Chuck's Capital Audiofest 2025 Review: The Most Memorable Must-Hear System Demos And Stereo Setups
Inside CAF 2025's best demos with new gear, listening notes, and a few surprise standouts!
Capital Audiofest 2025 Show Report By Chuck Bruce
Nola Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 open-baffle floorstanders with VAC
vacuum tube amplification was one of the show's most musically
engaging demos. Featuring the Nola Baby Grand Reference Gold 3
floorstanding speakers in an open-baffle configuration, their midrange
/ tweeter section used an open-baffle design with four true ribbon
tweeters arranged for wide dispersion and ultra-low distortion,
contributing to a quoted system sensitivity of 91dB/W/m, making them
exceptionally easy to drive.
The open baffle allowed natural room interaction and a lifelike
midrange presence. Line-stage duties were handled by a VAC Essence
preamplifier, while disc playback came from an Audio Research CD-8
transport. Power amplification was supplied by a pair of Western
Electric 97A monoblocks, each delivering 80 Watts and populated with
multiple 300B tubes per channel for a rich, tube-driven output stage;
inputs supported both RCA and balanced connections. The chain
emphasized tube harmonic richness with precise control.
This system produced an exceptionally accurate and engaging musical
presentation: the open-baffle midrange was transparent and immediate,
ribbons delivered silk-smooth highs with micro-detail, and the high
sensitivity allowed the 300B-powered monoblocks to render dynamics
with natural ease. Imaging was expansive and three-dimensional, with a
palpable sense of air and decay around instruments. It was a deeply
memorable listening experience that combined refinement, authority,
and emotional immediacy.
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