The Hidden Gem at Capital Audio Fest (CAF) 2023!

There are links to the CAF Bravura 7.2 "Power Package" I heard on their website: www.EndowAudio.com.

The Bravura 7.2 "package" using the Black Ice Tube amp was stunning. 

84 db efficiency? Ouch. I’m out….

84dB for what is hybrid omnidirectional (at least as concerns the midrange 7x1.5" array which appears to be aimed across 270 degrees of arc) with the tweeter and woofer aimed forward and a rear-directed passive radiator. Omni speakers are relatively ineffecient, and this one appears to be no exception.

I’m not an engineer, but I can tell you the Black I’ve tube amp was said to be rated at 18wpc and drove them to more than adequate levels without strain. 
 

The sound was captivating! 😃

I’m not an engineer, but I can tell you the Black I’ve tube amp was said to be rated at 18wpc and drove them to more than adequate levels without strain. 

I really wish more people understood what speaker efficiency actually means. They see numbers and make assumptions. 

My Walsh omnis' don't strike me as 'efficient', which is why 4 of them will produce an more 'unreasonable volume' over just a pair...

....but with 360 radiation, I'm not surprised either from merely a pair.

I really should bother to measure instead of merely enjoying them....😏

My friends MBL 120 are 82 db efficient at 4 ohms or less @1 watt

but when you add all this up you are projecting in this case 360 degrees 

and much louder in actual conditions with music coming from different areas ,

try them then decide, How about floor standers ? For without that you need good powered subs to get good low Bass .

Measurements are always more important than what you hear and enjoy.

They definitely look interesting, but before I rush to buy, I’ll wait for a few more reviews to emerge.

It's a very interesting driver arrangement. I'd love to hear them. It's certainly something different.

EnjoyTheMusic.com gave them an award at their first show! But listen for yourself for sure. 😃 BH

I thought that they were interesting also. Lots of very nice sound; maybe the years of previous experience are allowing dealers to address room issues here better. The Goldenear 66’s were my surprise favorite for inexpensive speakers, they were impressive.

 I really enjoyed the ModWright room with the small Acoras, I preferred the sound to most of the bigger systems.

@2psyop    LOL! I love it. Personally, I prefer the sounds of analog & tube measurements over digital & solid state.

@bouncehit 

Very interesting.  Thanks for sharing.

If I had a friend who wanted something REALLY good and had $10K to spend in all, this would be at or near the top of my list.  ;)  Best, BH

I'm not saying they don't sound good. And I'm also not saying that 84 db tells the whole story. But a story it does tell. It tells me my 300B SET need not apply. And that's all I need to know.

@ozzy62 

I just viewed your audio system page, very nice!!

Your 300b SET looks to have some serious iron onboard. I’m sure your sound is beautiful!

Charles

Awesome system @ozzy62!

I owned and LOVE La Scalas!!

I would NOT recommend the Bravura 7.2's for you my friend! ;)

@bouncehit , I heard the Endow Audio speakers at the Tampa Audio Show in February and thought they sounded extremely good.  I think they had the big ones playing though.  They sounded so good that I did think hard about the smaller ones, but it would have involved me switching out my amp to accommodate them. They are definitely on my list of speakers to consider trying.

CAF2023

most rooms had SPL turned up y to much for me to be comfortable for my tastes.  However one gem I stayed for a while was the new PMC prodigy 5 transmission line speaker.

I realize many praised speakers at the show cost a lot more but $7k is still towards the pricey end for speakers that size. So they might sound very good and seem like a bargain within the context of the show, but are they really? If so based on what exactly? In what way are they clearly as good or better than the overall competition at that price or higher?

The woofer section is similar to a lot of other speakers. The horn driver is so different that it wouldn't be possible to say if it is or isn't a "bargain" without hearing it. It's interesting for sure.

Well no doubt it is unique looking. 

@mapman

In my original post I outlined the virtues of the speakers as I perceived them personally.

I am from a middle-class family, and certainly don’t take $7000 lightly! However, in a world where systems can cost $1 million, and lesser sounding systems cost multiples of this one, I thought it was noteworthy.

As always, I would encourage folks to have a listen and decide for themselves. But, my enthusiasm, and the enthusiasm of my good friend and long time Audiophile co-traveler David, were very real!! (And we both own systems many would consider at or near the state of the art, so possess a valid, relevant reference).

I am sure there are other things as good or better at the price point, but in these contexts they were real standouts!!

@Roxy54

Have a listen and let us know your thoughts. 😃

I welcome competing perspectives 

@bouncehit

In my original post I outlined the virtues of the speakers as I perceived them personally.

I am from a middle-class family, and certainly don’t take $7000 lightly! However, in a world where systems can cost $1 million, and lesser sounding systems cost multiples of this one, I thought it was noteworthy

Your post was fine! You simply expressed your appreciation and listening impressions of a speaker that caught your attention. Truly an understandably subjective occurrence. That’s what these audio forums are for.

Product price/value/affordability is also subjective.7K dollars for some is quite a financial reach, for others it’s chump change. The range of disposable income I imagine is very broad amongst members here. Utterly an individual call as it always is.

Charles

For me, the system in the Pure Audio Project room was the hidden gem at the show.  The prices of components were not unreasonable and the performance level was extremely high.  But, because they did not hit you with big bass slam, and the exhibitors did not play the system at extremely high levels, it was not so much an attention-getting display.  The system quietly went about playing music in an utterly natural, relaxed and engaging way with quite good micro-dynamics and a lively, yet not aggressive presentation.  I was shocked that the speakers--Trio model (open baffle with twin 15" woofers and a midrange/tweeter between the woofers)--cost something like $8,450.  They were also suited to being coupled with low-powered amps (the kind of amps I like),  If I had to give up my current system, I could easily live with these speakers, and that cost is less than a third of the price of the midrange drivers in my system.  Because these speakers have different modules for bass and midrange/tweeter, they can be upgraded.  I would probably opt for their Voxativ field coil midrange/tweeter module. 

