Best Sound of the Show (so far)
There were three rooms that more than made the grade for best sound. The YG Acoustics room is the weirdest, because it is at once the best and the worst sound, depending on the volume level. Those giant Anat Reference speakers are more than capable of making the room shake apart during those loud moments when the volume’s turned up, but when calmer, the sound of both the Anat and the Kiphod are astonishing.
Another great sound is coming from Nola. Three times. The Baby Grand Reference, the Micro Grand Reference and the impressive at any price but it’s only $1,500 Boxer standmounted speaker all sound great… especially as they are driven by reel-to-reels from United Home Audio and a flea-power Jolida amp.
There was also a sublime sound from a system comprising a Rega turntable, Ayre digital electronics (including the new QB-9 DAC), VTL amplifiers and Avalon Indras, all fed with Cardas Clear cable.
While the Nordic Tone speakers from Electrocompaniet are just getting better and better.
The big Hansen Emperor driven by Accuphase electronics and a Transrotor turntable also sounded magnificent, albeit for an Emperor’s Ransom. At the other extreme, so did the Peachtree Audio system, running off a Apple TV into a pair of Zu Essence.
We could go on. The ARC/Vandersteen room, the Esoteric/TEAC Reference system, the mind-changing demonstrations of Nordost power cords and much, much more.