RMAF 2008 - Your impressions,...


I know there's still few hours to go but I was wondering what my fellow Audiogoners think of RMAF 2008. What equipment left great impression, even what was a bit of a let down...As for me, it was my first year and my time was very limited, but I have to point out Emerald Physics for their CS1 and CS2, which are great speakers, selling for much less (esp. CS2) than you would think. They sound a bit different than what most of us are used to due to their unique design. Unfortunately their need for two amps make it little difficult to integrate them in my system, otherwise they'd be on top of my list. I also have to mention AV123 and GR-Research whose X-static speakers must be one of the best bargains on the market (I know, we all have heard it before...), anybody looking for a $1000 dollar speakers (and even much more) need to give these a listen.
branislav
Definitely less people than last year. Many more people using streamed music as a source.

Best room at the show: Garcia's across from the Marriott. Thanks again Cello for organizing the Happy Hours on Friday and Saturday evenings after the show. It was great to finally meet fellow 'Goners and put names to faces.

As far as the listening rooms are concerned, I will admit that I don't usually like horn speakers and I love my belt drive Galibier turntable. Given these biases, the Oswald Mills room with their new idler drive turntable and horn speakers was for me, by far the best sound of the show. The turntable is definitely world class. The proprietary phono pre and 2 watt! tube amp were fabulous and the speakers are incredible. They played a side from Johnny Cash's "American IV" that gave me goosebumps. Eeriely realistic. (Apparently Johnny is still alive and living in Pennsylvania.) I heard Barbra Streisand's 2nd album...absolutely life like and I don't like Babs. This system also rocks. Jonathan played "Sign Of The Times" by Prince and even though it's one of my most played LPs, it was like I had never heard it before.

Much like an addict I couldn't help but returning to get a fix. My only regrets: a) I can't afford them b) I would have loved to hear them in a larger room with a slightly more powerful (? 5 watt) amp.

Otherwise in no particular order here are my show favorites:

1. Audiokinesis
Duke is a true gentleman. His new speakers with "Swarm" subwoofers are killer.

2. Emerald Physics CS1 Room
High efficiency open baffle speakers that require biamping.

3. Strain Gauge
Great sound even from their stand alone moving iron cartridge.

4. Daedalus' larger room
Really let their flagship speakers strut its stuff.

5. High Water Sound
Jeff Catalano's rooms always sound great and he always brings great music. (Thanks for playing the Ventures!)

6. Luxman with RTR Source
If they only were making more software...

I'm interested to know what others thought...
If you moved to a single flat panel, we all know what happens.
Well, "I" know what happens :-)
Did anyone get a chance to check out the following speakers or headphone at the show?

Evanui Signature that uses only a 3" driver
Green Mountain Audio speakers (EOS HD, etc)
Denon AH-D7000 Headphone

Any impression would be greatly appreciated.

Kenneth
Jazdoc, you are right about the best room in the show, shouold become an annual gathering. One room I forgot to mention, must be the jetlag, was the Atma-sphere room with the Classic T1 speakers; I have never heard symphonic music done so well. I don't know about the system in my room, but they were mindblowing on large scale music; the best I have heard with this type of music - I'm sure small combos would have been special, but did not heard that type of music on the system.