All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

Montreal 2000 Post-Show Report
by Jeff Fritz

The unseasonably warm temperatures, the milling crowd, and the sound of music set an inviting scene for the Festival du son et de l'image, Canada’s largest annual hi-fi show, which was held March 24-26 in downtown Montreal. The thriving audiophile community toured two hotels, the Delta and the Sheraton Four Points, and saw a diverse array of products from enthusiastic manufacturers, distributors and dealers. If I had to describe the overall feel of this show, I would say fun. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves in an almost carnival-like atmosphere that was quite intoxicating.

I’ve come to realize that audio shows such as this one are more about music, people, and equipment than sound. The nature of cramped hotel rooms, crowded and noisy halls, and limited set-up time precludes optimum sound. It does, however, lend itself to hearing new music, establishing relationships, and seeing some promising gear. This show was terrific for all of these.

Rooms

The mezzanine level was packed with registration booths, exhibitors, and a lounge that offered a soft chair for breaks and refueling. Canadian manufacturer Simaudio inhabited one of the largest rooms on this floor. A reference rig consisting of the W-10 mono power amps ($9995 per pair), P-5 preamp ($3995), Moon Eclipse CD player ($4995), and the Dynaudio Evidence loudspeakers ($85,000) was filling the room with full-range, impactful sound. Simaudio imports Dynaudio to Canada and was showing a static display of the whole speaker line. The Dynaudio speakers are impressive for an elegant, understated quality that's all business. Speaking of Simaudio, their Moon Eclipse CD player fronted more systems at this show than any other source.

Also in this room was Magnum Dynalab showing a rack of their products. Their famous tuners were all there, including their latest model, the $2400 MD 102. Also showing was the company's first leap into receivers. The elegant and beautifully built $2775 MD 208 receiver was on silent display (shown above left). This new high-end receiver includes a tuner based on the company's existing Etude tuner as well as a built-in power amplifier capable of producing 100Wpc. This new receiver is featured in the upcoming SoundStage! E-Mag issue #3.

Also on this floor was a huge display of gear by Canadian retailer Filtronique. Their stable was laid out for examination on table after table. Highlights for me included a Wadia PowerDAC 790 system (estimated $50k-$60k, shown right) with both the top and bottom covers removed (it was on its side).  The internal build is impressive to say the least, matched no doubt by the technology required for this combination amplifier/DAC/volume control. Also on hand was the new Oracle 1.5si integrated amplifier ($10,000). These eyes have never gazed upon a more seductive-looking piece of industrial art. Finished in a glossy natural aluminum, it incorporates three blue LEDs shining down on its front panel from an extruded lip near its top. This gives it a cool-blue, icy glow. If it sounds like it looks, watch out!

Retailer Audiocentre made an all-out effort at the Sheraton Four Points. Movie and music cuts were played in a 15-minute demonstration over a system that featured Wilson X-1 Grand SLAMM Mk IIs ($79,900 per pair), MAXXs ($38,900 per pair), and a single WATT/Puppy 6 ($9600) for speaker duties. Electronics included several Mark Levinson No.33H monoblocks ($10,000 each) with associated Madrigal source and control components, and MIT’s new Oracle speaker cables ($13,995 per pair). The Oracle's massive aluminum networks resemble amplifiers themselves. The overall sound in this room could be thunderous and delicate depending on the source material being played.

Right down the hall was the Sensation Musicale room, which featured a detailed, crystalline sound from the new ProAc Future Ones ($15,000 CDN). Associated components included the Pathos In-Control ($8,000 CDN, above right) and In-Power ($9,000 CDN each) preamp/amp combination, MIT cabling and conditioning, and the Simaudio Moon Eclipse CD player. This system seemed to have bandwidth that extended into the extreme upper frequencies. If you like detail, look here.

Lunch and shopping

After being bowled over by the above, it was time for some lunch and a survey of my surroundings. Ample eating establishments are in walking distance from the main venues, and I must say the food was very good everywhere I went. To those Americans considering the trip either for vacation or next year's show, I would highly recommend it. The currency exchange rate is kind to American visitors, so be prepared to do some shopping. It helps to have a Canadian tour guide to find the best spots, which was easy for myself and Marc Mickelson, because we were accompanied by SoundStage!’s own Canadian hosts, publisher Doug Schneider and resident movie critic He Jung Kim.

More rooms

There was little time to waste after meals because so much awaited back at the show. Traversing the upper floors revealed a number of impressive products. Matisse was showing with Verity Audio, Dodson, and PS Audio. The sound of this room was one of the best of the show (details can be found in the Standout Room section of the show report). The Matisse Fantasy ($6995, shown left) was opened up for examination at the entrance. Wow, talk about fanatical build quality! The handmade volume control alone is stunning. This is indeed a case where form follows function because this beautifully made gear sounded incredible too.

