Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2024 Show Report
CAF 2024 premium luxury audiophile event coverage.

  With over 120 rooms, Capital Audiofest (CAF) is one of the Northeast USA's favorite hi-fi audiophile shows. CAF first launched in 2010 as a very casual show, and now 14 years later is has evolved into a very fine-tuned and well-attended event that virtually everyone within the audio industry appreciates. CAF is recognized as a fun-filled, very friendly, and family-oriented event where you often see families strolling from exhibit room to room while enjoying listening to music, auditioning gear. You will also love browsing the multiple bins of vinyl LP records, CDs, and accessories within the Atrium Marketplace. During the evenings there is live music in the bar and special live performers within the Theater, plus there's local distillers offering tasting!

CAF 2024 Show Reports By Rick Becker

Part 1: 8th Floor And More CAF 2024 Show Report
A great way to start the day at an audiophile / high-end audio event.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker
Making my way to CAF 2024, I rolled out of Rochester at 2 p.m. and headed South on Route 15. I crossed the Pennsylvania border and noticed some road kill while I drove through poor towns that have only marginally changed over the forty-five years I've traveled this route. It was impossible to imagine a market for high-end audio gear in these parts. Even as I approached Harrisburg there were few signs of growth or modernization. Highway signs just west of town warned "Beware of increased deer activity." No kidding. Stiff carcasses with hooves in the air validated the warning. I no longer drive like a disciple of Richard Petty. As the saying now goes, "You have to finish to enjoy the music." It was a warm evening with a clear dark sky when I rolled into the front entrance of the Hilton.
---> Part 1: 8th Floor And More CAF 2024 Show Report.

Part 2: Capital Audiofest 2024 Rooms 833 To 861
Enjoying great gear and music on floor 8.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker
Vinyl Sound, a retailer from a suburb of Buffalo, NY, had a straightforward rig on a SolidSteel rack. An Accuphase E-5000 integrated amp ($18,975) was the heart of the system. A HiFi Rose RS150B Reference network streamer ($4500) handled the digital. An IsoTechV5 Aquarius power conditioner ($3k) was hiding on the bottom shelf and Furutech cables were used throughout. On top of the Tannoy Stirling iii LZ Limited Edition speakers ($6250 each/show price $5625) were Tannoy Prestige GR Super Tweeters ($2195 each/show price $1975). Lovely cabinet work on this traditional style. This was my first time seeing IsoAcoustics footers on a Tannoy speaker. The turntable was a TransRotor (Germany) with a separate power supply on the shelf below, but it was not on the room sheet, nor was the cartridge.
---> Part 2: Capital Audiofest 2024 Rooms 833 To 861.

Part 3: Capital Audiofest 2024 Rooms 702 to 733
Impressive stereo systems on the 7th floor at CAF 2024.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker
This room was attributed to Hollis Audio Labs, but I recognize the gentleman from Danville Signal from last year. This is a B2B room, I think, where other manufacturers come seeking engineering expertise for their projects. Attending CAF puts them right in the thick of activity. I came upon a room down the hall that tapped into Danville for their services. This was my first experience of the classic Audience 1+1 monitor, now in its 5th version ($3900). The excellence was easily confirmed but the surprise was that it was driven by the Atma-Sphere Class D GaNFET monoblocks. I've visited Ralph Karsten's room at AXPONA several times and been underwhelmed by the performance, which I attributed to the monoblocks being set directly on the carpet. Here, they were placed on an amp stand with vibration-absorbing footers which seems to have made a significant difference – or maybe it was just the speakers?
---> Part 3: Capital Audiofest 2024 Rooms 702 to 733.

Part 4: Capital Audiofest 2024 7th Floor Rooms 736 to 761
Listening to luxurious stereo systems at CAF 2024.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker
I've commented extensively on Bache Audio speakers before. They are a boutique manufacturer in Brooklyn with an in-house listening room. The floorstanding speaker here was their newest model, the Sofia-103 with a side-firing 10" fiber wood cone woofer to achieve low extension. Note the twin tweeters in D'Appolito configuration with 6.5" mid-woofers on the front baffle and the super-tweeter on top. They aim for high efficiency in their designs and I heard no compression or clipping from the Russian KT tubes in the Alexus Audio monoblocks. That was the Sofia 101 stand-mounted monitor next to it and there is a Sofia 102 midsize floorstander in the lineup, too. DS Audio makes optical cartridges with matching phono stages but the music I heard here was streamed through a Cocktail Audio digital front end below the turntable.
---> Part 4: Capital Audiofest 2024 7th Floor Rooms 736 to 761.

