B&W Nautilus – 30th Anniversary, Canadian Premiere
An iconic symbol of the brand and proudly gracing the cover of the Montreal Audiofest program handed out to visitors, the flamboyant Nautilus loudspeakers in McLaren papaya orange capture all the attention once the curtains are drawn. Three musical excerpts gave us a glimpse of what they can do: vocal presence and fine‑grained texture, nice instrumental separation and a deep soundstage. Real beauties exhibited for the first time in Canada.
It should be noted that the "I Love the Fab Four" exhibition presented by B&W brings together sensational memorabilia from the private collection of Gerry Dubé. The brand’s partnership with Abbey Road Studios has endured since the 1980s, hence the connection. So it’s a must‑see for Beatles lovers!
Artist Cloner – A Québec Creation
I made it a point to sit in front of the creative expression born of Sylvio’s know‑how; he always offers us more brilliant [displays] than the year before. The Mekanika Prestige 2026 speakers paired with Baetis Audio products put on quite a show. Each year, I wonder whether I shouldn’t swap my home kit for ArtistCloner products…
DR Acoustics – New Products
A combination of hi‑fi elements we’d already seen this morning (B&W 801 speakers and Classé electronics) provided a gentle morning woven with soundtrack excerpts that didn’t take long to captivate the few curious attendees.
Three new power devices added to their Polynice and Antigone models stole the spotlight at DR Acoustics this year. The owner passionately explained the function of these new additions to the company’s range of power distribution and virtual grounding systems.
Q Acoustics – Michell Gyro turntable
Make way for music from a revamped Michell Gyro turntable – and for a touch of innovation in this room, outfitted with IKEA Poäng chairs, as gray as they were comfortable. The small but deep‑enclosure Q Acoustics Concept 300 speakers delivered sound that filled the large room convincingly. Audiophiles like to see the equipment used up close, and I strongly recommend bending your knees and squatting for the cause: the Gyro and Q Acoustics are beautiful to look at up close. (J’ai pas compris sa phrase…)
Totem, Presented by Vincent Bruzzese
Vincent Bruzzese always makes it a point to present his speakers himself, paired with furnishings you might find in a home‑like environment. The room was inviting and well designed, though small, and suffered from occasional ambient noise. Still, the sound was rich and full and played at a decibel level that finished the job of the morning coffee. Full even at this early hour, Totem’s rooms are always prized by music lovers. And it was already the second demonstration I’d heard on a turntable – much appreciated!
Eversolo, presented by Motet – DMP-A10, KEF R11 Meta
Westmount 6 was a large room for the KEF R11 Meta speakers to fill, yet they disappeared effortlessly, giving way to the music on “Keith Don’t Go” by Nils Lofgren and “This Is a Man’s World” by David Gogo – live recordings that revealed the speakers’ full value here. The coherence of the soundstage was more than remarkable, despite a slight sense of narrowness. We were captivated. It was the kind of room you can easily get lost in for a while.
Audiophile Experts – CD, Records, and Reel-to-Reel
Stacy Lussier presented 25‑minute guided listening sessions in remarkable fashion. All it took to attend was getting a free ticket to reserve the time of your listening session directly at the entrance to Outremont 6. Three genres were on the menu: jazz, classical, and blues. Each of three high‑quality recordings was played on a different medium: an Accuphase CD player, a Stable 33.33 turntable, and a Revox reel‑to‑reel tape machine. For me, this was one of the finest listening experiences at the show – a calm space shared with attentive listeners. Care had clearly gone into the acoustic treatment, the placement of the 20 chairs, and the selection of musical pieces.
Count Basie managed to heighten the excitement and nervousness of a first day at the show on vinyl, where the big band reveals all the dynamics of the system on The Blues Machine. You really feel the separation of the instruments with the Oscar Peterson Trio performing on tape, while appreciating the depth of the soundstage. Incredible!
The evening blues session was even more immersive, with several audiophiles closing their eyes to internalize three heartfelt, longer‑than‑average pieces – “I’m Tired of These Blues,” “Tin Pan Alley,” and “In This Bed.” It was a big session that delivered a level of listening quality worth talking about.
Bryston
This Canadian manufacturer displayed a wide range of its products, offering a rare opportunity to appreciate the full seriousness of their construction and engineering in the service of neutral and accurate sound reproduction. With the company’s fully active Bryston T10 standing tall near the front wall, the room sounded – and looked – impressive.
Planète Haute Fidélité – Martin Logan
The new MartinLogan speakers not only pushed the limits of sound reproduction but also challenged the room itself with bursts of high decibels. The phrase “larger than life” truly took on its full meaning here. Admirers filled every available space, and the presenter’s passion was contagious. A dynamic presentation, paired with a thoughtful selection of music, captivated the audience, young and old alike. I would gladly return over the weekend if time allows; the experience was intense!
Favorite: Joseph Crowe, a Near-Spiritual Experience
No need to be intimidated by the harsh lighting or the cold expanse of Joseph Crowe’s listening room – the exceptional cabinetry of the Joseph Crowe speakers and the sound gushing from them warmed this place of contemplation. It was a rare opportunity to hear speakers with about 20 feet of clearance behind them, placing them roughly two‑thirds of the way into the room. This also invited you to walk around the system and admire the artisanal woodworking. Seated in front, we heard a wall of ethereal sound that enveloped us, making for an almost spiritual experience. Can one say they’ve seen the light without having died? I don’t know, but these beautifully sounding components stirred the soul.
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