AXPONA 2025

Calvinj man your room is one of my top 3. Wilson Beneah room. Borrensen room on the second floor. This are my top 3. Alvin Chee’s room , EMM Lab room on the second floor.. Wilson and Agostino combo by Quintessense audio.I believe this year they are plenty of good set up. If only they know how to demo and play the right music like you did . The Dali and MCintosh are also good and the Fyne Audio and pathos combo upscale audio room.i might stop by again by your room.

So far Iam enjoying this show. So many attendee this year it’s insane. My wife enjoyed the Patricia Barber concert.She is more amazing than when I heard her at Westin Hotel in Chicago.30 yrs ago.

Hi Calvin .  I live in Chicago and would have loved to have met you.  I’m having knee surgery on Tuesday and didn’t think I could do the show this year.  Next year hopefully.

  Question- not wanting to get into politics here-but have you heard any attendees voicing a reluctance to purchase due to present economic instability, or tariffs?

Mahler I also live in Illinois 30 min from the venue . Some vendors are mentioning it. But really only China is affected because there not included on the 90 day pause. Most of the attendees I know,they are not yet worried about the tariff. 

I was there Saturday and hit specific rooms - so not even close to hearing everything. In what I sampled, I heard a few good sounding rooms (MBL/Kyomi Audio, Vinnie Rossi/Rockport Technologies, Bricasti/Tidal, Quintessance: Wilson/D’Agostino), and a significant number where I thought the sound not so good.

Most problematic was bass that was flabby or lacking resolution - some to the point where pitch definition was almost absent. Clearly these were room interactions that are particularly challenging. But there were other situations that had me thinking poorly matched equipment (i.e. playing magnepans loudly with high quality, but modestly powered amps, etc.). 

I also again heard several rooms I thought far too bright - something that will drive me out of a room quickly. 

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, and heard some gear I wanted to hear. Unfortunately,  there were some notable absences - no Taiko Olympus for instance.  But, I was able to reconnect with a few folks who I’ve done business with who are now friends while also spending some quality time with my brother and brother in law. A good day overall.

Did anyone listen to the Ø Audio Frigg 02 speakers?

Calvin- stopped by but missed you on Sunday as you were catching a flight

I am at Joseph audio fanboy.

Did anyone hear Jeff’s room with the pearls?

@kennyc sorry I had to return rent a car. I will catch you the next time I met @jayctoy he liked our room. What did you think?

@mahler123 i think it’s on a a lot of people’s. Minds. The tariffs. It’s causing instability I heard a few people mentioning it. 

@mahler123 i will be back next year. I want us all to go to dinner if possible next year. 

I had a great time--just got back yesterday. First time attending. I had planned to go for 2 days but we had delayed flights etc. So we got there early Saturday morning and it was already busy. We had a lot of fun and wish I had time to see everything but I made an agenda and got through about 80% of it. I saw some YouTubers there. Met Harley Lovegrove from Pearl Acoustics--super nice guy. Met Lucca Chesky from Chesky Audio--great guy, only 17! Saw Andrew Jones, Paul McGowan, Kevin Deal. I ran into Michael Fremer. The Pass rooms were always packed. Surprisingly heard some really good class D stuff. The Aavik/Borresen from Next Level Hihi sounded amazing. Accuphase stuff was top notch. The Kii speaker room was equally good. Bel Canto/YG Acoustic was good. Loved the Fern and Roby room. Davore’s room was packed and it felt like it was 85 degrees in there. Stayed about 1 min and left. The Expo rooms were super fun.

It was fun and exhausting at the same time. Highly recommend attending if you can. It was a bucket list item for me. But I think I’ll be attending more regional shows like Capital Audio Fest or a Florida show. 

You are on, Calvin.  Unless I’m getting my other knee done then.  I’ve always preferred Stereo to Mono

@jayctoy where do you live?  I am in the Oak Park area 

I live North by Highland Park. 

Calvinj I wasn’t able to stop by Sunday , I arrived late , my friend who live 30 min in the venue cook bbq for me then listen to his Moab , Aric audio amp and pre with , troubadour audio mirror dac. Sounds fantastic.Woud you send me the title or album you play on Patricia Barrelis and Jeremy . Man you just have passion on this hobby. My only regret I was not able to bring for a nice dinner.Next will plan better. You are the kind a guy I want to hang out in this hobby.iam so happy to meet you.

@hbarrel I don't think they had the Frigg 02 in the room. I listed to the Icon 12 twice and they sounded great! The bass on these speakers is at another level but they are $23,400.

@willywonka thank you.
I was supposed to go but last minute things prevented attendance. 
Got a ticket if anyone wants one. 🤡

@jayctoy i meant highland park Dallas. Sorry. I will get you a playlist by wed 

I was there all three days. It was the first hifi show I've attended. I bought a few records, had a blast meeting up with friends and attending after show hour listening parties. I'm pretty wore out today.

@vuch man we had one Saturday night. I didn’t want it to end. We had a blast. 💥! 

