My TOP 5 Moments at Southwest Audio Fest!
United States of Analog | March 19, 2024
🎙️ Early Video Analysis
What is this video about?
The host is sharing his top 5 moments from attending the Southwest Audio Fest in Dallas, Texas – his first major audio show. He’s covering highlights including equipment he enjoyed and people he met over the three-day event.
What gear, products, or brands are discussed?
- Ghiselli Labs Zufa integrated amplifier – described as “fantastic” and “like nothing else I’ve ever heard” in that space
- Ghiselli Labs Daisy DAC (full-size DAC) – called “fantastic”
- Perlison Tower speakers – used in the Ghiselli Labs listening room setup
- Ghiselli Labs headphone amplifiers and DACs (in their headphone room)
What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?
- Get your spouse/loved ones involved in the audiophile hobby – it makes life “much more simple and easy”
- Southwest Audio Fest was a good first year show with room for growth
- Audio shows should be inclusive – “It’s a big tent, let everybody in”
- Ghiselli Labs represents “everything that is great about our hobby and about this business”
What are the host’s strong recommendations?
- [00:01:28] Strongly recommends getting your spouse involved in the audiophile hobby: “get your spouse involved, get your loved ones involved”
- [00:01:40] “Take my word for it, don’t exclude them”
Were there any funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes?
- [00:00:21] “If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong”
- [00:00:26] “So don’t hate, participate”
- [00:01:03] Says he “pushed her [wife] out front and let her trailblaze the way” to get into rooms
- [00:03:49] “And if I sound like a fanboy, well, guess what? I am a Ghiselli Labs fanboy, okay? Guilty as charged”
Summary:
Host Bob introduces his recap of the Southwest Audio Fest in Dallas, his first major audio show, which he attended with his wife. He emphasizes how beneficial it was to bring his spouse along, as she helped him network and get into listening rooms while also becoming genuinely interested in the hobby herself. He advocates strongly for inclusivity in the audiophile community and getting loved ones involved rather than excluding them.
The first of his top 5 moments was visiting Ghiselli Labs, a company from Melbourne, Florida that was the first to support his YouTube channel. He openly admits to being a “fanboy” of the company and praises both their business approach and their people. The host was given a warm welcome by the Ghiselli team including Gino, Sherry, Rachel, Jake, and Courtney.
Bob was particularly impressed with Ghiselli’s equipment setup, especially their Zufa integrated amplifier which he describes as unlike anything he’s heard before. Paired with their Daisy DAC and Perlison Tower speakers, he found their listening room to be a highlight of the entire show. He appreciated that they let him play his own music to test their equipment and looks forward to seeing them again at the upcoming Expona show in Chicago.
⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis
Gear, Products, and Brands Discussed
4:54-6:54: Black Ice Audio electronics (amplifiers, phono preamps) paired with Zoo Speakers in a dual setup room
6:58-8:36: Access Audio as distributor, Accuphase electronics, Locrian Unicorn Mark II speakers ($27,000-$31,000)
8:41-9:37: Endo Audio Bravura 7.2 speakers featuring 22mm tweeter with 3D printed wave guide using specialized 3D printer
Host’s Key Findings, Verdicts, and Opinions
5:17: Zoo Speakers described as “fantastic, fantastic speakers”
6:05-6:51: Black Ice Audio praised as direct-to-consumer company with “heart and heads in the right place”
7:15-7:47: Strong visual appeal to Accuphase gear – “I would probably be predisposed to buy Accuphase gear even without hearing it. That’s how great it looks”
8:47-9:17: Endo Audio Bravura 7.2 identified as “my favorite speakers of the show” and “probably the best speakers I heard at the show”
Listening Tests and Sound Quality Observations
8:06-8:25: Locrian speakers “sounded great” and “threw sound all around the room” with unique top-firing driver design
8:58-9:26: Extended listening session with Endo Audio speakers, though host notes he didn’t get to hear his own music but was impressed by the demo tracks
Price/Value Assessments
6:46-6:51: Direct-to-consumer model praised for enabling “a lot of quality audio and keep a little money in our pockets”
7:58-8:03: Locrian Unicorn Mark II speakers priced at “$27,000 to $31,000 depending on the finish”
8:49-8:52: Endo Audio speakers positioned as mid-tier: “weren’t the biggest, they weren’t the most expensive but they weren’t the cheapest either”
Vinyl Records, Albums, or Music Discussed
5:42-5:54: Sean from Zoo was “spinning his personal records” and taking requests, with host noting they shared similar musical tastes and recognizing albums similar to those in his own collection
Summary
This portion covers the host’s second through fourth favorite moments at Southwest Audio Fest, focusing primarily on speaker demonstrations and manufacturer relationships. The Black Ice Audio and Zoo Speakers collaboration stood out for its casual, music-focused atmosphere where Sean from Zoo spun vinyl records and took requests, creating what the host called a “super cool room to listen to music and hang.” The host particularly appreciated both companies’ direct-to-consumer approach, viewing it as beneficial for audiophiles’ budgets.
