Fourth Floor Part 1: Toronto Audiofest 2024 Show Report
Featuring Nordost, Thorens, Chord, Audiovector, Audiolab, IsoAcoustics, Executive Stereo, Geshelli Labs, Tri-Cell Enterprises, EverSolo, and more.
Toronto Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker

441  Gold Audio
Gold Audio is a new Canadian boutique manufacturer that caught my attention in a big way. The three models feature external crossovers and the cabinets of the two on the left are made with horizontal layers of MDF plywood. The DS2 stand-mounted monitor ($15k) is covered with wood veneer, sections of which were painted with blue automotive paint. The KB2 model ($25k) with the unique metal stand holding the three horizontal cabinets is a Two-way with the crossover housed in the bottom unit. The DS1 ($20k) two-way floor stander with 1" dome tweeter and 6.5" mid-bass is said to go down to 25Hz. It reminded me of the Merlin speaker of years ago, only taken to the next level.

What made the impressive sound so unbelievable was the minimal rig consisting of a Bluesound Node and a PS Audio Stellar Strata. It was the best sounding of any rig at the show with PS audio electronics or speakers and a contender for a Best Rooms award. Their speakers can be heard at House of HiFi in Burlington, Ontario.

443  Geshelli Labs / Orchard Audio / Princess Pasta Audio
I'm not sure what Princess Pasta Audio is in the photo above, but there was an unusual assortment of brands here with prices ranging from modest to more expensive.

The Holo Audio Red was a cute minimalist streamer at $798 USD.

Geshelli Labs' J2 is seen above and is equipped with the Sparkos SS3602 on the XLR balanced output ($2500).

Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra Premium monoblocks were $3000 USD, each.

The stand mounted monitors were PMC Prodigy 1 speakers ($2500 cad) on Kanto SX26 stands ($360 cad), and were augmented with a huge Martin Logan Balanced Force 212 sub ($5000 cad).  The preamp was a PS Audio BHK Signature ($8600 cad) and a Torus Tot Mini Isolation Transformer ($2099 cad) was used to clean up the power. The sound here was quite nice and fortunately not overpowered by the subwoofer.

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