AXPONA has become the major audio show in the US, and AXPONA 2025, held at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois, was bigger than ever, with more crowds in the hallways, more people in the rooms, and greater overall activity in general. (Lots of attendees were walking around with bags of records.) According to AXPONA, attendance was up by five percent and the amount of trade passes (for press and industry members) increased by 20 percent.
At times, there were big crowds at the Ear Gear Experience and other locations. Courtesy of AXPONA.
For this show I spent a good deal of time in the PS Audio booth, so I wasn’t able to visit nearly as many rooms as in previous years, and missed a lot of important demos and debuts. Rudy Radelic and I covered as much as possible (see his AXPONA report elsewhere in this issue), but unless you were Stereophile or The Absolute Sound and sent a team of people, there was no way to see it all – there were 213 listening rooms, plus the Ear Gear Experience, Expo Hall/Record Fair, and a new Car Audio Showcase – and the press people I saw were going at a hectic pace to try to get it all done. For consumers, it was a smorgasbord of audio delights to choose from.
My regrets to any people and rooms I missed this time around…it wasn’t for lack of interest. And thanks to everyone who sent out product information in advance of the show, which enabled me to get a wider perspective on the bigger picture. There were a lot of new product introductions at AXPONA 2025, and I’m starting to feel like it’s becoming what CES used to be in this regard; that is, the major show for new product debuts.
If I don’t make sonic comments about a product, it means I didn’t get to see the room or stay long enough to take meaningful listening notes. (I did the best I could post-show to get as much information as possible by press time.) Happily, my colleague David Snyder, an expert in computers, networking, and streaming audio, kindly allowed me to use the photos he took at the show, so as to include some visuals for rooms I didn't get to visit.
There were many floors of exhibit rooms, and at times, the elevators developed minds of their own, making navigation challenging and getting aerobic exercise via stair climbing between the floors a practical alternative and at times a necessity. (Seriously – the elevators were programmed according to some incomprehensible scheme that only allowed a certain amount of floors to be punched in at any given time.) Aside from that, AXPONA 2025 was a model of how a show should be run, from the ample signage to the efficient show registration to the wealth of seminars which were scheduled for minimum conflict with one another. (If only the same could be said for the Schaumburg Public House restaurant, where on the Thursday night of the show we waited more than 45 minutes for our drink order and more than an hour for our meal.)
A number of exhibitors including YG Acoustics displayed their systems in public spaces like this lounge area, a sure way to draw attention.
So what did I get to see, hear, and hear about…?
ATC premiered their SCM20ASL 2-way active stand-mount loudspeaker, the most compact of their active models. It certainly didn’t sound compact, pumping out some late-in-the-day dance music that energized the younger people that requested it, as well as this reporter. The SCM20ASL-2 features made-in-house drive units with amplification and an active crossover tailored to the drivers and enclosure, and is available in more than 10 wood and painted finishes. Like the many other ATC models I’ve heard, the SCM20ASL-2 sounded right, accurate without seeming like a laboratory instrument rather than a reproducer of music.
In audio it’s often the details that matter. How many times have you fumbled to cue a record because you couldn’t see the stylus or the lead-in groove clearly? Reliable’s new UberLight Frame LED Desk/Audio Light is a cleverly designed product with customizable illumination settings, tilt and swivel adjustments, and a choice of base, table or clamp mounting. Available in black or white, It even comes with a remote control. At $399 it’s not inexpensive, but it’s elegant looking and well made, and how many of us have crappy lamps next to our turntables or use flashlights to cue a record?
Legendary Japanese audio maker Luxman celebrated 100 years (!) with Centennial editions of their L-509Z integrated amplifier ($12,995), PD-151 MkII turntable ($5,995), NT-07 streamer ($7,995), and D-07X SACD player/DAC ($10,495). The components are among the most gorgeous in all of audio, combining timeless design touches like brushed silver or black faceplates and wood cases with an updated modern feel. The sound was as elegant as the components, clear and pure, a pleasure to listen to. Additional components in the system included Marten Parker Quintet Diamond loudspeakers ($54,000/pair), Jorma cables, a Silent Angel Bonn NX network switch ($3,999) and an AudioQuest Niagara power conditioner ($5,900).
