2. speakers
  3. 1406544432

Capitol Audio Fest Speakers?

So what did everybody like at CAF?

I've never heard Tidal speakers before but was very impressed. No doubt they stoles the show. Both the ones for $20k and their big brothers. Amazing.

In the $4k range I was impressed with the Audionote J series. Granted they had $20k in electronics behind them but really sounded good. There was another $4k speaker floor stander made from carved reclaimed looking wood. Seemed like a prototype from a new company but I thought it was impressive looking and sounding for the price. Would have brought it home if I had the dosh.

In the Everyman category I thought The Clue speakers showed a lot of potential especially with their new bass module. But the room was way too small having to sit 4 feet in front of them. And once the rum started going later in the day the volume kept going up and up. But I have a feeling they could sound really good in the right room with good setup. The bass modules were just clue speakers without tweeters, but really increased bass authority and dimensionality. Really like adding two subs.
larrybou

Showing 3 responses by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
Remember that speakers alone make no music.

Same true with amps, pre-amps, wires and all the rest.

Gotta mate the right stuff together to suit one's goals. And be set up well in a suitable room accordingly.

Even then, chances are no two people will agree on what sounds best.

Lots of different sounding possibilities with exactly the same speakers. Only one or two can be heard at any particular show. It's easy to jump to conclusions based on a limited sample.

Just a reminder. I'm sure everyone knows this.

Beauty is often in the eye/ear of the beholder.

At these shows, I mostly just wonder, is making beautiful music really so complicated and really need to cost so much?
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
Daedulus was top tier sound at last CAF I attended.

Do not recall the amp used, but clearly they are designed to be tube friendly and most likely to more uniquely shine with that.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,636 posts
 
"In any event, I am always struck by how different people reach different conclusions about the sound quality of rooms at the same show. That just shows that we have different tastes and different priorities, and there is nothing wrong with that. The world would be much less interesting if we all had the same aesthetic tastes."

Yes, the evidence speaks for itself there in the variety of audio gear and options out there and doing well.

At shows, I shoot for a simple conclusion when listening to many things in a short period of time: has potential or not.

Potential is all that one can really discern with many fast auditions under a single circumstance at a show.

Potential is only the initial requirement to meet. In teh end, many factors would determine what I would actually buy, having to choose among many excellent options.

In general, the bigger, heavier and more expensive something is, the less chance I will see "potential" in it for my use. I like well designed and reliable gear that provides flexibility in general.

I love my OHM F5s, but they are quite heavy and bulky, and I would prefer it if they were not, but at least they are mounted on casters, which makes life a lot easier.

More to discover