Gnrbob,
Sam’s speakers were very interesting and threw a large image, the speaker is ridiculously overpriced for what you are getting and there are a zillion other $30k speakers we would take over them but this was the best sound from these speakers we have heard to date.
The big Harbeth 30.2 sounded really good in this much smaller room then the gigantic room they had showcased them in before.
The $80k Martin Logan Neolith/Mark Levinson rig was expensive and mediocre.
The T+A room sounded very good, the sound from these small Criterion floorstanders was excellent especially for the compact size of the speakers.
The Haniwa system sounded way better than heard at CAP, but still an oddity.
The little Voxativ system at $10k for the entire system was very cool, obviously not a lot of real deep bass but lovely.
Agreed with you on the Value room the Technics system sounded really good.
This show was super small, but fun for one day, hopefully someone will take over the show from the Chester group who doesn’t bother to advertise or promote hence the small amount of companies participating.
idigmusic64 spot on the the Onkk
In wrapping it up there was a clock maker from the UK, named Paul who was promoting his built from scratch turntable and phono amp. The company is called Onkk and his story is truly amazing, he has been working for over three years to bring this incredible, and unusual looking piece of engineering and clocking making technology to fruition. I have a feeling you will be reading about his story soon in one of the mags or online.
Sat down with Paul the clockmaker and owner of Onkk, and got to talk with him extensively, first of all the sound in this room was mesmierizing.
A huge three dimensional soundstage, a great sense of timing, (you could hear the concept of PRAT, Pace, Rythem and Timing) on total display in this room, the noise floor was totally non existant.
Paul spent 5 years developing the table, the motor is a custom built slot less design, the slotless motor has far less pulsing effects than normal brushless non slot less motors, his speed control use military grade satellite tracking technology, the plinth is a custom cast high density aluminium which is filled with a high density epoxy damping resin, and the 80lb mass is suspended on springs to isolate the mass.
The table comes with an outboard power supply, and the torque is variable which affects the musical message and can improve the sound by allowing the owner to customize the sound of the presentation by verying the motor pulses.
The speed and torque setting can be saved into memory. 21rst century engineering, improving old style vinly and the table is stunning.
We are considering to purchase, the show sample the Onkk was that good even at a $20-25k price point this table looks to eat the really expensive Tech Das for breakfast, according to Paul the table has been compared to a host of really expensive tables in the UK which cost way more and the Onkk is just in another league.
Paul will also be bringing to market a simplified version of the table for $8k, you are so right on this table, Paul is a genuine artist, his story is fascinating and his honesty and sincerity is off the charts, this man is so passionate about his creation, ( he started playing with desiging tables since he was 11) the only down side is to hear one is to own own one.
The phonostage was the excellent Christine from Merrill Audio who also supplied the amps, the Martin Logan’s also sounded superb.
Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