Friday
T.H.E. Show Newport Beach (The Home Entertainment Show) 2013

---

  Gallo, a company that has balls, demonstrated their Mico and A-Diva SE speakers ($239 and $329 each). The A-Diva has a small 3" wide-dispersion flat diaphragm driver in a 5" round sphere.

 

Stereophile editor John Atkinson did a great job at moderating the Meet The Editors seminar. From left to right we have Yours Truly, David Clark (standing) and David Robinson of Positive Feedback, Neil Gader and Robert Harley of The Absolute Sound, and of course John Atkinson. Wait a minute here, what is Mat doing standing next to John? i swear Mat of VPI is everywhere! Since VPI offers 3D printed tonearms, i highly suspect he has given in to cloning yet have not been able to prove it... yet. (Waiving my fist in the air) Just give me time Mat, give me time.

 

Aaudio Imports gave us a world premiere of their new Hartvig model TT Sig Gramophone that uses battery for power supply and gold plated tonearm... for a grand total of around $42,000. It does indeed look Cali Cool in this truly stunning red color!

 

The legendary Sound Labs A-1 PX ($28,270) are big, big panels that are easily capable of producing delicate yet big sound.

 

Enjoy the Music.com sponsored this lightened 800HP/800TQ Bentley Continental GT. Note the carbon fiber parts, yet what you don't see is an up-rated transmission/clutch pack, upgraded twin turbos, enhanced cooling, upgraded exhaust and much, much more. This is one badass looking and xTreme high performance exotic grand touring car!

 

Mat from VPI, or at least one of his suspected clones, pulled me aside and gave me to low-down on just what the company is scheming. VPI will soon be releasing a newish turntable. Why do I say 'newish'? Because they will be offering a rendition of their Classic 3 turntable with Traveler arm ($4000). The motor will be 600 rpm variety. Also interesting is that VPI will be offering scholarships to college kids who love music. Go Mat go! Normally I'd call Mat Cali Cool, yet he is a New Jersey boy and so... you can take the man out of Jersey, yet you can't take Jersey out of the man.

 

You want live music? We got it here at T.H.E. Show! During lunch this string trio played for a warm and welcoming audience.

 

There were quite a few people here at T.H.E. Show Newport Beach 2013 wearing our Steampunk swag. Here we have Mark Harrison wearing the now iconic Enjoy the Music.com t-shirt. Many thanks Mark, you really did, as Cali Cool Clint Eastwood says "make my day"!

 

Rounding out today's coverage, as my body is telling me it is past 1am as I type this and am getting 'punchy', are the Adam Audio Column speakers that were being driven by the Cary Audio SA-500 monoblock solid-state amps ($7500/pr and $5000 each). Front end was Cary Audio's SLP-05 tubed pre ($8500).

 

Cary Audio debuted their new DAC-100T tubed 24-bit/192kHz DAC ($2495) The USB processor is XMOS asynchronous, S/PDIF input receiver is the Wolfson WM8805 and DAC chipset is a pair of ESS Sabre ES9023. Digital inputs include two coaxial S/PDIF, two optical TosLink and one USB. Analog output is RCA or balanced XLR.

Much, much more to come as am simply too tired to continue at this point. Sleep well my friends and please stop back by here tomorrow for more coverage of T.H.E. Show Newport Beach 2013

 

--> Click here for Saturday's coverage.