Worth Going to 'THE SHOW' IN NYC IN APRIL

Exhibitor list has some major quality. I'm in.

The last Stereophile show in NYC was worth it, but many exhibitors said they would not be back because of extraordinary costs mainly of labor union requirements for the load in. Hope it's not true. We need a significant audio show in NYC.

Small but good. Wish more NYC dealers would have supported the show but times are tough. Thanks to Innovative, Sound By Singer, Wes Bender Studios and High Water Sound
Best of show cost no object---MBL (always too loud with over loaded bottom, but still, after subtracting room issues--A+). Runner up Scanea/Conrad Johnson/Kronos/SME/AMR/DCS. Second runner up YG Acoustics/Soulution/Brinkmann/Airtight (smaller YG acoustic speaker setup in a separate room also impressed).
All others:
Tie: Gradient room;Verity Audio with VAC and Playback Designs(Singer); Walker/Burmester; Wilson,VTL,DCS(Innovative);Hansen,Viola,Redpoint (Wes Bender);TAD,Viola, Weiss, Bricasti (ok day 1, great day 2)
Best bargain:
VAS,VPI, Aurum Cantus
Coolest room with great sound that defied all categorization:
Reconditioned Quads with amps and cartridges(stereo and mono) by Miyajima, Oswald Mills Audio turntable with Schick arms, Charles King/Levinson preamp (appeared rebuilt/modified) all from Robyatt Audio. I went back to this room 4 times. Could not get enough.
Coolest new item:
Audio Desk Systeme Glass record cleaner (available from the Cable Co). This baby is compact and cleans quietly, ultrasonically and with a built in with squeegee to control liquid flow so the label stays dry. It cleans and dries both sides simultaneously. It dries by blowing cool air on both sides of the record instead of vacuuming. Fremer to write up shortly.

The Chester Group sent me an email indicating that they had entered into a long term agreement with the Waldorf for an annual NY audio show. Hope it's true. Thought the show was very good. Hope the dealers did well with it. Could be better next year if more local dealers in the area would participate.

Yes-that too. Regarding the NY show, I believe all of these manufacturers have dealers in the area (NY/NJ/Conn) who can put together a display including any of the above manufacturers' wares if the manufacturers share enough of the cost. I don't know enough about the percentages traditionally paid by dealers and manufacturers to display at a show, but as for NY (versus, say Rocky Mountain), the dealers for most major manufacturers (and many smaller manufacturers) are a short truck drive away, have the goods and know what to pair it up with and how. I believe the effort should be made by both the dealers and manufacturers to bring it all to one location---the Waldorf. Of course, after parties like the one at Innovative Audio are also a great idea.