Extravaganza in San
Francisco - June 2003
Chucks faves
from the 2003 HI-FI and Home Theater Event...
Folks can say what they please about audio shows,
they can complain about marginal sound in less than
ideal listening rooms, crowded elevators and hallways
and a host of other shortcomings which audiophiles
are famous. Yet in reality, these shows are fun, informative,
well managed and usually well attended despite less
than stellar economic conditions. San Francisco and
the historic Westin St. Francis Hotel was an appealing
site for such an event with multiple floors and exhibit
rooms dedicated to the cause. Best of all you see and
hear new products, revisit old faves and have a chance
the chat with the designers and their staffs. Attendees
often learn of new recordings played by exhibitors
and attendees alike (we're always swapping titles
and catalog numbers). These you may often purchase
in the static exhibit halls where you can rub noses
with the folks from Sony, JVC, Mobile Fidelity, Chesky,
Classic Records and Acoustic Sounds, Audio Advancements
among others. I guarantee, all great fun and I've never
looked back. And speaking of "backs", there are plenty
of sore ones for the folks that set-up and remove all
of this delicate and often heavy gear over many long
hours to get it as right as possible. And of course
kudo’s to the Primedia HE show organizers whose
able teams make it all possible. The Press conferences,
lunches, seminars and discussion panels are often enlightening.
There were over 15 live concerts covering Classical,
Blues to Pop-Rock and was included in the admission
fee. This was indeed another show to remember and savor.
Hats off to all the dedicated folks that make it happen.
One of the Thursday evening standout live perfromances
was by Melora Hardin and her romantic torch and
novelty singing. Dressed in red, with pink boa and
bubbles, she and her professional west coast band took
us back to the show club days of the 40’s and
50's. She worked the crowd like a veteran and has a
long background as a Cinema Soundtrack and TV show
singer. A mother today with a kid at home, there's
no stopping Melora as she follows her life's dream
as a successful stage singer. Her renditions of vintage
tunes and new ones she writes had the crowd on their
feet more than once. She’s likely today's queen
of the novelty song. I must say she's making some mighty
fine CD's too, with Purr her latest release. You
can see I'm smitten, but we must move on to the show...
My top vote for the must unusual and imaginative audio
gear were the Von Gaylord (formally Legend Audio
Design) vacuum tube, mono power amplifiers
of Asia. They were found immersed in a mini-sea of
crystal clear insulating fluid (ultra-pure mineral
oil) to keep their 200-watt high-voltage transmitter
output tube and driver circuit temps under control
in a glass resivour. A novel idea for home audio, while
having been applied for decades in commercial radio
and utility gear it's well applied here. Just keep
curious kids with hammers at bay - listed at $28,000
a pair, one definitely needs to. Lookers these
Von Gaylord's and quite the conversation pieces. Replacing
the oft entreated - like to come up see my etchings
dear? A pair of air cooled 6550 based Nirvana
power amps were also found paired with Von Gaylord
2-way "The Legend" stand-mount loudspeakers
featuring 1" inverse dome tweeters, the Legends were
making engaging music in their suite.
Design veteran Albert Von Schweikert and his
loudspeaker team were gathering crowds that spilled
out into the crowded hallway, all having a high-time
yacking about audio. Pairing their finely crafted speakers
with Gamut electronics and a Sonic Euphoria passive
preamp (many folks feel that "passive" derives the
purest sound) retailing for $1195 and $1797 in
full balanced, it features an autoformer attenuator
for level control and no resistors, potentiometers
or capacitors in the signal path. Product highlights
were the VR-1, 2-way stand mounted units offered
at $995, and companion VR-S/1, a compact 10" powered
subwoofer offered at $1495. For me the champ of the
day in their lineup was the model VR-2 retailing
at $2495. The VR-2 is a modest 40" H, front ported
and sporting a 1" dome tweeter, 6.5" bass-mid and 6.5" subwoofer
and 1" rear-firing ambience driver all melding together
to present some of the best imaging and focus at the
show. A demo recording projected a Spanish Flamenco
dancer as if alive into the room with such dynamic
realism one could hear and feel the wood of the stage,
most impressive. The VR-2 was likely the best new mid-size
loudspeaker at the show for value and performance.
