{"id":41256,"date":"2023-11-05T18:36:39","date_gmt":"2023-11-05T23:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/?p=41256"},"modified":"2023-11-17T18:10:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T23:10:40","slug":"2023-toronto-audiofest-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/en\/2023-toronto-audiofest-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Toronto Audiofest – PART 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wynn Audio \u2013 TIDAL Audio GmbH, Karan Acoustics,
\nGoldmund, Kalista, Fono Acustica…<\/strong><\/span>
\n
\nDown on the lowest floor of the show in a large room, I found the room of Wynn Audio<\/strong>. Wynn Audio<\/strong> is a distributor of some of the finest audio brands I\u2019ve come across and this year and two top tier systems were on active demonstration. The attention given to setup was obvious, most noticeably with the large of the two system, a system comprised of the TIDAL<\/strong> Akira<\/em> Loudspeakers ($358,000\u00a0\/\u00a0pr), powered by Karan Acoustics<\/strong> POWERa<\/em> Monoblocks ($145,000\u00a0\/\u00a0pr) controlled by a Karan Acoustics<\/strong> LINEa<\/em> Preamplifier ($\u00a055,000). The TIDAL<\/strong> Akira<\/em> loudspeakers had just recently arrived in Canada\u00a0\u2013 this being their 1st<\/sup>\u00a0Canadian<\/em> exhibition<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe digital source was the beautiful and enigmatic Kalista<\/strong> DreamPlay XC SACD\u00a0\/\u00a0CD<\/em> Player ($100,000), which is what I was able to hear while we were visting.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
\n<\/span>The analog source was the Thiele<\/strong> TT-01 ZERO<\/em> Tracking Error<\/em> Turntable, with TA-01 ZERO<\/em> Tracking<\/em> Tonearm ($41,500) paired with the Karan Acoustics<\/strong> PHONOa<\/em> Phonostage ($51,000). The system was poised on top of Critical Mass Systems<\/strong> Olympus<\/em> rack and amp stands: $16,570\u00a0\/\u00a0level with an Entreq <\/strong>Pluton<\/em> and Olympus<\/em> Infinity<\/em> Ground Boxes<\/em>. Cabling was all by a Spanish manufacturer Fono Acustica<\/strong>. These cables were like nothing else I\u2019ve seen, nothing less than jewelry class audio cables that were as much about art as function.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span>
\nWe listened to the track Jazz Variants<\/em> from the Ozone Percussion Group<\/strong>. The sound was stunning, combining immediacy and impact with weight and grandness. There was a sense of absolute precision in the delivery of the notes, combined with a level of sophistication and finesse that was virtually a live performance. When the percussion came to a climax there was seemingly unlimited dynamic headroom. For me\u00a0\u2013 this TIDAL-Karan-Kalista<\/strong> system with Fono Acustica<\/strong> loom was the most impressive and finest display of high-end audio at the 2023 Toronto Audio Fest<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span>
\n
\nThe second system in an adjacent space within the same room was from Goldmund Sound Systems<\/strong> (Goldmund<\/strong>). This system was made up of Goldmund<\/strong> Mimesis 37S NEXTGEN<\/em> ($44,500) Preamplifier paired with Goldmund<\/strong> Telos 440<\/em> Monoblocks ($42,500) and a Goldmund<\/strong> Eidos Reference SACD<\/em>: ($280,000), playing through Goldmund<\/strong> Tethys Passive<\/em> Loudspeakers ($88,000). Entreq<\/strong> Olympus Infinity T Ground<\/em> Boxes were employed with all Crystal Cable<\/strong>. Listening to Tiger Okoshi<\/strong>\u2019s St.\u00a0Louis Blues<\/em>, the sound was exquisitely pristine, with detailed high frequencies that give realism to the cymbals. The percussion was tight, dynamic, and visceral and very lifelike. The overall tone was just a touch to the cooler side which lent to excitement.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Acora Acoustics and Sonic Artistry \u2013 SAT, Lyra, D\u2019Agostino, Innuos, MSA<\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/span>
\n\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span>
\nIn a very large room, there were a massive pair of Acora<\/strong> VRC<\/em> Loudspeakers ($295,000\u00a0\/\u00a0pr) powered by a pair of D\u2019Agostino<\/strong> Momentum M400 MxV<\/em> Monoblock amplifiers ($115,850) with Momentum<\/strong> HD<\/em> preamp ($58,650) and Momentum<\/strong> Phonostage<\/em> ($44,850).
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

