Stephen Mejias

RMAF 2012

The Peachtree Way

Stephen Mejias Oct 21, 2012

I walked into the big Peachtree Audio room to find listening chairs scattered about in every direction, seemingly without purpose. Indeed, some listeners stood while some listeners sat and even others danced.

This was different . . .

Stephen Mejias RMAF 2012

High Water Sounds and The Architecture of Loss

Stephen Mejias Oct 20, 2012

Every time I see High Water Sounds’ Jeffrey Catalano, he introduces me to another outstanding piece of music (or three) that I need to own immediately. During RMAF 2012, one of those pieces was The Architecture of Loss, by Icelandic composer and founder of the excellent Bedroom Community label, Valgeir Sigurdsson.

RMAF 2012

Ballad of the Red Glasses

Stephen Mejias Oct 19, 2012

My audiophile doppelganger, Music Hall’s Leland Leard, brought props to RMAF&#151a pair of bright, red glasses and a stuffed kitty cat doll&#151and asked attendees to smile for the camera.

I can’t help wonder whether one’s truest self is revealed when donning the bright, red glasses. Or, I suppose, while petting the kitty.

RMAF 2012

Nordost & Raidho

Stephen Mejias Oct 18, 2012

In the Nordost/Raidho suite, I was very impressed by the spacious, delicate, detailed sound made from a system comprising Raidho C1.1 standmounted speakers ($20,000/pair, including dedicated stand), a Simaudio CD player, Hegel amplification, Quantum Resonant Technology (QRT) power conditioning, and, of course, Nordost cabling.

RMAF 2012

Audio Feast’s Kenji Furukawa

Stephen Mejias Oct 18, 2012

Art Dudley’s already mentioned the many delights in the Audio Feast room, so I’ll just add that I was particularly delighted to chat with Audio Feast’s Kenji Furukawa, pictured here with his Feastrex NF9ex F90 field-coil loudspeaker ($19,118/pair).

RMAF 2012

Big Sound in Pikes Peak

Stephen Mejias Oct 17, 2012

In the big Pikes Peak room, I heard a big, full-bodied sound that gave a gentle sparkle to electric guitars and rich texture to voices.

The system:

RMAF 2012

Alissa Vassilkova of Estelon

Stephen Mejias Oct 17, 2012

In the Music Hall room, I also met Alissa Vassilkova, whose father, Alfred, is the founder and lead designer of Estonia’s Estelon loudspeaker company.

RMAF 2012

Sensorium AVR

Stephen Mejias Oct 17, 2012

As Jason Victor Serinus mentioned, there was a party going on in the Music Hall room; and, while this meant that you really couldn’t evaluate the sound of the system, it also meant that you were bound to actually have fun.

Hmm: Evaluate sound or have fun, evaluate sound or have fun?

Oh, darn. I guess I’ll have fun.

RMAF 2012

i-Fi from Avatar Acoustics & AMR

Stephen Mejias Oct 17, 2012

I ran into Avatar Acoustics’ Darren Censullo, who was buzzing with enthusiasm and excitement over the new i-Fi Micro line of components. And rightfully so.

RMAF 2012

Rega's Union Jack

Stephen Mejias Oct 17, 2012

Jason Victor Serinus also mentioned that Rega has released their popular RP6 turntable with a new Union Jack finish. Here’s a closer look.