Los Angeles Audio Show 2017 Report
LAAS 2017 Show Report Part 4
Wilson Audio, T+A, MQA, Nordost, Merrill Audio, VPI, German Physiks, Ayon Audio, Lumen White, Maxonic, Concert Fidelity, And Indigo.
LAAS 2017 High-End Audio Show Report

  Continuing with my LAAS 2017 show report, as there is still at least two or three more parts to write-up, here's the wrap on part 4:

Nordost was doing a demo of their QRT power filtration unit. They were simply switching between standard ground and their QRT. With QRT, there is more subtleness to the music; it was a bit smoother too. While i'd have to stay for a few more demons to be sure, there may have been a small tiny touch more inner definition too. Overall i came away impressed. We all know the power coming into our homes can be rubbish (that's British for 'it sucks', or maybe just the word 'sucks'). Bottom line, give the Nordost QRT a go within your system and you decide. Me? i'm sold!

Wait what the??? Ayon Audio is a normal room? After many years of attending shows you simply get kinda sorta useta who's room is where, or at least the size of their typical exhibition room and Charlie of Ayon Audio / USA Tube Audio was within a normal-sized room in a upper floor. Hmmm, as their room usually sounds special in the big main floor meeting rooms, can he make the musical magic within a typically-sized room? Ok, maybe this all sounds like nonsense to you, or perhaps i've been attending waaaay too many shows (non-possibility), but after about 130 shows in total year after year... and then something changes you notice anomalies, like me wearing a suit. These things are as rare as hen's teeth! 

OK, enough gibberish, as there is Ayon Audio vacuum tube monoblocks driving Lumen White Anniversary speakers. Listening notes say, "Very deep, wide past the speakers soundscape. Timing and phase were excellent, with a top-tapping feel. Just one of those systems you want to dance to with that special someone". Lumen White's White Light Anniversary is the company's "Tour de Force" speaker. Yes indeed, i was right as they are driver time-alignment, with precision-rounded baffle edges. Frequency response is super-wide at 30Hz to 35kHz. Makes sense from what i was hearing. Ayon Audio monoblock tube amps and Lumen White's White Light Anniversary floorstander had the best full-frequency with very well defined imaging at LAAS 2017.

Maronic and Concert Fidelity come to us from Asia, and as you'd expect they are delicious delicacies of audio delight. On today's menu we have:
Concert Fidelity DHS-300B stereo amplifier $8000

System 1 with 20cm full range driver system
Speaker: S-800R, MAXONIC.
Amplifier: CF-i300B integrated amplifier, Concert Fidelity.
CD transport: TL330, CEC.
D/A converter: DAC-040BD, Concert Fidelity.
* All signal cables are INDIGO by Chris Sommovigo.

System 2 with 38cm Coaxial Linear Phase system
Speaker: TW7000B, MAXONIC.
Phono equalizer: i3MM, Concert Fidelity. 
Pre-Amplifier: CLS-050 line stage, Concert Fidelity.
Power-Amplifier: DHS-300B, Concert Fidelity.
Vinyl turntable system: DENON DP-3000 modification.
* All signal cables are INDIGO by Chris Sommovigo.

Speaking of Chris Sommovigo, he moved to Asia a few years ago and is loving it. His handcrafted cables are, well, just like Maxonic and Concert Fidelity. It is that humble excellence that simply proves itself naturally. No need for high flash or talk in typical Apple CEO terms; simply present your offering and let the products speak for themselves. The music sounded ever-so sacred and joyous, yet at no time did i ever hear the speakers. Wait, what? Ever been into a room where the speakers just utterly and completely 'disappear'. It's one of those very rare room/system thing and when it works, oh yeah you got it right! There was just deep, well-defined music in the rear 1/3-ish of the room.

There's something going on within the boutique manufacturers of Asia, and have nearly always came away deeply appreciating their ability to do things in a natural, yet technical way. Maxonic and Concert Fidelity have my humble gratitude for coming to LAAS 2017 and setting up a joyous system. It's always a good thing when you leave an exhibitor's room feeling happy.

And on that happy note, time to take a weekend break. It's been a long two months since AXPONA 2017 in Chicago, and then HIGH END 2017 in Munich followed by LAAS 2017, plus we released two Review Magazines, our daily industry news....

Oh, and before i forget, never really mention this yet since we're on a roll, check us out on Facebook and Twitter, if you do that whole social media Insta-Snap Face-Twit thing (as i call them). As always, in the end what really matters is that you....

Enjoy the Music (i got no time for livin'. Yes, I'm workin' all the time. It seems to me i could live my life...),

Steven R. Rochlin

---> Onward to part 5 of our LAAS 2017 show report.

---> Back to LAAS 2017 show report homepage.