Capitol Audio Fest 2016

[nc42acc]

Capitol Audio Fest is almost here. How many members will be attending? This will be my 2nd annual CAF show.

[tom_hankins]

My wife and I will be attending. We live about 20 minutes away, probably stay at hotel though.

[allenh]

I hope to be going, but not 100% sure yet. Went 2 years ago and enjoyed myself there while the fam roamed the DC area.

[MylesBAstor]

I don't think I will be making it this year. I plan a trip up to Maine later in July to visit Transparent Audio that I'll report on here. They've revamped their system including tape and I am eager to hear what Karen, Jack and Josh have assembled up there!

[MylesBAstor]

I reconsidered and will be going to the show. Want to hear the KEF Muons!

[allenh]

Same here.

[nc42acc]

Glad you can make it Myles.

[MylesBAstor]

[allenh]

Myles always does a great job with his show reports so I'll leave that thread alone. But here are some pics from the show to whet your appetite for Myles' main entree ;-)

[allenh]

Some gorgeous racks from our very own Aaron Hoffman (aka BorderDog):










Greg Beron's UHA room:








Care Audio's room and headphone table in the Plaza room. Very musical room using David Berning's Micro ZOTL preamp/amp combo.

[Rob]

I heard the ZOTL power amp at Newport driving Silverline Boleros, the sound was very fine and Über transparent. Its a David Berning design and could be misconstrued as a poor man's ZH230 but there was nothing poor about the sound. Me wants one.

[Garth]

Those Kef speakers a different look put a nice mirror ball in the room and some disco music and the 70s are back . How did they sound when you closed your eyes.

[Socrates]

God forbid alright--what was KEF Thinking--how the (Once)mighty have fallen

Soc

[allenh]

I heard the ZOTL power amp at Newport driving Silverline Boleros, the sound was very fine and Über transparent. Its a David Berning design and could be misconstrued as a poor man's ZH230 but there was nothing poor about the sound. Me wants one.

Rob, I want to get one too, and I have absolutely no need/use for them. I've heard MAD speakers before but thought they sounded great with the Micro ZOTL driving them. Maybe I'll get one for a headphone amp for use between my son and I.

[allenh]

Those Kef speakers a different look put a nice mirror ball in the room and some disco music and the 70s are back . How did they sound when you closed your eyes.

First day (Friday) they did not rock my boat. As I entered the room one guy leaving said what a POS and they dare charge 200K for them! I think they were playing digital.

Saturday though was a different story. Myles had his DCD LP and after a swap of the phono cables, the music opened up and sounded good. At 200K, I can't help to think you are paying as much for the visual design/material as you are for the sound, which I think can be found for a fraction of the cost. Just MO and after a brief listen.

[Rust]

I was looking at the pictures of the big KEF system. Are those $225,000 speakers actually being driven by $2700 of Odyssey Stratos mono-blocks???

[tom_hankins]

I was looking at the pictures of the big KEF system. Are those $225,000 speakers actually being driven by $2700 of Odyssey Stratos mono-blocks???

Yep, they used the Odyssey amps. I'm sure they could have done better, but imo after hearing the all Odyssey system at the show they are not the reason the speakers weren't as good as I was hoping them to be.

[Rust]

Interesting. I keep hearing (for the main part) that Odyssey performs very well at or above their price point. Always a thing of interest to those with a limited budget.