UK Audio Show, Staverton Hotel Daventry

Just got back from this and it was certainly disappointing! Not a lot there and quite a high level of duplication of equipment brands being used in the demo rooms. I did have a long listen to the Focal (Naim) Diva Utopia and I didn’t get a very good impression, however the room was playing havoc with the acoustics and the bass was just all over the place. I did speak to the rep and he did state they were still running in.

I did go to the show with reasonable expectations as I wanted to get some supplies for my Kirmuss Record Restorer so that was good. Also I was hoping to listen to a few headphones with a view to purchasing a new set but really nothing to speak of on show and demo. Finally there was only one vinyl trade outlet which was quite limited and had around 80% used vinyl and very little new stuff.

Based on previous years this time the show was a complete bust and my advice to any one else considering going is to save your money and maybe buy a new record with the admission fee.

Tim

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How much was entry please ?

£15 on the day.
Thanks for the advice!

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It certainly wasn’t as good as previous years, and last year wasn’t great either.
I am glad i am only a few minutes away or i would have been disappointed.
The new diva speakers certainly look slightly better in real life, than they do in the pics, but still not a great look, but obviously they do different finishes. Plus i like the idea. I just didn’t like the sound much.
Hopefully as you say they needed running in.
I only popped in for a quick look around, and will be back tomorrow for a more focused visit.

Unrelated but my maternal grandmother was a ‘matron/cook’ in a Daventry workhouse.

I had a constructive email conversation with Roy who organises the shows. He did say he was let down by a few vendors and we discussed that the increased number of record fairs did also have an impact on the lack of vinyl sellers.

@Alley_Cat interesting, my mother was a parlour maid for Lord and Lady Barnet at Sopwell House in the late 1940’s which is now a sprawling hotel.

Tim

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I went as it’s 10 minutes down the road and £10 in advance, very little to get excited about and sparsely attended, acoustics or not the Focal Utopia did little to justify their price tag, the big Audio Note room was at times astonishing but given the prices…Peter Q said they’d just sold their 100th pair of the field coil speakers, at £80k a go. Who are these people with that sort of money :laughing:

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