2017 Axpona Report and Pictures Day 2

[MylesBAstor]

Today was pretty much of a washout for me. There was essentially no AC in the hotel today and I had to leave the show by 2 PM because was ill from the heat. People either didn't turn the AC on the room in the quest for better sound and/or the hotel was having issues. Someone said that the ac would be too noisy if they turned it up enough to cool the room. Duh-oh. So the alternative to sit their and die from the heat was better?

Plus one exhibitor decided to school me on mono records. All I wanted to do was hear a couple of my albums and move onto the next room. It was one mono album followed after another. Finally after 45 mins of pontificating and promising just one more record and they would play something I brought, I had enough and left. The worst part was 1) these mono albums were HORRIBLY (something wrong with the setup of their mono cartridge or the albums were played to death?) distorted and giving me an Excedrin headache #155 (how they didn't hear this is beyond me) and 2) if they really wanted to play these mono records they should have had a phono stage with adjustable equalization. I'd bet that all but one of these mono albums was non-RIAA.

[MylesBAstor]

So some pictures from today starting with the Daedulus/Mod Wright/VPI/Skogrand room

[Gusf]

I really like that table. Beautiful!

[MylesBAstor]

German Physiks/Merrill Audio/VPI

[MylesBAstor]

Note the new VPI Fatboy arm in the bottom picture.

[MylesBAstor]

B&O speakers.

Heard them with the Rebecca Pigeon Spanish Harlem cut. Left. Not quick enough.

[MylesBAstor]

MBL/UHA/SMT Room

Tape rules!

[Bruce B]

I bet this place was rocking!!

[Rob]

Today was pretty much of a washout for me. There was essentially no AC in the hotel today and I had to leave the show by 2 PM because was ill from the heat. People either didn't turn the AC on the room in the quest for better sound and/or the hotel was having issues. Someone said that the ac would be too noisy if they turned it up enough to cool the room. Duh-oh. So the alternative to sit their and die from the heat was better?

Plus one exhibitor decided to school me on mono records. All I wanted to do was hear a couple of my albums and move onto the next room. It was one mono album followed after another. Finally after 45 mins of pontificating and promising just one more record and they would play something I brought, I had enough and left. The worst part was 1) these mono albums were HORRIBLY (something wrong with the setup of their mono cartridge or the albums were played to death?) distorted and giving me an Excedrin headache #155 (how they didn't hear this is beyond me) and 2) if they really wanted to play these mono records they should have had a phono stage with adjustable equalization. I'd bet that all but one of these mono albums was non-RCA.

And people complain they don't play enough 'real music' at shows, not only was it real but REAL bad mono to boot (i've got nothing against mono LPS, btw). I've worked a CES for a friend who asked that I spin the vinyl, I made sure we played all the audiophile chestnuts of the day. my take is that shows are for selling sound, save the mediocre sounding records for yourself and friends after hours and at home,.

[MylesBAstor]

Classic Audio Reproductions/Atma-sphere/Kuzma

Almost missed this Studer 810 tape machine. Plus finally got to meet tapehead Leslie Brooks.

[MylesBAstor]

Some photos from the Paragon Sight and Sound room with Doshi electronics, Yvette speakers and Brinkmann table. In addition, the tape transport was Chris Mara's modded machine feeding a Doshi tapestage. His all in one tape machine will go for $8000.

[astrotoy]

Myles, does the $8000 for the Chris' machine include the Doshi? Thanks, Larry

[MylesBAstor]

No that is for just the machine plus what Chris has done for the stock electronics. But it's great for someone looking for a turnkey approach. Plug and play and the machine also comes with support too.

Doshi with the Mara Machine is better (I was able to switch between electronics one night courtesy of Nick) but the stock electronics are no slouch. Little less bass extension, not quite the magic of tubes. But a great starter machine and Chris has really worked on reducing the noise of the transport that we all heard at RMAF. Can't say I really noticed it during playing.

[MylesBAstor]

Magico/CH-Precision/Kronos/Int. Phonograph Inc.

[MylesBAstor]

AAaudio/Wilson-Benesch/Thales/Ikeda/Ypsilon

[MylesBAstor]

Karan Audio/Penaudio/Goldmund. Surprisingly good on the one cut that I heard that I knew.

[MylesBAstor]

Mod Wright/Daedulus/VPI

[MylesBAstor]

Herron Audio/VPI

[MylesBAstor]

Some pics from the after hours tape wine and cheese party sponsored by Paragon Sight and Sound Audio.

[jfrech]

Pretty good show pics. Thanks for posting. Bummer on the AC