AudioNervosa

Group Therapy => Sharing Experiences => Topic started by: richidoo on November 20, 2010, 08:33:58 AM

Title: AXPONA 2011
Post by: richidoo on November 20, 2010, 08:33:58 AM
April 15–17, 2011

http://www.stereophile.com/news/axpona_2011_a_goldmine_for_audiophiles/index.html
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: opnly bafld on November 20, 2010, 08:37:12 PM
http://www.axpona.com/
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: Rob S. on February 24, 2011, 09:09:28 PM
Anybody here going?  Seems to be lighter on the wallet than going out to RMAF for us east coasters....

Rob S.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: richidoo on February 24, 2011, 09:25:52 PM
I am planning to go. Probably drive down for one night. What about you?
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: Rob S. on February 25, 2011, 06:13:32 PM
It's the weekend before spring break and it currently looks wide open.  I'll check with the boss to see if I can work something out.

Rob S.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: TomS on February 25, 2011, 06:56:43 PM
I'm planning to go since my daughter lives in Atlanta  :thumb:
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: tmazz on April 09, 2011, 08:44:23 PM
FYI - AXPONA is now planning to do a show in NYC as well on June 24th & 25th. I hope it goes off as planned because as of tonight the web site is only listing one vendor under the Exhibtor list.  :roll:

http://www.axponanyc.com/default.asp
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: Carlman on April 15, 2011, 02:15:51 PM
Any reports?  How's it going down in Hotlanta?
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: evan1 on April 15, 2011, 03:03:37 PM
FYI - AXPONA is now planning to do a show in NYC as well on June 24th & 25th. I hope it goes off as planned because as of tonight the web site is only listing one vendor under the Exhibtor list.  :roll:

http://www.axponanyc.com/default.asp

 :dj:
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: Rob S. on April 17, 2011, 04:30:21 PM
Show was a great time, despite low turnout (at least compared to RMAF ) Bob, David, and I drove down from WV and joined up with Rich and Steve from NC. On the way home now, and am glad I left with only some vinyl, free t-shirt, and a big grin.

Rob S.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: topround on April 17, 2011, 05:02:34 PM
Hey ,
My Lector made the show!
Sold it to a guy in manhattan who used it in his room at Apoxna
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: stereofool on April 17, 2011, 06:27:47 PM
Any reports?  How's it going down in Hotlanta?

YES! In my opinion, we had a great time. Since I wasn't looking to purchase anything, I probably didn't listen critically, or for as long, as I might otherwise.

There were certainly some nice sounding rooms and equipment, but the price of admission (for 'toys') seems to be climbing rather dramatically. I guess it's a good thing I already have most of the 'toys' that I could desire...at least while they were relatively 'cheap'.

However, there was one very surprisingly inexpensive system...a Napa Acoutics small tube-hybrid integrated amp with a set of small stand-mount Mistral speakers...for a hair under $600. For the size and price of these components, the sound was simply amazing  :shock:! Certainly not reference quality, but for an office, bedroom, bathroom, etc...not bad at all.

I did take some pictures, but it may be later in the week before I get time to upload and post them...sorry.

A big thanks to Rich for hauling me down to Atlanta and back  :thumb:. Also, it was great to see you again, Rob; as well as meeting Bob and David...hopefully we can get these great guys to join us here on AN.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: tmazz on April 17, 2011, 06:36:29 PM
Any reports?  How's it going down in Hotlanta?

YES! In my opinion, we had a great time. Since I wasn't looking to purchase anything, I probably didn't listen critically, or for as long, as I might otherwise.

There were certainly some nice sounding rooms and equipment, but the price of admission (for 'toys') seems to be climbing rather dramatically. I guess it's a good thing I already have most of the 'toys' that I could desire...at least while they were relatively 'cheap'.

However, there was one very surprisingly inexpensive system...a Napa Acoutics small tube-hybrid integrated amp with a set of small stand-mount Mistral speakers...for a hair under $600. For the size and price of these components, the sound was simply amazing  :shock:! Certainly not reference quality, but for an office, bedroom, bathroom, etc...not bad at all.

I did take some pictures, but it may be later in the week before I get time to upload and post them...sorry.

A big thanks to Rich for hauling me down to Atlanta and back  :thumb:. Also, it was great to see you again, Rob; as well as meeting Bob and David...hopefully we can get these great guys to join us here on AN.

Steve,

Glad to hear you had a good time at the show. I hope the NYC show is just as good. But more important that audio, how did you guys make out with the storm. You are the first guy from NC to put up a post all day. After seeing the pictures on the news we were really starting to worry about you guys.

