Micro Seiki MA-505 Re-imagined
I glimpsed the Resolution Audio flyer (located in Washington, DC) as I was leaving the show Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, I didn't have an opportunity to learn more about his project. Stay tuned! Coming in 2026 to celebrate 50th anniversary of this classic tonearm from Micro Seiki.
NOLA
NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers, $150K, Western Electric 97-A monoblock amplifiers, $125K, VAC Essence linestage, ARC CD8 CD player
Carl Marchisotta came to CAF loaded for bear with his Baby Grands being driven by Western Electric tube amplifiers. It's been ages since I've seen, much less heard, the 80 wpc single-ended 300B based WE amplifiers. I'm going to award an incomplete here because I wasn't remotely familiar with any music being played.
Now Listen Here (Executive Lounge)
Acora MRC-3 speakers, $16K ($23.5K in exotic Lilac marble finish), VAC Signature Musicbloc amplifiers, $44K, VAC Signature Mk IIa preamplifier, $21K ($28.K with optional tube phonostage, Backert Labs Optik Phono 1.1 phonostage, $TBD, DS Audio W3 cartridge, $5500 ($5500 mono), Rockna Wavedream Reference Signature DAC, $27K, Innuous ZENith Next-Gen, $22K, AudioQuest Brave Heart and Pegasus cables
This was one of the standout rooms at CAF 2025 and a massive improvement in the sound from the previous year. New product debuts included the Acora speakers in an exotic marble finish and the Backert Labs Optik Phono 1.1 that among other properties is compatible with the new DS Audio optical cartridge line. The Acora MRC-3 speakers might just be the sweet spot in the product line. The sound here was relaxed and inviting, spacious with a serious case of imaging. One room that I could sit in and listen all day.
Now Listen Here (Suite 319)
Vandersteen Quatro CT Evo speakers, $24K, Ayre Acoustics AX-5 Twenty integrated amplifier, $18K, Ayre Acoustics Px-8 MM/MC phono preamp, $6500, Pure Fidelity Harmony turntable, $12K, DS Audio 003 cartridge, $2300, Innuous STREAM 3, $8K, immersive D-1 DAC, $12K, AudioQuest Angel, Brave Heart and Pegasus cables
Now Listen Here's second show room used Vandersteen's latest Quatro CT Evo speakers driven by Ayre electronics.
Revox
Volker (left) and son Lucas Lange (right) Revox/Horch House.
Revox Prestige G140 speakers, $6K, Revox M500 amplifier, $4800, Revox B77 Mk. III reel-to-reel tape machine, $19K, Revox T7000 Black edition turntable, $4800
Revox continues its return to the high-end audio market with a middle ground priced system based around reel-to-reel or digital sources. Me? I was curious what new reel-to-reel tape releases (or LPs) Volker Lange of Revox/Horch House brought to CAF. Nor was I disappointed leaving CAF with a 15-ips tape copy of Lori Lieberman's latest release Perfect Day recorded by Guy Sternberg owner of Low Swing Records in Berlin Germany! Even better news? One of the cuts features Lori performing a duet with Fink!
