Dr. Vinyl joins Sound Lab in Lobby Gold Ballroom

SHOW REPORT

Constantine Soo
8/8/24

Sound Lab was represented by its Japanese distributor, Christopher Stubbs of Sound Lab Electrostats Japan in the Lobby Gold Ballroom. He was joined by Jose Ramirez a.k.a. Dr. Vinyl, and Todd Garfinkle of MA Recordings. Two pairs of new Sound Lab panel speakers were positioned on a long wall. The inner pair was the $32,500 G7-3C, meaning 7 feet high with 3 cells across. The outer pair was the $45,500 G8-5C at 8 feet high with 5 cells’ width.

Featuring 88dB and 89dB of sensitivity respectively, the panels would be tested in a ballroom the sheer size of which took my 9 feet high, 7 cell width M945PX in CAS10 to fill. The exhibitors would have to resort to playing at lower volume so as not to task the panels excessively. But Chris gave Dr. Vinyl full reign and did he go all out! Manning the Pear Audio Blue Aras turntable with the Tru glider tonearm and a DS Audio Grand Master Extreme cartridge, with the matching Master 3 Energizer, he drove the panels with the JMF HQS 6002 stereo amplifier to concert levels.

In heavy rotation was the Sound Lab G8-5C, and Dr. Vinyl played demonstration discs by Todd Garfinkle of MA Recordings, in addition to classical, jazz, 80s disco, and what have you. The result was continuous music jamming sessions, and the vibe was one of jubilation. While I favor positioning the panels 1/3 into the room from the front, short wall and firing the panels down the room, the exhibitors opted for a more nearfield arrangement resembling the listening distance of a normal living room. Because the panels are dipoles, so the rear panels are out of phase to the front dispersion, and the impact is far less severe than with bipolar designs. One way to optimize the listening experience is to continue giving ample space behind the panel, preferrably with absorption materials along the front wall (behind the panels).

Chris and company strategically toed the panels in, thus effectuating an angle for rear waves diffraction. The extra wide space to side walls also mitigated boundaries interaction. Although I didn’t get to hear how the panels would compare directly to my M945PX from last CAS, I nonetheless found Dr. Vinyl’s disc jockeying indulgence a good indicator of the panels’ strength in withstanding demanding music passages in a large space.

Note the BRIILIANCE control of the G8-5C was set at 1 o’clock, so the mid- to top-range of the panels was not completely unleashed as if it were at 3 o’clock. Furthermore, the LOW-FREQUENCY LEVEL was at zero, and already the bottom-end was powerful. In a normal living room, I would imagine even the G7-3C with moderate amplification would satiate a lifetime of music enjoyment; but the G8-5C was constantly requested by the attendees. Looks like a lot of folks have 9 foot ceilings.