J.M. Labs of France was effectively presenting
great hall ambience and depth of field with their Nova
Utpoia BE loudspeakers, at $35,000 per pair and
featuring inverted Beryllium tweeters, they did make
a fine impression. Pairing with YBA electronics
also of France appeared a good choice as the synergy
was first rate. A complete ensemble of YBA gear from
CD to power amps was presented and retailing for around
$6,000 per unit, nice looking gear too. This is one
show where I experienced possibly more $35K plus loudspeakers
than ever - talking about sticker shock!
Dale Pitcher of Essence showcased his finely
crafted tower loudspeakers and solid-state electronics.
He launched his 3-module Danali loudspeakers.
At 500 lbs. each, with driver module/sub-enclosures
crafted of gray granite and Corian all supported by
a space frame of machined aluminum, these $48,500 per
pr. behemoths produced deep bass to the center of the
earth. These producing wide-eyed and stunned listeners
with an in your chest impression. On the milder side,
the Denali's did a commendable job with operatic vocals
offering a sense of stage presence like few other systems
at the show. This due in great measure the Pitcher's
equally impressive electronics including the Jasper
Reference preamp and 250 WPC power amps. the latter
launching at $20,000 per pair. The Denali's and their
companion amplifiers get my top prize for the most
profound bass seen and heard at the event.
One of several compact systems that gained high marks
was the Rega based ensemble of electronics and
compact foor standing loudspeakers. The Mira 3 60
wpc integrated amplifier is cost effectively listed
at $895 and Rega Jupiter CD player, $1,695 was
coupled with the Alya 2-way loudspeakers and
standing barely 30" high and listed at $595, listeners
were treated to dynamic and involving presentations.
The Falcon powered subwoofer was also presented at
$1200.
Another engaging and cost effective compact ensemble
was the pairing of Creek electronics and the Alon "Napoleon" system
(2-channel version). This included the 12" "Thunderbolt" subwoofer.
A complete five channel system (less electronics) retails
for $2995. The 2-way Napoleon satellites with 4.5" bi-laminate
mid/woofers and 1" silk dome tweeters retail for $695
and the powered woofer around $1000. There was a natural
synergy between these components as the 100 wpc Creek
5350 integrated amplifier and model 53 CD player
powered this space saving system to levels of involvement
that held listeners rapt attention for long listening
sessions. The soundstaging was truly superb. I give
this ensemble top honors as the most cost effective
and musical of its class in the show.
Sweet and relaxed tunes were emanating from the Jewel-like
Chord Choral Series (UK) solid-sate component
electronics, which thoughtfully includes phono preamps.
Supplied in beautifully crafted modular-stacked tower
racks, the demonstration was first rate. Individual
components may be added to the "stack" as needs and
budgets permit. The Chord's were paired with Discovery
micro-floor standing loudspeakers featuring isobaric
woofer chambers to great success and deep bass. The
Chord ensemble was likely the "prettiest" electronics
gear seen at the show.
USHER of China (and applying Joe D'Appolito's
loudspeaker design talents) was offering it's
expanding line of loudspeakers and solid-state electronics,
that now includes both pre and power amplifiers.
The new Usher model R 1.5 class 'A' bias power
amplifier offers 150 wpc and a competive $2200
price tag. A 6 channel unit comes in at $2900. New
top model loudspeakers launched included the "Dancer" series which
depending on price include ceremac drivers and lists
for $8400. All top performers and value to these
ears.
Hovland tube/hybrid electronics and Triangle
Loudspeakers teamed up to give the other large
systems a run for their money. Hovland was showcasing
their new Radia solid-state power amplifier priced
at $9500, she was a looker as is always the blue-glow,
eye-candy Sapphire that was on hand as well.
