Arte Forma and Eggleston Works produced a wonderfully rewarding combination of sonic excellence in an affordable package. The always impressive sounding Fontaine II ($7500  dual ported, 89dB), proved quick in the bass while giving a very relaxed, open and airy performance while strapped to a $799.00 Arte Forma 120-watt Integrated. Amazing! 

I am totally smitten by what Richard Vandersteen has accomplished in designing the Vandersteen 7 loudspeakers ($45k). Yeah, it's costly in terms of financial outlay but a bargain compared others I've seen at this show that wore sticker prices that had a seasoned vet like me shaking my head. Besides, you've a powered woofer section in the 7s to take the load off that potential low-powered tube amp you might have in mind. I was in awe of its overall smoothness and sound-staging capabilities especially when paired with such legendary components like Audio Research.

Here's a setup I had a difficult time with. I really like the combination of products here in the YG Acoustics Carmel loudspeakers ($18k) and the battery powered electronics from Veloce Audio. Somehow, there existed a slight stridency I couldn't shake that wouldn't go away on the other times I revisited this room. Based on what I've heard in my previous encounters, the battery-powered Veloce gear is the way to go, so I don't quite know or understand what might have been behind the tilted up top-end. I am also quite familiar with the YG Acoustics sound and know these are neutral in most respects. I also wonder who else heard it.

Money can't buy happiness. The Kaiser Kawero loudspeaker of Germany is among my favorites yet, this room didn't sound nearly as good as it did last year (or the year before for that matter). Designer Rainer Weber has a tendency to show off his most prized possession by playing it too loud too often: something I found this loudspeaker isn't fond of regardless of the Stein Music Harmonizers (that does a remarkable of job of creating a better 3-D stage with more air). Overall, I found the sound a tad too sterile and tight for me as I did back in May at Rainer's home in Regensburg, Germany. Strapped to the otherwise excellent sounding components from GTE Audio, I never found this combination to be to my liking. Fortunately, after all my boasting as to the Kawero's stellar capabilities, they were featured in two other rooms. Had a chance to hear the Kaisers with other components and was astonished by what I heard from the smaller and less-expensive Kaiser Vivace in LessLoss/NEM setup. More on that setup next....