The McIntosh Labs Room
 

This was a pleasant surprise. At the FSI 2006 Montreal show there was a system very similar to this one that we pronounced "terrible" sounding. This system, however, was on the sweet side, much more in line with the way McIntosh systems usually sound. Now, we did not get to hear anything too complex here, or very loud for that matter - but if the goal of this system was to be Impressive and Sweet sounding, then they have apparently succeeded and that makes this system a success in my book.

More McIntosh Labs Room pictures.

Richard Gray power conditioners.

McIntosh C1000 tube preamplifier and C1000 controller.

McIntosh C1000 tube preamplifier and C1000 controller.

Remote control for McIntosh C1000 tube preamplifier and C1000 controller.

McIntosh C220 tube preamplifier.

McIntosh 275 integrated amplifier.

McIntosh amplifiers. Had a hard time photographing these in the dark light.

McIntosh MA6300 integrated amplifier.

McIntosh MC207 7-channel power amplifier.

McIntosh MA135 A/V Control Center.

McIntosh C1000 preamplifier.

McIntosh C1000 tube preamplifier and C1000 controller.

McIntosh C1000 tube preamplifier close-up

McIntosh MCD1000 CD transport

McIntosh loudspeaker

McIntosh music server interface.

The Lamm*, Metronome,
Wilson, Kubala-Sosna Room
 

The Lamm room was excellent sounding as usual. The purpose of this system, as t is with most of their show systems, is to show that popular speakers can sound good when properly setup and driven with Lamm equipment. Sounding good in this case means a very balanced mix of Sophistication, Emotionality, Impressiveness, Naturalness, Enjoyability, and Realism. There is only very little Sweetness, and Magic is not usually obtainable, in our opinion, with the speakers they exhibit at shows with.

This year, this room paired the Lamm ML1.1 push-pull 90 watt amplifiers with the Wilson Sophia 2 loudspeakers. Vladimir Lamm, looking 10 years younger than the last time we saw him, was spinning LPs like mad on the new Metronome turntable. Playing almost exclusively classical music, this system got a workout and sounded amazingly able to handle whatever was thrown at it (including some Stevie Ray Vaughn). In a smaller room, this system would likely be quite Impressive, the desire for which is one of the primary reason people buy these speakers.

We got to hear the Lamm M1.2 hybrid 100 watt amplifiers on the Sophia 2 loudspeakers in this room as well. Our preference, in this room and this system, was for the ML1.1, it having a more open sound and organic dynamics in the midrange, and only sacrificing a little solid-state 'slam' in the lowest registers.

More Lamm*, Metronome, Wilson, Kubala-Sosna Room pictures.

Wilson Audio Sophia 2 loudspeakers.

Metronome Kalista CD transport.

Metronome turntable.

Metronome turntable with Lyra Titan cartridge..

Lamm M1.2 hybrid amplifier.

Lamm ML1.1 amplifier

Lamm LP2 phono preamplifier

Lamm L2 linestage power supply.

The  Wilson Audio static display room
 

More Wilson Audio static display room pictures

Wilson Alexandria X2 rear view.

Wilson Alexandria X2 rear view.

Wilson Alexandria X2 rear view.

Wilson Alexandria X2 front view.

 The Wilson Audio, Audio Research, Emm Labs*, Nagra room
 

 We just got to hear this system the first day, the other days were 'managed' and one had to wait to get in and then be trapped inside during the demo - no matter how pleasant, or not, the demo may be. On the first day, however, the sound was disappointing - closed in and constipated. Not at all like the larger ARC amplifiers on the Sophia loudspeakers at CES.

More Wilson Audio, Audio Research, Emm Labs*, Nagra room pictures.

EMM Labs DAC 6e. Not sure what was up with these makeshift feat taped on the bottom of all the components. They must be there for sonic reasons... certainly not for improving the aesthetics.

The Pioneer, Bel Canto, Nordost* Room
 

I have no notes, nor memory, of how this room sounded.

More Pioneer, Bel Canto, Nordost* Room pictures.

Nordost THOR power conditioner.

The Edgarhorn, PureAV, Cyrus Brenneman Room
 

 At the last minute, it seems, PureAV invited Edgarhorn to exhibit in their room. It was a nice sized room so that was a good thing. But there was also an open bar - and with all the people talking, and the air conditioning running to keep the room cool with all those people - the noise floor was very high.

So, even though we played one of our demo CDs, it was played at about 65dB with a noise floor about 50dB and well, I think it sounded better than in Montreal with this larger room, but.... not really sure about that.

More Edgarhorn, PureAV, Cyrus Brenneman Room pictures.

 Edgarhorn loudspeaker.

 Equipment rack and stereo amplifier.

 Interesting looking cable elevators.

 Softone electronics.

 PureAV equalizer / filter.

 Close-up of PureAV equalizer / filter.

 Cyrus Brenneman stereo amplifier.

 HSU subwoofer amplifier.

 Edgarhorn loudspeaker.

 Edgarhorn loudspeaker: rear of upper midrange and tweeter unit.

 Edgarhorn loudspeaker: rear of lower midrange unit and front of subwoofer.

 A last look at the Edgarhorn loudspeaker.