I would much rather see a photograph taken by Ansel Adams using a cheap disposable camera than an amateur photographer using the best camera in the world. The same thought process holds true when it comes to high end audio shows. Decent components can sound wonderful in the right hands while the "best" components on Earth can be unlistenable if not setup with the utmost care. T.H.E. Show Newport Beach was populated by few of the former and far too many of the latter. Not only was most of the sound bad, most of it was reproduced with old school disc spinners like CD players and turntables. T.H.E. Show Newport Beach was like a time warp of sorts without many innovative audio systems. More than any other show in recent memory the gap between the best systems and the worst systems was enormous with very few middle-of-the-road systems. That said, certain dealers, manufacturers, and distributors deserve credit for spending time, energy, and money making their rooms sound very good despite unfavorable hotel room conditions.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/tad.jpg"></img></center>
As usual Andrew Jones of TAD Labs put on a great show using TAD speakers and electronics in combination with recordings from the likes of Bill Schnee's Bravura Records. The TAD C2000 preamplifier has a built-in asynchronous USB interface capable of playing the Bravura material in all its native 24 bit / 192 kHz glory. Demonstrations used the Compact Reference CR1 and Reference One loudspeakers with the C2000 preamp / DAC, D600 Disc Player, and M600 mono amplifiers. Andrew frequently used Audiofile Engineering's Fidelia playback application when connecting to the C2000 via USB from his new entirely solid state MacBook Air.
<a href="http://tad-labs.com/en/consumer/">TAD Labs</a><a href="http://tad-labs.com/en/consumer/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://bravurarecords.com/">Bravura Records</a><a href="http://bravurarecords.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/brooks-berdan-vtl-wilson.jpg"></img></center>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/brooks-berdan-dcs01.jpg"></img></center>
Dealer Brooks Berdan Ltd. put together a very good sounding room featuring VTL electronics, Wilson Sasha loudspeakers, a dCS digital front end, and Cardas cable. Feeding the dCS Debussy was a MacBook Pro running the newest version of Sonic Studio's Amarra 2.2 in playlist and cache mode without iTunes. Hats off to those who setup the room with acoustic panels and other elements that proved a recipe for success under harsh show conditions.
<a href="http://brooksberdanltd.com/">Brooks Berdan Ltd.</a><a href="http://brooksberdanltd.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.vtl.com/">VTL</a><a href="http://www.vtl.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.wilsonaudio.com/">Wilson Audio</a><a href="http://www.wilsonaudio.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/"><i>dCS</i></a><a href="http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.cardas.com/">Cardas</a><a href="http://www.cardas.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.amarraaudio.com/">Sonic Studio / Amarra</a><a href="http://www.amarraaudio.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/optimal-enchantment-vandersteen-5a-carbon.jpg"></img></center>
Dealer Optimal Enchantment setup a very seductive sounding room featuring the Vandersteen 5A Carbon loudspeakers, Audio research Ref 210 amplifier, and 40th Anniversary preamplifier. All cabling was AudioQuest. Owner Randy Cooley had the room dialed in pretty good playing vinyl only and at a very reasonable level. The ARC/Vandersteen/AudioQuest combo was capable of reproducing good detail at these low volume levels. Not an easy thing to do during a show or even under normal conditions. In my opinion this system was held back only by the analog source. A 24/192 recording by Bravura Records or a properly produced digital recording at CD resolution could have taken this system to another level.
<a href="http://www.optimalenchantment.com/">Optimal Enchantment</a><a href="http://www.optimalenchantment.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://audioresearch.com/">Audio Research Corporation</a><a href="http://audioresearch.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.audioquest.com/">AudioQuest</a><a href="http://www.audioquest.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.vandersteen.com">Vandersteen</a><a href="http://www.vandersteen.com"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/optimal01.jpg"></img></center>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/optimal02.jpg"></img></center>
Next door to Randy's all analog room was a room with an Audio Research DAC8 digital front end fed by a MacBook Pro. This system was not in the same class as the much more expensive analog setup, but provided good clean sound nonetheless. This was the first time I've seen the new AudioQuest FireWire cable. AQ will release a complete lineup of FireWire cables in the same "flavors" as its USB cables (Cinnamon, Coffee, etc…). Word on the street is that Ethernet cables are on the way as well.
<a href="http://www.optimalenchantment.com/">Optimal Enchantment</a><a href="http://www.optimalenchantment.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://audioresearch.com/">Audio Research Corporation</a><a href="http://audioresearch.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.audioquest.com/">AudioQuest</a><a href="http://www.audioquest.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.vandersteen.com">Vandersteen</a><a href="http://www.vandersteen.com"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/ear.jpg"></img></center>
E.A.R USA featured E.A.R. electronics with Sweden's Marten loudspeakers. I went to this room three separate times as I could not get the really nice sound out of my head. I look forward to hearing the E.A.R electronics and Marten loudspeakers at future audio shows.
