Who is excited about Capital Audiofest 2023?


I find I am largely ambivalent and not sure if I will go or not.  It’s a nice event and I go most every year but looks like mostly more of the same old same old.   Are these shows really keeping up with the times? Anything really groundbreaking there to see or hear?  I wonder.   Might go tomorrow.   We will see 

128x128mapman

Small ELAC is $399 on sale not $299. My mistake.

Still a killer deal.

cheers

mike

I learned that one day only allows visiting perhaps 1/20th of the rooms. I didn’t even make it to the sixth floor. But I did hear some great music.

I agree with a poster above that the GoldenEar 66’s sounded great, not at all bright. Best budget sound I heard. I was especially impressed with the sound in the ModWright room, with ModWright components and the smaller Acora speakers on stands. The various Joseph Audio iterations all sounded excellent to my ears. I heard the outstanding ATC SCM50 amplified speakers and think that the decision to lower ATC speaker prices in the US to more closely match prices in the UK is wise. The ATC SCM40 v2 at $5995 might be the new best value in audio.

I liked the MBL’s (my first stop), with an incredibly open, spacious sound. I felt as if there was a slight metallic sheen on the upper mids and highs, that another here characterized as being slightly bright.

Finally, the sound of the Magico’s driven by the big Gryphon integrated amp at the Command Performance room was terrific. The “light show “ accompanied by electronic music exemplified the cleanliness and power of this system.

Bache speakers were very, very musical and organic sounding., a hidden gem of sorts, from Brooklyn of all places!

NSMT in Audio Archon dealer’s room were also very smooth and contrasted with most other rooms.

The big Borressen Yikes!!! Same for the big Kroma speakers from Spain.

McTech speakers also sounded quite musical, as did the new Quads, if one listens strictly sitting down in the sweet spot.

Cessaro Wagner sounded very musical but at 65grand, your mileage may vary as they say. Last year Highwater Sound had no less musical speakers &system from Denmark & Italy at much more accessible prices...

QLN monitors were quite impressive but again at about 18 thousands they better be....

Small, powered $600 Elac Debut were amazing! Would make great gift to kids & non audiophile music lovers to get them hooked up into this hobby.

Magnepan 2.7i sounded quite good, IMHO better than most mega buck speakers at the show.

Viva horns placed full size David Bowie right there in room.

Avantgarde horns were quite special, but the room was way too small for these to show their full potential.

Also quite enjoyed the newly re-launched Voxative speakers refined nature with classical and jazz.

For anyone who came in to rooms 821 and 823.  Infigo/Avant Garde and Infigo/Alta Audio. We would love to hear any feedback. Full disclosure I work for Infigo Audio.  Thanks everyone 

@calvinj : I hate to say this but you are the biggest schiillll I have ever encountered in real life and in Internet. I know you do this for the LOVE of it. But it’s getting ridiculous