AXPONA 2017 Protocol

astewart8944, we carry 2 lines out the ones you are interested in - Spendor and Marten. We do have Spendor D7 and Marten Django L on display  but unfortunately we are not exhibiting them this year. We would be happy to set up an audition should you be able to come earlier or stay longer. 

milpai, I would be happy to demo the D7 for you any time before or after  Axpona. 

goheelz, thank you for the praise on the Marten Coltrane sound, we were very happy with it as well. This year, we are showing the all new Vivid Giya Spirit driven by the new Jadis 200 MKii mono amplifiers producing 200W in class A with KT150 tubes.

@kyomi_audio Thanks for the offer. Unfortunately, I can neither come to Chicago early nor stay late. Since the Spendors won't be playing at the show, I'm hoping to hear them at Galen Carol Audio in San Antonio a week after AXPONA, provided that works for Galen. The Marten Django L I will have to develop a game plan to hear.

Most vendors want to play your music to satisfy you but also don't know if you are pulling out some heavy metal that will clear the room. So tell them what you have or ask if they have such and such.
A memory stick is very handy and should be accommodated. Ask for a late night demo, like just after the show hours, before it gets too late, and you could get a one on one with the speakers.
I'll be volunteering in a room you will probably not target but I would play your music for you and I know the participants in the room want to satisfy you as best they can.
As mentioned above, also check out the big Salk room where they would definitely accommodate you (lower level bottom of escalator).

And I forgot to mention that if you put Shazam on your phone you will be prepared when you hear some music you like to capture it right away. I get some of my best music by going to shows since gear sounding its best means good tracks.

Room setup is variable at the show.  I noticed that some took time to use some room treatments and set things up properly.  Others just looked as though they were dropped in place with a rudimentary attempt at proper speaker placement.  Let's face it, too, hotel rooms and large ballrooms are atypical compared to where we listen at home.  The exhibits are a mixture of manufacturer rooms and dealer rooms (sometimes both, like a dealer with a manufacturer's rep.)  

My point? You can get an idea of what something might sound like, but if it were an expensive purchase, I definitely would follow up with a visit to a local dealer to hear them at length.  Serious auditions are something that AXPONA really is not intended for.  It is good, though, for gathering information. Talk to the reps and the salespeople.  Ask the questions.  It is worthwhile. 

I did find that Friday afternoon was when rooms were beginning to thin out.  I forget which room it was on the 12th floor, but I heard a really nice setup with Focal speakers and Pass Labs monoblocks.  One of my favorites at the show was the room with the ProAc Response D48R (I forget the dealer's name unfortunately)--great music, a tuned room, and others at the show were recommending it.  

I took a USB thumb drive with me last year but never used it.  It also doesn't hurt to ask the rooms if they have some of your choices on their servers--they might, and will usually be happy to play it.