Audio Show East

Thanks to everyone at Signals, it was a great day yesterday - everything seemed so well organised, relaxed and accessible. 

I really liked the Naim room and the ATCs but when I come to upgrade my speakers in a year or so I will certainly be auditioning Russell K speakers. 

I had never heard of the brand before but I thought the sound in that room was the most neutral and engaging in the whole show (Red 150 SEs).

Thanks again to the Signals people, you will probably be my local dealer when I move up to the Essex/Suffolk border and so hopefully I’ll get to know you better. 

Great show. 

Tony

Gazza posted:

They were really horrible imo on Friday morning with Nigelb, better in the afternoon according to Nigel. I agree, better this morning....had a few words with Dynaudio lady, I think they are still running in?

Sometimes I wonder about the sales and marketing acumen of some hifi manufacturers. Why would anyone display as representative of the product something that was not performing to its best level? Better not to display than display an under par example.

Just wanted to add my two pence!!

This was my first visit to this show. I don’t go to many these days, too much like hard work. This one by a country mile is the most relaxed, friendly no sales presssure enjoyable show that i have been to...ba none!

I don’t know any of the Signals team, so there i was enjoying my lunch, Hot Dog a la Mustard and washed down with a rather nice coffee when two friendly gentleman gestured to sit/share where i was sat. Conversation was a plenty and enjoyable. Imagine as the conversation continued that I realised i was stay with Alastair! What a lovely warm and genuinely nice person. 

I managed to get round all the rooms twice. I did not experience any bad listening sessions.What i did note was each room taking it’s turn to “have a blast” so as not to interrefere with each other. Good work people. I was there to hear speakers that i don’t ordinarily get to listen to. The Naim room Focals were a great surprise with a very simple “Naim black box set up”. The two stand out rooms for me were the Kudos and Dynaudio. Most enjoyable. What also set this apart was the wide variety of music which i particularly enjoyed, something for everyone.The more i ,listened to the Dynaudio the more i enjoyed what they were doing...from Massive Attack to London Grammer and with the Naim 500 series kicking them into song where the sun don’t shine! 

Kudos 505’s, what can i say. If you are in the market for this style of speaker then look no further. Now, I’m not really in the market for me speakers but Kudos has certainly wet my appetite and got me wondering how much more there is to come from the 707’s and 808’s. Maybe seeing as i’m not in the market for new speakers Derek and team would like to help “fund” me when i am...well...they started it . 

Also, a big mention to Melco for a very informative chat, again with no pressure. I can see why they they are becoming as popular as they are round these parts. 

Chord, was fantastic. The gentleman running his dem made it real fun. Great passion, great music choices, and almost got me dancing “like me dad”!! Those ATC’s were really working hard and were clearly up to the challenge.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time yesterday and bizarrely the 100 mile journey home passed fairly quickly with all the “what if’s” racing around my mind. Having said all of the above, my Ovators are still sounding rather nice this morning with a nice cup of tea in one hand and remote in the other.

Just to add great to meet Polarbear and his wonderful and friendly wife. Absolute delight seeing you after all these years!!!!

A big thank you to all that obviously were working hard that i don’t know their names, from the friendly ladies at reception to the ladies doing a good job with the food to all these exhibiting...see you again....next year when i will probably attend for two days...if you have ol Dusty!!!!

Morning all, firstly may I convey the many thanks to Alistair and his great staff for again what has to be the most enjoyable hi-fi show of the year. A big thank you also to all those involved who put in a great effort  to make the show as enjoyable as it was. For karen and I its worth the long round trip to see so many friends both old and new. It was great to finally meet Dusty after all these year and to have a great chat about loudspeakers, music and life. 

This year seemed to be a great speaker fest, so many excellent speakers to listen to and it's very interesting to read others perspectives above. I'll be back later in the day to convey a few thought about them all. 

Dustysox posted:

IThe more i ,listened to the Dynaudio the more i enjoyed what they were doing...from Massive Attack to London Grammer and with the Naim 500 series kicking them into song where the sun don’t shine! 

 

Hi Dustysox,

You mention Massive Attack in the Dynaudio room.  When I was in that room I managed to get hold of the iPad and put on Blue Lines, was that the track you heard, if so we were probably listening at the same time.  It was awesome, I have never heard it sounding anything like that before and inspired me to put it on when I go back home.

Tony

I would also like to congratulate and thank all the Signals team, the exhibitors and the staff of the venue for such a wonderful event.

I hope Signals picked up some good sales leads and will make some juicy deals from the event, after all that is what it is about at the end of the day. But it never felt like a sales event, it was all about making contact, learning about, and hearing the potential of kit. As we all know selling high end gear is a slow burn and I believe Signals have got this spot on.

The number of visitors was nothing like the big shows (for me a very good thing), but I suspect the 'quality' of those attending (i.e. the likelihood of plastic being produced at some point in the future) was rather high.

Thanks also for accommodating us forumites and facilitating us meeting up with each other. This added another enjoyable dimension to this great event.

Well done and here's to the next 25 years and your 50th birthday!

