California Audio Show: Pt. II

Playback / darTZeel / Evolution Acoustics

 A veteran blogger’s challenge after blogging so many shows is that sometimes you get so excited to see someone you love is that you talk more than you listen. Such was the case when Jonathan Tinn of Blue Light Audio dragged me (hardly kicking and screaming, more like with tongue hanging out) to the room that showcased Playback Designs’ MPS-3 CD player with USB input ($8500). This breakthrough player from Andreas Koch is capable of delivering high quality sound from files up to 384 kHz PDM and 6.1 mHz DSD.

Mated with the Evolution Acoustics’ MMMicroOne Reference 2-way loudspeakers and stands ($2500/pair with stands) plus cabling; darTZeel’s CTH-8550 Reference integrated stereo amp with MC phono stage ($20,300); Wave Kinetics’ supports; and Channel D’s Pure Music 1.8 music server software for the Mac ($129), the system derived lovely sound from a DSD file of a Neil Young performance. I also heard, courtesy of 2L, a 352 kHz performance of a Mozart Divertimento.

Some members of the Bay Area Audiophile Society who heard this system raved about the sound. Others lamented that larger, more full-range speakers hadn’t used to play back files that rivaled if not surpassed the sound quality of analog. How larger speakers would have sounded in such a small room, however, is a matter of conjecture.

I did notice an extra emphasis in the lower midrange or upper bass, but have no idea if that has to do with the amplification, speakers, room, or some unholy combination thereof. It’s a show, folks. There’s no way to know, short of trying this wonderful equipment in your own home, if it sounds as good as I expect it does. Past experiences with these companies’ products suggests YES!  

Music Lovers / Musical Surroundings

Garth Leerer of Musical Surroundings distribution in Oakland, CA brought two fabulous turntables to CAS. The first, the Clearaudio Innovation Wood turntable ($11,000) with impressive Everest turntable stand ($12,000), Outer Limit Peripheral Ring  Clamp $1,350, and Statement Clamp ($1000), was sporting a Graham Phantom II Supreme 10’ tonearm ($5750) and IC-70 1.5 m tonearm cable ($850) outfitted with a Benz Micro LP S class cartridge ($5000). Thanks to an Aesthetix Audio Corporation IO Eclipse tube phono stage with volume controls and dual mono tube power supplies ($23,000), the analog set-up sounded fantastic playing Kronos Quartet’s “Funky Chicken.” The cello sounded totally solid, and the highs wonderfully open and alive.

More about this system in a future post. Hint: It also included Spectral Electronics and Wilson Audio’s imposing MAXX Series 3 loudspeakers. Translation: major statement. 

MBL

The MBL room was so packed with people that I was lucky to even find space enough to snap a photo. The sound was huge and imposing, but there was no way to sit and listen. In fact, the MBL people were so busy that I was unable to get nothing more than a brochure that announced that the system was the Combination D Reference Line ($259,700), and included the mbl 101E MKII Radialstrahler omni-directional loudspeaker, 1621A CD transport, 1611F D/A converter, 6010D preamp, and 9011 monoblock power amplifiers. This may have been the same system that MBL recently showed at several other shows in, if memory serves me well, New York City, Washington, D.C., and perhaps Atlanta.

I have consistently raved about MBL’s sound at past shows. Lots of people around me were exclaiming that it was the best they had heard in quite awhile. At the time I entered, I wasn't able to settle down enough, nor hear music the music I prefer, in order to make a judgment call. 

Audio Research Debut / Magico / Auraliti and more

Bob Kehn of Audio Image Ltd. of Oakland was proudly presenting the U.S. premier of the Audio Research Ref 250 monoblock amplifiers ($25,590) equipped with KT-120 tubes. Mated with AR’s Ref Anniversary Linestage preamp ($25,000) and Ref CD-8 CD player ($9995), Auraliti L-1000 Music File player ($3500), Adept Response aR-6 Teflon power conditioner ($5000), lots of MIT cabling, Rix Rax Grand Hoodoo rack ($5000, and what a name!), Billy Bags racks and amp stands, the fabulous Magico Q-Pods ($1310/four), seemingly indispensible ASC Tube Traps, and, of great importance, the fabulous Magico Q-3 loudspeakers ($34,000/pair), this was one of the best sounding rooms at the show.

The Audio Research/Magico combo had tremendous air and depth in its large room. The sound of male ensemble Cantus, as recorded by John Atkinson, was extremely pure, with beautiful soundstaging and great clarity. That it triumphed over the insistent rumble from the adjacent mbl room was a miracle.

That the amps only had 100 hours on them, and were nowhere near broken-in, is further tribute to the quality of the system. I have a feeling they’re going to prove a major winner for the company. Bravo!

Apologies for the quality of this photo and some that follow. My camera's battery pack unexpectedly drained, and I was using a much smaller loaner camera from Peter Madnick of Constellation Audio. Much gratitude to Peter for his assistance and friendship.