There are very few things that trump the importance of audio, but health and safety are definitely on the top of that list.

Tom
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: stereofool on April 17, 2011, 06:48:26 PM
Any reports?  How's it going down in Hotlanta?


Steve,

Glad to hear you had a good time at the show. I hope the NYC show is just as good. But more important that audio, how did you guys make out with the storm. You are the first guy from NC to put up a post all day. After seeing the pictures on the news we were really starting to worry about you guys.

There are very few things that trump the importance of audio, but health and safety are definitely on the top of that list.

Tom

Hi, Tom  :)!

We had no weather problems in Atlanta, and when I got back to central NC (this evening) I found that we only had a little bit of wind and rain...certainly nothing like the Raleigh area experienced. According all of the calls that Rich got from his wife and kids, it would seem that his neighborhood had no problems either.

Thanks for the concern...I will have to check and see how some of our friends did, who live in the Raleigh area.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: tmazz on April 17, 2011, 07:36:00 PM
Thanks for the update. Tornadoes can be very localized things  They can be all around you and completely miss your home. But if you get in their way, look out.  :shock:

I'm glad to here that Rich and his family made out OK. I only hope that the rest of our Raleigh friends were just as fortunate.  [-o<
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: richidoo on April 18, 2011, 08:27:56 AM
I had a great time at the show. Great fun with friends and even a few rooms of audio that I liked. 
Overall the show was good, but small compared to RMAF. The attendance was pretty thin all three days.

My favorite room was that of GA dealer Sound Image http://soundimageatl.com/ They had Linn electronics (Klimax DS and preamp, Akurate amp, and LP12 TT) playing on Tannoy DC8T. Extremely resolving digital but it sounded almost exactly like analog, I say almost because it was better. In fact I heard a back to back comparison of Allison Kraus a-capella tune on vinyl (LP12) then on digital. They sounded almost identical except for the digital allowed to hear the inner voices more clearly. A slight bit of darkening and thickening in the lower mids from the TT, a better cart would probably make up the difference. But the DAC (Klimax Digital Streamer) is excellent. They were quite proud of it too. The Tannoys are one of the things still stuck in my mind. They played nearly full range, looked nice, coax driver sounded smooth and natural compared to most other systems with more aggressive treble (voiced to sell.) List price for these incredible speakers is only 5600. The electronics that made them sound so incredible are significantly more...  :rofl:

Another great sounding room was that of DaVinci DAC. http://www.stereophile.com/content/davinci-usb-dac-does-384khz John Atkinson was holding court in there on Friday night taking notes. It was very crowded, people (me) were crawling around on the floor to try to get down into the decent spot to taste the goodness. I think the DAC had a lot to do with the success, but the Sophia 3 speakers powered by Pass XA60.5 did not hurt one bit. We tried to go hear it again, but each time we walked past the room on Saturday and Sunday there was a sign stuck on the door saying "On break." Cruelly, the music was left playing loudly inside. On Sunday we finally saw the door open, but the assistant was sticking a new sign on the door announcing a new break. I think they saw the stereophile blog post and realized they accomplished their goal and didn't have to endure anymore smelly nosy audiophiles. One smart audiophile posed the more likely theory that they sold as many discounted DACs as they wanted to and couldn't afford to sell any more of them at the show price. But it sounded good the little bit I did hear, as it should considering the supporting equipment and 384kHz source tracks.

I visited the Legacy exhibit several times. It was great to finally meet Bill and Doug with whom I have exchanged emails for a few years. I finally heard Whisper XD, and again heard Focus SE. They are very impressive. The whisper had superbly clear and powerful bass, even in the huge untreated room. The Focus SE was brand new with no break in time, so the bass was not as strong as it was when i heard it at my friend's house in Feb. But it still made me well up when it was playing Dizzy Gillespie's "November Afternoon," but the treble was too sharp for Dizzy's high notes and forced a few fingers in ears until the track was over. I talked to the designer Bill Duddleston about my preference for less low treble so on Sunday he got a digital processor from the truck which is normally used with Whisper XD system and programmed it with a simple notch filter to demonstrate what it would sound like with a simple resistor tweak to the passive crossover. The best part was chatting with him while he was setting up the processor, but he was able to make it play Julia Fischer's Prokofiev concerto much more gracefully. I wish it was voiced that way as standard, but he made it possible to hear the custom tweak. I don't understand why it is not voiced like that as standard, but that would require his customers to hear and listen like me. No denying his formula is extremely successful over many years. After the visit I realized that he has great ears, is capable of making it sound however he wants and fully understands the voicing / marketing choices and there are no accidents in his designs. Soon after that I heard the Tannoy for the first time and the smoothness and naturalness of the treble was incredible. But they could not command the room like the Focus.