<a href="http://ear-usa.com/">E.A.R. USA</a><a href="http://ear-usa.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.marten.se/">Marten</a><a href="http://www.marten.se/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/chordette-spendor.jpg"></img></center>
I had a good time with Bluebird Music's Jay Rein in his room featuring Chord electronics and Spendor loudspeakers (among others). I pulled out my iPhone 4 and sent audio from the MOG application directly to the Chordette Bluetooth DAC. Sure there was better sound to be had elsewhere, but no room was able to duplicate this easy listening experience.
<a href="http://www.bluebirdmusic.com/">Bluebird Music</a><a href="http://www.bluebirdmusic.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.chordelectronics.co.uk/">Chord Electronics</a><a href="http://www.chordelectronics.co.uk/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.spendoraudio.com/">Spendor Audio</a><a href="http://www.spendoraudio.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://mog.com">MOG</a><a href="http://mog.com"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/playback-designs.jpg"></img></center>
Andreas Koch demo'd his Playback Designs USB interface capable of very high PCM sample rates and native DSD audio streams. While Ii was in the room Andreas was feeding the DAC a 352.8 kHz track via USB.
<a href="http://www.playbackdesigns.com/">Playback Designs</a><a href="http://www.playbackdesigns.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/boulder-1021.jpg"></img></center>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/tplusa.jpg"></img></center>
Both the Bolder 1021 and the T+A E-Series Music Receiver were being fed audio via Ethernet / UPnP. PlugPlayer was used on an iPad to control some of the music.
<a href="http://boulderamp.com/">Boulder</a><a href="http://boulderamp.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.taelektroakustik.de/index.php?id=140&L=1">T+A Elektroakustik</a><a href="http://www.taelektroakustik.de/index.php?id=140&L=1"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.plugplayer.com/">PlugPlayer</a><a href="http://www.plugplayer.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/antelope01.jpg"></img></center>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/antelope02.jpg"></img></center>
Antelope Audio used its Zodiac Gold DAC with Voltikus analog power supply during the show.
<a href="http://www.antelopeaudio.com">Antelope Audio</a><a href="http://www.antelopeaudio.com"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/cary-cad-300-sei.jpg"></img></center>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/cary-ms-1.jpg"></img></center>
Cary Audio connected its MS-1 music server to the much loved CAD-300-SEI integrated amplifier.
<a href="http://www.caryaudio.com/">Cary Audio</a><a href="http://www.caryaudio.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/sony-ar-1.jpg"></img></center>
I was pleasantly surprised at how good an Elvis Presley vinyl album sounded on this Sony / Pass Labs system.
<a href="http://b2b.sony.com/speakers/ar1/index.html">Sony AR-1</a><a href="http://b2b.sony.com/speakers/ar1/index.html"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.passlabs.com/">Pass Labs</a><a href="http://www.passlabs.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/16957/Elvis_Presley-Elvis_Is_Back-180_Gram_Vinyl_Record">Elvis Presley vinyl</a><a href="http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/16957/Elvis_Presley-Elvis_Is_Back-180_Gram_Vinyl_Record"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/meridian01.jpg"></img></center>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/meridian02.jpg"></img></center>
Meridian had its Audio Core 200 and DSP3200 loudspeakers on display. I was unable to listen to the system as I was too involved in the Chordette/Spendor system playing on the other side of the room.
<a href="http://www.meridian-audio.com/">Meridian</a><a href="http://www.meridian-audio.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/consonance01.jpg"></img></center>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/consonance02.jpg"></img></center>
The Consonance D-Linear 8 DAC and D-Linear 7 interface were prominently displayed.
<a href="http://www.opera-consonance.com/">Opera Audio Consonance</a><a href="http://www.opera-consonance.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/mc-martinlogan.jpg"></img></center>
The above room featuring McIntosh and Martin Logan was less than stellar. I entered the room to music playing at 96 dB. I'm willing to bet the electrostatic panels were pushed to, or beyond, their limits as the intensely loud music continued after I left the room a couple minutes later.
<a href="http://www.mcintoshlabs.com">McIntosh Labs</a><a href="http://www.mcintoshlabs.com"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://www.martinlogan.com/">MartinLogan</a><a href="http://www.martinlogan.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/bmw-isetta-300-01.jpg"></img></center>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/bmw-isetta-300-02.jpg"></img></center>
<center><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/graphics/2011/0609/bmw-isetta-300-03.jpg"></img></center>
Last but not least, one of the highlights of the show was the Upscale Audio BMW Isetta 300.
<a href="http://www.upscaleaudio.com/">Upscale Audio</a><a href="http://www.upscaleaudio.com/"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta">BMW Isetta</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta"><img src="http://images.computeraudiophile.com/ca/icons/ex.png" style="padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;" alt="link"></img></a>
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