Northwest Audio Show 2024

[Macca]

Here's some snaps I took at this years NW Show, held at Cranage Hall near Holmes Chapel.

Accompanied by my usual pithy but fairly useless commentary ofc.

It's a fairly big show, about 60 rooms so didn't get round everything, but this is what I've got:

First up - ATC

https://i.ibb.co/524TTLH/20240623-102841.jpg (https://ibb.co/M9Snn70)

One of the active models, not sure which, they were quite impressive doing 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' at concert levels

----

Fanthorpes are a dealer and were showing the PS Audio Aspen FR20 powered by a whole array of PS Audio kit.

https://i.ibb.co/B6FFnsM/20240623-103136.jpg (https://ibb.co/KsSSKyv)

Boring music but couldn't hear them doing anything wrong. Soundstaging seemed pretty good. Needed a bigger room to stretch their legs I think.

-------

Kerr Acoustic - pro company that moved into domestic. Showing the K200 three-way with CAD front end, Music First pre-amp and Musical Fidelity power.

https://i.ibb.co/yFDy94J/20240623-103634.jpg (https://ibb.co/1G3qgzx)

Kerr are here every year and on the spec should be one of the best in show but somehow they never do it for me. Boring music doesn't help.

Although this is a 'compact version' of their K100 reference it could still hit the low notes impressively. One I'd look at more closely if I had the kind of money they're asking.

-----------------

Another dealer, Brian & Trevor - I think these were active Kudos with a couple of subwoofers. Didn't except to be keen on these but they were good. Clean and effortless.

https://i.ibb.co/xY4pvB6/20240623-121414.jpg (https://ibb.co/yp3wTZq)


----------------

Alchris Audio - Loudspeaker manufacturer.

https://i.ibb.co/R700Hzb/20240623-104927.jpg (https://ibb.co/LvttpnR)

Had a listen to the big ones the bloke is resting his hand on in the photo, which is the TX25 three way stand mount

These were pretty good and at the price, £3750 a pair, one worth looking more closely at. Not shy in the lows and seemed to be clean and even otherwise. Seems like a lot of loudspeaker for the money.

Quite a few in the range:

https://i.ibb.co/XJ3jVjF/20240623-104941.jpg (https://ibb.co/ysYdVdg)

They had a cool Akai RTR also, although we didn't get a go on that whilst I was there.

Amazing view of the Cheshire countryside out of the window of this room, just bushes all the way to the hills on the horizon.

---------------

Another speaker company, Ophidian Audio.

My good friend and colleague Mr Steve C was keen on getting a listen in this room but they didn't have the big ones he was interested in, instead we got the smaller new model. the Ffion.

https://i.ibb.co/1GvcTSy/20240623-110837.jpg (https://ibb.co/HTFZqJw)

It's a three-way, there's a bass driver hidden somewhere inside or round the back. Seemed to have potential, being airy and open, but the music was continual bland fayre so hard to really judge if they could cut it.

--------------------------

'Chasing The Dragon' - specialise in RTR audiophile recordings, nothing that's my sort of thing though. Usually they have ATC100A in here but this year using 3-way transmission line from Falcon Acoustics:

https://i.ibb.co/B4cf0yB/20240623-112421.jpg (https://ibb.co/RhYgR3c)

They also had this very cool Studer RTR:

https://i.ibb.co/BNFBcW1/20240623-112439.jpg
(https://ibb.co/PQ0gFXS)

With Luxman amplification. I like Luxman so here's a gratuitous pic of it

https://i.ibb.co/hHt9YTT/20240623-112509.jpg (https://ibb.co/ct73Yss)


--------------------------
Doug Brady (Dealer)

There's only one thing looks better than Luxman and that's Accuphase:

https://i.ibb.co/J7RhGnP/20240623-112718.jpg (https://ibb.co/hWRq4sv)

Otherwise no comment here, they always have three systems playing at once. Doesn't work.

