Capital AudioFest 2022 Show Coverage
Always fun and educational to see how things have evolved... and to see old friends.
CAF 2022 Show Report By Bob Grossman

  There were so many other rooms to attend to and hear. I was awestruck by the sound and appearance of the music I heard in many large rooms, but also related quite well to the numerous smaller to average home-sized rooms as that was more typical of the average home audiophile's situation.

I met Robin Wyatt and heard the new Miyajima-Labs open baffle field coil speakers. They had quite a large sound with the gorgeous Bird of Prey Tone Arm mounted into a Robyatt-designed and bespoke slate and Baltic ply plinth rendition of the VPI Direct Drive motor and platter. The speakers were made with special pine Japanese woodworking artisanship and vintage driver parts. The new Miyajima phono head amp premiered in this excellent lineup of equipment.

The Treehaus Audiolab presented a bespoke line of field coil loudspeakers in the most unique and crafted-looking live edge wood slabs. Featuring an open architecture with asymmetric locations of their drivers. It was another special room to visit.

Vanna Ltd divided their room into two demo areas. The hallway featured an array of headphone listening products and the listening room had the EAT table with their newest bejeweled tonearm. The sound with Marten Speakers was smooth, detailed, and coherent. It was quite comfortable to hear music and enjoy some classical tunes I know very well along with sharing music and industry news with Roy Feldstein.

My listening session with Jeff Catalano at High Water Sound was another extra treat. The look of the new TW Acoustic turntable design was clean and compact with the motor placed in the rear of the plinth. The beautiful New Audio Frontiers Signature 845 SE Intergrated Amp at $28,000 had a beguiling and magical glow emanating from the two giant LINLAI tubes. The Horning Hybrid Aristotle speakers were lively and engaging with a tantalizing open and fast sound.

I could imagine and nearly see the barge floating down the Thames as Handel Water Music was played. Later, I felt as if I was transported to the scene of several nightclubs and bars as we listened to a variety of great jazz records.

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