Hi everyone

This year, the Audio Days even took place in SAE School near Paris, on monday 10th and Thursday 11th of April.
I was there on Thursday and took some pictures and info for you.
I am sorry for the crappy pics, they were taken with my iPhone and light was not so great...

I'll do one post per stand in this topic, feel free to comment, ask questions and I'll do my best to answer or hook you up with someone able to answer!

Thomas

AVID

AVID was presenting their S3 + dock and S6 modular desk (16 channels), as well as their new MTRX Interface (based on the DAD AX32) featuring ProMon mixing / monitoring

JOSEPHSON
The new product here is the C725 microphone. It is the first tube microphone from Josephson. Via rotary switches on the PSU, you can change the mics pattern, as well as it overall color with a 2 pos switch : clean or colorful.
It also features the aluminium foam basket / mesh with helps reduce reflection around the capsule.

ZÄHL
The stereo 500 format EQ1 from Zähl was here. I wasn't able to test it unfortunately, but the build quality looks awesome, the knobs feel great and I have heard many many great things about this EQ.

PENDULUM
OCL2

ANALOG TUBE
AT-1 : a stunning take on the Fairchild 660

ON THE MOON
The Spacecraft is an analog spatial processor.. It has a lot of really surprising features to allow manipulation of the stereo image in terms of width, depth and many other things, via MS and some other tricks. It is fully mono compatible and allows very interesting results! Check it out!
Mathew Lane - OnTheMoon Spacecraft

CRANE SONG
Avocet, Titan, Ibis, Hedd
500 format: Syren, Falcon, Insigna

DPA
DPA microphones' new stuff was mostly accessories like mic clamps, as well as table top (or ceiling) mics in various colors

CALREC
Brio 36 console with Hydra system

DIGICO
S21

DIGIGRID
New products: Hi quality desktop modules that can be interfaced in a network configuration. Designed for small studios & home studios.

AL.SO Alternate Soundings
New products from AL.SO are the Conkord (dynamic processor with a 500 slot insert) and Rafal (double mic preamp with tilt EQ).
Also presented: Dynax 2, Hellax, MP2, MP5, RMP5,

PHONON

I tried the Phonon SMB02 headphones which are the flagship product and was pretty amazed by their sound. Pretty round and pleasing, but very honest to the music you are listening to. Harsh stuff for instance really gets harsh.. Low end is deep, round but very defined... They are quite light and very comfy... I'd love to try them with headphone amp I know..
They were also presenting the 4000 model which is the mobile version.

Unfortunately I have no picture worth posting...

ELYSIA
New product is the MPressor 500, their famous compressor now available for 500 format. It's great feature is the THD Boost which allows soft clipping... Really sounds awesome! It can tuck peaks without even showing gain reduction.
Of course, negative ratios & antilog release can take you to very very wild territories, where you can literally transform your audio material. Mind blowing on drums for instance... You can even make a pair act as a delay, playing with attack and release timings... Wowow! This thing does everything from clean subtle compression to over squashing and more, and all with a great attitude and punch.. Kudos!
Also here in 500: XFilter 500, Xpressor 500, Karacter 500, Nvelope 500 and in 19': mpressor, xpressor, nvelope, museq

CLOUD Microphones
All the Cloudlifter serie, as well as as JRS34 and 44A microphones (the 44A blew my mind a few years ago!! Sweeeeet mic )

Dangerous Audio
Source, 2 Bus+, Compressor, Bax EQ, Convert 8

AUDIO TECHNICA

New product is their 5047 transformer coupled output condenser microphone.
AT talks about it better than me : AT5047 Cardioid Condenser Microphone || Audio-Technica US and I have no great picture of it, but it sure looks gorgeous in real life. I also has the 4 diaphragm capsule, allowing for a huge capsule size, and their absolute biggest dynamic range mic.

AUDIENT

ASP800, ASP880, iD4, iD22

PSI Audio
Large amount of the PSI audio speakers range. There is already a lot of info about them online. First time I have seen them in white finish, which is an intersting feature if your are not digging their usual dark red / purpleish color.

KLINGER FAVRE

Stunning hand made french speakers for Audiophile & Pro Audio. Stunning finish as well...

PROSODIA AUDIO

French high end speaker manufacturer. Their flagship model is the Zephyr active speaker. They sounds really natural, deep, and with a pretty large sweet spot. They can be used with or without Subs, and I was very fond of them without the sub actually. They were sitting on top of a nice VR Neve...
I am sorry I just realised my pic is absolutely horrible...

Their new model is named Bora, and is a 5" coaxial design active. It was designed to have a wide frequency response and large sweet spot as well. It can be used in many configurations:
Stereo pair in the studio or mobile rig (they are very small and light weight!)
Stereo pair + subs
5.1 or even more, multichannel use.
Sound is really really impressive for such a small speaker.. Dynamic range is huge, stereo image is wide and deep... They really sing!

They come in absolutely ANY color the customer wants, which is a cool point IMO. They presented some prototype with wood finish, and tinted wood finish and they had quite a lot of success so they'll probably offer this finish option as well.

Check out their website!!
http://www.prosodia-audio.com/

That's about it for my small reports. They depend on how much I talked with the guys there, wether the units interested me or not, etc... So I am probably missing stuff and this is not intended to be completely objective Feel free to ask, comment, etc!

They were also here :

API (The Box), Telefunken, Amphion, Flux, Warm Audio, Universal Audio, UVI, Native Instruments, Mix with the Masters, Merging, Royer...

Thanks for this great report. Outstanding info!

What a great show.

Great thread. Thanks for posting this

Hi Thomas,

Did you have the chance to audition Amphion's?

I'm very tempted about getting a pair of one15's but distributor in Spain is about 600km away from home

+1, thanks for the report.

Surprised Amadeus was not there with their Philharmonia speaker - most amazing small speaker I've heard in many years.

I did! Not this year, but during a previous edition of the event. I took a quick listen to a pair of One15, probably 5 minutes going through different tracks & music genres and they kind of blew my mind. Great little speakers, very wide stereo image, impressive freq response for their size.
That being said, you should def. try them before buying as they may not suit you at all? Considering the price and importance of this kind of tool, I'd drive 600km to hear them. But I love driving heh
Contact Amphion, I am sure they can manage to get you a demo pair

Amadeus was there last year! I took a listen to the Philharmonia, very impressive speakers too indeed... But I felt no emotion in front of them... I would not call them small, more of mid size speaker to me?

Cheers!!

Thanks for your review.
I'm afraid it'd be easier to ask for a demo pair to Amphion rather asking local distributor who carries all products except one15.

Off topic by i'm really enjoying WE111C transformers Thomas

Regards

Thanks.

nice thread

thank you for this thread