Who Were The Stand-Outs? | AXPONA 2024 Show Report

[@Waitaminutesilly]

This is why I just bought a pair of Joseph Audio Perspective2 Graphene for my speakers. Can't afford Pearls, but even with Perspective2s, I get very natural, transparent, and undistorted sound. Jeff is a real audio connoisseur.

[@gtrguyinaz]

The Joseph audio demonstration, where you had a chance to demo live music, then recorded and played back through the Joseph audio system. That was impressive to me. That is how I chose to buy my speakers 20 years ago. My extensive listening to real music not necessarily rock music, which is basically fun but distorted, but real music chamber, music, orchestras, etc. that’s really for me what I want to hear and reproduction.Jazz also and vocals are big tells ..Great overview Tom..

[@dilbyjones]

I noticed the same thing when trying to listen to classical. But I think getting to listen to classical on less expensive setups would be a feat.

[@willwill5595]

All Classical and Jazz music sound good on anything. You don't need expensive equipment.

[@willwill5595]

Can you tell us when the 2024 NY Audio show will happen before it happens. Or how do I find that information.

[@QuintEssential-sz2wn]

I enjoyed the show report. It's always nice to include the quick sonic impressions, indicating why the gear has been singled out. Most audiophiles understand the caveats involved. As to the Joseph speakers, it was hearing among the most human, believable vocals I've ever heard through a system at a show, via the Pearls, that sent me investigating the brand. I ended up with the Joseph Perspective floor standing speakers, which I later upgraded to the newer Graphene 2 version. Absolute sonic bliss...such timbral purity and authenticity, married to an utter disappearing act, incredible soundstaging and imaging, while having fun punchy bass.

[@andrewbrown-stone1987]

I always appreciate Absolute Sound as an informative and enjoyable audio magazine. Having been a subscriber for many years whilst based in the UK, I value each issue enormously and especially show reports. Long may it continue.

[@williamgaw3396]

The same hung was done back in the early 60's by Kloss I believe, where they had a string group start playing, then stop making sound and most listeners couldn't tell that they were listening to a recording.

[@thomasmartin2219]

I think Acoustic Research (post-Kloss?) did this in their Grand Central Station showroom? I think Mark Levinson (the man) did this in NYC too? Probably others.

[@johnunderwood3132]

I love listening to my albums. I could never afford anything like this stuff. But it is fun to watch! Couldn’t even imagine

[@FOH3663]

Certainly, there's drool worthy expensive high end products of all types. But don't be mistaken, the show also has tons of high performance offerings at very reasonable prices.

[@hom2fu]

don't say you're 2nd person fell out of my chair when you hear the prices

[@bbfoto7248]

@johnunderwood3132 The HSU Research room featured a system that was basic, but quite impressive and relatively inexpensive: A pair of HSU CCB-8 2-way 8" Coaxial Driver Standmount/Bookshelf Speakers for $780... Powered by a $300 Onkyo A/V Receiver/Integrated amplifier... Plus one of the HSU VTF-TN1 15" Ported 600-watt self-powered subwoofers for $1200. You can add a 3rd CCB-8 for the Center Channel in a HT front L/C/R configuration.

[@FOH3663]

@@bbfoto7248 Nice!

[@allanmarcus3592]

Excellent report. Many thanks.

[@francisdelacruz6439]

Nice coverage. Cheers

[@ThomasW.Insall]

Live recorded music that has not been tampered with will always sound better no matter the choice or speakers or amplification.

[@FOH3663]

Verisimilitude, nice, ... I suspect HP would be proud. It's nice to see Joseph paying homage to big Brian Cheney ... ie., live versus playback.

[@thomasmartin2219]

RE: HP, one can only hope!

[@williamgaw3396]

Still have a couple of Brian's speakers. Had the superpower 2ar's 40 years ago. Sorry I sold them now.

[@FOH3663]

@@williamgaw3396 He's missed. He implemented many advanced tech throughout his offerings, despite the modest size of VMPS.

[@dilbyjones]

Nice. I heard it was a blowout🎉 also I wonder what advancements in dsp have come along. I love it. Also I love Trios! In all types of music.

[@thomasmartin2219]

The Danville Signal/Magnepan Open Architecture demo is one to check out for DSP carefully applied. Legacy and Theoretica and Acora were also notable. I’m sure there were others. A problem, IMHO, is that DSP experts are fearful of revealing their tech because of backlash against DSP, possibly due to old DSP limitations (Danville says they are at the limit of last gen DSP and thus are shifting this spring to a new generation; Theoretica has made a similar point) and possibly due to DSP mis-applied. Anyway, we may be hearing DSP we don’t know is there. But I think we may be NOT be seeing DSP where it would help due to induced engineering conservatism.