FWIW it seems a number of high end vendors have playlists available on qobuz.   Assuming they use these same tracks at shows,they could prove to be a useful tool to compare what one has at home to what one hears at a show.  

@larryi I heard the Trios with the Voxativ field coil module a few years back at the New York audio show, they were fantastic. Driven by a low powered Pass integrated amp their sonic bliss was much as you so aptly described, lively yet non aggressive with great presence. I've heard them at a few other shows with different center drivers (although I'm not sure I've heard the coax driver you heard at CAF) however the field coil drivers were by far the best IMHO. The cost increases dramatically although I believe they are still competitive given their performance. I think you would be even more smitten with the field coil driver Trios than you already are with the coax version. 

@larryi 

Yes!  I recently sold my Pure Audio Project Trio 15's with Horn 1 to an audiophile friend. 

AND the head of that company is an incredibly nice guy! 😎

@larryi

The Pure Audio Project Trio is quite interesting especially at its price point. Do you recall what amplifier was driving them?

Charles

The were being driven by an integrated Pass amplifier and the speaker cabling was SilverSmith Audio ribbon-type cables.  

@larryi 

Thank you.

Charles

Did anyone see the Zu speakers?

@bluorion There were two Zu Audio/Black Ice Audio rooms on the 7th floor. They were both packed if that was any indication as to how popular they were.

They were both packed if that was any indication as to how popular they were.

Been to many Zu rooms over teh years and they are always well attended.

Techically, I am not financially in want to be able to afford very nice toys if I truly felt compelled to want to own them, and I already own a fair number of very nice ones, but I know when I go to these often over-the-top shows, I am desperate to find things that offer clear value that I might want to own. Especially when the variations of most things on display are just newer re-creations of products more or less available 50 years ago.

Were was the Future-Fi at this show? Do vendors selling the products that most people are already buying really even have any need to show up? It would be interesting to hear more less extravagant gear at these shows alongside the more boutique-like, more blingy products typically offered.

I like nice things as much as the next guy, but having grown up in Amish country, and seeing how hard it is for so many in this world to even make ends meet, I truly cannot bring myself to seriously consider buying things that are extremely over the top.

But that’s just me. My mantra is "to each their own".

The Zu Room was not at all impressive TO ME, but clearly they have a following.  And their lead designer is a very friendly, relaxed guy who made people feel welcome.  Best, BH

Anyone hear the Voxativ room? I believe they were demoing their updated Ampeggio. Impressions??

Zu has yet to become my cup of tea at demos but they can be fun and do offer a somewhat esoteric and relatively affordable option for folks at these shows who actually might be there to buy speakers.

I suspect if  a show results in even one or two sales for the most  uber  expensive vendors, that is enough.

Whereas the vendors showing more affordable options who put on a decent showing like Zu probably produce more actual  buyers.

Which leads to the question: how many here have actually committed and bought products say in excess of $10K at one of these shows? Was a show special discount offered?

I will fess up, personally I have never spent more than $1k at these shows, though I usually do end up with a handful of things I hear added to my would-consider buying list.

Uh oh I’m hearing crickets so far on that last one. 

I might not qualify since it was less than 10k.  But after hearing the Von Schweikert  VR4 Silvers at HiFi 96 in NYC I ordered a pair. I had already auditioned them at a dealer but hearing the Silver version at the show pushed me over the edge.

I did not receive a “show discount”. As a matter of fact, I paid the full retail price of 4450.00. Not expensive, but not cheap for almost 30 yrs ago.

@ozzy62 well you got me beat.

I heard and bought a Chord Mojo portable DAC that I still use a few years back. Got a fair discount.

I heard Vanatoo speakers at CAF and bought a pair on Amazon not too long after. I used my Amazon card and got something back on that.

I bought a $20 45 RPM adaptor for my turntable once and I almost always come back with some new records or CDs.

I always hear lots of nice sounding and looking stuff some of which I would consider buying if the need comes up.

Another thing I wonder is any of the vendors ever offer zero interest loans or if anyone would even do that? I had to buy a new TV recently and if I can’t pay cash I usually shoot for an interest free loan I can make payments on and not be charged interest if paid in time. Most high ticket price mainstream vendors these days seem to offer that. Why not high end audio vendors? Just a thought.  In most cases people are better off not buying luxury items they cannot pay for up front.

@mapman @ozzy62 

I didn't see any "long term, interest free" offers but there were folks offering nice discounts, including Endow Audio on the Bravura 7.2's! 😉

The Magico S3's are on my dream list. I thought they stole the show.

@mapman

I was just asking myself the same question two days ago! Everyone offers interest free financing on their stuff, cars, furniture, even jewelry. When it occurred to me, I looked up Audio Advisor and Crutchfield, and no, no talk of financing, interest free or otherwise. Does anyone else find this strange?

I have a Chase credit card with Amazon. Most larger purchases with that can be done with a zero interest period. I have several prominent brand  hifi items I have acquired that way.

@mapman @roxy54 

I’m far from a business person, BUT suspect there is a business opportunity knocking on some enterprising audio manufacturer’s door in this thread! :)

Not getting their just due the Perlisten R7, and S7 Loudspeakers 

they are very good on many levels , my Dealer Perrotta Consultants 

Has them and the R7 can be bought with discount under $9k 

best many much more expensive speakers and measure excellent 

and very natural sounding , theS7 a bit more accurate and go lower but 2x the retail price.