Ken Micallef

AXPONA 2025

Songs in the Life of Kii

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2025

On the 14th floor of the Schaumburg Renaissance hotel, Kii Audio CEO Chris Reichardt had a question about hifi’s future. “How many 30‑year‑olds say, ‘I need these seven components that will cost 50k?’” Reichardt asked, reasonably. “People are tired of wires.”

AXPONA 2025

Watt’s Up? TEAC and Vienna Acoustics Bring World Premieres

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2025

In partnership with Playback Distribution, TEAC debuted its new AP-507 stereo power amplifier ($2799) early in the day, luring this reviewer with strong coffee and stronger specs.

AXPONA 2025

Axiss, Accuphase, Yukiseimitsu, Gauder, and a Room That Made Me Want to Spend My Nest Egg

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2025

There’s nothing like a new turntable to set my pulse racing. So when I first saw the thread‑drive, magnetic‑bearing Yukiseimitsu Audio AP‑01 ($31,975) at last year’s AXPONA, my jaw dropped, my scalp tingled, and my ears pricked up. It’s back this year in its new EM edition—still sleek, still strange.

AXPONA 2025

Fidelity Imports Demos Ruark Gear: British Bite on a Budget

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2025

At AXPONA, Steve Jain’s Fidelity Imports and UK-based Ruark Audio teamed up to present a stylish, musically satisfying system. Founded in 1985 on England’s south coast, Ruark is known for combining classic British design with forward-thinking engineering.

AXPONA 2025

Sierra Sound, Aesthetix, AMG, Benz, ViV, Connected Fidelity: A Vinyl Victory Lap

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2025

Sierra Sound’s Michael Fajen assembled a system that stopped more than a few showgoers in their tracks—built around not one but two turntables.

AXPONA 2025

Vinyl With a Vengeance: Stereo Haven, Toffco, Well Tempered, Dynavector, Jadis, and Reynaud Bring It On

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2025

Tony Santos of Stereo Haven and Mike Pranka of Toffco brought a Well Tempered Lab turntable—a common sight in rooms with standout analog sound. In room 624, the Well Tempered Lab Amadeus, for which Pranka serves as US distributor, delivered a sense of musical ease and warmth.

AXPONA 2025

A Room With a Vu: TriangleArt Spins Gold

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2025

Tom Vu founded TriangleArt in 1999, and he’s not about to let up now.

AXPONA 2025

Saturday Audio Exchange, Monitor Audio, McIntosh, and AudioQuest: Style from Mars, Sound from Binghamton

Ken Micallef Apr 19, 2025

With the debut of the futuristic Hyphn loudspeakers ($95,000/pair), Monitor Audio and Chicago’s Saturday Audio Exchange made an unmissable statement.

AXPONA 2025

DeVore Fidelity, Leben, Well Tempered Lab, Box Furniture: Vinyl, Intention, and the Art of the Demo

Ken Micallef Apr 18, 2025

John DeVore brings more than music to his rooms: he brings thoughtfulness, a sense of discovery, and superbly curated recordings.

AXPONA 2025

Jeffrey Catalano’s Show-Stopping System: DaVa Soul, Fuuga, Red Sparrow, Miyajima, TW-Acustic, Alieno, Cessaro, Stein, Codia, Silent Running, Shun Mook, ADD-Powr

Ken Micallef Apr 18, 2025

High Water Sound’s Jeffrey Catalano could give a master class in room setup. A veteran of hundreds of audio shows, he not only presents exceptional-sounding rooms but also curates adventurous vinyl selections. I invariably leave his room with music titles scribbled in my notebook, like recipes for marvelous dishes.