View Full Version : North West Audio Show Cranage Hall 2022
Jac Hawk
03-06-2022, 14:24
Anyone Going to Cranage Hall this year?
Pigmy Pony
03-06-2022, 16:04
I'm going on the Sunday. Looking forward to it, been 3 years since the last one.
I was thinking it might be nice if attendees from AoS were to meet for a drink and a hello in the bar at, say, 12 noon :) Just a suggestion, what do you think?
yeah you could all wear a pink carnation :eyebrows::ner: hopefully you can all meet up; a good idea.
Pigmy Pony
03-06-2022, 19:48
yeah you could all wear a pink carnation :eyebrows::ner: hopefully you can all meet up; a good idea.
:lol: First time I went to Cranage, I arranged to meet Firebottle in the bar for a beer. I had no idea what he looked like, he just said to "look out for the pants". Worked a treat!
Ali Tait
03-06-2022, 20:31
Will be there in the Longdog Audio room as usual. Looking forward to it.
Jac Hawk
03-06-2022, 21:05
Great idea Steve
Pigmy Pony
04-06-2022, 08:01
What day you going Mike? Anything in particular you interested in? Or just a nice day out? 'Tis an excellent venue imo.
Jac Hawk
06-06-2022, 08:55
What day you going Mike? Anything in particular you interested in? Or just a nice day out? 'Tis an excellent venue imo.
i'm easy mate, Saturday or Sunday, i'd like to see what Alan Clark Alchrist Audio has on show, but mostly i'm there to be impressed and inspired by kit way out of my budget
Bksabath
17-06-2022, 10:38
I will be there as well
I will be caring a green canvas Hoptons Butchers bag whit a few records and bits and bobs
so say hallo
Be nice to have same more of those AOS pins Marco was giving them away for free a while ago ...
:lol:
Pigmy Pony
18-06-2022, 16:33
Bit of irony - I'll be wearing this tomorrow, seeing as it's Father's Day. Even though I'd rather spend the day at a Hifi show than with my own kids.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A13usaonutL._CLa%7C2140%2C2000%7C71uVkE0S2BL.png%7 C0%2C0%2C2140%2C2000%2B0.0%2C0.0%2C2140.0%2C2000.0 _AC_UX569_.png
Not going, but be interested in your thoughts about the Shadow Audio valve Pre and Dac if anyone gets chance of a listen to Danny Baty's stuff.
Here's some of the pictures I took:
B&W - not as good as I expected, sounded a bit fuzzy:
https://i.ibb.co/g7xLGr4/B-W.jpg (https://ibb.co/sPZdhgW)
Nagra with YG Acoustic speakers and Plinius power amp - this was good, seem like very good speakers, filled a large room very easily, smooth with lots of detail and good bass.
https://i.ibb.co/T2xVjjs/nagra-YPG.jpg (https://ibb.co/mTVLZZ3)
Marten speakers with some big monoblocks, don't know what they were. Wasn't keen on this set up at all, using vinyl source though so maybe an issue with that.
https://i.ibb.co/tb7RRd4/marten.jpg (https://ibb.co/wK9ttvR)
More to follow
3 Square Loudspeakers. Had a listen to the floorstanders, not bad at all:
https://i.ibb.co/f1fGcJK/3-square.jpg (https://ibb.co/NV5n4Rk)
Accuphase - mmm....Accuphase :drool:
I want the CD Transport. It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.
The speakers were good, can't recall what they were though:
https://i.ibb.co/c1BnLxT/accuphase.jpg (https://ibb.co/bP09J7d)
I think these were Kudos speakers, with twin subs. Good sound, I think, subs perfectly integrated, but terrible music so didn't stop for a longer evaluation.
https://i.ibb.co/nm1K1jB/kudos.jpg (https://ibb.co/1QX4XTM)
More to follow
Avid - loudspeakers and integrated amp. These were giving a good sound
https://i.ibb.co/Hp1z07x/Avid.jpg (https://ibb.co/2Ymtwqs)
Klipsch Cornwall with some fancy valve integrated. Need a much bigger space but not really my thing - looked vintage and sounded it too, not in a good way
https://i.ibb.co/zx15K7x/klipsch.jpg (https://ibb.co/vqbB2Qq)
Chord Electronics: Don't know what the speakers were. Never been keen on the styling of Chord but have to say looks a lot better in the flesh than in pictures. Sound quality was passable to good.
