Salon Audio Montreal / Audio Fest 2019 Show Report
Special Show Awards!
Salon Audio Montreal / Audio Fest 2019 Show Report By Rick Becker

JBL L100 Classic Speaker
The JBL L100 Classic is a bridge speaker in that it gets you into the high end yet still qualifies as a party speaker that will drag you and your friends back to your younger days where you just might have to compete with your teenagers for space on your dance floor. Maybe not totally accurate, but it grabs your gut and reminds you that the music is your master ($4000 US).

Son Ultime Room (Outremont 7)
The entire system earns the award in this expertly set-up room. The music totally escaped the equipment and filled the room with air and bloom. Dynamics were unrestricted and full range with the REL subs filling in the bottom octaves and freeing up the midrange of the Sonus Faber speakers. The music was inviting and totally relaxing. I could have spent a whole day in this room.

Kirmuss KA RC 1 Ultrasonic Record Restoration System
Charles Kirmuss is the man and this is the machine you want. A new version with three 12" and 7" slot will soon be available if it isn't already ($1000 CAD).

VAC Sigma 170i Integrated Amp
With 85 Wpc and patented iQ Continuous Intelligent Automatic Bias System this amp is built to last and will drive a wide range of speakers in true Class A triode mode. While not inexpensive, it will get you into glorious high-end tube sound and take you off the equipment merry-go-round ($10,000, phono stage extra).

Joseph Audio Pulsar 2 Graphene
While it is hard to mess with success, almost a decade has gone by and Jeff Joseph took on the challenge of bringing the Pulsar up to date with a wide range of upgrades including tapered cast cones with a Graphene coating. His rooms at shows are continuously among the best, yet this one stood out even more. If I ever reach the point where I have to give up my big floorstanders, this is the stand mounted monitor I want (~$9000 US).

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