At AXPONA 2026, I spoke with Liam Porr of Western Acoustics (shown above), Adam Wexler of Resolution Audio Video, and Garth Powell of AudioQuest (shown below) about all the gear in the room they shared together at the show.
Then I settled in for a listen. The Western/Resolution system played with a grand soundstage for such small speakers with attendant liveliness, spaciousness, and image complexity that left me oddly calm, yet hoping for more.
Then I settled in for a listen. The Western/Resolution system played with a grand soundstage for such small speakers with attendant liveliness, spaciousness, and image complexity that left me oddly calm, yet hoping for more.
Analog sources: Technics SL-1300G Grand Class turntable ($3999); Dynavector DV 10XA-H/L low-output MC cartridge ($950); Accuphase AD-60 phono equalizer module ($1275). Digital sources: Nagra CD player ($7500), Nagra Compact PSU ($3950). Integrated amplifier: Accuphase E-4000 ($13,975). Bookshelf speakers: Western Acoustics Type 2.1 (shown above; $6000/pair). Power conditioner: AudioQuest PowerQuest 909 ($2499; 12-outlet). Cables and interconnects: AudioQuest Angel RCA turntable cable ($1299); AudioQuest ThunderBird RCA interconnects ($3400/1m); AudioQuest Brave Heart full-range ZERO-Tech speaker cable ($7790; 15ft pair); AudioQuest ThunderBird BiWire spades, with 500 series connectors ($450; set of 4); AudioQuest Blizzard XTRM power cable ($2220/4m); AudioQuest Monsoon power cable ($499/1m); AudioQuest Fog Lifter cable lifters (shown below; $149). Isolation platform: Nagra Compact VFS ($1750). Equipment rack: BOX Furniture Modular Series MS4M rack ($2435; single width, 4 shelves, maple).
