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- Written by Howard Kneller Howard Kneller
- Parent Category: BloggingOnAudio BloggingOnAudio
- Created: 17 December 2018 17 December 2018
Newvelle Records and Greenleaf Music Attend Listening Party at DeVore Fidelity's Monkeyhaus
On December 7, 2018, I traveled to DeVore Fidelity’s “Monkeyhaus” factory and listening room, located in New York’s Brooklyn Navy Yard, to attend a party hosted by DeVore for two independent audiophile-approved jazz record labels: Newvelle Records and Greenleaf Music. According to the invite, the party offered “high-end pizza, wine, and spirits and a special selection of vinyl on some very beautiful speakers.” Present were John DeVore, the company’s chief designer and owner, and many of his employees, distributors, and other partners, as well as the founders of these two labels and many of their recording artists.
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- Written by Howard Kneller Howard Kneller
- Parent Category: BloggingOnAudio BloggingOnAudio
- Created: 11 December 2018 11 December 2018
Gershman Acoustics and Michael Arthur -- Speakers and Art at Adirondack Audio & Video
On December 6, 2018, audiophiles and hipsters gathered to attend a 1970s-themed audition of Gershman Acoustics’ Posh flagship speaker ($129,000 USD per pair) combined with an exhibition of the work of renowned artist Michael Arthur at Adirondack Audio & Video’s HiFi Loft, owned in part by Jason Tavares and located in the fashionable Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York. The evening featured the playback in their entirety of two iconic ’70s LPs: Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On and Sly & The Family Stone’s There’s a Riot Goin’ On.
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- Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 18 November 2018 18 November 2018
Audio Video Show 2018: Speakers, Part 3
From our vantage point, the 2018 Audio Video Show in Warsaw hosted more product premieres in the loudspeaker category than in all the others combined. And of those new introductions, by far most were presented at the Radisson Blu Sobieski hotel. This place was a goldmine. Here’s the third and final batch of loudspeakers Jason and I saw, with all prices in Polish zlotys (zł), euros (€), US dollars ($), or British pounds (£). All the speakers were at the Sobieski except one, the FinkTeam Borg, which was just down the street at the Golden Tulip hotel.
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- Written by Jason Thorpe Jason Thorpe
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 18 November 2018 18 November 2018
Audio Video Show 2018: Electronics, Part 2
Here’s how crazy our pace became: As we were leaving the PGE Narodowy stadium on the first day of the show, we saw the shuttle bus about to depart. At Doug Schneider’s urging, I ran to flag it down. Unfortunately, there were four floodlights placed around the exit, pointing up at the building. One wasn’t working, and the other three faced in my direction, essentially blinding me. At full speed, I ran directly into the one that was switched off, and it took me out at the knees. I thought I’d fallen into a hole, as I flew forward and landed stunningly hard on the cement. The result was a nasty gash on my leg and bruises on both knees. Although Doug thought I’d broken both legs, I was merely hurt, not injured. I take the risks for you, readers. It’s dangerous out here. Don’t try this at home.
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- Written by Jason Thorpe Jason Thorpe
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 18 November 2018 18 November 2018
Audio Video Show 2018: Electronics, Part 1
I stated yesterday that the Radisson Blu Sobieski -- one of the venues for Warsaw’s Audio Video Show 2018 -- held about as many exhibits as the entire Montreal Audio Fest. That was when I assumed the show occupied only a couple of floors. Well, this monster of a venue encompasses seven floors of exhibits, plus more in the substantial lobby. There are still more exhibits at the Golden Tulip hotel just down the street, and at the PGE Narodowy stadium 5 kilometers away. This, folks, is a big event. So big in fact that it has turned my head around and made me re-evaluate my North American-centric view of audio. If you have a chance to visit this show, you owe it to yourself to do so.
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- Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 18 November 2018 18 November 2018
Audio Video Show 2018: Speakers, Part 2
On Saturday, the second day of Audio Video Show 2018, we went up and down the floors and back and forth through the halls of Warsaw’s Radisson Blu Sobieski, which is where we stayed and where most of the exhibits from smaller manufacturers were positioned. Here we found numerous electronic components, which Jason Thorpe focused on that day, and many more loudspeakers -- my main beat. Below is the second part of my loudspeaker coverage; you can read “Part 1” here. Prices are in Polish zlotys (zł), euros (€), US dollars ($), or British pounds (£).
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- Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 18 November 2018 18 November 2018
Audio Video Show 2018: Speakers, Part 1
This is the third straight year I’ve covered the Audio Video Show. One reason is that I thoroughly enjoy visiting Warsaw, Poland, where it’s held. I always arrive at least two days prior to acclimatize so I can hit the show running and keep my stamina all the way through, as well as take in the numerous attractions and restaurants around the city. Warsaw is a great place to have an audio show, as well as a great place to visit.
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- Written by Jason Thorpe Jason Thorpe
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 17 November 2018 17 November 2018
Audio Video Show 2018: Turntables and Related
The first thing I did on November 16 was sit through an Audio Video Show 2018 press conference conducted in Polish. I didn’t get the jokes and the banter. As a Canadian, I’m used to getting the gist of languages I understand only a little, but I’m completely out of the loop here in Warsaw.
