AXPONA 2025 Show Report

Heading to the Convention Center, my first stop was the Joseph Audio room. Jeff Joseph and Nick Doshi were busy tweaking the setup that, as usual, already sounded great. Well-placed imaging and a solid low-end complemented the stunning midrange. The system was using the Joseph Audio Pearl Graphene Ultra speaker ($51,999) paired with the Doshi Audio Evolution series Monoblocks ($45,999), Preamp ($22,999) and Phonostage ($22,999). The analogue front end was a J. Sikora Reference SE Turntable ($49,250) that used a KV 12 Max Tonearm ($14,500) and an Aidas True Stone Violet Limited cartridge ($6,500). Digital was supplied by the Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference 3P ($34,000) fed by an Aurender N30SA 8T ($25,000). Cardas Clear Beyond Cables provided all cables and interconnects. HRS provides all racks and platforms.

PS Audio introduced its new PMG Signature Series of electronics including the new PMG Signature PureStream DAC, the PMG Signature Preamplifier, The PMG Signature SACD Player and the PMG Signature Phono Preamplifier (All priced at $8499 US) Shown here paired with the Aspen FR-20 Speakers ($18,999 per pair) and the BHK 600 Monoblock amplifiers ($29,999 per pair) The sound was precise and powerful—an auspicious debut for the new flagship series.

Quintessence Audio had their usual multiple-room setups. The Connection room featured a pair of Sonus Faber Stradivari speakers ($50,000 per pair), powered by the new Audio Research Ref 330 Mono power amps ($90,000 per pair) and the Ref 10 preamp ($42,000) and Ref 10 phono pre ($42,000). The analogue source was the Clearaudio Master Jubilee Turntable ($60,000), which had the new Unity tonearm sporting the Goldfinger Statement MC cartridge ($17,500). A full dCS Vivaldi digital stack ($100,000) sourced from an Innuos Zenith NG and Phoenix Net ($18,900 and $4,349). Cables were Kubala-Sosna Realization ($164,300), all being isolated by Critical Mass Maxuum-Ultra Racks. ($50,500).  This was one of my top show sounds. The soundstage was wide and precise. The system allowed the music to speak clearly at all volume levels and with the timbre and care needed for each passage. A delightful presentation.

Next door in the Perfection room was another outstanding Quintessence Audio system. Featuring the new (Reborn?) Wilson WATT/Puppy speakers ($39,500 per pair) powered by Boulder’s 1110 Preamp ($24,000), 1108 Phono pre ($21,000) and the all-new 1151 Mono power amps ($48,000 per pair). Analogue source was a Clearaudio Reference Jubilee turntable ($30,000) with a HANA Umami Red MC cartridge ($3,950). Digital source was a dCS Rossini Apex streaming DAC ($32,800) with Master Clock ($11,500) streaming via an Innuos Zen NG and PhoenixNet ($16,349). The cables were Transparent Reference cables ($44,480), all housed on Critical Mass Ultra Q equipment racks. ($20,810). This room was another outstanding listening experience. This system delivered a considerable performance measure for about half the system cost of their other room. Quintessence understands how to curate a system with complementary gear. 

I am always looking for a new company, and I found one in O Audio from Norway. They were demonstrating their new Audio ICON 12 speakers in Piano Walnut ($23,400 per pair) and fronting them with a Boulder 1110 Preamp ($24,000) and 1162 Stereo power amp ($45,000). Sourcing the system was the dCS Rossini APEX DAC and Master Clock ($32,800 & $11,500) streaming via an Innuos Zenith mk3 ($6,300). Thanks to Quintessence Audio for the system gear assist! These new Audio ICON 12’s were terrific. Taking advantage of a Quad Vertex Sound Field Constant Directivity Horn, the Audio ICON 12’s have a 92 db sensitivity into 8 Ohms and specs from 28Hz to 20kHz. Specs aside, the sound was full and engaging. An excellent start for a new company!

