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Phew. Axpona 2024 Gallery

Posted by jamesgarvin (A) on May 6, 2024 at 21:00:23

Finally completed processing my Axpona 2024 gallery, including brief listening impressions with the equipment and prices. I managed 113 rooms over three days, including a couple of after hours sessions. Overall, I thought the sound reproduction was good, with one or two exceptions.

Some brief comments:
- I generally stayed away from the megabuck systems on the first and second floors, as the setups were pretty much the same as 2022. I therefore focused on the third floor and higher rooms. Which leads to the...
- Elevators. This was the first year I noticed that the elevators seemed...slow. And full. And when on an upper floor, every arriving elevator always seemed to go in the opposite direction I wanted to go.

- Wifi issues left some rooms high and dry for periods of time. Note to self: Bring an inexpensive cd player just for security.

- I'd give a tie for most improved to Perlisten, which I thought was too flat and irritating two years ago, to now sounding very impressive (meaning, like music this time) in the three rooms I heard them, and to Bayz Audio, which left me rather bored two years ago, but this year, not only sweet sounding, but I swear I could have crawled into and through the music this time, directly into the studio. I don't think I've ever heard so much of a studio in a recording. 3d sound. I'd throw PS Audio's bookshelves in there as well. Axpona 2019 and 2022 left me unimpressed. This year, the light bulb went off. One of the few speakers which actually delivered the weight of piano. No, piano should not sound like a metal stick tapping glass. Pianos have body. So do their keys. Piano keys should not sound tinkly. PS Audio's stand mounts got this correct.

- Likewise, the Paradigm Founder speakers two years ago were hard on my ears. This year, much tamer to me. And more listenable.

- Anything Vandersteen still impresses me. The regular Kento in the Sierra Sound room for a shade over $10k is a steal.

- Budget system: AVA/Philharmonic. For about $7k you get a sweet sounding beautiful looking standmount, a power amp, and a preamp. From a real human.

- I think making any TAD and Raidho speakers sound even mediocre is impossible.

- Talent Deserving Wider Recognition - MON speakers. I'm glued every time I hear them. Their bookshelves cost a little coin, but they went to Axpona with a $17k monitor/bass cabinet combination that sounded glorious, and, at least in comparison with much of the upper priced competition, is relatively inexpensive.

- Our scouts are watching Diptyque speakers. Great sound at somewhat real world prices. We just need to see how they respond to some high inside chin music.

- Let's Do the Time Warp Again - I'm seeing more and more 70's styled wide box speakers with large drivers, a trend which JBL seems to have kicked into high gear. Fortunately, these new breed of wide baffled speakers mostly sound very good, and not boxy like their ancestors.

- Pure Fidelity turntables seemed more prolific this year than VPI.

- If you are an attendee, and an exhibitor gives you the remote control, don't assume everyone else in the room wants to listen to Birdland at 100db levels in a small hotel room. Don't be pissed because your are deaf and we're not. When an exhibitor asks you to turn it down, you've crossed the line, 'cause if it is too loud for an exhibitor, it's too loud.

- She is a beautiful woman. As beautiful as she is to look at, she opens her mouth, and I'm left wondering what did I get myself into? The Sonus Faber Aida is $140k of beauty, but I just can't warm up to her. Two years ago it was a woofer cracking from low bass. I can't put my finger on it, but these speakers just don't involve me like the similarly priced Wilson speakers do. And I'm not a detail fanatic. SF's less expensive models are much more involving to me. What am I missing?

- I enjoyed the after-hours shows. The Sierra Sound metal hour (Headbanger's Ball?) was fun on Saturday night. It's where the cool kids hung out. I caught some of Greg Weaver's soiree in the Acora/VAC room following the live music concert (which some audiophiles seem to avoid like a broken tweeter,) and, since I had a can of beer left, stuck around for a little of the UHA tape plays which followed. Fun all the way around.

• https://www.flickr.com/photos/68620057@N05/albums/7217772031   (Open in New Window)

Edits: 05/06/24

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Herbie's Audio Lab

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