Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2021 Show Report
CAF 2021 Show Report By Enjoy the Music.com

  Capital Audiofest (CAF) started out in 2010 as a very casual show and has evolved into a well-organized and well-attended event. CAF is recognized as a fun, friendly, and family-oriented show where you often see families strolling from room to room listening to music and auditioning gear. You can also browse the multiple bins of vinyl LP records, CDs, and hi-fi accessories in the Atrium Marketplace. During the event there is wonderful live music plus Enjoy the Music.com sponsored both the Thursday exhibitor/press party and on Friday night we sponsored free drinks for attendees. Capital Audiofest 2021 was from November 5th through 7th at the Twinbrook Hilton in Rockville Maryland.

CAF 2021 Show Reports

CAF 2021 Show Report By Dr. Matthew Clott

Capital Audiofest 2021 Show Report By Greg Weaver

Capital Audiofest 2021 Part 1 By Rick Becker

Capital Audiofest 2021 Part 2 By Rick Becker

Capital Audiofest 2021 Part 3 By Rick Becker

Capital Audiofest 2021 Part 4 By Rick Becker

Capital Audiofest 2021 Part 5 By Rick Becker

Capital Audiofest 2021 Sneak Peek Special!

AGD "TEMPO" GaN MOSFET Reference Stereo Amplifier @ CAF
AGD Productions will be the Capital Audiofest 2021 showcasing their AGD "TEMPO" ($5499 on up depending on finish), its first reference stereo amplifier. Rated at 100 Watts per channel stereo @ 8 Ohms (200 @ 4 Ohms), it is based on AGD's new proprietary modular platform that employs Gallium Nitride MOSFETs. The AGD TEMPO is upgradeable to enable future improvement of the technology, maintaining and preserving the value of the product over time. Inputs include RCA and XLR, a remote trigger, and can operate in bridge-mode to deliver twice the nominal single-channel output power. To achieve these performances in such compact CNC machined cabinet, AGD designed a new GaN based output power stage and a new mother board. The Gallium Nitride power MOSFET, as used in the GaN-Power module, can efficiently switch at much higher frequency and slew rates than any of its silicon-based counterparts, plus can deliver the most sublime sound according to the company. With their ideal "by the book" oscillations-free switching capabilities, these new advanced components are the key to the power capabilities and the reference musical performance of all the AGD amplifier designs. Standard finish is anodized black or silver, with a slight upcharge for the AGD "TEMPO" SE polished finishing for $6299 (SE version on custom order).

VAC After Hours Listening Party With Greg Weaver
VAC / Valve Amplification Company will be at CAF 2021 with The Audio Company and Von Schweikert Audio to host Friday and Saturday Night After Hour's LP Listening Sessions with renowned audiophile and Enjoy the Music.com journalist Greg Weaver in The Potomac Room. On Friday Night @ 10pm Greg Weaver will lead listeners through the magic that is Supertramp's 1974 Prog Rock masterpiece Crime of the Century. After sharing why he feels the third studio album from this then still struggling, recently restructured band represents the most significant, influential, and meaningful release of their entire repertoire, he will spin his 1981 Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs UHQR release, which he feels is the quietest, most dynamic, most extended, and spacious sounding copy of this LP he has heard in the 47 years since its release. Saturday Night is going to be an evening of exceptional music playback presented by Greg Weaver starting at 8pm until midnight - or whenever! Greg Weaver has written for The Absolute Sound, Positive Feedback, and Enjoy the Music.com, to name a few, and now produces reviews and video content at his the audio analyst YouTube channel and website.

Daedalus Audio ZEUS v.3 Statement Speaker @ CAF 2021
Daedalus Audio wil be at CAF 2021 with the company's brand new ZEUS v.3 statement speaker that features a new 6.5" midrange, completely redesigned crossover, and enclosure the ZEUS v.3 takes a fine speaker to a completely new level! According to the company, this is essentially a new model. The new midrange driver is twice the cone area of its predecessor and handles a full octave more with extreme accuracy and phase coherency while the new cabinet design produces linear, punchy bass with phenomenal dynamics. Incredibly smooth and effortless with a life-size stage, you don't just listen to a recording you feel a connection with the artist. Daedalus will be introducing the ZEUS v.3 in the Randolph Room at CAF along with statement products from Lampizator, WyWires, and VAC!

