The speaker that I enjoyed listening to the most was the Focus Audio FS78 SE (floor standing anniversary model). I enjoyed them so much that I went back to the room 4 separate times and spent a total of about an hour and a half there on Friday. If I pull the trigger, I am thinking about pairing them with a Prima Luna Prologue 2. If you like your sound on the warmish side, the sense of depth and overall musicality that the Focus produced was outrageous. Now, I just need to find a way to finance them ($3450)!
As for the rest that I saw ... I was not as taken with the Hyperions, as some in the room were. I enjoyed the first 10 minutes of listening, but by the time I got to 20 minute mark, the tweeter was giving me a headache. I agree with your JM Lab Alto assessment ... that was a sweet sounding speaker. The Vandersteen 5 did nothing for me ... they sounded boxy to me ... which would be a neat trick given how most Vandersteens are constructed. The little Naim's (n-SATS at $1300) were pretty decent and address the placement issues that many apartment and condo owners have (they can be placed just about anywhere with good results). I found the EPOS M5 decent sounding as well, but I thought they were straining most of the time. And finally, Joseph Audio had a good sounding room, though I am tiring of the story that he was "screwed" by the HES committing for cancelling in years past the voting for best sounding room. This year, my vote for best sound would go to the Focus Audio/Blue Circle room.
Overall, I was disappointed with the show. It was noticeably smaller and had less representation than the last two times that the show was in NYC (2002 & 2004).
Regards, Rich
As for the rest that I saw ... I was not as taken with the Hyperions, as some in the room were. I enjoyed the first 10 minutes of listening, but by the time I got to 20 minute mark, the tweeter was giving me a headache. I agree with your JM Lab Alto assessment ... that was a sweet sounding speaker. The Vandersteen 5 did nothing for me ... they sounded boxy to me ... which would be a neat trick given how most Vandersteens are constructed. The little Naim's (n-SATS at $1300) were pretty decent and address the placement issues that many apartment and condo owners have (they can be placed just about anywhere with good results). I found the EPOS M5 decent sounding as well, but I thought they were straining most of the time. And finally, Joseph Audio had a good sounding room, though I am tiring of the story that he was "screwed" by the HES committing for cancelling in years past the voting for best sounding room. This year, my vote for best sound would go to the Focus Audio/Blue Circle room.
Overall, I was disappointed with the show. It was noticeably smaller and had less representation than the last two times that the show was in NYC (2002 & 2004).
Regards, Rich