You would be surprised to what lengths Alistair and Andy will travel to install your Hifi, Scotland, West Country i think the current record is Ireland by Transit van and Ferry! So if you liked what the guys are about, don,t let distance put you off.

Darke Bear posted:

I attended both days and met many Forum people there and caught-up with friends - and it was a fascinating event. I enjoyed both days but for some reason Saturday was more fun, as I think I'd decided what I wanted to follow-up on with on Day 2 after a general explore and listen on Day 1.

Others have said a lot of what I also enjoyed so I won't repeat.

Thanks to the Signals extended crew for all the work that went into the event. Great fun and always different every time.

DB.

I was there on the Friday and wearing my badge! we must have missed each over

Gazza posted:

Sorry I did say to Naim ears......they go for every little piece of gain as it all adds up?Does not cost anything to try though. Just passing on the wisdom.

I’ve just done mine, does switching them off just remove them from the app display though rather then actually taking them out if circuit as such?

It seems I missed a few people I know - I get too absorbed in talking to people or investigating stuff that unless prodded I will not notice people it seems.
Still a bit weird it now seems so many people were there I know that I totally missed - apologies!

Anyway it seems we all had fun even if some of us were invisible - I did wear my badge.

DB.

Mercky posted:

Gazza posted:

Sorry I did say to Naim ears......they go for every little piece of gain as it all adds up?Does not cost anything to try though. Just passing on the wisdom.

I’ve just done mine, does switching them off just remove them from the app display though rather then actually taking them out if circuit as such?

The inputs are not powered if you deactivate on the app....so I guess more stable power for what is really in use...that’s the comment from Naim.

Thanks to Alastair, Andy and everyone responsible for putting on a very enjoyable show.

Unlike the majority I enjoyed the Dynaudio room. The PMC room was interesting but struck me that you would need to live in the Albert Hall to fully appreciate them.

My favourite was the Naim room. I think the NDX2 has a very sweet sound. I found the Super Nait 2, Focals and NDX 2 to be the most enjoyable musical experience. 

Were the SN2 and the NDX2 demonstrated without external ps?

No..there was a hicap DR involved

Ps I wore my Naim badge with pride ..

Can't believe no-one unzipped my coat ..pulled up my jumper ...saw it ...and said hello !!!

That sounds more like something Philip Green might say. 

Dam... You have rumbled me ..time to flee the forum

Atom/Iota/Kan Stands posted:

Dustysox posted:

IThe more i ,listened to the Dynaudio the more i enjoyed what they were doing...from Massive Attack to London Grammer and with the Naim 500 series kicking them into song where the sun don’t shine! 

 

Hi Dustysox,

You mention Massive Attack in the Dynaudio room.  When I was in that room I managed to get hold of the iPad and put on Blue Lines, was that the track you heard, if so we were probably listening at the same time.  It was awesome, I have never heard it sounding anything like that before and inspired me to put it on when I go back home.

Tony

Quite possibly Tony, i was really enjoying your DJ set!! I was very impressed with the Dynaudio speakers.

Well I said I would be back and here I am, I have had a chance to deliberate over what I heard yesterday.  I had heard there would be a few big pairs of speakers which I was looking forward to hearing.  I was also looking forward to the Naim ND555 again as I am not sure what to make of it yet.

So starting with the big Dynaudio's on the end of the ND555 552, 500 combination which I was looking forward to hearing. I am unsure about this system, it wasn't the big Naim system I was expecting, I had three different sessions with tis system and each time it was different. For me the system only came alive when the 552 preamp was at twelve o clock, those big Dynaudio's need a lot of driving and maybe more than the 500 could provide, to get the best out of the speakers you would have to play them at such a loud volume your average living room could cope with. Even then I thought the system as magnificent as it was, was lacking something,/ It didn't stir my soul, it didn't excite me in any way. Listening to Tin Can Alley by Stevie Ray Vaughn, didn't excite as I have heard it before, dare I say it, he sounded bored playing it. Something was amiss with that system.

Moving to the now PMC's, wow, what presence, what an awesome sound, the clarity was amazing, the dynamics were amazing the bass line was amazing, get my drift, but and here's the big but, it didn't integrate for me, the mid and top end  were hiding behind the overpowering bass line. Again it was soulless  and lacked musical cohesion. A complete contrast to the Russel K room, so much musical cohesion and great timing, possibly the most musical speakers there. Both Karen and I could have listened all day there, however, whether they could have coped with my musical tastes was another matter and one not answered on the day.

The ATC's were what I was expecting, very matter of fact, technically perfect  which is what you would expect from studio monitors. I have had the big ATC SCM 150's here for a home den and they were just the same as what I had here. The reason why I never went for them, they lacked involvement, excitement and a soul. For me music is about connecting with your soul and the ATC's just didn't do that.

The Kudos, well where should I start, my second favourite speaker behind the 808's, just so musically involving, even with the Linn amps which are a little too matter of fact for me. They just play music.

The Naim Focal room, a reasonably priced system and they hinted at what more is to come from a bigger Naim system and most here knows what to expect from this system.

