Click images above
to enlarge. (Hotel entrance)
Quality and variety. Just two words that describe
my experience at the 2019 Bristol Hi FI Show. Many of the demonstration
rooms concentrated on streaming / storage components (not surprisingly),
however, there was something for everyone.
Admittedly, many of the streaming / digital
small room demonstrations did leave me feeling cold. Apart from
the price tags and verbal fanfare, I felt I my GPS had incorrectly
guided me to the nearest industrial park, straight passed the
delivery shuttered doors of a Currys PC World and dumped me bang
in the middle of the latest digital flashing products isle.
It was the relative simplicity and easy listening
traits of the Mitchell Engineering room (with Mitchell Orbe ‘SE’
and Sugden amplification) and the Proac room (with Mitchell Orbe
‘SE’ combined with Trilogy amplification) that gently
enticed me to wonder in and ‘stay a while longer’.
Judging by some of the most consistently filled listening chairs
in both rooms, I was not the only true music lover who fell in
love with what they heard ‘and felt’. I am sure the
‘old school’ well engineered Mitchell Orbe turntable
(present and working) in both rooms had a lot to do with the inviting
tones.
Thankfully, the Naim / Audio Focal ‘busy
time slotted’ larger room demonstration, using Naim’s
ND5 XS2, NDX 2 & ND555 (ranging from 2.5k to just above 7k)
did give a deeper insight into greater possibilities of streaming,
ripping… (As well as sparking multiple questions from me
and my colleagues for many days). Clarity and much improved depth
(over the smaller room demo’s here) but I still question
the lack of physicality and emotion (bearing in mind my ever growing
love and appreciation for good quality vinyl pressings). Perhaps
those with less experience with vinyl would not consider my continuing
reservations valid?
Although the Naim rep highlighted he and his
colleagues had done the best they could with the room and time
they were given to set-up, some hardened Naim enthusiasts continued
to comment on various forums stating they were not happy with
the room or Focal speakers used for this demonstration. Some suggested
Naim should have used Naim DBL’s instead of the Focal loudspeaker!
As a long-term Musical Fidelity component owner,
I was pleased to see the musical Fidelity brand at the show (in
the Pro-Ject Audio Systems / Musical Fidelity / Kilpsch room)
as well as on the ground floor on Saturday. I also noticed an
absence of the M8 series amplification. I find this strange considering
the M8 series is considered their flagship amplification?
Wilson Benesch offered a powerful and controlled
listening experience on the ground floor open space area featuring
their original Wilson Benesch Turntable (no longer in production).
One impressed listener stated “I don’t usually
listen to classical music at home for various reasons, this is
one of the few times I have actually stopped and listened... clean,
detailed, yet still inviting… this is amazing!”
Due to my current ongoing detailed tests of
balanced mains units (BMU’s) as well other mains conditioners,
I was intrigued to uncover the various ‘power units’
(if in use) behind the scenes. Iso Tek conditioners and various
power-blocks seemed to be the order of the day (and weekend) at
this show, though it was difficult to see behind all the curtains
and banners.
Music and hi-fi enthusiasts praised the variety
of exhibitors, quality of components, cables and various accessories
on display this year. Those who were not able to experience all
that was on offer during a one day visit have vowed to return
next year to make a weekend of it.
Robin Francis
© Michael Valentine Studio
23 February 2019
Featured exhibitors:
ATC, Avid HI-FI, Canton, Decent Audio, Dynaudio, Falcon Acoustics,
Harmon Luxury Audio Group, Harmon Kardon, Henley Audio, Keith
Monks, Leema Audio, Malvern Audio Research, Mellow Acoustics,
Mitchell Engineering, Musical Fidelity, Naim Audio / Focal, Naim
Audio (foyer), Ophidian Audio, Proac, Pro-Ject Audio Systems /
Musical Fidelity / Klipsch, Puritan Audio Laboratories, Rel, Ruark
Audio, Townshend, tri-art audio, Wilson Benesch
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