Laufer Teknik proudly introduced their newest arrival in the Swiss designed Boenicke model W18 ($12k) loudspeaker. Don't know much at all about this transducer and it's so new there's little to gather doing an Internet search. I thereby consider myself fortunate because driven with electronics from Bladelius Design Group of Sweden. I must report the sound was a bit too analytical on the Friday night, but Saturday night proved far more promising performance. My hunch was there wasn't enough time to get that tweeter or the Bladelius gear settled in. 

With both the Esoteric SACD/CD D60 - and a two-piece Esoteric stack in one other setup - with the Nova Physics Memory transport side by side IN FOUR DIFFERENT SETUPS, there inevitably were some closed-door sessions goings on, once again to prove whether the Nova Physics MP still held its ground against these lofty but otherwise conventional driven devices. Also, in each case, the Esoteric D60 were employed upon  the German built Halcyonic Silencer isolation platforms that retail for $11,500 each. I am quite familiar with the Halcyonics as I too use them in my dedicated listening room supporting a Nova Physics MP as well as behold amplifiers (2).

On standard discs via the D60 and/or Nova Physics MP - driving either the behold Gentile integrated on the Ascendo C8 loudspeakers, or Bladelius integrated driving a pair of Volent monitors - both were used solely as transports when playing standard 16/44. A masterfully designed Dodson DA-218 D/A converter was the DAC of choice since it produced better sonic results than the one box D60. Results were the same as when I first reviewed the Nova Physics MP over a year ago: the Nova Physics outdistanced the Esoteric D60 and separates in the areas of tonality, dynamics, pitch, articulation and resolution - and I should add unanimously so.

Going SACD, analogue out, through the British built Music First passive preamp ($17k) on the Art Audio amps (in the Podium setup), revealed this hi-rez format to gain considerable sonic dividends with regard to overall harmonic rightness, timbre and bass articulation. But in the end, SACD could not convey the same overall qualities of the MP/Dodson combo. Even when playing back STANDARD 16/44 discs. Yeah, this may sound sacrilege to most of you SACD and esoteric converts out there but I wasn't alone in my assessments when I reviewed the MP back in late 2006 or only a few days ago right here in Denver with dozens of witnesses.

The rude awakening was the only place to hear the Nova Physics MP were in these four rooms used by Laufer Teknik's Sam Laufer who also serves as Nova Physics business partner.  The industry continues to turn blind-eye on the MP and instead resort to a less expensive Nova Physics MP equivalent or alternative like the many I witnessed walking this very show. This, despite the MPs successful sales performance that I'm told now hovers in the hundreds. To this very day, I still receive emails from satisfied customers, many who just took the plunge, thanking me for introducing them via the MP review (here). Despite the no show of MPs at these trade show, I strongly believe the Nova Physics Memory Player's superiority will prevail. It's too good a performer. Maybe not now... but soon. Trust me, you'll see.