Welcome back to my coverage of T.H.E. Show 2023, one of the exciting events of the show, apart from the usual seminars and the exotic sports cars on display, was a live music performance on Saturday night headlining debut artist Julia Sawtell who was promoting the release of her new premier EP “Call Me Julia” just released on a new label created by show organizer and Songwriters Hall of Fame recognizee, Emiko who also exhibited her amazing musical talents as a musician, singer, and songwriter.
Black Ocean Audio
Black Ocean Audio was demonstrating their [M] Stack Combination speaker system in the form of the Black Ocean Audio Pro Stack | 15/50 Analog 2.5-Way Speaker system ($11,000/set starting price) which is comprised of their Black Ocean Audio Le Chiffre [M] ($4,500) and Black Ocean Audio The Pale King [M]($6,500), paired with VTL MB-450 Monoblocks.
Songer Audio / Sforzato / Takatsuki / Pachanko Labs / Plixir / True Power Lab
Songer Audio paired up with Alex Sound Technology to show their Songer Audio S2 Field Coil Loudspeaker ($49,000/pr with power supplies) using the Takatsuki TA-S01 Tube Power Amplifier ($32,000) with the Sforzato DSP-030EX2 Network Player ($9,900) and a Pachanko Server Constellation MINI-SE Music Server ($3,600). AC was provided by a Plixir BAC-400 Balanced Power Conditioner ($1,500) and a Plixir BDC LPS Linear Power Supply ($1,000) with True Power Lab cables.
Jamie Audio
Jamie Audio was back showing their floor-standing Jamie Audio Aurora Loudspeaker (TBA).
TAD / Jocavi Acoustic Panels / Malekpour Design Partners / PAD HiFi / Studio Float / Wolf Audio Systems
TAD had their Evolution and Reference series on display fronted by the Wolf Audio Systems Alpha 3 SX Music Server ($9,895) running through their TAD-DA1000TX-S DAC/Preamp ($15,900) to their TAD-M1000-S Amplifier ($19,500) driving TAD Compact Evolution One TX Loudspeakers ($35,000/pr w/stand) and the TAD-M700S Reference Monoblock ($60,500) driving TAD Compact Reference One TX Loudspeakers ($87,500/pr).
Oriaco
Oriaco has expanded on the popular Oriaco G6 Loudspeaker ($3,500) to offer two new models (price and model TBA).
Man On The Moon Speakers
One of the more impressive demonstrations was Immersive Sphere Audio and their Man on the Moon Speakers, who produce their diminutive stand mount point source speaker in both Magnet ($6,000/pr) and Field Coil ($20,000/pr with power supplies) versions. While the Magnet versions had incredible sound and magnificent bass extension, the Field Coil versions opened up to a whole new level of detail and soundstage.
Hear This / Gestalt Audio Design / LampizatOr / Wolf Von Langa
Local dealer Hear This had quite the display from the fantastic Ars Machinae M1 Turntable and Tonearm ($35,000) with an EAR 912 Preamplifier ($13,500) to the Wolf von Langa 12639 SON Loudspeakers ($17,995/pr) to the New Audio Frontiers Ultimate 211 SE Stereo Amplifier ($14,150) to the LampizatOr Atlantic TRP DAC ($7,325).
Von Gaylord Audio
Von Gaylord Audio VG-18 Speakers ($6,900/pr) being driven by a pair of Von Gaylord Audio Nirvana Mono Amplifiers ($8,500/pr) out of a Von Gaylord Audio Harmony Pre-Amplifier ($5,000) with a Von Gaylord Audio Sweet DAC ($4,500).
RSL Speakers
A blast from the past for me was the return of Rogersound Labs and their RSL Speakers. Howard Rogers was a local L.A. dealer and speaker designer/manufacturer who sold his retail franchise in the late 1980s. Now with the help of his son, he has returned with an impressive line of inexpensive speakers aimed at budget HiFi & Home Theater. Pictured here in 2.1 channel configurations are his new RSL Speakers CG3M ($659/2.1), RSL Speakers CG23M ($709/2.1), and RSL Speakers CG5 ($1.149/2.1). He even offers packages with either Onkyo or Denon receivers and wireless transmission.
Alma Audio / Boenicke / Bricasti / Kubala-Sosna / Nagra Audio / Technics / YG Acoustics
One of my favorite speakers from last year was the Boenicke W8 Loudspeaker ($8,500) so I rushed to the Alma Audio room to give them another listen and matched up with the Nagra Classic Amp ($19,500), Nagra Classic Preamp ($19,500) with Nagra Classic PSU $16,000), Nagra Classic Phono ($21,500), MSB Premier DAC, Innuos Zen mini S mk3 Music Server ($2,049), and a beautiful Bergmann Magne Turntable System ($13,900) with a HANA Umami Red Cartridge ($3,950) all connected to an IsoTek EVO3 Mosaic Genesis Line Conditioner $11,995) the sound was as wonderful as I remember.
That concludes Part 2 of my coverage of T.H.E. Show 2023 stay tuned for Part 3.
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