THE Show was a real eye-opener

[rockpassion]

I went to my first audio show at THE Show in Newport Beach, CA.  It was a real treat and I saw and heard some unbelieveable equipment.  But I must say that many of the speakers just overwhelmed the rooms, way too much bass in most cases. 

I did hear some marvelous systems mostly small two way and three way speakers.  A couple of rooms were playing Eva Cassidy's Greatest Hits so I bought it.  I wanted to compare what I heard at THE Show to my system.  You know, trying to hear where I could make improvements.  Not bragging but my system sounded as good as many that I heard. 

The good news is at a tenth the cost I am getting 90-95 % of what I heard.  I believe that most of my systems sound is a result of the Bottlehead equipment, I have the Eros and Beepre combination.  Most of my other equipment has a number of DIY modifications as recommended here and over on Audio Asylum.  So, go DIY and Bottlehead in particular.  One last point, I think the BeePre makes music sound like real music.  On my system since I installed the BeePre the music is truly lush, well defined and just really enjoyable.  Thanks Doc and everyone involved at Bottlehead. 

I do have one disclaimer.  I listened to the MbL Radialstruhler's and they were truly unbelieveable.  However, they are $250,000 speakers coupled with $150000 of their amps and preamps.  If I ever win the Lotto and can buy a house where I could set something like these up I would have to upgrade to these.  This would be my ultimate dream.   But then the problem would be how would I do any upgrading? 

Richard

[Grainger49]

Richard,

I have had the same experiences.  IMHO, they all play music too loud at a show.  Often louder than a live Eva Cassidy would sound.  After all, she is a woman and guitar, or was.

Sadly there have been 3 systems that left me wanting.  And they would need me to win the lottery too.

Thanks for the review.

[xcortes]

To me the best sound at shows has always been Schmalle/Joppa, Tucker, Rankin, Birkeland (loved the red amp)... SETs rule even against multi thousand dollar systems. No wonder I've stayed a die hard bottlehead since I built my first BH system about ten years ago. Actually the best system I've ever heard is sitting at my living room.

[corndog71]

Yep, I had a similar experience at the recent Axpona show.  I heard a lot of uber-expensive gear that bested mine.  When I got home and fired up my system I had to smile because as you wrote I'm 90-95% there already.  I have no use for 600 watt monoblocks or speakers made for penthouses.   In fact I calculated that I would have to spend roughly 4 times what I paid for my speakers to beat them.  That is if I went with factory models.  I could get DIY speakers that'll beat mine for maybe a few hundred bucks more.

My Bottlehead preamps and Vacuum Tube Audio amp are ridiculously good for the money!