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03 / 18 / 24

The Best-Sounding FIAE To Date! Florida International Audio Expo 2024 high-performance audio show coverage. SWAF 2024 Show Report By Maurice Jeffries

The Best-Sounding FIAE To Date!
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 high-performance audio show coverage.
SWAF 2024 Show Report By Maurice Jeffries
For me, mid-February in Central Florida usually means a two-hour road trip from Orlando to Tampa to attend the annual (and now well-established) Florida International Audio Expo (FIAE, previously FLAX – I prefer the latter as it rolls off the tongue more easily). Warm sunny days, pleasant balmy nights, great tunes, good food, and more than a few libations typically define FIAE show weekends. This year's shebang delivered most of the expected thrills, but the awful weather (wet, dreary, and cold) dampened spirits somewhat, and the venue elevators seemed even slower this year. Still, and on balance, I thought this the finest sounding FIAE yet (I've attended all but one), with a fine (if perhaps slightly smaller) cohort of manufacturers, distributors, and dealers demo'ing high-performance gear from around the globe, and at all price points.
---> The Best-Sounding FIAE To Date!

 

 

03 / 17 / 24

Preview Pics: Southwest Audio Fest 2024 Show Report Paul Schumann's special SWAF 2024 preview pics. Southwest Audio Fest 2024 Show Report By Paul Schumann

Preview Pics: Southwest Audio Fest 2024 Show Report
Paul Schumann's special SWAF 2024 preview pics.
Southwest Audio Fest 2024 Show Report By Paul Schumann
Thanks to our incredible photojournalist Paul Schumann, we have some special preview photos from the inaugural Southwest Audio Fest 2024 show in Dallas. Enjoy the Music.com's full show reports will be online shortly after the event. As always... enjoy the music!
---> Paul Schumann's SWAF 2024 Preview Photo Show Report.

 

 

03 / 13 / 24

SouthWest Audio Fest 2024 High-Performance Audio Hi-Fi Show Report

This Weekend: Southwest Audio Fest 2024 High-Performance Audio Show
The Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) arises from the partnership of Gary Gill and Lou Hinkley with their success of the Pacific Audio Fest event. Destined to be an annual event for high-end audio, we are pleased to announce a new industry-operated show for another underserved part of the country. Both Gary and Lou worked tirelessly for over two years to secure a contract with an amazing event hotel, which is very safe, family friendly, and great weather in March too! The Hilton / Anatole in Dallas will host the inaugural SWAF show that is slated for March 15th through 17th, 2024, and initially is focusing on a small but solid regional show. Both Gary and Lou are confident that this show will grow and the Anatole has all the room a premium audio event needs. With over 17 million people and exceptional wealth in this corner of Texas, the local demographics could not be better for premium high-end audio.
---> Southwest Audio Fest 2024 Show Report.

 

 

03 / 08 / 24

Hi-Fi+ March 2024

Hi-Fi+ March 2024 High-End Audio Magazine
Editorial: Let's Talk About The Body Shop
Computer Audio Design £675 USB Control Giveaway
Magico M7 Floorstanding Loudspeaker
Aavik I-880 Integrated Amplifier
Technics SU-GX70 Integrated Networked Amplifier
McIntosh Audio Labs MA352 Hybrid Int. Amplifier
Fyne Audio F702SP Floorstanding Loudspeaker
Meze Empyrean II Headphones
Stillpoints Ultra ESS Equipment Support System
GIK Acoustics SlatFusor Room Acoustic Treatment
And Much More!

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says "Although the brand lives on and stores worldwide will continue, The Body Shop in the UK has gone into administration and its future is uncertain. This might seem an odd opening gambit in an editorial about audio, but there are lessons to be learned. The Body Shop was the brainchild of the late Dame Anita Roddick. Starting in 1976, Roddick launched the first Body Shop in Brighton, on the coast of Southern England, using locally-sourced skin care products in recyclable bottles and with minimal hype. The concept took off and quickly became a national and international success. The Body Shop's failure in the UK speaks of many things that plague audio companies. The company suffered greatly after the passing of the founder. It became part of a larger brand, was spun out to venture capitalists and lost its identity. And perhaps most importantly for the brand, it traded on past glories." See what's within the March 2024 issue of Hi-Fi+ magazine.

