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Sharp lines and sculptural forms defined Room 219, presented by Supreme Acoustic Systems, calming my frantic mind immediately upon arrival. Soulnote's Yhusuke Iwashashi and Hideki Kato were perfect hosts, settling my reporter's brain with placid expressions.

Robert Lighton's custom rig included his prototype turntable with a rosewood armboard and customized 10" Audio Note tonearm with a Miyajima Madake MC cartridge. An Audio Note S9 step-up transformer ($28,000) and M9 phono preamp ($185,000) did the analog business. An Audio Note CD 4.1x ($16,000) made music from shiny silver discs.

Succasunna, New Jersey's Orchard Audio didn't come to play. Joined by Kimber Kable and Soundfield Audio, Orchard got down to business, but quick. "We are an audio company that provides an immersive listening experience by offering top-quality DACs, streamers, and amplifiers," its website states.

As the Spin Doctor, I tend to lead an analog life. I'm not just talking about my preferred ways of listening to music, but also my approach to other everyday technology. For decades, there has been a push to turn everything we use into a connected, "smart" device. We now have technology that allows us to change the color temperature of the lights in our living room while we sit on the sofa, or to answer our front doorbell from the other side of the world. I prefer an older-school approach.

Women have undeniably become the most dynamic and vital creative force in music today. Without their good energies and ideas, music, which in the digital age has become more background than art, would be much less interesting and inspiring.

Aaron Sherrick of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s Now Listen Here is an old hand at making show systems sing. He pulled off his magic trick in Jersey as he has at shows far and wide, as well as inside his Harrisburg storefront.

Atlantis Lab’s Yusuke Yasuda, and Decibel+’s Gabriel Andrés Toro brought one of the most surprising systems of the show, featuring Neoson tubed amplifiers and Atlantis Lab loudspeakers, both brands manufactured in France. Atlantis Labs' concept designer Eric Buy and Neoson concept designer Walter Blondel were also on hand.