Walking into the Zesto Audio room, I was pleased to see the small palm trees in the back framing the YG Acoustics Hailey 3 speakers ($63,400 USD). For me, Zesto’s room has always been an oasis at any show. Outstanding sound quality and a beautiful style that is uniquely their own. They offer an inviting, relaxed setting, and regardless of the music being played, the sound never disappoints. The big news for this show is the new Athena tube DAC ($15,000) that offers up 32/384 with DSD 512 decoding. A full complement of inputs including I2S, AES, USB, Optical and COAX with both Single Ended and Balanced outputs. The system also included the Andros Deluxe II Phono Stage ($8,300 USD), the Leto II Ultra Preamplifier ($11,900 USD) and the Eros 500 Select Class-A Monoblocks ($35,000 USD). Analogue source was the Dr. Feikert Blackbird with linear power supply ($9,900 USD) Tri-Planar Mk VII U2 9.8” tonearm ($7,500 USD), and an Ortofon 90X MC Cartridge ($3,600 USD). Isolation was compliments of Stillpoints, with the Ultra 6 V2 feet and the ESS 42-24-4 equipment rack and Aperture acoustic panels. All cabling was Cardas Clear, Clear Beyond and Beyond. A Nautilus power strip added additional outlets.

One of the best-sounding rooms was in the “If you have to ask how much….” category. Coming in all together at a formidable $1.4 million, The Luxury Audio Group and Scott Walker Audio curated a fantastic system featuring the exceptional Estelon Extreme MK II speakers, Four Vitus SM-103 amplifiers, Vitus SM-103 Preamplifier, the Vitus SD-025 DAC sourced from a pair of Sonorus Reel to Reel decks (Because you need one to play and the other to change the tape!) all powered and connected via Crystal Cables ART series Da Vinci and Van Gogh cables plus the limited edition Infinity power cables. Playing a live session of Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy, the sound was nearly lifelike. Imaging was life-size within the fabulous soundstage. Hearing a price-no-object system deliver on its promises is a special treat. A truly special presentation!

The Sound Organisation was flying the Union flag high at AXPONA. The new Rega Planar 3 RS (Special Edition) and Neo MKII PSU fitted with the classic RB330 tonearm and the latest and award-winning ND5 moving magnet cartridge ($1,795) sourced a system using the new Rega Mercury Preamplifier and Solis Amplifier (Price TBD). The DAC was the Chord DAVE ($14,400), and all were fronting the Proac K3 speakers ($15,495). This was a lovely system that would work great in my listening room. Full bass with an outstanding midrange and excellent imaging. You spent more time in this room than your schedule wanted you to. I spent the extra time gladly!

CH Precision had a more modest room that showcased their I1 Integrated amplifier ($38,000 to $55,000) and D1.5 CD/SACD/MQA Transport ($38,000). The turntable was a Dr. Feickert Woodpecker with Acoustical Systems Aquilar 10” tonearm and Archon cartridge. Speakers were the Magico S3’s ($45,500 – $52,500). Also available for a listen were the smaller siblings from Wattson Audio, the Madison LE Streamer/Preamplifier ($4,995) and Madison Amplifier ($6,495). Cables were all Nordost Blue Heaven and Red Dawn. I have been a fan of CH Precision for some time. A full-on CH system offers high-end performance but can be expensive. The exciting thing about the Wattson Audio gear is that it shares the same DNA as CH gear, as many of the engineers from each firm have worked together over the years. Playing through the excellent Magico S3’s, the Wattson Audio gear was one of the show’s surprises, offering up a strong percentage of the CH Precision performance for a small percentage of the price. Well worth a listen for any value-conscious audio fan.

Scott Berry and Isabel Whitley were on hand from Computer Audio Design to showcase their newly updated CAD 1543 DAC MK III. Playing through a system using an Aesthetix Integrated amp and featuring CAD ground controls and filters to manage excessive high frequencies, the system offered full-bodied, fatigue-free listening through the Stenheim Model 2.0 stand mount speakers. Once again, finding a smaller system that could provide full and precise playback and not require a ballroom to fit it in was exciting. Another longer listen than expected. Something that for me was always a show highlight. Thanks again to Scott and Isabel, and congratulations on their continued sonic success!

Bel Canto and YG Acoustics have developed quite a pairing over the last few years. Their collaboration on the Vantage 3 Live active speaker system has been a revelation in sound. At AXPONA 2025 they showed a classic but simple passive speaker system featuring the YG Acoustics Hailey 3’s ($63,400) sourced by the Bel Canto Black ACI600 Integrated/DAC/Streamer/Preamplifier with Phono Pre ($30,000) and a Pure Fidelity Harmony turntable in quilted Maple with a Savant tonearm ($13,995) and Stratos cartridge ($1,995). Cables were Cardas Clear Beyond with a Nautilus power conditioner using Harmonic Resolution Systems stand. Simple, elegant and stunning both in looks and sound. The ACI600 has the chops to tune a room, and the YG Hailey’s tweeter waveguide delivers incredible imaging and sound staging. Bring your favourite listening chair and stay awhile.