 

 

03 / 07 / 24

Pass Laboratories XP-22 Line Preamplifier And XP-27 Phono Preamplifier Review

Pass Laboratories XP-22 Line Pre & XP-27 Phono Pre Review
Colossal soundstage and the pinpoint imagining prowess!
Review By Tom Lyle
I began to assemble my first "real" audio system while still in high school. I made it chiefly from DIY components and other "vintage" gear I could scrounge from friends and family. At that time, I don't think I heard anyone use the term "audiophile." All I knew was that I wanted to hear music at home on a better system than the mass-market stuff sold at department stores. This was also about the same time I discovered a high-end audio showroom near my parent's suburban home. Every once in a while, I would quietly enter their store. There was no way I would have been able to sit in the comfy chair in front of one of the active displays and listen to a system. But I did walk among the array of components on display, and when no one was looking, turn the knobs up and down and flip the switches on the front panels of a component or two while it was muted or its power was off.
---> Pass Labs XP-22 Line Pre & XP-27 Phono Preamplifier Review.

 

 

Ayon Audio CD-35 II CD Player And USA Labs RS9 Music Server Review

Ayon Audio CD-35 II CD Player And USA Labs RS9 Music Server Review
Two very versatile, and impressive, performers.
Review By Bob Grossman
The Ayon Audio CD-35 II as reviewed here, is the latest introduction to a long lineage of CD players that have been well regarded going back to the various models in the 3 and 5 series, along with ideas derived from their special edition CD35HF. But the CD-35 II is more than a CD player – it is also a fully functioning preamplifier and DAC. It is a single-ended triode pure Class A design using a 6H30 and a 5687 tube for each channel, and a GZ30 tube as a rectifier for the power supply. It is also a zero-feedback design. Ayon Audio's CD-35 II built-in DAC can be used to play music files from your computer via the USB connection. The DAC also has a coaxial RCA input for S/PDIF, I2S, BNC, AES/EBU, and three other BNC inputs for DSD. For this review I also evaluated the USA Labs RS9 music server to coordinate streaming of music from Qobuz.
---> Ayon CD-35 II CD Player And USA Labs RS9 Music Server Review.

 

 

03 / 06 / 24

Exciting News: Florida International Audio Expo 2025

Exciting News: Florida International Audio Expo 2025
This just in from the Florida International Audio Expo: On the heels of its biggest FIAE 2024 show to date, the Florida International Audio Expo is pleased to announce date and venue changes for next year's show, to take place Friday through Sunday, February 21st through 23rd at the Sheraton Tampa Brandon Hotel.

"We've had a tremendous run with the Embassy Suites, and we appreciate their taking a chance with us as a new show in 2018, coupled with the unique challenges of hosting an audio show," said Managing Partner Bart Andeer. "There aren't many venues that want to deal with such an event, and the team at Embassy Suites did a wonderful job of accommodating us as best they could. But we've steadily grown our attendee and exhibitor participation, and have simply outgrown that venue. Our new venue will offer more options for larger exhibitor spaces and a suitable marketplace area. We sold out of 2024 exhibitor space ahead of schedule, and had to turn away several companies due to the lack of options. We anticipate welcoming many more new companies to the exhibitor mix in 2025, as well as the return of many of our amazing current partners!"

The Sheraton Tampa Brandon offers a complimentary shuttle to any destination within three miles of the hotel, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Hotel reservations will be available soon. For more information, visit the Florida International Audio Expo's website, which will also be updated with new information soon. Companies interested in becoming a 2025 exhibitor should contact Bart Andeer to access early exhibit registration discounts for a limited time.

