Florida Audio Expo 2025

Gary Dews of BorderPatrol Audio Electronics and Pete Grzybowski of Triode Wire Labs presented a system that played with fantastic dynamics and equally impressive resolution.

The system began with Dews’ new DAC, which uses an Analog Devices AD1965 resistor ladder (R-2R) chip, and offers non-oversampling and no digital filtering, 32-bit/384kHz via USB, 24-bit/192kHz via S/PDIF, a tube output stage, a tube-rectified choke input filter digital power supply to the digital electronics, Jupiter coupling caps, and a tube-rectified choke input filter power supply for the tube output stage. No price yet, with an official US debut set for late 2025.

1s and 0s were transmitted through an Innuos ZENith MK3 2TB Music Server ($6699). An Innuos Phoenix USB Reclocker ($4349) also played a role.

Further system details included a BorderPatrol S20EXD power amplifier ($22,500), a 16Wpc, 300B amp featuring inter-stage phase-splitter/driver transformers, point-to-point wiring, and choke input filtered power supplies.

Also new at FLAX the Living Voice R80 OBX loudspeaker ($42,750/pair), a two-way, ported MTM loudspeaker (92dB/W at 6 ohms) featuring Ellipticore Drive Unit technology from Scanspeak. Available with both internal (IBX) or external (OBX) crossovers. The FLAX pair were finished in Glossy Ebony ($54,250/pair).

“Triode” Pete’s cabling consisted of The Obsession NCF power cords ($1499), High Power Digital American II power cords ($749), Digital American II power cords ($549), Spirit II RCA interconnects ($399), Passion USB digital cables ($329), and American biwire speaker cables ($1099).

I asked Pete to play something orchestral to which he responded by streaming Eiji Oue conducting Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. As resolving as Dews’ previous DAC, with a rounder sound and improved tonal balance, the system danced and stormed, soared high and swooned low, leaving me a squishy puddle of emotion and excitation. I mustered enough energy to get off the floor and stumbled down the hall to my next audio appointment.