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Styl:us Show 2016

Styl:us Show 2016

It’s surprising that no-one came up with the idea sooner, but an audio show dedicated to all things vinyl is – in hindsight – an obvious choice for a niche show. Over the weekend of the 23rd-24th April, at the Park Inn just outside London’s Heathrow Airport, a small but energetic group of manufacturers, distributors, and dealers assembled to showcase the latest in top-notch turntablism.

The show size was either a problem or an opportunity to visitors. With less than 20 rooms given over to the event, show-goers were either happy that they could take their time giving each one a useful amount of time both in listening and discussing the products on show, or they raced around the show as if it had 200 rooms and considered it poor value for money. Meanwhile, manufacturers were not sure whether to expect a cohort of hipsters, or a cabal of older vinylistas who had not been to a show in 25 years. The reality, in both cases, probably sits somewhere between the two poles: a niche show is always going to attract a niche crowd, both in terms of visitors and exhibitors, and Styl:us was no exception. I still think the show was largely reaching the older end of the vinyl spectrum (the end of the ‘vinyl’ era, rather than the start of the ‘vinyls’ age), but overall it was a positive first effort.

, Styl:us Show 2016

Ammonite Audio chose the ‘bazaar’ (as opposed to the ‘bizarre’) approach to its range of vinyl accessories, Jelco tonearms, and Miyajima cartridges. This worked really well for the audience attending the event

, Styl:us Show 2016

Stephen Harper of The Audio Consultants spent most of the weekend demonstrating the importance of good record cleanliness, with before and after demonstrations of showgoers LPs ultrasonically cleaned with the Audio Desk Systeme

, Styl:us Show 2016

Clearaudio turntables and GamuT electronics and loudspeakers were popular choices at the show, appearing in several rooms, including the lecture theatre

, Styl:us Show 2016

The innovative Plato media playing system by Entotem is about to be updated with a new Class A amplifier stage, which will be followed by a sensing power supply for truly international playback. The Plato’s LP ripping system is particularly clever and one to watch…

, Styl:us Show 2016

The show wasn’t totally about vinyl. HiFiHeadphones was allowed in to demonstrate its wide range of headphone amplifiers and loudspeakers… as long as they played them through a vinyl source! The MrSpeakers Ether and Ether C headphones were a popular choice

 

, Styl:us Show 2016

Inspire Hi-Fi is more than just a maker of hot-rod modifications for Linn LP12 and Roksan Xerxes turntables. The company’s Monarch Direct Drive turntable is a popular choice, too, especially with the brand’s X200 Mk 2 carbon fibre arm. The complete package (less Audio Technica cartridge) in its 12″ guise comes to £5,250

, Styl:us Show 2016

Perhaps little known due to its tongue-twister name, but the Lejonklou dual mono preamplifier, and dual mono power amplifier system made some of the most exciting sounds at the show, when played through a Tiger Paw modified LP12, Hana cartridge, Aurasound Vida phono stage and Totem Element floorstander loudspeakers

, Styl:us Show 2016

The best sound at the show was thanks to Music First Audio, with an Audio Note front end feeding a Classic MM phono Amp, Baby Classic MC step-up, and Baby Classic preamp, into Howes modified Quads and Graham Audio loudspeakers. Refined and elegant sounding

, Styl:us Show 2016

 

A newcomer to the domestic audio world, Protec Audio Supports uses its pro-audio heritage to produce high-performance, low cost equipment supports, including this turntable wall shelf with optional colour changing LED panel

, Styl:us Show 2016

The PreAudio range of tangential tracking turntables is gaining a lot of friends, in part thanks to its low cost, high-performance appeal. The models – bundled complete with a matching Audio Technica cartridge – range from the £1,200 AT-1602 to the new ATM-1401 flagship pictured, which comes complete with an ART-9 cartridge for £7,900

, Styl:us Show 2016

Even Sony was getting in on the act, with its vinyl-ripping-to-DSD PS-HX500 turntable first seen at CES 2016

, Styl:us Show 2016

Townshend was showing a prototype of its Seismic Platform specifically for the Technics SL1200 turntable, and the effect of its Seismic bars on loudspeakers, but it’s perhaps the sentiment of the slipmat that sums this show up best!

, Styl:us Show 2016

Vinyl Passion was one of the many companies at the exhibition demonstrating modified Linn LP12s. This one was a real beauty in the flesh!

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