AXPONA 2025

One benefit of distributing a range of high-end products is that you can build complete systems using only brands from your own portfolio. AXISS Audio did just that, presenting full-stack systems across multiple rooms and floors.

From the first solid, properly pitched bass impact, the AXISS Audio system in room 1628 won me over. Vocal colors were beautiful. A 16-bit/44.1kHz track of Victory Boyd’s “Against the Wind” sounded so soulful, with ideal image size and air, that I resolved to listen to it on my reference system once I got home.

In a stroke of good fortune, my next treat was a 24-bit/96kHz file of Carole King's “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.” It occurred to me that it never sounded like this when I listened to it on LP in 1971. I thought I knew King's voice inside and out back then. But now, even without chemical enhancement, this system took me far closer to the voice of an artist who meant so much to so many of us back in the day.

Though vinyl playback wasn’t available in this room, I never felt I missed anything. Credit goes to Soulution’s 326 preamplifier ($21,975), 360 DAC ($25,975), and 312 stereo power amplifier ($28,975); a Bluesound Node functioning as a Roon Endpoint; Gauder Akustik Capello 100 DV loudspeakers in black ($26,975/pair); Acoustic Grove diffusers from Nihon Onkyo Engineering; TARA Labs cabling; and a Beaudioful Custom RACK-R system.

Saved for next time: a Transrotor Bellini turntable ($6495) with TRA Studio tonearm ($5595), a Konstant M-1 power supply ($1395), an Air Tight PC-1 Supreme MC cartridge ($12,975), and a Soulution 550 phono stage ($22,975).