Vintage HiFi Audio Forum
General Banter => The Circular File => Topic started by: schwarcw on May 01, 2014, 10:45:22 PM
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I went to the Axpona Audio Show in Chicago last weekend with VHF member Rockman Rock. Many thanks to Rockman to let me crash at his place, eat and drink everything that I could find.
If you've never been to a high end audio show, it's worth your time. Admission was only $20. I can't afford anything there but it was a lot of fun. There were listening rooms on five different floors in the Westin Hotel at O'Hare. It was much bigger than the Axpona Show in midtown Manhattan last year.
Here are my favorites:
Magico S-3 speakers, Pass Labs 1000 watt monoblocks. The speakers and amp would set you back a modest $60K. It would be worth it!
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250145-1.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250145-1.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250146.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250146.jpg.html)
Wilson Alexia speakers and Dan D'Agostino monoblocks. The Wilsons are fabulous in every way. Dan was the former chief amp engineer at Krell for many years. His own amps are made from a solid billet of copper, machined to fit the descrete components inside. I sat down in awe listening to this rig.
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250130.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250130.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250132.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250132.jpg.html)
Legacy Audio speakers and Nat Audio transmission amps. Check out those turntables!
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250162.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250162.jpg.html)
B&W 802 Diamond speakers, unknown amps. Sounded fantastic!
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250182.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250182.jpg.html)
Lawrence Audio "Chello" speakers. These looked exactly like cellos from the front, sides and back. I was chilling to Patricia Barber's Cafe Blue while listening to these. At around $20K, I won't be bringing these home.
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250183.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250183.jpg.html)
Dynaudio speakers, two different sets. The big ones cost nearly $100K.
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4240112.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4240112.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4240116.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4240116.jpg.html)
Focals, the picture doesn't give you a sense of scale. These speakers are at least six feet high
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250148.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250148.jpg.html)
Rogue Audio electronics. The speakers sounded like shit!
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250147.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250147.jpg.html)
Martin Logan surround audio powered by a very expensive McIntosh electronics. Complete with lava light, black lights, Dayglo posters. Don't bogart that joint my friend!
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250138.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250138.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250139.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250139.jpg.html)
Salk speakers. Rockman Rock owns a set of S8s. These are not pictured here. The gold speakers were the world premier! Excellent sounding at 92 dB sensitivity
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250137.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250137.jpg.html)
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Bmwr75 likes these speakers. Hey Ron! The Kefs are being powered by your Primaluna amp! This combination sound frighteningly good!
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4240105.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4240105.jpg.html)
Ron really liked these TAD reference monitors at last year's Axpona show in NYC
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250157.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250157.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250158.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250158.jpg.html)
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Some more just for fun!
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4240106.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4240106.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250129.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250129.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250151.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250151.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250165.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250165.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250166.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250166.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250171.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250171.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250176.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250176.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250178.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250178.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250188.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250188.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250186.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250186.jpg.html)
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p97/schwarcw/P4250185.jpg) (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/schwarcw/media/P4250185.jpg.html)
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Carl, Thanks for sharing. Did you hear any good new music? I have to stay away from big buck rigs-they make mine sound like sh... The last time I heard a $100k system, I didn't turn on mine for almost a week.
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looks like a good time. i would love to hear those KEF LS50's. what the hell are those giant weird HR Giger looking things at the bottom?
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I talk to one of the head engineers at Vapor Audio pretty regularly, I was invited to the 'aftershow' but I'm not able to make it out that far quite yet. They rocked out until around 1am in that room until they were kindly asked to turn it down. By a few cops.
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Hey Carl! You are most welcome! Got a spare room for you anytime. It was great listening to vinyl near all day Saturday.
I dig them Raptors! Available from Mancave Metals.
http://mancavemetal.com/products.php (http://mancavemetal.com/products.php)
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http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=96971&d=1398551536 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=96971&d=1398551536)
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(http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=96971&d=1398551536)
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(http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=96971&d=1398551536)
Looks like a scene out of the Terminator movies!!!! 8)
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Looks like a scene out of the Terminator movies!!!! 8)
Wayne, that's exactly what I said to Rockman. The detail was incredible
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A tube you don't see every day.......QB5/1750. Nat SE Class A triode mono block, 120 Watts @ 1 kHz.
(http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=97107&stc=1&d=1398708890)
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Carl and I shooting each other....
(http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=96974&stc=1&d=1398552984)
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Awesome! Thanks for sharing Captain Carl.