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Southwest Audio Fest — SWAF 2025The Semrad Audio Listening SessionsWe had a joyous time connecting with the Dallas audiophile community for SWAF 2025 one of the largest high-end audio shows in North America. The trade show experience offers audiophiles further examination into world class Hi-Fi. Our resident brewer was invited to emcee the room Saison Sunday style allowing clients to sip at their leisure. The three-day showcase focused solely on vinyl playback. Included below are track listings and commentary. System Details — SWAF 2025 — Room 1231The Semrad Audio system features front loaded large format horns including field coil drivers paired with bass drivers. Fully setup for vinyl playback a Garrard 301 turntable in Semrad Audio plinth supported two tonearms. Mockingbird Distribution fitted both using a Sorane TA1 & Miyajima Zero for mono recordings and Sorane TA1L & Mutech Hayabusa moving coil for stereo recordings. The signal was handled by EM/IA electronics including step-up transformer, tube phono, volume controller, tube amplification, and tube power supplies. The noisefloor was lifted with a powered subwoofer in bass horn configuration by Van Zyl Audio. Bi-amped for more control the Semrad Audio bass drivers were supplied by an Air Tight ATM-4 tube amp. Monoblock EM/IA single ended triode SA-50 tube amps supplied the field coils. The Southwest Audio Fest — Curated PlaylistsA complete list of recordings which played well providing clear sound, depth, and resolution is compiled here. The listening sessions are posted in five sets plus one bonus of b-sides. HiFi cafes of Japan "The Jazz Kissa" found the limits of human attention span can interfere with active listening. It is recommended to play three sides per session. The sets are limited to 90 minutes for effective listening. By focusing on the music beyond simply hearing we can make sense of the message captured in each recording. The selections are ordered for and overall experience. Saison Sundays are filled with conversation, music and friends. I've curated the playlist and selected bottles from my collection as a brewmaster. I am a brewer working with yeast and wild fermentation. Hi-Fi audio is my perpetual hobby. I enjoy seeking new music, analog sound, and all things vintage. Saison is my favorite style of beer. The tasting group is membership based with access to my upcoming beer releases. The group is also open invitation each month featurs rustic ales I've created or collected. Private shares hosted by requst are exclusive. Send a message to visit or request to join. SWAF — Set 5A – part 1 of 5*Curated Playlist:
01. The Cat Walk - Donald Byrd SWAF — Set 5B – part 2 of 5*A series of audiophile tracks to showcase HiFi sound. This set features cool jazz horns with limited pop vocals. Drumming alongside are piano & upright bass keeping the pace at hard bop. Curated Playlist:
01. If I Were A Bell - Miles Davis Quintet SWAF — Set 5C – part 3 of 5*Curated Playlist:
01. Idle Moments - Grant Green SWAF — Set 5D – part 4 of 5*A series of audiophile tracks to showcase sound quality. This set features vocal arrangements, acoustic folk, blues, and art rock. All selections are available on vinyl. Curated Playlist:
01. Ella - Jose Alfredo Jimenez Commentary:By Sunday morning the room had 504 visits. Traffic for the today is expected to be slow. We play the unlikely tunes. Fun for collectors. A vinyl spinning refuge. The analog system sounded smooth. Yesterdays rising mid-bass tamed. The sweet-spot was open. Two-chairs second row. All music, less refraction. The classic exitos from Jose Alferdo Jimenez now playing. "Ella" has vocal presence in traditional mariachi folk music style. Vocals take center stage with guitarrón. We are entertaining family & friends. Expecting clients to enter at will or revisit for inquiry. We present a listening room the Jazz Kissa trade show experience. Vendors for Southwest Audio Fest increased this year. The household brands have arrived. SWAF 2025 requires potential consumers to be intentional. Our products are bespoke. A select beverage for those visiting with us today will be crisp in nature brewed with grounding medical root. I will share farmhouse styled beer with those interested. Saison Sunday. Beers from my cellar. Well aged. Crafted for eclectic talks & tastings. We are back from the hacienda with a fast swinging straight ahead jazz tune. Cosmic Healer a light medium body saison brewed with ginger hits high notes refreshingly while maintaining an earthy baseline. The beer. The music. We are going somewhere distant. The equipment at an exposition becomes a blur when you have seen too much. By the end you need an equilibrium check from the show lights and a footing clear of snake oil. May we care enough to heal the blues. Music is healing. The modernized Hi-Fi systems may fill the highs with electronic sparkles. Crashing cymbals cascading on rock tunes. A preference for gear may overlook a lush middle. "The Maker" by Daniel Lanois is an example. I played it for a client. The recording divided the room. The music is missing its center. The sound seemingly compressed with an added halo. High frequency echo behind the lead singer. Our analog-only room is empty. I prefer the next track "O Marie" a love in waiting song. Canadian acoustic rural music sang in French. Hi-Fi playback crafted for a full audio spectrum is "Lush Life" for the lonely. The escapist within is showing. Defined by calling upon siren sultry vibes as cure for the blues. Remain next level. We are talking about music. Blondie's "Call Me" is cued in high-fashion. Audio shows are seeking big spenders. The hobby for some is about ego. Confidence is needed for this life. The rush of epinephrin. A slow strut. Swagged chest up for attention. Landing on the blues. Life is short. Toys are fun. The room has potential clients. We are back to spinning the Blue Notes. Records remastered sound mighty fine. The SemradAudio.com system pairs front-loaded field coil divers with tube amplification. myEMiA.com electronics in single-ended-triode output has set us free. Handcrafted exceptional. The dynamic texture of hard bop piano is not lost. Sonny Clark lives on in the recording. Have you heard free jazz? The experimental stuff can be haunting. An artist like Björk is unexpected in a room made for vintage loving mad men. The recording of "Hidden Place" captured well the belly of a rave. Very electronica. Let's sip MVP Saison while listening to Pink Floyd. The beer is simple but this wild crafted saison is deeply rooted. The beer with age has depth of character crisp herbal lemon with a peppery bright finish. The sound stage is deep we are revisiting "The Great Gig In The Sky". Hear Clare Torry bare in full departing spirit. I shall live now. Dance with strangers. Sample Beverage:Cosmic Healer — 2018.07.25 - well aged ginger saison earthy spice with crisp medium finish.MVP Saison — 2018.06.14 - well aged classic saison finished with wild yeast at bottling.SWAF — Set 5E – part 5 of 5*Curated Playlist:
01. Gaza Strip - Lee Morgan SWAF — Set 5* – Bonus TracksCurated Playlist:
01. Omen - Bobby Hutcherson | ||||||||||||||||||||