I thought I was having a flashback, but it was a flash forward as I gazed upon the JBL Classic MKII loudspeakers ($4,800/pair) on their throwback low-profile floor stands, aiming upward and filling the room with dynamic, punchy and authoritative sound. The MKII iteration keeps the same drivers and internal circuitry as the previous model, but with a larger enclosure. True to tradition, the speakers are not mirror-imaged and still have those hallmark white woofer cones and of course, the sculptured orange foam grille (other colors are available). According to someone I spoke to in the room, mirror imaging is not that big a deal. I dunno, and I’d welcome putting it to the test if I could figure out a way to do it.
Simply elegant: the Luxman room with Marten loudspeakers and Jorma cabling.
Brush back your hair: The revitalized JBL Classic MKII loudspeakers strike a pose in front of the iconic Chair Man.
Danville Signal had an extremely interesting demonstration of their DSP crossover technology. The dspNexus unit bypasses a loudspeaker’s built-in crossover and replaces it. It employs DSP that is custom-tailored to match the loudspeaker. The dspNexus crossover can more precisely achieve an ideal response from the speakers, and if desired, its frequency response and other parameters can be adjusted to the user’s preferences. The system is also supplied with a dedicated subwoofer. The dspNexus interfaces with a PC or Mac and the various parameters can be very precisely adjusted.
A group of us listened on Magneplanar speakers and were impressed by the improvements in soundstage depth and width, clarity, and the overall refinement of the presentation when the dspNexus was engaged. What was most impressive to me was that the improvements were subtle and not hit-you-over-the-head drastic, which is what I expected. Somehow, that seemed more credible than hearing some massive sonic overlay that was supposed to wow you. Digital audio has obviously made huge strides over the decades, and Danville’s crossover tweaking technology is addressing yet another sonic frontier in the quest for ever-better high fidelity.
The Danville system was also incorporated into the Orchard Audio active system setup, which one again demonstrated that while not inexpensive at $19,300 (excluding cables), proved that you can get stunning high-end sound without paying eye-watering prices. The system featured CSS Criton 3TD-X speakers ($5,500), four Starkrimson Mono Premium 150-watt amplifiers ($4,250 total), two Starkrimson Mono Ultra Premium 500-watt amps ($4,250 total), a PecanPi+ Premium streamer ($1,500). Orchard Audio also had a similar system on display, without the Danville Signal hardware. The CSS speakers are unassuming (some might say plain) yet nicely finished and deliver where it counts.
Interlude:
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and discussed it with people at AXPONA. Does the addition of second harmonic distortion (the creation of a waveform at twice the frequency of the original signal) result in components and systems that have a more pleasing sound? If so, and if listeners like it, is that a bad thing? Technically, yes, as it’s an enemy of accurate audio reproduction, but since no audio system is perfect, perhaps the addition of second harmonic distortion is a secret sauce that can make a system sound subjectively “better.” In fact, many pro audio devices deliberately add second harmonic distortion, whether mic preamps, compressors, analog tape machines, or dedicated hardware units. Lord knows that the sound of distorted tube guitar amps is fundamental to rock and roll.
I know, such an idea is audio engineering heresy, and I can see myself getting skewered on certain audio forums once they read this (“well, that’s why people like the colorations of tube amps!”), but I’m not dismissing the idea out of hand. In fact, I’d love to do some blind listening tests to explore this further.
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This is not your father's Marantz: these components feature bold, textured outlines on their faceplates. The B&W 801 D4 Signature loudspeakers feature a wood finish that has to be seen up close to be truly appreciated.
DACs and turntables alike abounded at AXPONA 2025, like this Ascona NEO from Acoustic Signature, as well as loudspeakers of every conceivable variety, including these Stratton Acoustics Element 12 speakers with what might be the most unique stands ever. Courtesy of David Snyder.
Haniwa Audio offers a unique approach to total system design, with single-driver speakers, proprietary DSP, a Waveform Recovery Circuit phono stage, and other technologies. While I missed the room at AXPONA, I've heard it elsewhere, and this system is instructive listening for any audiophile. Courtesy of David Snyder.