This amp provided the dynamic capability the drive
the 7'+ tall, 8 driver, 3 module, 3 way Triangle
Magellan tower loudspeakers with ease. At 94
db sensitivity, vacuum tubes have a ball with such
efficient speakers. An Audio Aero CD/SACD
player was also a top performer paired with the new Hovland
HP 200 preamp. The Megellan's sport front and rear
firing 25mm titanium dome horn loaded tweeters. At
$32,900 from France, these mighty towers crafted
in sensuous curved burl walnut launched full scale
recreations of concert grand pianos and the stage
presence of Ella Fitzgerald that easily drew this
and many other listeners into the music sessions.
VTL, Wilson Audio and Transparent cables put
on a monumental demo with the 800 wpc VTL Siegfried mono
power amps sporting a veritable forest of 12-6550C
auto-baised power tubes and the Wilson MAXX super-tower
loudspeakers as highlights. Peter McGrath conducted
quite a show of music even if the room was a tad small
for the big crowds and as Wilson's dominated the room.
Regardless, it was a memorable experience with the
seeing and hearing of the new Sirgfried's paired with
the MAXX first hand was worth the effort. You see,
we are having fun.
Jeff Joseph of Joseph Audio and Eve-Anna
Manley were upt to their usual good fun and good
sound in their joint demo room. The Joseph "Pearls" were
as usual up to the task paired with an ocean full
of powerhouse Manley Labs tube electronics.
Seems I never tire of the LP spin of Louis
Armstrong's, St. James Infirmary. I've
heard this demo many times and never tire of it.
It's just great music and great fun with a few goosebumps
thrown in for good measure and near always winning
top sound votes. Eve-Anna's Harley wrestling
tales of scrambling up and down the famous San Francisco
steeps are also a treat...
Dynaudio and Musical Fidelity - here
was a fine pairing. I can hardly think of a set-up
over the last couple of shows where the Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista electronics
did not perform in the top tier of audio performance.
The syanergy with the Dynaudio Evidence Temptation tower
loudspeakers was about as engaging as it gets. Also
being launched were the new Tri-Vista kWP Preamp and
the Tri-Vista "kW" Laboratory Reference Monoblocs. The
latter are specified to deliver 1000/1800/3000 into
8, 4 and 2 ohms respectively. Guess we won't be
running out of watts here. Back-breakers these
behemoths, yet throwing as delicate and detailed soundstage
as one is likely to hear. Gentle giants these "kW" amps.
In an adjacent room a pair of Dynaudio Special Model
25, 2-way stand mount loudspeakers were making
dynamic music at $4,800 per pair with their famed "Esotar
II" silk dome tweeter, and of course more Musical Fidelity
gear.
The Wisdom Audio M-75's sporting their 6' line
source, planar magnetic towers and pair of companion
12" LFR (Low frequency regenerators) per
channel ended up winning "best of show" for
me with their deep and detailed soundstage among other
engaging attributes.. After just a few minutes, this
and other listeners of the day were drawn into recordings
like few other systems can accomplish. Good recordings
became great as the heart and soul of the music was
conveyed to new levels. Of course at $42,000 a pair
(with crossover "brain"), plus optional amplifiers,
one should expect top performance. ell I must say,
I was not disappointed in the least. Wisdom's own spec
design 2-channel Hi-Current amplifiers come
in two levels of sophistication with the "Smart" model
topping out at $34,000 in custom cabinets. Wisdom now
offers CD and SACD players, CD transports and DAC's,
mostly enhancements to other brands. All of this impressive
ensemble was connected with high-purity and multi-strand SoundString cabling.
These were working from the wall to the speakers and
everywhere in between. The Soundstrings are likely
the "smoothest" cables I've heard, winners I think
these may be. I voted this Wisdom ensemble best of
show for is coherency, accuracy and just plain naturally
musical.
Art Audio's Joe Fratus showcased his new Carissa
20 wpc, Class 'A', SE power amplifier. In proud
fatherly style, this new transformer-coupled 20 wpc,
845 based beauty is named after his lovely daughter.
