Above: Claudia Beaumont and Cristiano Bastianelli of Albedo Audio, with Fabrizio Baretta (Faber's Cables) and audio enthusiast Ingo Scher.
March 2026 saw the latest iteration of the consumer audio show T.H.E. Show, this time in Las Vegas at the Alexis Park Resort. Some in the online community asked: why did we need another audio show, especially on the same weekend as Montreal Audiofest? A number of online commentators implied that having two shows in at the same time was a lot to ask of manufacturers, but the reality is that every vendor or manufacturer can make their own decisions about participating.
The point I want to make here is that with the dearth of brick and mortar locations available for consumers to hear equipment, audio shows, which have a lot of local dealer buy-in, are a great way for the public to get up and close to gear. I think that the more shows there are, the better.
Nancy Burlan and I were in Las Vegas to cover the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), when we received an invite from T.H.E. Show’s Emiko Carlin for the opening of a new audiophile space in Las Vegas, the Supreme Acoustic Systems grand opening party on January 8, 2026. So, we all left the hustle of the Strip for parts unknown.
So, after a full day at CES, a group of us headed to the party. But…somewhere along the way the GPS reset itself, so after 20 minutes of driving in industrial parks we ended up in the parking lot of a deserted fish distribution company, without an OFC cable in sight. Realizing our error, we backtracked and finally ended up in another industrial park, and a prom for homeschooled kids. A few doors down, we finally found Supreme, which was packed with audiophile gear and people, just in time for food, drink, and music. There was a raffle, which naturally I didn’t win, keeping up my never-ending Las Vegas raffle losing streak.
Supreme Acoustic Systems founder and CEO Hiram Toro was warm and gracious. He’s well-known in the industry – previously he was the US importer and distributor for Koetsu, the prestigious Japanese phono cartridge maker. As one might have expected, he didn't plan the space as just a showroom – it also acts as a distribution center for other brands. Supreme carries Air Tight, Bel Canto Design, YG Acoustics, HifiStay, Nihon Onkyo Engineering, and VPI turntables, among others. As distributors they represent Albedo Audio, Audion, Benny Audio, Bergman Audio, Faber’s Cables, Soulnote, Music Tools, Odeon Audio, and Esseci Design. Hiram’s wife Glenda and son Gabriel were on hand, along with Duncan Taylor of YG Acoustics.
If anything, the event indicated that there is a market for audiophile equipment in Las Vegas, which my many trips to upscale neighborhoods in Las Vegas over the years seemed to confirm. So, having T.H.E. Show there made perfect sense, as it seems like there are an almost unlimited number of folks with enough cash to support such a venture.
My colleagues Cliff and Gerry Roth of Tech Editorial enjoyed being able to listen to their favorite tunes, marveling at the resolution and musicality of the ultra-high-end components and speakers being demonstrated. The event featured a reveal of a new speaker, the YG Acoustics XV 3 Signature, at a heart-stopping $498,000 per pair, driven by four Soulnote M3x monoblocks in an all-Soulnote system. It was, as one might expect, superb, as have been all the systems I’ve heard with Soulnote gear. It was the first time that I’d heard YG Acoustic speakers, so that was a lovely surprise.
After a long day at CES, being among friends at the new space was a treat. Supreme Acoustic Systems carries a wide range of brands and products, and if you are an audiophile and ever in the Las Vegas area, we suggest you make an appointment!
Tomasz Franielczyk, owner and lead designer of BennyAudio, explains the workings of their Odyssey turntable. It features a multi-layer plinth, Delrin and stainless steel platter, automatic speed correction, and a proprietary tonearm.
Hiram Toro, owner of Supreme Acoustic Systems, and his son Gabriel welcomed everyone.
Emiko Carlin of T.H.E. Show seems to be everywhere these days! Here she's with Hiram Toro.
Chief designer Hideki Kato and colleague Yuhsuke Iwahashi were on hand from Soulnote. Their M3x mono amplifier features a straightforward design with a massive power transformer, non-negative-feedback power supply, attention to mechanical isolation, and many other refinements.
Supreme Acoustic Systems provides comfortable spaces for auditioning their various systems and components.
Gabriel Toro enjoys a moment with Daryl Sansevero.
Colorado's YG Acoustics manufactures superb speakers, and YG's Duncan Taylor strikes an angelic pose here.
The Toro family invites you to visit Supreme Acoustic Systems: here's Gabriel (standing), Glenda, and Hiram (seated).
All images courtesy of Harris Fogel.
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