Year: 2018

No, really. Tomorrow. I joked while at the Capital Audiofest just the other day that I was going to buy a tour bus to live on and go from show to show and I had some interest. I’m sure more shows are good for. . .someone?

CAF 2018: The Wrap

What a great show. What a great show the Capital Audiofest is. Lots of friendly happy people, a panoply of hifi, and real good music being enjoyed by many. What more can you ask for?

Portraits in HiFi: Jonathan Derda

Jonathan Derda, Mo-Fi.

CAF 2018: Tenacious Sound

Retailer Tenacious Sound also had a number of rooms at RMAF 2018 and I’m going to agree with my friend Art Dudley, again, in picking this room as my favorite of the Tenacious bunch. Here’s Art—”It was sonically wide-open—the system would not have wanted an […]

CAF 2018: Doshi and DeVore and the Tale of the Tape

DC-area dealer Command Performance A/V had a number of rooms at CAF 2018 and my favorite was the one with Doshi and DeVore in it.

CAF 2018: Mostly Sights 2

When you walk around a hifi show, especially the Capital Audiofest, you can’t help but be struck by difference. There are more means toward our ends than anyone has the time to get to know well. Ideally we find things we like living with and […]

CAF 2018: Gryphon Audio

Gryphon Audio and retailer 20/20 Evolution shared room 523 along with guest tape spinner Philip O’Hanlon of On A Higher Note, Gryphon’s US Distributor. Philip reeled out Lee Morgan’s The Sidewinder and I had to resist the urge to get up and move to that […]

CAF 2018: Mostly Sights

I said to myself at the beginning of CAF 2018, Self, you’re going in every room. And I (almost) did. That being the case, I think the best way to share that experience is with pictures. Up top is the “Virtues of Vintage” crew—Art Dudley […]

CAF 2018: Channel D

Rob Robinson of Channel D is a man on a mission(s)—one of said missions is to help you rip your vinyl, metadata and all. His Pure Vinyl software has the ability to automagically add your LP’s metadata using an internet db lookup “using only the […]

CAF 2018: BorderPatrol and Volti (and the end of controversy)

November 6, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

You have to ask yourself— how can a DAC be controversial? You have to ask because a DAC can’t be controversial any more than a spoon can be controversial—people make things controversial when they try to impose their opinion so forcefully in order to make […]

CAF 2018: IMC Audio (and a story)

When I stopped in in the IMC Audio room, the music selections were being selected and explained to two little girls. One was sitting next to me and her friend was standing alongside her friend. The girls were told, “There’s a nine-year-old girl singing on […]

CAF 2018: Fern & Roby

November 6, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

During the “Virtues of Vintage” seminar, Blackie Pagano suggested that the hifi industry has forgotten how to market. I tend to agree although there are a few outliers like Richmond, VA-based Fern & Roby. Just take one look at their room and the products in […]

Portraits in HiFi: Sean Casey

Sean Casey, Zu Audio.

CAF 2018: Zu Audio

The Zu Audio Omen Dirty Weekend [Mk.II] speakers (the smaller one) cost $999.99, shipping included. From what my ears and eyes tell me, that’s a screaming good deal.

Portraits in HiFi: Dave Slagle

Dave Slagle, Emia Labs, intact audio. (photo signed by Dave)

CAF 2018: Emia Labs

“Stacked Quads.” is what someone said when they walked into the Emia Labs room at CAF 2018. That’s like looking at the Mona Lisa and saying, “A nose.”

Portraits in HiFi: Blackie Pagano

Blackie Pagano, tube amp tech.

CAF 2018: Gamut, Pear, and Gaps