here, owner Ed Devito had journeyed all the way from Seattle to Chicago to demo equipment from his store stable as well as promote their AC line optimization work.

I did a double take when I heard the sound of this--by show standards, anyway--diminutive rig. The sound coming from the small Magico A1 speakers was nothing less than extraordinary! Yes, the small Magico A1s are darned inefficient (84 dB) but the 100 wpc CH Precision A1.5 amplifiers certainly had no trouble driving them. Make no mistake. Small as they may be doesn't mean that Alon skimped on the design. No, Alon just doesn't make a cheaper version of his speakers. The A1s feature the same tweeter as the larger A3s and a newly designed 6.5-inch multi-wall carbon fiber mid/bass driver. Rounding out the picture are the specially designed Sound Anchors stands.

And the same sonic signature as the rest of the Magico line. Clean, resolving and surprisingly deep and detailed bass. Particularly for a small monitor. The A1s might even make a nice second system for that summer home or beachfront property.

[MylesBAstor]

MBL

Equipment:

Speakers: MBL 101E MkII, $91,000
Amplification: MBL 9011 monoblocks, $64,100 each
Preamplifier: MBL 6010 D, $32,000
DAC:MBL 16111 F D/A, $34,200
Digital Source: MBL 1621 A Transport, $33,4000
Cabling: Wireworld Eclipse, Series 9

Jeremy Ryan and MBL are another company that over the last ten or so years--at least since the show has moved to the Rennaissance Shaumburg--gets good sound. Though Greg Beron/United Home Audio playing reel-to-reel tape was dearly missed in the MBL room this year. MBLs 101s are a speaker when correctly set-up in just the right room with right sources and accompanying equipment that can do some magical things. Some things that other speakers only dream of. Like recreating that atmosphere accompanying a live recording venue like on Friday Night in San Francisco. Or that machine gun-like speed of the guitars on the same recording. The sound here at Axpona was again top notch with the system delivering all the goods. Great resolution, nimbleness, and that you are there feeling.

[MylesBAstor]

Yamaha

The story in the Yamaha room was not so much about the equipment but their (and others such as Technics and Rotel) presence at a high-end audio show. Once upon a time, Yamaha was a part of the home audio sound revolution with their now legendary Natural Sound C-2A preamplifier and 290 wpc M2 amplifier. (don't forget their earlier VFET amplifiers, either!) Even their tuners drew praise from reviewers. Then along the way Yamaha just dropped by the wayside.

But this year Yamaha joined some other "mass market" such as Yamaha, Technics, Rotel, etc. in showing their wares at Axpona. Sure it was really cool to see the GT5000 belt driven turntable, a salute to the venerable Yamaha GT2000. Yamaha obviously dedicated its vast resoruces to the design of a new tapered carbon outer tube with zero offset (!) and even balanced out connections!

But the story goes beyond their exhibiting and having products with high-end audio pretensions. These companies have loyal followings and will attract new audiophiles to the audio shows. And at the same time, expose these budding audiophile to a whole new world of audio equipment they may have never seen or heard before.

[MylesBAstor]

PASS Labs

The story here wasn't about PASS labs equipment. No. What Kent English of PASS was interested in demonstrating was how to buy a system say for instance, your kids. Kent's point of view was it's easier to buy one good piece of equipment and then build around that component using used gear. The system of course started with a PASS integrated amplifier and then used GoldenEar speakers and OPPO digital source. That's in contrast to worrying about every part of the system.

[MylesBAstor]

Analog Matters

Equipment:

Speakers: Audio Physics Spark speakers, Price: $8700 w/stands
Amplification: Plinius Reference RA 150 (in mono), $29,900
Preamplifier: Reference RM 10 dual mono, $19,200
Phonostage: Plinius Koru, $4620
Turntable: Acoustic Signature Typhoon Neo, $17,995
Cartridge: Grado Aeon, $6000
DAC: Esoteric Audio K-01XD-CD
Cabling: IKIGAI
Power: Puritan Audio and PSU
Stands: Solid Tech

The Analog Matters room featured two old time high-end audio favorites--Audio Physics speakers from Germany and Plinius electronics from New Zealand--that haven't seen much US distribution, press or play at shows in recent years. (in fact, I still have and use my Audio Physics cartridge demagnetizer!) Steve Davis of Analog Matters had the system really firing on all cylinders. Joachim Gerhard's Sparks were sparking some discussoin with their very detailed, snappy and musical with surprisingly good bass extension. I had Steve play the 45 rpm Analogue Productions reissue of Kenny Burrell's Bluesy Burrell and the low level resolution and transient attack of the speakers was very impressive, especially for a smaller speaker.

[MylesBAstor]

Krell Industries

Equipment:

Speakers: Magico A5, $28,000
Amplification: Krell i400, $36,500
DAC: Krell Vanguard, $7500
Cabling: Anticables

[MylesBAstor]

Dr. Vinyl

Equipment

Speakers: Usher ML 802 speakers, $15,000
Amplification: McGary Audio Am1 Monoblock amplifieers, $20,950
Preamplifier: McGary Audio SP1 Stereo preamplifier, $12,000
Cartridge/Electronics: DS Audio W/3 Cartridge Energizer, $15,000
Turntable: J. Solpra Std Max. 2 ar,s. $22,495
Arm: Tru-Glider, $5795
DAC: Ideon Absolute Stream, $19,900
Ideon Absolute Time, $10,000
Digital Source: CEC TL5 CD transport, $2524
Cabling: Argent Pur silver interconnects

[MylesBAstor]

Rotel Michi

Equipment:

Speakers: Sonus Faber Amatic G5, $36,000
Amplification: Michi S5, $8000
Phonostage: Pro-Ject Power Box R52, $1199
Pro-Ject Power Box R52, $1199
Turntable: Pro-Ject RPM 10 Carbon Superpack with 10cc Evo tonearm, $6499
DAC: Michi P5 Series 2, $7999

[MylesBAstor]

Arion Audio

Equipment:

Speakers: Arion Audio Apollo, $49,900
Amplification: Aric Audio Super 300B SET, $6995
Phonostage: Phone, $2000
Turntable: VPI HW40 Direct Reference, $22,000
Cartridge: Soundsmith Sussurro, $4995
DAC: Aurender N20 Music server, $12,000
Cabling: JPS Audio
Power conditioning: Chang Lightspeed

The sound of the Arion speakers has come a long ways from the first time heard them at Capital AudioFest years ago. Designer Mike Kallelis's full range, Heil AMT-based, open baffle, dipole towers are super effiicient (105 dB) and easily driven by small wattage tube amplifiers. The Apollos were very fast, light, detailed and effortless; their main issue a discontinuity between the towers and open baffle Apollo subwoofer. For some reason, instruments in this region were just shrunken in size to the height of the subs and one always knew sound was coming from them.

[MylesBAstor]

Gershman Acoustics

Equipment:

Speakers: Gershman Acoustics 30th Anniversary Grand Avant Garde, $17K
Amplification: VAC Master 300, $42,000
Preamplifier: VAC Master Preamplifier, $38,000
DAC: exaSoiund s82 Mark II 8-channel Streaming DAC, $7599
Digital Source: Roon Server
Cabling: Cardas

Eli and Ofra Gershman came to Axpona with their 30th Anniversary Edition Grand Avant Garde speakers equipped with the recently implemented bass traps. With quite excellent results too. These speakers driven by VAC electronics, were the most transparent and musicsl Gershman speakers have ever sounded at a show.