2024 Capital Audio Fest | Tom Martin Reports

Chesky Audio LC1

These small (about 1 cubic foot) stand-mount speakers come from the mind of Lukka Chesky, son of composer and recording engineer David Chesky. At $998 per pair, with good imaging and a rich tonal balance, the LC1s are definitely on our “must review” list.

Advance Paris

Advance Paris showed the MyConnect 250. This streaming integrated amp incorporates a CD drive. With the typical full-featured input and output array of Advance Paris integrated amps, the MyConnect looks like it really can be the complete center of a clean and attractive three-box audio system when paired with speakers. Or a 4 box system if you add a turntable or a TV, both of which are accommodated with the correct inputs. Price is $4299.

Magnepan MCR

Magnepan showed a new speaker that squeezes the wider bass/midrange panel and ribbon tweeter of the 1.7i into an LRS sized package. The MCR is intended for stereo in smaller rooms and also for Atmos multichannel systems. Magnepan showed the MCR as the left, right and height channels in an Atmos demo, and Atmos limitations aside, the sound had a noticeably smoother and more polished aspect than many theater-style demos. The price is estimated to be in the mid-$7000 range per pair.

PMC active Twenty5i speakers

For $6999, including electronic crossover and built-in amplifiers, the 22i version of these stand mount speakers sounded open and punchy. A nifty feature is that consumers can buy the passive version and then upgrade at a later date to the active version to gain the benefits of an electronic crossover and the compactness of built-in amplifiers. The premium for this is relatively modest.

With a streaming DAC with volume control, these could make for a high-performance 3 box setup.

Via Blue

German cable manufacturers Via Blue showed their nicely flexible cabling. Along these same “usability matters” lines, we inspected the ViaBlue cable lifters. The Rocket XL can hold and separate two cables with retention bands. The whole idea is to limit what ViaBlue calls “Kabelsalat” which is pretty straightforwardly translated to “cable salad” or we might say “rat’s nest”. Not only is KabelSalat ugly, proper dressing should reduce EMI. For $1310 for a set of 8 lifters, this seems like reasonable insurance for your expensive cable loom.

Unison Research 6S Black Edition with Opera Quinta speakers

These new products, from Italy, sounded rich and dynamic fed by an Aurender streamer. The Unison Research integrated amp is a fully tube design with 40 watts per channel and is priced at $6999. The Opera Quinta floorstanding speakers will be available later this year at a price in the $7000s per pair range.

Voxative Alberich Array System

These new speakers are a modular design. You can start with a pair of Hagen2 stand-mount sized speakers for $5900. You can then add more Hagen2 modules and/or add the Alberich2 active woofer module with 500 watts of integrated power. The Hagen 2 is a single-driver concept and the Alberich2 is an unusual Ripol dipole woofer design. The 100 db sensitivity speakers were demonstrated with the Voxativ T-211 integrated amp rated at 12 watts per channel. The sound was controlled and dynamic. The full array is priced at $30,900, but of course you can build smaller versions to keep the price down. Also note that the Ripol woofers are available separately, potentially for pairing with other speaker brands.

Acora Acoustics

Acora showed a new line of five speakers priced between $8k and $16k per pair. The sound of the entry MRB model, driven by VAC tube electronics, was dynamic, balanced and capable of high output. We heard the largest MRC-3 model with its high sensitivity of 92 db and it worked well with moderate tube power from VAC. Cabinets in this line are marble rather than Acora’s customary granite, but the base finish and optional versions seemed quite attractive.

Esoteric Class A integrated amplifier and 64-bit Streaming DAC

The Esoteric F-01 is a pure class A integrated amplifier that sells for $18,000. Pure class A is has technical advantages from the perspective of low distortion, but it is inefficient, which typically raises costs and lowers power. The F-01 is a 30 watt per channel amp, which is a good number for speakers over 90 db sensitivity.  When fed by the new Esoteric N-01XD SE network DAC ($22,000) the sound was crystalline and dynamic.

Audio Realignment Technologies

These EMF and RFI treatments were shown by Scott Walker Audio. The ART plates were developed by a former DoD contractor. We were treated to an A/B test of sorts, and the results were disturbing. The plates made a difference akin to comparing more and less compressed recordings. These are not inexpensive, so you would want to consider them only in highly-developed systems, but Scott Walker can demo them in your system easily (the plates are simply placed around your gear). Also note, this should be a once in a lifetime investment thanks to the simple setup.

Accuphase E-800 Class A integrated amplifier

The E-800 is a substantial and beautifully finished full class A, 50 watt per channel integrated amp. Priced at $19,975, the sound fed by an MSB DAC and playing through Stenheim Alumine Two.Five speakers was gentle, detailed, dynamic or powerful as fit with the music we tried.

AGD Productions

AGD showed a new streaming DAC digital preamp, the Andante MkII. Priced at $12,999, it has a new D/A converter design. As usual, the AGD room was sounding relaxed and clear, leveraging its GaN FET amplifier technology from the Audion mono amps that we have enjoyed. These were playing through single-driver speakers with open-baffle woofers.

Sound Lab

Sound Lab showed the G9-7C full range electrostatic speaker. This is a big speaker, which helps deliver low frequencies by reducing the dipole cancellation frequency. The height, which can be matched to various ceiling dimensions also gives acoustic benefits. Price is $65,900 per pair.

