Preparing for Dallas Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) – Part 2

Michael Broughton writes about his preparations for the Dallas SWAF 2024. He will be showcasing music supplied from NativeDSD in collaboration with Locrian Audio.
Dallas SWAF | March 15 – 17, 2024

Read also ‘Dallas Southwest Audio Fest – Show Reports’

My first meeting with Basile…

When Basile called me out of the blue several months ago, and asked if I would come to Dallas to help set up his new Studio / Salon / Listening room with his line of German Physiks Speakers, among other lines, I said yes, of course. I have been working with German Physiks speakers for years and used them successfully at many audio shows.

When I arrived at his studio in Dallas I was a bit taken aback. Basile had five different sets of German Physiks speakers on the floor. I had never seen an importer with that wide a variety of German Physiks Speakers, a serious investment. And that in a nutshell describes Basile, very serious about his love of music. Yet one can’t but get caught up by his infectious laugh. He likes to tell audio stories and speak of this industry endlessly like we all do. He is having fun in what he is doing which we all should, easy to sometimes forget isn’t it?

Basile is serious about music and willing to spend the years and effort to walk that awkward, winding, twisty path through the audio industry necessary to search out audio equipment that allows music to flow and be enjoyed.

I know we all have different descriptions and endless opinions we like to use to describe what we are after. Transparent, Musical, Spacious, the list goes on and on.

I spent several days setting up various speaker positions for the stable of German Physiks Speakers, the last being the Unicorns, an app name at first glance I thought. By the time we finished that setup and ran some music through the Unicorns I was tired to say the least. I just wanted to relax and listen to music.

Sometimes, when experiencing something unexpected and perhaps new, at times we can find ourselves at a loss for words. We are not quite sure what to say. That’s what happened with the music coming from the Unicorns. All those terms you music-loving folks, us Audiophiles, like to apply to our favorite audio equipment-start pulling them out and apply them to these speakers.

You know when you have been doing something (some form of work or hobby) for so long for so many years that you can’t help but become, (let’s all be humble about this) and say “skilled” at what you do? I feel that somewhat about what I do in audio. After listening to the Unicorns I felt like I knew nothing, needed to go back to the beginning all those years ago and start over with my perceptions. I remembered telling Basile I felt humbled at what I was listening to. It was so musical I’m not sure what else to say.

But please don’t believe me. All I can recommend is to go listen to them, make up your own mind. If nothing else you will have a great time listening to your favorite music and having a good laugh as you both tell stories of your experiences.

See you at the Dallas SWAF!

Rachel Podger is fine, very fine in this presentation of Vivaldi: Le Quattro  Stagioni – The Four Seasons. Her touch of the bow to the strings is so delightful it’s brought an idiotic smile to my face. What she has done here just lifts the heart and distracts one to the point that all you can do is stop whatever your doing and enjoy the music.