@jayctoy im glad you came by. Many people think I’m just promoting when I talk about INFIGO AUDIO sound. You heard it for yourself. I don’t work with them because I have to.  I work with them because I hadn’t heard anything that good period.  That’s why I say what I say and you heard top tier sound in our room 

Calvin's a blast to hang out and listen to music with.  If you get an invite, take him up on it. The Infigo/ Gato is very" live in your room" good!

@acman3 thanks will have listening session soon 

Your room just so musically dynamic. 

Flew in from New Orleans. Great experience. 
 

highlights for me:

*Vinnie Rossi/Rockport absolutely sublime. Saving for VR integrated.

Upscale Audio/Fine Audio. New respect for Fine Audio.

The whole Quintessence colaboration, but particularly the Dagostino/Wilson

Aavik/Borresen room was fabulous. Made me Want.

The Big Magico M9 room was something to witness. Over the top!

Disappointment:

Audio Note AN-E. Too much Rage Against the Machine music. Brutal.

Pure Audio Project. Looking for high sensitivity speakers. These did not have enough body. Granted it was the duet. I’m most interested in the Trio.

@jayctoy i really enjoy the music. When it sounding good it’s the best place on earth.  I’m blessed to be working with Infigo because the sound is just remarkable. I get to listen to my system every day at home and I’m in audio heaven. I enjoy this hobby. I’m going to send you cables to demo soon 

I was there for three days, but due to a commercial interest was unable to make a wide survey.  At price-no-object I particularly enjoyed the big Magicos, in the middle-market Vinnie Rossi/Rockport, Doshi/Joseph, and Songer field-coils, and at a reasonable price-point Rogue/Maggie and new Klipsh La Scala with designer Roy Delgato in a rare appearance at shows.  I wanted to like the Avant Gardes, but couldn’t get past their uncontrolled LF.    

@prof  I was at the AXPONA Show all 3 days and spent quite a bit of time in the Joseph Audio/ Doshi/ J Sikora room.

Year after year, I feel they put on an excellent exhibit.  

First off... you couldn't ask for a nicer group of gentlemen.  Jeff, Nick, and Robert Sikora are all really great guys, who have a passion for building the absolute best product that they can.  They are great to talk with, they are music lovers and are very welcoming.

They had the J Sikora Reference table this year - my dream endgame table, along with Doshi tubed electronics and of course Jeff's Pearl Graphene speakers.  The whole system has a wonderful synergy.  It provided a dynamic, full and immersive sound.  Voices sounded fantastic as did instruments.  The bass at times could sound a little boomy depending on where you were sitting in the room and depending on how loud they pushed the volume (show room conditions), but when not pushed too loudly, everything gelled really nicely.  Always a show favorite of mine!  

Seeing as you were specifically asking about the Joseph speakers.  I think they are beautifully made - simply gorgeous!  I love the relatively small footprint they have, and yet the huge, full sound they put out. These speakera will fit very nicely in the average person's home. While not inexpensive, I think think they are a bargin imho, compared to the extremely high priced monstrosities that were at the show.

Best wishes,

Don

Thanks Don.

it was hearing Jeff’s room with the Pearls in Montreal

That led me to eventually purchasing my Joseph audio perspective 2 speakers.

The Joseph Audio site says;

”Live, unamplified music has unmistakable presence and clarity. Yet, at the same time it also sounds relaxed and warm.”

That’s exactly how I hear things, And that seems to be the balance that Jeff has

Achieved in his designs.  The sound strikes me as luxurious.

@prof ”Live, unamplified music has unmistakable presence and clarity. Yet, at the same time it also sounds relaxed and warm.”

Yes, I could agree with the above statement, but with a clarifier...

I agree that live unamplified music has an "unmistakable presence and clarity" but when he says  "Yet, at the same time it also sounds relaxed and warm.”   I would say that live unamplified music can also sound very dynamic.  I think what he may be implying is that it still sounds unforced, instead of relaxed.  I would also maybe replace warm with natural/organic.  At least, that is how I hear things when I performed music, whether when playing my cello in classical venues or my tenor or bass trombones in jazz venues.

I do believe that Jeff Joseph has really done a great job in recreating sound in that manner with the Pearl Graphene’s.  Although I do not have any experience with his Perspective speakers, I would have to believe that they are cut from the same cloth, so to speak.

Best wishes,

Don

I went to the show and listened to the JA room and left pretty quickly.  The music was too loud and the bass was overwhelming the sound.  Bass overhang negatively impacted the mids.  Unfortunate.  The speakers were beautiful to look at and the room was full of folks enjoying them so perhaps I am the minority opinion on this room.  

We had a great time at the show and the time just flew by! 

@grannyring 

Yes, absolutely... I can agree with your statement that it did sound that way to me at times.  Which is why I stated in my earlier post "....The bass at times could sound a little boomy depending on where you were sitting in the room and depending on how loud they pushed the volume (show room conditions), but when not pushed too loudly, everything gelled really nicely...."

However, there were many times that I was there where they were not pushing the volume too high and everything sound quite magnificent.  I was there all three days and spent quite a bit of time in that room at multiple times throughout each of the three days.  