The Access Audio room featuring Accuphase electronics caught the host’s attention primarily through visual appeal, with the Japanese design aesthetic and vintage 70s styling making such a strong impression that he admitted he’d consider buying the gear based on looks alone. The Locrian Unicorn Mark II speakers, despite their high $27,000-$31,000 price tag, impressed with their unique omnidirectional sound dispersion technology.
The standout discovery was the Endo Audio Bravura 7.2 speakers, which the host declared his favorite speakers of the entire show. While positioned in the middle price tier rather than being the most expensive options, these speakers made the strongest sonic impression during his listening sessions, featuring advanced 3D printed wave guide technology that clearly contributed to their exceptional performance in the demonstration room.
🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict
Gear, Products, or Brands Discussed
- Endow speakers [00:09:12] – Specifically the 7.2 model priced at $4,900, featuring nine 1.5-inch mid-range speakers arranged around a waveguide
- Bravura [00:10:46] – The company behind the Endow speakers
- Solid Steel stands [00:10:42] – Mentioned as potential stands for the speakers in his listening area
Host’s Final Verdict or Conclusion
- Southwest Audio Fest assessment [00:13:20]: “This was a great show. It has room to grow”
- Endow speakers verdict [00:10:24]: “I would think about buying those speakers at $4,900… from what I heard, it’s worth every penny”
- Show experience [00:12:42]: Even without hearing any equipment, he would have considered the show a success due to the relationships formed
Final Recommendations
- Endow speakers [00:10:24]: Strong consideration – “I would think about buying those speakers at $4,900”
- Audio shows in general [00:13:29]: “If you have a chance to go to an audio show, do”
Final Tips, Caveats, or Advice for Viewers
- [00:13:34] “Keep an open mind. Keep your schedule flexible and just go and have a good time”
- [00:13:41] “Don’t be afraid to approach your favorite influencer, YouTuber or manufacturer”
- [00:14:01] Accept that there will be “a few people that are a little snobby” and “Audio Snake Oil”
- [00:14:12] “Don’t get bogged down. Just open your mind, enjoy”
How the Video Wrapped Up
- [00:14:26] Announcement of attending Axpona show in Schaumburg, Illinois
- [00:14:31] Standard sign-off: “We’ll see you next time in the United States of Analog”
- [00:14:36] Brief interaction with someone named Dylan about bringing something back
Memorable Closing Quotes or Strong Final Opinions
- [00:10:32] “From what I heard, it’s worth every penny. Fantastic bass, fantastic imaging, not wishy-washy at all. I love those speakers”
- [00:12:24] “I don’t know if I’ve had any bigger thrill than meeting Randy, the Cheap Audio Man and hanging out with Lenny from Just Audio”
- [00:13:54] “We all basically want the same thing and that’s to enjoy the healing properties of music through great equipment, expensive or inexpensive”
- [00:14:14] “It’s a circus. It’s a big tent of people and manufacturers and equipment and music and everything”
Summary
This final portion of the video concludes the host’s discussion of his top moments at Southwest Audio Fest, focusing heavily on the Endow 7.2 speakers from Bravura that impressed him despite their unconventional design featuring nine small mid-range drivers arranged around a waveguide. At $4,900, he found them compelling enough to consider purchasing and plans to contact the company for a home audition. The speakers delivered “fantastic bass” and “fantastic imaging” that overcame his initial skepticism about their multi-directional design approach.
The host’s fifth and final highlight was deeply personal – meeting his audio heroes including Randy (Cheap Audio Man), Lenny from Just Audio, and others he had been following during the pandemic. Despite his 32-year radio career and experience meeting celebrities, he expressed that meeting these audio community figures was among his biggest thrills. He emphasized the genuine friendships formed and his gratitude for being accepted into this community despite being relatively new to the space (seven months).
The video concludes with enthusiastic recommendations for attending audio shows, encouraging viewers to maintain open minds and flexible schedules. He acknowledged that shows can include some “snobby” people and “Audio Snake Oil” but framed these as part of the fun circus atmosphere. The host emphasized that the audio community shares a common goal of enjoying music through quality equipment regardless of price, and signed off by announcing plans to attend the upcoming Axpona show in Illinois.
Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.