 

 

03 / 05 / 24

AES Event: Dolby Atmos Experience

AES Event: Dolby Atmos Experience
Tonight from 5 PM to 7 PM is the Audio Engineering Society's special Dolby Atmos Experience at the Dolby Headquarters located at 1275 Market Street in San Francisco, CA. According to the AES, "Join Dolby's Head of Music Partnerships Christine Thomas and team, together with the AES San Francisco Section, for an exciting look into the latest developments within the Dolby Atmos music ecosystem. Learn about updates to the music creation tools and native integration into leading DAW's, plus an overview of the latest in services and devices, including automobiles and much more. Guests will hear a selection of Dolby Atmos music in the cinema and Mercedes S-Class automobile. Presentations will include a demonstration of Dolby Atmos music mixing workflows, tips and insights featuring Dolby veteran mixer Erik Foreman. Q&A to follow." 

Christine Thomas is the Head of Music Partnerships for Dolby Laboratories, leading strategy and business development for music industry enablement. Christine works closely with major and independent labels, distribution partners, studios, and creatives to facilitate the adoption of Dolby Atmos technologies for Music. Erik Foreman is an immersive audio expert, consultant, and educator. He worked in-house at Dolby Labs for eight years, where he created and demonstrated showcase material for consumer experiences of all kinds, for all types of content. Foreman was a sound designer and re-recording mixer at Skywalker Sound for 16 years prior. 

 

03 / 04 / 24

Chester Group's London, UK, And Edinburgh 2024 Shows

Chester Group's London, UK, And Edinburgh 2024 Shows
The Chester Group, a specialist in International Home Technology Shows who have been a pioneering business keeping step with consumer electronics, produce three extensive luxury events that reach the entire UK marketplace. Their reputation has been built on selecting the very best venues, maintaining independence in the marketplace, and ensuring an exceptional value too. On April 20th and 21st is their London Audio Show at the famous Heathrow Radisson Red. During October 5th and 6th is The Chester Group's UK Audio Show at the Staverton Hotel. Following that is their November 9th and 10th event at the Double Tree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport.

All Chester Group shows are being remastered during 2024 and via a host of brand new features, which is set to draw in new attendees. For exhibitors, the Chester Group is still the only organizer that provides a complete attendance package, which includes B&B and daily concessions. For attendees, right now is the perfect time to take advantage of Early Bird tickets, which are said to be selling fast due to the Chester Group's reputation for delivering he friendliest consumer shows on the calendar. "Shows are perhaps the best way to truly experience how incredible your favorite music sounds, "says Enjoy the Music.com. "Thanks to The Chester Group high-performance audio shows for providing a family-friendly space for both the exhibitors and attending music lovers alike." Learn more and get your tickets at this link.

 

 

03 / 01 / 24

Enjoy the Music.com's February 2024 Premium High-Performance Audio Review Magazine

March High-Performance Audio Review Magazine
This month we're featuring our extensive Florida International Audio Expo 2024 show report that highlights many pages filled with everything from moderately-priced to price-is-no-object audio equipment. Roger Skoff's editorial The Most Expensive Component discusses something that's not what you think it is. High-performance home audio equipment reviews include the Avantgarde Acoustic UNO SD hornspeaker, as Senior Editor Tom Lyle feels the luckiest he's ever felt when reviewing these impressive speakers. Our AGD DUET GaN-Power monoblock amplifier review from Dr. Michael Bump defines your artistic sensibilities. For more creative speaker enthusiasts, you'll want to read Dr. Jules Coleman's Eminent Technology LFT8c loudspeaker review. From our good friends overseas, we have an expert assessment of the Vinshine Audio Denafrips Arce Hi-Res Music Streamer that delivers music into your home without obstructions or interfering with your favorite tunes. Join us for more fun and bonus content within our Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter social media pages. As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music!

 

 

Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report

Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report
Florida's Fantastic International Audio Exposition In Tampa.
The funtastic Florida International Audio Expo 2024 took place from February 16th through 18th at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore Hotel. Attendees enjoyed their experience on 12 floors' filled with great luxury sound gear produced by the world's leading premium high-performance audio brands. As their exciting fifth annual Florida International Audio Expo, this was the opportunity for audio and music aficionados to discover this sensational showcase of products that includes home and desktop stereo systems, record players / turntables, headphones, loudspeakers, digital audio music streamers, Hi-Res Audio DACs, cables, amplifiers and more!
---> Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report.

