Toronto Audiofest 2022 Show Report Part 2
Thirst for more on the third floor.
Show Report By Rick Becker

  The Heretic Loudspeakers Co. AD614 ($7999) was the smallest in the line from speaker designer Robert Gaboury whom I knew from back in 2008 in Montreal with the GEM speaker line that was so very good but didn't survive the recession. I had seen a presentation of the Heretic line at Montreal earlier this year, but I had a much better and more favorable opportunity to hear them in this room with Bernard. The speaker uses a custom coaxial design with a compression driver with 97dB/W/m efficiency, qualifying it for low-powered SET amps.

While the music seemed a little low on the horizon, tilting them back or using a small stand would correct that impression. The styling suggests a pro-audio origin and its rugged looks would be perfect for loft living or an environment with a lot of kids...or somebody who just wants something a little different as the name would suggest. Welcome back, Robert!

Coming around full circle to the elevators to the third Floor Lounge I entered the MOON by SimAudio presentation where they had a lot of models on silent display and a lot of staff available to explain it all. At the far end of the lounge was a small rig set up with their new Voice 22 loudspeaker, a small two-way monitor that has received very good reviews. As I sat down to listen, the music was stopped for a live performance of a couple of songs by Stephan Ritch on guitar and vocalist Caroline St-Louis. They are in the process of putting together another album and they have performed at the Montreal show numerous times. Always a delight to hear them.

As expected, the speaker sounded quite good given the MOON streamer and integrated amp that was feeding it.

A cut-away of the speaker revealed their patented treatment of the inner cabinet walls where a random serpentine groove was CNC routed out and subsequently filled with an absorptive rubberized conglomerate to quell vibrations. And a special waveguide was designed for the tweeter to achieve optimal blending and dispersion of the tweeter and woofer. I asked about the possibility of a floorstander to follow but was told none was in the works.

Seen on the main floor near the registration desk was this huge MOON by SimAudio model 888 stereo amp that starts at $59,444 USD. It would require a team of Ninjas to run off with this one or deliver it either.

That's it for the third floor. I'll be back in a few more days with Part 3 at a slightly lower altitude in the Lobby Level. Until then, as always... enjoy the music!

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