Best wishes,

Don

Understood Don.  I went to Axpona last year and heard the same bass heavy sound in the JA room.  These two times are my only experiences with JA speakers so I assumed they just sound that way and did not look for a different seat or come back. Yes, shows can be a difficult place to really hear gear as we all know.  
 

I was impressed with the Pearl Acoustics room and the beautiful music coming out of those 4 inch single driver speakers.  Wow! Loved the Wolf Von Langa Ultima room with Sw1X tube  gear.  Finally,  the PS Audio room sounded great regardless of the particular model speaker playing.  From monitor to the biggest floor stander, they all sounded just terrific!

Don,

I believe Jeff’s description relates essentially to tonality and timber and detail.

I’ve been sort of obsessed with live versus reproduce sound for as long as I can remember.  I used to do live versus reproduced tests of recordings through different speakers in my own home, and I’m constantly closing my eyes when the presence of un amplified sources, and taking in what to me are the salient characteristics.

Certainly there are the type of  life like dynamics tend to distinguished live, even just somebody fingerpicking a guitar.

But in tonal and timbral terms, it is always struck me how relaxed and unforced and unmechanical and organic the detail is in voices and instruments.  And the other thing always strikes me is how much richer, in terms of the sense of body and fulness, and the thicker richer level of harmonics. Even a single pluck string of an acoustic guitar or a single high note on a violin sounds thicker and harmonically richer and in that way warmer than what I hear through most reproduced sound.  

So my may take away it’s just like Jeff’s:   Real voices and instruments have an effortless clarity and presence, no technology between you and them, while the detail doesn’t seem heightened or mechanical or artificially boosted, but just “ there” and relaxed, along with the greater richness and warmth of harmonics.

So often in high-end reproduced sound, when we are struck with the effortless clarity of a system it can come from systems that are exaggerating detail, or that are tonally or harmonically lean.

Jeff’s trying to capture that combination of effortless clarity it doesn’t come with the expense of aggressive or lean/cool, but which combines both.

That’s what I feel. I’m getting in my system.   So that’s helped along even further by using CJ tube amplifiers.

@prof 

Yes, I can relate and agree with everything you are saying in the post above.  Very well written by the way!

I admire Jeff Joseph and what he has accomplished with the Pearl Graphene's.... especially in such a relatively small footprint for a floor standing speaker.  

I can only imagine that the smaller Perspectives would have a similar sonic presentation.  I bet they pair very nicely with the CJ gear too 

Best wishes,

Don

@grannyring "Wow! Loved the Wolf Von Langa Ultima room with Sw1X tube  gear"

Yes, I agree.  Colin from Gestalt always seems to get great sound out of that gear.  If I remember correctly, he had the same system last year, but was using the TW Acoustic table last year.  But regardless, both years had impressive sound.

I think the Wolf Von Langa speakers and their design is better suited for a smaller room than the JA Pearl speakers.  Colin always has a very nice selection of great vinyl, and always seems to play the system at comfortable sound levels.  I always enjoy spending time listening to his system.

Best wishes,

Don

Interesting comments on the JA room, this was exactly what I heard as well. The bass was overwhelming everything else, and sounded a bit flabby.  I have always had JA on my list as a possibility, but it made me concerned that they might overwhelm my small listening room.

Great Show!!!

Highlights for me...

Greg Roberts of Volti brought the new Vittora. Just like his other creations I was simply awestruck. The tonality of the human voice is still giving me goosebumps. One day I will have them... oh yes I will. 

The giant Magico's were breathtaking to behold both visually and sonically.  Other highlight speakers were the large Fyne's, Devore Super Nine's and the PS audio Aspen FR30's.

What got my attention elsewhere was the demo in the M101 room. Swapping back and forth between their affordable Flare power cable and a respectable cable from Audioquest. I am fairly straightforward when it comes to cables etc. I have some respectable cables in my system, I hear improvements and different flavors to some degree, then debate in my mildly functional mind if what I'm hearing is real or some sort of psychosomatic interpretation because I spent money..(you know the drill). What I heard in the switch was undeniable, as told to me/verified by my wife. A non audiophile music lover. IT was all I could do not to order a full re-do on all my cables.. It'll likely still happen BTW

@jayctoy i will send you cables to try.  If you like. 

Calvin I already like my system the ways it sounds. Thank you. I appreciate it. What I heard on your cables they are amazingly musical, in the system I heard them at Axpona. I would strongly recommend them.

@zlone 

Don’t base your impressions off that one room.

Jeff Joseph is renowned for USUALLY getting great sound at shows even when most other rooms are struggling to sound good.  That’s why his rooms have been popular for something like 20 years.  His room wouldn’t be popular if they regularly featured poor quality or bass bloat, an effect by far most comments mention how balanced the sound is normally including the bass.

Excellent quality is one of the reasons many customers buy his speakers.

I own the Joseph Perspective 2 speakers and they probably have among the best bass I’ve heard in my room, and terms of tightness and punch.

Any comments on PMC? What was the system in their room?

@jayctoy thansk for the compliments. We are just trying to get folks to hear what we are doing.  Hans is an amazing engineer, designer and audiophile. I’m enjoying being part of a great company creating great sound. I’m happy.