Salon Audio Montreal / Audio Fest 2022 Show Report
Montreal Audiofest 2022 show report part 3.
Montreal Audio Fest 2022 Coverage By Rick Becker

And to prove the above quote I offer this photo of the iFi Audio Diablo DAC for $999US, supported and anchored by Modulum vibration-absorbing copper footers, connected with expensive Inakustik interconnects and fed with a custom external 5V DC power supply. This was the $1300US DAC used in the room with the Hommage Dayton Wright speakers. And if that's not enough to convince you, I noticed the Silversmith Audio Fidelium gold-colored ribbon speaker cables that sell for $1395US for 10-foot pair Q.E.D.

Moving on to Outremont 1, there was again something surreal as I walked into the room. There was a black & white theme going on here, from the Yamaha guitar to the mannequin-like presenter, and on to the stand-mounted cutaway monitor.

Across the room, I was greeted with a table of Luna cables and their Orange SUT (step-up transformer), which was something new from them, I believe. At the other end of the room which was quite dark was a dramatic presentation of a Yamaha rig, complete with a Yamaha turntable.

In this large room the speakers were widely spaced but the music sounded better than I remembered it in 2019. I was even more impressed when I learned the Columbia record on the turntable was a 1951 original pressing of "Masterpieces by Ellington" at 33.3 rpm. Knowing that, I could forgive an occasional click and pop. Assuming this was a 12" record, I noted the large, oversize platter that went along with the large, oversize power button in the front left corner. Yet the lip of the LP seemed to be raised above the surface of the larger platter for easy removal.

Along one wall were three of their integrated amplifiers that featured many new design elements. Pictured here is the A-S2200, a 50 pound, 90 Watts per channel mid-size amp. Perhaps it was these improved amplifiers that gave me the impression that the system sounded even better this year?

Across the hall from the Outremont rooms was the very long wall of St. Laurent conference rooms, with the large Marketplace filled with numerous LP vendors as well as a few manufacturers.

Among the manufacturers was Isonic who featured not only their ultrasonic record cleaning machine capable of cleaning maybe eight(?) LPs at once, but also two smaller machines for cleaning CDs priced at CAD 100 and CAD 60. I should have inquired if they would also work on my wife's jewelry.

Gerr Audio Distribution had a table with a variety of testing equipment. The G.R.A.S system with a microphone and monitor for graphically revealing the in-room response of your audio system could be a very fun toy for audiophiles, possibly leading to addiction to perfection.

The boys from the Association Montrealaise des Audiophiles were patiently awaiting prospective new members as they are every year. But who is that bad boy with his mask dropped? I should have asked if they have been holding meetings on Zoom like several audiophile societies that I've visited online during Covid.

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