High Fidelity Takes Manhattan

As Jason Victor Serinus reported, the New York Audio Show will take place this Friday through Sunday at the Palace Hotel (455 Madison Avenue, at 50th Street) and will host some 250 high-performance audio brands and several interesting seminars.

But the New York Audio Show is not the only audio-related event to take place in Manhattan this weekend. Two major NYC dealers, Lyric Hi-Fi & Video and Stereo Exchange, will hold their own special events, separate from the NYAS. Both events are free to the public and will feature product demonstrations, discounted pricing on demo equipment, and ample time for Q&A with manufacturer representatives.

Friday–Sunday, 10am–5pm: The Lyric Show 2013 will be held at Lyric Hi-Fi & Video (1221 Lexington Avenue). Featured brands will include ADAM, Audio Research, Autonomic Controls, Bowers & Wilkins, dCS, Classé, Focal, McIntosh, Simaudio, Sonos, Nordost, VPI, and more. For more info, click here or call (212) 439-1900.

Friday, 11am–7:30pm; Saturday, 10:30am–7pm; Sunday, 12–7pm: The Spring High-End Audio Show will be held at Stereo Exchange (627 Broadway). Featured brands will include Audio Research, Autonomic Controls, Bel Canto, Bowers & Wilkins, DeVore Fidelity, Kimber Kable, McIntosh, Totem Acoustic, Rogers High Fidelity, Rogue Audio, Sonus Faber, VPI, and more. For more info, click here or call (212) 505-1111.

But that’s not all. As last year, Innovative Audio will exhibit at the New York Audio Show and will also host after-hours listening sessions at their nearby showrooms (150 East 58th Street). These events, free and open to the public, will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings until 10pm. Featured brands will include Avalon Acoustics, Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems, Spectral, Transparent Audio, Wilson Audio Specialties, VTL, and more. Manufacturer representatives will be on hand for demos and to answer questions. For more info, click here or call (212) 634-4444.

But that’s not all. Though GTT Audio will indeed be exhibiting at NYAS, demming YG Acoustics speakers with Soulution electronics, Kubala-Sosna cables, and a Luxman DSD-capable DAC, the NJ-based dealer will also hold a special event at its showroom (356 Naughright Road, Long Valley) to introduce YG’s new flagship loudspeaker, the $106,800/pair Sonja. This event, to be conducted by appointment only, will be held on Monday, April 15. Space is limited. Four time slots are available: 12, 2, 4, and 6pm. For more info and to RSVP, call (908) 850-3092 or email av@gttaudio.com.

But that’s not all. If the recent emergence of regional hi-fi shows is due in large part to the decline of the local hi-fi dealer, then why is it necessary to hold a show in New York City—perhaps the one city in the US where just about any component can be seen and heard at just about any time?

It’s a good question. Perhaps this weekend’s events will present some answers.