AXPONA 2026 by Dave Thomas

 

 

 

Funny thing about high-end audio shows like AXPONA: no matter how long it’s been since you last attended one, they get familiar real quick. Yes, a lot of the same people and manufacturers are there year after year. Still, what makes them most familiar is that many manufacturers exhibit in the same rooms alongside similarly looking and sounding systems. But that can be a good thing when your room continues to produce some of the best-sounding music. Companies like VAC, PS Audio, T+A, Vitus Audio, and Fyne Audio were among the many that took advantage of familiar surroundings. Couple that with a huge, enthusiastic crowd, a great venue like the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, and you’ve got yourself an audiophile’s dream weekend. Please enjoy this report on some of this year’s sights.

 

The Ear Gear Experience was, as usual, bustling.

 

Loudspeakers as art from Legacy Audio, anyone?

 

The Titan from YG Acoustics ($910,000/pr in nickel finish), powered by four Simaudio Moon 888 monoblock amplifiers ($60,000/each), and Moon 850P preamp ($36,000), and 810LP phono preamp ($13,500). Source components from Taiko Audio (digital) and AMG (analog). $1.2M+ and it’s all yours.

 

Goldmund, Marten, and Jorma sounded like… Goldmund Marten and Jorma. Luxury sound, luxury build, luxury, you know what.

 

 

The Clearaudio Celebrity “Al Di Meola” Edition Turntable.

 

The Dutch & Dutch 15C DSP-controlled loudspeaker ($130,000/pr). Yes, they sound as massive as they look.

The Dynaudio Confidence 30 loudspeakers ($24,000/pr), Aragon Tungsten preamp and Titanium power amp, and Bag End subs. Surprisingly, one of the most dynamic pairings at the show.

 

High-end retailer, Juan Charvet of Bliss Hifi, put on a great demo featuring the Clarisys Audio Piccolo Mk 2 planar loudspeakers ($65,000/pr), powered by the Orpheus Labs Absolute A Four 1200 Integrated Amp ($23,700) and the A Zero SACD Player and DAC ($25,900). A Synergistic Research Quark Streaming Music Server ($7,995) provided the music. 

 

 

The Magico room featured the S7 loudspeakers ($200,000/pr) powered by Pilium Cronus amplification and dCS digital source—a great combination of power and musicality. I wish I could have spent more time in this room.

 

Vandersteen never disappoints. This room featured the Kento loudspeakers ($47,000/pr) powered by their M5-HPA monoblock amplifiers ($21,000/pr) and L5-ACC Audio Control Center ($15,000). The analog source was an AMG Viella Forte w/12J Turbo tonearm ($36,500) and Lyra Atlas Lambda MC cartridge ($14,500). Digital was via the Aurender N30SA server/streamer ($27,500), MC10 master clock ($17,600), and NH10 network hub ($4,300). I’ve never heard a Vandersteen system I didn’t love, and that holds true here. Great dynamics and musicality on every track I heard.

 

The Listening Room featured Diptyque DP160 MK II loudspeakers ($29,999/pr) powered by the Kora TA 480 amp, PR 140 preamp ($6,999), and CD 140 CD Player ($8,499). The digital source was the Matrix Audio TS-1 Music Streamer/DAC/Headphone amp ($2,499). The system was connected with VIABLUE.

 

A real pleasant surprise for me was the Grandinote and Kimber Kable room. The Grandinote Mach 8 Evoluzione loudspeakers ($128,000/pr) powered by their SOLO integrated amp w/DAC ($28,600). The system was connected with Kimber KS6065 speaker cables ($12,480/pr) and Palladian PK10 power cables ($2,336 each). This was one of those rare rooms where you feel as though the system sounds like what it costs.

 

The Wynn Audio room featured the dazzling Avalos Sound Design Ola speakers ($370,000/pr) powered by Karan Acoustics electronics and Thiele TT01 turntable.

 

Do my eyes deceive me, or is that a new pair of subs I see with the PS Audio Aspen FR30? Yes, those are the new Foundry F12 subs ($2,749). That’s a load of PS Audio firepower, and the way it portrayed music during their demo was spectacular.

 

 

 

Audio Solutions and Esoteric in the Playback Distribution room.

 

On the top is the new Jones & Cerreta Troubadour loudspeaker ($33,900/pr). On the bottom is the MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition loudspeaker ($7,995/pr). Legendary speaker designer Andrew Jones designed both speakers. I’ll give you a minute…

 

 

For the second consecutive year, one of the best-sounding systems at the show was a system that Quintessence Audio, a local Chicago-area dealer, set up outside(!) its main listening rooms. Like last year, this system was anchored by Fyne Audio speakers. But this year it was the spectacular F704SP speakers ($25,999/pr), powered by the Accuphase C2300 preamp ($16,250 w/phono) and the A80 stereo amp. The analog source was the Clearaudio DC AiR turntable with Tracer tonearm ($8,000) and Hana Umami Red MC cartridge ($3,950). Digital was handled by the Innuos Stream 3 with Phoenix DAC ($12,600).

Another beauty from Fyne Audio, the F1-12S ($52,499/pr) and Fyne SuperTrax Supertweeter ($4,000/pr).

