Capital Audiofest 2018 Opens Its Doors Next Week (November 2-4)
(Capital Audiofest)(October 26, 2018) Last year I covered Capital Audiofest (CAF) and equated the event – now entering its 8th consecutive year – to a “snowball barreling down a steep hill – each year, getting slightly larger and rolling with more authority.” And based on my experience, 2017 found CAF “officially approaching full-on avalanche mode.” Read a full 2017 Show Report, here.
The bottom-line? CAF is the biggest yearly audio event in the Mid-Atlantic region, and it’s well worth your time if you live within a reasonable driving distance. And, for those of you outside the region, the show’s proximity to Baltimore and Washington make a visit doubly justified, simply because of the history and activities offered by the area’s cultural strengths.
This year, CAF is set to open its doors next Friday morning (November 2 at 10 AM), with additional sessions on Saturday and Sunday, ending on November 4 at 4PM. Once again, it’s inhabiting the pristine Hilton in Rockville (MD), which is easily accessed via highway and Metro, situated near quite a few Rockville Pike restaurants and the highly entertaining Bethesda area.
According to show organizers, CAF is expanding in size this year, adding listening rooms to the 5th floor of its venue. That makes for more than 60 rooms chock-full of 90-plus vendors and nearly 200 brands of gear, in an environment that’s always polished, professional, and exceedingly friendly. The 2017 version of the show unveiled a new “marketplace,” which is returning to the Hilton’s atrium. And I can see from the event’s 2018 map that some of my favorites (including GT Audio Works, Von Schwikert, and Legacy Audio) are returning to that floor’s impressively large demo rooms. Other familiar exhibitor names include Zu Audio, VPI, Martin Logan, Daedalus, Paradigm, Volti Audio, and Pass Labs; I’m sure you’re likely to find others that tickle your fancy on the show’s vendor map.
CAF also has a full schedule of daily seminars to soak up, live music, and local distillery tastings.
You can’t pre-purchase tickets online, so you’ll need to visit a registration table to gain entry. This year, a weekend pass costs an affordable $30 (daily will set you back $20) and both students and Active Military (with ID) get in free. And for those you who haven’t attended CAF in the past, here’s a pro tip: show up on Friday. Past Fridays at the event have gifted lots of elbow room and quick access to prime listening spots.
For more information, visit www.capitalaudiofest.com.
