{"id":41216,"date":"2023-11-03T06:34:05","date_gmt":"2023-11-03T10:34:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/?p=41216"},"modified":"2023-11-17T18:11:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T23:11:40","slug":"2023-toronto-audiofest-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/en\/2023-toronto-audiofest-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Toronto Audiofest – PART 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

For audio enthusiasts as well as audiophiles, an audio show is an opportunity to get to see and hear a broad array of audio products from several manufacturers. To coin a well-known phrase there is always – something old, something new, something borrowed and yes, something blue<\/em>. Patrons are not only those who are specifically shopping for a product but include those who might seek an opportunity to hear something they would not typically get a chance to hear. These shows are a smorgasbord of audio paraphernalia, a buffet of for those who want to get a taste of different audio gear. Always appreciated is a dabble of live<\/em> music, as well as the recorded kind\u2026vinyl anyone? And then there is of course, the opportunity to schmooze with some \u2018audio celebrity\u2019 types as well as just chit-chat music and audio with others who share this hobby or pastime in common. On all these marks this year\u2019s Toronto Audiofest<\/strong> delivered and for that, I was very happy to walk the hallways of the Westin Toronto Airport<\/strong> hotel, for the Friday and Saturday of the show, held Oct.\u00a020 to\u00a022, 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

My friend and peer contributor, Anthony Signorotti<\/strong> and I attended the show together and my coverage is infused with some of his experience as well. With that, let me take you through some of what I saw and heard at this year\u2019s Toronto Audiofest<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Tri-Cell Enterprises Inc.\u00a0– Audio Physic, AlsyVox, Synergistic Research:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>The distributor Tri-Cell Enterprises Inc.<\/strong> had a large room on the main level of the show in which many products were on display, while two main systems were on rotating demonstration.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

System 1 :<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The first system in the room seemed to be garnering all the attention in the room, making it difficult to get a good seat for a listen. Here making its North American debut was the AlsyVox<\/strong> Botticelli<\/em> full range ribbon loudspeaker ($120,000). The Botticelli<\/em> ribbon speakers were being driven by a Vinnie Rossi<\/strong> Brama Power<\/em> amplifier ($43,000) with matching Brama<\/em> preamplifier ($43,000). An Ediscreation<\/strong> Bach<\/em> music server with built-in CD<\/em> ripper was there to provide a digital source, running into a Playback Designs<\/strong> MPS\u00a08 DAC<\/em> $36,000. On the analog side was a TW Acustic<\/strong> Raven GT2<\/em> turntable ($12,500) with Raven<\/em> arm ($5,300) playing into a ModWright<\/strong> PH9.0x<\/em> phonostage ($6,450). The cables were Synergistic Research<\/strong> Galileo<\/em> interconnects and power cables with SRX<\/em> speaker cables with power via a Synergistic Research<\/strong> PowerCell SX<\/em> ($11,250).<\/span><\/p>\n

I got to hear Chris Stapleton<\/strong>\u2019s Death Row<\/em> and the sound was immediately transparent, open and clear with a tactile bass that had impressively solid impact. The weight of the bass was surprising given there were no dynamic drivers \u2013 just ribbons involved. The high frequencies were sweet yet svelte with no bite and the overall presentation was effortless. Anthony<\/strong> shared with me his perspective, to paraphrase \u2018playing <\/em>Birds by Dominique Fils-Aime<\/strong> provided a captivating and immersive sonic experience. Incredible presence, rock solid bass. Very open and lifelike<\/em>.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

System 2 :<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span>
\nThe second system was fronting a pair of gorgeous Audio Physic<\/strong> Aventera<\/em> loudspeakers in a premium ebony finish ($33,500\/pr standard finish). The system was sitting on a Rogoz<\/strong> rack ($3,575), with an Acoustic Solid<\/strong> 113 Bubinga<\/em> with 370\u00a0<\/em>Arm and armboard ($4860 + $1130) on the top shelf beside a Lab\u00a012<\/strong> Suara<\/em> Class\u00a0A<\/em> tube power amplifier $6,150. On the shelves below included several other Lab\u00a012<\/strong> components, including: Melto\u00a02<\/em> streamer ($4800), a Pre\u00a01<\/em> preamplifier ($2,350) and a Dac\u00a01<\/em> Reference<\/em> DAC<\/em> ($3,750) and finally a COS Enginering<\/strong> D10<\/em> DAC<\/em> with streaming module ($8,400). The system was also receiving conditioned power via a Synergistic Research<\/strong> PowerCell SX<\/em> ($11,250). Unfortunately, as much as I\u2019m a big fan of Audio Physic<\/strong> loudspeakers, this system did not get played while I was visiting the Tri-Cell<\/strong> room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the two demonstration systems\u00a0\u2013 a line-up of Harbeth<\/strong> and Audio Physic<\/strong> loudspeakers were in the room standing in orderly fashion. I could have spent much of the day in just this room rolling through the different speaker models and other gear selections but it was time to move on.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 \u2022\u2022\u2022 \u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

