Florida Audio Expo 2025

Victor Kung was my virtual mom in Tampa, feeding me Ritz crackers, bananas, Cheerios, Kind bars, and delicious instant coffee when my energy flagged. Victor’s generosity was also on display in the lovely, tubed components he brought to his small room, easily one of my favorites of the show.

Victor’s front end included a Hana Umami Blue MC cartridge mounted on a VPI Industries Forever One turntable ($5500, my next Stereophile review), a VK Music Step-Up Transformer, a Sparkler Audio Model S-1511u CD player, and Stenheim Alumine 2.5 loudspeakers.

Victor’s Japanese-made amplifiers employ Hashimoto transformers and chokes, Audio Note copper and V-Cap capacitors, Mullard and Western Electric tubes, Lundahl Amorphous Core transformers, Audio Note tantalum resistors, and other high-value components.

On display and in action: the Sun Valley SV-128ii SET power amplifier ($5500), Sun Valley Audio SV-310 line stage ($2950), Sun Valley Audio SV-1645D integrated SET amplifier ($2750), Sun Valley Audio EQ-161D phono stage ($1585), the new Elekit TU-8888 monoblock ($1475 each), the Elekit TU-8400 integrated amp kit ($895), and the Elekit TU-8900 integrated amplifier ($3060).

Victor’s system played with soul and savoir faire, Kirsten Edkin’s Shapes & Sound presented in micro and macro detail, endowed with a clear, sweet midrange focus within an expansive soundstage—even in this small room.