The Chester Group's New York Audio Show 2013 -- Friday

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  For those of you here at the show, or thinking of coming, SoundStageDirect is offering 10% off music.

 

The new Music Hall Ikuro turntable (~$1000 with mm cartridge) uses their split plinth technology. They play to offer one model with carbon fiber arm as seen here, yet a lower priced unit with less high-tech arm.

 

Acoustic Sound’s Chad Kassem... the man behind many great vinyl box set reissues and so very, very much more.

 

Ciamara room had the TAD Reference 1 speakers ($80,000) being driven by Viola Symphony for bass and Viola Cincerto for highs ($22,500 and $22,500 respectively). And yes they are the same price yet, both are Class AB, yet each one uses a different bias scheme and bipolar output. Cabling by Clarus. Front end is the emm labs TSDS SACD transport and DAC2X ($30,000 for set). My listening notes say "The system was groovin'" to The Haggis Horns album Hot Damn".

 

Klangwerk speaker are handcrafted in Zurich and based on electronics from PSI Audio. The have various specialty engineers on staff and thus one designs the shapes and forms whilst other engineers specialize in electronics. Seen here is their model Ella ($15,000 including amplification). Weiss digital front end was being put to good use in this room.

 

Dan D'Agostino amps have such a beautifully fashioned casework. I never get tired of looking at the meter.

 

Grand Prix Audio stands had a static setup here at the Chester Group’s New York Audio Show.

 

Happy birthday Mat Weisfeld at VPI! As the cake says, vinyl rules!

VPI had the world's first 3D printed tonearm with 9, 10.5 and 12 inches. Pricing is said to start at around $2500 on up. And yes my friend, here is The Man himself... I present to you Harry Weisfeld proudly holding the new 3D printed tonearm. Way to go Harry! VPI gets my award for Coolest Use Of New 3D Printing Technology, which was all the rave on Wall Street about two months back (DDD). Great stock pick a year or so ago if you got in early at around $10 ($35.40 at today’s close).

 

Kubala-Sona cabling was helping to drive the Vivid Audio model Giya G3 speakers ($40,000). MolaMola had prototype amps that produce 400 watts in Class D ($15,000) with June expected release date. My listening notes say that this room had impressive dynamics and strong vocal presence.

 

And before the pics get out, as there were many... I’d like to personally thank everyone at Audeze for allowing me to borrow/wear their Steampunk’ed headphones. It is so hard to have the perfect outfit unless you have all the right accessories (LOL). This is dedicated to all those people who, for some reason, have decided to take themselves way too seriously. So relax and enjoy the music!

That wraps up today’s coverage, with much more coming tomorrow!

 

---> Saturday's Chester Group New York Audio Show 2013 report.