In the Canadian exhibit I came across this cordoned off Delorean
and asunder technology that looked like it had been confiscated by the Royal
Mounted DEA. Perhaps my editor who is an expert on fast cars and border
crossings can sort this out for me.
Also in the Canadian exhibit on silent display were Manuel
Lafleur's finely finished monitors and the Mass
Fidelity
Relay, a Hi-Fi Bluetooth DAC which was on sale for $219.
Much more interesting was to finally meet the Canadian audio
guru Gilbert Yeung of Blue
Circle Audio. I've witness the growth of his products over a
couple of decades and had an extensive audition of his products at his dealer,
Bob Neill in Amherst, MA. With the aid of a scope I was treated to an exhibit
of the effectiveness of his Thingee power conditioners that range in price
from $220 to almost $500 depending on the number of outlets and level of
conditioning. While they are crude looking, they are effective and hide out of
site behind your equipment rack. Why pay for a fancy chassis on something that
doesn't have to be seen at all? Later, on Sunday, I would encounter his
electronics in action.
As the show came to a close at 6pm on Saturday night the
industry reception convened at the foot of the escalators where Sarah
Tremblay, the "go-to" manager of the show was graciously
handing out tickets for drinks. And I have to admit, I was thirsty. The
Rickard's Red Irish style ale was new to me, and since my mother had once
bent over backwards and kissed the Blarney Stone, I ordered one with a glass.
It was the right choice, for sure. Tom and I hobnobbed about in the crowd
until a commotion ensued at the escalators when the sound of opera filled the
air.
There, at the top of the escalator was a diva, dressed to
kill, belting out a song, presumably in Italian. Immediately, I realized I
should have ordered the wine. Next thing I knew, another attractive lady was
handing me a postcard for Opera-Immediat
and the pieces of the puzzle started to fall in place. But alas, the
performance of La Chauve-Souris, 3 & 4 Octobre, 2014 falls right at peak
mountain climbing time in the Adirondacks, and Carmen, 10 & 11 Avril 2015
falls right on top of the furniture show in the spring. Life is busy when
you're having fun.
The next order of events was the annual presentation of the Lifetime
Achievement Award, given to a person that has been a member of the
industry for at least 25 years and made a difference for the industry. The
Inukshuk-shaped trophy represents the courage and determination of an
individual who has paved the way for the rest of us. This year the award went
to Michel Girard from Audio
Group, the Canadian distributor of Grado products, and Saxe Brickenden from Evolution Home Entertainment, shown here
in the blue shirt. Congratulations, gentlemen!
In other action at the party was Volt-man,
seen here checking the blood alcohol content of all the women in the room with
his voltmeter? I guess there's one in every crowd. Fortunately, only
one.
We passed up the offer of another drink ticket from Ms.
Tremblay, and Tom and I retreated on foot for dinner to the nearby St.
Hubert's chicken shack, walking past the Bell Centre where babes in hot
pants and stockings chatted with friends before entering to cheer their
beloved Les Canadiens who again
this year are in the playoffs for the Stanley Cup. Guess I should have taken
up a blood sport when I was a young man. Dinner was Poulet dodu badigeionne de
notre sauce piquante chili-lime, servi avec pommes de terre gaufrees et
legumes marines legerement releves. And it was really good!
My coverage of rooms on Sunday will follow in Part 4. Stay
plugged in!
---> Part 4 Salon Son & Image
Report.
High-Performance Audio Reviews
