AXPONA 2026
- Thread starter DC
- Start date
Busy day, a few early impressions:
These powered monitors from Dynaudio sounded superb. (Pricy, but superb.) Full-range and dynamic, with smooth yet articulate treble.
Jeff Catalano from High Water Sound (NYC) had perhaps the most “musical” presentation of the day. Purposeful selection of gear (mostly European boutique) and only vinyl, plus careful room tuning with corner treatments and three large Hemholtz resonators behind the speakers and gear. Effective.
These gigantic Altec panels overwhelmed the room, but sounded terrific - nice balance and spot-on timbre. (I judged with my eyes what I assumed the sound would be and was pleasantly surprised, would love to hear them in a proper space.)
This new Revox tape deck was the best-sounding source (no surprise) to my eager ears. I wish I could afford to swim in those waters. Sigh.
These powered monitors from Dynaudio sounded superb. (Pricy, but superb.) Full-range and dynamic, with smooth yet articulate treble.
Jeff Catalano from High Water Sound (NYC) had perhaps the most “musical” presentation of the day. Purposeful selection of gear (mostly European boutique) and only vinyl, plus careful room tuning with corner treatments and three large Hemholtz resonators behind the speakers and gear. Effective.
These gigantic Altec panels overwhelmed the room, but sounded terrific - nice balance and spot-on timbre. (I judged with my eyes what I assumed the sound would be and was pleasantly surprised, would love to hear them in a proper space.)
This new Revox tape deck was the best-sounding source (no surprise) to my eager ears. I wish I could afford to swim in those waters. Sigh.
went today. whew. its a LOT. heard some stellar (naturalistic) sounds. and more mediocre (artificial-y) sounds. apparently not everyone shares my sonic preferences. 
seemed the busiest/crowded of any friday i have gone.
if anyone is on the fence - do it. a most intense audio experience.
seemed the busiest/crowded of any friday i have gone.
if anyone is on the fence - do it. a most intense audio experience.
I didn't hear them myself on Friday but in speaking with other attendees they were highly recommended.
I'll be manning a table (#9139) today (Saturday) in the exhibition hall periodically and invite any HH members to stop by and say, "Hey".
I snapped quite a few “quick” pics, but didn’t take good notes. A few highlights:
This system was set up out in the open (think wide hallway) on a Mezzanine level. As I approached (prepare for classic cliché) I thought they had a live music performance, but it turned out to be a $1.9M stereo instead. I swear I took a pic of the system info but I can’t find it. (Yes, the amplifiers are four feet tall.)
This system was set up out in the open (think wide hallway) on a Mezzanine level. As I approached (prepare for classic cliché) I thought they had a live music performance, but it turned out to be a $1.9M stereo instead. I swear I took a pic of the system info but I can’t find it. (Yes, the amplifiers are four feet tall.)
A few other highlights:
Yet another nice system set up in a hallway, this one only $100k:
(Man, Accuphase is such nice stuff. This wasn’t the only setup.)
Obligatory $300k turntable with $35k cartridge:
Tits & Ass room/system always sounds superb:
And what a cool device to show the various stylus profiles at one of the Audio Technica displays, this was a headphone/phono listening station is a small side room:
Yet another nice system set up in a hallway, this one only $100k:
(Man, Accuphase is such nice stuff. This wasn’t the only setup.)
Obligatory $300k turntable with $35k cartridge:
Tits & Ass room/system always sounds superb:
And what a cool device to show the various stylus profiles at one of the Audio Technica displays, this was a headphone/phono listening station is a small side room:
One year, I attended with @Wntrmute2, and we heard a million-dollar system set up in a very large room. They were playing Kind Of Blue from a SACD or Hi-Rez file. Anyway, I had closed my eyes and was really enjoying the music, and when Freddy Freeloader ended, I started to clap, thinking I was at a live concert. Whoops.
That’s part of the magic. Often it doesn’t happen, but sometimes it does, and that’s what makes it fun.
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