This was one of them - All components were from Burmeister:

https://i.ibb.co/L9B4dFS/20240623-113033.jpg (https://ibb.co/zPCKVMs)

-------------------------

Coherent Systems

Been one of the best rooms last few years, this time showing the new TAD GE-1

https://i.ibb.co/f9LMggx/20240623-113954.jpg (https://ibb.co/1MjZggm)
https://i.ibb.co/JxnBZfJ/20240623-114008.jpg (https://ibb.co/CJB1LkG)

TAD do everything I like in a speaker and they do it well. Regrettably the price of admission is just too high for me.

-----------------------------

Some more maybe later or tomorrow. Yes, there's some more Accuphase, don't worry

[Alex_UK]

Excellent, Martin, thank you for sharing and look forward to part 2… :popcorn:

[Macca]

The best is yet to come!

[Macca]

Audionote - this was a dealer room, I can't recall which one.

https://i.ibb.co/w6dZ7B9/20240623-122529.jpg (https://ibb.co/cTyKwkG)

Playing vinyl when we went in and it was a bit crackly, but then they switched to CD (no streaming in this room) and we had 'Walk On The Wild Side' and it was pretty good. It didn't seem to have the 'comedy bass hump' I've noted previously .

This was the best I've heard an Audionote system. It paints in broad strokes and I can see why some people like that. Ultimately, not my sort of thing though.

Steve said his Mrs reckoned the speakers on their stands look like Spongebob Squarepants. That had never occurred to me before but now I can't unsee it.

---------------------------------

Karma AV (Distributor).

Now we get to the real deal. SVS flagship loudspeakers the Ultra Evolution.

https://i.ibb.co/XS8cMNb/20240623-135632.jpg (https://ibb.co/4Pdh397)

They were playing something with a lot of drums and it was very impressive but this was 7.3.4 A/V system so I wasn't that surprised that it was practically replicating a real drumkit until I was told we were only listening to the two front towers and all the subs were off...

So yes, now I'm interested. They put everything on and showed a scene from 'Top Gun: Maverick'. It was better than the cinema, no kidding.

We then got them to play some music just through the towers and they were pretty good. They're clearly full range and don't really need subs for music unless you're a bass maniac.

£6.5K a pair - all three of us agreed that was the deal of the century.


--------------------------

Amphion - not much to say here, they always play bland pap in this room so you can't judge. I think they could be very good, and they do go low, but they're the thick end of twenty grand. Amp was Hegel.

https://i.ibb.co/0XBMXDv/20240623-143523.jpg (https://ibb.co/wLJWL0j)

---------------------------------------

Wilkinsons (Dealer)

Showing a £1K all Rega system. P1 Turntable, Io Amplifier, Kyte speakers. Cartridge was the Carbon.

https://i.ibb.co/VgmGQTK/20240623-145936.jpg (https://ibb.co/ByNJrB1)

Surprisingly good and no pops or crackles.

[Macca]

Technics

With their coaxial standmounts and towers:

https://i.ibb.co/yqgJpR9/20240623-150939.jpg (https://ibb.co/pd4pQP7)

https://i.ibb.co/dbPDMNT/20240623-150952.jpg (https://ibb.co/wJS4gnk)

It's good-looking equipment there's no denying it. No music playing when I was in there though.

-----------------------------------

OSV Audio & G Point Audio

Not sure what these speakers are and they look a bit DIY but they did sound good

https://i.ibb.co/Z8t3fB0/20240623-151441.jpg (https://ibb.co/J70Ncv9)

These were the electronics which I think are Lampizator

https://i.ibb.co/4KgXXw6/20240623-151450.jpg (https://ibb.co/LYhccDL)


--------------------------
Not sure which dealer this was, Fyne Vintage speakers, 10'' dual-concentric, with full Accuphase stack:

https://i.ibb.co/HY8kdwc/20240623-152044.jpg (https://ibb.co/Y8sqZn5)

https://i.ibb.co/zs6x3gJ/20240623-152051.jpg (https://ibb.co/CBP8jy2)

I wasn't that keen on these speakers initially but they did grow on me a bit after a few songs. £20K with the supertweeters though.

