The California Audio Show 2018. This year was the eighth annual installment of this show. Dave and I attended the first two, 2010 in Emeryville, and 2011 in Burlingame. The venue this year was the Oakland Airport Hilton. Sponsored by Constantine Soo of Dagogo, this show was small and easy to navigate. There are fairly extensive reports filed by Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney (HERE) and Malachi Kenney (HERE), this is more of a filling in of blanks, and additional impressions.
As mentioned, the show was small. This is of great benefit for both attendees and members of the press as it allows for lots of time to sit and listen. During our first two visits to this show it allowed for me to escape and take peaceful walks along the San Francisco Bay, once on the eastern side, and once on the western side. Both are beautiful, and the air is redolent with the scent of wild fennel. I didn't get the chance for a walk this year, I'm not as adventurous as I was back then. I did admire the fennel though, and caught gentle whiffs of it in the air.
There are many things this show does right. First, and most important to anyone attempting to write a show report, each room had an equipment list posted right outside the door. Usually I scramble to find equipment listings provided by the exhibitors, alas they are few and far between. Constantine and the CAS eliminated that worry. Another minor detail is that all attendees' badges were two-sided. I can't tell you how many times I've been at a show, been accosted by someone I should know, and sadly their badge has flipped over so I have no idea what their name is. Two other perks, ice water stations in every hallway, and a room for any attendee to duck into for a much needed rest and break. The headphone exhibitors were in a "quiet" room, making enjoyment of open-back headphones a joy.
Sadly, there was one major flaw, but it had nothing to do with the show organizers. It is also something that likely didn't irritate the majority of attendees, but with only two exceptions the music played at this how left a lot to be desired. Frankly, in some of the rooms I was unable to properly critique the gear because the music playing felt like nails on a chalkboard. I get it, exhibitors play what they think their audience will appreciate, and music they feel best sets off the capabilities of their system. But, many times I feel like an old audiophile cast adrift. I know the music I like can be abrasive to a lot of people, but as I've always said, I can't judge how a system sounds when it's playing "Keith Don't Go" because I'm too busy cringing.
Moving on, here are some of the rooms not covered elsewhere, and added praise for the few that didn't remain locked into playing audiophile-approved recordings.
Our good friend Steve Holt with the Audio Nerd was on hand with stacks of great records. We had the opportunity to visit his store in Rocklin, CA last February. Steve is a font of information about all kinds of vinyl, tapes, CDs, and even vintage stereo gear. Always lots of fun chatting with him.
In this room featuring Eigen Audio the equipment consisted of Von Schweikert Audio E3 MkII at $8000/pr, MasterBuilt Audio Reference Line cables, Critical Mass Systems rack and footers, and an Aurender N10 caching music server.
This was one of those rooms I would have liked to have spent more time in if they were playing music I was familiar with. The design of these Unisinger loudspeakers was interesting, and I think I liked the sound, but it was hard to tell with the music they were playing. Models shown were UIA-2 Silver ($6999/pr), Gold ($10,990/pr) and Platinum ($28,880/pr).
TriangleArt/Angel City Audio. In spite of the music, this room had a very sweet sound. I guess that's saying something for the components if the music didn't drive me out. The Angel City Seraphim Prime loudspeakers ($25,000/pr) are stunning, and sound great. The gorgeous turntables from Triangle Arts, the Maestro ($7500) and the Reference ($39,999) were accompanied by their cartridge, tonearm, phono stage, preamplifier, mono block amplifers, and cables. Stunning.
Always a delight to catch up with Hugh Nguyen of Angel City.
Kirsten and Malachi covered the Zu Audio and Pass Labs room in great detail, but I wanted to add in our experience. Sean Casey only played vinyl through the Druid Mk V1 loudspeakers. Powered by Pass Labs amplifier, preamplifier, and phono stage, it sounded amazing. This was one of the few rooms playing music that pulled me in rather than drove me out. Sean has an extensive collection of records, from genres all over the map. When we first walked in he was playing Public Image Ltd. After he caught sight of us, he mentioned, "I'm not just playing it because you walked in." Yet, likely he knew that was one of the things that drew us in.
