CAF 2017 – HD MEDIA PARK

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Capital Audiofest 2017: Fern & Roby

By Eric Franklin Shook| 2018-03-04T10:00:40+00:00 March 4th, 2018|Categories: Part-Time Audiofile|Tags: CAF 2017, fern and roby, linear tube audio|

Fern & Roby doesn’t really fit in with the current audiophile culture. I also don’t think they want to. That’s not to say they aren’t focused on creating the best sound they can. Given the chance to meet and listen to Christopher Hildebrand you will hear his soft spoken effusing of long hours in the shop refining and experimenting with materials and implementations of speaker components. On display is a full gambit of turntables and electronics crafted from high quality but rustic looking materials.

… Read the full article

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CAF 2017: VPI, Luminous Audio, Pure Audio Project; and The Future of Audiophilia

By Eric Franklin Shook| 2018-02-14T10:00:58+00:00 February 14th, 2018|Categories: Part-Time Audiofile|Tags: CAF 2017, cliffwood turntable, luminous audio, open baffle, Passive, pure audio project, vpi|

I’m not too worried about how late this show report is because Capital Audiofest feels just like yesterday’s breakfast. Along with the feeling that collective demonstrations from VPI Industries, Luminous Audio, and Pure Audio Project are in my mind giving us a brief look into the future. So despite this article seeming a bit of procrasturbation material, I remain firm with the feeling of being an early messenger to what aims these brands will achieve within new markets.… Read the full article

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CAF 2017: CanMania Photo Tour

By Eric Franklin Shook| 2018-01-23T10:31:28+00:00 January 23rd, 2018|Categories: Part-Time Audiofile|Tags: ampsandsound, Audio Technica, Beyerdynamic, CAF 2017, caprice audio, Clear Tune Monitors, dana cable, ess labs, gramophone, headamp, hifiman, ifi audio, Koss, linear tube audio, Modwright Instruments, Mr. Speakers, Mytek Digital, Periodic Audio, rogue audio, Schiit Audio, Wells Audio|

The east coast’s favorite audio show Capital Audiofest was host to 2017’s CanMania. This headphone show is in coordination with Headphone.Guru.

CanMania brings together manufacturers, vendors, headphone and personal audio enthusiasts along with the audio industry press. Sprawling large and wide across the Plaza ballroom exhibitors have plenty of room and separation for show-goers to avoid the cluttering and lack of elbow room often a pain of many headphone shows. There were also “Quiet” rooms available for exhibitors wishing to offer a special VIP private listening experience.… Read the full article

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CAF 2017: Burwell & Sons, Rogers High Fidelity pull the hat trick

By Eric Franklin Shook| 2017-12-19T17:34:52+00:00 December 19th, 2017|Categories: Part-Time Audiofile|Tags: box furniture, burwell and sons, CAF 2017, oppo, ortofon, rogers high fidelity, transparent, VPI Industries|

Three times this year I’ve been compelled to linger in hotel room exhibits orchestrated by Burwell & Sons and Rogers High Fidelity. The first time being Axpona where I was drawn in by the classic look of the Burwell horns, but ended up staying way too long for what seemed like an endless supply of great sound no matter the source material. The second time being RMAF where I was drawn to their 65V-1 Class A 25 watt tube integrated that retails for a supremely affordable $4,000 USD.… Read the full article

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CAF 2017: Classic Audio Loudspeakers dances with coils

By Eric Franklin Shook| 2017-12-18T11:25:13+00:00 December 18th, 2017|Categories: Part-Time Audiofile|Tags: atma sphere, CAF 2017, Classic Audio Loudspeakers, Kuzma, purist audio design, RCA nipper, studer, studer a810, tri-planar, van den hul|

I ran to this room when I was told Classic Audio Loudspeakers would be demoing with the Atma-Sphere Novacron monoblock amplifiers. Originally introduced in 1991, the Novacron was the first US product to use the classic 6C33C Russian power triode. Twenty years later, Atma-Sphere is making the Novacron, now updated to Mk 3.3. A true brute in Class A tube terms, at only 60 watts. This was my first chance to hear them in the new form.

The fine gentleman at Classic Audio Loudspeakers often demo with at least two pairs of behemoth sized field coil speakers.

