The Home Entertainment (T.H.E.) Show Newport Beach, CA (2012)

[Big Daddy]

The Home Entertainment (T.H.E) Show was held from June 1, 2, 3 in Newport Beach, California across the street from John Wayne Airport. Let’s not argue that the airport and the hotels are located in Santa Ana or perhaps Irvine and not Newport Beach, but Newport Beach sounds more exciting. There were a lot more exhibitors in this year’s show and they had to expand the show to two hotels (Hilton and nearby Atrium).

My wife and I attended all three days and I am not sure we were not able to see and hear everything. Although the rooms were relatively small and crowded, I managed to take a lot of pictures. We also were able to spend a few minutes in each room and listen to the music. Unfortunately, most rooms were not ideal and very noisy. I wish people would go outside in the hallways and talk instead of in the room. The people in charge were as bad, but I guess they were trying to sell their stuff.

I am currently suffering from a severe case of speaker-itis, amplifier-itis, and turntable-itis. On the subject of turntables, I believe the manufacturers have completely lost their minds. Who would buy a $150,000 turntable? Although Bill Gates can afford it, he is too much into computers and digital. Warren Buffet, on the other hand, doesn’t understand digital, but he is too old and doesn’t care about expensive turntables. He usually eats at Dairy Queen.

















































































Continued in Post #2.

[Big Daddy]

You can find additional pictures and information in the following sites, but Big Daddy’s pictures are a lot nicer.

http://www.stereophile.com/category/show-newport-2012
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/the_sho...day/index.html
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/pho...-newport-beach

[crazyBLUE]

WoW ~ First off Hi Big Daddy

I wish I was Bill Gates & had a few of them rooms There are some cool looking speakers along with all the amps there.

I'll bet it was an impressive thing to see all of that & get to listen to it all...

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

WoW ~ First off Hi Big Daddy

I wish I was Bill Gates & had a few of them rooms There are some cool looking speakers along with all the amps there.

I'll bet it was an impressive thing to see all of that & get to listen to it all...

Hi crazyBLUE,

It was totally overwhelming. My goal for the next few months is to win the lottery and buy all the speakers in the show. My wife has already given me permission.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Hi crazyBLUE,

It was totally overwhelming. My goal for the next few months is to win the lottery and buy all the speakers in the show. My wife has already given me permission.

You have it made with the wife's approval

Some of the speakers are so Beautiful that I am sure it would cost an arm & leg along with the condo , car & HT I have to get

Last show you had a spoiler with the wife in it ~ I didn't see any spoilers

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

You have it made with the wife's approval

Some of the speakers are so Beautiful that I am sure it would cost an arm & leg along with the condo , car & HT I have to get

Last show you had a spoiler with the wife in it ~ I didn't see any spoilers

That is because my wife has become a die-hard audiophile and completely abandoned me. I had to use Google to find her.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

That is because my wife has become a die-hard audiophile and completely abandoned me. I had to use Google to find her.

Google huh ~ That was good

Hope you have been well because you have been on vacation for some time now We have missed you & your wisdom around here vary much!

[prerich]

Which speakers did you like the best in this show? Oh and I see that Scaena added 2 more 18inch subs to the configuration! How did you like the Joseph Audio Pulsars with that Lynx DAC and Channel D audio - was that fantastic or what!!!!!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by prerich

Which speakers did you like the best in this show? Oh and I see that Scaena added 2 more 18inch subs to the configuration! How did you like the Joseph Audio Pulsars with that Lynx DAC and Channel D audio - was that fantastic or what!!!!!

I liked them all, but if I have to spend $50,000, Magico Q5 speakers get my vote. The small bookshelf Joseph speakers were pretty good and excellent for a small apartment. The Scaena sounded very impressive, but too expensive. The Chapman T8 speakers for around $10,000 impressed me a lot. The best bargain speakers were from RSL (Roger Sound Labs). Another set of speakers that were very impressive were the big Legacy tower speakers. They have a very big and powerful sound without lacking detail. Finally, I can't say enough good things about Sony AR1 ($27,000 a pair) and AR2 ($20,000 a pair) speakers.

Unfortunately, the rooms were too small and the arrangements were less than ideal. You could only listen to each pair of speakers for a couple of minutes in a relatively noisy and crowded room.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I liked them all, but if I have to spend $50,000, Magico Q5 speakers get my vote. The small bookshelf Joseph speakers were pretty good and excellent for a small apartment. The Scaena sounded very impressive, but too expensive. The Chapman T9 speakers for around $10,000 impressed me a lot. The best bargain speakers were from RSL (Roger Sound Labs). Another set of speakers that were very impressive were the big Legacy tower speakers. They have a very big and powerful sound without lacking detail. Finally, I can't say enough good things about Sony AR1 ($27,000 a pair) and AR2 ($20,000 a pair) speakers.

Unfortunately, the rooms were too small and the arrangements were less than ideal. You could only listen to each pair of speakers for a couple of minutes in a relatively noisy and crowded room.

Wow, this show sounds different from Axpona altogehter (pun not intentded). I heard the big Legacy Whispers, but it seems as if Bill brought the Helix out this time for your show. The rooms do appear to be smaller (but you guys out west had more people show too). I have yet to hear the Magicos but they are on my wish list...for demoing - not for purchacing !

