North West Audio Show

Considering my almost zero experience in speakers I though it interesting to attend a speaker show. I was curious if it'll pull me from headphones and immediately feel the need to switch.

Random pictures:





Audio Note UK setup, sounded like a mid-fi HD650 setup


Even the mighty Dave couldn't make the R11 sound exceptional




Audio Note Japan, the first proper sound I enjoyed







Got the hear the same song first on digital then on vinyl. The difference was enormous to say the least. Fishy if you ask me.







This was really WOW, huge presence, the you are there feeling was in full force. Tannoy I believe


Might have been my favourite setup and my first tape experience. The effortlessness was off the scale


Toothbrush for records

 

Another impressive one and on tape. The Lampi had driver issues and couldn't be used






This guy was rolling cartridge, no idea what was what, I heard diamond and/or barium, the best made a difference akin to mid to top end tube rolling. The Fact 12 speakers were very up to the task. Their demo song is now in my shortlist








This pressed all the right buttons, top 3 for sure, ATC200 something I believe


One of the worst setups


Impressive bass and clarity from these quadrals





Always a pleasure to meet Mark and got to steal the Ragnarok for a short headphone audition with my own headphones. Thankfully the room was empty then so no eggs were thrown.
The low end was too lean but mids and highs were beautiful, cool without being sterile, no grain, very composed and musical, separation, imaging etc. was all there.




OMEGALOL using a 150£ riser for the kettle lead

 

Hacked Sony playstation as CD player


Asshole of the show

Rob Watts recommends using 4 or 5 ferrite cores of a specific value between Blue and Dave with the unanimous consensus that it's an improvement. This guy was comparing the stock cables and his own concept to show how much the cables improved the sound. It indeed did but charging 2K+ for 10p of material for what he read on forums is shitty.
The ATCs were great, I'm a fan of closed cabinet bass.


The only ones at the show with moving membranes, like 1cm of movement. Very musical and coherent.




The misery of Vinyl and CDs


Another LOL


Creating bass out of thin air, very controlled and focused but Hotel California isn't as bassy as these made it out to be. The hiphop speaker.


Tiny tiny speakers with a big sound


What I learned from this:
1. Very entertaining attending shows with friends
2. Speakers with 12'+ woofers sound a lot better than tiny ones.
3. Only a handful of setups had the precision and focus of what I'm used to headphones thus zero interest in having a speaker setup except for media consumption.
4. Vinyl and tape is more of a hassle than I would have ever thought. Just no.
5. Room is critical, far too many setups sounded off where I can't believe that's just how they sound as in crap.
6. Far too many speaker manufacturers without a distinct house sound.