2023 AXPONA Show Report

^ I see where the new Ellipticor series drivers have an elliptical voice coil and magnet gap! Along with their proprietary magnet structure, these should be outstanding. However, it's going to take a bit to get used to the elliptical dust cover.

As for the shows, if you're on the fence, I recommend giving it a try. Do your homework, have a plan. Also, there is definitely plenty to do in Chicago when you need to step away from the audio show. Grab an Uber...

These look like they MIGHT be good speakers BUT...

for the price you are getting off the shelf components. Not that they are bad components. I use the same brands these folks use in my speakers that I design.

That has to be the most ham-handed and outrageous attempt to hawk one's own product by smack-talking a well-regarded brand I have seen in these forum.

The MBL room will be on the short list for best sound at the show. It always is. 

Let the games begin. 
@woofhaven1992 I agree. ☝

First off - most rooms do not know how to set-up speakers.  That is the main reason they sound OK.  So how did I determine this?  Easy, we know dealers who have manufacturers come in to try to get them to purchase their speaker line.  None of them know how to set their speakers up in the showroom to sound good.  Second, they partner with other manufacturers to help with the cost of the room so they are not the best match for equipment.  When we won best of should at CAF back in the day, not one reviewer noted the equipment used or the cables but they all review them.  We won best of show with an old Adcom copper interconnect used as our digital cable.  So go figure that one.

Happy Listening.

I went to Axpona last year.  I won't go this year.  From my perspective, it was an exercise in excess.  Most vendors were displaying gear that was way past my budget. Plenty of vendors had setups that cost as much as an automobile and fill an entire room.  All power to the people that can afford systems like that, but I don't feel the need to listen to the monster systems.

A big issue at Axpona for me was the noise.  The noise from people and from demo systems made it tough to have conversations, much less listening to a stereo systems at the volume levels that I listen to music.  I am careful not to expose my ears to excessive noise levels and if I were to go to Axpona again, I would bring ear plugs to protect my hearing.

I live in the Chicago area around 20 minutes away from where Axpona is held.   Within the Chicago area  we are lucky to have a decent number of audio/stereo stores where it is possible to listen to gear carefully.  If I am interested in buying new (or used gear), I prefer to go to one of the the local stores.