-----------------------

That's the lot, I think.

[Pigmy Pony]

You forgot to mention Firebottle's kilt :)

[Ali Tait]

Good to see you guys there, was a fun show for us, some great craic.

[Jimbo]

Great write up, pics and review Martin and there was a lot of gear there I had not heard of.

Pity most of those systems would still be the cost of a small car and this was not even Axpona or Munich!

But good to be exposed to a great deal of gear in one spot even though I could imagine determining any sound impressions would be tricky in that sort of environment. I always wondered at shows which bit of kit was contributing the most ( apart from speakers) but at least you get an impression I suppose.

[Pigmy Pony]

Of course most of the kit there will always be out of reach, but it doesn't take away from the entertainment value - I used to watch Top Gear where they'd be arsing around Europe or wherever in lottery win cars for the same reason.

I do come away from these things a little bit depressed though - it's not the stuff with the stupid price tags - that's never gonna happen and I'm fine with that. No, it's the gear I can almost afford that gets to me...

Good to see some familiar faces too, that alone makes the trip worthwhile. Almost... :ner:

Overall kit-wise, most was good and nothing actually was bad - this might have been my most enjoyable Cranage yet.

[Jimbo]

I used to go to a lot of shows back in my day but I grew a bit weary with them but I understand the entertainment value, bit like going to a big car show or camping and caravan show?:uhho: I used to go to a yacht show down in London and I could only just afford the trip and admission and had absolutely no intention of buying anything as most stuff was lottery prize money!

I think it is great to meet like minded folk and friends at these shows and it seems most of the "professional journalistaz" always mention this as being one of their reasons for going!

[Macca]

I used to go to a lot of shows back in my day but I grew a bit weary with them but I understand the entertainment value, bit like going to a big car show or camping and caravan show?:uhho: I used to go to a yacht show down in London and I could only just afford the trip and admission and had absolutely no intention of buying anything as most stuff was lottery prize money!

I think it is great to meet like minded folk and friends at these shows and it seems most of the "professional journalistaz" always mention this as being one of their reasons for going!

I think I'd get weary of going to multiple shows as it's going to be the same demos at each, mostly. One a year is plenty for me. As it was we only got round about half of it, but then we were not much interested in small speakers.

With almost everyone doing local streaming there's not much difference other than rooms and speakers anyway.

With the mega expensive stuff there's an element of 'Look what you could have won' to it I suppose.

I could pass on most of it but then you get some stuff like the TAD speakers or the £30K SVS Atmos system where you say 'I'd have that - if I had the money and the space.'

For me it's just a day out and breaks up the monotony of working and sleeping.

[Jimbo]

I think I'd get weary of going to multiple shows as it's going to be the same demos at each, mostly. One a year is plenty for me. As it was we only got round about half of it, but then we were not much interested in small speakers.

With almost everyone doing local streaming there's not much difference other than rooms and speakers anyway.

With the mega expensive stuff there's an element of 'Look what you could have won' to it I suppose.

I could pass on most of it but then you get some stuff like the TAD speakers or the £30K SVS Atmos system where you say 'I'd have that - if I had the money and the space.'

For me it's just a day out and breaks up the monotony of working and sleeping.

Shows always have something that makes you think " If I had the money" which is always good as it is always nice to find something that really gives you a buzz and sets a standard you hope maybe one day you can achieve. A lot of the gear can leave you non plussed but occasionally there is something that lights you up and it is always better to see something and listen to it in the flesh rather than read about it in a magazine !?


Yeah and they are a good day out if you haven't much going on. That's why I used to go to a lot of shows and many of them none hifi as they are very entertaining and always offer something drool worthy.

[hifinutt]

couldnt go this year so thats for write up. Alchris audio is impressive for a one man band !!!

[Macca]

couldnt go this year so thats for write up. Alchris audio is impressive for a one man band !!!

