Jim Austin told me it was one of his “best”.
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Wilson is outstanding great. F.i. Sasha DAW. DAW vs FR20 would be great fun. But where …
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Speaking of Wilson’s I have to say I was impressed by the Aurender room with their integrated streamer playing on the Wilson Sabrina’s. Simple and effective. So may one box and no box solutions at Axpona this year!
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I felt that way, too. Forgot all about the (incredibly expensive) gear. I just heard music.
I did mention that Decware was to be found in the Wathen room in this thread Who's going to Axpona? Any interest in a PS Audio Forum meet-up? - #16 by lonson before the event, on March 2, info I found on the Decware forum. It matters not to me ultimately. . . I don’t attend audio shows. Would have been nice to have heard some impressions from ears I trust. Regardless. . .I’ll know soon enough how this sounds. . .probably in the fall. It’s the one audio component I’m interested in right now–interested enough that I have already paid my upcoming amplifier in full.
They look like they want to attack you as soon as you aren’t looking
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I was in this room twice, @lonson. I hadn’t heard these speakers before (they were actually prototypes - I don’t even recall the manufacturer). Other than saying it didn’t sound horrible, and did have characteristics similar to other open baffle speakers, I’m not sure what else could be said that might give some sense of what part the Decware played. 
Missed that #16. Chalk it up to second stage dementia.
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Let’s hope not. 
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Thanks. They were Wathen loudspeakers, the premier I think of these models. And I know that Wathen tubes can be dominant in an amp–and are generally brighter and thinner than I like as a basic sound, at least those I’ve heard. So I didn’t think this demo was going to knock anyone’s socks off.
Guttenberg’s part 2 review will be more informative. Though that really won’t tell me what the amp will sound like in my system. Where’s that damned time machine. This is the longest and most impatient wait I’ve had yet for an audio product!
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After reading this back-and-forth on Decware I checked on-line for what the speakers look like and just realized I was in that room. I stayed a couple of minutes then left thinking “meh” … I’m not a Decware person and, quite honestly, I have not been impressed with high efficiency speakers and low-watt tube amplifiers. It sounds fascinating, but maybe they don’t “show” well.
Note to Weedeewop, I actually did like the room with your Pure Audio Project speakers, but another room had a smaller, single woofer, model that didn’t sound too good to me.
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I heard the S3 in one of the small rooms and I thought they sounded quite good. I’ve also heard them, albeit several years ago, at a local, appointment only, dealer. With clean, well recorded music they sound quite nice to me. They do give a somewhat stark presentation, kind of like the newer Vandersteen’s IMO …
Edit: Here’s a photo of the S3 room, not sure what the amps are but … tubes!
Had to add this after the fact since I was on the PC above, now on phone where photo was.
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Thanks. I’m neither a fan of Open Baffles nor Wathen tubes so I don’t think I would be satisfied with that demo either. I have very different (Decware HR-1) speakers that I think will work far better with the amp and a different tube complement.
I was flabbergasted at the boxy midrange of the big Vandersteens. I much preferred his little bookshelves.
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And mostly on sale.
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Regarding the Vandersteens, the room did them no service what so ever. I have heard the Kento speakers in a proper space and they sound fine. Can’t say I’m a fan of Richard’s amplification either. Hearing them with Audio Research 160 M (monoblocks) is much preferable, and in a larger space. To be honest the Vandersteen room was a big disappointment. Much, much better last year in a larger space. The Treo CT speakers come closer to what I like, especially for smaller scale acoustic jazz.
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The electronics driving the newly updated Magico S3 speakers are from Convergent Audio Technology, or CAT.
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Makes sense, since CAT was behind the big Magicos in the convention center room.
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I’m not sure if that is how I would describe it, all I can say is it just doesn’t sound right. I need to listen to familiar music to say exactly what is the issue. I have heard the Kento twice, this past weekend and last year at a local dealer, same assessment. I also heard the predecessor, the 5A Carbon and the Model 7 (at shows) with and without separate subwoofer and felt they too were off. I did listen to the Trio in the CAD room and thought it was much better, but it was on the cool side of neutral (I prefer the slightly warm side) I think Richard’s sense of proper sound is diverging from mine. That’s Ok since his prices have also diverged from my preferred range!
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Once again looks as though I missed out skipping the CAD room. Over reliance on an exhibitor list for planning what rooms to visit. Rooms listed with little to no detail were given little consideration. I’m learning.
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