What does a $750,000/pair of loudspeakers look like? Here are the Magico M9, accompanied by D'Agostino electronics, Wadax digital front-end components, and wired with Vyda cable. I only got to listen for a few minutes, so I won't be so irresponsible as to pass judgment on the sound – I'll leave that to others. Courtesy of David Snyder.
On the other end of the pricing spectrum is the $998/pair Chesky Audio LC1, which once again impressed me. A lot, and this was the third time I'd heard the speakers.
I spent way too much time spending way too little time in a number of rooms. As a result, when I went to rooms like Joseph Audio/Doshi Audio, my listening notes consist of tragically incomplete jottings like, “wow!” That does not in the slightest diminish the wonderful sound quality I heard from the Joseph Audio Pearl Graphene Ultra speakers ($51,999/pair) and Doshi EVOLUTION electronics in that room, and in the mbl room (which had essentially the same setup as their Florida Audio Expo demo, so you can refer to my comments in Issue 217) and other exhibits. Getting back to the Joseph Audio room, I was particularly impressed by the introduction of the J. Sikora Aspire turntable, what I'd call an entry-level high-end design from the company, which will be available at a price to be determined.
The J. Sikora Aspire turntable made its debut at the show.
A new Fender/MoFi turntable also premiered at the show. Just the thing for listening to Jimi Hendrix or Roy Buchanan.
New York and California dealers New Life Audio and Hear This teamed up to present an impressive system including the new Von Schweikert Audio VR.thirty speakers with the Foundation hybrid bass system ($59,000/pair). The speakers were demoed with the Westminster Lab REI Class A mono amplifiers ($39,900/pair) and Quest preamp ($32,900), the new Rockna Wavedream Reference Signature DAC ($26,900), plus a Lunim U2 streamer ($5,000) and other gear. The room also featured a prototype Von Schweikert FOUNDATION.ten analog bass correction system (price to be announced). The VR.thirty speaker employs three ceramic honeycomb-material woofers, what they call their “signature” beryllium dome tweeter, a ceramic midrange driver, and a rear-mounted ribbon driver for “ambient retrieval.” The sound was ultra-clear and inviting, with excellent soundstage width and depth. The Westminster Lab Omne Class A integrated amplifier also premiered at the show.
Positive Feedback editor and I had a blast in New Jersey dealer the GTT Audio room, thanks to him turning me onto some very cool Portland-area music, like “Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth” by the Dandy Warhols. I’d heard of the band but had never heard any of their music, my loss. They’re fantastic! I was enjoying the music so much I forgot to take notes on the system. Well, isn’t the point of this whole audio thing to connect you with the music and have the gear disappear?
I’d be doing the GTT Audio exhibitors a disservice to say that the system did in fact sound excellent, powerful and at the end of a long show day, invigorating. Luckily GTT Audio made up for my journalistic laziness by providing a list of gear, which included among other items a Grimm Audio MU1 streamer ($12,500), Mola Mola Makua preamp/DAC and Perca stereo amplifier ($12,200 and $9,850), the absolutely beyond-cool-looking Vivid Audio Giya G3s2 speakers ($47,800/pair), Kubala-Sosna cables and Xpander power distribution box, and Dejitter it Switch X and WiFi X networking components ($3,500 and $850).
Form follows function: the Vivid Audio Giya G3S2 speakers lived up to their name. Courtesy of David Snyder.
The irony of an old-school VPI brick resting atop a new-school Dejitter it router was not lost on this author.
Audio Group Denmark in conjunction with Next Level Hi-Fi featured the world premiere of the Børresen M2 floorstanding loudspeaker ($190,000/pair), the latest addition to their M Series, along with the Børresen “Bass Modules” – the company most emphatically doesn’t want to call them “subwoofers” – and the North American debut of the Aavik R-880 phono stage ($70,000), designed to sonically isolate the very low-level signals from a phono cartridge from any extraneous outside noise.
