This speaker called Linkwitz looks funny but it sounds clear and holographic.
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I only had one day, and couldn’t hit all the rooms. I thought these rooms were excellent:
- ACORA SRC-2 speakers with VAC mono blocks and preamp - Big room, and they presented an amazing soundstage and lifelike sound.
- Linear Tube Audio preamp and mono blocks with Daedalus speakers: Gorgeous sound and speakers (just beautiful wood and joinery). I am thinking of getting an LTA preamp. The speakers are very efficient, and a great pairing with the LTA 20-40W amps and integrated.
- LINKWITZ speakers - A total surprise. I know the name and a bit of the founder (RIP) but these speakers really surprised me. Amazing omnidirectional presentation, and a huge deep soundstage. The speakers really disappeared. They are odd looking, almost a homemade look but the sound! They come paired with 5 channel monoblocks (class D) so that each driver has its own channel. (The MBL Radialstrahler (120?) is a fancier omni that would have to be considered too.)
- Acapella Campanile horn hybrid - Lovely sound. I have little experience with horns, but was pleasantly surprised.
- MAGICO A5’s, Constellation Argo integrated, Berkeley DAC, Aurender streamer: Excellent overall. If I had $25-30k for speakers, these would be in the running.
- JOSEPH AUDIO Perspective (or Pulsar?) Graphene2 - Very pleasantly surprised. Gorgeous and lovely sounding. I didn’t get to hear their stand mount monitors which have gotten excellent reviews, darn it. Mr. Joseph is a charming fellow, in my brief chat with him.
I wish I could have gone back on Sunday to hear some of the rooms mentioned here. Next time I will spend 2 days. The hotel has a very odd layout which made navigating a bit of a pain.
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This system sound very musical.
The most notable thing is the cost of amplifiers is modest compared with that of speaker.
Raidaho speaker cost 70k$ while Margules power amp and pre amp cost 10k$ and 7k$ only.
I got the feeling that Margules pre is good.
Thus I bought it at show discount price of 6k$.
After installing in my system, I am happy with it.
It use 4 12AU7(ECC82) and one 6922(6jd8) tubes.
Thus lot of room for tube rolling.
I replaced the stock Elextro harmonic tubes with NOS Amperex.
It really sound gracious.
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This room also gave very musical sound.
Well Audio is making excellent amps and dac.
I almost pulled the trigger for its new tube Dac called Cipher.
http://www.wellsaudio.com/cipher-dac
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The Songer speaker is modern field speaker but in Vintage style.
I enjoyed its intimate and fast sound in Pacific Audiofest.
page description
songeraudio.com
5a3 push pull amplifier was also interesting.
http://whammerdyne.com/
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