Ten years ago, at AXPONA, I walked into the Sonner Audio room for the first time and was blown away by a modest pair of standmounts. It was their first show and their coming-out party for the industry. Ten productive years later, they are back with their Flagship Allegro MKII speakers ($12,000) and Allegro Reference stands ($4,000). Powered by the Audion Black Shadow 2 MKII 845 Single Ended Triode tube mono amplifiers ($13,500 per pair) and fronted by an Ayre QX5 Twenty Full2 DAC-Digital Preamplifier ($15,000). All cables are by Atlas. This was my small system, best of show. Half an hour of genre-switching deep listening revealed a system for true audio connoisseurs. A physics-defying low end that was tight and controlled, a mid-range of silk and highs that soared. Gunny Surya of Sonner Audio was a knowledgeable and gracious audio host of the show. A truly exceptional experience.

ampsandsound (yes, a lower-case ‘a’) is a Southern California audio company focusing on bespoke handmade tube equipment and horn speakers. Justin Weber, owner and chief engineer, began his designs in the headphone space, where we met fifteen years ago. Today, he offers some of the finest two-channel gear for any tube and low-watt fans (his headphone amps are also exceptional and could be heard at the Ear Gear experience in the convention centre). His Sasquatch three-way horn speakers ($17,000 per pair) were fronted by his ampsandsound Yellowstone preamplifier ($25,000) and the Black Pearl amplifier ($19,000). The turntable was the Denon DP-3000NE ($2,499) with a Denon OJAS Dl103o MM cartridge ($549). Digital was via the ANK dac 4.1x (3,500). Cables were all Cardas Clear. Rack by Butcher Block Acoustics ($2,300). Russ Stratton was spinning vinyl, and we rode a nice  ’70s-early ’80s ride. Perhaps the highlight was ‘Riders on the Storm’ from the Doors off the 1971 L.A. Woman album. I needed a towel after the rain; the soundstage was so enveloping. Meticulous craftsmanship meets quality sound. These are heirloom products to be treasured.

A note about equipment racks throughout the show: A couple of years ago, I saw a couple of rooms with Lateral Audio Stands. This year, many rooms were using them. The room owners universally praised them when I asked about them, including the Counterpoint 1.0 – 1.1 reference series ($4,200 – $15,000). It’s nice to see a newer company in this critical space earning a strong reputation as it grows. Bravo!

Lars Kristensen from Borresen and Audio Group Denmark was showcasing their first subwoofer, currently called Bass Module (Price TBD). They were paired with the new flagship Borresen M2 Speakers ($190,000 per pair) and fronted by a rack of flagship Aavik gear, including the C-880 Preamp ($70,000), P-880 Amplifier ($70,000), and Aavik R-880 Optical Phono Pre ($70,000). The new Bass Modules are designed to perform with exact timing to the music, allowing perfect signal extension between the speakers and sub with no lag or latency, just broader and deeper signal extension for a time-accurate and complete sound field. The with and without demo was impressive, the Bass Modules added measurably to the presentation without attracting specific attention to themselves. They provided, as they say, MOAR! And it was a good thing.

Michael Kraske of Credo Audio and Amadeus Meitner from EMM Labs hosted a fantastic room in the convention centre, highlighting the flagship gear from each firm. The Credo Cinema LTM speakers ($200,000 per pair) were joined by the EMM Labs MTRX/2 V2 Mono amplifiers, EMM Labs PRE and DA2i DAC/Streamer. A Dr. Feickert Blackbird turntable supplied with an analogue with a DS Audio Grand Master optical phono cartridge running through the EMM Labs DS-EQ1 V2 Optical cartridge equaliser. The system presented a big and bold sound in a large ballroom, energising the space with authority. A big space needs a big soundstage, which is what we got. It was a thrilling demonstration and a successful pairing for these two high-end companies.

AXPONA is the largest audio show in North America. It offers three days of exploration into various products and system combinations. 2025’s show was the most successful in attendance, vendor rooms and implementation of audio devices. It is also almost impossible to cover everything. These rooms were some of the highlights I experienced throughout the 3 day weekend. Having covered AXPONA for over a decade, the AXPONA team strives to make the show more diverse in new areas of the audio universe. The public appreciates their efforts. Should you get a chance to make it to the Chicago area next year on April 10-12, 2026, I highly recommend the trip!

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