 

 

The T+A room. One of my favorite rooms last year was just as enjoyable this year. The S540 loudspeakers, being driven by the A3100 Power Amp and SDX 3100HV Streaming Preamp/DAC, were spectacular and a great way to kick off my listening day.

 

Another Playback Distribution room with Audio Solutions speakers and Esoteric electronics. This time it’s the Virtuosa loudspeakers ($60,000/pr) with the Esoteric gear. Is it just me, or do these products look disturbingly good together?

 

First time hearing the Auer Acoustics Versura V2 loudspeakers ($45,000/pr) was impressive. They were connected to a Solution 717 amp, Stromtank Quantum power conditioners, MSB Cascade DAC, and an Oladra Streamer. The system produced a full-range sound despite the show conditions.

Thank God for great-sounding, affordable audio. The Forte Distribution/Eversolo room. The system comprised an Eversolo DMP-A10, T8 streaming transport, DAC-Z10, and an AMP-F10 amplifier driving a pair of Burmester B28 speakers. What a musically satisfying system and not too abusive to the wallet (well, rethink the $27k speakers and consider the delightful Chesky Audio LC2 at $2k a pair).

 

Zesto Audio has some of the most consistently satisfying demos at AXPONA, and this year’s room was no different. Analog was handled by the Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable ($9,900) with Tri-Planar VII-U2 tonearm ($7,500) and Zesto Andros Spirit cartridge ($3,997). Amplification was the Zesto Leto Ultra II preamp ($11,900) and Eros 500 Select monoblocks ($35,000/pr). Speakers were a pair of YG Acoustics Sonja 3.2 ($106,800/pr). Stillpoints provided the stands and cables; they were from Cardas.

 

The great Loricraft Audio PRC4i Professional Record Cleaner($4,995).

 

The JBL Summit Series Pumori loudspeakers ($30,000/pr) driven by the Mark Levinson No.626 preamp ($25,000) and No. 632 power amp ($30,000). The source was an Arcam ST25 Network Streamer ($1,650). Huge, powerful soundstage with dynamics and lifelike musicality. A great combination.

 

Another win for affordable audio: this system features the LAiV Crescendo VERSE DAC/Preamp/Headphone Amp ($849) and Crescendo Chorus ($994), driving a pair of Pure Audio Project Duet15s w/Voxativ AC-1.6 speakers.

 

The Western Electric room was a mixed bag. All the components were huge and belonged in a much bigger room. But what was coming out of the massive A2 loudspeakers ($150,000/pr) was delicate, airy, and holographic, powered by the WE 100E mono amps ($150,000/pr) and the WE91e preamp ($80,000). The source was a WE 203C CD Player ($12,000).

 

The Magnepan room featured the 1.7X ($5,000/pr) and 1.7i ($2,995/pr) speakers, with the VPE Model 1A Little Dipole Woofer. The speakers were driven by Orchard Audio mono amps ($5,200/pr) and Pass Labs XP-12 preamp ($7,210) and XP-17 phonostage ($4,950). The analog source was a Technics SL-1300G turntable ($4,000), and the digital source was from a Technics CD Player ($4,000).

 

 

The Triangle Art Room. The system I heard featured the Selene 2-way Horn loudspeakers ($20,000/pr) driven by M100 Tube Monoblocks ($25,000/pr), and L200 MK2 Linestage ($25,000). The analog source was the Anubis turntable ($18,000) with Osiris 12″ tonearm ($9,000) and Apollo cartridge ($9,000). The system is connected with the Rhea Ultimate and Reference cables. A lot of beauty. A lot of sound. A lot of money. What high-end audio is all about… right?

A closer look at the Triangle Art Anubis ($18,000). Breathtaking.

Wow! That describes the look and sound of these remarkable active speakers, the Dynaudio Confidence 20A ($24,000/pr).

 

A full Bricasti system, including the S7 loudspeakers ($36,000/pr). They feature a three-way design with a beryllium dome tweeter, 3″ midrange and (2) 7.5″ woofers. They were driven by the M28 mono amps, M3 and M21 DACs, and M5 Network Streamer.

 

Peak Consult speakers and Orpheus Labs electronics.

 

In the Audio Thesis room, the Rosso Fiorentino Arno 20 Loudspeakers were driven by a Hart Lab Tune Six Reference Integrated amp. Considering that both products were unknown to me, I was thrilled by how well they paired. Audio Thesis is the distributor for both products.

 

Triple-stacked REL S/550 subs ($3,300/each) with Wilson Audio Watt/Puppies. The speakers were driven by a D’Agostino Momentum integrated amp. The subs certainly made the music sound bigger. That was an improvement.

 

The Hegel and Kef room rounds out this year’s show report. These are two of my favorite companies because of their variety and consistently good products. This simple but highly enjoyable system consisted of the Hegel H600 integrated amp ($12,500) driving a pair of Kef Blade 1 Metas ($44,000/pr).

So that’s it for the 2026 AXPONA. I started this report by saying this show started to feel familiar right away because so many exhibitors use the same rooms and play the same music (just how much of Nils Lofgren’s “Keith Don’t Go” or Dominique Fils-Aime’s “Birds” can one take). But I also have to admit that I heard a lot of great-sounding, though disturbingly expensive systems this year, which triggered another familiar feeling… I can’t wait until next year’s AXPONA. See you there.