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A few systems heard at the Rocky Mntn. audiofest

I sure didn't hear them all, and I'm not about to say that my fave is the show's best system, but here are a few observations.

1. Most rooms I didn't even walk into as they were either too crowded or were playing diddeebopper trash that I RUN away from.
2. The Intuitive Design speakers room was playing an acoustic-bass recording that sounded EXCELLENT. It was closely miked and the bassist was doing lots of whacking and clacking, and the bass really did sound real. Didn't hear anything else there. Their literature reads as if their 2 systems will be QUITE expensive.
3. Herron was demoing prototypes of new, big speakers and subwoofers, and the short piece of the Reference recording of the Rutter Requium sounded VERY good.
4. North Creek's new Advanced Ribbon Technologies Division was playing their new Metro hybrid ribbon system. Only about 3' high, it used a single MR/treble ribbon and a 7" vented woofer. The system had almost no bottom-octave energy and a little too much treble for my taste, but it sounded VERY coherent. Too bad it'll retail for some $7 - $8K/pair.
5. Bruce Thigpen of Eminent Technology was demoing his new Thigpen Rotary Woofer (TRW) system. This thing is going to be a hit with well-moneyed home-theater fans, as it'll generate high SPLs with VERY little distortion at frequencies as low as ONE Hertz! Several of us heard continuous tones at 16Hz.; below that I felt rather than heard the energy. At 2 Hertz it was flapping the room's door about an inch peak-to-peak! 'Only' $13K.
6. The only ABSOLUTELY GREAT-sounding system for me was AvantGarde's Duo horn-based system, driven by Thor tubed preamp and amps. WOW!!!!!! I've never heard big, expensive, horn-based systems before, and it literally had me in tears with, again, the Rutter Requium. I played a lot of my CD of the EMI/Boult Holst Planets, and I was truly amazed at the tonal naturalness, soundstage size, imaging specificity, etc.
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128x128jeffreybehr
76doublebass's avatar
76doublebass
254 posts
 
Thanks for your response.I know I have seen posts previously on the Audiogon about how outstanding the ZYX is,But I was really taken back from what I heard at the show,and did not consider the musical presentation true to the live source.It was as if someone had eq'd up atleast +6 db from 4K to 15K and then -6DB from 16k to 20K.Thats how the ZYX Universe sounded to me,and the ZYX 3B was bright,hard,brittle,lean in the bass and no bass fullness or power.I'm wishing that these cartridges properly set up don't sound this way.
My experience with anything cryo treated should reveal in a musical presentation deep bass,and a very natural extended top end,with a huge wall to wall soundstage with layer depth of field eteched throughout that soundstage.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,831 posts
 
Having exhibited at the shows for some 16 years now, I have found that the only way to survive the show is to play the music that I like personally. My taste is not that of the average audiophile- I like new material a lot, from ambient to punk, metal to classical and a lot in between. I especially like things with big bass, 'cause I just do.

I've heard the female vocals with light jazz backup a little too much in my time and so I don't bring any to shows. Exhibitors have to live with the music they bring and I get tired of ripping my fingernails while trying to climb the walls :)

I don't doubt that someone passing by would not like everything we play- I'm a big fan of Porcupine Tree and King Crimson, but most people don't even know who Porcupine Tree even is. Shame on you if you don't know King Crimson- they've only been around for 36 years. Islands is a real treat on a good system with original vinyl...

Anyway, if you are at a show- bring your own LPs or CDs and if the exhibitor will not play your selection *then* leave- not before! If their system is really all that great, they will be happy to show it off.

You may have to be patient, as a previous request may already be playing. IOW if you go through all that trouble to get to an audio show, and then are put off by a cut someone happens to be playing, you could be shooting yourself in the foot.
nrchy's avatar
nrchy
2,124 posts
 
Golden ears, just to clarify my statement about being put off by someone's music. Steve and I went to the Classe room to talk with one of their sales people to get some specific information. I have one of their amps and had to know something about the construction. Since there were people in the room listening to the system, we retreated to the corridor. We were getting some very good information and advice when the room across the hall began playing some poor sounding music at loud volume. The music interfered with our ability to converse.

If the people in the room were enjoying the music, good for them. They could enjoy it just as well with the door closed. We could not conduct business with their music blaring, and yes, the conversation led to a sale.

I was not walking down the hall closing doors indescrimately because I did not like the music. There was a specific reason for not wanting to listen to the music in one room.

I'm not disagreeing with Mr Atmasphere. We are not talking about the same thing.

I'm not familiar with that King Crimson LP, I might have to look for it.
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