Florida Audio Expo 2025

Valerio Cora, Scott Walker, and Kevin Hayes—Acora Acoustics, Scott Walker Audio, and VAC—consistently deliver high-quality audio. Their setup in the ballroom and adjacent rooms at the Sheraton’s entrance showcased this. Don’t want to tangle with four floors of audio gear? These rooms offered an exceptional listening experience—no stairs required.

Though someone told me they had planned on five rooms, only four systems were up and running, and what a show it was.

System 1: A VPI Avenger Direct Statement turntable ($36,000), which includes a VPI FatBoy Gimbal 12" 3D tonearm, mounted with a Hana Umami Red MC cartridge ($3950), rested on a VPI Vanquish stand ($60,000). The signal fed a VAC Statement phono stage ($82,000) into a VAC Statement line stage ($82,000), running the world-debut VAC Statement 455 iQ amplifier ($82,000), which used its 450Wpc to drive Acora VRC speakers ($218,000/pair), shown in the optional Sunset Fire finish ($318,000/pair).

An Aurender N30SA streamer ($24,000) and Abendrot Colt DAC ($53,000) handled digits, while various Acora stands ($7500) and Cardas cables supported and connected.

System 2: Beginning with golden analog, System 2 featured a Sonorus ATR10-MKII reel-to-reel deck ($35,000), a VAC Master preamplifier ($30,000), a VAC Master 300iQ amplifier ($42,000), Acora SRC-2 loudspeakers ($48,000/pair), Acora stands/racks ($7500), and Cardas cables.

Refusing to lessen quality as the rooms proceeded, System 3 included an Aurender A200 streamer/DAC ($6300), a VAC Master preamplifier ($30,000), VAC Signature 202iQ amplifiers ($22,000 each), driving Acora SRB speakers ($18,000/pair) and Acora Bedrock subwoofers ($20,000/pair). An Acora rack ($7500) and Cardas cabling tied it all together.

In a smaller alcove, System 4 offered what could be considered a high-value system comprising an Aurender A1000 streamer/DAC ($3500), a VAC Essence line preamp ($9000, coming soon for review), and VAC Essence 90 iQ monoblock amplifiers ($9900 each), driving Acora MRC-2 loudspeakers ($12,990/pair), with an Acora rack ($7500) and Cardas cabling.

“It was all too much,” as George Harrison once wrote. I returned to the Palm Ballroom in the evening to hear DJ Greg Weaver spin classic rock sides on System 1’s VPI turntable. From King Crimson’s complexity and Mark Knopfler’s finesse to lesser-known ponytailed “artists” better left unplayed, the system compelled with superb insight, brain-shaking dynamics, surreally tight bass, a gator-sized soundstage, and incisive treble. Though a bit peaky, it brought next-level resolution to an earth-grounded musicality.