 

 

The Most Expensive Component It's not what you think it is but what you think it is. Article By Roger Skoff

The Most Expensive Component
It's not what you think it is but what you think it is.
Article By Roger Skoff
What would you say if I told you that the most expensive thing about your system might not be what you think it is? No, I'm not thinking of your listening room, although, from a physical standpoint, that might certainly be true, and it might even be the subject of some future article. It's not your collection of records, CDs, and master tapes, either, even though that, too, might at one time have been the case. Instead, for altogether too many people (not you and I, of course) the most expensive thing about their system is one or more of the mistaken assumptions they might have made in putting it together. Many years ago I had the opportunity to visit the home of a wealthy audiophile who had a great love of music and an essentially unlimited budget for a system to play it on. His entire home was designed around his sound room, which was HUGE – probably 25 or so feet wide by 40 or 50 feet long, with a flat ceiling that must have been at least ten or twelve feet high.
---> The Most Expensive Component.

 

 

Avantgarde Acoustic UNO SD Hornspeakers Review The luckiest I've ever felt was when reviewing the UNO SD speakers. Review By Tom Lyle

Avantgarde Acoustic UNO SD Hornspeaker Review
The luckiest I've ever felt was when reviewing the UNO SD speakers.
Review By Tom Lyle
In the mid to late 1990s, I heard a pair of Avantgarde Acoustic horn loudspeakers (hornspeaker) for the first time at a local high-end audio showroom. I don't remember the model of the speakers I was hearing, but I do recall that they were powered by a pair of Single-Ended Triode (SET) monoblock amplifiers. I assumed that these amps were a perfect match for these sensitive speakers. Sadly, I was not impressed with what I heard that day. The speaker's biggest sin was an exaggerated midrange, epitomizing the "cupped hands" sound. Fast-forward to 2024, when I was offered a pair of Avantgarde UNO SDs for review in Enjoy the Music.com. I was skeptical, fearing I would experience something similar to what I had heard at that local dealer many years ago. Before these speakers arrived, I shared my experience with Avantgarde's North American distributor, American Sound of Canada, about my experience with their horn speakers.
---> Avantgarde Acoustic UNO SD Hornspeaker Review.

 

 

AGD Productions DUET GaN-Power Monoblock Amplifier Review Defining your artistic sensibilities. Review By Dr. Michael Bump

AGD DUET GaN-Power Monoblock Amplifier Review
Defining your artistic sensibilities.
Review By Dr. Michael Bump
Professional musicians have a first love, and it's usually not their mother or high school sweetheart, but rather the instruments they surround themselves with throughout their lives. Sometimes this serves a nostalgic purpose, though in most cases, it is because the instrument's sound defines them (The Harry Potter analogy of "the wand chooses you" comes to mind). Theirs is a uniquely personal relationship. We all identify John "Bonzo" Bonham through his style of drumming and the sound of his Ludwig drum kit. The size, tuning, shell material, cymbals, use of timpani, etc. were his calling card, inspiring his touch / gesture, helping define him, and in turn, helping define Led Zeppelin. For almost his entire career, Pablo Casals performed on but a single instrument – a cello crafted around 1700 by the Venetian luthier, Matteo Gofriller. And of course, who can imagine listening to Willy Nelson's music without the voice of "Trigger," his faithful Martin N-20 nylon-string guitar, on which he's been performing and recording for over 55 years.
---> AGD DUET GaN-Power Monoblock Amplifier Review.

 

 

Eminent Technology LFT8c Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review Dipole done well. Review By Jules Coleman

Eminent Technology LFT8c Loudspeaker Review
Dipole done well.
Review By Jules Coleman
If you are not familiar with Bruce Thigpen, it's time you were. Bruce has been among the more creative and innovative designers in the audio industry over the past forty years. He began his career by working on what was to become the Infinity turntable, which he followed with the classic and much-admired ET 2 linear tracking tonearm (parts and updates are still available for the model 1, ET-2 and ET- 2.5), before turning his attention to magnetic planar loudspeakers. Beginning with the full-range planar LFT3, he ultimately shifted focus to hybrid designs featuring planar mid and high-frequency drivers mated with traditional cone drivers to handle the lower frequencies. The shift in focus led to the development of the LFT-8 introduced in 1989 and then widely distributed beginning in 1990, the transformative version of which, LFT-8c, is the subject of this review.
---> Eminent Technology LFT8c Loudspeaker Review.