The analog setup included a SAT<\/strong> XDI<\/em> Record Player System with CFI-09TI<\/em> arm ($415,000) and second SAT<\/strong> LM-12<\/em> arm ($57,000), paired with Lyra <\/strong>Atlas<\/em> (Lambda) Reference<\/em> cart ($16,500) and Lyra<\/strong> Etna<\/em> cart ($12,500) respectively. Racking was all by Acora<\/strong> (approx.. $30k). The digital setup included Innuous<\/strong> Phoenix Net<\/em> ($5,699) with Innuous<\/strong> Statement<\/em> and Next-Gen<\/em> PSU ($32,800) serving to a MSB<\/strong> Reference DAC<\/em> ($75,200).<\/span><\/p>\n

While in the room the track Stimela<\/em> was played, and the tone of the saxophone was spot on. There was lifelike presence and holographic imaging. The dynamic peaks were break the walls thunderous yet absent of any break-up in the tweets or mids; rather, just quick, clean, and open. Marcin<\/strong>\u2019s track Kashmir<\/em> was played with room moving bass, superb control, and texture. And a track by Harry Bellefonte<\/strong> on vinyl sounded sublime, with a life-sized stage conjured up by this utterly capable system. I left this room with a big smile on my face\u2026like I\u2019d received a gift that kept on giving.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Lenbrook\u00a0\u2013 DALI, NAD, PSB, Bluesound<\/span>
\n<\/strong>
\nThe audio product distributor Lenbrook<\/strong> had a couple rooms at the Toronto Audio Fest<\/strong>.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

The large room was setup with a pair of DALI<\/strong> EPIKORE\u00a011<\/em> ($80k\/pr) loudspeakers, which are a 4\u00bd-way floorstander with four 8\u201d\u00a0woofers, a 6\u00bd\u201d\u00a0mid and the EVO-K Hybrid Tweeter<\/em> module.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

This was the first North American demonstration<\/em> of this loudspeaker and it was paired with a NAD<\/strong> stack, including the new Masters M66 BluOS<\/em> Streaming DAC-Preamplifier ($7,499) with a pair of M23<\/em> hybrid digital stereo amplifiers, running in mono ($4,899.99\/ea). Listening to Bob Dylan<\/strong>\u2019s Man In the Long Black Coat<\/em> the sound was warm, solid and grounded if not just slightly dark and polite. Ari Kaplan<\/strong>\u2019s Change on the Rise<\/em> left me with a similar impression of a relaxed and laid-back sound.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

On static display was a full set of Bluesound<\/strong> streaming\u00a0\/\u00a0amplifier products including the new NODE\u00a0X 10th<\/sup> Anniversary<\/em> edition streamer ($999) that Anthony<\/strong> from TED Publications just recently reviewed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

