Jim Clements

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2011

Jim Clements

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2011 exceeded expectations......so many exhibitors and attendees.  Great Show!   Exhibitors filled the Denver Marriott Tech Center this past week, October 14-16.  Jim Clements, Senior Editor,  covered the show for SECRETS of Home Theater this year.  And was it busy...some very special sounds and spectacular products.  Jim's coverage includes many great names in Audio.....Linn, Legacy Audio, Harman Kardon family, Velodyne, Naim, NAD, Clarus, ClearAudio, OPPO,  Acoustic Signature, DynAudio, Emotiva, and so much more.

Wrap-up Commentary......All images are in......50 plus!!!!

The 2011 installment of the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest turned out to be the tale of two technologies.  I am personally something of a generational 'tweener'.  I was born at the tail end of the Baby Boom Generation - but I'm not really a Baby Boomer and I'm not really a GenXer.  I am young enough that there was a computer in my HS math class.  I am old enough that I completely grew up on analog audio. 

 

Read Jim's full report and enjoy the spectacular images...

Show Reports, Film Festivals and Concerts

Anthem MRX 500 7.1 A/V Receiver

Jim Clements

Anthem released their highly-anticipated line of surround receivers in late 2010. Right out of the gate, Anthem's three entries into the surround receiver market really turned the audio world on its "ear" by essentially acing some of the most salient qualities for receivers; just some minor little aspects like build quality, sound quality and features. The Anthem MRX 500 is their newest 7.1 receiver, and it's very affordable at $1,499.

Receivers

KEF Q300 Bookshelf Speakers

Jim Clements

KEF recently introduced an all new Uni-Q driver. The Q300's are the largest bookshelf models in the "All New Q Series" speaker line. Will KEF be able to further their reputation as a high value brand with the all-new Q300's?

Bookshelf Speakers

Klipsch Reference II 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System

Jim Clements

At last year's CEDIA Expo in Atlanta, Klipsch set up their demo in a room that was more than just a little bit off the beaten path. Undaunted, I was able to find my way there and boy was I glad that I took the extra time to seek them out! The Klipsch Group, Inc. owns a total of four speaker companies – Klipsch, Jamo, Mirage and Energy. Each company had some new products on display. In this review, we take a look at the Klipsch Reference II 5.1 Speaker System, which includes RF-82 II floor-standers (towers) as the Mains, an RC-62 II Center, RS-52 II Surrounds, and SW-311 Subwoofer.

Surround Sound Speaker Systems

Mark Levinson Nº 531H Monoblock Power Amplifier

Jim Clements

Mark Levinson is one of the world's great high end audio manufacturers. They make a wide variety of electronic components, including pre amps, DACs, CD transports, SACD players as well as a surround sound processor they call a "Media Console". Levinson has also teamed with luxury auto manufacturer, Lexus so you can take their audio products on the road. Nonetheless, Mark Levinson is almost certainly best known for their very large, very powerful and very expensive power amplifiers. They enjoy a well deserved reputation for making some of the best - if not the best - solid state power amps around. The Nº 531H is the subject of the current review, and it delivers 300 watts RMS into 8 ohms.

Power Amplifiers

Primare A30.7 Seven-Channel Class D Power Amplifier

Jim Clements

This new seven-channel Class D power amplifier comes to us from the Swedish high fidelity brand, Primare. The engineers at Primare designed this amplifier from the ground up with some fresh ideas on how to optimize this burgeoning amplifier topology. Will this compact multi-channel amp be able to muster the chutzpah to power your home theater? Will it be able to deliver this power with the grace that is missing from so many other Class D amps?

Power Amplifiers

MartinLogan Ethos Hybrid Electrostatic Speakers

Jim Clements

MartinLogan has recently expanded its line to include the Ethos, which is a hybrid electrostatic speaker, meaning that it has not only an electrostatic panel, but a cone woofer. Using woofers to handle the bass is necessary in smaller electrostatic speakers because the surface area of the panel is not large enough to move much air at the lowest frequencies. In the case of the Ethos, the woofer has a built-in amplifier to drive it.

Floor Standing Speakers

Panamax M4320-PRO AC Power Conditioner

Jim Clements

The Panamax BlueBOLT version 1.2 Remote Power and Energy Management Platform really caught my eye at the 2010 CEDIA Expo. This newest version of the BlueBOLT AC power conditioner system expands on the energy management features and provides new control options. With BlueBOLT, custom electronics installers, integrators and end-users can remotely monitor and control power to their equipment by accessing power management components over the internet from anywhere in the world. Here, we review the Panamaz M4320-PRO AC Power Conditioner.

Power Conditioners

Zikmu Wireless Speakers

Jim Clements

Parrot touts the Philippe Starck–designed wireless Zikmu speakers as "Next Generation Wireless Speakers". This all-inclusive powered speaker system features modern styling, efficient Class D amplification and flexible wireless connectivity. They look to be a progressive realization of current technology and style. Let us find out how they work and sound.

Bookshelf Speakers

Harman Kardon and Definitive Technology

Jim Clements

This is a complete 5.1surround sound system. The front end is the new Harman/Kardon BDP1 Blu-Ray player. The Harman/Kardon receiver is also a new model, the AVR 3600. The speaker package is the Definitive Technology ProCinema 800. These products are not typically discounted, so the anticipated system price comes in just under $2,700. This places the system just over the threshold we've established for "Mid Priced" systems which we have defined as systems with a street price between $2,500 and $5,000.

Bookshelf Speakers

JBL LS 80 Floor-Standing Speakers, LS Center, LS 40 Rear Surround Speakers, and LS 120P Subwoofer

Jim Clements

I was smitten by the JBL LS 80 speakers when I first saw them at the 2009 CEDIA Expo in Atlanta. They were on static display in the JBL booth when I came across them. Even though I couldn't hear them playing, I was impressed by their bold look and solid build quality. In person, their finish is downright striking. It also doesn't hurt that they won the 2008-2009 European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) "European HT Loudspeaker of the Year" Award or that they are very reasonably priced. Here, we review the LS 80's for the front left and right channels, the LS Center, LS 40's for the rear surround channels, and the LS 120p subwoofer.

Surround Sound Speaker Systems

Integra DTR-50.1 7.2 A/V Receiver

Jim Clements

Integra is a major electronics manufacturer which markets and sells their products through custom installation supply chains. Their focus goes beyond sheer performance and encompasses upgradability, system integration and multi-zone capabilities. These are qualities that are widely needed and used within the custom installation industry. The Integra DTR-50.1 Receiver is right in the middle of the lineup of Integra's receiver offerings.

Receivers