He is. I've put his TX25 and TX66 models on my shortlist for new speakers when the time comes.

[hifinutt]

is that TX66 based on ditton 66 ?

[Macca]

is that TX66 based on ditton 66 ?

Yes it is, the lower bass driver is an ABR.

[Firebottle]

You forgot to mention Firebottle's kilt :)

Did someone mention a kilt?

[Pigmy Pony]

Doesn't matter that the tartan came off in the wash, it still looks pretty cool :)

[Mr. C]

Have to say Alan kilt was very fetching & he wore it well :)

For ourselves we felt this 2024 show was best attended, best atmosphere and best excerise on how to exhibit at a show. Kris's (organiser) staff were exemplary as was the Hotels Tony head porter/do it all man and his staff absolutely first rate Paul the 'Ego' Miller & the 'Fester group' should be taking a long hard look in the mirror, Kris puts them to utter shame.

Great to catch up with so many of the forum chaps, thanks for dropping in and saying hello, so many of you really appreciated :)

Also Sunday I actually took 3 hours off to walk around the show and drop in on a few of the more engaging rooms. Had a great catch up with Ali & Andy the long Dog 'duo' bless them, Paul Knipe solid sounds, Touraj @ Vertere, Atoll, Jez Kerr and a couple of others.

Just about back to normality now, systems are now running, storage is looking slightly fuller and life is a little less choactic.

Thank you all for the very positive comments and great event, its no small undertaking for us, from travelling, logistics, organisation and cost. We really do enjoy the NWAS it is our favourite so see you all next year!

Mind you one of the staff is in need of a training video for bringing the poverty spec volvo along in the hope he could snag a bargin pair of speakers due to the fact the vendor would take pity on him, shame on Timmy! :lol:

[Ali Tait]

Good to have a chat and some laughs Tony, liked your special names for some companies. :-)

[Mr. C]

Good to have a chat and some laughs Tony, liked your special names for some companies. :-)

Aye...................... youy maybe right there Ali :eyebrows:

Great to catch up, glad you guys were all fine and on good form, must do it more often buddy!

[Ali Tait]

Yes definitely!

[Lawrence001]

Doesn't matter that the tartan came off in the wash, it still looks pretty cool :)Is it representing any Scottish ancestry or more of a steampunk sartorial style?

[Pigmy Pony]

I would say the latter... Very practical in this warm weather though, I would say he was more like the Fresh Prince of ball-air :)

[Puffin]

Great Pics. Haven't been to a show for over 20 years. I can see the thrill of the chase in relation to some of the stuff in the pics and in the past I have justified the cost of a component or speakers but these have been in the hundreds not the thousands that is more the norm now. My style has always been the best sound I can get for the best price. Mind you the stuff on show did look tempting......expectational bias?

[Pigmy Pony]

Great Pics. Haven't been to a show for over 20 years. I can see the thrill of the chase in relation to some of the stuff in the pics and in the past I have justified the cost of a component or speakers but these have been in the hundreds not the thousands that is more the norm now. My style has always been the best sound I can get for the best price. Mind you the stuff on show did look tempting......expectational bias?

Don't mean to put you off attending future ones Rob, but I'm afraid there was no Bose there :D

[Lawrence001]

Don't mean to put you off attending future ones Rob, but I'm afraid there was no Bose there :DI heard a rumour Steve had got sponsorship from Bose to hire Middleton Lodge for the next NEBO, but in return only Bose systems were allowed. This is just a rumour though, nothing's been confirmed yet.

[Puffin]

Don't mean to put you off attending future ones Rob, but I'm afraid there was no Bose there :D

:eek: Oh dear I will have to pass then!

[Macca]

Great Pics. Haven't been to a show for over 20 years. I can see the thrill of the chase in relation to some of the stuff in the pics

I only go for the Accuphase.

I think if you go for used equipment you can get a pretty stunning system for under a grand. Turntable excluded. As good as a lot of the stuff in that show as makes no difference.