EQ Audio Video – Monitor Audio, Michi, Musical Fidelity, Focal Naim :<\/span>
\n<\/strong>EQ Audio Video<\/strong> is a high-end product dealer that operates from north of Toronto, in Barrie, Ontario. Along with being a dealer for Monitor Audio<\/strong> and Michi<\/em> by Rotel<\/strong>, they are also a Focal Powered by Naim<\/strong> store and so had the latest and greatest of all these brands on demonstration in a massive room. In fact, there were a total of five complete system on play in rotation, and the space was not only quite effectively separated into a handful of different listening spaces but there was also an abundance of room treatment from Viacoustics<\/strong>, all\u00a0 strategically placed.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

System 1 :<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The first system was the most modest but only in a relative sense, as it was nothing else by high-end, comprised of the latest flagship line of Monitor Audio<\/strong>, the Platinum PL\u00a0200 G3<\/em> ($17,500\u00a0\/\u00a0pr), mated to the Michi\u00a0X5<\/em> integrated amplifier ($10,000) and being fed music via a Musical Fidelity<\/strong> MX-Stream<\/em> streamer. Cables in use were all Audience<\/strong> with an Audience adept Response conditioner in play. Anthony<\/strong> and I agreed on the sound of this system – that it portrayed fabulous dynamics, while being balanced.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

System 2 :<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The second system, at the entrance to the room, comprised a pair of Focal<\/strong> Sopra No.\u00a03<\/em> ($16,899 each) sitting atop IsoAcoustic<\/strong> Gaia\u00a01<\/em> ($649 4-pack) and driven by a full Naim<\/strong> stack that included: NAC\u00a0332<\/em> preamp ($13,999), NAP\u00a0350<\/em> mono amplifiers ($10,999\/each), NPX\u00a0300<\/em> power supply ($11,999) and NSS\u00a0333<\/em> streamer ($13,999). The new 350<\/em> series amplifiers were able to drive these speakers to deliver nothing less than a bodacious bottom end that was well in control paired with a silky but present top end. From my memory of last year\u2019s similar pairing, the new 350<\/em> series amplifiers from Naim<\/strong> sound to be a tremendous achievement given the step up in sound. Finally, the rack used was a Quadraspire<\/strong> SVT<\/em>, which I must mention, as it’s the same brand and model that I myself use. I\u00a0 just love the sleek and contemporary look of the Quadraspire<\/strong> SVT<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

System 3 :<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting midway in the cavernous space was nothing less than an ultra-high-end system which combined the stupendous Focal<\/strong> Grande Utopia EM EVO<\/em> ($359,988\u00a0\/\u00a0pr) sitting atop IsoAcoustic<\/strong> Gaia Titan Cronos<\/em> feet ($1,799 4-pack). The system supported by a Naim<\/strong> Fraim<\/em> rack was comprised of the no-holds-barred Naim<\/strong> Statement Series<\/em> amplification ($129,999\u00a0\/\u00a0unit), while the system was wired with Naim<\/strong>\u2019s own Super<\/em> Lumina<\/em> cables. The system portrayed larger than life images at orchestral volumes and with mountain moving dynamics and weight. Anthony<\/strong> noted on the track \u2018Sixteen Tons<\/em>\u2019 by Geoff Castellucci<\/strong> that the images were gigantic with a totally immersive soundstage and rich, impactful bass notes. It was truly a jaw dropping experience to sit in front of such a high achieving system.<\/span><\/p>\n

System 4 :<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the ominous and awesome composure of the Focal<\/strong> Grand Utopia EVO EM<\/em> with Naim<\/strong> Statement<\/em> amplification; it was the all-new top-of-the-line new loudspeaker from Monitor Audio<\/strong> that I was greatly anticipating hearing. To introduce this speaker, I\u2019ll take the words from Monitor Audio\u2019s<\/strong> own mouth, as found on their website:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \u201cHyphn is a peerless, definitive, uncompromising demonstration of the Monitor Audio<\/strong> Group<\/strong>\u2019s current design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities, and its future ambitions. It is unlike anything Monitor Audio<\/strong>, or anyone else, has ever created: the most creatively ambitious, technically advanced and powerful loudspeaker in the company\u2019s history. It delivers a dramatically enhanced listening experience, with a visually striking presence<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes the Hyphn<\/em> loudspeaker ($120,000\u00a0\/\u00a0pair) was in play, driven by the top components from Michi<\/em>, including the Michi\u00a0P5 Series\u00a02<\/em> preamplifier ($6,499) with M8<\/em> power amplifier ($9,999). Serving up digital was a Roon<\/strong> Nucleus+<\/em> 8\u00a0Gb\u00a0\/\u00a0128\u00a0Gb SSD<\/em> ($3,800), while the analog source was a Roksan<\/strong> Radius\u00a07<\/em> ($3,699). System cabling was by Audience<\/strong> with an Adept Response AR6<\/em> ($4,500 to $8,500) ensuring clean power to this system.<\/p>\n