[Big Daddy]

Venture Audio is another speaker company that offers excellent choices. The finish on the cabinets are first class and the prices range from $5,900 a pair to $199,000 a pair. The company is located in from Belgium

[ZoetMB]

I am currently suffering from a severe case of speaker-itis, amplifier-itis, and turntable-itis. On the subject of turntables, I believe the manufacturers have completely lost their minds. Who would buy a $150,000 turntable? Although Bill Gates can afford it, he is too much into computers and digital. Warren Buffet, on the other hand, doesn’t understand digital, but he is too old and doesn’t care about expensive turntables. He usually eats at Dairy Queen.

Yes, but did they sound good? I was at a smaller show a few months back in New York and I was shocked not so much by the completely absurd price tags (I expected that), but by the fact that I thought most of the systems had really bad sound. I heard speakers that cost $50K and up that had absolutely no life and no presence to them. In fact, IMO, the more expensive the speaker, the worse it sounded.

There was one guy selling a three channel control amp that was a copy of an old hi-fi design and I thought it was going to sound great, but even that didn't sound good to my ears. It sounded very mid-rangey and harsh.

There was one esoteric speaker system that had woofers mounted at the top sides of the speakers. On music tracks that were all drums (and mostly kettle drums at that), they sounded spectacular, but I didn't get to hear wide range material on them.

So while the aesthetics of many of these systems was incredible, using beautiful hand-crafted woods, etc., I didn't walk away from that show wishing that I was rich enough to buy what they were showing.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Yes, but did they sound good? I was at a smaller show a few months back in New York and I was shocked not so much by the completely absurd price tags (I expected that), but by the fact that I thought most of the systems had really bad sound. I heard speakers that cost $50K and up that had absolutely no life and no presence to them. In fact, IMO, the more expensive the speaker, the worse it sounded.

There was one guy selling a three channel control amp that was a copy of an old hi-fi design and I thought it was going to sound great, but even that didn't sound good to my ears. It sounded very mid-rangey and harsh.

There was one esoteric speaker system that had woofers mounted at the top sides of the speakers. On music tracks that were all drums (and mostly kettle drums at that), they sounded spectacular, but I didn't get to hear wide range material on them.

So while the aesthetics of many of these systems was incredible, using beautiful hand-crafted woods, etc., I didn't walk away from that show wishing that I was rich enough to buy what they were showing.

Although, most rooms were not ideal and relatively noisy (the people), the vast majority of systems sounded excellent. I agree that some of the prices are absolutely crazy, but there is no reason not to lust over them.

I go to L.A. Auto Show every year and lust over $200,000 to $1,000,000 cars. Even if I win the lottery, I have no intention to buy any of them, but it only costs around $10 for the entrance ticket.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Although, most rooms were not ideal and relatively noisy (the people), the vast majority of systems sounded excellent. I agree that some of the prices are absolutely crazy, but there is no reason not to lust over them.

I go to L.A. Auto Show every year and lust over $200,000 to $1,000,000 cars. Even if I win the lottery, I have no intention to buy any of them, but it only costs around $10 for the entrance ticket.

Man, this is the second time you've delivered some photos of truly stunning designs. Can you give us a head's up on the next shows? I want to go - Bay Area or here in Southern California is goodl, no problem.

That was incredible. Truly works of functional art.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Man, this is the second time you've delivered some photos of truly stunning designs. Can you give us a head's up on the next shows? I want to go - Bay Area or here in Southern California is goodl, no problem.

That was incredible. Truly works of functional art.

The next high-end audio show will be The California Audio Show. It wiil be held in San Francisco (close to the airport) from August 3, 2012 to August 5, 2012.

The show after that will be in Las Vegas from January 8th to 11th, 2013. That is during the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) and hotel prices will be very high.

http://www.theshowlasvegas.com/

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

The next high-end audio show will be The California Audio Show. It wiil be held in San Francisco (close to the airport) from August 3, 2012 to August 5, 2012.

The show after that will be in Las Vegas from January 8th to 11th, 2013. That is during the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) and hotel prices will be very high.

http://www.theshowlasvegas.com/

You're forgetting RMAF (Rocky Mountain Audio Fest)! October 12th to 14th in Denver, CO and, unlike CES, isn't trade only.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by richteer

You're forgetting RMAF (Rocky Mountain Audio Fest)! October 12th to 14th in Denver, CO and, unlike CES, isn't trade only.

He lives in Southern California and I was under the impression that he was only interested in shows in Los Angeles or San Francisco area.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

He lives in Southern California and I was under the impression that he was only interested in shows in Los Angeles or San Francisco area.

That's true, but my oldest son lives in Colorado Springs...Denver is a stone's throw. I can get two birds!

[doctorD]

Big Daddy, thanks for sharing. I'm happy to see Reel to Reel is still getting some attention.

[Hearing specialist]

This was my 2nd year attending first taking my father first year and wifey the second. The YG's present a very clear sound but, may not have the realism of say the TAD's, which believe it or not the wifey loved the looks of them and the sound. I think the TAD's had the most realistic sound and just freaking awesome! My wifey's face when we auditioned the 2000lb Statements- .

Now as I said to the wife, for the cost of all of the TAD gear and speakers we could buy 2 other homes here where we live in Bakersfield. I do like the RSL's. Last year they had a Integra receiver at +4db cranking out those 4" peerless drivers used in their small books. Crazy sound with zero breakup. This year was definetely different from the previous and I did like how things were also in the other hotel next door. I hung out with the guys from Channel Island Audio and listened to most everything with super high expectations. Anyways, just thought i'd share and can't wait to Rocky Mountain and also next years Newport.

Brian in Bakersfield...