 

 

Vinshine Audio Denafrips Arce Hi-Res Music Streamer Review Streams music without obstructions or interfering with your favorite tunes. Review By Neven Kos Of HiFiMedia

Vinshine Audio Denafrips Arce Hi-Res Music Streamer Review
Streams music without obstructions or interfering with your favorite tunes.
Review By Neven Kos Of HiFiMedia
After Alvin Chee, the owner of the company Vinshine Audio, searched for the past year and a half on his YouTube channel for the best streamer for Denafrips D/A converters, Denafrips introduced its music streamer called Arce (twin sister of the rainbow goddess Iris in Greek mythology). The primary focus in the design of this streamer was the quality of playback, so at Denafrips they developed their computer platform instead of resorting to existing ones, such as PC platform, Raspberry Pi, or something else already existing. The computer part of the streamer is based on the Quad-Core ARM Cortex processor, high-precision oscillators, and a power supply built after the 60VA toroidal transformer. There are also low-noise and fast linear regulators, and unlike many others that resort to existing and available solutions or use standard computer solutions and operating systems, Denafrips has also developed its operating system optimized precisely for music playback.
---> Vinshine Audio Denafrips Arce Hi-Res Music Streamer Review.

 

 

High-End Audio Reviews & Audiophile Articles

High-End Audio / Audiophile And Immersivephile Review Magazine
Many more reviews & articles are within our Review Magazine.

 

 

02 / 29 / 24

American Sound Showcases A Lovely International Lineup A global grand tour of audio excellence!

American Sound Showcases A Lovely International Lineup
A global grand tour of audio excellence!
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
When the Tampa show first began, the word 'International' was not within the name. Thankfully, the show promoters quickly realized the error of their ways. This year at the Florida International Audio Expo 2024 were products from many different countries. Perhaps no single room better showcased this than retailer and distributor American Sound Of Canada with great gal Angie at the helm. Before I post a gear list, let's have fun and see a country list first: dCS United Kingdom, Oracle Audio Technologies Canada, Phasemation Japan, Avantgarde Acoustic Germany, Transparent Cables USA. To my ears, there's something about highly efficient hornspeakers that showcase immediacy, speed, and exceptional dynamic swings from whisper quiet to the guy blown away in the Maxell commercial.
---> American Sound Showcases A Lovely International Lineup.

 

 

AGD The Audion GaNTube Monoblocks Review

AGD "The Audion" GaNTube Monoblocks Review
Class D reaches the upper echelon of high-end audio.
Review By Rick Becker
Back at the turn of the millennium you could put together a pretty good audio system for $10,000, and you could listen to many of those components in a local brick & mortar store if you lived in a decent size city. Sure there was some stratospherically priced gear in the $10,000 to $20,000 range you might be able to see if you went to one of the audio shows on the left or right coasts. Then along came "quantitative easing" and the internet. Gear got more expensive, the brick & mortar landscape eroded and major as well as regional audio shows proliferated. Eventually, higher prices seemed to have attracted more well-heeled patrons to the hobby, not unlike what happened to the bicycle industry a generation or two earlier.
---> AGD "The Audion" GaNTube Monoblocks Review.

 

 

Pass Labs INT-25 Stereo Integrated Amplifier Review

Pass Labs INT-25 Stereo Integrated Amplifier Review
The most musical amplifier I've had the opportunity to listen to.
Review By Neven Kos of hifimedia magazine
It's been a while since I've had an opportunity to listen to some of the Pass amps officially. The last one was, if memory does serve me, an integrated INT-30 amplifier, a review you had the opportunity to read in this magazine (No. 81 / 2010). My experience with Pass Labs amps is not extensive, but it may be relevant. Before that integrated amplifier in my listening room I enjoyed my own amps over the years, such as integrated amplifier INT-150, power amp x150.5, preamplifier X1 and Aleph P. Either loaned to me, or through other familiar listening rooms, I also had the opportunity to listen to X250, X 250.5, X350, X600, X150, Aleph 3 and Aleph 5. As you can see from the above, there is a certain historical void in my acquaintance with Pass, which we will try to fill in by listening to and learning about the latest Pass Labs toy, the Pass INT-25 integrated amplifier.
---> Pass Labs INT-25 Stereo Integrated Amplifier Review.