Acora Acoustics Presents Pianist & Singer Anne Bisson
Acora Acoustics will feature very special appearances by jazz pianist and singer Anne Bisson within the Eisenhower room on Friday and Saturday @ 12pm and 3pm. Anne's path as an artist has taken many turns, none of them mundane. She's been a singer / songwriter and pianist since childhood, and she now heads her own record company. Her albums have been steadily selling in more than 25 countries around the world plus she has many years on television as actress and host of her own show have given her the poise and confidence she has been displaying on stage for many years. Her ebullient personality and charisma, along with the unsurpassed high fidelity quality of her recordings, have captivated an ever-growing public. So much so, that in 2018, her album Blue Mind won Best Female Vocal Album at the AV Fair in Guangzhou, China. Anne accompanies herself on the piano with remarkable grace and elegance, while singing melodies that are both touching and true to heart. It's a stirring fusion of poetry and jazz, with a warm voice that thrills and enchants from the very first note. For a very special show treat, visit Acora Acoustics in the Eisenhower room on Friday and Saturday at 12pm and 3pm for live, in-person, unmic'ed performances by Anne Bisson. She will be joined by her recorded accompaniment playing via our system featuring the Acora Acoustics SRC-2. Seating will be limited so arrive early to grab your seat. She will also be offering signed copies of her music, including her new release Keys To My Heart as well as additional releases throughout the show in our Eisenhower showroom. In addition, Acora Acoustics will have An evening with Grammy Award winning Mastering Engineer and Part-Time Audiophile Senior Contributor Dave McNair at the same Eisenhower room both Friday and Saturday evening from 6:30pm to 8pm.

LKV Research Presents Five New Products @ CAF 2021
LKV Research wil be within Room 508 @ CAF 2021 with presenting five new high-end audio products! You can preview their newest phono pre-amplifier, the Veros VNL. Not only does it offer better performance than the now-discontinued Veros One, company owner Bill Hutchins also has plans for a retrofittable, current-mode module option. Its VNL PWR linear power supply will stun you. Downstream of the Veros VNL will be the LKV Line One Control Amp and both the Veros PWR+ and the new PWR 3 amp driving Joseph Audio Pulsar2 Graphene speakers, but not at the same time! Upstream, Basis Audio will introduce to the world its new Bravo turntable with Vector tonearm. Finley Audio will provide speaker cable and interconnects, including the world premiere of its Cirrus speaker cable. Finley will be hosting a two-winner raffle for its Cirrus and Stratus power cords. The Cirrus has a price of over $1000.

Borresen 05 Silver Supreme Edition World Premiere
Borresen will be proudly playing their new 05 Silver Supreme Edition flagship loudspeaker within the Twinbrook Room @ CAF 2021. In the company's unwavering quest to strive for the ultimate authenticity, BØRRESEN Acoustics has broken new ground using unconventional materials. Designing new components, in combination with application of state-of-the-art processes in manufacturing, allowes them to achieve their goals. Based on this approach, BØRRESEN now present their new premium models of loudspeakers that complete their O- series. According to the company, "The sound quality of these premium models evokes new superlatives for authenticity, clarity and refinement of musical performance." The patented BØRRESEN magnet motor has been further refined as silver has turned out to have the highest specific electrical conductivity of all metals. As such, they replaced the copper pole rings with hand-crafted silver rings. This details only hints at the many features of their new Silver Supreme O-series.

Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors Capital Audiofest Happy HoursEnjoy the Music.com, high-end audio's celebrated online site since 1995 and a leader in providing industry news, gear reviews, and show reports is pleased to announce that we're sponsoring Capital Audiofest's 'Happy Hour'. Exhibitors and members of the press will join us for complimentary food and beverage on Thursday. Enjoy the Music.com loves our loyal readers and show attendees, and so we're once again partying on Friday for all attendees. Both events will take place from 6:00 PM through 8:00 PM at the Hilton Hotel Olive's Restaurant / Bar. We look forward to seeing you there!
---> Press Release: Enjoy the Music.com sponsors CAF 2021 Happy Hours!

More About CAF 2021

CAF hopes to opened up the 2nd and 4th floors during 2021 with over 120 Exhibitors and over 220 brands as they did in 2019! There may also be over 40 Atrium Marketplace vendors including at least two dozen vinyl/LP sellers, making the show a veritable Record Fair. Qobuz may once again set up a Listening Lounge in the Plaza II Ballroom, for show-goers to sample streaming and turntable set-ups with headphones, and just hang out and chill, with free Wi-Fi.

Amazing Prizes And Giveaways!
Various giveaways every night and many of the exhibitors will have special Demo times, Show Specials and other promotions.

Where
Hilton Hotel Rockville
Located at the Twinbrook Metro Station
1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852

Show Schedule
Show Day 1
Friday, November 5
12pm to 8pm: CAF Open to General Public

Show Day 2
Saturday, November 6
10am to 6pm: CAF Open to General Public

Show Day 3
Sunday, November 7
10am to 4pm: CAF Open to General Public

Learn more at Capital Audiofest's website at this link.

Previous Capital Audiofest Show Reports
Enjoy the Music.com's previous coverage includes Capital Audiofest 2019, Capital Audiofest 2018, CAF/CanMania 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, and 2012 High-End Audio Show Report.