HiFi Live show 2017 end of day one.

[ellisdj]

Just finished up Day one - same as last year its a Great show with some stunning sound.

I have videod a lot of it but if your considering attending tomorrow its well worth it.

Some stunning systems to listen to and a great overall friendly vibe.

 

[insider9]

Nice I was supposed to go to Harrogate Hifi show and woke up at 1pm...

 

[QuestForThe13thNote]

Where is this Ellis?

 

[ellisdj]

Windsor I was up at 4am to get here.

 

[QuestForThe13thNote]

Dedicated. Are you making any money out of it yet?

kiss these manufacturers arses and they will love you but don’t cross that line in any shape or form as this is a hard market and it’s just about sales. That would be my perception of the industry and if I could ever give anyone any advice.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Dedicated. Are you making any money out of it yet?

kiss these manufacturers arses and they will love you but don’t cross that line in any shape or form as this is a hard market and it’s just about sales. That would be my perception of the industry and if I could ever give anyone any advice. 

Hi quest

Please explain what you mean about crossing the line?

 

[Andrewjvt]

Are dynaudio focus xd20 range showing?

 

[ellisdj]

Not seen them also checked the footage of the jbls and I seem to be missing some.

Must have been standing there like a lemon not filming

Will try and get some more tomorrow

 

[QuestForThe13thNote]

Dedicated. Are you making any money out of it yet?

kiss these manufacturers arses and they will love you but don’t cross that line in any shape or form as this is a hard market and it’s just about sales. That would be my perception of the industry and if I could ever give anyone any advice.

Hi quest

Please explain what you mean about crossing the line?

I chatted to Ellis at indulgence so don’t need to explain to others here, but I sincerely hope he does the best out of what he is doing, as I’ve done video editing and the effort he put in posting those videos after indulgence is defo to be commended. And I really hope he makes a mint in whatever he is doing in hi do. He deserves it for the time and effort he is putting in. Maybe he need some of us as helpers if only voluntary capacity? Cheers.

 

[nopiano]

Just finished up Day one - same as last year its a Great show with some stunning sound.

I have videod a lot of it but if your considering attending tomorrow its well worth it.

Some stunning systems to listen to and a great overall friendly vibe.

I saw someone filming in one room but couldn’t decide if it was you. When I next looked, you/they had gone!

Might write more another day, but two stand out sessions for me:-

1. A talk from a record producer/Engineer I’d never heard of, Mike Valentine, who started Chasing The Dragon records five years ago. Makes direct cut LPs - you’ll remember Sheffield Labs if you’re ancient like me. Also he makes reel to reel copies and CDs. Showed us period Neumann valve mikes worth ten grand a pop, binaural mikes, all played gorgeously through £20k Magneplanars and Brinkmann Spyder turntable.

2. Absolute Sounds’ Dcs Vivaldi 1 cd/sacd streamer, Dac thingy, into d’Agostino Progression monobloks (500 Watts each side) into Wilson Audio Alexia Series 2. OMG just about sums it up. Seriously realistic recordings from June Tabor, the Royal Concertgebouw, (both regular cd and sacd respectively) and an electronic construction recording, lastly Tosca taped personally by Peter McGrath at Miami Opera, his home town. Colossal dynamic range, utterly effortless, staggering.

And at sensible money, the WHF award winning Revel Concerta2 standmout speakers sounded way better than they had any right to in a small room driven by the new Primare I35 Prisma amp. Reminded me of KEF Ref 1 at about a fifth of the price. Superb.

Talking of KEF they had two rooms. An empty and none too pleasant sounding one with Reference 5 in, and a smaller one completely packed out to hear the wireless LS50s. They were playing the limited edition ones that look like they came off the Alien spaceship!

 

[ellisdj]

Just finished up Day one - same as last year its a Great show with some stunning sound.

I have videod a lot of it but if your considering attending tomorrow its well worth it.

Some stunning systems to listen to and a great overall friendly vibe.

I saw someone filming in one room but couldn’t decide if it was you.  When I next looked, you/they had gone!