Quintessence Audio had their usual suite of big rooms on the first floor, and when I stopped by to listen, they were crowded enough that I couldn’t get a good listening spot and thought I’d come back later…and other than hearing their lobby display featuring Fyne Audio Fifteen speakers ($39,999/pair) and Audio Research electronics, which sounded big and old-school warn and rich, I wasn’t able to check out their other rooms. But I did manage to snatch their list of AXPONA 2025 premieres, and what a list, led by the Dynaudio Contour Legacy speakers ($14,000/pair), which feature the company's classic Esotar 3 tweeter and modified Evidence Platinum woofers, and a beautiful American Walnut finish. Only 1,000 pairs will be made.
Fine sound was made by the Fyne Audio Fifteen speakers, Audio Research LS2 preamp and S200 power amp ($8,450, $12,950) and Clearaudio Signature turntable with Hana Umami Blue cartridge ($5,000, $2,500), along with a dCS Lina DAC ($29,150), Transparent cables ($12,400) and a Critical Mass Systems Gateway rack ($6,500).
D’Agostino Master Audio Systems introduced its Pendulum integrated amp with built-in phono stage and DAC ($18,000), and I am intrigued by this more affordable and all-in-one offering from this premium high-end company and will certainly look for it at a future audio show.
The Quintessence exhibit also showed the new AFI FLAT.DUO LP flattener and relaxer ($2,500), Clearaudio Smart Double Matrix record cleaner ($3,500) and surely one of the most eye-catching products at the show, the Clearaudio Al Di Meola turntable ($4,900), which, appropriately enough, looks like a guitar.
Take note! The Clearaudio Al Di Meola turntable looks like his Les Paul Custom guitar.
Mobile Fidelity had a huge display of dozens of products and records.
New Products Galore
Here are a bunch of new product introductions I either didn’t get to check out, or was only able to take a quick look and listen:
It was good to see the reintroduction of the Aragon AV brand and their new Tungsten preamp and Titanium monoblock power amplifiers. For those who don’t remember, in the 1980s Mondial Designs was founded by Tony Federici and Paul Rosenberg, both sadly no longer with us, as an affordable high-end electronics brand. Their components were distinguished by a distinctive notch in the chassis, reflecting the design sensibility of Robbii Wessen, who illustrated many of the early covers for The Absolute Sound. Now, the Aragon brand is back, based in Indianapolis, and yes, the components retain the classic Aragon notch, combined with a modern design sensibility.
Totem Acoustic debuted the Tribe Tower Thunderbird loudspeaker ($13,500/pair, $15,000 of premium high-gloss finishes with WBT connectors), using what they call their Torrent Technology to mitigate the effect of the listening room’s acoustics. The 42-inch high obelisk-looking speaker features two new Torrent 6-inch multi-layer voice coil bass/midrange drivers that cover the frequency range between 28 Hz and 7 kHz. A proprietary 1.3-inch graphene dome tweeter covers the highs, and the speaker does not employ a crossover.
Aragon electronics were driving the Totem Tower Thunderbird speakers. Courtesy of David Snyder.
The Sound Organisation had a preview of the upcoming Rega Research Mercury preamp and Solis power amp, Rega’s first-ever separates. The Organisation also unveiled the Chord Suzi preamp and power amp, both sporting the company’s distinctively diminutive form factor and colorful illuminated buttons.
Zesto Audio premiered the Athena vacuum-tube DAC, featuring a ROHM Semiconductor chip, compatibility with formats up to 24-bit/384 kHz, seven inputs including I2S, and it employs no digital filtering: as Zesto states, “all filtering is done through the tube output stage with minimal phase shift.” It also looks great, with Zesto's signature wave-shaped front panel design.
Zesto Audio demonstrated a full line of vacuum-tube electronics including the new Athena DAC. Courtesy of David Snyder.
I wish I would have had a chance to listen to the new écoute audio TH1 headphones, which, unique among headphones, have a tube preamp plus a DAC and dual-mono amplification built right into the headset.