Our own Selah Audio was at the show with a new pair of floorstanders called MA-1, designed with input from Moon Audio. They were a perfect size for the hotel room, and sounded excellent with 3 of Cary's supposedly "all new" 2 channel amplifiers, Drew's newest DEQX active crossover, and SLR Acoustics room treatment. The speakers looked especially beautiful in a satin dark figured wood veneer.

Avatar Audio had a nice sounding room. Me and RobS had fun sitting up front on Sat night, Mike Fremer joined us on the front couch. Mike brought a test pressing (Harry Chapin?) which confirmed the best sounding TT rig of the show. No slow tubby lower mids like on almost every other TT except for the strain gage. It was a Lyra cartridge fwiw. I enjoyed chatting with Mike. His test pressing was made by the old crew from Wakefield MFG getting back together to fill the demand for vinyl. They pressed my records back in the 80s. Mike encouraged me in his own way to start playing again. He has a great passion for his art which makes me want to feel that again too. He is a powerful do-er. Not many of those left in this world.

Carnegie Acoustics got a lot of buzz. They featured speakers designed by Danny Richie. The biggest speakers were demonstrated with VAC tube electronics. They are kinda line arrays with tweeter in the middle with 4-5 mid woofers above and below. They were good on music, kind of intense stimulating energy even with the tube amps. Impressive bass was solid and clear, even on a show-off track with 18Hz synth tones. Great acoustic treatment in there made the low frequency fireworks especially impressive. But they couldn't do anything about the rattling ductwork in the ceiling.  8)   These were among the most stimulating speakers at the show, falling short only to...

MBL was there with the their top line demo with the mighty 101 speakers. When they played real music it was a delight to be in there. The omni speakers just made their room a little pocket of heaven. But at least half of the times I walked past the room it was the usual drums-only showoff test track. On Sunday me and Steve were sitting outside by the pool and we could hear the huge drum whacks from a couple hundred feet away, with excellent tonal texture, I could hear the drum head vibrate. But I was glad I was at a safe distance. Dynamics are strong spice and should be used with discretion. Nothing is more dynamic than MBLs but they just overdo it at these shows. After hearing them at RMAF I always wished to hear them play some real music but never got the chance in 3 years there. But this weekend we caught them in a rare moment of weakness playing an incredible jazz trio recording in there on Friday night, probably the best sonic and musical experience of the show for me. The ghost of the bassist was standing right there in front of me, breathing, finger sounds, full huge bass filling the room. That's what realistic dynamics are for!

An up and coming rock star, Jessie Monroe (real name?) was helping to demonstrate the demo of Vincent, Pangea, Thorens importer.  The sound was closed in, flat and veiled with grit on the very revealing Thiel coax bookshelfs (all sold at Audio Advisor,) but Jessie made sure that nobody noticed that. In addition to the visual fireworks, she was warm, friendly and talkative. On Sunday afternoon the room was empty so she took the opportunity to learn some new tunes on her guitar. Our gang enjoyed her singing a Dylan tune for us which was a cherry on top of a great weekend of fun. She has a few records out and busy recording now in Atl and Nashville. I can't find her on the web, does somebody have a link?

Dinners were fun. The first night we ate at Ted's Montana Grill, and the owner and 'King of Atlanta' Ted Turner was dining up front in the window booth. He walked past our table presumably to visit the loo, smiling at everyone. RobS was blessed with a brush of Ted's coattails and called out "Ted" but he was ignored in favor of the table next to us with 5 beautiful happy prom couples. For me he will always be a great hero for defending America's Cup in 77.

We missed the Friday night music entertainment at AXPONA show, and the main act on Saturday night too, but on Sat we got there in time to hear a jam session with a few Stereophile writers. They had a couple interesting moments and the atmosphere was nice with live jazz simmering. All of these audio shows need to have live jazz jam sessions after hours. Many audiophiles are musicians, almost all are jazz fans to some degree. Seems like a natural.