YG Acoustics with Bel Canto

YG showed the Sonja 3.3 speakers with the new Bel Canto Black DAC control system and MA 1200 monoblock power amps with 375 watts/channel. As you can see the speakers are quite large for the typical hotel room, and yet the sound was smooth and detailed. This is another example of needing to leave your expectations at the door.

Janszen

Janszen showed a new version of the Valentina hybrid electrostatic speaker. Designer David Janszen has added 3 full range drivers to the sides and rear of the speaker to open up the sound space. The key is that he has engineered a time-delay for these drivers so that the benefits of the directive electrostatic panel are maintained for imaging. We were skeptical, but the clarity and definition and soundstaging of a directive speaker, combined with a big sense of the recorded space, was very well done.

Dang!

Yes, these systems have very high prices. But the SQ also seemed very high.

Von Schweikert VR-30 with active bass

The VR-30 is a new design with passive midrange and high frequencies and three powered woofers. The powered section is adjustable to suit the user’s room and is connected to the high-level signal from the upper range amplifier. Shown in a beautiful Porsche Chalk Grey finish, these are priced at $59,000. Driven by Westminster Labs class A power and a Westminster preamp fed by a Lampizator Horizon 360 DAC, the VR-30 system was in the top tier of demos for sound quality with especially good imaging and bandwidth.

Audio Group Denmark

Borresen showed the new flagship of the T series loudspeakers, the T5. These contain an amazing bevy of technologies from the fertile mind of Michael Borresen, including ultra-thin planar materials, exotic metals and low-hysteresis motors. Priced at $225,000, and powered by the compact but mighty 300 watt per channel Aavik U-588 streaming DAC amplifier (also new and priced at $35,000), the sound was especially superb in terms of transient power and control. The sound was also quite well balanced.

Acora/VAC/SAT

Acora again demonstrated the big granite VRC speakers (priced at $218,000) with VAC Statement 450 iQ power amps and front end, fed by the new SAT turntable/arm with a Lyra Atlas Lambda cartridge on board. Note that the SAT arm was used on two of the top-flight systems in this section. Also, this is the best we’ve heard from the VRCs, with a spacious presentation, loads of detail and a lovely tonality. The dynamics on a Blood, Sweat and Tears LP from 1969 were in the “wow” category.

MBL/United Home Audio

MBL demonstrated the relatively new C41 network player, a streaming DAC with high resolution volume control. Priced at $11,000, the C41 was connected to the renowned 101e speakers powered by the giant 9011 monoblocks, making for a roughly $240,000 system. The sound was remarkable in its ability to create an image completely detached from the speakers. Jason said he tried as hard as he could to “see” the sound source and he just couldn’t do it. The clarity and dynamics were also impressive. MBL then demoed this system with copies of master tapes through a United Home Audio super deck. Holy schlemoly! A phenomenal reminder of how much farther recordings can go.

Tidal Audio

The Voice That Is had a world premiere of the Tidal for Bugatti MP1preamp and the North American premiere of the Tidal for Bugatti MC1 digital controller. These were connected via Tidal Ferios Monoblock amps and Turnbull cables to the Tidal Akira loudspeakers. The front end  saw Equitech Balanced Power and with a signal from a Dohman Helix One turntable, SAT CF1 arm and Air Tight PC-1 Supreme cartridge. The sound was a rare combination of audiophile impressive, with balance, dynamics and resolution, together with a musically “right” sensibility that is often missing in show demos. We’re critics and here criticism was hard.

I should mention that the MP1 preamplifier demonstrated a technology that I hope we see more of: the preamp offers passive switching of a DAC with a volume control (like the Tidal MC1 or the MBL C41 or many other DACs). This allows a lossless DAC volume control implementation to be uncolored by preamp circuitry, while also allowing the optimization of phono circuits from cartridge to amplifier. Volume control is handled by the respective boxes. Nice, and maybe the future.

Oldies But Goodies

We’re fond of saying that progress in audio doesn’t always proceed in some predictable, linear fashion as it does with Moore’s Law-powered industries like computing. So, we heard a few demos of products that aren’t new but still reminded us of why we were impressed in the first place.

Theoretica BACCH SP processor

Even in the “generic listener” mode, this spatial distortion reduction and acoustic correction system deals with problems inherent in the stereo architecture and real rooms. On the spatial front, there is very little else like it. Low frequencies from the Janszen hybrid electrostatic speakers were also surprisingly deep but not bloated.

On a similar front, in a different way, there are the…

Linkwitz LX 521.4 speakers

The LX 521.4 speakers are full-range dipoles and they utilize technology developed by the late, great Siegfried Linkwitz to enhance soundstaging beyond the norm. The LX521.4 gets the image off the speakers in a rare and desirable way.

Best of Show

Doug White, of The Voice That Is, arranged a live concert in the Wilson Theater on Friday evening of the show. Joe Block’s Open Heart Trio, with Joe Block on piano, Mikey Migliore on bass and Aaron Seeberg on drums played a series of variations on work by Miles Davis. They were musically inventive and the sound was impressive: natural and dynamic. Dynamic is really an understatement here. And this was reminder that we have some distance to go to generate the full feeling of the live performance. This was clearly the best sound of the show.