STEREOMOJO SPECIAL DUAL REPORT
Part 5
And here we've saved the best for last.
Last year at THE SHOW in Vegas, we declared the Blue Light Audio/Playback Designs room the Best Sound at Show.
In fact, we said, "We're not even going to try to describe the sound. All we can say is that this was not just the best sound at this show, it was the best sound at ANY show we've EVER heard. In fact, we can state that it's the best stereo reproduction we have ever heard...period. And that friends, is saying a lot."
That room featured the large MMTwo speakers by Evolution Acoustics (below) that costs $35,000. Of course, the system supporting the $35,000 speakers costs upwards of about $500,000.
That's head guy Jonathan Tinn celebrating his award.
This year however, Jonathan brought his new Evolution Acoustics speakers, new Playback Designs MPS-3 CD Player, new Wave Kinetics NVS turntable and darTZeel NHB-108 amp and NHB-18NS preamplifier and this supporting cast was pared down to a measly $70k or so, not including the turntable and custom ATR Services Ampex ATR-102 reel to reel.
The speakers were even more downsized as you can see below - a pair of small standmounts, again by Evolution.
Evolution Acoustics MMMicroOne
The outcome, regardless of the shrinkage, was still the same. This was the Best Sound of Show.
What makes this all the more remarkable is that the new MMMicro One speakers retail for
- are you ready -
$2,000 per pair, not including stands.
After listening for a few minutes and being totally blow away by what we were hearing from a two-grand speaker, Darby said, "OK Jonathan, what's the catch? Don't tell me; the speakers stands are $20,000 and a mandatory option, right?" He laughed and said, "That's what everyone has said, but no. They're optional and cost less than $1,000."
We ended up listening to almost the entire Stereomojo Ultimate Evaluation Disk (he was demoing the new Playback Designs MPS-3, so we could actually play the CD), something that never happens. The sound was just plain stunning. It sounded very much like the big ass system we heard last year. The ultra low bass may have been less impactful, but there was no real lack of bass in the diminutive Micro One's. The whole room was filled will glorious, immersive MUSIC! Once we got over the crazy mini-speaker visual, the music just took over with no sense of anything emerging from a stereo system, small speakers or not.
A thought crossed my mind and as if reading it, Jonathan said, "I know there's some expensive stuff driving these speakers, but we designed them so that they can be played by less expensive stuff, but still not limit the really top level gear that some people have. There are lots of people who want unlimited quality, but live in small apartments in New York or Tokyo or places like that. Other audiophiles can buy these and be assured that the better their other stuff gets, these will go right along with them."
Great point. And besides, we'd heard many rooms where the amps, cables and sources cost MORE than those we were hearing there, much less the speakers. So $$$$ are clearly not the thing.
I don't know how Jon and Evolution get such performance out of their speakers, but you know what? I really don't care. I didn't ask a single techy question about drivers, materials or even specs. It didn't matter. The music did.
And yes, we WILL get a pair of these for review! Are you feelin' me, Jonathan? Huh?