Thanks to Steve for the great company on the long drive, for the CDs, and the human GPS tour guide service through the rat maze that is Sheraton Atlanta. But especially for his experienced advice helping me quickly and constructively evaluate the sounds I heard. Also it was great fun to meet Robs friends Bob and Dave from WV. I hope to see them on my next WV pilgrimage.
Rich
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: Carlman on April 18, 2011, 12:30:39 PM
Wow, that sounds like a really great adventure.  Congratulations for pulling it off!  Sounds like you all learned a lot, confirmed some things, and had good company to boot.  Only thing missing was me. :(
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: stereofool on April 18, 2011, 02:23:09 PM
Only thing missing was me. :(


I'll second that...we would have loved to have you along with us  8)!
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: opnly bafld on April 18, 2011, 03:51:18 PM
http://www.myspace.com/jessimonroe1  :?:
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: richidoo on April 18, 2011, 04:08:28 PM
Great! Thanks Lin.   from there I found her own site. http://jessimonroe.com/
I was misspelling. It is Jessi, but her promo posters said Jessie, iirc...
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011 - New York City
Post by: Triode Pete on June 23, 2011, 12:56:48 PM
Who's going tomorrow?

I'll see you there!

Pete
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: evan1 on June 23, 2011, 02:18:18 PM
Who's going tomorrow?

I'll see you there!

Pete

I'll be there Saturday
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: Hugh on June 23, 2011, 02:51:08 PM
Rich,

How would you compare the show to others?

Is there lots of people and exhibitors?

If it looks promising, we just might be there next year.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: richidoo on June 23, 2011, 03:10:19 PM
Rich,

How would you compare the show to others?

Is there lots of people and exhibitors?

If it looks promising, we just might be there next year.

Hi Hugh,
AXPONA Atlanta was a good show with quality vendors and some excellent demos, with a few oddball exotics thrown in for amusement. There was probably 1/3 of the exhibitors as RMAF and the attendance on Saturday was up and down, slower in the afternoon while Sunday by noon was pretty dead. The rooms have an empty buffer room between them so leakage was not a problem. I really enjoyed it for the dozen or so excellent exhibits, and hanging out with friends. The people running the show were very helpful. The hotel was a little confusing to navigate, fortunately Steve was my guide.

RMAF 07 was the best show I've been to yet. Slower in 08, but still bigger and better than AXPONA ATL. I would go to RMAF again before ATL, but it was a cheap trip for me compared to RMAF. And there were some local SE-USA exhibitors and friends in ATL that I could not see in RMAF. So it was a good trip overall.

Are they planning to do it again next year? If so it would be a good way to show in the south. I would have to say that overall the show was a success.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: evan1 on June 23, 2011, 03:15:06 PM
I just looked at the exhibitor list and it doesn't look promising but i'll go anyway. Maybe they'll have some good music to buy.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011 - New York City
Post by: StereoNut on June 23, 2011, 05:30:02 PM
Who's going tomorrow?  I'll see you there!  Pete

I'll be there tomorrow and possibly for part of Saturday.  See you there!  :thumb:
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: TomM on June 23, 2011, 06:51:12 PM
I will be there saturday.





 TomM
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: Carlman on June 23, 2011, 07:18:16 PM
Looking forward to hearing some reports this weekend... Wish I could go... but I'm in school.. and in another state.. and blah blah blah... ;) 
Have fun!
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: goldlizsts on June 24, 2011, 01:14:19 PM
I just looked at the exhibitor list and it doesn't look promising but i'll go anyway. Maybe they'll have some good music to buy.

Did same early this morning...... wondering if prepaying for 2 days was worth it.

So, we got there on the money, entered the show 1:00 p.m., all pumped.

The one thing I think I'd like to report is that we were impressed, as usual, with the MBL room.  The 3-dimensionality of the soundstage was amazing.  The sound put out by those speakers was just wonderful.

Other than that, really, there's not much to write home about, IMHO (so there'd be no finger-pointing!).  The Legacy speakers we heard next actually.  It was good, but..... The room was small, and yet they blasted the sound, overpowering everything.  

There was another huge German (?) speaker setup we liked after the MBL, but forgot.  The sound was quite good except for the bass, and again, musicality.  Seems that most of the rest were driven by SS equipment, so may be my bias set in.  There was mostly a lack of musicality in most of the setups we heard.

The one disappointment I think I'd like to register is the equipment exhibited.  Most are solid state.  Somehow, they failed to impress too much.  Whether the sounds we heard were attributable to the speakers or the other electronics one can hardly tell under such circumstances.  I'm speaking plainly from an overall sound perception basis.

We left the show around 2:30 p.m.........  Again, this is a "personal" observation, to note.  [-o<

Mr. Evan1, even the software counters have few to pick.  The whole event does not compare with RMAF in any sense.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: evan1 on June 24, 2011, 01:46:13 PM
I just looked at the exhibitor list and it doesn't look promising but i'll go anyway. Maybe they'll have some good music to buy.

Did same early this morning...... wondering if prepaying for 2 days was worth it.

So, we got there on the money, entered the show 1:00 p.m., all pumped.

