Rogier van Bakel
Warsaw, packed: Hubris and humanity at one of the world's busiest audio shows
We are now honored to share Rogier van Bakel's final, extensive report on Europe's second most important audio show, Audio Video Warsaw. Here, Rogier tells us what he saw and heard from the likes of Vivid Audio, Unitra, Kroma, Oneiros, Clarisys, and more.
Stenheim, VTL, VPI, and Nordost at AXPONA 2026: A system fit for a Duke
Rogier van Bakel concludes his AXPONA 2026 ventures by spending quality time with Stenheim's Reference Ultime Two SX speakers, VTL Lohengrin Reference monoblock amplifiers, and a VPI Avenger Direct turntable.
T+A elektroakustik at AXPONA 2026: High-voltage sound from two new reference components
At AXPONA 2026, T+A elektroakustik demoed two new top-level components: the A 3100 HV amplifier and the SDX 3100 HV streaming DAC/preamp. Rogier van Bakel reports on them both.
Studio Electric and Benchmark at AXPONA 2026: The M6X Factor
Rogier van Bakel grapples with his M6 dreams in the Studio Electric room at AXPONA 2026.
PS Audio at AXPONA 2026: The joke was on me
Rogier van Bakel investigates the large PS Audio room at AXPONA 2026, and he has a special, unexpected listening experience while checking out the company's lineup of Aspen speakers.
YG Acoustics, Moon by Simaudio, and Taiko Audio at AXPONA 2026
Rogier van Bakel reports on the massive system he encountered in the YG Acoustics room at AXPONA 2026—featuring YG's Titan speakers, four Moon by Simaudio's 888 monoblocks, and Taiko Audio's Olympus music server—and how he (and they) had to overcome from-the-hallway demo intrusions.
PS Audio PMG Signature line preamplifier
A waterfall of sound: Magico S7 speakers debut at AXPONA 2026
In a large but low-slung space on the 15th floor of the Schaumburg Renaissance, Magico premiered its S7 speakers at AXPONA 2026, the culminating statement in the company's S Series. Rogier van Bakel reports on his S7 "sonic waterfall" experience.
DeVore Fidelity at AXPONA 2026: No artifice, no coloration, no problem
Two AXPONA veterans who don't know each other told Rogier van Bakel separately that they considered the system in the DeVore Fidelity room one of the highlights of the 2026 show—so off to room 646 he went to check it out for himself.