… Read the full article

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Capital Audiofest 2017: Border Patrol, Volti Audio, Triode Wire Labs

By John Richardson| 2017-12-17T11:00:11+00:00 December 17th, 2017|Categories: Part-Time Audiofile|Tags: Analog, Audiophile, border patrol, CAF 2017, capital audiofest 2017, DAC, Digital, Volti Audio|

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I’ve always looked forward to the involving sound in the Border Patrol room, so I made a note stop by early on Saturday morning for a good listen, well before the crowds took over. This year, head Border Patrol agent Gary Dews had the usual suspects lined up and working hard. These included the usual P21EXD stereo amplifier ($11,900 USD as shown) and the affordable but hard-hitting Analogue DAC ($995-$1,850 USD depending on configuration). I’m used to Gary showing with the English Living Voice speakers, which I have found to sound superb with his gear.… Read the full article

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Capital Audiofest 2017: Tone Imports and Old Forge Studio keep us grounded

By Eric Franklin Shook| 2017-12-16T11:00:16+00:00 December 16th, 2017|Categories: Part-Time Audiofile|Tags: acoustic plan, auditorium 23, box furniture, CAF 2017, emt, Falcon Acoustics, jc verdier, Leben audio, shindo|

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A very unique room as Shindo and Auditorium 23 are not often seen at audio shows, so this weekend feels like a welcomed blessing. Also making a very rare appearance is J.C. Verdier which in some regards hasn’t been at a show in over 10 years. Their La Platine Nouvelle turntable was a remarkable piece of hifi gear to behold. Uncommon was its thread drive motor system and pressurized oil suspension for its 14kg platter.

First on deck was Jennifer Warnes title track “The Well” from The Well which features Doyle Bramhall Jr., who in my mind is one of the underrated musical geniuses of our the modern era.… Read the full article

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Capital Audiofest 2017: Robyatt Audio with Electrostatic Solutions

By John Richardson| 2017-12-16T09:00:31+00:00 December 16th, 2017|Categories: Part-Time Audiofile|Tags: Amplifier, Analog, Audiophile, CAF 2017, capital audio fest, dnm design, miyajima labs, oswlad mills, quad esl 57, roybatt, schroder, Speakers, Turntable|

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Hopping from room to room at this year’s Capital Audio Fest, it seemed that vintage audio redux remains quite the rage. Nowhere was this trend more apparent than in the Robyatt Audio/Electrostatic Solutions room, which in recent years has always drawn a large and interested crowd.

Again this year, Robyatt’s Robin Wyatt paired up with Kent McCollum of Electrostatic Solutions, otherwise known to me as “The Quad Guy.” Together, these gentlemen know how to make some beautiful music come to life.… Read the full article

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Capital Audiofest 2017: Joseph Audio with Bel Canto and Doshi

By John Richardson| 2017-12-14T11:00:16+00:00 December 14th, 2017|Categories: Part-Time Audiofile|Tags: Analog, Audiophile, Bel Canto, CAF, CAF 2017, capital audio fest 2017, Doshi Audio, joseph audio, Lifestyle, reel to reel, Speakers, studer|

Joseph-Audio-4

At the door to welcome me into the Joseph Audio room was Jeff Joseph himself, a top-tier designer of high-quality speakers and long-time audio show veteran. Mr. Joseph has been around the block a few times, and as such tends to get great sound at shows. This year was no exception, with Joseph showcasing his exquisite looking Perspective floor-standing speakers, retailing at $13,000 USD per pair. Supplying the tunes was an old-school Studer reel-to-reel deck feeding a Doshi Audio preamplifier/tape preamp which in turn was driving a pair of Bel Canto Ref 500m monoblock amps.… Read the full article

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Capital Audiofest 2017: The Voice That Is! makes new waves

By Eric Franklin Shook| 2017-12-14T11:00:00+00:00 December 14th, 2017|Categories: Part-Time Audiofile|Tags: Antipodes Audio, CAF 2017, dynamic design, the voice that is, tidal audio, transfiguration, tw acustic|

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I’d like to emphasize that the TIDAL Camira DMC, the TIDAL Ferios amplifiers, and the TIDAL Cables, were all introduced earlier in May of this year. Many times these new products are overlooked by showgoers because we naturally tend to focus our attention on the beautiful TIDAL speakers. As it is in this case the Agoria speakers are nothing new. Doing my best not overlook these TIDAL electronics as they are so essential to the speakers performance, as without them could the speakers do more than stand up front and look pretty?… Read the full article

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Capital Audiofest 2017: Fern & Roby

CAF 2017: VPI, Luminous Audio, Pure Audio Project; and The Future of Audiophilia

CAF 2017: CanMania Photo Tour

CAF 2017: Burwell & Sons, Rogers High Fidelity pull the hat trick

CAF 2017: Classic Audio Loudspeakers dances with coils

Capital Audiofest 2017: Border Patrol, Volti Audio, Triode Wire Labs

Capital Audiofest 2017: Tone Imports and Old Forge Studio keep us grounded

Capital Audiofest 2017: Robyatt Audio with Electrostatic Solutions

Capital Audiofest 2017: Joseph Audio with Bel Canto and Doshi

Capital Audiofest 2017: The Voice That Is! makes new waves

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