California Audio Show- a great time


I just retuned from two days at the show. In my opinion, the best audio show I have ever attended. The hosts were exceptionally friendly and played anything and everything listeners brought in. There are always some megabuck systems that sound stellar and this show was no exception, but I thought almost all the small rooms had great sound also. I'm going to say maybe 80 percent of the rooms were getting nice sound and that never happens in hotel rooms. I enjoyed meeting a lot of audiophiles who came to have a good time, hear some great music and dream of our next audio purchases. If you get a chance, go to this show. Constantine and his staff know how to throw a great party!
128x128hi5harry
A must go to event. You might find a system that might be a perfect match for your wallet and listening taste. This audio show will change your life forever!!!
Some favorite rooms:

Audio Note
Vivid (On a Higher Note and w/ MSB). These are great speakers
Sonist
Gini (sometimes there's nothing quite like an LS3/5A)
Loved the look of the new Clearaudio Ovation Wood table
And the MBLs sounded better than any of the few previous times I've heard them. Beautiful and airy stage with tremendous detail and ambience. Plus, they are something in white with their matching white electronics. Oh, and they also didn't crank them. Thankfully.
A huge thank you to Constantine and all the vendors who showed. I share the opinion this was the best show. It was very possible to end up in a sweet spot seat so necessary for giving many setups a fair shake. Vendors were MUCH more easily approachable with less pressure to rush conversations. Even fellow attendees seemed to have their guards lowered in interacting with each other. Definitely promoted listening for pleasure beyond just the analytical mode. Two of the most enjoyable low pressure days of listening to diverse music. By far more rooms "did it" for me than not. That's never been the case. Lots of computers as servers. There was almost enough glorious analog. Long live California Audio Show!
I had a great time this year at the show. I concur completely with the other posts regarding the very friendly reception from almost every room. After allowing me to play one of my cd's in one room, I was asked if I wanted to play anything else. I ended up playing songs off of three disks! Of course at the time the room was experiencing a little "lull in the action", but WOW!

My favorite two rooms were:

Vivid and Margules.

Did anybody else like the Margules room? They sounded great even way off axis. Great soundstage, bass(17 Hz) and dynamics. They have an active subwoofer too.

I'm looking for new speakers, but I've never heard of them.