SWAF 2024 Show Report Part 3
Featuring Classic Audio, Technics, Kimber Kable, Terry Audio, AGD Productions, and more!
Southwest Audio Fest 2024 Show Report By Paul Schumann

  One of the most fascinating rooms was Terry Audio. Fellow Austinite Marshall Terry has been building equipment for pro-audio and has recently started branching out into the world of high-end audio. The room was dominated by his 604 speakers. These gems utilize Great Plains Audio 604 8H Ferrite Speakers ($3800), Terry's 604 Baltic Birch Cabinets ($3500), and Terry & Duelund Audio Oil CAST Time Aligned External crossovers / speaker cable set ($3500). The 604s were sitting upon Northward Systems Model 2545 Studio Grade Decoupled Stands ($2900).

Over the three days I visited, the speakers were powered with either Terry's 150W Reference Monoblock Amps ($5950), Ampandsound Casablanca Monoblocks ($16,000), and a VAC Signature 202 iG amp ($22,000). Digital conversion was done with a dCS Scarlatti DAC & Master Clock ($13500). The entire system drew power through Terry's EI-30 Balanced & Isolated Power Classic EI Lamination Transformer ($3150).

I enjoyed talking to Mr. Terry about his perspective on high-end audio and listening to his highly-revealing system. The most astounding part of my time in his room was when he demonstrated the effect of the EI-30 on the overall performance of the system. As he switched back and forth between the balanced power and the regular AC, the difference was not subtle. With the EI-30 feeding the power, the noise floor dropped considerably, bringing more depth, expansiveness, and detail to the music. I left the room impressed with Marshall's grasp of music reproduction.

Another room that I anticipated visiting was AGD Productions. Over the last couple of years, Enjoy the Music.com has reviewed several of their amplifiers; all of them to rave reviews. When I entered the room, I wasn't disappointed.

Spread out between the beautiful Rosso Fiorentino Siena speakers ($40,000) was an assortment of shiny chrome AGD amplifiers. When I had the time to sit down and listen, the Sienas were being driven by the 400 Wpc AGD Gran Vivace MKIII monoblocks ($19,000/pair) controlled by the brand-new AGD Andante Preamp / Hi-Res Audio DAC ($12,999).

Full-scale symphonic music was playing at a realistic volume and the sound emanating from this cultivated system was smooth and relaxed, without a hint of strain. Once again I was tempted to stay longer, but I had more rooms to visit.

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