The pair 845 tubes are operated at reduced plate
voltage to extend tube life, lower distortion and
operate in the most linear range. His daughter's
namesake was making some mighty pretty music paired
with the equally impressive Art phono stage and
super-efficient Cain and Cain horn-loaded
tower loudspeakers. Fratus states that his goal was
to manufactuer a more affordable, top performing
854 based SE amplifier by offering a no-frills chassis
that allows retailing at $3995. If still owners want
the fancy chassis, a hand-polished, non-magnetic
stainless steel version is $4495. Business partner, David
Gill also demonstrated his Gill Elise and Elise
LT 24/96 D/A converters. These feature the latest
Burr-Brown chips and vacuum tube output stages. An
enhanced 'LT' version sports a new transformer-coupled
output stage and costly Lundahl Transformers. Needless
to say, the sonic results from all the ART, Cain
and Gill elements were impressive. Gets my prize
for offering top performance while offering consumers
cost saving alternatives.
The Roge "Zeus" 225 watt dual mono power amplifier
was an impressive new model paired with Pat McGinty showcasing
his new Meadowlark Blue Heron 3-way mid-size
floor standing loudspeakers. A full suite of Rogue
front end gear was on hand to make this a serious ensemble
for serious listeners and a winner in the value-to-performance
ratio.
I was pleased to see and hear first hand the famed Ed
Meitner - EMM Labs DAC-6 PCM/SACD converter in
action. The DAC-6 was paired with Tenor 300 w
HPM hybrid monoblocks and Kharma Midi-Grand
/ Enigma Version loudspeakers, these smaller
edition 3-ways (still fitted with ceremac drivers) are
listed at $36,500 and are quite the trick in black
laquer finish. Sources were worked through a EMM
Labs Switchman Linestage at $7,000 and a Meitner
enhanced Philips SACD 1000 serving as a transport
and listed at $2000. It was really quite a show and
based on the elegant sound, I can now "hear" what
all the fuss is about. The Meitner is indeed magic
and it can even take standard 44.1/16 bit CD and
re-construct/re-clock to DSD's 2.8 mHz sampling/processing
rate - the ultimate "upconverter". The results were
impressive such that harmonic textures of violins,
vocals and pianos were truly natural. This ensemble
got my top vote for new generation, audio processing
technology, with the Meitner of Calgary Canada the
winner in this league.
Mobile Fidelity is back on-line under new owners (Audio
Advancements). Fellow roving TAV reporter George
Graves and I were invited on a field trip to Mobile-Fidelity's contact
mastering studio a few blocks away. It was an immense
pleasure sitting in on sample plays of 4 channel
surround. These of remastered Vox recordings featuring
Stanislaw Skrowaczewski and the Minnesota Orchestra
from the 1960's. The new SACD will include bonus
tracks of "Daphnis et Chloe" with off-stage
female choir and Ravel's famed "Bolero". The
concert hall effect was quite appealing. The release
is direct from original masters to multi-channel, UHR
SACD (with the Meitner EMM DAC-6 machine) should
be stunning and is scheduled for release later this
year. We sat and chatted at the console with chief
mastering engineer Paul Stubblebine, the ultimate
audiophile treat. Mo-Fi representative Colie Brice and
associates also joined us for an afternoon of pure
listening pleasure in the studio. It appears Mo-Fi
has another winner to launch.
Alan Yun of Silverline Audio launched his new "Bolero" three
way floor standing loudspeakers sourced by a rack full
of conrad-johnson's top line tube gear. The
Bolero's are projected to retail at $8,000 per pair.
At 92 db senitivity, they made engaging music and likely
some of the most georgeous cabinetry seen at the show.
A latest edition Wydia CD processor was bringing
up the front end. Congrats to Alan Yun, he has done
it again in a most musical loudspeaker.
