Florida Audio Expo 2025

Johnnie Bergmann (Bergmann Audio) and Vassil (Taiko Audio) guided me through the elaborate configuration of this expensive system—thankfully, as my brain was already fried by midday Friday.

The beautiful Bergmann Audio Galder‑Odin Signature turntable ($33,000) played vinyl discs into a Western Electric Type 116‑C RIAA Preamplifier ($7,695) and a Western Electric Type 20‑B Rectifier, into a Western Electric 91 E Integrated Amplifier ($11,999 [black or champagne finish]; $12,999 [nickel plated]) using Western Electric 1202A Phono Termination plugs ($75/pair), into a quartet of massive Western Electric Type 100 Monoblock Amplifiers ($130,000/pair), driving YG Acoustics XV 3 Signature (four‑tower) loudspeakers ($498,000/set). A Taiko Olympus Music Server (£67,000) handled digital signals. AudioQuest provided cables and a Niagara conditioner.

The system’s breathtakingly wide soundstage, relentless drive, and pristine clarity were captivating. Muddy Waters’s Folk Singer and Charles Mingus’s Blues & Roots were visceral experiences, a raw blend of pain and pleasure.

In this video, Julie Mullins walks us through the system. Check it out.