Page 1 of 1

hi-fi show london 1999

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 11:57 pm
by tweet_my_ribbon
The only audio hi-fi show I've attended was in London 1999, somewhere near heathrow I think but not sure. Lots of rooms with lots of shiny new audio equipment to hear and drool over.

I think the first line up was in reception and was by Tag Mclaren. The main room had the latest Quad amps and electrostatic(?) speakers and was packed but the sound was nothing special. ken Ishiwata had his latest Marantz cd player there. Elac had a room with the new CL310 jet being fed by Arcams latest amp and CD player.

A good day out was had and the best sounds of that day were the 2 or 3 live musicians playing in the cafe while I sat and ate lunch.

The only equpiment that sounded 'alive' to my ears that day were the Elac speakers. End of day, bit knackered, only 4 or 5 of us in room, and the German Elac guy put a cd on of a female vocalist and it sounded wonderful. A few weeks later I bought those speakers.

Still cant't remember the name of the hotel or show although at the time I was a hi-fi-news and record reviews follower so they probably advertised it. (Ken Kessler made me buy BBC LS35a - and they were bland - I was a dutiful magazine dupe back then)

Anyone remember this event ?

Re: hi-fi show london 1999

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 11:27 am
by savvypaul
I went to the Heathrow one (Ramada hotel?) once in the mid to late 80s.

Wasn't a wonderful experience. Very crowded, so difficult to get into many rooms. Most was either pinched sounding 'flat earth' or overblown high end American gear.

The only kit I really enjoyed on the day was a pair of Monitor Audio R352s...

Re: hi-fi show london 1999

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 1:14 pm
by tweet_my_ribbon
savvypaul wrote: Mon Mar 26, 2018 11:27 am I went to the Heathrow one (Ramada hotel?)
Ramada hotel. Yes that sounds like the place.

Re: hi-fi show london 1999

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 6:26 pm
by savvypaul
Bobby Vee wrote: Mon Mar 26, 2018 6:17 pm
savvypaul wrote: Mon Mar 26, 2018 11:27 am
The only kit I really enjoyed on the day was a pair of Monitor Audio R352s...
They were the Robin Marshall designed MA's no?
Yes. Nice and generous sound. They were a welcome change to the 'mean' flat-earth stuff at that time.

Re: hi-fi show london 1999

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 6:57 pm
by jayman67
ive had the MA 852MD and the rarer 952MD. very good speakers

Re: hi-fi show london 1999

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 7:13 pm
by Dr Bunsen Honeydew
My show days were at the Heathrow Hotel, great fun when Concorde took off as the hotel shook, the lights flickered, all cars with alarms in the car parks all went off at the same time, and a few birds died of heart attacks - feck me it was noisy.

Re: hi-fi show london 1999

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 8:52 pm
by Ukulele Sam
That takes me back, think I went to this show a couple of times (Ramada or Penta?) and remember listening to Sabina Sciubba playing live (what a woman). Also some large cabasse speakers like pyramids with a giant pulsing eyeball pinning me to the back wall (unlike Sabina unfortunately). Happy days!