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Spectral Morn
04-04-2009, 16:21
The London Heathrow Sept 2006 Hi-Fi Show.


As mentioned at the end of the 2007 show report, I also had photos taken at the 2006 London show. Having reviewed them, before re-sizing I also feel these are also worth showing. Again as in the 2007 photos I feel it would be a pity for them not to see the light of day.



This show was I feel the real beginning of the end for London Heathrow's September show. The Chester group had taken over the Park Inn and the number of exhibitors at the Hi-Fi News show in the Renaissance Hotel was down a lot on previous years. Despite this a number of dealers/distributors/manufacturers achieved very high levels of sound quality and the products on show, were in my opinion very exciting.

Real Hi-Fi

Mathew had an excellent sound in his small room at the Renaissance Hotel. Visually stunning the Horning Sati amplifier looked like a prop from a 1930's Flash Gordon show as did the new to Real Hi-fi Duval speakers. Shanling was also on show with Hypernian speakers. Mathew always has a visually excellent room with sound to match.

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Musical Fidelity

This year MF had a number of new products to launch, but being honest I felt they had achieved a better sound in their room in past years. However the Kw 25 Transport and Dac was on show, with the Kw550 integrated, Kw250S all in one system(there was a product that should have done better but was too dear). I think that the Pro-ac speakers did not suit the MF kit or the small room

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Hi-Audio

This was the show that saw the Cartridge man's Conductor linear tracking air bearing arm see the light of day, at an amazing price off £1200 (now much more). The arm was mounted on an Acoustic Solid turntable with a Hadcock....sound stunning.

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Yipsolon

This Greek brand was at this time being distributed by Metropolis Music. Visually over the top, very expensive and sounding very good.

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ClearAudio

WOW...this show saw the launch of the Statement. The pictures can speak for themselves.

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ClearAudio's other turntables looked poor in comparison.......

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United Kingdom Distributors.

The Pathos Endorphine Cd player and Cinema X amplifier were making stunning sound through a new Triangle speaker design. I have been critical of the sound of these Pathos amps, as being heavy and slow in the bass...not here, on this day. I was amazed by the sound. Pathos make audio jewelry for sure, but the sound quality matches the looks.

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Dali

This show saw the re-arrival of Dali with their new UK arm of the company. No more distribution path for this Danish speaker company. Excellent sound from Helicon speakers and Tact amplification.

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DK Designs


This was just before the company changed its name to LSA

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Absolute Analogue


Simon Bennett had in my opinion the best sound at the Park Inn. The Ref 3a Venna speakers getting their UK premier. Stunning ! The focus, detail, soundstaging, bass the best ever...the speakers vanished in the room. He was using a mixture of Plinius and Bel-Canto. Tash from Ref 3a was at the show as well what a lovely man.

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Metropolis Music

John Jeffries stood very proud in his room this year as he had some excellent kit on show. The new Lumley turntable, new pre and power from Boulder and speakers from Ascendo. A Bat Cd player and phono stage rounded out the line up. Nice sound and I got to meet John Nelson from Boulder very nice man.

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RPM

RPM had Oracle and Audio Valve from Germany on show, nice sound though it got better on the second day.

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Redline Audio

Redline were showing Sim Audio Moon reference range featuring the Moon Andromeda Cd player P7 Pre and matching power amplifier. Frankly the room was way to small, but in saying that the sound was still good.

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Aanvil Audio

Bill Houston was showing the first of Bel Canto's new B&O Ice Module using class D amps and Audio Physic speakers. Sound was very good and as this was the first time I had meet Bill in person I found him to be just as nice a guy in the flesh as I was used to talking to on the phone.

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T&A


Another first at this show, T&A from Germany and the V range of amplification, turntable and Cd/Sacd player. Sound was good but not great. I was a little bit disappointed but by day two things had improved.

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Chord amplification, Blue transport and Dac64 combination with Italian omni-directional speakers who's name I can't remember.

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Melody

All on static display...so I can't say how it sounded. I would love to have heard this brand but alas it didn't happen.

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In the same room. “What do you mean ones not enough?” A Vpi, Sme 5 and Sme M2 arms on a massive oil rig style turntable (a copy of an Acoustic Solid).

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Select Audio

Gershwin speakers, Air Tight and Emille amplification and the ultra rare Marantz Cd23 (this was part of the micro music link components but alas not widely available in the UK...WOW)

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Quadral


Huge speakers in a small room = poor sound. Sadly true here...but it looked interesting.

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Signature Audio Systems


Wow...what a set up, and using an AudioMecca Mephisto Cd player (rarely seen in the UK). Nice sounding room.

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Angel Sound Audio


They had Acoustic Zen, Cain and Cain speakers with Almaro amplification. Sound was okay...I am not a big fan of single driver horn speakers....sorry.

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Icon Audio


David Shaw had a busy room and the sound was very good.

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Beauhorn


What can I say about the sound. I don't like Horn speakers, so I was not happy with the sound. However I spotted an AMR CD77 so I was in the room and over for a look uuummm Nice.

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Audion

Audion of France once of the UK, had a range of their valve amplifiers on show plus the new Cygnus speakers from Revolver.

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Audio Craft


Kevin had Amphion, Rogue Audio and Lavardan on show nice sound.

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Audio Reference

This room was an Aladins cave of all things high-end and weird. The systems comprised of Halcro, Clear Audio, Gamut, Graham, Aesthetix's and Shoon Mook. Sound was very good but frankly the Shun Mook air resonators make me laugh.

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Apogee



“Sir you can't place your airplanes wings in here !”.....a modern update of a classic design. Nice sound.

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MBL



First time I had seen or heard this German kit....WOW on both counts.

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Musicology



Simon's a really nice guy but the sound in his room could have been better. The Audio Static speakers more than likely needing a bigger room. It was nice to see and hear a full Atmosphere OTL valve amplification set up and an Esoteric Cd player, on Symposium tables and isolation platforms.

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Ferguson Hill


In the flesh these are very striking looking speakers but to my ear I didn't like them. However the tiny/micro desk top version was both cute and sounded quite good indeed.

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Wavac


Amazing sound in a room too small for the speakers. Wavac of Japan pre and power amplifier, Weiss transport and Dac and interesting speakers.

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ALL PHOTOS ARE MY COPYRIGHT, SO PLEASE ASK FOR PERMISSION BEFORE USING ANY.





Hope you enjoyed the pictures.


Regards D S D L

hifi_dave
04-04-2009, 18:56
Neil,
Thanks for the great pics and information. I definitely feel I didn't miss anything now by not going.:)

David

Spectral Morn
05-04-2009, 00:01
Hi David

No problem. I had the photos on a card that were to have formed part of a show report on the website of the shop I used to manage. It never happened for reasons I wont go into here. There is also a report on the 2007 show as well here on AOS.


Regards D S D L

Darren
05-04-2009, 16:28
Wow and double wow.... what great pictures. I'll take the MBL speakers, the Apogees and all the clear audio turntables please... how much for cash?

Spectral Morn
05-04-2009, 22:26
Hi Daren

Thanks for the comment. The Clearaudio Statement is in the flesh awesome...sadly it was on static display so I don't know how it sounds...real pity that.

The MBL set up was the first time I had heard omi-speakers or their kit. The sound was very good and it was in a massive room and filled it with ease. There is a stereotype about German gear being bright, the MBL kit was not, huge organic sound with excellent detail. As impressive sounding as it was impressive to look at.


Regards D S D L