https://i.ibb.co/HrqTmzq/chord.jpg (https://ibb.co/LC1d4t1)
Kerr Acoustic: Not sure of the model number but it's the big one. Heard these before and was very impressed, same this time. If you've got the space and the money...
https://i.ibb.co/nR1KMdk/Kerr.jpg (https://ibb.co/XV5Gx0J)
plenty more to come
Golden Ear Triton 3: cost a lot less than I thought they would, decent but not great
https://i.ibb.co/NnBtPyJ/Goldenear.jpg (https://ibb.co/bR9QZKC)
KEF LS65 - these are active speakers. Good bass and mids, top a bit soft and recessed. Don't think that was the speaker just how they had them configured but don't know for sure. They fell just short of being incredibly impressive as a result.
KEFs room was like some sort of 1990s Euro disco but the chairs were comfy.
https://i.ibb.co/wrXCYtf/kef.jpg (https://ibb.co/4gGMJkH)
Kerr Acoustic again, smaller ones this time. Like the big ones these were impressive, I could live with them I think:
https://i.ibb.co/jrKR5DQ/Kerr2.jpg (https://ibb.co/sVSHPqN)
PMC - love their studio monitors, never been at all keen on their domestic speakers but these weren't half bad, needed a bigger room to play to their strengths I think:
https://i.ibb.co/XLJtzCW/PMC.jpg (https://ibb.co/MSN7RCg)
Bksabath
19-06-2022, 17:18
3042130422
Just got home
Best in show for me Curvi- BMR 2 Loudspeaker's
One certainly must take home a record
And I bought I record cleaning machine but (forum rules !) do not tell Her
Bksabath
19-06-2022, 17:50
Golden Ear Triton 3: cost a lot less than I thought they would, decent but not great
https://i.ibb.co/NnBtPyJ/Goldenear.jpg (https://ibb.co/bR9QZKC)
KEF LS65 - these are active speakers. Good bass and mids, top a bit soft and recessed. Don't think that was the speaker just how they had them configured but don't know for sure. They fell just short of being incredibly impressive as a result.
KEFs room was like some sort of 1990s Euro disco but the chairs were comfy.
https://i.ibb.co/wrXCYtf/kef.jpg (https://ibb.co/4gGMJkH)
Kerr Acoustic again, smaller ones this time. Like the big ones these were impressive, I could live with them I think:
https://i.ibb.co/jrKR5DQ/Kerr2.jpg (https://ibb.co/sVSHPqN)
PMC - love their studio monitors, never been at all keen on their domestic speakers but these weren't half bad, needed a bigger room to play to their strengths I think:
https://i.ibb.co/XLJtzCW/PMC.jpg (https://ibb.co/MSN7RCg)
One forget to charge the phone
Drooling over the Originlive turntable and arms
If you got pictures ...Please
Allchris Audio - based loosely on the celebrated Celestion Ditton 66. He always uses EAR amps which I don't like but still a good sound - for £3.5K (I think) worth considering.
https://i.ibb.co/zXQ2Pw5/Allchris.jpg (https://ibb.co/VgJCM8N)
Active ATC in the 'Chasing The Dragon' room. Sorry about the pic, they were big but they were also far away.
https://i.ibb.co/YT8Zjvg/ATC.jpg (https://ibb.co/NnpSYwR)
Graham Audio LS - something or other. Heard these before too and I quite like them even though I'm not much for BBC derived speakers. We got to listen to 'Money' on vinyl though so extra marks for that. Recommend these if you want something that won't overpower a small room but still has some body to it.
https://i.ibb.co/M1DQ7pQ/graham.jpg (https://ibb.co/gWMhJwh)
can't recall what these speakers were called but although they look impressive they were not so good, congested mids:
https://i.ibb.co/6XH4NBh/unk.jpg (https://ibb.co/TW4HrLX)
TAD speakers, forget the model but doesn't matter I can't afford them and neither (probably) can you. Could have sat in here all day, great sound, lots of detail but not chucked at you. Probably my runner-up for best sound at the show.
https://i.ibb.co/By1C37k/TAD.jpg (https://ibb.co/R35DbM8)
But the winner was:
Kii - these things are just ridiculous. Better than what they have in studios. A youth asked for some tune I never heard of to be played to test the bass. It was monumental.