The one thing I think I'd like to report is that we were impresed, as usual, with the MBL room.  The 3-dimensionality of the soundstage was amazing.  The sound put out by those speakers was just wonderful.

Other than that, really, there's not much to write home about, IMHO (so there'd be no finger-pointing!).  The Legacy speakers we heard next actually.  It was good, but..... The room was small, and yet they blasted the sound, overpowering everything.  

There was another huge German (?) speaker setup we liked after the MBL, but forgot.  The sound was quite good except for the bass, and again, musicality.  Seems that most of the rest were driven by SS equipment, so may be my bias set in.  

The one disappointment I think I'd like to register is the equipment exhibited.  Most are solid state.  Somehow, they failed to impress too much.  Whether the sounds we heard were attributable to the speakers or the other electronics one can hardly tell under such circumstances.  I'm speaking plainly from an overall sound perception basis.

We left the show around 2:30 p.m.........  Again, this is a "personal" observation, to note.  [-o<

Mr. Evan1, even the software counters have few to pick.  The whole event does not compare with RMAF in any sense.

I guess I should stay home  ?
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: topround on June 24, 2011, 02:08:55 PM
shek,
you were there for only 90 minutes?

Wow, I guess I will sit this one out and stay with the kids (plan B)
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: evan1 on June 24, 2011, 02:13:13 PM
shek,
you were there for only 90 minutes?

Wow, I guess I will sit this one out and stay with the kids (plan B)

Mike
When you are retired you lose all track of time. And besides, he had to make the 4  pm dinner at the old folks home :rofl:
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: etcarroll on June 24, 2011, 02:14:01 PM
Well that's a shame, I was toying with the idea of driving up tomorrow, but guess not. I'll play with cartridges instead.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: richidoo on June 24, 2011, 02:34:03 PM
shek, were you able to tell whether the Legacys treble was a tad too hot like I thought in ATL, or was it too loud to listen critically? Thanks
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: Triode Pete on June 24, 2011, 04:12:04 PM
I got there at 9 AM; just trade & press; I had the whole place to myself, MBL room :thumb: $$$$$, Steinway Lyngdorf room  :thumb: $$$$, Joseph Audio room  :thumb: $$$, TAD CR-1 Room  :duh $$$$ (not impressed), Legacy Room was very musical :thumb: (not crazy pricing) $$, Woodbridge Stereo stuff very good (Levinson, VPI, Revel, etc,  :thumb:; Audio Power Labs 833TNT tube amps at $175K per pair... very cool looking, insane pricing though.... some 3D Home theatre demos very cool though.

It was a mob scene at 1 PM; glad I got most of my listening in before then. The best part was a live acoustic solo violinist (& then viola) Arturo Delmoni performing in the ballroom some Bach from 4 PM - 4:45 PM... nothing, I repeat nothing can reproduce the sound coming from his 1730's era violin & viola!!!

Worth going to... was crowded at 1 PM on... HVAC systems at the hotel not so good!
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: goldlizsts on June 24, 2011, 05:48:05 PM
I just looked at the exhibitor list and it doesn't look promising but i'll go anyway. Maybe they'll have some good music to buy.

Did same early this morning.................


I guess I should stay home  ?

If you (or anyone) haven't bought your ticket for Day 2, you/he/she/it can have mine for tomorrow (different color wrist band received for Day 2).......... :lol:
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: goldlizsts on June 24, 2011, 05:53:42 PM
shek, were you able to tell whether the Legacys treble was a tad too hot like I thought in ATL, or was it too loud to listen critically? Thanks

Rich, I thought the Legacy's treble was a little on the sharp side.  The mids seemed pretty good.  As I said, overall, the blasting drove us away sooner than we thought we'd stay to perhaps pass a finer judgment of its sound. 
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: goldlizsts on June 24, 2011, 05:59:26 PM
shek,
you were there for only 90 minutes?

Wow, I guess I will sit this one out and stay with the kids (plan B)

Mike
When you are retired you lose all track of time. And besides, he had to make the 4  pm dinner at the old folks home :rofl:

Note - That 90 minutes "included" 1 water break of 5 minutes.  So, the actual audition time was even less.  Yeah, I did make good time for dinner all right.  If I stayed longer at the show, not sure if it'll affect my appetite (kidding :lol:!).
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: goldlizsts on June 24, 2011, 06:14:22 PM
I got there at 9 AM; just trade & press; I had the whole place to myself, MBL room :thumb: $$$$$, Steinway Lyngdorf room  :thumb: $$$$, Joseph Audio room  :thumb: $$$, TAD CR-1 Room  :duh $$$$ (not impressed), Legacy Room was very musical :thumb: (not crazy pricing) $$, Woodbridge Stereo stuff very good (Levinson, VPI, Revel, etc,  :thumb:; Audio Power Labs 833TNT tube amps at $175K per pair... very cool looking, insane pricing though.... some 3D Home theatre demos very cool though.

