This year will be different. Expect to see the AF IIIP again, along with its bigger brother, the Air Force One Premium, outfitted with the Graham tonearm, upgraded with the TechDAS titanium armtube. But this time around, the structured demonstrations, at least the ones from CH, will fasten on direct comparison between the P1, the P10 and the P10 four-box. That’s going to leave a lot more time to simply play records.
As in previous years, the company will also be hosting a number of other presentations, themed around vinyl. I have been invited to (once again) demonstrate the importance of record replay EQ (although I’m hoping to have a few other interesting things to play too), while Abey Fonn of Impex will also be there to discuss the challenges and recent developments in re-issuing records, along with musical examples to illustrate her points.
CH publish a schedule of show presentations in advance, so if you want to know what’s happening when, or you want to catch (or avoid) a particular presentation, check out their web-site for details (www.ch-precision.com) or facebook on the day.
Wadax – Atrium 4.2 E207
This is your opportunity to hear the now legendary Reference DAC, along with the Reference Server and the new Reference Transport. Anything that’s generated this much on-line hot air and angst, for and against, definitely qualifies as ‘legendary’. The reviewing community (and Wadax owners) are swooning over its performance: The competition (and their owners) are gnashing their teeth and throwing any rock they can lay their hands on. Now you have the chance to hear what all the fuss is about and – in case you missed it – you get to hear it with Reference-level optical disc as well as streaming.
But isn’t there already a Reference Transport? Well – yes and no. That unit is actually the Atlantis transport, but with a Reference suffix to denote the fact that it’s fitted with a three AES/EBU + Ethernet connection to interface with the Reference DAC. The NEW Reference Transport is entirely different. Built into the same massive chassis as the other Reference components, it is a manual top-loading, multi-standard machine that can be upgraded with the external Reference PSU, launched last year. It uses the proprietary AKASA optical interface, complete with the fascinating DWC controls, both first seen on the Reference Server, while the MusIC Chip feed-forward error correction system that lies at the heart of all Wadax DACs has been extended to embrace the transfer function of the transport too.
Given the strides that the Reference Server has made in terms of file replay, the opportunity to compare that to an equivalent quality optical disc player, existing within the same technological eco-system is too good to miss – even if you’ve already made up your mind.
The other thing you might see in the Wadax room is a first glimpse of a new, lower level line, intended to replace the Atlantis products. Taking a leaf out of the Reference playbook in terms of both silhouette and system topology, the Atlantis Studio line promises class-leading performance to go with its sleek good looks. The lovely little sister? Here’s hoping – just don’t expect to hear it in action. This debutante won’t be ‘coming out’ until early next year.
Living Voice/Grand Prix Audio – Atrium 4.2, E220
No Vox horns this year, but instead Living Voice will be concentrating on their high performance/high-value offerings. With a deserved reputation for consistently producing some of the best sound at the show, irrespective of the products that they’re using, they’ll be showing the long-awaited step-up from the Auditorium Series speakers along with the new Grand Prix Audio Monaco v3.0 record player, both of which promise to punch well above their weight.
