I found two rooms at AXPONA 2019 to be my personal standouts this year. The first demo'd Rockport Cygnus speakers driven by all CH Precision electronics and an Auralic Aries streamer; "Life" by Ludovico Einaudi was played. This recording was my primary evaluation track, and I heard it on several high end systems. None, even my former favorite (the Sonus Faber Aida II driven by Audio Research electronics), came close in terms of offering a realistic experience. Only this system got both the piano and the strings right! I have a fairly decent system at home, but it paled in comparison to that Rockport/CH Precision system. The second was the Wilson Alexx/D'Agostino electronics/dCS streamer and DAC setup; "You Want It Darker" by Leonard Cohen was played. This was the other track I played in a number of rooms. When the song finished everyone in the went "Wow!" Mr. Cohen was resurrected! Every aspect of his gravelly voice was recreated, emanating from a rock-solid and stable image. Again, my home system disappointed in comparison.
I think it is important to note that, regardless of how good the audio system might be, without outstanding source material, all that technology will be wasted. Both of these tracks are marvelous recordings; these two systems brought them to life.
I think it is important to note that, regardless of how good the audio system might be, without outstanding source material, all that technology will be wasted. Both of these tracks are marvelous recordings; these two systems brought them to life.