Vienna Klangbilder 2014 high-end show report
Back from Vienna Klangbilder I already posted four complete photo albums to share my impressions and to show the spirit of our big setup there. In 2014, the Austrian fair took place at the new location, Arcotel Kaiserwasser at the Danube, right across the Vienna International center, also known as UNO city. You reach the new hotel directly with the subway line U1 or take it to reach Vienna downtown.
Here I am standing in front of our big setup - complete Accustic Arts reference electronics, impressive SoulSonic Impulse SE dipole loudspeakers, Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird + Reed 3P + Lyra Kleos, Cammino Power Harmonizer, bases + racks + Rollerblocks from Symposium Acoustics, cables from Accustic Arts, Chisto and Vovox. All brands put together by myself but I have had great assistance by Miro Krajnc (mastermind of SoulSonic speakers) and Yuri Zamazeev (CEO of Chisto).
A big WOW for many were the SoulSonic Impulse SE flagship speakers, open-baffle dipole, two-way speakers with a tall ribbon and four 30cm bass drivers. After taking part at the CES in Las Vegas, Vienna was now the official European premiere for these extreme, highly musical speakers. Miro Krajnc tells me every time that no other amp controls his speakers with such unlimited authority and at the same time paired with warmth, body, transparency and smoothness - as good as the Accustic Arts Mono II amps. And I always reply: "Miro, do not forget the fabulous Accustic Arts Tube DAC II MK2, as the source always dominates the whole setup". Okay, in Vienna we had three excellent sources, the musical impact only depending on the software: USB-Audio via asynchronous USB input of the Tube DAC, CDs played with the Accustic Arts DRIVE II and analogue records.
From my personal experience I feel that the outstanding, perhaps even the absolutely best rack, Symposium Acoustics ISIS (Independent Shelf Isolation System), accompanied by the exclusive Rollerblocks Serie 2+ with G2.5 balls or the Symposium Acoustics Ultra platforms assisting the Accustic Arts MONO II, is responsible too, for the world-class sound, this year in Vienna.
Additionally, the Italian Cammino Power Harmonizers H3.1 did a fantastic job of cleaning the power of all gear, in a healthy, natural way. The Cammino is a passive device performing some real magic with the electricity and it is doing its job undetectable, without any ill side effects.
So dear visitors of our room, please notice: it was not solely the world-class SoulSonic speakers, nor the analogue power of Dr. Feickert Analogue assisted by Reed and Lyra, nor the authoritative Accustic Arts MONO II amps, or the Chisto Vintage DNA cables, Vovox Textura or Accustic Arts power cords respectively – but all of them working together, cleverly set-up by people with deep understanding of music – all that was responsible for the big sound at the fair. It all depends on the sum of all components!
Thanks to Michael Holzinger, editor in chief of Sempre Audio as well as Hans Theessink who personally presented his new audiophile remastered vinyl record of the legendary album "Baby wants to Boogie" in our suite – a big honor for us! Hans is living in Vienna and shares the same passion for high-end audio as well. Our setup showed up with ease that the new version betters the original one - not always the case in the presence of many new releases. I got my sample of the new album personally signed by Hans Theessink as did many other visitors.
As a second special guest we have had the privilege to host the classical Pianist Ulrike Fendel presenting her CD "Piano Preludes of 20th and 21th century". An interesting discussion about the future of marketing and sales of the classical music in modern times also took part in our room with Richard Winter (CEO of Gramola record label) and Viennese composer Meinhard Ruedenauer. Please take a look at the VIP Event photo album for the complete photo album.
Not surprisingly, the new star of the setup was the Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable and I am personally very happy to assist the famous German brand regarding the sales in Austria. The fabulous, elegant Reed 3P tonearm with a very sweet Lyra Kleos MC cartridge completed the analogue setup in Vienna. The specific Double-Isolated XT Top of the outstanding Symposium Acoustics ISIS rack (Independent Shelf Isolation System) worked as the optimal base for analogue playback. That's the sound of my childhood. I grew up with great analogue sound which eventually led me to hifi.
It was very fitting that Yuri Zamazeev (CEO of Chisto) personally presented his various cleaning fluids intended for analog records. Chisto means clean in English. As a premiere we showed the Chisto Easy Groove Virgin Concentrate which is specifically recommended for the use with brand new records. It completes the cleaning fluid offerings for different purposes like the Chisto Easy Groove for standard use and Enzycaster for very dirty records.
>>> Please take a look at each specific photo album here - 101 photos of Vienna Klangbilder 2014
