Axpona 2013 Exhibitor Rooms: Part 1

Quintessence Audio

Focal Grand Utopia EM speakers and Pass Labs amps at Axpona 2013

Audio Plus Services – Clearaudio – Focal Utopia – Kubala Sosna Research – Musical Surroundings – Pass Labs – Playback Designs

George Warren Turntable

Unfortunately, this beauty was not hooked up when we were in the room. But Dagogo’s own Jack Roberts reviewed this table, read how it sounded to him. George is setting the WOODY ($1,600) tonearm from Pete Riggle Engineering and Audio.

Audio Note UK

ADT Three CD Transport using the Philips CD Pro transport mechanism $10,000 – DAC3.1x / II Balanced non-oversampling, unfiltered, 24/96 using the AD1865N chip. 2x12AU7, choke-loaded power Supply with 6X5 rectifier and ECL82 voltage regulator. $10,000 – OTO SE Signature integrated parallel singled-ended EL84 amp. ($5,500) K/SPe 90dB/wm sensitive two-way acoustic suspension loudspeaker with 8-inch woofer and 3/4″ silk dome tweeter. ($3,700)

Audio Note UK left the ultra high-end system at home but the sound from this mid-level gear was nonetheless enjoyable. Dynamic, punchy, detailed and clean. Thankfully, Audio Note sounds like Audio Note, either at the $250,000 level or $30,000 level. The K/SPe speakers were particularly intriguing.

Kingsound

Kingsound King III full range electrostatic speakers ($12,000) – Purity Audio Design Reference Series II Line Stage Preamplifier ($11,495) – Bob Carver Black Beauty 305 Mono Block Amplifier ($12,900) – Clarity Cable – Oppo 3D Blu-ray player