Part 5: Rooms 601 To 633 At CAF 2024
More rooms, and more magical music!
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker

601 Geshelli Labs
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. Geshelli-man here is pointing out the fine dovetail construction and very attractive two-tone staining.

604 Geshelli Labs
In the second room, Geshelli used components in clear acrylic cases to drive a pair of Acoustic Energy 520 floorstanders available in Gloss White, Gloss Black, and American Walnut wood veneer.

Using a smartphone as a source, the signal was sent to the Dayzee DAC on the lower shelf, then up to the Giuseppe preamp above it, and out to the Z-Blok monoblock amps driving the Acoustic Energy speakers.

This was a well-balanced rig that drew a lot of attention from younger folks. I noted the ViaBlue power cord on the power amps.

605 Geshelli Labs
Geshelli got their start with small DACs and headphone amplifiers and this category continues to be strong for them. They had a quartet of listening stations set up with a variety of models. Note the gooseneck headphone stands in the shadows.

608 Geshelli Labs
Here, Geshelli Labs partnered with a young speaker manufacturer, Niel Blanchard Designs, who makes attractive two-way designs with concealed transmission lines exiting through a slot port in the back at the floor. The smaller floorstander was $1800 and the larger one was $3100, plus shipping. Two Geshelli rigs were on the stand – one with two-tone wood cabinets and one with plexiglass windows on the fronts. (Giuseppi preamp with Z-Blok monoblocks.)

The beveled edges created an interesting design detail with the plywood Niel uses.

609 Geshelli Labs & MACO
Having recently reviewed the MACO MACARIA speaker with a black granite baffle, I was looking forward to this room with the wood baffle version of the speaker. It was quite different from the granite baffle version, less resolved, but it was also being driven by a rig that cost far less than mine so it was not an apple-to-apple comparison. I pinched the baffle with my thumb and forefinger to feel any vibrations – they were very slight in comparison with the granite baffle so I suspect the majority of the difference was due to the electronics.

The black anodized faceplates with the wood chassis were very nice – especially the Dayzee DAC which had been artfully carved in a random wavy design that was further accented by the grain of the wood. The owner's father plies his craft at an extra charge on special orders that will extend the delivery time. But good things are worth waiting for in my book.

Shown here in solid light ash finish, it is also available in solid dark ash as well as birch plywood which can be left natural or painted a color for an upcharge in price. I've seen all the finishes and they all look great. (There was a version in red in the lobby at the show which I pictured in my introduction to this show report.) The shape of the baffle is an instant classic. The music here was open, transparent, and dynamic with a solid bass. I came upon this speaker again two doors down the hall with a different baffle and I'll have more to say then.

---> Next Page.