AKFest 2010

[RGA]

It was quiet and boring. The dynamics were not apparent at all. Detail was quite evident, but I didn't really care.

Perhaps next time...

It's unfortunate that Dave is suffering from tinnitus - he had to leave the CES room numerous times when Peter started to play the metal. Unfortunately, they need to play Audio Note like a big Horn system like those from Avantegarde or Dual Concentrics like the Tannoys. Not that low volume is not important but at a busy show - put on some Slayer, AC/DC, Nightwish, Evil Nine and crush the room with driving powerful bass. Illustrate what a SET can do - then after that play the 70db Renata Tebaldi, Marias Callas stuff that other rooms love. While classical is great - it is arguably the least popular music being listened to today. So why not play what people "mostly" listen to - and that usually has some sort of drum set.

No excuse - I bet I would have liked several more rooms at CES if they bloody well turned the volume up and put on some music with a pulse. I mean if I have to listen to another room playing some slow ass Diana Krall or the 50 other artists of similar slow ass pace commonly played in most rooms I'll drive a fork into my ear. I mean seriously I don't need to hear someone covering for the umpteenth time one of Ella Fitgerald's tunes - chances are very very likely I end up liking the Ella version a helluva lot better so why would I want to listen to Diana Krall or Nora Jones sing it worse? Makes little sense. Though I like both of those two when they sing new stuff.

I digress.

[poppachubby]

Nice writeup. I agree on the Marantz room - it was excellent. My favorite was the Tyler Acoustics D1's however.

Thanks for the kind words Tim. Welcome to the site! I hope an experienced enthusiast, such as yourself, will stick around and join our small but passionate group. There is a ton of experience here, of all interests.

It's funny you mention the Tylers. They were a pair I wanted to like, but didn't end up enjoying. When we went into one of the member's rooms, he had a smaller pair of Tylers set up with a Rita tube amp and SACD player. I enjoyed those quite a bit. We had a similar experience with Mac/Classic Audio.

I missed a few rooms which is my biggest regret now.

The room with the big azz horns and tubes looked phenomenal, but sonically was unappealing to me. I think interaction helps fuel interest. The Rogue Audio/Harbeth would have been lame if the tech hadn't turned control over to us. It was only then that we were able to see what it could do.

I think some rooms were concerned if they pushed the volume too hard, the speakers might break. Heck, turn the darn thing up, let people hear AND feel it. Show the world you are here and ready to make some noise!! This approach may have changed my view of a few rooms.

[poppachubby]

I like both of those two when they sing new stuff.

I digress.

Ya, I don't mind Diana Krall or Nora Jones. I would have been happy to hear them played. Some rooms were far lamer than that.

I was looking for a casket in the room, wondering if we had wandered away from the show, and into a procession.

[Geoffcin]

I think some rooms were concerned if they pushed the volume too hard, the speakers might break. Heck, turn the darn thing up, let people hear AND feel it. Show the world you are here and ready to make some noise!! This approach may have changed my view of a few rooms.

Actually it's simple respect because that they don't want to step all over each other at the show. If everyone just played as loud as they liked or could then the whole place would be an orgy of noise.

Most speakers open up over 80dB or so. Lord knows my maggies are like night and day when you get them cranking, but at shows it's just not done at shows unless you've rented the big hall just for yourself.

I remember being totally non-plussed by a pair of VonSwiekert VR9-se's in a small room. They were hooked up to massive amps, but playing at like 70dB although I'm sure that we could have pealed the wallpaper off with them. The tech (who happend to be the designer) said we could have "pressurized the whole floor"! However the smaller VR4-sr sounded better in it's slightly larger room playing just slightly louder. Go figure.

[woofersus]

Actually it's simple respect because that they don't want to step all over each other at the show. If everyone just played as loud as they liked or could then the whole place would be an orgy of noise.

Most speakers open up over 80dB or so. Lord knows my maggies are like night and day when you get them cranking, but at shows it's just not done at shows unless you've rented the big hall just for yourself.

I remember being totally non-plussed by a pair of VonSwiekert VR9-se's in a small room. They were hooked up to massive amps, but playing at like 70dB although I'm sure that we could have pealed the wallpaper off with them. The tech (who happend to be the designer) said we could have "pressurized the whole floor"! However the smaller VR4-sr sounded better in it's slightly larger room playing just slightly louder. Go figure.

That's true, but I thought some rooms found a nice medium level that allowed for decent listening and didn't shake the walls. I specifically remember the Von Schweikerts in Denver last year sounding basically pleasing, but being played so quiet I couldn't really evaluate them. One of the quietest rooms at the show actually. I think it's a combination of the preferences of whoever is running the system/room and the perceived strengths of the speakers.

[woofersus]

It's funny you mention the Tylers. They were a pair I wanted to like, but didn't end up enjoying. When we went into one of the member's rooms, he had a smaller pair of Tylers set up with a Rita tube amp and SACD player. I enjoyed those quite a bit. We had a similar experience with Mac/Classic Audio..

I think the Tylers were a bit too big for the room they were in, which made it a little tough to judge some of their characteristics, but I'm familiar with the designer's (Danny Richie) other work and most of his hallmarks were there. I thought that they had the cleanest and fastest bass at the show, and the top end was totally non-fatiguing. Very easy to listen to a little too loud.

I did feel similarly about the Macs. I didn't spend a ton of time in that room since it was crowded and it didn't immediately do anything for me, but I expected something great and found it to be just ok. Nothing bad really, but not exceptional by any means.

[poppachubby]

Actually it's simple respect because that they don't want to step all over each other at the show. If everyone just played as loud as they liked or could then the whole place would be an orgy of noise.

Point taken, but some of these rooms were really quiet Geoff. Also, the rooms were quite isolated in terms of sound leaking into the halls or through the walls. Perhaps we were on the newlywed floor...