T.H.E. Show Marketplace

Adjacent to all the free food and live music was the T.H.E. Marketplace where all sorts of audio goodies can be purchased.

Robert Stein of the Cable Company (photo above) has many tweaks that are new to the market. His newest HiFi Fuses from Germany have caused quite a stir over here.

Todd Garfunkle of the excellent avant-garde recording label MA Recordings….

MA Recording’s ever-increasing plethora of music.

I am becoming quite fond of Woo Audio electronics which are mostly composed of tubed headphone gear. Operating right here in NYC’s Big Apple area, hopefully Mr. Woo (photo above) will offer for us to have a listen to his wares up close and personal some time soon.

Robert Sattin of Bob’s Devices builds his own phono-stages by hand and was at T.H.E. Show proudly showing off his latest and greatest designs.

Right around the corner from T.H.E. Marketplace is where I found Tom Compagna, owner and designer of the Quintessence Acoustics loudspeakers. Above, he’s all smiles besides his new and attractive Shadow model 5 ($35k): a huge 3-way floorstander finished in what he calls “Lexus gold.”

The room featured the Shadow 5s in a black piano finish. All electronics were by PBN’s Olympia series, while I did get a good listen to some vinyl  via a Groovemaster ‘table and some hi-rez from a pair of increasingly popular and gorgeous sounding United Home Audio modified Tascam decks.