I had a nice conversation with Dusty Vawter of Monolithic Sound. As long as budget products benefit from hot-rod power supplies, Dusty will have plenty of work. Monolithic’s own M50A class-A 50W monoblock amplifier ($649) and PA1 linestage ($499) were being shown with components from Perpetual Technologies and Triangle speakers. They were getting a laid-back sound that served to relax the listener, which is quite a feat at a show!

Speaking of Triangle speakers, they also inhabited another room with a collection of Cairn electronics (below right). The large Ventis XS loudspeakers ($4995) sounded smooth and seductive while having extended bass response. The Cairn range was notable not only for its fine sound but also the blue circular display that glows through the front panel of each model. This room was inviting and pleasant, making me want to return throughout the show.

Within walking distance of the show was what the locals called Old Montreal. I trekked down one morning before the show started to check it out. I tend to be an early riser, loving the fresh air that you only get first thing in the morning before the cars pollute the streets. Montreal at 7:00 AM is brisk and will wake you up faster than any coffee I’ve had. Old Montreal is full of shops, cobblestone streets, and French architecture. Most interesting to me were the stone churches and ornate steeples. Old Montreal is a great site to see, and is a welcome contrast to the noisy hotel halls of the show.

Even more rooms

But then again, I’m a died-in-the-wool audio fanatic. You couldn’t keep me from the show for long. Importer NuView Audio Tech was showing some unique equipment from Australia. The Redgum Key series caught my eye because of its nicely finished wood front panels and keyed power switches. No word on whether keyless entry is an available option. Seriously, the line is striking, and was driving the Osborn speakers with aplomb. Prices ranged from $1199 for the smallest integrated to $5999 for the pre/power amp combination.

German Physiks showed the Movie One home-theater package ($50,000). For those that aren’t familiar with German Physiks, the company uses an omnidirectional driver called the DDD bending-wave converter. This driver is said to be ideal for home theater as well as music systems due to its 360-degree dispersion pattern. The package is supplemented by a large subwoofer rated to extend to an incredible 14Hz! The demonstration I attended showed adeptness at producing whatever program material it was fed.

Tube-o-philes will be interested in the Tenor 75. This $20,000 amplifier is an OTL, (output transformerless) triode, integrated mono pair (!) that is remote controllable! They showed with Verity Parsifals and a Mark Levinson No.39 CD player, and the sound was rich and full, but had great speed and detail as well. The Tenor amps feature a monocoque-sculpted chassis that must be seen to be believed. This is another example of the aesthetic character matching the sound quality, which was beautiful all around.

Every show I’ve been to has its own character. There are, of course, no absolutes, but there do tend to be trends in the type of demonstrations shown. One has to assume that these are designed to appeal to the current audiophile mindset. The Montreal show was no different. Take the following with a grain of salt, as I don’t believe any one thing I saw was indicative of the way the audio world will become. It is a mixed bag for sure.

I expected to see the Sony SACD player fronting every other room; boy was I wrong. Although Sony was showing its full SACD system, including the TAN-1 amplifier ($9000) and TAE-1 preamplifier ($6000), it was hardly out in force. Compared to DVD-A, though, it was a revolution. Not only was DVD-A missing in action, I don’t think I heard one person even mention it. Digital technology was the rule of the day though; 24/96 DACs were in many CD players along with upsamplers and room-correction devices. The general idea seemed to be advanced technology helping the audiophile to get the most from the redbook CD format. It was working.

On the retro scene, tube electronics were in abundance and generally sounded excellent. Gone are the days when you can sit down and immediately tell tubes from solid state. The best of both are so good that only subtle differences remain. Horn speakers and turntables were sparse at this show. I expected to hear more from these two stalwarts, but it was not to be. Avantegarde was showing the Duo loudspeaker ($28,000 per pair CDN) with BAT, Harmonic Technology, KR Enterprise, ESP, and Symposium. I would have loved to hear this setup in a room four times the size of the one used.

Wrapping up

That concludes my coverage of the Festival du son et de l'image for the year 2000. Will I come back? You bet! The hospitality was gracious, the exhibitors unpretentious, and the enthusiasm level high. That combination makes for a terrific show experience. I guess, though, this report would not be complete without me awarding a Best Sound of Show. Well, if I must, it would be the ding of the elevator when it reaches the floor you’re on. This signaled the start of a new day, and a great time for all.