 We are very proud and excited about our first annual "I'm Not Going to CES, NJ Party". This was an unintentional event that happened after realizing I (Mat Weisfeld) wouldn't be able to personally make it out to CES. No it wasn't because of any greater purpose/protest again't CES, it was because of the up and coming due date of my daughter! At the last visit to the doctor, while they said it was unlikely, that it was possible that Jane could give birth while I was at Vegas. Well that would have been a heck of a story, "sorry kid, you dad missed your birth he was in Vegas!" And let's cue the therapy!  After making a light heart facebook post about "throwing a party" the response was encouraging enough to give it more serious thought. But where to have the event? We just started breaking down the current VPI house swapping out high-end gear for cribs and baby appropriate gear and we just started the new house. We decided to go all out and make it happen at our New VPI Listening House. This wasn't the official launch, but certainly a taste of what is yet to come. We developed 4 rooms with a number of brands we have demoed with ins the past. Keep in mind this doesn't represent all the brands we have demoed with or support. This was the best we could do with a quick 2 day set up and a lot of motivation! Room 1 - Main Room The main room was sporting our VPI Avenger Plus with Ortofon A-95 cartridge. Our electronics was McIntosh Labs Amplification and line stage and our new VPI Voyager Phono Preamplifier all wired with Nordost Cable. At the end of the chain was the KEF Blades with Iso-Acoustics.  Room 2 - High End Hero The next room we featured companies that are no strangers to spinning music with VPI! Joseph Audio Pulsar Speakers, and all Roger's High Fidelity Electronics with ourVPI Prime Signature and the front of the chain with an Ortofon Cadenza Bronze. This system was tied together with our friends at Kimber Kable! A sweet and enjoyable room to listen and hang out. We had the lovely Mr. Joseph himself posing with the system.  Room 3 - The Studio Apartment Our next room was our American and Canadian combination put together as a high-end entry level flavor. More exciting, this system is the exact system/configuration as the room we had at CES. The source was based on our VPI Cliffwood turntablewith VPI Green (Grado), and used a Moon by Simaudio integrated amplified, with Totem Acoustic Speakers. We had Transparent cables connecting the system together had were in the under 7K price range for the whole system complete. From a high-end standard it was very affordable and packed a much larger punch than one would expect! This ended up being the perfect studio apartment setup!   Pastor Joe with Leo and his son Eric Room 4 - Made in America The final room was the all American equipment build! We featured EgglestonWorksdesktop speakers, Roger's integrated amp, our VPI Voyager phono, ADS, and custom blue Prime-ish table. This room was also wired up with all Transparent cable. Mr. Rogers himself is pictured with some listeners below!   One of the major highlights was having our friend Chris Barron from Spin Doctors honoring us with the first live listening demonstration of his new solo album, Angels and One Armed Jugglers. The session because with an unplanned Q&A (the power went out so the timing was perfect) where we learned more about Chris' inspiration for the albumin and experiences as a musician.  After the Q&A the lights came back on and we were back in business! We were all blown away by Chris' new album and how much it showed off what the system could really do. This will be going into the box for whenever we do a demonstration.  We want to thank everyone who came out for the event and if you missed it, don't worry! This will be the first of many! We are currently renovating/finishing the house and will have the official grand opening when it is done! The house will be for events, training, listening sessions, and product demonstration.