 

 

02 / 28 / 24

The Wow Factor Thanks To Wells Audio Jeff's journey in high-performance audio is impressive.

The Wow Factor Thanks To Wells Audio
Jeff's journey in high-performance audio is impressive.
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
One of the many stories I love telling is when first meeting Jeff Wells. It started at his small table booth at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest where he was showing his new tube amplifier. There was something about it that spoke to me, as I could see the passion and attention to detail. When asking to see the internal wiring, many manufacturers hem and haw, perhaps they don't have the tools with them or ????  Upon asking Jeff to see the internals, he happily turned the unit over, removed the bottom plate, and there is where I saw a precise layout, technically correct placement (keeping signal wiring away from power), and the internal wiring was attractive too (in a good way we technicians and solder jockeys can appreciate).
---> The Wow Factor Thanks To Wells Audio.

 

 

Fabulous Photofest From The FIAE 2024 A sensation

Fabulous Photofest From The FIAE 2024
A sensational selection of photos from the Tampa hi-fi event.
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
Here's three pages filled with exceptional photos of high-performance audio gear that was in Tampa during the Florida International Audio Expo 2024. As always... enjoy the music!
---> Fabulous Photofest From The FIAE 2024.

 

 

02 / 27 / 24

Metaxas & Sins Aspirational Audio Art A love of art and a passion for music! Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin

Metaxas & Sins Aspirational Audio Art
A love of art and a passion for music!
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
We've all seen the black and silver boxes, perhaps they were bestowed wooden side panels and the like to make them more attractive. Now what if, and am just saying someone who is a true artist in the world of visual styling and sonic perfection decided to create a brand? Mr. Kostas Metaxas' audio products Metaxas & Sins truly deliver inspiring stylistic designs with a sense of humanity. His products would look exceptional within the most modern luxury homes... and the Museum of Modern Art. For those unfamiliar, Kostas Metaxas is a multi-award earning designer and artist, plus his deep passion for music means he is an electrical and recording engineer too. Kostas' incredible Tourbillon RX (T-RX) reel-to-reel magnetic tape recorder / player is an excellent example of his passion for achieving the very best sound fidelity and build quality.
---> Metaxas & Sins Aspirational Audio Art.

 

 

AGD Showcases Modern Innovations At FIAE 2024 GaN technology was on full display here in Tampa.

AGD Showcases Modern Innovations At FIAE 2024
GaN technology was on full display here in Tampa.
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
Will cut to the chase right up front and say that many attendees I spoke with had very high praise for Alberto Guerra's AGD exhibit room during the Florida International Audio Expo 2024. AGD's very innovative use of GaN technology was on full display, both sight and sound. Alberto's passion for both music and electrical engineering is what brought him to create AGD Productions, and in Tampa his featured products that earned many awards over the years were on full display. The GaN transistor-based tubes are the star of their amplification products, and while I could type detail after details about them....
---> AGD Showcases Modern Innovations At FIAE 2024.

 

 

Live Nation Reports All-Time Highs For Concert Attendance

Live Nation Reports All-Time Highs For Concert Attendance
With attendance, ticket sales, and sponsorship activity at or near all-time highs, concert attendance for 2023 as compared to 2022 is up 20% to over 145 million fans. This figure spans more than 50,000 events, with 50% more international acts in top 50 tours, plus there are 15% more touring shows on average too. Furthermore, revenue is up as spending on hospitality has achieved double-digit growth, with fan spending up across all major venue types – amphitheaters, festivals, clubs, and theaters. Of course ticket sales have experienced a gross transaction value (GTV) that is up 30% to nearly $36 billion.

