Capital Audiofest 2023—More Coverage

Dave puts on a different listening cap and picks some favorite rooms.

This year's CAF differed from past shows I’ve attended in Rockville, Md. Not the show itself, but my impressions. I think it was my 4th CAF. That’s not as many visits as some reviewers and audiophiles, but enough for the show to take on a mission for me. I’ve always enjoyed this show; the 2023 edition was my favorite.

In previous CAFs (calves?), even as I knew intellectually most systems are in poor-sounding hotel rooms, I don’t think I sufficiently factored that in to be as objective as I could have been. This time, I found myself lingering in rooms that I might previously have been quickly dismissive of. Instead of stringently comparing what I heard in a room to my ideal, I was more open to listening without my mental arms crossed in a display of whatcha got?

This newfound sensibility also sparked some fascinating conversations with friends and other members of the audiophile press. Which rooms did you like? Why? 

I always ask that so I don’t miss a room I might have overlooked - but there was more in play this time. I started to connect the psychological dots. After listening to some of the recommended rooms, the vagaries of hotel room sound coupled with a listener's likes and dislikes made more sense to me. This also inspired me to listen differently.

I realize this seems a bit cryptic - I guess I’m trying to say why I enjoyed a lot more rooms this year than in the past.

With those observations out of the way, I’ll discuss a few of the many systems I liked. Each one couldn’t have sounded more different.

Acora Acoustics - Audio Research - VPI

Acora loudspeakers remain my reference. The top-of-the-line VRC driven by a pair of Audio Research Ref 750SE fed by an ARC Ref 3SE phono and Ref 6SE line stage created an experience that was as great as I’ve ever heard these speakers sound. 

A VPI Titan Direct turntable and arm saw several carts during the weekend. An Audio Technica cart with a diamond cantilever might have been my favorite. Valerio Cora played mainly vinyl all weekend, and it was a treat to see Harry Weisfeld (and Mat) of VPI spinning records as well. 

Even as it was tucked away at the end of an out-of-the-way hallway, this room was rightfully packed all weekend. I didn’t spend a lot of time here, but I did check in for several short listens, mainly to enjoy watching facial expressions and heads shake with disbelief at the audio Nirvana being created.

I almost tire of repeating hosannas for the Acora rooms at audio shows, but the VRC must be heard to be believed. They have the ultimate resolution, dynamics, and imaging of any speaker I’ve experienced. I brought some freshly cut lacquers with me and used the resolution in this room to tell me everything about how the latest iteration of my lathe sounds.

The room acoustics were imperfect and had its share of issues like any other, but none of that seemed to matter.

Alma Music & Audio - Qln, Nagra, MSB

At last year’s CAF, I heard almost the same system, and while it was good, it didn’t blow my skirt up. This year was different, and I really enjoyed hearing some tunes here. 

Qln Signature stand-mounted monitors driven by a complete set of Nagra’s best electronics with an Innuos Statement server feeding an MSB Premier DAC had the kind of musicality and engagement that I love. Mark Sossa of Well Pleased AV, the USA distributor for Qln, Vinnie Rossi, and many other quality brands, brought his A-Game setup expertise. Setup is critical - more than many show attendees realize, especially in typical show conditions.

I’m a vinyl snob, and this was digital I could relax into and enjoy. I’m very familiar with the Qln sound as I own Prestige Fives. The Signature trades the massive low end of the Fives for higher resolution and refinement. It’s a pretty good deal and the kind of deal I’d happily take.

Now Listen Here - Joseph Audio - EMM Labs

This was another dealer-sponsored room that I loved. Aaron and Jessica Sherrick of retailer Now Hear This always put together great-sounding rooms at CAF, and I felt like this room was their finest hour. 

I didn't get into their other Vandersteen featured room, but the lobby-level room with Joseph Audio Pearl Graphene speakers blew my doors off. The premier of the EMM Labs MTRS stereo power amp, an EMM Pre, and EMM DAC 2 fed by an Innous Pulsar streamer was much more than the sum of its parts. 