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So, here is the problem: I am loaded with expensive (+$2000.00) cartridges yet only a few of them move me emotionally. The Ortofon Cadenza Bronze is one of them but it is around $2500.00. What to do if you like emotion, detail, transparency, richness, etc. and still be able to pay the bills every month?  The Answer: MusiKraft S-AIL103-PO body plus Denon 103 cartridge. For less than $800.00 I have been mesmerized by the pure musicality of this cartridge. It has the ability to reproduce bass in a manner of real music in a live room, no sterility, no detail over hall sound, just a perfect balance of everything that makes you want to play records. It is very well made, beautifully executed, looks like a $6000 cartridge, and sounds very close to one in many ways.  I have used it in all forms of VPI arm including 12” Ref 3D, gimbal Ref. 3D, gimbal and unipivot 10” and found that it really likes a gimbal or unipivot with more mass in the bearing well. For all of the Traveler owners out there looking for a cartridge upgrade, this might be it! In a gimbal Companion (Mark Levinson arm with the wire coming from the top) the cartridge came alive. It firmed up, opened up, filled in the slightly thin bass you get with the lighter effective mass arms, and gave holographic 3D imaging. I can see why Stereophile's Art Dudley enjoyed this cartridge as much as he did with the JMW 9 tonearm on the Prime Scout. I wonder how much more he would have enjoyed this cartridge if he had the Dual Pivot mounted on it. This cartridge will make the speakers disappear as the soundstage goes wall to wall. If your loudspeakers have good phase response you will be rewarded with a soundstage so real you can touch it.  There is a part of the business you can’t put into words, it is the fit, finish, and feel of a product. This is an A+ version of those thoughts. It mounts beautifully, has multiple threaded holes that feel like they were machined in,, not threaded by hand. I am very impressed by this plus the small wood inserts adds a touch of class and probably good damping modes. Playing my favorite bass record the Charlie Byrd 45 by Crystal Clear I was shocked how easily it tracked the explosive drum lines with clarity, cleanliness, and power. Not a Lyra Atlas but for 1/14 the price who cares. I got almost Atlas results by changing the loading down to 100 from 200 ohms without losing any top end detail. You need to load this cartridge properly, at 100 ohms it has enough pressure on it to control that bass and open it up yet keep the highs clean.  I have the 100th Anniversary Denon 103 and it is good but this is better and not by a slight margin, it is really better. Let’s put it this way, the MusiKraft/Denon is in the system I listen to all the time for enjoyment and it is staying there. Very highly recommended and especially for the price, a real musical bargain. Now this brings me back to our original problem! For me, a 10 out of 10 star product is the Lyra Atlas and the Grado Epoch (those reviews pending). Some "reviewers" hand out 10 star ratings and "World's Best" like they are participation awards for middle school baseball. It is unfair and irresponsible to compare an $800 cartridge to a $12,000 cartridge on the same scale. Because of this I'm going to start adding in "value stars". 8 STARS - with 1 of those stars being for value. To pick a theme I'll be using blue stars for representation.  Shell specifications:
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 For Immediate Release: VPI Industries is very excited to have a number of VPI products on display with quality partners at this year's Consumer Electronics Show - CES!