Live Nation says they are "the largest supporter of artists: Investment in artists up over 40% to over $13 billion. Promoting more artists at every level from clubs to stadiums, with nearly 7,000 touring artists in 40+ countries. Paid out $1,500 nightly bonuses and 100% merchandise profits to over 3,000 developing artists through our On The Road Again program, which has extended to 2024." Lastly, there is an impressive fan growth of 20% led by International markets up 25%, with North America up an impressive 17%. Stadium shows led attendance growth with over 29 million fans globally, up 60%. While many complain about ticket pricing, especially within the secondary market, there are a wide variety of price points with two-thirds of USA concert tickets under $100 and one-third under $50. Live Nation says, "Average secondary ticket price roughly 2x primary, showing that tickets remain priced below market value."

 

 

02 / 26 / 24

Suncoast Audio's Sensational Rooms At FIAE 2024 True reference gear with Clarisys Audio, VAC, MSB, and an MBL room too!

Suncoast Audio's Sensational Rooms At FIAE 2024
True reference gear with Clarisys Audio, VAC, MSB, and an MBL room too!
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
As with virtually all shows, the local dealers come out strong to showcase their best gear and the FIAE 2024 was no exception. Suncoast Audio, based in Sarasota (FL), featured one room with MBL gear and assorted components while the other contained the Clarisys Audio Auditorium speakers, VAC amplification, MSB digital gear, etc. Since there's been a lot of cyberink about the MBLs, and most know of their excellent products, I'm going to focus on the Clarisys Audio room. Doing a double-take as the Clarisys Audio Auditorium speakers are quite large at 76" high and 36" wide, yet are only 4.3 inches deep. Why so thin? Because they use a custom-made and very special ribbon / panel driver that uses very strong neodymium magnets and a double-sided bass panel. This very strong magnetic field ensures a precise reaction from your amplification while ensuring the load is within about 6 Ohms.
---> Suncoast Audio's Sensational Rooms At FIAE 2024.

 

 

MC Audiotech, Pass Labs, Audience AV, And More At FIAE 2024 A great gear combo for your listening pleasures. Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin

MC Audiotech, Pass Labs, Audience AV, And More At FIAE 2024
A great gear combo for your listening pleasures.
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
Back in July 2021, Enjoy the Music.com's Rick Becker reviewed the MC Audiotech Forty-10 floorstanding loudspeaker and said, "it is for the discerning music lover who is not afraid to think outside the box and seek out the unique as well as the very enjoyable." Here at the Florida International Audio Expo 2024, the company was showcasing a different model, the MC Audiotech TL-12. As a visually more normal style of loudspeaker, the T-12 features the company's wide band line source drivers mated with a 12" transmission line woofer. Operating as a dipole from 300 Hz to 20 kHz, the overall frequency response is from 28 Hz to 20 kHz, has a sensitivity of 93dB/W/m, and presents a nice 8 Ohm non-reactive load to your amplification. The great news is that 70 watts should easily bring high volume levels to all but the largest rooms.
---> MC Audiotech, Pass Labs, Audience AV, And More At FIAE 2024.

 

 

Coax Highs And Deep Bass Thanks To SubDrum When is a drum not a drum? When it's a loudspeaker.

Coax Highs And Deep Bass Thanks To SubDrum
When is a drum not a drum? When it's a loudspeaker.
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
Here's something you don't see every day, drums and loudspeaker driver enclosures. The SubDrum is said to be an all-in-one sound system. You use a coax driver (tweeter and midrange) within the drum tom toms, and a woofer within the bass drum. A just like that, you have a satellite and subwoofer system of sorts. As a compact and complete all-in-one sound system, the SubDrum system attached speaker drives to drum heads, and then tightens the head a lot to keep it taunt. The float-in-head driver suspension 'technology' claims to "virtually eliminate cabinet resonance distortion". Produced from a single 22" wooden bass drum, their sound system is a single-point source for right and left channels as they mate an 18" rear-firing subwoofer with a pair of forward-firing 8" KOAX stereo drivers with integrated 1" silk dome tweeters.
---> Coax Highs And Deep Bass Thanks To SubDrum.

