The Hidden Gem at Capital Audio Fest (CAF) 2023!

@bouncehit

In my original post I outlined the virtues of the speakers as I perceived them personally.

I am from a middle-class family, and certainly don’t take $7000 lightly! However, in a world where systems can cost $1 million, and lesser sounding systems cost multiples of this one, I thought it was noteworthy

Your post was fine! You simply expressed your appreciation and listening impressions of a speaker that caught your attention. Truly an understandably subjective occurrence. That’s what these audio forums are for.

Product price/value/affordability is also subjective.7K dollars for some is quite a financial reach, for others it’s chump change. The range of disposable income I imagine is very broad amongst members here. Utterly an individual call as it always is.

Charles

For me, the system in the Pure Audio Project room was the hidden gem at the show.  The prices of components were not unreasonable and the performance level was extremely high.  But, because they did not hit you with big bass slam, and the exhibitors did not play the system at extremely high levels, it was not so much an attention-getting display.  The system quietly went about playing music in an utterly natural, relaxed and engaging way with quite good micro-dynamics and a lively, yet not aggressive presentation.  I was shocked that the speakers--Trio model (open baffle with twin 15" woofers and a midrange/tweeter between the woofers)--cost something like $8,450.  They were also suited to being coupled with low-powered amps (the kind of amps I like),  If I had to give up my current system, I could easily live with these speakers, and that cost is less than a third of the price of the midrange drivers in my system.  Because these speakers have different modules for bass and midrange/tweeter, they can be upgraded.  I would probably opt for their Voxativ field coil midrange/tweeter module. 

FWIW it seems a number of high end vendors have playlists available on qobuz.   Assuming they use these same tracks at shows,they could prove to be a useful tool to compare what one has at home to what one hears at a show.  

@larryi I heard the Trios with the Voxativ field coil module a few years back at the New York audio show, they were fantastic. Driven by a low powered Pass integrated amp their sonic bliss was much as you so aptly described, lively yet non aggressive with great presence. I've heard them at a few other shows with different center drivers (although I'm not sure I've heard the coax driver you heard at CAF) however the field coil drivers were by far the best IMHO. The cost increases dramatically although I believe they are still competitive given their performance. I think you would be even more smitten with the field coil driver Trios than you already are with the coax version. 

@larryi 

Yes!  I recently sold my Pure Audio Project Trio 15's with Horn 1 to an audiophile friend. 

AND the head of that company is an incredibly nice guy! 😎