Florida Audio Expo 2025

At the Florida International Audio Expo, Julie Mullins interviewed the Scott Walker Audio team as they showcased Aldo Filippelli’s installation from Luxury Audio Group. Every component was selected to suit a 35×55' room with 10' ceilings, ensuring the system delivers precise, adaptable sound in a challenging space.

At its core are the Estelon Extreme MkII speakers—a pair costing $296,000—that are engineered to handle vast air volumes yet are fine-tunable with high precision. Their motorized front module, integrating a diamond‑coated tweeter, mid‑range, and mid‑bass, adjusts vertically by 11" to ensure proper time-alignment. A remote control allows for fine, millimeter‑scale tweaks, perfectly aligning the sound to the listener’s position.

Fronting the system is a Vitus Audio SL‑103 preamplifier priced at $42,000. Driving the speakers are two dual‑chassis SM‑103 MkII amplifiers, each at $81,000. These amplifiers, set to “rock” mode for the bass and “classic” mode for the mid‑range and tweeters, deliver balanced, controlled performance without demanding excessive power.

The star of the show was a Sonorus Audio reel‑to‑reel tape deck—the ATR10 mkII ($35,000). Based on a Revox PR99 chassis but rebuilt with entirely new electronics, this $35,000 deck employs vacuum tube playback with DC Coupled Stabilized Loop Gain Technology and four old‑stock Philips ECC88 tubes for low noise and exceptional dynamic range. Features like torque‑adjusted tape tension control, head wear compensated circuitry, and authentic Studer heads ensure consistent, high‑resolution analog playback.

On the digital side, the Taiko GSM Extreme music server—selling for $30,000—handles streaming duties, while a Vitus SD‑025 Mk.II DAC, costing an additional $32,000, provides accurate digital‑to‑analog conversion. Interconnections throughout are maintained with Crystal Cable Art Series DaVinci cables and Infinity power cables, ensuring optimal signal integrity.

Further refinement comes from A.R.T. (Audio Realignment Technologies) passive devices that minimize EMI/EMR, and RevOpods adjustable feet offering up to 50 adjustments to balance each component.

This installation, a collaborative effort between Scott Walker Audio and Luxury Audio Group, is a clear example of modern high-end audio integration and the resulting sound was beyond exceptional; it was revelatory. For those who missed experiencing it in person, it will be on display at AXPONA 2025 (April 11-13) in room Schamburg D.

After shooting the video walk-through with Julie Mullins, we sat for a demo. The main event? The album Thriller, on tape playing on the Sonorus Audio reel-to-reel. We queued up the title track and I could scarcely believe what an immense yet precise soundfield it created. Fully three-dimensional, it reminded me of a top-tier Atmos home theater, but even more lucid and awesome. Those footsteps in the opening were behind my head and I could track each step. I've had a few mind-blowing experiences with tape as a source before and this one ranks right there at the top.