I’m sure the Pure Fidelity-Horizon turntable with DS Audio W3 cart decoded by an EMM DS-EQ1 was equally great. Still, I was too entranced listening to a gaggle of my reference tunes off Qobuz to ask for vinyl. 

This system was the epitome of listenability for me. I could have listened for hours. My only slight tip-off about its bias toward musicality versus accuracy was that everything I played sounded amazing! But isn’t that what it's all about?

Fidelis Distribution

Veteran audio distributor Walter Swanbon created a room with sounds that soothed my soul. 

Harbeth P3ESR XD speakers were driven by a complete set of Lab 12 electronics, including a Melto 2 phono, Pre 1 linestage, and Suono SET power amp. I didn’t hear a Pure Fidelity Harmony turntable that was featured, but a Lab 12 DAC 1 fed by an Aurender N200 sounded mighty fine. 

The sound was good enough that I lingered blissfully for 2 or 3 tunes. This was the kind of room that, in the past, I might not have hung around to sink into, but as I said, this show was all about me getting out of my sometimes rigid standards and swimming in some new waters. 

I’ve heard both these brands before (I own a Lab 12 Melto phono pre), but something about the pairing of Harbeth and Lab 12 was singing my song. Warm but not cloudy. It was large sounding but not trying too hard to be showy. Damn, those Harbeths sounded good. Respect.

Wolf von Langa - SW1X

I was hipped to this room by some very experienced audiophile press folks, and I’m glad I took heed of the recommendation.

It was also the kind of room I ordinarily would have stuck my head into - and probably not gone in. 

I found my first taste of the elixir of the Wolf von Langa - Son model speakers quite rewarding. This unusual-looking speaker consists of a  custom-made full-range field-coil driver in a box with an AMT driver for high-frequency extension mounted on a plexiglass panel. An all-SW1X vacuum tube system drove the Son, including DAC V, VDT IV preamp, and AMP V power amps. 

Once again, something fundamentally cool about the sonics of this system overcame the limitations of the hotel room acoustics. 

I wanted a bit more low-end, but I’m calling that on the room limitations.

This was a very charming system that I’d love to hear more of in a proper listening room.

Von Schweikert Audio - Westminster Labs - Lampizator

This was a more conventional, high-end room of the type that I usually gravitate to. I might not have found it if I hadn’t visited with my bud and VSA chief designer Leif Swanson in The Audio Company-VAC-VSA room.  Leif told me I had to hear some new things he'd been working on and that I should check out the smaller upstairs room. I'm glad I did.

The new Ultra 55 MkII (active bass) loudspeaker and a pair of Westminster Labs-Rei power amps were featured. Digital was via a LampizatOr-Horizon DAC fed by Small Green Computer and Sonore endpoint gear. 

I loved the Ultra 55s when I reviewed them a while back and liked the Mk II even more. I detected a slightly different tuning, especially in the top end.

The sound was super powerful without a hint of strain. When Madonna came on, I had to get up and make an embarrassing old white guy attempt at dancing. Before that, I played a few snippets of my digital reference material, which, hopefully, was not as uncomfortable. Things sounded great, and it was yet another room where sub-par acoustics didn't intrude on my enjoyment.

I heard much talk about how good the big room was with the VSA Endeavor SE and Kevin Hayes's new VAC power amps, the 202iQ. I concur, and in addition, I instantly coveted those amps! I was impressed by the room-filling sound from a modest-sized floor-stander, but the smaller Ultra 55 mkII room was more my jam.

Robyatt Audio

I’ve always had a soft spot for Quad speakers; what audiophile doesn’t? 

Robyn Wyatt was on hand to demo a most enjoyable room featuring the new Quad 2812X electrostatics. Driven by a Kava HiFi-Single Shot integrated amp with built-in phono and DAC, the sound was sublime and ass-kicking! 

IMO, Quad invented coherence in a loudspeaker, but earlier Quads had some notable drawbacks. I certainly didn't hear any flaws in the 2812X presentation, although I'm positive they exist; I didn't want to listen like that - that's how alluring these panels were to me.

So this is what Quad has been up to. I like it.

I had to ask myself, “Could I live with these speakers?” I won’t answer that, but I’ll bet an awful lot of folks asked themselves the same question. The sound was so good I'm still asking myself that question.