[@rts100x5]

It would certainly heighten my respect level to see these demos blindfolded with no knowledge of the brand , eliminating most of the bias ....

[@kenmcglown6642]

Whatever happened to the good old days when reviewers conducted shoot-outs between speakers, components, etc., and then after the shoot-out, they would actually announce an overall winner?

[@jedhartman6082]

What were the speakers w the MSB setup?

[@g.p.9656]

Magico M2

[@jedhartman6082]

@@g.p.9656 how were they?

[@jedhartman6082]

I have heard that the Magicos sound great w MSB

[@g.p.9656]

@@jedhartman6082 The room sounded really good. Didn't hurt that the room had about $250,000 worth of electronics! Vince also had the DJM Gigafoil in the system to block noise - drastically went up in price though.

[@jedhartman6082]

@@g.p.9656 thank you. I was at the show but missed this room. I’m a Magico fan but never heard with MSBs.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

Starting with Morel is a big deal .. I loved those... and of course C-1.. What a joy.

[@arthurfleck1554]

The live music had live like imaging! And the musical instruments sounded almost real.

[@danimal853]

I have a 15-year-old pair of Joseph Audio RM33LE towers. Endgame for me.

[@Patraquashe]

I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the price of the Audio-Technica. I mean I get a premium phone for $4200 and maybe I could get the amp at something like $10-15k, but $104,000? I know 300B tubes are expensive but Jesus Christ...

[@thomasmartin2219]

Yeah, I think some of us don’t appreciate that there is a market in some countries that highly values very limited edition gear. It is, perhaps, more like art than the tech we are used to?

[@Patraquashe]

@@thomasmartin2219 Even then it is in a crazy price range. Sennheiser have their version of a limited, extremely high-end headphone and it is like half the price. Don't get me wrong, I love it for how crazy it is, but it is crazy...

[@richardelliott8352]

I enjoy a rational discussion, and enjoyed this one, but I always check who is delivering the absolute sound presentation because some of the prestigious experts they associated with in the past are real blowhards.

[@boomcrash]

No love for Caladan open baffles? Interesting 🤔

[@CottonBarton-x9r]

Thompson John Martin Paul White Ruth

[@TheNorliss]

Nice overview, but so many of these video clips look like they've been shot on a mobile phone from circa 2004 (and in portrait mode). It would be one thing if this was a one man and his dog hobbyist channel, but it's supposed to be a professional media outlet and looks amateurish, quite frankly.

[@thomasmartin2219]

This is the required format for KZbin Shorts, which we adopted to have same day coverage of the show, as requested by many viewers. As for for format rules and KZbin’s compression…maybe you can mention this to Sundar Pichai. We’ll see if we can come up with a better approach. Suggestions welcome.

[@kurtbrisch5776]

Someone needs to paint a pair of Estelon speakers in black 4.0, a paint so black it absorbs 99.9999% of light making objects appear as shadows.

[@thomasmartin2219]

Possibly unnecessary because the average room is massively backlit…making the equipment appear as shadows…even when lit with portable lighting? OTOH, black 4.0 sounds appropriately high-end.

[@kurtbrisch5776]

@@thomasmartin2219 the only thing I've seen this paint applied too was a newer model mustang which was driven outside in bright sunlight when it was finished. Just search youtube for black 4.0 if you are interested, it's pretty wild to say the least.

[@512bb]

"Delusional B.S." You just met an intellectually honest reviewer...so well said sir.

[@Orbitaonamika]

Hernandez Betty Johnson Donna Young Edward

[@NatalieBeck-b4p]

Martin Jose Davis Larry Taylor Angela

[@SuperMcgenius]

Yes, audio shows are not going to be the best place to hear what a product is capable of.

[@DonnaWilliams-n5r]

Martinez Eric Perez Joseph Williams Richard

[@NormalCycle]

Objectivity is subjective to payment. Directionally proportional= No payment ,Increased honesty.

[@justadad2304]

Sure, and hubris negates intelligence.

[@no_way4165]

Where do I find delusional BS? That's what I'm after, please point to the exact youtube channels you had in mind when you made that statement!

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

If I wanted delusional bs, I’d read your reviews on TAS magazine. 😂

[@gweflj]

It’s all simply too wanky bling for me. I would find stacks of fancy boxes embarrassing these days. If I had this kind of money I’d have some SCM100ASL’s a Technics TT, and simple pre.