Audio Troy Capital Audio Fest the good, the bad and the ugly!

I don’t know why they haven’t switched over to static displays at the big shows. 

Maybe because that's a ridiculous idea?  It's not like hi-fi actually suffers the same restrictions as an auto show.

I can't imagine traveling to an audio show (and many people travel a long distance) only to look at some silent display.   The first thing I'd want to know is "why can't I hear these?"

Audio shows are were many people encounter equipment that they'd never be able to hear anywhere else.  That includes the fun of hearing beyond-one's-mean exotica, or finally being able to check out a brand one may actually be interested in (many people don't have any high end stores anywhere near where they live).  Or one may have a surprise encounter with a brand they hadn't known of, or considered before.

It was due to hearing the Thiel CS6 at a show that led me to end up having those speakers in my home.

It was due to hearing MBL speakers at shows that ultimately led me to owning MBL speakers.

It was due to hearing the Hales Transcendence T8 speakers blowing away everything at a show that led me to purchasing the more affordable T5s.

It was due to a shockingly good sound from Joseph Audio Pearl speakers at a show that led me to investigate that brand, ultimately leading to my now owning JA Perspective speakers.

Well, what may sound shocking to you, Joy Boy, is probably going to sound pretty routine and bland to me. There are simply too many obstacles to overcome at shows. You got your seismic vibrations from the crowds (or are crowds a thing of the past?), you got your local AC grid that’s loaded to the max by all the exhibits, you got problems with showing new electronics, new speakers, new cables. Not to mention all the beer bottles and wine bottles littering the floor. After about an hour of listening to that I’d be deaf, too. Take a look at reviewers’ faces after a few hours of that. You’ll get the picture. 😩

There are auto shows where you can actually take a ride in the car. Very limited options, but they exist.

Beer and wine bottles on the floor may be the thing from the past. There were none at this year's Capital Audio Fest.

Sorry geoff, I shouldn't have "jumped" on you for your comment. I get your point of view.

As I stated:  Even though you may find the audio at audio shows of little use or enjoyment, many others find them quite worthwhile in numerous ways.

I hate to see geoffkait’s making a point and it being half-valid. At the same time, it was interesting to hear different systems at the show. Each one of them could have probably been even better under better circumstances, but as a day or two of entertainment, they were just fine.

Not to take this thread to different track, but is anyone going to New York Show this weekend?