Sadly I didn't venture into the chord room, there must wasn't time,, too many interesting people to talk to, it was great chatting to the Melco people and finding out about the future for me.

Now for the gripe, where was the music? the musical choices of many there was awful, you can't tell what a system is like from what was being played. Its not what the general public listens to at home. Maybe for the future, there should be some kind of play list which every manufacturer should play. Then you could hear what the different tracks sound like on the different system. Each company had a twenty minute slot, why not pick four tracks which each company plays in rotation. It would be far more informative!

Dustysox posted:

Atom/Iota/Kan Stands posted:

Dustysox posted:

IThe more i ,listened to the Dynaudio the more i enjoyed what they were doing...from Massive Attack to London Grammer and with the Naim 500 series kicking them into song where the sun don’t shine! 

 

Hi Dustysox,

You mention Massive Attack in the Dynaudio room.  When I was in that room I managed to get hold of the iPad and put on Blue Lines, was that the track you heard, if so we were probably listening at the same time.  It was awesome, I have never heard it sounding anything like that before and inspired me to put it on when I go back home.

Tony

Quite possibly Tony, i was really enjoying your DJ set!! I was very impressed with the Dynaudio speakers.

I don't recall Massive Attack, it was Stevie Ray Vaughn and some wailing woman when Dusty sat next to me, the latter being painful!

It's a shame I missed this event, and the chance of meeting some people from the Forum; unfortunately I was struck down with a case of man-flu on Friday morning, and have been feeling a bit sorry for myself this weekend.

I am not surprised to read that the Naim / Focal combination impressed.  I suppose we shouldn't be surprised if the recent models from Focal have a much better synergy with Naim than some from the past.  I demoed the considerably cheaper Aria 926 speakers with the SN2 and was very impressed by those.  They were not my choice in the end, but definitely get the runner-up award.   Speaking of which, I think I spotted the Kudos X3s, and I suspect the same pair I had on demo, on the end of a Rega system in one of the pictures Alastair uploaded.  In the picture they look like a tiny speaker in a very large room.  How were they doing there?

Great to see debate and thankful that the vibe was pretty positive. I am a pedant, though, and the sessions were actually 40 minutes, PB.

Alastair

PB, sorry did not meet. The Dynaudio room was never at 12 o,clock each time I visited which might explain a somewhat up and down review by myself and others?

The PMC showed aspects of effortless music, but in contrast to the Dynaudio room which had a £60k front end, they had a £15k Bryston preamp/ streamer and monoblocs. I think Signals will run in their pair ( different ones to the show) and then set up an evening with the Naim Statement amps. This was always the plan for the show, but PMC had not heard the Naim Amps with their new speakers.

Never been a Chord fan, but the new small in physical size amp with Dave and ATC and upscaler sounded pretty good.

I actually liked most of the music I heard, and had a long chat with Mike from Naim about this. They had demoed the ND555 a couple of times to me and I really struggled to enjoy the product, it was more luck and perseverance on my part that I ended up with one. Music is a difficult one, but I would agree at least play some music that people would have at least heard.

Signals UK posted:

Great to see debate and thankful that the vibe was pretty positive. I am a pedant, though, and the sessions were actually 40 minutes, PB.

Alastair

 

Wow, time flies when you are enjoying music, I was guilty of chatting  to so many people and not listening to enough music.

Why not have a set playlist of 40 minutes, then. Then we can compare the same tracks on different systems 

Gazza posted:

PB, sorry did not meet. The Dynaudio room was never at 12 o,clock each time I visited which might explain a somewhat up and down review by myself and others?

The PMC showed aspects of effortless music, but in contrast to the Dynaudio room which had a £60k front end, they had a £15k Bryston preamp/ streamer and monoblocs. I think Signals will run in their pair ( different ones to the show) and then set up an evening with the Naim Statement amps. This was always the plan for the show, but PMC had not heard the Naim Amps with their new speakers.

Never been a Chord fan, but the new small in physical size amp with Dave and ATC and upscaler sounded pretty good.

I actually liked most of the music I heard, and had a long chat with !ike at Naim about this. They had demoed the ND555 a couple of times to me and I really struggled to enjoy the product, it was more luck and perseverance on my part that I ended up with one. Music is a difficult one, but I would agree at least play some music that people would have at least heard.

 

 

 

Hi Gazza,  Maybe next year we can meet and have a chat. Speakers polarise opinions like no other product and its great to read other peoples opinions. Those Dynaudio's were certainly power hungry and the Stevie Ray Vaughn track needs to be played as loud as possible. For me, there were other issues going on in the room, I heard three different presentations, on the final listening a second 555PSU had been added  and it reminded me as to why I only use one 555 PSU. 

As for the ND555, I remain undecided, I am yet to hear a streamer that I would be willing to let my CD555 or Roksan TMS go for. Its very much a case of it aint broke, so why fix it. I have Vangelis playing on my CD555, 552, 500, Kudos 808 system and there is really nothing I would want to change, it really is sublime