The second room, with sound by Lenbrook<\/strong>, was a modest sized hotel room but it was packed with a selection of PSB<\/strong> speaker models. Three models of PSB<\/strong> speakers were on demo rotation and they included from largest to smallest\u00a0\u2013 the Imagine\u00a0T65 Tower<\/em> ($2,699\u00a0\/\u00a0pr); the Imaging\u00a0T54 Tower<\/em> ($2,099\u00a0\/\u00a0pr) and; last but not least, the Alpha iQ<\/em> Streaming Powered Speakers with BluOS<\/em> ($1,699\u00a0\/\u00a0pr). Listing to some Arctic Monkeys<\/strong> with the T65<\/em> in play, I was amazed at just how good the bass sounded with the speaker so compromised in placement, right up against the wall. I mean, the bass was incredible for a rather demure speaker, it was full, tight and snappy. Another shock was when they moved to the tiny Alpha iQ<\/em> active standmouts, the sound was considerably greater than their sound should be, while also being room filling and well dispersed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anthony<\/strong> and I ran into the legendary Paul Barton<\/strong>, founder of PSB<\/strong> at the show. During our short chat, he mentioned that his own recommendation for greatest bang for buck among the PSB<\/strong> Loudspeaker line would be the Imagine\u00a0T65 Tower<\/em>; from what we hear at the show, I was convinced of the truth in that claim.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

MOON by Simaudio (MOON)\u00a0:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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

MOON<\/strong> executives\u00a0– Costa Koulisakis<\/strong> and Dominique Poupart<\/strong> were in their room to take questions and support the North American exhibition of the all-new MOON<\/em><\/strong> North Collection<\/em> of high-end audio components\u00a0\u2013 including: 681<\/em> Network Player\u00a0\/\u00a0DAC; 641<\/em> Integrated Amplifier; 791<\/em> Network Player\u00a0\/\u00a0Preamplifier; 761<\/em> Power Amplifier; 891<\/em> Network Player\u00a0\/\u00a0Preamplifier; and 861<\/em> Power Amplifier (prices on MOON<\/em><\/strong> website).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong>The North Collection<\/em> introduces several brand-new innovations including new MHP<\/em> power supply for North<\/em> integrated amplifiers that provides full galvanic isolation between digital and analog (1st<\/sup>\u00a0time for MOON<\/em><\/strong>); new M-VOL3<\/em> electronic gain control and, the MDCA<\/em> (M<\/em><\/strong>oon D<\/strong>istortion C<\/strong>ancelling A<\/strong>mplifier<\/em>) circuit. Also, with the North Collection<\/em>, ALL feedback has been eliminated\u00a0\u2013 not even local feedback is used making it truly zero feedback<\/em> for the highest fidelity. Gone is full silver and full black\u00a0\u2013 just two-tone will be produced.<\/span><\/p>\n

I must mention that the new North Collection<\/em> introduces a gorgeous new, contemporary styled, and technologically advanced high-end remote control, the BRM-1<\/em> Intelligent Remote Control. It\u2019s a piece of artwork on its own.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Two systems were on demo, both had a lifestyle focused implementation. The main system consisted of a North Series 791<\/em> Network Player\u00a0\/\u00a0Preamplifier $21,000\u00a0CAD and; new 761<\/em> Power Amplifier $18,500\u00a0CAD, playing through a pair of B&W<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0801 D4<\/em> Loudspeakers. The sound was incredibly smooth and silky with textured bass and natural midrange. I found myself relaxing, while my attention was held firm with the immense amount of holistic detail that was delivered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The second system was an implementation of the MOON<\/em> 250i\u00a0V2<\/em> integrated amplifier ($2900) with the 280\u00a0D<\/em> Streaming DAC ($4,800), with a pair of the Voice\u00a022<\/em> standmount loudspeakers ($4,000).<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 3 coming soon…
\n<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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

Wynn Audio \u2013 TIDAL Audio GmbH, Karan Acoustics, Goldmund, Kalista, Fono Acustica… Down on the lowest floor of the show in a large room, I found the room of Wynn Audio. Wynn Audio is a distributor of some of the finest audio brands I\u2019ve come across and this year and two top tier systems were […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":154670,"featured_media":41232,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2723,1359,2725],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hifi","category-headline-en","category-whats-new","entry","has-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/154670"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41256"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41265,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41256\/revisions\/41265"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tedpublications.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}