INDUSTRY UPDATE

AUDIO NEWS & VIEWS

US: LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

Jim Austin

The first post-pandemic audio show was The Home Entertainment Show in Long Beach, California, which took place June 11–13.

In the months leading up to this show, I wondered why they hadn’t canceled it: It seemed too soon. Then, in late spring, the pandemic was abating. More people were vaccinated. Case rates were dropping fast. I decided, yes, the time was right. I congratulated Emiko Carlin, the show’s coordinator, for her good judgment.

Among the fully vaccinated was Jason Victor Serinus; he lived closest to the show and was eager to go back out into the Big World.

Big world, small show: Carlin said the show counted 1416 visitors. And yet, on Saturday, most rooms were full all day; some were packed even on Sunday, subject to social-distancing protocols. “I hope these show reports convey how good the majority of exhibits sounded,” Jason wrote in his show summary.

The room sponsored by Sunil Merchant’s Sunny Components of Covina, California, featured some seriously high-end equipment. From CH Precision came the M 1.1 amplifier ($54,000/pair) (2), L1 line preamplifier ($34,500), P1 phono stage ($31,000), and the X1 external power supply, which powered the phono pre and linestage. Wadax sent the Atlantis Reference DAC ($145,000) and Reference Streamer ($67,000) (3); the styling of the CH Precision and Wadax gear made for quite a contrast. From Stenheim came the big, new Ultime Two loudspeaker ($150,000/pair) (4). The presentation, Jason wrote, was, in many respects, “mind-blowing.”