This was the first time for this new show, also known as the LAAS. The venue moved from Orange County to LAX.
This show report will feature a lot of pictures, and in some cases not much in the way of captions. Our goal here was to photograph as many rooms/exhibitors as possible (well over 125), and provide as many pictures as we could. In some cases rooms had detailed equipment lists available, and that information will be passed along. In other cases you will only see the manufacturers or dealers who are listed on the doors.
By the way, all pictures for this report were taken by Dave.
Positive Feedback was on hand with two rooms. As always, our hospitality suite, but this year we also featured our "Getting Started" room hosted by Steve Lefkowicz, more on that later.
Our hospitality suite featured GamuT RS-3 Monitor Loudspeakers and Di150 Integrated Stereo Amplifier, along with their reference cables and interconnects. The Playback Designs Merlot Quad DSD DAC was also included. The rack was a Stillpoints ESS Rack with Ultra VI Isolation Feet. Rounding out the system was a Kubala-Sosna XPander Power Distribution Unit and grounding units from Telos and Entreq.
The DSD music was sounding great all weekend. Much thanks to Michael Vamos and Gamut for setting the system up!
As in years past, we had a selection of fine bourbon and scotch, and fantastic coffee provided by Ristretto Roasters in Portland. Somehow we pressed Sarah Grant into preparing the coffee, she has a PhD with a specialty in the culture of coffee in Vietnam. She was on hand all weekend preparing the coffee as it was meant to be prepared. Of course, that's me sitting next to her, gearing up for a day of covering the show. Oh, and we also had an assortment of bourbons to calm the nerves or sooth the tired show-goer.
Wyred 4 Sound and KEF Reference.
Wyred 4 Sound and KEF Reference.
The Voice That Is, Tidal Audio.
The Voice That Is, Tidal Audio.
The Voice That Is, Tidal Audio. Brief visit, but sounded as good as always.
Bryston Ltd., Straight Wire.
Bryston Ltd., Straight Wire.
Metronome.
Metronome.
Nola Loudspeakers, Nordost, and DejaVu Audio.
Nola Loudspeakers, DejaVu Audio.
Nola Loudspeakers, DejaVu Audio.
Einstein Audio Components Germany, TechDAS Air Force Japan.
Einstein Audio Components Germany, TechDAS Air Force Japan.
Einstein Audio Components Germany, TechDAS Air Force Japan.
The Positive Feedback "Getting Started" room. This room was packed from day one.
The Positive Feedback "Getting Started" room. It can safely be said that this room was standing room only for the entire show. Steve had several systems on hand. We hesitated to use the word affordable, as what is affordable to one is pocket change to another. The idea was that there were systems put together by price point, starting low, but even the higher end of the scale wasn't too high. The actual equipment list is quite impressive, and far too much to report here. Highlights include: Audioengine, AudioQuest, Auralic, Belkin, Heed, iFi Audio, Magneplanar, Music Hall, Pangea Audio, Cardas Audio, ELAC, Emotiva Audio, Pro-Ject, Schiit Audio, Tekton Design, and U-Turn audio.
Acapella Audio Arts, Audio Federation. Pictured are the Acapella High Cellini loudspeakers and LaMusika integrated amplifier, Audio Note UK CDT Five transport and DAC Five Signature. Cabling from Acapella and Audio Note UK. The rack is HRS SXR and M3x Isolation Bases.
High Fidelity Cables. Good music here.
High Fidelity Cables.
LKV Research and Joseph Audio.
LKV Research featured their Verito 1 phono integrated amplifier, a VPI Prime turntable, Nola Boxer loudspeakers, Joseph Audio Perspective loudspeakers, Ortofon Quintet Black S cartridge, Audience aR6 power conditioner, Marantz CD Player, Morrow PH series phono cables, Kimber Kable interconnects and speaker cables, and Pangea Vulcan equipment stands.
ESS Laboratories, McIntosh, High Fidelity Cables, Audio Fidelity.
In the MoFi room, lots going on and lots of equipment.
There is a lot of equipment listed for this room! These are TAD Micro Evolution One loudspeakers with ST-3 stands. Spiral Groove Revolution turntable with Centroid tonearm. Next to that is a Dr. Feickert Analouge Blackbird Deluxe 12 turntable with Mobile Fidelity Master Tracker MM cartridge. TAD supplied SACD player/DAC, preamplifier, and amplifier. There are a lot of other products on the Solidsteel Hyperspike HF-3 rack, including Aurender, Balanced Audio Technology, and cables by Nordost and Isotek.
A closeup of the stunning Spiral Groove Revolution turntable.
Having a discussion with Norbert Schmied from Mobile Fidelity. Great sounding room.
ATC Loudspeaker Technology with Lone Mountain Audio.
ATC Loudspeaker Technology with Lone Mountain Audio.
In the Aurender room. GamuT RS5i loudspeakers, D200i stereo power amplifier, and GamuT cables. The rack was by Grand Prix Audio, the Monaco Modular 3 shelf. Aurender's A10 server, streamer, preamplifier, and MQA DAC rounded out the system.
Beautiful GamuT loudspeakers. Stellar sound here.
The Aurender server sounds great.
Raidho Acoustics loudspeakers, Ansuz Acoustics cables, Aavik Acoustics amplifiers.
Raidho Acoustics loudspeakers, Ansuz Acoustics cables, Aavik Acoustics amplifiers.
Raidho Acoustics loudspeakers, Ansuz Acoustics cables, Aavik Acoustics amplifiers.
Outside the AmpsandSound room, discussing music with Jeremiah Griffiths.
AmpsandSound, beautiful gear!
AmpsandSound featured Sonic Studio's Amarra 4.
Appropriately, VooDoo Cable features the backs of the components so that the cables are the stars! On display were the VooDoo Vajra prototype loudspeaker, Odyssey Kismet mono power amplifiers, Nottingham 294 turntable, Berkeley Audio Design Alpha 2 DAC, Modwright 36.5 dual mono preamplifier and PH 160 phono preamplifier, VooDoo Music Server, and lots of cables.
