Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Emotiva
In an ideal world, you’d be able to buy whatever it is you set your heart and mind on. You’d get the very best whateveritis and enjoy the snot out of it. The whateveritis would […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Joseph Audio, Bel Canto
Let me start by gloating a bit. When I read the rave that Stereophile’s Michael Fremer gave the Joseph Audio Pulsar in the June issue of the magazine, the first thought I had was a […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Audio Summa Presents Silverline, Conrad-Johnson, Parasound, Kuzma
San Pedro’s Sal Zambrano of Audio Summa had everything-and-the-kitchen-sink at Newport. It was crazy. Four pairs of Silverline speakers, gear from Conrad-Johnson, Kuzma, Parasond, BEL … I walked in and the first thing I thought […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Amphion, Hegel
Back at NYAV, Hegel and Amphion teamed up to produce what I thought was a stellar demo. There, like here at Newport, the newish $5,995 Argon 7L was paired with all-Hegel electronics — and as […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: The Home Theater Experience presents Tannoy, Cary, NAD, Synergistic
The Home Theater Experience, of Carlsbad, CA, had two rooms full of Tannoy speakers — neither of which I’d heard before. My lucky day! The big $55k Kingdom Royal speakers are monsters. If you’ve ever […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Veloce, YG, Audio Aero
AC power delivery is monster under the bed. Everyone is terrified of it, which is why power conditioners sell so well. Managing this “last mile” (or at least the last 10′ of it) is rather […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Schiit
There’s really only one thing to do when you name a company “Schiit”. Embrace it. Have fun with it. Because, like they say, “you’re not going to believe this Schiit”. I first heard about Schiit […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Zu Audio
Here’s my new favorite line: “Music at an audio show sucks.” This is such a canard — but you hear it all the time. From everywhere. Even people who should know better. I am seriously […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Gene Rubin presents Harbeth, LFD, Palmer, MSB
Okay, seriously. Is there anyone out there who isn’t a Harbeth fan? And if so, what’s wrong with you? Seriously. You’ve got issues. Gene Rubin was on hand at Newport this year with a new […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Sunny Components presents Peachtree Audio and Dynaudio
You gotta love Peachtree Audio. These guys are relentless with this crazy, affordable, high-performing, audiophile-grade gear. I mean, the nerve! Here at Newport, Peachtree’s David Solomon was pitching two systems — which is down from […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Optimal Enchantment presents Vandersteen, Audio Research, Basis Audio, Audio Quest
New toys. I love new toys. And the Optimal Enchantment (of Santa Monica, CA) room here at Newport had a couple on display. The front of the room was dominated by a pair of majestically […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: FritzSpeakers, Electra-Fidelity, Zesto Audio, WyWires
I love monitor speakers, and it isn’t just because they’re easy to lug, toss, and move around your listening room. Though that is part of it. Just not all of it. There is something special, […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Antelope Audio
The best thing about an audio show? That’s a hard one! Sure, there’s all the gear — and that’s huge. At a show, you get to touch all that gear you’ve fantasized about, perhaps fondle […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Acoustic Zen and Triode Corporation
Big tubes. Bigger speakers. Sexy finishes. Sultry sound. Thundering bass. This look, this gear, this sound — this is why we’re audiophiles. This is the gear we take home to our long-suffering families and loved […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: eFicion, Plinius, Z∞Infinity
I walked into Peigen Jiang’s room at Newport and nearly laughed out loud. No, no — it’s not like that, I’m not being mean — it’s just that I have this system at home! Or […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Marten, EAR and Townshend
Is it just me, or does Marten make some fantastic sounding speakers? Look, I’m sure there’s some secret sauce/magic mojo going on there, but I’m just as sure that the Accuton drivers are more than […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: TAD, Zesto, WyWires
I’m almost embarrassed to admit how much I love these $42k (up from $37k) TAD CR-1 loudspeakers. They’re just outstanding. They’re dangerous, however. I’ve heard the CR-1s now about half-a-dozen times, and the demo hasn’t […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: MA Recordings and Davone
Can I let you in on secret? The last two audio shows that I’ve been to were all aflutter over a speaker. And rightfully so. For $2,300, the Davone Mojo is … little … (not) […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Soundsmith and VPI
I’m not sure what it is. Every time I walk into a Soundsmith room, I have the eerie feeling that I’ve been there before. It’s … familiar. Comfortable. A lot like pulling on a favorite […]
Newport Beach 2012
Newport 2012: Audioquest, Audio Research and Vandersteen
Even if you’re a jaded, old, New York audiophile who’s seen and heard and argued about everything, you have to admit, Audioquest’s new Dragonfly USB DAC is pretty nifty. I know this not because I’m […]