Dennis Young

Shows
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report
Dennis Young  |  Nov 19, 2024
The 2024 Capital Audiofest (CAF) was the 13th "Capfest" and the largest CAF show thus far. I visited a few key rooms that would be of special interest for Sound & Vision readers.
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Shows
AXPONA Flashback: Dynaudio Focus 30 Active Speaker System
Dennis Young  |  Jun 11, 2024
One of the forward-thinking rooms in the April AXPONA 2024 show contained a system that is not a new idea per se, but a good idea for sure. The technology used exists, implemented in various forms in other products. But now we have an (almost) complete package with the Dynaudio Focus series: A self-contained streamer, active crossover, and amplifier is found in each unit within the Focus lineup.
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Shows
AXPONA 2024 Rewind: Fidelity Imports, Dreammedia, Perlisten, Primare, QED, Titan Audio
Dennis Young  |  May 23, 2024
Subwoofers remain a relatively rare sight at high-end two-channel shows, however they are appearing more frequently. But at last month's AXPONA 2024, Perlisten shook things up with the debut of its R18S subwoofer.
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Shows
AXPONA 2024 Rewind: Paducah Home Theater, Seaton Sound, Klipsch
Dennis Young  |  May 23, 2024
At last Month's AXPONA 2024 audio show, there were a lot of systems to appeal to the two-channel high-end crowd, the sort of systems Stereophile covers. And while this system is indeed a high-end two-channel rig, the subwoofer from Seaton Sound caught our attention.

What initially brought me into this room was the little-known information I had armed myself with before the show: the introduction of a new subwoofer, a joint venture between Seaton Sound and Paducah Home Theater.

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Audio Video NewsShows
MartinLogan, Ascend AV Immerse Listeners at AXPONA
Dennis Young  |  Apr 25, 2024
The Audio Expo North America showcases the biggest and best that the audio world has to offer, with products coming from all over the world to display. The 2024 show had a record turnout, notably a doubling of Gen Z/age 15-26 participants, an encouraging trend for our hobby. I enjoyed rolling around the various exhibits and checking out the best of the best, but what can be found there that is of interest to the Sound & Vision crowd?
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Audio Video NewsShows
Up Close & Personal with SVS's Ultra Evolution Series
Dennis Young  |  Apr 22, 2024
SVS recently introduced a new line of speakers that has the AV world buzzing, the Ultra Evolution series. The company showcased a 5.2.2 immersion setup and a 2.0 system in two separate rooms at AXPONA 2024 to demonstrate its latest innovations.
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Bookshelf Speaker ReviewsDesktop Speaker Reviews
OSD NERO AB5 Active Studio Monitor Review
Dennis Young  |  Feb 28, 2024

Performance
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $200/pair

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Best speaker of any size, shape or configuration I've heard for the money
Small, easy to place

Minus
Needs wall power and a signal wire feed

THE VERDICT
My ears and wallet give the OSD Nero AB5 two big thumbs up.

Have you ever wondered why something good usually costs so much? Of course, we all have.

Outdoor Speaker Depot is a little-known—but celebrating a 20-year anniversary—Internet Direct site based out of Brea, CA, with quite a large array of goods to offer at prices that will make your jaw drop. The OSD Nero AB 5 is a case in point, utilizing active crossovers, bi-amped Class D amplifiers, digital signal processing, and quality drivers that rise above those typically seen at this price point. That's just scratching the surface of what is to be found.

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Tower Speaker Reviews
Dynaudio Emit 50 Loudspeaker Review
Dennis Young  |  Oct 18, 2023

Performance
Build Quality
Value
Top Pick: yes

PRICE $2249/Pair

AT A GLANCE
PLUS
Soundstage and imaging properties
Near full-range capability
Enjoyable at high, mid and low sound levels

MINUS
May heat up an AVR
Favors placement away from boundaries
Needs current to hit more than moderate SPL

THE VERDICT
The Dynaudio Emit 50 makes use of its evidence-based R&D and its heritage in professional sound production, delivering a capable tower at an affordable price.

Founded in 1976, Dynaudio is well-known in the world of audio. As one of the few loudspeaker manufacturers that make their own drivers, combined with the massive Jupiter acoustic measurement facility, the company gains a significant advantage when integrating the multiple parts of a loudspeaker into one system.
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New Products
Capital Audiofest 2022: High-End Sights and Sounds
Dennis Young,  |  Nov 18, 2022
It’s been seven long years since I last attended Capital Audiofest, the largest high-end audio show on the east coast of the U.S. This year’s show took place on November 11-13 at the Twinbrook Hilton in Rockville Maryland, which is the same venue as my last visit. The show grew significantly in the interim, with five full floors of the hotel taken up by demos, but it maintains the same casual look and feel and a strong focus on two-channel, audiophile-centric systems.
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