Will it spoil it much if I say that this was my favorite room? Probably. Oh well.
It was incredible.
Robin Wyatt of Robyatt Audio had a pair of Quad ESL-63 loudspeakers, reconditioned and then some, by Electrostatic Solutions. The refurb also included a pair of stands, so positioning was pretty much perfect. This is the second time I’ve found Robin showing off a pair of vintage Quads, thoroughly reconditioned. It’s mind blowing how good these loudspeakers still are. There’s nothing like them out there (except maybe new ones) — they’re going on my to-do list, for sure.
The speakers had the good fortune to be run from an all-Miyajima audio set up, featuring an all-new vacuum tube pre, the EC-5 ($4,995), and a pair of the Model 2010 OTL amps ($9,995) that I saw a few Years ago in New York. These amps are soooo pretty. Oh, I want them with a big hunk of burning want. El Corazon, by Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell, was otherworldly.
In Robin’s room, I picked up an LP from Robin from Peter Ledermann’s DirectGrace Label. Flower By The Dry River from Elio Villafranca & The Jass Syncopators is a double 33rpm record — the album looked interesting, and was the only LP I picked up at the show. The label seemed interesting, too, especially given my recent tirade. Ahem.
DirectGrace Records is a unique music recording company that weds a passion for high-end vinyl recording to charitable giving. Dedicated to the world’s most at-risk children, 100% of the profits from the sale of each unique, high-definition record goes to organizations rescuing children from extreme forms of slavery and poverty, engaging them in “best practices”.
On the custom TW Acustic GT, here with a Black Night platter and feet, I found a pair of Miyajima carts hung off the twin Raven tonearms: the magnificent Kansui ($3,600) and the new Takumi ($1,800).
On the big vintage Grey Research turntable (NFS) was “the best cartridge in the world”, a Miyajima Zero ($1,995). This was a honkin’ big ‘table, and Robin was very smug about scoring it, saying that decades of R&D had still not significantly bettered it.
TelWire cabling was used throughout.
I hope Miyajima finds high quality replacements for the Tango transformer and chokes.. Sadly, Tango is closing shop soon.
Old quads, I don’t get it…
Not exactly old stock. Kent @ electrostatic solutions works his magic on them. More than just a usual “restoration”. Grills off to show Quads and his handiwork, which is much more extensive than you would imagine. Sometimes something old is hard to best – then someone finds a way to make them sound even better!
Ditto. Damn I want some Quads now! Super people running the room playing great ‘real’ music.
Ditto! Sat for an hour+ (over 2 days) 1st Runner up for best of show honors? IMHO? (That mono set up sure gave me pause) … I’d love to hear that set up w/ Avant Garde duo+’s !? Loved the esl 63’s though. One of the most enjoyable “music” rooms @ the show!
Fun room! Not what you expect to find at shows like this, but it sure was fun. I could just listen all day, not critical listening, but ‘enjoyment’ listening.