Listening to the Hyphn<\/em> loudspeakers play the track \u2018Bungee Jump<\/em>\u2019 by Captain Hook\u00a0& Astrix<\/strong> proved this loudspeakers prowess with bass, as it delivered it with amazing density, tight, and vividly dynamic. Moving to \u2018These Bones<\/em>\u2019 from The Fairfield Four<\/strong>, the music sounded out of the box, absent of any cabinet artifacts and exceptionally clear and open. I was just blown away by GOJIRA<\/strong>\u2019s \u2018Drum Solo<\/em>\u2019 track on this system, with the drums portrayed with exceptionally true timbre and tone and amazing dynamic impact \u2013 nothing short of a live<\/em> performance here!<\/p>\n

System 5 :<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The final system in the room combined a pair of Focal<\/strong> Kanta No.\u00a03<\/em> ($9,799\u00a0\/\u00a0each) with a full Musical Fidelity<\/strong> Stack<\/em> including Nu-Vista Pre-PSU<\/em> ($32,499); Nu-Vista PAS Power<\/em> and PSU<\/em> ($35,099); MX Stream<\/em> ($1,429) M6X DAC<\/em> ($3,249) and MCX Vinyl<\/em> phono stage ($2,859). The turntable was an AVID HiFi<\/strong> Ingenium<\/em> ($3,509) and the system employed an Audience<\/strong> Adept Response AR12<\/em> ($7k to $15k). Unfortunately, this system did not get played throughout our almost one-hour room visit. I\u2019ve heard the Musical Fidelity<\/strong> pairing with Focal<\/strong> at EQ Audio Video<\/strong> this summer, so this was a missed opportunity for us.<\/span><\/p>\n

Headphone Bar:<\/span><\/em>
\n<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Out in front of the EQ Audio Video<\/strong> room was a headphone bar, providing an opportunity to listen to both the wireless and wired headphones from Focal<\/strong>. The headphones were being driven by Naim<\/strong> Uniti Atom Headphone Edition<\/em> amplifiers. The Focal<\/strong> headphones available for demonstration included: Bathys<\/em> ($999); Celestee<\/em> ($1,299); Clear MG<\/em> ($1,599); Stellia<\/em> ($3999) and the flagship Utopia<\/em> ($6499). I did some listening from bottom to top and with each incremental price jump there was a noticeable improvement in the transparency, imaging and lifelike qualities of the sound. The top Utopia<\/em> was my favourite and it had me thinking how nice it would be to have in my home office, though I\u2019d doubt I\u2019d even get any work done.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 \u2022\u2022\u2022 \u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

American Sound of Canada – Audio Research, RETHM, dCS :<\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

One of my favourite distributors to visit is American Sound of Canada<\/strong>, as I can always trust they will pull together a curated system that will provide soothing and engaging sound and this year kept up to that promise with a simple system that was playing out of an austere and unique pair of RETHM<\/strong> Maarga<\/em> loudspeakers ($12,999\/pr).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The amplification role was being played by a delightfully attractive Audio Research<\/strong> I\/50<\/em> Integrated ($7,500), which comes in a number of lovely colours that should please any d\u00e9cor and expression of fashion. The digital source was an exotic dCS<\/strong> Bart\u00f3k APEX Ring DAC<\/em> music streamer ($30k) with all cabling from Transparent<\/strong>, the Transparent<\/em><\/strong> Reference<\/em> line. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Listening to a track by the legendary Sinatra<\/strong>, I was swooned by natural and lifelike vocal rendition, and noted the tactile nature of the percussion, vibrancy of the horns and gentle delicate qualities of the cymbal strikes. The music in this room was so relaxing I would have loved to stay for a longer stint, but duty called. No worries, there is always an opportunity to go visit Angie<\/strong> in Richmond Hill at Angie\u2019s Audio Corner<\/strong> and get a second listen to RETHM<\/strong>, Audio Research<\/strong> and dCS<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

PART 2<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span>
\nComing soon\u00a0\u2013 watch for Wynn Audio<\/strong> (Tidal<\/strong>; KARAN Acoustics<\/strong>; Kalista<\/em>, Goldmund<\/strong>; foNO Acustica<\/strong> etc.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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