I thought the definition of insanity was when you’re cheating at solitaire and a fight breaks out...
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@mikelavigne I have setup rooms in hotels as I belonged to a group of audio people who used to have their own little convention. THAT IS AN EXCUSE. Sorry, if I can setup a decent room at a hotel, then anyone should be able to. After all, that IS what these people do. Then why were there also amazing sounding rooms with very little treatments? Their room has sounded bad every single AXPONA they have been at. Maybe get a different room? Sorry, that is lame excuse and not something I take seriously. That tells me all I need to know about presenter. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. |
Sometimes I shake my head how they set up systems at Axpona. Many times expensive systems don’t even sound musical and involving. Yet they sound good. This year axpona after I listened to Borensen c1 monitor on the first floor? It became my reference. I like that system a lot very fast , good bass and amazing slam, palpability ,musical for my taste I love it. The one system that almost equal it is the Raidho and Margules combo.I don’t know if Mikelavingne listen to both system.Also Andrew Jones regardless of price? You know you will hear music music in his room. |
if you asked Elliot in the Gobel/Wadax/Riviera room, he would be the first to tell you that the room is a major problem. with windows all along the left side and alcoves everywhere it is impossible to get right, so even with taking 3-4 times the effort to try and mitigate that it’s still a problem for any high energy music. he tried to change rooms, but likely he will not do Axpona in the future with that room. OTOH if you heard more small group or quieter music in that room it did have tonality and textures superior to other rooms i heard at the show. so i respect your comments that it had issues, but hearing music that the room could do it was superb. if you read my comments they were very limited, and i made a point of explaining that many/most rooms had limitations to what type of music would work. the room is the thing. and gear can only operate with what a room allows it to do. you are correct that when people see the $$$$’s involved they expect that overcomes the room....but stuff does not work that way. everyone loved the same gear at Capital Audio Fest with exactly the same gear and much less effort......as that room worked. if you want to hear a room with Wadax that works perfectly you are welcome to visit me here in the Seattle area. i promise to make zero excuses. my room is fully sorted out. no one, and i mean no one, realizes more what a room can do or not do.....and then what room tuning can contribute. super duper gear can only take a great room further, not fix a problem room. |
I found all the Stenheim speakers Tipped up treble and bloated in the bass. None were impressive at all. The Gobel/Wadax room is always disappointing as there is so much money there and some of the smaller systems sound way better than this room. People seem to get all goo-goo eyed about the expensive equipment - I went in Friday/Saturday/Sunday to see if the room was busy and it never was. Vienna Acoustics room sounded really nice. It is great to see them back.
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@mikelavigne yes. You had to,take notes to do this effectively. Thanks |
I was there Saturday and wasn’t able to see all I wanted but am glad i went. The Estelon/Vitus was quite good - wish I had spent more time there. The Auralic ESD horns I thought sounded “cupped” - typical horn colorations which surprised me. Not my cup of tea. And who could live with such gargantuan gear - even with a dedicated room? The T+A room was playing their R2500 receiver which I thought quite good considering it’s an all in one. I have their HV gear and this was surprisingly good. It wasn’t too loud when I was in there. I was disappointed in the TAD room as the bass was muddy and not showing the best of what those speakers are capable of. Unlike Mike above, I found the darTzheel Stenheim room quite tipped up (unless there was another room w/ the electronics?). I really didn’t enjoy it. Must have caught it at a bad moment. I thought ATC had a decent showing. The new QLN w/ the Vinnie Rossi gear was just a bit bright of neutral, but sounded quite good overall. Gobel/WADAX was very good considering the room limitations (wall of windows) with a smooth presentation. Last year I thought the MBL room great - this year only so - so. But, it might have been the tracks. It just didn’t seem as well balanced. Still love the speakers and wish I had room for them. Atmosphere amps - pretty darn impressive units and I may need to get a pair for a different rig. I heard more, but these were the ones that made a lasting impression for me. |
The best axpona , I have a good time .I arrive 1 pm Friday I listen just a little bit, bought some music, 5pm done . Saturday I started listening from 1st floor to 7 th floor unable to listen to the floor up.I like the Borensen c1 speakers , Rhaido and Margules room. Quintessence set up in the lobby Wilson ALEXX AND DAN AGOSTINO MONO AMPS. |
@botrytis thanks for responding. Just wanted to know what others thought. |
@mikelavigne thanks. Great report. |
Treehouse Audio to me sounded like a transistor radio. Not pleasant at all. I preferred the Martin stand mounts to the floor standers in 1544. NONE of the Magico's sounded good at all to me. The GTT room was probably one of the best sounding out there. The Bricasti room always sounds good. The new Devore speakers? What was he thinking? They sounded tinny and lifeless. The Audionote room was the best I have heard them at any show. |
i enjoyed Axpona 2024, and i'm glad i went. i did take pictures of all the rooms listed below. here is a link to those. https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/axpona-24%E2%80%99-mike-lavigne-pics.38610/ it was awesome to see the level of attendance, and feel the positive energy and obvious momentum in our hobby going on right now. i was only at the show from 9:30am-6pm Friday, and 9:30am-4:30pm on Saturday. my plan was to try and go into as many rooms as i could and get a feel for them by Saturday mid day, then go back to a few rooms Saturday afternoon and listen more. i decided what i could do to provide info those not able to come, was to take basic pictures of as many rooms as possible, then also take a picture of the room sign too for reference. this i could do in my process without slowing me down very much. with my limited tech skills it was doable. i did not hit every room for various reasons, whether too crowded, too loud, or my initial view of the gear. some doors appeared to be locked. i was very focused and decided not to travel with any group or listening partner as that slows me down. i wanted to avoid the elevators as much as possible, so i started Friday morning on the 16th floor, and worked my way down to floor '11', then took the elevator to floor 7. at that point needed a break from the smaller rooms, and went to the main floor, and then over to the large rooms at the far end. then on Saturday started on floor 6 and worked my way down to floor 3. i must admit by the time i got to floor 4 on Saturday my focus to hit most rooms was spent. my tank was empty. so i just quickly did a few rooms on floor 4 and floor 3. then returned to some rooms i missed or wanted to hear again. Stand out rooms "special" sound--- good enough to be positively memorable---i liked it. some good....memorable (or of particular interest)......but not entirely there |