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Capitol Audio Fest and the New York Audio a trend is emmerging


Just returned from the Capital Audio Fest Last week and the New York Audio Show this week.

Very few systems at either shows sounded great there were a few memorable setups.

I saw two distinct trends one was to setup up a system with really expensive everything no matter if that was a realistic pairing and the other was to setup affordable based systems that were well matched in price.

For example: at the Capitol Audio Fest, a pair of new Focal Kanta bookshelves at $6k a pair was put together with a Naim Uniti Nova, a $7.5k integrated amp/dac/streamer with inexpensive Wireworld cabling, about a $15k system that sounded fantastic.

At the New York Audio Show, Golden Ear’s Sandy Gross, was playing the Triton Reference a $8,5k set of speakers with a $3k Peachtree integrated amplifier, this system was a little soft to my ears but was still very musical. We have been kind of fans of the Golden Ear for years especially for Home Theater so were intrigued to hear them sound quite decent vs a few other demos where they sounded either way to peaky or just plain bloated and dull.

Compare these two excellent pairings vs at the New York Audio Show a set of the new Magico A3 at $10k with a $14k AVM amp but with Nordost Valahalla 2 speaker cable at $11k and a Nordost Vallhalla interconnects $8k and power cables $5k which then pushed the somewhat affordable pairing of the A3 and AVM amplifier at $24k to a system close to $60k! 

Magico A3                           $10k
AVM int                                $14k
Nordost Vall speaker Cable $11k
Nordost Vall interconnect    $  8K
Nordost Val power cable     $  5k
Nordost Power cond            ?
Source components             ?
  
                            total           ?

 I just don’t understand the logic of that pairing when the Magico A3 is being heralded as the most exciting $10k speaker a somewhat reachable price for many aspiring audiophiles and then paring the speakers with $40-50k plus worth of electronics and cabling.

As both an audiophile and a retailer we have always tried to recommend intelligent pairings your thoughts?

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ
128x128audiotroy
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
1,457 posts
 
@audiotroy I’m sorry, you got that wrong. Were you actually at CAF? I was referring to Command Performance sets ups and Deja Vu set up, two highly recommendable stores by the way.  Tenacious also probably falls into that category.
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy OP
1,621 posts
 
Two yes I was at Cap and I directly mentioned the Naim Focal setup was from a dealer same in NY Magico system was a dealers setup.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ
james_edward
59 posts
 
I went to the 2018 NY show, and am a veteran of many RMAF shows. I find that in almost every instance, the simpler the system, the better it sounds. I’m not talking price, just simplicity. A show setting has way too many variables to try and make a 10 piece ensemble of electronics and speakers mesh. 
I did not care for the sound of the Golden Ear Triton room; it was a simple setup as I like, but either the Peachtree was not up to the task, or something else was amiss. I expected better, not more, bass, from a system with a tuneable low end. Not bad sound, but the rave reviews seem a little much.
After visiting the Robyatt room, I ask: Can the Quad speaker be duplicated? They really lean toward my ideal of smooth tonality and no in your face stridency.
Anyone with more than a passing interest in this hobby should really get to a show or two. You’d be surprised at how many of the critic’s darlings, be they speakers, amps, etc., don’t really seem as special as the flowery prose would suggest.
Having said that, nowhere else but at a show or local audiophile club, will you find so many like-minded people that share your passion. It’s fun.
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david_ten
2,509 posts
 
@audiotroy  Good Post. Generally, I agree with your position. However, this is a hobby driven by personal preference to meet very personal goals. I believe limiting "intelligent pairings" mostly to relative price parity can be, well limiting. Since your post is mostly about 'price' I'll respond to that aspect.

As both an audiophile and a retailer we have always tried to recommend intelligent pairings your thoughts?

I will use myself as an example. As you personally know, I have the T+A PA 3100 HV driving the Tekton SEs. Most would consider the spend on the T+A vs the Tekton SE to be a mismatch. It's the very opposite for me. When I add the cost of cabling I've settled on, into the mix, the percent outlay towards speakers shrinks even more. 

Many may come to the conclusion that I should spend more on speakers and less on amplification and cabling. I've turned the 'typical' recommendation upside down. For this, I am musically richer and satisfied. That's me. Others will choose differently.

Currently one of the preamps I'm considering for a new system is inexpensive, a 'dog' in the looks department (btw, I love Canis lupus familiaris), and is a generally limited product. If I go forward with it, most would consider it a mismatch on price with respect to the speakers I'm considering and the amp I have chosen.

In the end, I'm looking for optimal synergies that give me the results I am looking for. General rules are good for guidance but they should guide, not decide.
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