I would much rather see a photograph taken by Ansel Adams using a cheap disposable camera than an amateur photographer using the best camera in the world. The same thought process holds true when it comes to high end audio shows. Decent components can sound wonderful in the right hands while the "best" components on Earth can be unlistenable if not setup with the utmost care. T.H.E. Show Newport Beach was populated by few of the former and far too many of the latter. Not only was most of the sound bad, most of it was reproduced with old school disc spinners like CD players and turntables. T.H.E. Show Newport Beach was like a time warp of sorts without many innovative audio systems. More than any other show in recent memory the gap between the best systems and the worst systems was enormous with very few middle-of-the-road systems. That said, certain dealers, manufacturers, and distributors deserve credit for spending time, energy, and money making their rooms sound very good despite unfavorable hotel room conditions.
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