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AXPONA 2025 marked the debut of Computer Audio Design’s 1543 DAC Mk.III ($19,500), presented by CAD founders Scott Berry and Isabel Whitley. Also on hand were the CAD CAT (Computer Audio Transport, ca. $15,000) and a suite of CAD noise-reduction devices.

The 1543 DAC Mk.III runs 20 Philips TDA1543 chips in parallel. According to CAD, its power supply transformers and choke rectification improve dynamics and transient response. “Even though the chip is 16-bit, it can decode 24-bit/176.4kHz files natively,” Berry said.

An array of CAD’s passive ground control…

Designed by Nathan Vander Stoep, Turnbull Audio is the result of a 16-year journey that began with a decade at NVS Sound. Turnbull's power cables are built to minimize internal vibration and use a proprietary “maze” construction intended to reduce electromagnetic interference.…

As AXPONA wound down, I stopped by the Supreme Acoustic Systems room hoping to catch up with CEO Hiram Toro. Instead, I was greeted by another familiar face: distributor Philip O’Hanlon of On a Higher Note, who welcomed me into a space humming with last-day energy.

A handwritten sign on the door said “Welcome to midrange magic.” Inside, I discovered a new-to-me product: Albedo Audio's Acclara SGS speakers ($82,230/pair). On Mino Cinélu and Nils Petter Molvær's short and mellow "Le Monde Qui Change," from the LP SulaMadiana, colors were deep, bass superb, and air and color contrasts…

AXPONA 2025 had the world premiere of ATC’s most compact active speaker, the ATC SCM20ASL ($9999–$13,499/pair, depending on finish). Designed for small to medium-size rooms, the sealed two-way speaker is hand-built in England and includes ATC’s proprietary 6" "Super Linear" mid/bass driver and 1" "S-Spec" dual-suspension tweeter. Both are powered by onboard class-A/B MOSFET power amplifiers that deliver 200W and 50W of continuous power to the bass and HF drivers, respectively.

ATC says the mid/bass driver uses a 75mm voice coil and a long-gap "SL" motor system designed to reduce…

Familiar faces, new form.

Before me stood a pair of stand-mounted Dynaudio Confidence 20 active loudspeakers, complete with DSP ($24,000/pair). Larger, higher-quality cousins to the Dynaudio Focus 10 active loudspeakers I reviewed a little over two years ago, the Confidence 20s sounded notably more refined and more convincing. That tracks: Each driver is powered by its own dedicated amplifier. While both models share the same DSP room correction protocol, nearly everything else is an upgrade.

Leonard Cohen’s “Nevermind” delivered exactly what I’d hoped for:…

We’re turning up the volume on excitement! Here’s your chance to win the Morel Biggie—a powerhouse of wireless sound engineered for those who crave deep bass, rich detail, and bold design in every beat.

Crafted by audio perfectionists at Morel, the Biggie redefines what a portable speaker can be. Whether you're on the move or making moments at home, this is the speaker that goes all in—just like you.

This isn’t just a giveaway—it’s your gateway to legendary sound. Enter now for your chance to win.

At the heart of the BIGGIE portable speaker lies precision-…

One benefit of distributing a range of high-end products is that you can build complete systems using only brands from your own portfolio. AXISS Audio did just that, presenting full-stack systems across multiple rooms and floors.

From the first solid, properly pitched bass impact, the AXISS Audio system in room 1628 won me over. Vocal colors were beautiful. A 16-bit/44.1kHz track of Victory Boyd’s “Against the Wind” sounded so soulful, with ideal image size and air, that I resolved to listen to it on my reference system once I got home.

In a stroke of good fortune, my next…

Special guests include, Amadeus Meitner (EMM Labs and Meitner), Elliot Goldman (Bending Wave/Göbel), OJ Whatley (Second Time Fine Watches) and Trevor Doyle (Massif Audio Design). We offer a special opportunity for attendees—in-person only!—to receive an EMM Labs PRE preamplifier (MSRP $25,000 USD) at no charge when purchasing an EMM Labs…

When singer/fiddler Alison Krauss was a teenager with a solo album under her belt, she teamed up with some fellow musicians to form Union Station. Starting in 1989, Rounder Records released the band's albums regularly—seven of them including the soundtrack to Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?—ending with 2011's Paper Airplane. Although they continued to play together, most notably in a 2014 tour with Willie Nelson,…

Following Kalman Rubinson's review and John Atkinson's testing, which were published in the April 2025 issue, the Charcoal Black Technics SC-CX700 streaming amplified speaker system was shipped to me (footnote 1). I checked out some of the features Kal described, dug into the underlying tech with Technics's Bill Voss, and spent a few dozen hours listening, especially to the system's phono circuit.

In the room where I did most of my listening, I set the speakers up on generic 24"-high metal stands. The centers of their coaxial drivers were a bit below my ears; they might…