Our coverage of Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 continues.
In this report, all photos by Dave Clark, words by Carol Clark.
Thrax Audio, Symposium Acoustics, Sound Application, Antipodes, Weiss Engineering, Audio Den, Audio Limits.
Acoustic Sounds, and the amplifiers are a custom-made gift to Sony from Nelson Pass.
As always, the Daedalus Audio, WyWires, and ModWright room is one of the highlights of the show. The obligingly played "Play for Today" by the Cure again, which blew me away last year, and didn't disappoint this year. Read the article (HERE). This year the room featured Daedalus Audio's new Zeus loudspeaker, as well as DiD isolation devices. From ModWright the Ambrose A30, and new Ambrose One as well as the PH 150 phono stage and modified OPPO UDB-205 player/DAC. From WyWires Diamond series speaker cables and interconnects, Power Broker AC distribution and Platinum series digital cables.
Did I mention it sounded fantastic in this room?
The Zeus loudspeakers from Daedalus are very impressive!
Aaudio Imports with Wilson Benesch Cardinal loudspeakers, Torus + Amp, and R1 Carbon racks. Ypsilon PST-100 MKII preamplifier, Hyperion mono amplifiers, VPS-100 phono stage, and MC26L step up transformer. Thales TTT Compact II turntable and Statement tonearm, cartridge by Ikeda, the KAI. Cabling by Stage III.
Stage III cables.
High Fidelity Services featured Verity audio Lohengrin IIS loudspeakers, Monsalvat PRE-2 preamplfier, Monsalvat AMP 60 amplfier. TW Acustic phono preamplfier, AC Anniversary turntable. Ortofon A95 and Cadenza Mono cartridges. Signal Projects Andromeda interconnects and speaker cables. Vibex supplied V3 power cables and Granada power conditioner.
Focal, Naim, Crystal Cable, Musical Fidelity, Audio Plus Services.
Uniti and Naim.
Tri Mai of Tri-Planar, always good to catch up with him.
In the Marketplace, many options for headphones and DACs.
The Marketplace is always fun.
Always nice to spend some time with Ray Kimber.
These rice cake snacks were delicious! Ray Kimber discussing them with Nao Tsunoda and Motoyuki Sugiura of Sony. We all wondered if they were available in the U.S.
Lee Shelly, looking great at the show!
Nate Mansfield with Wax Stacks. These record cubes are quite clever. Beautifully made, and obviously stackable. A great solution!
Since we drove to Denver this year, we were able to stop at the Breckenridge Distillery and have a taste. Quite good!
Canton Referencd 3K loudspeakers. From Esoteric, two U.S. debut products were E-02 balanced phono preamplifier and N-01 network audio player. Esoteric also showed the K-01X SACD/CD player/DAC, G-01X master clock, C-02X linestage preamplifier, and S-02 power amplifier. From VPI was the Prime Signature with Ortophon Cadenza Bronze. Cabling from Audioquest, Grand Prix Audio provided racks and isolation systems, and room treatment courtesy of Auralex.
Exogal Inc Ion amplifier, Vehement Audio Brezza Savant loudspeakers, Marantz SA-10 CD player and TT-15S1 turntable, Perla Audio Motif phono stage, Verastarr cables, Core Power Technologies Equi+Core 1800 power conditioner, Audio Vault USA equipment rack.
Beautiful Vehement Audio Brezza Savant loudspeakers, $6995. Good sound here.
High End by Oz, Aavik Acoustics, Ansuz Acoustics, Raidho Acoustics, Vitus Audio.
Great sounding system by GTT Audio & Video that included the following, Kronos Pro turntable with Andre Teriault Black Beauty tonearm and ZYX Audio Ultimate 4D cardridge. Aurender N10 music server. Lampizator Golden Gate DAC. From Audionet the PAM G2 with EPX phono stage, Pre G2 linestage, and MAX mono block amplifiers. The gorgeous VR-55 Aktive loudspeaker from Von Schweikert along with the Shockwave V12 subwoofer. MasterBuilt Audio cables, ASC Tube Trap, and racks from Artesania Audio.
Great sound from the VR-55 Aktive loudspeakers by Von Schweikert Audio.
The second system from GTT Audio & Video inluded the Plank CD player from Aurender. WATT integrated amplifier from Audionet. Endeavor E-3 MKII loudspeakers from Von Schweikert Audio. From MasterBuilt Audio Reference and Signature Line interconnects, power cords, and speaker cables.
Sweet sounding Endeavor E-3 MKII loudspeakers from Von Schweikert Audio.
Damon Von Schweikert. The sound in this room was so remarkable we had to come back more than once. Truly outstanding.
This room featured three systems with components from Mojo Audio, Exit Level Audio, HiFiMan, and MrSpeakers.
Mojo Audio.
Another room with glorious sound. Daedalus Audio Apollo loudspeakers. ModWright Instruments KWA 150SE Signature Edition power amplifier, Ambrose One preamplifier, PH 150 Reference phono stage, and modified OPPO UDP-205 universal player/DAC. Cables from Skogrand included the SC Vivaldi speaker cables, and SCI Vivaldi interconnects. J-Corder Technics RS-1500 Ruby Red. VPI Industries Signature Prime Rosewood Edition. Stillpoints ESS 28-20-3 grid rack provided by Tweek Geek.
Looking good, sounding delightful.
Stunning Daedalus loudspeakers.
Superb cables from Skogrand.
PureAudio Project and Whammerdyne.
Elite AV Distribution, Furutech, Kuzma, High Resolution Technologies (HRT), and L'Art Du Son.
Furutech products.
More from Elite AV.
Kuzma Stabi S turntable with the 4Point9 tonearm, and CAR-20H cartridge.
Another fantastic room! Jospeh Audio Pearl 3 loudspeakers, $31,500 a pair. From Doshi Audio V3 mono block amplifiers, $34,995 a pair, V3 line stage, $16,995, and V3 phono stage, $16,995. Also from Doshi, Studio Series Tape Playback preamplifier, $16,995. Cables were Cardas Clear and Clear Beyond. Phenomenal sound from the Joseph Pearl 3 loudspeakers.
The reel to reel playback is what brought everyone to this room. Stunning!
Jeff Joseph, happy as ever!
Jern ApS 14 DS cast iron monitor loudspeakers. Wow. These small speakers filled the room with sound! Made in Denmark. I was very impressed! For what it's worth, they apparently have a high "wife acceptance factor." Of course, in our household, many times sound comes before looks, and these sounded amazing! Also in the room, GamuT Di150 amplifier.
Nola Boxer 2 loudspeakers.
CanJam, always crowded, lots of great sounds!
More from CanJam.
So many different headphones, in ear monitors, DACS, and amplifiers to try!
Once we got into CanJam, Dave and I listened to this song, "Farewell" by UNKLE on The Road, wherever we could. It brings tears to our eyes, so beautiful and haunting.
Woo Audio, at CanJam.
Larry Smith from Wireworld.
Sue Toscano was at CanJam with Periodic Audio.
Finally trying some in ear monitors.
Besflores Nievera reporting for Music Direct.
Frank Dorris, Audio Technica.
Audioquest.
Chord.
Schiit Audio gave us a demonstration of the Loki preamplifier. So nice we each bought one!
Cardas Audio, great sounding in ear monitors!
Voxativ, pure listening from Berlin.
