Escalante Design's Fremont loudspeaker ($20k), has to the largest stand-supported monitors I've ever seen. Shown here strapped to an arsenal of Electrocompaniet gear Terri Budge wasted no time showing how easy these loudspeakers can morph between sweethearts to absolute bass monsters.

Scaena and VTL put on a very nice demo, as they did back at Rocky Mountain last year, that featured their 12-driver array ($50k).

Scaena's George Bischoff takes his usual position as disc jocky behind a ton of CDs resting upon a dCS stack.

PS Audio's new DAC is said to be available this coming spring. Based on the look of it alone, it's intriguing and I can't wait to hear it once it hits the market. Price is suspected to be in the $2500 - $3000 range.

Geoff Poor of Balanced Audio Technology is true Bluesmen and insists on playing something for me each time we meet. Here, with a pair of Wilson Watt Puppy 8s strapped to a pair of BAT VK-55SE mono amplifiers ($12k), VK32 preamp ($8k), and VKD5 CD player ($9,500), Poor wasted no time showing off what this system could do. Don't recall the artist or the name of the tune, but it was most certainly bluesy and beautiful. The system threw a very impressive stage without a hint of stress or strain despite the "live" volumes Poor enjoys. Impressive indeed.

Finnish speaker manufacturer Amphion really does know how to make great sounding loudspeakers at affordable prices. Why on earth then would they pair a lovely sounding pair of Prio loudspeakers ($6k) to a $100,000 Swedish tube amplifier? This question had me scratching my wig for a good few minutes. I've heard the Amphion enough times to know they're very good loudspeakers but especially-good for someone seeking a steal in its price category. Why then didn't they show them with something in the same price range remains a mystery. Nevertheless, the sound was superb sounding once again on Nina Simon's Everything Must Change.

Got a chance to hear the new Pass Labs Son of Rushmore loudspeakers ($25k). Impressive sounding no doubt and a lot of loudspeaker for the money. Big, bold and beautiful, showing with the Pass Xa100.5 monos, this 4-way floorstander isn't shy in the low octaves.