Audio Eden brought some mightily fine hardware to demonstrate. Mike Hamelin was manning the room. The new Kharma Elegance S7s ($20’000) and  Elegance dB9-S (40’000) were both running on different days. Front end was the Linn Majic SIM Neo 380 DSD, the LFD DLS line stage ($5’700) and...

... the LFD Anniversary monoblocks ($12’000/pr.) Listening sessions were worthwhile, the level of sophistication and sonic pedigree exceeding the price tags. Good choices here and the addition of the artwork increased the upscale atmosphere.

From Euphoria Speaker Design came the Bullet II at a variety of price points depending on options. Mundorf vs. Duelund crossover components slide the price from $26’000 to $36’000 with a ceramic tweeter. The option of diamond tweeter hits $46’000. A 1500-watt plate amp fires the 15” DSP-controlled side-mounted woofer. Designer William Laleff is passionate about his product and the music in general, with some misgivings about the sonic merit of CD as opposed to vinyl. With Atma-Sphere electronics and an XYZ cartridge mounted on a custom table, he made a strong case for the musical abilities of his analog based system.

Audio by Mark Jones hosted the $30’000 Tannoy Prestige Canterbury GR loudspeakers. Supporting equipment was suitably upscale with Tenor Audio’s phono pre at $50’000, Line 1 and Power 1 Pre at $10’000 and the 175S amplifier at $55’000. Kronos turntable and Ikeda cartridge at $50’000 for the combo asked,what do you get for that substantial sum? Total relaxation into the musical moment.

Tri Cell/Simaudio/Executive brought in German designer Hermann Winters and his Acapella Violoncello II Mk II spherical hornspeakers. Striking in appearance with their intense red, black and gold exterior, they feature an ion tweeter and efficiency of 93dB. They are priced at $45’000 and the matching La Musika integrated amp clocks in at a breathtaking $120’000. Front end was the Aesthetix Romulus. Sound here was interesting but hampered by the size of the room. The resolution level was incredible and with their unbridled dynamic ability and high efficiency they could overload the room with ease. What they did, they did with authority. They simply deserved more room to show it.

Audio Excellence occupied several rooms with ascending price scales. Dan D’Agostino rep Harry Chung was fielding questions about the massive Momentum Pre and monoblocks. With an MSB front end, they were powering the Wilson Audio Sashas with hefty Nordost. These big guns played with aplomb in this good-sized room. Didn’t get the prices. Too busy ogling the audio jewelry and sampling acoustic delight. The classic McIntosh product was glowingly on display and belting out tunes with snap and vigor.

Not to be outdone in the big guns department, American Sound of Canada had several rooms including Angie’s Audio World,  Angie‘s Audio Corner and the Premiering Room. In the Premiering Room the Focal-gorgeous Sonus Faber Lilium was holding court surrounded by Esoteric gear in full voice.

In Angie’s Audio Corner, the Focal Scala v2 was hitting stride for a 'mere' $35'000  powered with astonishing prowess by the new NAD Master Series components. Audio quality in this combo reeked of high pedigree. An unexpected match with high value which did all proud.

Angie’s World of Audio had both the fortune and misfortune of being on the main floor. Much bigger space, much tougher acoustics. This was a room devoted as much to allowing a broad audience to see dream machines as just music playback. Massive turntables, innovative shelving and a broad range of equipment from the likes of Bel Canto, Rowland, Audia, VAC and Sutherland.

Also on display was the legendary design engineer Mr. Ron Sutherland accompanied by a very happy Angie Lisi. Making some big sound to fill that big room were a pair of Raidho D-2s with their ribbon tweeters and diamond impregnated woofers. Surprisingly adept, big and bold considering room size and acoustics, this brought in the hordes to hopefully be bitten by the audio bug.