It was a mob scene at 1 PM; glad I got most of my listening in before then. The best part was a live acoustic solo violinist (& then viola) Arturo Delmoni performing in the ballroom some Bach from 4 PM - 4:45 PM... nothing, I repeat nothing can reproduce the sound coming from his 1730's era violin & viola!!!

Worth going to... was crowded at 1 PM on... HVAC systems at the hotel not so good!

Pete, by any count, it wasn't a mob scene at 1 p.m. today, IMHO.  [-X

Ah so, I liked that Audio Power Labs 833TNT also.  But.... not for the $$$$$$$$.  Don't think the sound quality = the price tag. :duh
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: richidoo on June 24, 2011, 07:06:27 PM
Thanks for the confirmation shek... it's as I suspected.

We saw the 833TNT guys in Atlanta. They were very fun. Very willing to talk about their amp and explain everything. There's a microprocessor in there controlling everything! We all loved the way they sounded on classic rock, etc. But then I put in a serious violin concerto and it was smeared and hard to hear details. Too much of a good thing? But great power and authority.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: evan1 on June 25, 2011, 01:43:26 PM
Just got back ...
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: evan1 on June 25, 2011, 02:41:55 PM
I got there at 9 AM; just trade & press; I had the whole place to myself, MBL room :thumb: $$$$$, Steinway Lyngdorf room  :thumb: $$$$, Joseph Audio room  :thumb: $$$, TAD CR-1 Room  :duh $$$$ (not impressed), Legacy Room was very musical :thumb: (not crazy pricing) $$, Woodbridge Stereo stuff very good (Levinson, VPI, Revel, etc,  :thumb:; Audio Power Labs 833TNT tube amps at $175K per pair... very cool looking, insane pricing though.... some 3D Home theatre demos very cool though.

It was a mob scene at 1 PM; glad I got most of my listening in before then. The best part was a live acoustic solo violinist (& then viola) Arturo Delmoni performing in the ballroom some Bach from 4 PM - 4:45 PM... nothing, I repeat nothing can reproduce the sound coming from his 1730's era violin & viola!!!

Worth going to... was crowded at 1 PM on... HVAC systems at the hotel not so good!

Pete, by any count, it wasn't a mob scene at 1 p.m. today, IMHO.  [-X

Ah so, I liked that Audio Power Labs 833TNT also.  But.... not for the $$$$$$$$.  Don't think the sound quality = the price tag. :duh

It wasn't packed today either. Almost wrestled David Chesky for the sweetspot in the Steinway room. At first I thought he was Weird Al Yankovich . First I dis Billy Squire at Devore, and now this :duh

Pete I'm surprised you didn't like the Tad room that much,I couldn't get in but Joe heard it and said it was great.

 MBL of course was amazing and I liked the Joseph Audio and surprisingly the Opera Calla's.The Linkowitz Orion 4 totally disappeared but 15 G's ? I'd like to hear the Gr Research Super V's in comparison. I got to hand it to Emotiva for showing up to show that is a step above them. I was also impressed with the Concierto speakers. If you want shaking bass these speakers will do it. Totem was there with the Winds but they were set up as mains in a theater set up with Avatar in 3D playing and that motion simulator device on the lounge chairs.I would have liked to hear some music through them.

All in all not a bad day but if they don't have more exhibitors next year I'll stay home.
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: Triode Pete on June 25, 2011, 03:15:43 PM
I got there at 9 AM; just trade & press; I had the whole place to myself, MBL room :thumb: $$$$$, Steinway Lyngdorf room  :thumb: $$$$, Joseph Audio room  :thumb: $$$, TAD CR-1 Room  :duh $$$$ (not impressed), Legacy Room was very musical :thumb: (not crazy pricing) $$, Woodbridge Stereo stuff very good (Levinson, VPI, Revel, etc,  :thumb:; Audio Power Labs 833TNT tube amps at $175K per pair... very cool looking, insane pricing though.... some 3D Home theatre demos very cool though.

It was a mob scene at 1 PM; glad I got most of my listening in before then. The best part was a live acoustic solo violinist (& then viola) Arturo Delmoni performing in the ballroom some Bach from 4 PM - 4:45 PM... nothing, I repeat nothing can reproduce the sound coming from his 1730's era violin & viola!!!

