Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) 2017 Day 1

[amirm]

Next up was headphones from German company SPL. Boy did these things look nice and sounded really good with Focal headphones:

Smaller one (not shown) with DAC was about $1,700. Larger one above I think was $2,500. I asked one to review. Not sure they will follow up but would love to have one of these on my desk just to look at it.

 

[amirm]

I knew of ModWrite as the guy who modified Oppo players. Seems like now he has branched out to making his own stand-alone equipment like these tube pre-amps:

Sad to say in the bit of time I had with their library of music, I did not find the fidelity to my liking. Very warm and friendly reception though.

 

[amirm]

Forget what the issue was here but I walked in, took pictures and walked out. If there is interest, I can go back:

 

[amirm]

Tekton Design, Parasound amplifiers.

 

[amirm]

Tekton Design: They're Like Ghosts by Somi. https://shz.am/t342434382

Pretty pleasant.

 

[amirm]

Martin Logan ESL 15A speakers and D'Agostino amplifiers.

They had powered their large amplifier with the Stromtank battery source. Despite its massive size, the output rating is roughly half of what you can get out of an outlet. I am not 100% sure but on peaks the sound would get uncharacteristically distorted. This was by far the worst sound I have heard of Martin Logan at shows. I was at another suite that had Martin Logans where it sounded nice. When I told them my experience of hearing distortion, the person said some else complained about the same thing. Who knows what really went on but they failed to impress me!!!

 

[amirm]

Martin Logan: The Darkness by Leonard Cohen. https://shz.am/t267849389

Very tubby and distorted.

 

[amirm]

Technics. Boy these guys have gone too far to their roots, thinking high-end is about making a stereo store display and playing mid-fi music:

Walked in and out.

 

[amirm]

J-Corder suite is always a gorgeous display of modified Technics Reel to Reel displays. Sadly, the fidelity of music played never is to my ears:

 

[amirm]

J-corder: Tender Lies by Doky Brothers. https://shz.am/t40031135

Are these guys really called "Dorky" brothers?

Bright and very lispy.

 

[amirm]

Fort Collins Audio, Spendor A4 speakers, Quicksilver Audio, Rega P6 turntable, Chord Hugo 2 DAC, cardas audio cable, QuickSilver Audio tube amp:

 

[amirm]

Chord. Spendor: When Love Comes To Town by Herbie Hancock Feat. Jonny Lang & Joss Stone. https://shz.am/t41346069

Sounded OK.

 

[amirm]

Chord, Spendor: No Sanctuary Here by Chris Jones. https://shz.am/t40165092

Demo track of years back:

Sounded OK. Speakers sounded low due to their low height.

 

[amirm]

 

[amirm]

Benchmark Media (DAC, amp, etc.). Martin Logan speakers:

 

[amirm]

Benchmark Media:
Mozart: D Major (Kv 218) Allegro by Marianne Thorsen / Trondheimsolistene. https://shz.am/t56158130

As always classical music look ups may not be accurate:

Nice and dynamic.

 

[amirm]

NOKTURNE Audio, etc. I had heard this same system at previous shows so did not spend time there:

 

[amirm]

Nagra audio has some of the cutest and nicest industrial designs. And to my happiness they had one of their gorgeous Reel to Reel deck on this display at this show!

 

[amirm]

Nagra:
Sodade, Meu Bem, Sodade by Bonga. https://shz.am/t331080928

Warm and detailed soundstage.

 

[amirm]

Nagra. On Reel to Reel tape: The Story Of Sonny Boy Williamson by Sonny Boy Williamson. https://shz.am/t10947816

Excellent. Detailed high frequencies.