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Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) 2017 Day 1

amirm

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Hello you all. So the day 1 at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) came to a close. It was a calm and "orderly" day with little to gripe about :). Being part of the press, I did not have to wait in this line where last year they could not find my badge. :)

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The line had died a few hours later.

The rooms had light to medium attendees. But when I asked a few companies what traffic they were seeing, they all said it was quite high and they were very satisfied with it seeing how it is not the weekend.

The weather outside is perfect with leaves starting to turn and super comfortable temps. But what the heck is going on here???
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Monday is the day I fly out! How do we go from 70s to 30s with snow and then back to near 70s???? It does not compute!

Had great number of conversations with industry folks. Unfortunately i can't share much of it with you all. :D

Overall, nice, relaxing and informative day. I hit about 4 or so floors out of 11.
 
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amirm

amirm

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First suite I hit today was my friend and professional colleague, Philip and his new Gryphon speakers:

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These have much warmer sound than the Vivid speakers he has shown in the past.

Their industrial design reminds me of Steinway speakers with piano wires as speaker grill.
 
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amirm

amirm

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The Clog Dance (From "La Fille Mal Gardee") by Lanchbery & ROHO.

No preview that I can find.

This was a remastered tape that was captured into dsd format and it was being played at 16/44.1 rate. It sounded excellent.
 
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amirm

amirm

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Soulution, Piega:

Use Me by Vanessa Fernandez. https://shz.am/t313295900


Vanessa Fernandez is the new Patricia Barber of yesterday....

LP. Bass notes seem to get distorted. There was also clicking. Maybe it was the content but something was getting distorted in there.
 
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amirm

amirm

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KEF, Schiit, PS Audio

The local audiophile society behind RMAF creates these rooms from low to high prices. They seem to have too much emphasis on LP in my opinion. I don't think "young people" are coming to this show as to be influenced to adopt these systems.

Example was here where this $1,500 room was completely analog. They had a few classical LPs which all sounded dull and awful to me despite the good speakers in the room. Not sure what percentage of young people wants to hear classical records. This is "old people's idea of what young people want."
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This headphone system was put in there for effect as it retails for some $13,000! Quite cool looking and conversation piece for some rick person I am sure. :)

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amirm

amirm

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$5,000 system. This room was exceptionally well done and not at all dull and boring like the rest of the rooms.
Aurum Cantus speakers. VPI turntable.

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This system was playing at high volumes: look at the current being drawn on the Furman display: just one amp!
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amirm

amirm

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$2,500 room: Elac speakers, Peachtree decco, Astell & Kern, VPI turntable

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Come on. These rooms are just so drab. You don't even want to sit there. I know this is a hobby group organizing but they got equipment from companies, they should get some decoration to go with it. Just a hotel table doesn't do it:
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amirm

amirm

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Elac, Peachtree

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey. https://shz.am/t267733


Sounded bright and lousy. This track is one of my favorites from 1970s but just doesn't make for demo material.
 
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amirm

amirm

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$1,000 system, audioengine HD6

It Serves You Right To Suffer by John Lee Hooker. https://shz.am/t336921


This was Tidal streaming over bluetooth to speakers direct. Sounded very nice!

Speakers are $750.
 
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amirm

amirm

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$500 room:
If you were looking for small speakers, with advanced DSP, active powered design with DAC and wireless streaming, all for just $349, your wish has come true! These Vanatoo speakers were incredible.

They had complimented it with a $100 Polk sub (not typo). This is one smart speaker. When you plug in a sub, it detects that and it filters off the lows from the speakers and lets them play louder!

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amirm

amirm

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Vanatoos can be placed normal or upside down. In the upside down config on desk they point up. Right side up on a stand they are horizontal! Pretty clever. And check out all the connectivity and no less than four amplifiers in the package to drive two speakers!
 
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