VAC and Nearfield Acoustics/Pipedreams paired
up in the St. Francis tower to engage listeners with
giant soundstaging and a lot of LP playback - kudo's
to them. The monumental Pipedream towers and companion
barrel size sub-woofers are indeed attention getters.
In all honesty, I favored the smaller Pipedream Model
9's over the 7.5" super-towers in the main room. They
just seemed more personal in scale and accuracy. The
stunning new VAC 200 watt 300B based monoblocks
at $20,000 per pair equally grabbed attention. These "open
casework" amplifiers are rendered in glass and steel
about as beautifully as any audio electronics you'll
ever see. Talking about eye candy - now don't go
leaving your wives! Another impressive Nearfield
Acoustics/Pipedreams demo was held with LAMM electronics,
where listeners can be assured the exhibitors will
do their best to provide good sound and a welcoming
attitude to sit a spell and enjoy the music.
McIntosh electronics and loudspeakers highlighted
by the new man-sized XRT28 tower loudspeakers with
a forest of 38 dynamic drivers in a sealed cabinet
was wowing visitors. Listed at $18,000 the "XRT" was
throwing quite a soundstage. Powered by the equally
impressive 500 wpc double-balanced MC 501 power
amp listed at $4100 and a stated noise floor of 124
db. Mac's new model C2200 full featured tube/hybrid
preamp including phono was actively taking part in
this terrific demo. The preamp is listed at $4800 and
applies fancy microprocessors and gas encapsulated
switches that will outlive most owners. A trusty set
of 12AX7's get the audio signals done. An equal quality Mac
CD player rounded out the esemble. I think it was
a big suprise to a lot of folks not accustomed to this
level of performance from the veteran Mac line. Some "hard-shelled" audiophiles
may think Mac has had its day, yet I say folks had
better think again, this is good gear and as always
- bulletproof. The Mac's should hold their value for
years.
It goes without saying that the big Home Theater systems
from Meridian, Faroudja, Runco, JVC and Vidikron set
the benchmark for high performance and high dollar
systems. However at this show, I focused on mid-size Audio/Theater combo
solutions that mere mortals could likely contemplate
owning. For me the winners in this arena were a couple
of systems surrounding 50" + Fujitsu Hi-Def Plasma displays.
One example that I voted best in class was the Moon
electronics and Dali Loudspeakers ensemble. This
one offering a terrific picture and sound to match.
A very capable system for audio only listening in surround
or 2-channel. Running a close second just down the
hall I found the Naim electronics and Wilson-Benesch loudspeaker
ensemble coming in a very close second. I could own
either of these systems with ease. The Fujitsu Plasma's
are truly stunning and the screenings of Diana Krall
live in Paris and another of Nora Jones in concert
held my eyes and ears for long sessions. Oh yea,
this could be a lot of fun!
An obligatory visit to hear the latest from AvantGarde is
always a treat. These music loving exhibitors lug their
gear all the way from Atlanta and spare no effort to
make demonstrations memorable to visitors. This year
it was the big Trio 3.0s with double sets of bass
horns and a fleet of BAT VK-75 tube amps.
These sporting enough 6C33C power tubes to make Mig
25 fighter pilots envy. No wonder all of the Russian
Jets are grounded, they're out making music instead
of war! Jim Smith and Geoff Poor were doing a fine
job of showcasing their goodies to large crowds and George
Cardas had everything custom wired-up just fine.
God knows what this total system cost, thousands I'm
sure!!! Ha-Ha. The big fancy auto finished German horns
have a way of involving the listener with the music
like few others. In this case Dusty Springfield and
her famed Casino Royale was in the room with
us (she's now looking down from Heaven). The
AvantGarde's set a standard of their own, what else
can you say. The Avantgarde folks get the "sheer
effort and dedication" prize.
Well that's all folks, some of my top faves out of
over 200 exhibitors at HE 2003 in San Franscisco, a
lot of fun, and I'm ready to go again. I hear that
next year, Primedia is moving the show back to the
Big Apple.
Chuck Bruce
July 3, 2003
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