At AXPONA 2026, Fern & Roby's Christopher Hildebrand talks about the gear shown in the company's room at the show in an interview with Ken Micallef that's now posted on our YouTube channel.
I've heard many of Christopher Hildebrand's Fern & Roby systems through the years, and this setup at AXPONA 2026 was his finest outing yet.
Music had fleshy earth tones, natural projection, and dynamics—and a stage so big I could almost see Montana.
Equipment list: Analog sources: Fern & Roby The Archival turntable (custom build comprised of Technics SP-10R turntable, SME M2-12R tonearm, and Fern & Roby Archival plinth; $25,000); Miyajima Madake cartridge ($6150); Grimm Audio PW1 phono preamplifier ($5650). Digital sources: Grimm Audio MU2 DAC and streamer ($20,000); Network Acoustics Muon eno2 streaming system with Network Acoustics Muon2 network switch ($7695). Preamplifier: Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL ($5950). Amplifier: Linear Tube Audio ZOTL Ultralinear ($6800). Bookshelf speakers: Fern & Roby Raven II (in walnut; $5,950/pair; shown below). Speaker stands: Fern & Roby Bookshelf Speaker Stands ($1650/pair). Record weight: Fern & Roby Brass Isolation (700g; $375). Isolation feet: Fern & Roby 3" ($495); Fern & Roby 2" ($325). Cable: Black Cat Cable; Graceline Level 2 XLR (1m; $2495/pair); Graceline Level 3 speaker cable (3m; $11,295/pair); Graceline Level 2 RCA (1.5m; $2495/pair). Equipment rack: Fern & Roby Equipment Rack #1 (in ash; $6500).