I listened to a record on a Michell Gyrodec SE turntable and was in heaven. Enough said.

Treehaus Audiolab

It makes me happy to see that Rich Pinto of Treehaus is finally getting his due for his outstanding field-coil full-range-driver, open baffle designs. 

He showed his latest top-of-the-line Phantom Of Luxury loudspeaker system this year, which was très impressionnant et attrayant, again, considering the small room circumstances. 

I reviewed his smaller National Treasure speakers and can attest that as cool as they sound in a show environment, they far exceed that at home.

The Phantom Of Luxury system has an upgraded full-range driver, a new 15" woofer design, and all internal wiring by Iconoclast Cables. It also features a higher quality part for setting the level of the Fostex super tweeter. 

As in years past, the system was driven by his purist, vacuum tube electronics - (a pounding 8 watts of SET power), which have the same je ne sais quoi of artisan-built Japanese tubed electronics. Nice going, Rich.  Please excuse my French.

Ampsandsound - Acora Acoustics - VPI - Aurender

I tend to go to the rooms of exhibitors who are friends of mine mainly to chat and catch up. Sometimes, I barely listen because I’m usually familiar with what their gear sounds like in a good room. 

This was the case with Justin Weber’s room this year, except I’d heard a few recommendations from heavy hitters, so I did some actual listening. 

I thought digital sounded superb, the analog a little less so. Justin commented that the step-up transformer he brought along was not the perfect match for the cartridge on the loaned VPI, which was a pity because I’m a big fan of all Ampsandsound offerings, especially when playing records. 

Ignoring a bit of elevated brightness from the vinyl and preferring to hear tunes off an Aurender, I was captivated by his newest creations: preamplifiers. The flagship Yellowstone and second-in-command Yosemite preamp looked and sounded the business. I listened with the Yellowstone in the system, and combined with his top-of-the-line Arches monos, the sound coming out of the pair of Acora SRC-1s was indeed mountaintop level.

I still don’t know how that kind of imaging extravaganza happened in one of the smaller-sized hotel rooms.

Highwater Sound

Retailer and distributor Jeffrey Catalano's past two CAF rooms have been a treat to my senses. This year seemed especially good sounding.

Showcasing an exceptional array of equipment in his downtown Manhattan loft, Jeff sells a collection of brands less known in the North American market - anchored by two German companies, Cesaro horn loudspeakers and TW Acustic. TW is known primarily for its excellent turntables and arms. TW also builds a range of tube electronics.

His room this year featured a pair of Cesaro Wagner II with vinyl (only) playing on a TW Acustic Raven LS with the copper platter and 3 motor options. There was a pair of tonearms and I listened to a Raven 12" and 10.5" fitted with a Fuuga cartridge and a Miyajima Infinity mono. All TW electronics including a pair of Raven 300B amps.

Rooms like this make me question my reticence at owning horn speakers because there was something special going on here that transcends my normal ticking of boxes. It's always hard to pin things down upon hearing a complete system but I'll bet those TW vacuum tube electronics were a big part of the musical mojo that hit me.

Triangle Art

I think this was the last room I went in on Sunday, and what a blast it was.

I’d seen Triangle Art at almost every show I’d attended, and now was finally the time to take it in.

Mr. Triangle Art, Tom Vu, was kind enough to use one of his three turntables to play some jazz off of one of the lacquers I brought. I also listened to some other, even better-sounding recordings that he played.

The huge Metis horn speakers driven by his all-tube phono pre, line stage, and monoblocks were like having a drip of dopamine in my arm. Dayum!

Even though I was brimming with curiosity, I couldn’t bring myself to interrogate Mr. Vu about his designs when it was so near the close of a long weekend for exhibitors. Next time.

The devotion and commitment it must take to design and build everything in the room, including the cables and three models of turntables, is almost incomprehensible. I get grumpy if I have to solder a few connections.

No, big horns are not really in my wheelhouse, but my mission was to go beyond where this reviewer had gone before. I’m glad I did because the farthest stars in the audiophile galaxy were out there waiting to be discovered.