Gorgeous Zu Druid.
The crowd, enjoying the music until Sean put on a Black Sabbath album. One by one, they got up and left. Meanwhile, I was tapping my foot and bobbing my head in time to the music.
Beautiful Pass Labs integrated amplifier.
Pass Labs preamplifiers.
Aaudio Imports system included an Aurender N10, Stage III cables, Ypsilon DAC, preamplifier, and amplifier, and Wilson Benesch Endeavor stand-mounted loudspeakers.
Wilscon Benesch Endeavor Isobaric monitor loudspeakers.
Ypsilon DAC 1000, PST-100 MkII preamplifier, Aelius II monoblock amplifiers. Also, the Aurender N10.
In the quiet room for headphones. Mojo Audio.
The Schiit table was nearly always full, no wonder since their gear is all phenomenal.
Some of the Schiit lineup. Wish we'd had a chance to listen, but they were always busy. Good thing the Schittr isn't too far away here in southern California!
Mr. Speakers Voce Electrostatic headphones. Forced to choose from a playlist, this is me listening to David Bowie. Fabulous.
Audio Note had a full system including AN-E-SPe loudspeakers, Conqueror Silver Signature amplifier, AN-TT Two Deluxe turntable, CDT-Ohe MkII CD transport and DAC2.1, and all Audio Note cabling.
A.R.T. featured a full line of their cables, a power distributor, accessories, and stands. Beautifully crafted.
Dynaudio Contour 60 loudspeakers.
Gorgeous A.R.T. cables.
MartinLogan Expression ESL 13A, Parasound JC5 amplifier, MIT cabling, and Aurender A10 network player.
Eficion F250 Air-Motion Transfor loudspeakers, Oppo Digital UDP-205, Line Magnetic LM-502CA DAC, Exemplar Audio cXception SE linestage, and Plinius SA103 amplifier.
Bricasti Design DAC, monoblock amplifiers, preamplifier. Tidal Piano Diacera G2 loudspeakers. All cabling by Bricasti Design.
Kirsten and Malachi covered the Joseph Audio room in great detail, but I also wanted to mention how fantastic this system sounded. The Joseph Pulsar loudspeakers, a Bel Canto Design integrated, and Cardas Clear Beyond Cabling. It helped that Jeff was playing music from the new Qobuz streaming service, so you could hear anything Qobuz has. He asked me what I wanted to hear, but since the room was packed with attendees, I refrained, saying I would likely clear the room. In the meantime I have checked out Qobuz, and discovered that they do have The Soft Moon Criminal available, so I've promised Jeff that when I see him next, probably at RMAF, I will request the song "Burn," and we will see how fast the room clears.
Everyone loves Jeff Joseph!
Napa Acoustic with their lineup of gear that feature names that deal with wine making. Bottle Series bookshelf loudspeakers starting at $300. Cask Series integrated amplifier with selectable phono preamplifier, starting at $500.
These wall mounted loudspeakers are the Cellar Series. They have and all-in-one wall mounted transmission line speaker system starting at $1000, and the speaker only starts at $400. These speakers are also available with pictures instead of grass. Quite unique, and very interesting.
Tweak Studio featured a line up of T+A electronics, and KEF loudspeakers. Cabling was by MIT. This was another room that sounded really good, in spite of the music. We did spend a fair amount of time here just listening.
We ran into Joe Cohen of The Lotus Group. You can read about our experience visiting his home HERE.
We also spent time with Cookie Marenco of Blue Coast Records. I believe I'm describing the phone cozy I promised to crochet for her.
All in all, the California Audio Show was a lot of fun. We look forward to next year.
All images by Dave Clark.