We are also proud to have our NEW Voyager Phono Preamplifier featured in a number of rooms with our tables. Check the image above, or the text below to find the VPI locations at CES. Please email info@vpiindustries.com with any questions/concerns. Avenger and Voyager with Increcable Acoustic Labs and Eggelstonworks - Venetian Suite 29-118 Avenger Plus and Voyager with Klipsch Group - Venetian Suite 29-105 Avenger Reference with Audio-Technica - Venetian Suite 29-336 Cliffwood with Totem Acoustics and Transparent Cable - Venetian Suite 29-225 Vanquish with Genesis Advanced Tech and Viola Audio Labs - Venetian Suite 29-233 Prime Scout with KLH Audio and Roger's High-Fidelity- Venetian Suite 29-321 No 515 with Mark Levinson - Venetian Suite 29-136 Prime Signature with Esoteric USA - Venetian Suite29-311 VPI/M&D Player with Master & Dynamic - Venetian Suite 29-315 Avenger and Voyager with CAT - California Audio Tech - Venetian Suite 29-330 Avenger Reference and Voyager with SAE - Scientific Audio Electronics - Venetian Suite 29-332 For Immediate Release:  Legendary Klipsch Heritage Speakers Inspire New Products Indianapolis, Ind. (January 4, 2017) — Klipsch®, a tech-driven audio company and wholly-owned subsidiary of VOXX International Corporation (NADAQ: VOXX), today announces that its entire legendary Heritage series of speakers will be showcased at CES 2018, along with new products inspired by the line. The classic Heritage speakers were created by founder Paul W. Klipsch (PWK) with the intention to deliver the power, detail, emotion of the live music experience into the home. The company continues to hand-build the five horn loaded speakers in Hope, Ark. – the Klipschorn®, La Scala, Cornwall, Forte, and Heresy. This year their analog source will be the VPI Avenger Plus with NEW VPI Voyager Phono-Preamplifier.  Klipsch has seen increased demand over the last several years for premium two-channel speakers that deliver legendary Klipsch sound. Each Heritage speaker features nostalgic yet updated cosmetics, stunning new finishes to match modern decor, and the latest advancements in acoustic engineering, while maintaining the powerful performances that have made them so iconic over the years. Encouraged by the success of this classic series, Klipsch will continue to introduce Heritage inspired products with many of the same aesthetic and acoustic characteristics. Heritage Wireless speakers The Sixes, The Three and The One, and HP-3 headphones allow people to conveniently listen to music. The new Heritage Theater Bar is customizable in length, wood finishes and grille cloth materials.  Klipsch will have active demonstrations of the Klipschorn, Cornwall, and Forte speakers in Venetian suite 29-105 during CES 2018 in Las Vegas, NV. Special finishes, grille cloths, and other classic and inspired Heritage products will also be displayed in the suite. Additionally, several premium brands will be showcased in the suite, including Audioquest, Cary Audio, MoFi, Primare, Solidsteel, and VPI Industries.  To learn more about the Klipsch Heritage speakers, visit Klipsch.com. ### About Klipsch Audio In 1946 Paul W. Klipsch, inventor, acoustics pioneer and maverick, founded Klipsch Audio with the sole purpose of bringing the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience into his living room. Through the use of highly efficient speaker designs, handcrafted cabinetry and a thirst for real engineering breakthroughs – Klipsch, the great American loudspeaker company, was born in Hope, AR. Today, our diverse range of quality audio products includes speakers and headphones for almost any consumer and professional application – including cinema, whole-house, wireless, home theater and portable offerings. Honoring our founder’s legacy, Klipsch continues to be the legendary high-performance brand of choice for audiophiles and aficionados around the world. We are the Keepers of the Sound®. Klipsch Group, Inc. is a VOXX International Company (NASDAQ: VOXX). About VPI Industries (That's us!) VPI Industries is a second-generation family owned Made in America company dedicated to design, performance, customer service, and family! As one of the leading companies in turntable design VPI continues to push the envelope in technology with continued research, 3D printing technology, and always keeping an open mind. VPI has achieved multiple turntable awards and “Products of the Year” as well as other accolade over the years.