 

 

Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors The Southwest Audio Fest 2024

Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors The Southwest Audio Fest 2024
Enjoy the Music.com, premium audio's celebrated online site since 1995 and a leader in providing over 25 years of industry news, thousands of gear reviews, and more than 280 show reports, is pleased to announce we're sponsoring the inaugural Southwest Audio Fest 2024 in Dallas. We're sponsoring the SWAF's Thursday night 'Happy Hour' before the event opens to the public. Scheduled to take place from March 15th through 17th at the Hilton / Anatole in Dallas, Texas, exhibitors and members of the press are invited to join us for food, drinks, and live music. Enjoy the Music.com looks forward to seeing you there! For over 29 years, Enjoy the Music.com's ongoing efforts and resources have benefited both the consumer electronics industry and music lovers by providing leading information concerning luxury high-performance audio and premium high-fidelity equipment via the internet. We are deeply honored for the opportunity to support the very first Southwest Audio Fest event, and in teaming up to benefit both the high-end audio industry and audiophiles.
---> Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors The Southwest Audio Fest 2024.

 

 

02 / 25 / 24

Astounding Acora Acoustics And Vibrant VAC In The Big Room When you achieve being at the top of your class.... Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin

Astounding Acora Acoustics And Vibrant VAC In The Big Room
When you achieve being at the top of your class....
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
For those of you reading this who, for some reason, didn't attend this year's incredible Florida International Audio Expo 2024, the Acora Acoustics, LampozatOr, and VAC room was within the largest room at the event. It was impossible to miss since the bar area, live music, and smoking area all are within the same second-floor area. From the Thursday night party, which is sponsored by Enjoy the Music.com as are all major industry-operated events within the USA and Canada, you could walk into the Acora Acoustics and VAC room and enjoy the most expansive sound within the show! Acora's floorstanding loud speakers, seen here in Sunset Fire granite, stole the show. My Muse / wife Heather said they were the very best-looking speakers, and she saw virtually every room at the event too.
---> Astounding Acora Acoustics And Vibrant VAC In The Big Room.

 

 

02 / 24 / 24

Audio Note UK: We Are The Music Makers And We are the dreamers of dreams. Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin

Audio Note UK: We Are The Music Makers
And we are the dreamers of dreams.
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
Yes, the very famous words by none other than the original Willy Wonka, a movie-famous chocolatier who single-handedly saved a society. Mr. Wonka was quite the eccentric inventor, a man who demanded only the very best... including using a waterfall to mix and churn his chocolate. What does any of this have to do with Audio Note UK? Many within the industry have known Peter Qvortrup for decades; he is without a doubt a sensational showman. Peter is also the man who decades ago placed ads within print magazines with so many tweak / custom parts and bits that the text was nearly unreadable! Hand-wound silver transformers, Black Gate capacitors, non-magnetic Tantalum silver resistors.... The list read like Parts Porn for us solder-jockeys back in the day. It's like you'd call to buy an Oto SE and wind up buying an Audio Note Ongaku. How does something like that happen? Well, let me tell you....
---> Audio Note UK: We Are The Music Makers.

 

 

Heaven = High End By Oz @ FIAE 2024  Heavenly sounds in Tampa thanks to Oz. Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin

Heaven = High End By Oz @ FIAE 2024
Heavenly sounds in Tampa thanks to Oz.
Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin
It's always a joy to chat with Oz Turan during shows. His endless enthusiasm and deep love for music shine warmly, and am sure everyone who visited his room experienced this too. There's always another song to play, something new to discover, and of course hours of listening pleasure during the Florida International Audio Expo 2024. Stopped into his room a few times during the show as the sound was very, very impressive. During shows, I like to 'sneak into' rooms and first want to thank show attendees for putting up with me coming in and taking pics, etc. As much as I try to be 'invisible', take pics fast, and get out of everyone's way. Sometimes I do find myself apologizing for my photo efforts that 'block' a speaker or ???  With that said, am so glad I took extra moments to revisit as the music was very engaging.
---> Heaven = High End By Oz @ FIAE 2024.

 

 


 

 

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