Where Measurements and Performance Meet featuring Andrew Jones

Electrocompaniet + Ø Audio at High End Munich 2025

LATEST ADDITIONS

AXPONA 2022

Sound United Presents Denon and Polk

Jason Victor Serinus Apr 26, 2022

Much of the explanation zoomed by far too fast for one not trained in shorthand to record, but the surprisingly huge soundstage and impressive bass of a system variously introduced as "Everyman's Stereo" and "The Audiophile's Training Wheel System" made their mark. Streamed in 16/44.1 from Spotify, Joe Bonamassa's ""High Water Everywhere" sounded quite fine. Nor was this system shy when it came to delivering the edgy nastiness of Alice Cooper's "Welcome to my Nightmare."

AXPONA 2022

Bel Canto, Audiovector, Pure Fidelity, Cardas, Harmonic Resolution Systems

Ken Micallef Apr 26, 2022

Industry veteran P.J. Zornosa and Vancouver, BC turntable designer John Stratton brought a compact system that made sublime sounds to one of Axpona's smaller rooms.

AXPONA 2022

Marten, European Audio Team (E.A.T), Ayre Acoustics, Audio Physic, Ferrum, Shion, Atlas Cables, Jorma

Ken Micallef Apr 26, 2022

I've been a fan of European Audio Team electronics since I reviewed the fantastic E.A.T. E-Glo I integrated amplifier in the December 2020 issue of Stereophile. Unfortunately, that mighty tube treat wasn't present at AXPONA, but Vana Ltd. importer, CTO Roy Feldstein, told me to chill. He had more E.A.T tricks up his sleeve.

AXPONA 2022

Credo Audio, Audio Shield, EMM, van den Hul, VPI, Wolf

Ken Micallef Apr 26, 2022

If you're like me, when attending audio shows you have your go-to joints, those rooms where the presentation will be engaging, the conversation interesting, and the good vibes effortless. Consistency frames the visit, like a homecoming where nothing has changed, where friends (and their hi-fis) welcome you. At the risk of sounding like a hawker, Credo Audio Switzerlandat Axpona's Nirvana B ballroomhas become one of my go-to joints.

AXPONA 2022

Aretai 100S loudspeakers with Benchmark DAC3, LA4, and AHB2s

Julie Mullins Apr 25, 2022

Discovering new products from new companies is one of the best parts about audio shows. As much as we enjoy seeing familiar industry faces and brands, it's also great to meet new ones.

Aretai was founded in 2018 by Janis Irbe, the technical designer, and Edgars Zvirgzdiņ, the product designer, who hail from Latvia. At AXPONA Aretai presented the 100S entry model from their inaugural Contra collection of loudspeakers.

AXPONA 2022

Dynaudio, Octave, Brinkmann, and Moon Make Glorious Music

Jason Victor Serinus Apr 25, 2022

It took until Saturday for the Dynaudio crew to find the right position for the Dynaudio Confidence 60 loudspeakers ($50,000/pair), but once they did, the towering and far-from-lightweight Octave Jubilee Mono SE tube amplifiers ($80,000/pair), paired with Octave's Jubilee preamp ($32,000) with stepped-attenuator volume control, ensured that this system would sing with captivating beauty.

AXPONA 2022

MoFi Distribution, HiFi Rose, Piega, Cardas, IsoTek

Julie Mullins Apr 25, 2022

As MoFi Distribution is based in the Chicagoland area, it's no surprise they go all out at their hometown AXPONA. They packed the house with exhibits in four rooms featuring plenty of debuts, so I'll divvy my coverage into a couple of parts.

But first, some big news. Illustrious loudspeaker designer Andrew Jones, known for his work for Pioneer, ELAC, and other companies, has joined with MoFi Distribution. Word is, Andrew will be designing a speaker to round out MoFi's own system lineup.

AXPONA 2022

Paradigm's Founder 120H loudspeaker & Anthem Electronics

Rogier van Bakel Apr 25, 2022

My first surprise of the day came when I squeezed what I thought was Colgate from a red-and-white tube onto my toothbrush. It turned out to be hydrocortisone cream, also from a red-and-white tube.

After that, I ventured out and got my second surprise, this one considerably more pleasant. In one of the third-floor Saturday Audio Exchange rooms, I encountered a new flagship Paradigm loudspeaker, the floorstanding Founder 120H ($8499/pair).

AXPONA 2022

The Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Loudspeakers

Rogier van Bakel Apr 25, 2022

When you're a critic, you get paid to quibble, so here's mine: Bowers & Wilkins' iconic 801 D4 speaker ($35,000/pair) is pretty enough in gloss black, but gorgeous in satin walnut. In the company's AXPONA room, I encountered only the black version.

AXPONA 2022

More Magico/Luxman

Rogier van Bakel Apr 24, 2022

For two years now, pandemic-related supply-chain issues have racked (but not wrecked) the high-end industry. Things still aren't back to normal, and sometimes planned product launches have to be pushed back. Today, when I visited the room featuring Magico loudpeakers and Luxman electronicssee KM's report hereI found out we'll have to wait just a little longer for the next Magico speaker, but I can't imagine that anyone was disappointed when the company's Peter Mackay brought the M6s ($185,000/pair) to AXPONA. A known quantity they may bethe product was introduced five years agobut I was whistling Eric Clapton's "Hello Old Friend" as soon as I saw them.