 

Might write more another day, but two stand out sessions for me:-

1. A talk from a record producer/Engineer I’d never heard of, Mike Valentine, who started Chasing The Dragon records five years ago. Makes direct cut LPs - you’ll remember Sheffield Labs if you’re ancient like me.  Also he makes reel to reel copies and CDs.  Showed us period Neumann valve mikes worth ten grand a pop, binaural mikes, all played gorgeously through £20k Magneplanars and Brinkmann Spyder turntable.  

2. Absolute Sounds’ Dcs Vivaldi 1 cd/sacd streamer, Dac thingy, into d’Agostino Progression monobloks (500 Watts each side) into Wilson Audio Alexia Series 2.  OMG just about sums it up.  Seriously realistic recordings from June Tabor, the Royal Concertgebouw, (both regular cd and sacd respectively) and an electronic construction recording, lastly Tosca taped personally by Peter McGrath at Miami Opera, his home town.  Colossal dynamic range, utterly effortless, staggering.  

And at sensible money, the WHF award winning Revel Concerta2 standmout speakers sounded way better than they had any right to in a small room driven by the new Primare I35 Prisma amp.  Reminded me of KEF Ref 1 at about a fifth of the price.  Superb. 

Talking of KEF they had two rooms. An empty and none too pleasant sounding one with Reference 5 in, and a smaller one completely packed out to hear the wireless LS50s.  They were playing the limited edition ones that look like they came off the Alien spaceship!   

I was literally hard at it all day.
Go to speak to lots of people and had a few really lovely comments made to me by random strangers who have been watching. Really rewarding comments actually.

Yeah the wilson demo is epic and the Magico demo also epic. Not to mention the big YG Acoustics Nagra Room. In the flesh those speakers are Mega.

But aside from these super systems there is lots of great sound at the show.

I will do a write up but lots of vids to make and commentate my thoughts on. Also 1 more day to go. Cant sleep head still spinning. Or might be the cheeky disarono and coke I had with dinner 🙂

 

[drummerman]

Just finished up Day one - same as last year its a Great show with some stunning sound.

I have videod a lot of it but if your considering attending tomorrow its well worth it.

Some stunning systems to listen to and a great overall friendly vibe.

I saw someone filming in one room but couldn’t decide if it was you. When I next looked, you/they had gone!

Might write more another day, but two stand out sessions for me:-

1. A talk from a record producer/Engineer I’d never heard of, Mike Valentine, who started Chasing The Dragon records five years ago. Makes direct cut LPs - you’ll remember Sheffield Labs if you’re ancient like me. Also he makes reel to reel copies and CDs. Showed us period Neumann valve mikes worth ten grand a pop, binaural mikes, all played gorgeously through £20k Magneplanars and Brinkmann Spyder turntable.

2. Absolute Sounds’ Dcs Vivaldi 1 cd/sacd streamer, Dac thingy, into d’Agostino Progression monobloks (500 Watts each side) into Wilson Audio Alexia Series 2. OMG just about sums it up. Seriously realistic recordings from June Tabor, the Royal Concertgebouw, (both regular cd and sacd respectively) and an electronic construction recording, lastly Tosca taped personally by Peter McGrath at Miami Opera, his home town. Colossal dynamic range, utterly effortless, staggering.

And at sensible money, the WHF award winning Revel Concerta2 standmout speakers sounded way better than they had any right to in a small room driven by the new Primare I35 Prisma amp. Reminded me of KEF Ref 1 at about a fifth of the price. Superb.

Talking of KEF they had two rooms. An empty and none too pleasant sounding one with Reference 5 in, and a smaller one completely packed out to hear the wireless LS50s. They were playing the limited edition ones that look like they came off the Alien spaceship!

I was literally hard at it all day. Go to speak to lots of people and had a few really lovely comments made to me by random strangers who have been watching. Really rewarding comments actually.

Yeah the wilson demo is epic and the Magico demo also epic. Not to mention the big YG Acoustics Nagra Room. In the flesh those speakers are Mega.

But aside from these super systems there is lots of great sound at the show.

I will do a write up but lots of vids to make and commentate my thoughts on. Also 1 more day to go. Cant sleep head still spinning. Or might be the cheeky disarono and coke I had with dinner 🙂

Its good to read that some of those mega buck systems sound good but for most its the more (ultra?) affordable end that is probably interesting. Sadly, a lot of show vids concentrate on the big stuff.

