If you're in one of the parts of the US sweltering through record high temperatures, you have another reason to attend the
California Audio Show in Emeryville, near San Francisco this weekend: high temperatures are forecast to be in ... the SIXTIES??
Here in Florida, that's January weather. A chilly January, at that.
Constantine Soo, the affable major domo of
Dagogo, has brought a big-time audio show back to the west coast. California hasn't hosted an audio show since the last Stereophile Home Entertainment show, way back when? In the last century? At any rate, it's been a while.
Left-coast manufacturers, retailers and audiophiles have long bemoaned the absence of local shows. Earlier this year, Constantine realized that no one else was going to produce a show in California, and decided to tackle the show himself.
Despite an economic outlook best described by the intensive care phrase "cautiously optimistic", regional audio shows are having a banner year in 2010. The California Audio Show follows the first editions of Axpona and the Capital Audiofest, and repeat appearances of AKFest, Can Jam and the Lone Star Audio Fest. Yet to come this year are the seventh Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, and a number of specialty shows including the Carolina Can Fest and Carver Fest.
It could even be argued that the shaky state of the economy has contributed to the current run of successful shows. Maybe you can't afford new gear, but for the cost of a movie you can at least see it, hear it and play with it. But that's a topic for another day.
For a first-time show, Constantine's done a terrific job of attracting an interesting group of manufacturers, distributors and dealers,as the
exhibitor list shows. The list runs from Aaudio through Ypsilon-- maybe ZYX will show up to complete the alphabet.
The major players include Krell, Linn, Parasound, MartinLogan, MIT, and the Harman brands: JBL, Revel and Mark Levinson. The highest of the high end will be represented by Magico, YG Acoustics, Win Analog, VAC, Consensus and Audio Note, amongst others.
Many long-time audio show favorites will be exhibiting, including Legacy, Audio by Van Alstine, Fritz Speakers, Glow Audio, Graham Engineering, Eminent Technology, Kubala-Sosna, SOTA, KR Audio, Sonist, Salk Signature Sound, Harbeth and Quad. Cutting-edge products from Resolution Audio,Digital Audio Denmark, Korg, Wave Kinetics and Emerald Physics should be very interesting.
We look forward to a great California Audio Show, one hopes the first of many to follow. There should be no shortage of great sound at all price levels.
WHERE:
Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco | Oakland Bay Bridge
1800 Powell Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
Tel (510) 658-9300
Fax (510) 595-1914
www.sanfranciscooaklandbaybridge.stayhgi.com
WHEN:
Friday, July 30, 2010 – 9am to 6pm
Saturday, July 31, 2010 – 9am to 6pm
Sunday August 1, 2010 – 9am to 4pm
Ticket: $10 per person (all 3 days)
