RMAF 2013

10th Annual Rocky Mountain Audio Festival Awash in Vinyl!

Michael Fremer  |  Oct 12, 2013

The vinyl-centric Ayre Acoustics room was one of day one's analog highlights for this correspondent. The room was filled with inexpensive used vinyl from local vinyl vendor Absolute Vinyl and everyone was in a festive mood.

But looks can be deceiving. While turntables were in some rooms that I managed to visit during day one of this very large tenth anniversary show (VPI claims to have around thirty spread throughout the show), I didn't see much that was new. There were a few new turntables and I did see and hear PS Audio's new phono preamp A/D converter, but the big news at this show, based on my admittedly limited first day coverage, was high resolution downloading, including DSD.

Naturally I passed those rooms by because Stereophile will be covering that completely. I'm here scouting for what's new in vinyl, turntables and accessories.

So please stay tuned. Posts of what I already found that was new, and there were a few things, will be posted shortly. I have a seminar early this morning (9:30 AM) Denver time on "Deciphering 'dead wax' numbers, letters squiggles and stamps and why they matter' that I have to prepare for now so other posts will appear later.

COMMENTS
Rick Tomaszewicz's picture
Submitted by Rick Tomaszewicz on Sat, 2013-10-12 10:40

"There were a few new turntables...but the big news at this show, based on my admittedly limited first day coverage, was high resolution downloading, including DSD."

We have faith in you, our gallant warrior!  Let the digital hordes swarm, we will keep the analogue flame burning!

New "perfect" audio technologies will keep arriving as long as manufacturers need to feed their dependents.  But we thrift store hunters will just keep on keeping on with our imperfect vinyl technology.  The joy* of finding a mint (or better yet, still sealed) RCA Living Stereo shaded dog for $1, cannot be matched by a far costlier DSD download of the same album. (Especially if you're trying to build a serious music collection on a budget.)

_________________________

*expectation to reality ratio

Stu Morgenstern's picture
Submitted by Stu Morgenstern on Sat, 2013-10-12 15:47

You nailed it Rick.
Today's flea market excursion yielded $5 decent copies of Kind of Blue and Round About Midnight. Downloading some digital file can never match the goosebumps I get when I find stuff like that.

Rick Tomaszewicz's picture
Submitted by Rick Tomaszewicz on Sat, 2013-10-12 19:00

After all that big talk above, I figured I better go hunting again.  Ended up at one of my fave Vancouver stores, Zulu Records, and as usual Nick helped me find a pile of mint classical records at very reasonable prices.  Zulu is building up their classical collection and it's worth checking out.  

Mikey, if you ever make it up to Vancouver, Zulu is a must visit for you.  (I have no connection with them other than being an appreciative customer.)

Louis Motek's picture
Submitted by Louis Motek on Sat, 2013-10-12 11:32

Hi Michael,

Suggestion: check out the newest Reed 3P Tonearm which features not only fine VTA adjustment on-the-fly, but also the unique possibility of adjusting azimuth while playing a record. During the adjustment process, the cartridge "swings" around the needle tip, hence keeping all other tonearm parameters intact. Here it is in action in a 30 second clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STaLd7p4HoM

Distributed in the USA (and for reasons completely unkown to me, not even advertised on their website!) by Avatar Acoustics.

http://www.avataracoustics.com/home.html

Room: CANJAM

http://www.reed.lt/products/reed-3p

 

Louis Motek

Louis Motek's picture
Submitted by Louis Motek on Sat, 2013-10-12 15:49

Oh! So this was April. I wonder, where's the full review? Maybe in the pipeline...?

Weird that the US importer doesn't even acknowledge carrying the line!

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