Pacific Audio Fest Report - Part 7
The Infigo Audio room!
The Infigo Audio room impressed me with its musicality, high-fidelity sound quality, innovative audio design, and excellent discussion of the audio components' design.
The Infigo Audio room - the Method 4 DAC!
Most of the time when you go into an exhibitors room at a hifi fest the interaction is mostly one of "Is there any music you would like to hear?", but CEO/Founder Hans Looman of the British Columbia, Canada, based company Infigo Audio goes a step further by making a short presentation - while playing demonstrative music examples - about the innovative nature of their designs' inner workings and why it matters, like the Method 4 DAC with preamp-style volume control (no separate preamp needed to drive the monaural Method 3 amps), shown above (and below).
The Infigo Audio Method 4 DAC - topless!
One of the fascinating aspects of the Infigo Audio Method 4 DAC - in addition to its musicality and high-fidelity presentation - was its artful visual design where the top cover easily lifts off so you can see its finely crafted inner workings while listening to music, if you wish. It looks impressive!
Both Doc Leo and I were impressed with Hans' discussion and demonstration of his designs and the highly musical high-fidelity results he achieved.
Being impressed with Infigo Audio is to be expected, after all infigo is Latin for "impressive".
Infigo Audio Method 3 Class A monaural amplifier.
The Infigo Audio Method 3 Class A monaural amplifiers (above) can also be played topless so you can see their beautifully crafted inner-workings if you wish.
Inside the Infigo Audio Method 3 Class A monaural amplifier!
One of the fascinating aspects of the Infigo Audio Method 3 Class A monaural amplifiers was "Our special design keeps the amplifier operating in class A at all times, without cooking the room."
Hans challenged me to place my hand on the Method 3 monaural amps cooling fins, which I was a little hesitant to do, as usually hot-running Class A amps are too hot to touch comfortably.
With visions of the cooling fins searing a panini press like burns across my hand I cautiously touched the cooling fins ... and they were cool!
I don't know how Hans achieves it, but his Class A Method 3 monaural amplifiers run comfortably cool.
My small audio-visual room can get unbearably hot with Class A amplifiers during the record string of 100F+(38C) days we've had where I live, and the idea of cool running amplifiers is a welcome thought!
A question I get asked more frequently in these times of escalating global warming is, "Is there a good sounding amplifier that won't heat up my room?"
Normally in response to that question I recommend looking at cool-running Class D amplifiers, but now I can recommend the cool-running Infigo Audio Class A Method 3 monaural amplifiers as well.
Lou Hinkley not only puts on a great Pacific Audio Fest, but his hand-crafted bespoke Daedalus Audio loudspeakers - featured in several exhibitor rooms - were stunning to behold!
Daedalus Audio loudspeakers with VAC amplification and Lampizator DAC.
Daedalus Audio's name is derived from Greek mythology, where Daedalus, the father of Icarus, was known as a skilled architect and craftsman, and was known for his inventions and art. Fitting!
The finish of the Daedalus Audio loudspeakers were spectacular!
My photos don't do Lou's bespoke hand-crafted Daedalus Audio loudspeakers justice, which I thought had the most artfully beautiful finish of any loudspeakers at the Fest.
VAC amplification and Lampizator DAC.
A second exhibition room with Daedalus Audio loudspeakers also wowed me!
Daedalus Audio room 2!
Daedalus Audio loudspeakers!
The woodwork and finish of Lou's Daedalus Audio loudspeakers were absolutely stunning!
Look at that rack - stunning!
Lou's woodwork and finish of his bespoke audio rack were true artisan quality, and made lust bumps pop up all over my body!
Sorry, my photo just doesn't do justice to the incredible artisanal quality of Lous's rack.
Linear Tube Audio (LTA) ZOTL amplifiers!
Check out those Linear Tube Audio (LTA) ZOTL amplifiers at the bottom of the rack, which were a nice artisanal match to the rest of this system.
Lampizator DAC!
Also looking alluring in Lou's bespoke rack was the exotic hand-crafted Lampizator DAC!
Kingrex Electric
The quality of AC going into our audio systems makes a big difference in overall performance, as the AC going into the audio system becomes the amplified music signal going out to our loudspeakers, and ultimately our ears.
Trying a simple upgrade using Oyaide wall outlets in place of my regular outlets surprised me by making for a very noticeable improvement in performance, and ditto for power cords.
Rex Hungerford has been an electrician since 1995. Rex got back into audio and has been enjoying his open baffle loudspeakers and single-ended-triode based audio system since 2009 (above).
Rex began experimenting with using his knowledge as an electrician to improve the AC going to audio systems (more HERE). Buoyed by the remarkable improvements he was able to realize, Rex founded Kingrex Electric to offer his insights to other audio enthusiasts.
Custom high-performance Kingrex power panel by Rex Hungerford.
Rex improves the AC going to audio and audio-video systems through insights in wiring methodology, conductor optimization, grounding, and custom electrical power panels (photo above), for example.
Want to improve your audio system performance? Start at the AC source for the best possible AC supply, your ears will thank you for it.
Not only does Lou build gorgeous artisanal loudspeakers for audiophiles, but Lou is also well known for his Daedalus Music Pro Audio loudspeakers for musicians, which were being used for the live music events at the Pacific Audio Fest (below).
Daedalus Audio pro loudspeakers and the Halie Loren Quartet!
One of the great treats of the Pacific Audio Fest were the concerts in the Maxis Lounge by The Kings of Swing and the Halie Loren Quartet, which featured Daedalus Audio pro loudspeakers for sound reenforcement.
Halie Loren Quartet
I missed the Kings of Swing performance after losing track of time while engaged in a delightful dinner conversation with Positive Feedback Partners & Editors, Carol and Dave Clark. Oops!
I heard from Fest attendees that the Kings of Swing put on a wonderful concert! Sigh. Next time!
The Pacific Northwest's own international jazz star, Halie Loren, is a regular at Dimitri's Jazz Alley in Seattle, and Halie's albums have been at the #1 spot on the Billboard jazz charts in Japan and Canada numerous times. It sure was a treat to have Halie perform for us at the Pacific Audio Fest!
Well that's all for my press reporting of the Pacific Audio Fest.
I can tell you that I had a blast at the Pacific Audio Fest. If you were not able to attend this year's Fest, I encourage you to attend in 2023, you'll have a blast too! Highly recommended!
It was impossible to cover everything at the Pacific Audio Fest other than at the 10,000 feet level, as there was just too much to see, hear, and do.
It was a great opportunity to see and hear an amazing amount of audio systems that I normally wouldn't have access to, attend excellent technical talks about audio, hear live music performances, sample the free wine, beer, and bourbon tastings, meet new friends, and catchup with old friends.
I had a ball at the Pacific Audio Fest, and there couldn't have been a better Fest to show my friend Doc Leo around for his first audio fest. Leo's already looking forward to attending next year's Pacific Audio Fest, and I hope to see you there too!
If you would like to read my Welcome to the Pacific Audio Fest! article for the Pacific Audio Fest show directory, please click on the link below for the final page.