 

[gowiththeflow]

.........And at sensible money, the WHF award winning Revel Concerta2 standmout speakers sounded way better than they had any right to in a small room driven by the new Primare I35 Prisma amp. Reminded me of KEF Ref 1 at about a fifth of the price. Superb.

They had those Revel Concerta2 M16's driven by the previous model Primare i32 last year.

Despite all the £30,000 to £200,000 plus set-ups, I rated it in my 3 or 4 best sounding systems I heard at the show. The others all cost mega bucks.

I'm going tomorrow (sunday) by the way.

z

 

[ellisdj]

Its funny because 2 people presenting different demos said the same thing which exaplins things nicely why these super systems are important.

They demonstrate just how far the art has come and demonstrate what is capable today from a hifi system.

That in itself is worth attending to hear.

 

[Gazzip]

.........And at sensible money, the WHF award winning Revel Concerta2 standmout speakers sounded way better than they had any right to in a small room driven by the new Primare I35 Prisma amp. Reminded me of KEF Ref 1 at about a fifth of the price. Superb.

They had those Revel Concerta2 M16's driven by the previous model Primare i32 last year.

Despite all the £30,000 to £200,000 plus set-ups, I rated it in my 3 or 4 best sounding systems I heard at the show. The others all cost mega bucks.

I'm going tomorrow (sunday) by the way.

z

+1. That Revel Primare setup was the first system I listened to last year and it set the bar very high.

 

[Gazzip]

Its funny because 2 people presenting different demos said the same thing which exaplins things nicely why these super systems are important.

They demonstrate just how far the art has come and demonstrate what is capable today from a hifi system.

That in itself is worth attending to hear.

Interesting to see hifi referred to as an art! I have always thought of it as a science, but perhaps defining it as an art justifies the level of subjectivity within the field.

 

[nopiano]

.........And at sensible money, the WHF award winning Revel Concerta2 standmout speakers sounded way better than they had any right to in a small room driven by the new Primare I35 Prisma amp. Reminded me of KEF Ref 1 at about a fifth of the price. Superb.

They had those Revel Concerta2 M16's driven by the previous model Primare i32 last year.

Despite all the £30,000 to £200,000 plus set-ups, I rated it in my 3 or 4 best sounding systems I heard at the show. The others all cost mega bucks.

I'm going tomorrow (sunday) by the way.

z

+1. That Revel Primare setup was the first system I listened to last year and it set the bar very high.

Indded, I headed there first too, as was keen to see what they’d done to my amplifier. The chap said it was better but existing customers are so happy with what they have they aren’t expecting a rush to upgrade. The speakers were a complete surprise though. Simply superb.

 

[CnoEvil]

Talking of KEF they had two rooms. An empty and none too pleasant sounding one with Reference 5 in...

Did you see what system they were on the end of?

 

[ellisdj]

Big chord system Cno

 

[Infiniteloop]

Big chord system Cno

Theyd’ve been better with something warmer. Devialet perhaps.

 

[nopiano]

Talking of KEF they had two rooms. An empty and none too pleasant sounding one with Reference 5 in...

Did you see what system they were on the end of?

Yes, as above a Chord amp , DAC and CD player. Wasn’t being played in earnest, but distinctly uninspiring. A terrible room though, with all sorts of panels scattered around. Not remotely like any living room I’ve ever seen!

 

[Gazzip]

Big chord system Cno

Hmmm... Kef made that error last year with their Muons I seem to remember. Such a shame because I would have loved to have heard them with something a little more appropriate. I also recall that the room wasn’t helping much either.

 

[CnoEvil]

Big chord system Cno

That explains it (as far as I'm concerned).

 

[marou]

Liked the Revels/Primare, the T&A/Stratus, PS Audio/Vandersteen a lot. But a lot of variation in the suitability of rooms and material spoiled some demonstrations. Not many visitors either and fewer exhibitors - e.g.no Naim, PMC

 

[ellisdj]

I have just got back home. Wow crazy busy 2 days but a lot of fun. Got through a lot of the show this year but not all of it. Was a Lot there