All VPI products are made in New Jersey by a dedicated team who create the highest quality for all VPI products. More importantly, VPI is proud to be a company that has been around for 40 years and plans to be around another 40! (or more). For more information, please contact: VPI Industries 77 Cliffwood Ave. #5D Cliffwood, NJ 07721 voice: 732-583-6895 info@vpiindustries.com www.vpiindustries.com www.facebook.com/vpiindustries/ For Immediate Release:  United States of America – Three veteran high performance brands, Genesis Advanced Technologies (Seattle, WA), Viola Audio Laboratories (New Haven, CT) and VPI Industries (Cliffwood, NJ) are honored and proud to partner in an all-Made in the U.S.A. system at the High Performance Audio Showcase at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Suite #29-233, The Venetian, Las Vegas, January 9th to 12th 2018.  “We want to show the world the best of US made,” said Mr Gary Leonard Koh, CEO and Chief Designer of Genesis. “This is not a system with the ‘latest hot-shot brand’ but the partnership of three great brands that have been around for a long time.” “Genesis was founded in 1991, so this is our 27th year. Viola was founded in 2001 to continue on the legacy of MLAS and Cello since the 1970’s, and VPI has been around since the 1980’s,” continued Mr. Koh. “I always say, garbage in, garbage out,” said Mr Mat Weisfeld, President of VPI Industries. “For the result to be brilliant, so must the beginning. We are honored and proud to provide the source for this superb system – the custom-order only VPI Vanquish direct drive turntable. It features the debut of our latest innovation the ‘Fat Boy’ 3D-printed tonearm.”  “With each new design, Viola sets a new standard in our quest for accuracy and sonic neutrality,” said Mr Paul Jayson, President of Viola Audio Labs. “The Chorale is brand new, and the first integrated amplifier in the Viola line-up of products. To reduce system complexity we integrate the preamplifier and power amplifier in the same chassis. In the works, we will offer an optional internal phonostage and also an internal DAC to make the Chorale a truly one-box solution.”  “The Maestro loudspeaker is the latest in the Genesis 5-series of products that started in 1993,” explained Mr Koh. “The iconic shape comes from the necessity of design to reduce the baffle area around each driver to reduce diffraction. However, almost every aspect has been improved from the previous generation. The cabinets and crossovers were completely redesigned from the ground-up, resulting in much improved coherence and seamless transition from the servo-controlled powered bass to the ribbon ring-radiator tweeter.” “We are also providing all the support elements for the system – cables and equipment foundation,” continued Mr Koh. “When I couldn’t find cables and racks transparent enough not to color the music, we developed them ourselves. This system disappears to let the music through, and the cables are as much a part of this magic as any other component.”  “The system Gary pulled together for this CES shows that sonic neutrality and transparency is not clinical or sterile,” said Ms Carolyn Koh, COO of Genesis. “While accurate, the system sings with musicality and life. We will be enjoying the music as we demo the system at the show, playing favorites that are alive with gobs of emotion” About Genesis Advanced Technologies Genesis Advanced Technologies is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-end, luxury and reference loudspeaker systems, amplifiers and proprietary solid metal-cone servo-controlled and powered woofers. For more information please contact: Genesis Advanced Technologies 654 S Lucile St Seattle, WA 98108 voice: 206-762-8383 info@genesisloudspeakers.com www.genesisloudspeakers.com www.facebook.com/GenesisAdvancedTechnologies/ About Viola Audio Laboratories Viola Audio Laboratories was founded in 2001 by leading designers Tom Colangelo and Paul Jayson. Viola Audio Laboratories designs and manufactures a complete range of high-end audio products that are employed in the finest stereo and home theater environments, including preamplifiers; mono, stereo and multi-channel power amplifiers; and electronic crossovers. Viola’s objective is to produce products that are sonically neutral, as experience has shown that only through sonic neutrality can the listener experience the essential emotion that is the heart of music. Rigorous scientific and empirical design techniques, combined with a craftsman approach to manufacturing, where meticulous attention is paid to every step of the assembly process, enable Viola to produce products of the highest possible quality that will maintain their performance and give great pleasure to the owner over a lifetime of use. For more information please contact: Viola Audio Laboratories 466A Blake St New Haven, CT 06515 voice: 203-772-0435 info@violalabs.com www.violalabs.com www.facebook.com/violaaudiolabs/ About VPI Industries (That's us!) VPI Industries is a second-generation family owned Made in America company dedicated to design, performance, customer service, and family! As one of the leading companies in turntable design VPI continues to push the envelope in technology with continued research, 3D printing technology, and always keeping an open mind. VPI has achieved multiple turntable awards and “Products of the Year” as well as other accolade over the years.
All VPI products are made in New Jersey by a dedicated team who create the highest quality for all VPI products. More importantly, VPI is proud to be a company that has been around for 40 years and plans to be around another 40! (or more). For more information, please contact: VPI Industries 77 Cliffwood Ave. #5D Cliffwood, NJ 0772 voice: 732-583-6895 info@vpiindustries.com www.vpiindustries.com www.facebook.com/vpiindustries/ |
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