AXPONA 2013

At the opening reception, AXPONA organizer Steve A Davis occasionally played double duty, retrieving drinks for folks as his wife Carmen dispensed drink tickets along with press and exhibitor badges. At one point, he even managed to hush the well-lubricated crowd long enough to pay homage to his late business partner, Andrew Spaulding, to whom he dedicated Chicago's first consumer audio show in 14 years.

Davis also had his hands full on the second day of the show, when the fire alarm lights started to flash in the early afternoon. As was the case at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest a few years back, the Fire Department arrived, searched the building, and eventually declared the alarm false. Perhaps the same disgruntled audiophile journeys from show to show, blowing a fuse every time he or she discovers that what they most covet, they cannot afford. Time for them to read Stephen Mejias' monthly column, and learn how much great equipment is available for under $1000.