Capital Audiofest 2021

Hifi is a mostly solitary sport. We sit, we listen. Sharing these experiences in story can be about as interesting as listening to someone describe their 3-hour dream involving lost socks and huge snakes.

CAF 2021 saw the premier of the Eikon Audio IMAGE.5 System.

Material science. Evey time I look at the products from Fern & Roby, I’m reminded of the beauty inherent in material especially when they’re blended like a fine cocktail into an intoxicating visual and tactile treat.

You know the whole ‘source first’ point of view? While I’m not all that interested in debating deeply held beliefs, let me gently suggest that music is the most important source of all.

Linear Tube Audio and Spatial Audio Lab, with help from Kitsune Hifi and Anticables, were making some sweet sounds at CAF 2021.

TAD Compact Reference One Speakers

Overture continued the B&W theme in their second room at CAF 2021, this time pairing the B&W 801D4 Speakers ($35,000/pair) with amplification from McIntosh Labs.

In Room 550, Delware-based dealer Overture Ultimate Home Electronics showcased B&W’s new 800 Diamond Series Speakers with amplification from Rogue Audio.

I did. No really, I really did. The ever genial Mark Sossa of Well Pleased AV handed me the iPad remote and I played Taylor Swift. I did. I really did.

Saturday morning at CAF 2021 began with a pre-show bang in the Newtown Square, PA dealer The Voice That Is room and a presentation of Athens, Greece-based Ideon Audio and their Absolute Suite of digital products.

Black Ice Audio

And I mean rocks! Serendipity graced my time in one of two VPI rooms at CAF 2021 in the form of one Michael Fremer,  Mr. Analog Planet, and his stunning-sounding unobtainium unreleased 45RPM copy of Who’s Next.

NOLA by Accent Speakers Technology launched two new models at CAF 2021 — one small, one big.

UK’s Audio Note greats visitors with a familiar setup and sound.

The MC Audiotech Forty-10 Loudspeaker (starts at $40,000) announce their difference boldly.