Thoughts on my 3rd AXPONA. I need to preface while I visited quite a few rooms with expensive gear, I am a 'poor' audiophile who just finished putting 2 kids through college, have had to very recently replace two cars (one with >210,000 miles and the other just too clunky) so two car loans, and trying to pay off my mortgage so I can retire! That said, I was especially interested in realistically affordable (for me) gear. However, I still spent quality time listening to speakers well beyond my means. Here were my favorites
1. VANATOO - not on my screen but while talking with none other than David Janzen he strongly encouraged going up to the 4th floor and taking a listen. He was absolutely right! The entry level powered monitors (Transaparent Zero) were simply amazing, especially for <$375. If you are looking for speakers for your desktop or small room, you should consider these. They also exhibited a new larger model that will be available in mid-summer - these were even better.
2. ELAC Andante AS-61. Heard these at last year's show and I was very impressed. Since that time and especially recently elsewhere on Audiogon Forums these speakers have taken quite a bashing from some folks. Hearing them again, all I can say is "Have those folks actually listened to these in person?" Dynamic, great air, beautiful midrange. All at an affordable price.
3. Alta Audio Io - Never heard of this company but visited to see the Van Alstine electronics. These may be my best affordable speakers of the show that I personally heard. Open, spacious, full, great bottom and top ends and liquid midrange. These are making me think bout how I might be able to sell my current speakers which I truly love (and a pair of Spendor floorstanders currently not in use) and replace them with these.
Others outside my price range that I really enjoyed were:
Volti Audio Rival - great sound and gorgeous cabinets. If I ever win the lottery and get a bigger house!
Spatial Audio X2 Modular Dipole - for me, cost-prohibitive plus very not cat friendly! But boy, did these sound great!
Harbeth 40.2 - see Volti.
Aerial Acoustics 7T - everything written about these sure seemed true to me.
ACT SCM40 - beautiful presentation.
Overall, a very enjoyable show, and really nice new venue. Now if only the exhibitors would just lower the volumes a bit! It really made some rooms unlistenable. Why do so many feel 95 - 100 dB dB or louder in a small room is the way their speakers sound best and that most people listen at that volume?
1. VANATOO - not on my screen but while talking with none other than David Janzen he strongly encouraged going up to the 4th floor and taking a listen. He was absolutely right! The entry level powered monitors (Transaparent Zero) were simply amazing, especially for <$375. If you are looking for speakers for your desktop or small room, you should consider these. They also exhibited a new larger model that will be available in mid-summer - these were even better.
2. ELAC Andante AS-61. Heard these at last year's show and I was very impressed. Since that time and especially recently elsewhere on Audiogon Forums these speakers have taken quite a bashing from some folks. Hearing them again, all I can say is "Have those folks actually listened to these in person?" Dynamic, great air, beautiful midrange. All at an affordable price.
3. Alta Audio Io - Never heard of this company but visited to see the Van Alstine electronics. These may be my best affordable speakers of the show that I personally heard. Open, spacious, full, great bottom and top ends and liquid midrange. These are making me think bout how I might be able to sell my current speakers which I truly love (and a pair of Spendor floorstanders currently not in use) and replace them with these.
Others outside my price range that I really enjoyed were:
Volti Audio Rival - great sound and gorgeous cabinets. If I ever win the lottery and get a bigger house!
Spatial Audio X2 Modular Dipole - for me, cost-prohibitive plus very not cat friendly! But boy, did these sound great!
Harbeth 40.2 - see Volti.
Aerial Acoustics 7T - everything written about these sure seemed true to me.
ACT SCM40 - beautiful presentation.
Overall, a very enjoyable show, and really nice new venue. Now if only the exhibitors would just lower the volumes a bit! It really made some rooms unlistenable. Why do so many feel 95 - 100 dB dB or louder in a small room is the way their speakers sound best and that most people listen at that volume?