They were jammed into a small room, but it didn't matter. One of the few rooms where I was compelled to ask the price - £27K for the lot but if you don't need stupid SPL then you can just get the head units for fifteen grand. If I was still working I would have to think of reasons not to and probably fail.
https://i.ibb.co/JxQmxxv/KII.jpg (https://ibb.co/3fz4ffp)
One forget to charge the phone
Drooling over the Originlive turntable and arms
If you got pictures ...Please
Sorry I don't. I was only really interested in loudspeakers.
Forgot one
Falcon Acoustics Transmission line loudspeakers, based on the IMF 200. Despite the bad room you could tell these were good. We could have had the demo pair for £2100, which was tempting. The kit is £2800 - well worth it if you have the space for them and are handy enough to knock them up.
https://i.ibb.co/B67w4MG/Falcon.jpg (https://ibb.co/M1j980f)
Pigmy Pony
19-06-2022, 18:46
+1 for the Kii speakers. The bloke also put on a track by The Hu (Mongolian folk/rock band) and it sounded like the end of the world was coming, even though the speakers didn't break a sweat. If I could afford them it'd be a no brainer really.
For me, the best of the affordable(!) speakers were those smaller Kerr floorstanders. Only £6.5k. If I sold my current ones, as well as my spare amps, spare pre amp, spare CD player and the FireBlade I might just get there. Can't believe I'm even thinking about it :eek:
The best bargain for me had to be the IMF 200s in the Falcon Acoustics room. Great sound, and he would have sold me that pair for £2100, which is about £700* off normal price. Why do these things always come along when I'm skint? Because I'm always skint that's why.
southall-1998_mk2
19-06-2022, 18:59
Macca. Did you hear the NVA system?
S.
worth keeping an eye out for a second hand pair of those Kerr. Or those YG Acoustic.
Macca. Did you hear the NVA system?
S.
No, I wanted to but never found it. They give you a map but the place is a maze and the map just has the name or number of the room, it doesn't tell you who's in there.
Lawrence001
19-06-2022, 19:29
Sounds like a pretty pointless map if it tells you the numbers but not who's in there. I've never heard anyone say "I really want to go to Cranage to listen to the systems in rooms 3, 17 and 28."
Pigmy Pony
19-06-2022, 19:34
worth keeping an eye out for a second hand pair of those Kerr. Or those YG Acoustic.
https://nintronics.co.uk/pub/media/catalog/product/cache/aab5a0cd5b3f96026766fdd4c3951d1d/c/a/carmel2_p1434_compressed_3.jpg
The cheapest YG Acoustics, as sold by Nintronics. £18,900. So that's not happening :(
https://nintronics.co.uk/pub/media/catalog/product/cache/aab5a0cd5b3f96026766fdd4c3951d1d/c/a/carmel2_p1434_compressed_3.jpg
The cheapest YG Acoustics, as sold by Nintronics. £18,900. So that's not happening :(
oops no wonder they were so good.
Pigmy Pony
19-06-2022, 19:56
oops no wonder they were so good.
That they were. And they certainly filled that big room. But Nintronics have some other YG speakers that they want £400,000 for. Can't imagine what size room they would suit.
Pigmy Pony
20-06-2022, 05:51
Sounds like a pretty pointless map if it tells you the numbers but not who's in there. I've never heard anyone say "I really want to go to Cranage to listen to the systems in rooms 3, 17 and 28."
The map was ok really, numbered or named rooms with a key to what was in those rooms. But the place really is a bit of a maze, not helped by the fact that what starts at the entrance as ground floor becomes 1st floor at some point which meant the important stuff (record stall and bar) are then on "lower ground floor" :doh:
And stopping to chat with folk, as well as the obligatory visit to the bar threw any attempt to be methodical out the window. Looking again at the floor plan I can see there were a couple of rooms we missed.
Jac Hawk
20-06-2022, 07:26
For me the stand out kit were the KII speakers, at £27k for the system it was a little more than i'd be comfortable spending, but the sound was top drawer the bass in particular grabs you and makes you listen. the guide was available in paper form from reception and you could access it online through the app, but as others have said the hotel is a rabbit warren and even with a map it's not the easiest place to navigate. As Macca has said the B&W room was unimpressive to say the least, pretty much all the speakers with big bass bins were playing Glen Miller or string music which isn't going to test them or show off what they are capable of, it was good to see Alan Clark ( Kralk Audio now Alchris Audio ), And the little KEF active speakers were a bit of a surprise with decent bass extension if a little wooly in the mid range. Overall a great day out and a chance to catch up with some AoS members.
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