Worth going to... was crowded at 1 PM on... HVAC systems at the hotel not so good!

Pete, by any count, it wasn't a mob scene at 1 p.m. today, IMHO.  [-X

Ah so, I liked that Audio Power Labs 833TNT also.  But.... not for the $$$$$$$$.  Don't think the sound quality = the price tag. :duh

It wasn't packed today either. Almost wrestled David Chesky for the sweetspot in the Steinway room. At first I thought he was Weird Al Yankovich . First I dis Billy Squire at Devore, and now this :duh

Pete I'm surprised you didn't like the Tad room that much,I couldn't get in but Joe heard it and said it was great.

 MBL of course was amazing and I liked the Joseph Audio and surprisingly the Opera Calla's.The Linkowitz Orion 4 totally disappeared but 15 G's ? I'd like to hear the Gr Research Super V's in comparison. I got to hand it to Emotiva for showing up to show that is a step above them. I was also impressed with the Concierto speakers. If you want shaking bass these speakers will do it. Totem was there with the Winds but they were set up as mains in a theater set up with Avatar in 3D playing and that motion simulator device on the lounge chairs.I would have liked to hear some music through them.

All in all not a bad day but if they don't have more exhibitors next year I'll stay home.


IMHO, those TAD monitors lacked bass big time for $37K a pair... perhaps it was the equipment powering them but they had both tube & SS gear; went back a couple times & was not impressed at all; also their TT turntable with the Strain Gauge was not set-up properly & could not be demonstrated; what a bummer. To me, they (TAD speakers) were the biggest disappointment of the show; once again mids & highs nice; bass lacking... my $0.02... not worth $3.7K let alone $37K
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: evan1 on June 25, 2011, 03:25:27 PM
I got there at 9 AM; just trade & press; I had the whole place to myself, MBL room :thumb: $$$$$, Steinway Lyngdorf room  :thumb: $$$$, Joseph Audio room  :thumb: $$$, TAD CR-1 Room  :duh $$$$ (not impressed), Legacy Room was very musical :thumb: (not crazy pricing) $$, Woodbridge Stereo stuff very good (Levinson, VPI, Revel, etc,  :thumb:; Audio Power Labs 833TNT tube amps at $175K per pair... very cool looking, insane pricing though.... some 3D Home theatre demos very cool though.

It was a mob scene at 1 PM; glad I got most of my listening in before then. The best part was a live acoustic solo violinist (& then viola) Arturo Delmoni performing in the ballroom some Bach from 4 PM - 4:45 PM... nothing, I repeat nothing can reproduce the sound coming from his 1730's era violin & viola!!!

Worth going to... was crowded at 1 PM on... HVAC systems at the hotel not so good!

Pete, by any count, it wasn't a mob scene at 1 p.m. today, IMHO.  [-X

Ah so, I liked that Audio Power Labs 833TNT also.  But.... not for the $$$$$$$$.  Don't think the sound quality = the price tag. :duh

It wasn't packed today either. Almost wrestled David Chesky for the sweetspot in the Steinway room. At first I thought he was Weird Al Yankovich . First I dis Billy Squire at Devore, and now this :duh

Pete I'm surprised you didn't like the Tad room that much,I couldn't get in but Joe heard it and said it was great.

 MBL of course was amazing and I liked the Joseph Audio and surprisingly the Opera Calla's.The Linkowitz Orion 4 totally disappeared but 15 G's ? I'd like to hear the Gr Research Super V's in comparison. I got to hand it to Emotiva for showing up to show that is a step above them. I was also impressed with the Concierto speakers. If you want shaking bass these speakers will do it. Totem was there with the Winds but they were set up as mains in a theater set up with Avatar in 3D playing and that motion simulator device on the lounge chairs.I would have liked to hear some music through them.

All in all not a bad day but if they don't have more exhibitors next year I'll stay home.


IMHO, those TAD monitors lacked bass big time for $37K a pair... perhaps it was the equipment powering them but they had both tube & SS gear; went back a couple times & was not impressed at all; also their TT turntable with the Strain Gauge was not set-up properly & could not be demonstrated; what a bummer. To me, they (TAD speakers) were the biggest disappointment of the show; once again mids & highs nice; bass lacking... my $0.02... not worth $3.7K let alone $37K

I didn't hear them just going on what was said. I also just saw this

second post

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ymisc&1309000156&&&/NYC-Show




Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: Triode Pete on June 25, 2011, 05:27:54 PM
The bass was so lacking that Andy (Drew) went to the demonstrator (from Triode Sound & Video) & asked where the bass was??... he played a Rolling Stones track (Beggar's Banquet - "Sympathy for the Devil") and the midrange was to die for but the bass was missing... Andy, Charlie G & the others in the room felt the same way... then he switched from a tube amp to SS & the same thing...

