LATEST ADDITIONS

AXPONA 2024

Fine Sounds America, Rotel Michi, Sonus faber, Pro-Ject, and Cardas

Rogier van Bakel May 05, 2024

My only regret about visiting the Fine Sounds America room was that I went there at 10 in the morning. Considering how excellent the system sounded, this set the bar for the rest of the day almost impossibly high, and I like to ease into things. Despite the fact that I hadn’t had my morning coffee yet, I was instantly awake.

AXPONA 2024

Vandersteen + AudioQuest + AMG + Lyra + Audio Research + Aurender = Music

Jason Victor Serinus May 05, 2024

In the quiet inner sanctum of Ultra Fidelis’ two-room suite with Vandersteen, AudioQuest, AMG, Audio Research and more, I sat enthralled before one of the most musical systems I encountered at AXPONA.

AXPONA 2024

Paradigm, Anthem, and Saturday Audio Exchange

Rogier van Bakel May 04, 2024

A $20,000 system is probably no one’s idea of cheap, but it’s affordable-ish by AXPONA standards. And if the sound quality of such a setup is as good as it was in room 394, where Chicago dealer Saturday Audio Exchange had again partnered with Canadian marques Paradigm and Anthem, we’re getting into bargain territory.

AXPONA 2024

IFi's tiny Kensei DAC/amp produces big sound

Rogier van Bakel May 04, 2024

During each AXPONA, the makers of head-fi products set up their booths in the ground-floor central ballroom of Schaumburg's enormous Renaissance hotel. The Ear Gear Experience, they call it. I always have a look and a listen, in part because the products there aren't crazy expensive: three and four figures, mostly.

AXPONA 2024

Philharmonic Audio and Audio by Van Alstine

Rogier van Bakel May 04, 2024

An old Dutch saying holds that "good wine needs no wreath," meaning that real quality sells itself. That probably applies to Philharmonic Audio, too. The Maryland-based speaker manufacturer, led by veteran designer and viola maestro Dennis Murphy, has never put much stock in advertising and marketing.

AXPONA 2024

Innuos with Rockport, Soulution, and Lampizator plus Stromtank, TAOC, and Transparent

Jason Victor Serinus May 04, 2024

Anyone who knows these brands senses the potential for great sound in this room. Great sound in and of itself, however, was not the system’s raison d’être.

AXPONA 2024

Vinnie Rossi with YG Acoustics Innuos, Mola Mola, and Nordost

Jason Victor Serinus May 04, 2024

Excellent, well-controlled bass was one of many strong suits in a room headlined by Vinnie Rossi BRAMA monoblock power amplifiers (gen2 - $59,995/pair) and BRAMA preamplifier (gen2 - $38,995) paired with YG Acoustics Hailey 3 loudspeakers ($63,400/pair).

AXPONA 2024

Groovin' with Stillpoints, Bricasti, Rockport Technologies, Viola Audio, Shunyata

Rogier van Bakel May 04, 2024

Sometimes I wonder what the etiquette is at audio shows. I mean, nobody tells you anything. It’s fair to assume that playing windmill-style air guitar to songs by the Who is generally frowned upon, at least in public, but is it gauche to sway and groove in your chair when the music moves you?

AXPONA 2024

Sadurni Acoustics with Wolf Systems and House of Stereo

Jason Victor Serinus May 04, 2024

Jorge Sadurni, whose impressive horn speakers I first encountered at AXPONA during its pre-Schaumberg years, introduced his Spherical Dual loudspeakers ($4600/pair with integrated stands—see driver in the photo.) Each Spherical Dual contains two high-damped cast-metal modules with 5" cone dynamic drivers.

Integrated Amp Reviews

Octave Audio V70 Class A integrated amplifier

Robert Schryer May 03, 2024

It may be strange to read what I'm about to say in the pages of Stereophile, but it's the cold hard truth so here goes: Audio reviews are inadequate. They don't tell the whole story. They come up short and can even misdirect.

It's not their fault, or at least sometimes it isn't. Even the good ones can't tell you how something will sound to youlet alone make you feel, the ultimate pointin your own room. As helpful as they may be, they can't address the elephant in the listening room: synergy.

In reviewing the Octave Audio V 70 Class A integrated amplifier ($12,000 and up; $15,900 as reviewed), I was reminded of the importance of synergy in our hobby.