Montreal Audiofest

Montreal Audiofest


  • MAF 2024: Motet / PMC, Accuphase, EverSolo, Kimber Kable

    Prices listed in CA$. Like in all the other rooms, the Motet room was playing music when I walked in. I waited to take the seat dead center and when I did, I slipped on my critical listening hat. Right after the song that was playing ended, as luck would have it, the next two…

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  • MAF 2024: Passion Audio / Shindo, J.Sikora, Wolf von Langa, Wattson, HANA, Luna Cables, Fezz Audio

    Prices listed in CA$. Passion Audioโ€™s demo was fronted by Wolf von Langaโ€™s 12639 SON speakers ($27,000/pr). One can already see a lot of this speakerโ€™s potential strengths on the spec sheet. First, its tweeter section is a dipole design which, in my experience, tends to give you more sense of space in the soundstage.…

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  • MAF 2024: Audio by Mark Jones / Magico, Linn, CH Precision, Nordost, Solidsteel

    Prices listed in CA$. Magico and Linn need little introduction to audio aficionado. Both brands are formidable forces in the audio industry, and products from both these companies were being demoed in the Audio by Mark Jones room. Those products were the Magico S3 Mkll speakers (62,000/pr), whose frequency range is rated as 24 Hz…

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  • MAF 2024: Audio Group Denmark / Wynn Audio Room: Bรธrresen, Axxess, Ansuz

    Prices listed in CA$. At the Montreal Audiofest, there wereย quite a few rooms with systems costing in the six figures. The system in the Audio Group Denmark / Wynn Audio room wasnโ€™t one of them, despite sounding like it could cost that much. It included a pair ofย Bรธrresen X6 loudspeakers ($30,000/pr), a 100Wpc Axxess Fortรฉ…

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  • MAF 2024: Bowers & Wilkins, Classรฉ Audio, DR Acoustics

    Bowers & Wilkins 800 speaker series has a long history,ย and the D4 is the latest line in that series. According to the companyโ€™s own description, its flagship 801 D4 is the most advanced 801 it has ever produced, and its โ€œSignature Seriesโ€ version ($55,000/pr)โ€”the one demoed at the Audiofestโ€”is an optimized version of it. Driving…

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  • Visual Highlights of the Cutting-Edge Gear of the Montrรฉal Audiofest 2024

    Take a look at the 2024 edition of the Montrรฉal Audiofest and its cutting-edge gear through this photo report by Joseph Greenham of Psyphonyx Audio. Dive deeper into Josephโ€™s portfolio by exploring his social channels: Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn & Spotify.

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  • MAF 2024: ArtistCloner

    Prices listed in CA$. I loved the ArtistCloner room, the simultaneously industrial, psychedelic, and archaic decor, the whimsical outfits of the two hosts, designer / owner Sylvio and his colleague / wife Isabelle. ArtistCloner stood out, not just aesthetically, but sonically. Their room sounded amazing. The sound was warm yet tight. It was colourful, fast,…

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  • MAF 2024: Altitudo Audio, Electrocompaniet, Harmonic Resolution Systems, Tri-Art Audio, Nordost, Audio Note

    Prices listed in CA$ unless otherwise note. When I first heard Audio Physic speakers (the Classic 15) at Audio Element in Pasadena, California, I was immediately impressed. They were featured in PMA Magazineโ€™s โ€œBest Audio Systems For $10,000โ€ series. I couldnโ€™t believe that speakers costing less than US$ 5000/pair could sound so accomplished or have…

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  • MAF 2024: Lalibertรฉ ร‰lectronique, SVS, Accuphase, HiFi Rose, AudioQuest

    Prices listed in CA$ dollars unless otherwise noted. SVS is a company almost exclusively known for its subwoofers. So I was surprised to learn that they also make speakers. Doing its Canadian debut in the Lalibertรฉ ร‰lectronique room at the Montreal show were the Ohio-based companyโ€™s Pinnacle Ultra Evolution speakers (US$ 5000/pr; Canadian price TBD).…

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  • Setting the Stage for the Montreal Audiofest 2024

    In the days running up to it, from Tuesday to Thursday, the Montrรฉal Audiofest is more of a warehouse scene than an audio one, with boxes and crates scattered around, and all that great gear waiting to take its place on the podiums. Here is a little sneak peak of what the show premises look…

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  • The Montrรฉal Audiofestโ€”an American in Montreal

    Audio show enthusiast and writer Mike Harkins travelled from his home in Austin, Texas, to the Canadian province of Quebec to visit the Montrรฉal Audiofest, where he found the temperature in March to be a bit nippy. Welcome up North, Mike. Mike took down notes and took pictures at the show which he graciously allowed…

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