I'm enamored with the TAD stuff in the past but this speaker didn't cut it for me... my $0.02
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: rollo on June 27, 2011, 08:40:00 AM
   The Orion room with Bryston 9BS IMO was the best sound of the show. Second those Danish [ name ???] egg shaped babies. MBL ? The King of presence and lifelike sound. Berry berry nice. Joseph Audio room pretty good but that tweeter got me just to crisp, not musical.
   Again for me a lot of Hi Fi over the top sound. Lots of sizzle, excitement but not musical meaning natural.  Legacy's were bright and tilted up. Nightingale room impressed me even with the Rouge amp.  The Lyngdorf room was a trip. No amp no preamp with bass to shake your booty. So far the most affective room correction setup I have heard to date. The Revel room was intriguing but after a while fatiguing.
  The biggest surprise was the Purist HDR mini D & HDR Mini DA.  Gotta hear this boys. www.ami-hifi.de
  After hearing the Lenehan ML-1 reference with the Bryston 28BS not much impressed me at the show. A big disappointment was Audio Power Labs. There must have been something up as the Whaferdales just did not do it for me. $175,000 ??? For that scratch it should have had me lusting. We could not leave soon enough.   Overall a bit disappointed in the lack of manufactures. Union labor put them off. $1500 to get the gear from sidewalk to room.  The vendors in the Mezz. were MIA like Acoustic sounds, Music Direct and so on.
  Overall we had a good time. Leanerd a bit and made some connections for my upcoming venture.




charles


charles
   
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: richidoo on July 07, 2011, 02:26:48 PM
The Absolute Sound AXPONA-NY coverage in High Definition videos!

http://www.avguide.com/review/axpona-new-york-show-report-hd-video-part-1-4-part-series-features-mbl-and-more
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: ltr317 on July 08, 2011, 05:44:01 PM
Hi all,

The Stereo Times has just published my Axpona NYC show report. Here's a link: http://www.stereotimes.com/

I'm interested in hearing your comments as this is my first attempt. Stereo Times will also be publishing my first equipment review (Audio Sensibility cables) in the next day or two. Thanks.

Paul Mah
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: topround on July 08, 2011, 06:09:42 PM
Great job paul!

I was not there but heard the ML room was aweful...was this so?
Aslo that music was played very loud..,.maybe too loud in some rooms
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: ltr317 on July 08, 2011, 08:07:29 PM
Great job paul!

I was not there but heard the ML room was aweful...was this so?
Aslo that music was played very loud..,.maybe too loud in some rooms

Thanks.  Did you mean the MBL or the Mark Levinson (Woodbridge) room?  If you meant the Mark Levinson room, I didn't post a sound impression.  Enough said. 

As far as volume, see my comment on the Eggleston/Rogue room: What a relief to listen to music at sane volume levels. In some rooms, the volume was so loud my ears were ringing when I left, but not in the Eggleston Works/Rogue Audio room. Not only was the volume sane, but the general sound was excellent. The combination of equipment probably had something to do with that: Rogue Audio Hera II preamplifier ($7,995), Rogue Apollo monoblock amplifiers ($10,995 pair), Meitner MA1 DAC ($6,750) and Eggleston WorksAndra III loudspeakers ($25,000 pair).

 
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: evan1 on July 09, 2011, 01:42:46 AM
Congrats Paul
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: goldlizsts on July 16, 2011, 05:34:07 AM
Hi all,

The Stereo Times has just published my Axpona NYC show report. Here's a link: http://www.stereotimes.com/

I'm interested in hearing your comments as this is my first attempt. Stereo Times will also be publishing my first equipment review (Audio Sensibility cables) in the next day or two. Thanks.

Paul Mah

Good job, Paul. :thumb: 

Now, where's the report on the Capital Audio Fest?  :rofl:

Next, RMAF. :lol:
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: goldlizsts on August 25, 2011, 04:47:21 AM
April 15–17, 2011

http://www.stereophile.com/news/axpona_2011_a_goldmine_for_audiophiles/index.html

Now, let's talk RMAF.  It must have been a bad summer.  It seems sooooooo boring lately. :duh
Title: Re: AXPONA 2011
Post by: richidoo on August 25, 2011, 04:49:53 AM
Now, let's talk RMAF.  It must have been a bad summer.  It seems sooooooo boring lately. :duh

http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=3226.0