Along with the Luxman 100th anniversary products, Rhythm Distribution hosted a dazzling variety of product introductions. Goldmund introduced their Rhea active wireless speaker system ($150,000/system), Eidos streamer/server ($27,000) and Telos 2800 mono amps ($140,000/each). Swedish vacuum-tube audio manufacturer Engström showed their gorgeous new Eric Encore mono power amplifiers ($180,000/pair), and Marten showed the new Mingus Quintet 2 Statement loudspeakers ($91,000/pair). Regrettably, I only got as far as the end of the hallway where they were showing, tantalized but unable to experience any of it. I will endeavor to remedy that at my next audio show.
Morel debuted their Sopran 634 3-way floorstanding speaker, a slim tower that combines stunning woodwork with high-tech ingredients like carbon-fiber driver diaphragms and large titanium voice coils. Pricing ranges from $10,999 to $12,999 per pair depending on finish.
The new Morel Sopran 634 speakers are available in a variety of finishes, including this striking wood pair. Courtesy of David Snyder.
Songer Audio made their first appearance at AXPONA, and what a debut it was – their A3 single-ended triode stereo amplifier has a stunning wood front panel and brass top plate, a pair of Western Electric 300B tubes, and looks that would make any vintage gear aficionado swoon. The amp was designed in collaboration with Treehaus Audiolab, and it shows. Literally.
Constellation Audio now incorporates Constellation switch-mode power supply (C-SMPS) technology into its Inspiration2 and Revelation2 series components. The upgraded circuitry is said to provide 20 percent less noise and a 20 percent increase in amplifier power, with “ultra-stable power at any voltage” into any loudspeaker.
New company 16Wurkz showed its patent-pending Elatz system for mounting subwoofers on the walls of wood-framed houses. The system is said to work acoustically in conjunction with a home’s wall studs to dissipate unwanted energy and enable the intrinsic performance of the subwoofer itself to be heard.
Playback Distribution offered a host of world and American premieres in five rooms, including the introduction of the Esoteric N1T network transport ($28,000), the company’s first. Playback’s exhibit also featured the American introduction of many loudspeakers: the Esprit Stella bookshelf speakers ($7,500/pair), PMC prophecy 7 2-way floorstanders ($8,999/pair), amphion Argon 2-way towers (price to be announced) and the MJ Acoustics Pro50 MK4 and $MJ Acoustics Masterclass Henley 12-inch subwoofers ($1,499 and $4,599). Also on hand were the new TEAC AP-507 Class D stereo power amplifier ($2,199) and Java HiFi Double Shot Carbon 400 integrated amplifier/DAC ($16,995).
Canadian distributor Audio Excellence presented a number of new products, among them the Atoll Electronique IN400 Evolution integrated amplifier ($7,000) and CD400 Evolution CD Player ($7,900), and the Atohm Sirocco 2.24 floorstanding and Sirocco 1.24 stand-mounted loudspeakers. The speakers incorporate new drivers, crossovers, and enclosures, and the electronics are among the most attractive I've ever seen.
Consider this AXPONA 2015 report to reflect the tip of a very large iceberg. It's an audiophile fantasy made reality, and the best part is, you get to hang with like-minded people who love music as much as you do. I expect next year's show, to be held April 24 – 26, to be even bigger.
Kraftwerk aren't the only ones who can make music from podiums, as evidenced by this T+A display. The quality and fit and finish of these components are second to none.
Triangle Art offered a dazzling display of turntables and other components. The company makes everything needed to create a complete system, including speakers and cables. Courtesy of AXPONA.
Legacy Audio always has a big presence at AXPONA. This was just one of the many setups in their large exhibit space. Courtesy of David Snyder.
Monitor Audio showed their intriguing Hyphn loudspeakers ($95,000/pair), driven by McIntosh electronics. The speaker employs the company's third-generation Micro Pleated Diaphragm (MPD III) mid-high driver and twin bass cabinets. Every time I walked past the room it was crowded, which I took to be a good sign as people were enjoying themselves. Courtesy of David Snyder.
Pure Audio Project field-coil speakers are becoming more popular at audio shows. Courtesy of David Snyder.
The VTL/Stenheim room is always one of the must-see exhibits at shows, and I am told it was impressive at AXPONA 2025 (I've experienced these systems in the past). Courtesy of David Snyder.
Header image: natural beauty and sound, courtesy of Treehaus Audiolab. Photo by David Snyder.