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- Written by Jason Thorpe Jason Thorpe
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 16 November 2018 16 November 2018
Audio Video Show 2018: Equinoxe to Infinity -- 40 Years Later
I’m not a pushy guy, so sliding past a bunch of angry Poles to get to my reserved seat to listen to the premiere of Jean-Michel Jarre’s new album, Equinoxe Infinity -- actually introduced and presented by JMJ himself bang-on 40 years after the original Equinoxe album (it was originally released on November 16, 1978) -- made me slightly uncomfortable. Doug Schneider was also somewhat apprehensive, but for another reason. “John Michael who?” he asked me. We persevered regardless.
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- Written by Dean Hartley Dean Hartley
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 13 November 2018 13 November 2018
Hi-Fi Show Live 2018
On a beautiful, blue-sky November morning, SoundStage! Global descended on Windsor, England, for the Hi-Fi Show Live 2018, held November 10 to 11. As is often the case in England, the weather turned into a wet weekend within minutes of taking the photo of the grand De Vere Beaumont Estate. The venue sits in the shadows of a large castle just up the road. That being, of course, the residence of the Queen, built in the 11th century after the invasion of William the Conqueror.
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- Written by Howard Kneller Howard Kneller
- Parent Category: BloggingOnAudio BloggingOnAudio
- Created: 01 November 2018 01 November 2018
VPI House Grand Opening and Launch of the 40th-Anniversary HW-40 Turntable
On October 21, 2018, I travelled to Matawan, New Jersey, to attend the grand opening of VPI House, a showroom built by VPI Industries, which manufactures turntables and related analog products. According to Mat Weisfeld, VPI’s president and the son of its founder and owner, Harry Weisfeld, the showroom was built for customers, dealers, and (luckily) reviewers to listen to music in a comfortable, home-like setting. The event also marked the introduction of VPI’s HW-40 direct-drive turntable ($15,000 USD), the “HW” and “40” portions of which celebrate Harry Weisfeld and his 40 years in the audio business.
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- Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 08 October 2018 08 October 2018
RMAF 2018: Turntables and Related
Not that many years ago, it was fairly easy to overlook turntables at any given audio show, since digital was where it was at. And although most audiophiles still play back their music digitally, whether through streaming or on disc, vinyl has gotten so big and relevant again you’d be a fool not to see what’s new. Below are some of the turntables and related products I saw at RMAF 2018 that I thought worth highlighting. All prices in USD.
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- Written by Brent Butterworth Brent Butterworth
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 08 October 2018 08 October 2018
RMAF 2018: Headphone Amps
I’ll wrap up my coverage of the 2018 CanJam RMAF headphone show, which took place over the weekend at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, with a discussion of a few of the new headphone amps I saw at the show. Amps aren’t my focus, so this will be a rather limited selection; if you’re a headphone amp manufacturer and I didn’t cover you, let me know and I’ll catch you next time.
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- Written by Brent Butterworth Brent Butterworth
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 08 October 2018 08 October 2018
RMAF 2018: Speakers, Part 2
For the 2018 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider and I decided to split up the speaker coverage -- because there were a lot of new speakers at the show. You may have already read Doug’s coverage. Here’s mine, with all prices in USD.
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- Written by Brent Butterworth Brent Butterworth
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 07 October 2018 07 October 2018
RMAF 2018: Headphones, Part 2
Here’s more of my coverage of new headphones from CanJam RMAF 2018, part of the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest taking place this weekend at the Denver Marriott Tech Center hotel. You can read my first round of coverage here. All prices in USD.
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- Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 07 October 2018 07 October 2018
RMAF 2018: Speakers, Part 1
I think it’s safe to say that speakers make the biggest difference in sound in any system. I think it’s also safe to say that you’ll never find two sets of speakers that sound exactly alike, even if they look almost the same. As a result, speakers are oftentimes the easiest to cover -- with so many shapes and sizes and differences in technologies and sound, it’s always really easy to find something interesting.
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- Written by Brent Butterworth Brent Butterworth
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 06 October 2018 06 October 2018
RMAF 2018: Earphones
CanJam RMAF, part of the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) taking place this weekend at the Denver Marriott Tech Center hotel, is probably the number-one consumer audio show in the US when it comes to introductions of new headphones, earphones, and headphone amps. Here are some of the coolest earphones I found at the show, with all prices in USD.
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- Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 06 October 2018 06 October 2018
RMAF 2018: Electronics, Part 2
Unlike the last time I was at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF), in 2013, hi-fi electronics were plentiful at this year’s show. I easily found more than enough to cover, spanning all price ranges, which are quoted below in USD.
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- Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 06 October 2018 06 October 2018
RMAF 2018: Electronics, Part 1
I haven’t been to Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) since 2013. That year, RMAF was so lacking in new products -- or any really interesting products, actually -- that we left halfway through the second day to go see Captain Phillips at a nearby movie theater. After our stint at RMAF 2013 completed, I vowed not to go back and instead spend our time covering shows elsewhere.
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- Written by Brent Butterworth Brent Butterworth
- Parent Category: Shows-Events Shows-Events
- Created: 05 October 2018 05 October 2018
RMAF 2018: Headphones, Part 1
The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF), one of the biggest consumer audio shows in North America, kicked off Friday, October 5, at noon in Denver, Colorado. Part of the Audio Fest is the CanJam RMAF headphone show, which packs (by my rough estimate) about 70 headphone, headphone amp, and headphone accessory companies into a single large ballroom at the Denver Marriott Tech Center. I spent most of the afternoon there, listening to as many new headphones and earphones as I could. Here’s the first batch of interesting headphones I found. All prices in USD.
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