Part 5: Rooms 601 To 633 At CAF 2024
More rooms, and more magical music!
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker
Getting started on the 6th Floor, I encountered the first of four rooms with Geshelli Labs, a young company that has been making great strides in the few short years I've seen them at Capital Audiofest. Their rig here was straightforward and in keeping with their entry-level (but not bargain basement) product. Michell turntables have been showing up in greater frequency, though not in overwhelming numbers, in the past year or two. It is a design that has evolved slowly over decades. The company dates back to 1973, the same year Linn was founded. The Guiseppe is Geshelli's preamp. Note the fine woodwork cabinetry and – believe it or not, tone controls for bass and treble! This would be their power amp in matching wood casework – something that sets them apart from most.
---> Part 5: Rooms 601 To 633 At CAF 2024.

Part 6: Rooms 637 To 661 At Capital Audiofest 2024
More wonderful music on the 6th floor at CAF 2024.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker
Continuing on the 6th Floor, I always look forward to seeing and hearing what Jeff Wells is up to. He is an established boutique manufacturer of very high-quality sounding components. The poster by his door gave an inkling of what was inside, but still relied on one of those chessboard codes to get to the price list (QR Code). Jeff has typically mixed it up by showing with a different speaker at each show, which helps show off what his components can do under differing circumstances. This applies to folks who attend shows year after year but is less relevant to those who only go once a decade. The Wells Audio room sounded the best I've ever heard this year with the top-of-the-Peaks series Summit speaker from YG Acoustics.
---> Part 6: Rooms 637 To 661 At Capital Audiofest 2024.

Part 7: Rooms 301 To 325 On The Third Floor
Thrilling stereo systems on the third floor.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker
Dropping down from the 6th Floor to the 3rd, there was a hallway of sleeping rooms filled with some key players directly across from the lobby and registration. To access it you had to walk around the perimeter of the Atrium without descending into it. The first of these rooms, if you had walked around the left side of the Atrium, was the Audio Note UK room. This British company supports a strong presence at North American shows and I always see them in Montreal and Toronto, as well as Capital and AXPONA. I don't cover Western shows anymore, so I can't vouch for them. Their sound is as consistent as pumpkin pie with a slightly warm, musical presentation with just the right amount of bloom for many people.
---> Part 7: Rooms 301 To 325 On The Third Floor.

More Capital Audiofest 2024 show coverage is coming soon, so check back daily for more!

CAF 2024 Show Report By Brett Rudolph

Friday Photofest: Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report
It's the first night of CAF 2024 and we have lots of photos to share with you.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report Photos By Dylan Rudolph / Report By Brett Rudolph
Friday was a very exciting first day at the Capital Audiofest 2024 show. Here's a nice selection of photos taken during opening day here at CAF 2024. As always... enjoy the music!
---> Friday Photofest: Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report.

Saturday Photofest: Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report
Another delightful day here at CAF 2024.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Photos By Dylan Rudolph / Report By Brett Rudolph
Good morning everyone. Waking up to another delightful day here at the Capital Audiofest 2024 show in DC is a dream come true! Saturday offers us another glorious day to enjoy an abundance of magical music, shop for LPs / reel-to-reel, CDs, tweaks, etc. too. Am busing writing my show report, yet wanted you to see all the glorious gear here at CAF 2024. As always... enjoy the music!
---> Saturday Photofest: Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report.

Sunday Photofest: Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report
Sadly, the last day of CAF; happily, here are more pics for you!
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report Brett Rudolph
While it does sadden me to know today, Sunday, is the very last day here at Capital Audiofest, it brings me joy seeing the many music lovers and happy families here this weekend. Please let me thank all exhibitors, attendees, and especially the many volunteers and music lovers who make CAF 2024 a truly sensational event. Many rooms had wonderful sound, and my written CAF 2024 show report will be online shortly. Until then, here are more great pics and as always... enjoy the music!
---> Sunday Photofest: Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report.

My Exciting First Foray At CAF 2024
Attending my first Capital Audiofest proved to be awe-inspiring.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Brett Rudolph
November is a beautiful time of year in the northeastern United States, especially this year. The leaves are finally turning, the weather is relatively mild, and people realize there will be a winter. Rockville, Maryland, audiophiles and music lovers gathered from November 8th – 10th to attend the largest audiophile event in the northeast USA, the 13th Annual Capital Audiofest. The Capital Audiofest is a melting pot of people, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Individuals can interact with everyone, listen to systems they might not usually hear, check gear they don't normally have the opportunity to see, and even ask a question or two. There are lectures on various topics and entertainment both during the day and at night, offering attendees all sorts of mediums and additional ways to interact and network with others.
---> My Exciting First Foray At CAF 2024.

More About CAF 2024
CAF opened up many new floors during 2022, and again in 2023, to make room for over 150 exhibitors representing hundreds of premium luxury audio brands from around the world. There may also be over 50 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.

Show Schedule
Friday, November 10   10pm to 6pm
Saturday, November 11   10am to 6pm
Sunday, November 12   10am to 4pm

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

Previous Capital Audiofest Show Reports
Enjoy the Music.com's previous coverage includes Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2023, CAF 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, CAF / CanMania 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, and 2012.