AXPONA 2024

Audio Skies and Fidelis AV teamed up to present some of my favorite emerging stars of the Audio Highlands. It was a joy to re-experience some of the special sound I heard in my music room when I reviewed JMF Audio monoblocks. On Trentemøller’s driving “Chameleon” and Jacques Loussier’s maximally different take on Satie, I heard color and rightness for days. I think I’d prefer to listen to Trentemøller in a club or altered state, but it certainly helped the system make its point in the bass department.

Michael Vamos, who pays attention to my playlist, switched to Grant Green’s “Idle Moments” in 24/192. I was surprised to hear sound more relaxed than it sometimes is in my music room. I’ve sometimes heard more differentiated colors from this music, but the mellow warmth at its core was to die for. Before I do (die, that is), I must type out this long equipment list.

From JMF Audio: HQS 6002 dual-mono power amp ($45,000), PRS 1.5 dual-mono preamp ($39,00), PCD 102 Power line filter ($22,000), and cabling. From Ideon Audio, the Epsilon Meta DAC ($49,900), Absolute Meta Stream ($24,000), Absolute Time reclocker ($11,000), and Siren USB cable. (Both companies make their own cabling).

Stenheim provided Alumine 33E speakers ($48,000/pair), and ictra design the Proto AS 3-shelf rack.