CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Best In Show
This was a surprise. The entire show. A surprise. And given that it seemed like it might not happen at all for a few months, the overall success was a stunner. Sound quality? WAY up. […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: End of Line
The Sixth Annual Capital Audiofest was, according to my formal and scientifically rigorous polling, the best to date. Everyone I spoke with marveled at the sound that the intrepid were wringing out of their rooms […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Audio Note UK and Vincent Bélanger
Audio Note UK has always been something of a surprise for me and they keep unravelling all of my expectations. When I “started” in high-end audio, I was warned about the Cult of Audio Note. That […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Floating with Gershman Acoustics and Lamm Industries
It was probably my penultimate stop, and I’m sure I looked harried and more than a little frazzled, but Ofra Gershman of Gershman Acoustics was kind and failed to mention my “electric” hair-do, growling stomach and […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: BorderPatrol, Triode Wire Labs and Living Voice recreate home
There is always a risk, covering an audio show. A risk that someone will say something. Not mean, nasty or cutting — just something interesting. Or they’ll do something likewise interesting. Doesn’t sound so horrible, […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: LKV Research, with Joseph Audio and VPI
Bill Hutchins, the Chief Designer of LKV Research, was showing off a lovely system anchored by his flagship products — the Line One linestage ($3,500) and the Veros One phono pre ($6,500). Bill told me […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Technics is back
In all fairness to Technics, I don’t really think they ever went anywhere in particular, but perhaps us audiophiles can be forgiven for wondering what went wrong, where we sinned so grievously that they felt […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Fern/Roby and Bettinger Audio Design get heavy
One of the most exciting — and by “exciting”, I mean “most excitedly talked about” — was the room that Fern & Roby shared with Bettinger Audio Design/GAS Audio and Luminous Audio. The thing that got […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: DSA brings out the big guns from VPI and Joseph Audio
Way off to the side, over near Odyssey and VPI, I found another awesome room. This one was stuffed. With people. All the time. It was annoying. Well, for me. But then, I’m fussy. I […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Backert Labs’ Mini-Me, with Martin Logan, Odyssey and VPI
Backert Labs is running a contest to name their next linestage. Submit your picks online for a chance to win one? Well, sure — sign me up! Their first offering is, as you may know, […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: EMIA rocks Quad
Sometimes (okay, oftentimes), I get the feeling that the EMIA guys (Jeffrey Jackson and Dave Slagle) are just on a different project than I am. Like I’m somehow, and continuously, missing the point. It’s perplexing. They’re […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Madison-Fielding still “best pot at the show”
When Art Powers of Madison-Fielding/PlanterSpeakers starts talking about pot, he’s not talking about smoking. I mean, I don’t think he is. Hmm. Okay, whatever. Let’s just say that what he’s usually talking about is planters. That is, containers […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Robyatt brings Electrostatic Solutions, Miyajima, VPI, and glory unfolds
One of my favorite moments at the Capital Audiofest this year happened courtesy of Robin Wyatt of Robyatt Audio. Robin had just popped up, ready to put on a new LP, when he caught sight […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Command Performance delivers VPI, Berkeley, Wireworld, Audia Flight and Neat Acoustics
There was a lot going on in the Command Performance room at Capital Audiofest. The first thing to hit me as I walked in was power — the monster XL10 from Neat Acoustics was hitting […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Classic Audio Loudspeakers blows my hair way back
I have a thing for horns. Especially vintage-ish horns. They’re kind of hard to find these days, though you see a few here and there. Like Classic Audio Loudspeakers. The designer, John Wolfe, has been […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: UHA and Jolida, Masters of Analog
Greg Beron is a patient man. The proprietor of United Home Audio, Greg has been the rock to my railing storm of protest, indignation and outrage. Well, okay — I’ve been nothing like that in […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Seductive Salk brings out the Exotic, with DanaCable, LampizatOr, Wells Audio
I’m not sure what happened, but somewhere in the last couple of years, Salk Sound did something not just good but downright amazing. I like to think that in some small part, the Exotic line […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Vinnie Rossi LIO sings with Harbeth
If there was a vote for “nicest guy at the audio show”, I’m pretty sure Vinnie Rossi would win and be completely embarrassed by anyone even ever talking about it in public. The guy is always smiling. And […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Volti Audio and Triode Wire Labs
Some last-minute wrangling saw Greg Roberts of Volti Audio decide to make the trek to this year’s Capital Audiofest down from Benton, Maine — and this year, he brought some tube-gear from McIntosh Labs to […]
CAF 2015
CAF 2015: Bricasti blows down the doors to Awesome Town
I almost feel like I should recuse myself from covering the Bricasti Design room, given my latest review. I’m a fan, you see. I have had the M28 ($30k/pair) amplifiers in for a few months […]