"Head-Fi" is a whole different world nowadays than it was back then. The biggest change is Bluetooth, which lets us untether ourselves from our stereo systems. Some…
search
The first headphones I owned, circa mid-1970s, were made by Pioneer. They jutted out from my ears, with small, paper-cone speakers inside. I was 11. I plugged them into the little no-frills Lafayette integrated amplifier that was the heart of my first stereo system, put a record on the BSR "record-wrecker" changer, dropped the needle, and was transported to my own musical world. It was an early magic sound experience.
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured one of the Marten Mingus Septet Statement Edition loudspeakers, serial number 25080551A, in Jim Austin's listening room, with the speaker driven by the Gryphon Antileon Revelation amplifier he had in-house for review. I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and calibrated DPA 4006 and Earthworks QTC-40 microphones with an Earthworks microphone preamplifier to measure the Mingus Septet's farfield frequency behavior. I used the Earthworks QTC-40 mike, which has a small, ¼"-diameter capsule, for the nearfield responses.
With the hi-fi business, arguably, at a critical juncture, keeping it fun is more important than ever. Hi-fi salespeople play a key role in that—they're the boots on the ground. If anyone is going to foster interest and imbue the hobby with fun, it's salespeople.
At Albany, New York–area dealership Hippo's, Nicholas Shippey has been doing that for almost five years. He, his colleagues, and his customers call him "Audio Curator." He's not a manager exactly, but he plays several key roles at the dealership, including meeting with vendors and helping to decide which brands and products are a…
Richard Vandersteen was in a fine mood at AXPONA 2026, and why not? The Vandersteen system in the next room sang—and when I caught up with him, he was contemplating both his future and his past, smiling. His four children all work for the company, he told me, and he still loves listening to music—preferably with his wife Eneke, who is golden-eared enough to remark that their home stereo sounds "unexciting" when her spouse swaps in class-D amps without telling her.
In the near future, he said excitedly, Vandersteen Audio may develop a statement stereo system without regard to cost…
Room 672 at AXPONA 2026 featured a collaborative exhibit from importer and distributor Bluebird Music that paired Swiss precision with Danish craftsmanship. The system showcased Peak Consult Sonora loudspeakers ($34,900)—two-way floorstanders with leather-covered baffles, solid walnut cabinets, and thick, triple-layered construction.
A rear-mounted passive bass radiator supplements the main driver pair. The tweeter is a 1" Scan-Speak Illuminator soft silk dome; the bass/midrange driver uses an Audio Technology 6" sandwich-molded cone in a diecast magnesium chassis.
…
At AXPONA 2026, Esoteric's Hiroyuki "Hiro" Machida talks about the gear shown in one of the company's rooms at the show in an interview with Ken Micallef that's now posted on our YouTube channel. (Esoteric international product team member Tsuyoshi Sugiura and U.S. rep Keith Haas were also on hand to present the U.S. debut of two key Esoteric products.)
Sound in this Esoteric room at AXPONA 2026 was oceanic, pure, and immersive, yet equally well detailed and resolved.
I requested ZZ Top—my show jones—and the team supplied the little ol' band from…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Over-ear noise-canceling headphones with high-performance DSP with dedicated amplifier/DAC/ADC, true 24-bit audio connection, five-band customizable EQ, Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Lossless technology, USB-C wired digital and USB-C to 1/8" analog connectivity, active noise cancellation, USB-C charging and audio interface, fast-charging support, Apple Made For iPhone support, Google Fast Pair. Bluetooth codecs: aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX Classic, AAC, SBC. Microphones: 4 per earcup. Voice Call Quality Algorithm: ADI PureVoice. Drive units…
Two AXPONA veterans I met who don't know each other told me separately that they considered the system in the DeVore Fidelity room one of the highlights of the 2026 show. So off to room 646 I went.
There, principal John DeVore, as tall as he is friendly, was continuing his long-standing partnership with Nagra. The system was centered around his flagship Orangutan O/Reference four-piece speaker system, which includes the main two-way towers paired with two independent Bassmachine subwoofers. Pony up $99,350, and it's all yours.
The speakers were driven by Nagra…
At AXPONA 2026, Head of Dynaudio Academy Otto Jørgensen discusses the gear being shown in the company's room in an interview with Miguel Barrio that's now posted on our YouTube channel. (Time constraints prevented a proper room audition.)
Equipment list: Analog sources: Clearaudio Performance DC turntable with Tracer tonearm ($5900); Hana Umami Blue cartridge ($2500). Network amplifier: Moon by Simaudio 371 ($6500). Bookshelf speakers: Dynaudio Legend ($7000/pair). Cables: Transparent Audio.
The origins of Canadian audio manufacturer MOON, from the company called Simaudio, stretch back to 1980, when audio engineer Victor Sima created his first designs. Sima's company became Simaudio Ltd. in 1990. Simaudio launched the MOON brand in 1997. Simaudio's factory is located in Boucherville, Quebec, across the St. Lawrence River from Old Montreal. Currently helmed by principals Costa Koulisakis and Thierry Dufour, Simaudio has been at the forefront of Canadian audio design and manufacture for 45 years. With only the tiniest exceptions, everything Simaudio does is done at their…