I woke up Friday morning with the giddy excitement of a kid visiting a world-class candy store. AXPONA 2024 had officially kicked off, and as a dedicated audio enthusiast and writer, I was ready to dive headfirst into the ocean of high-end audio gear.
When I stepped through the doors of the Schaumburg Convention Center, the energy was infectious. Everywhere I looked, audiophiles were in deep conversations, their eyes sparkling as they demoed the latest and greatest systems. The sheer scale of AXPONA is always a bit overwhelming but in the best possible way. That said, I couldn’t help but notice fewer people milling around, and I wondered why.
On the other hand, this was Friday, the first day, and there are usually fewer people than on Saturday, which is traditionally the busiest day. The parking lots also seemed to be quite full, so AXPONA still seemed to be living up to its billing as the largest audio show in the United States.
After picking up my press pass, my first stop was the big rooms (and systems) on the first floor, which immediately caught my eye (and ears). They all had towering pairs of speakers, their finish gleaming like a sports car and blasting music with lifelike scale and volume.
As usual, the PS Audio room was on the first floor, right next to registration. There, a substantial grouping of PS Audio electronics drove their innovative Aspen FR20 loudspeakers, which sounded good! This is no small feat, as the larger ballroom setups are tricky to get right. I think it’s due to the cavernous dimensions and the high ceilings, which have an annoying echo.
That said, their system nicely filled the room with a fantastic scale and coherence, and I would love to hear the FR20 in a quieter setting. In addition, they had the rest of their aspen loudspeakers, along with the rest of their Amps, DACs, and Power Conditioners, on static display. The new Aspen FR5 bookshelf speaker piqued my interest, which, at $3500 a pair, I would’ve loved to hear. I wish they had local dealers to demo their stuff.
From there, it was a whirlwind. Room after room, my senses were bombarded with sonic marvels. One highlight was the Mofi Distribution room, where I first saw the new MoFi Electronics SourcePoint 888 Floorstanding Speakers ($4999). These are the new floorstanders from Andrew Jones, and they had his signature rich, smooth sound, which plays well with many genres. They matched them with some Mastersound tube monoblock amps, which always wow me when I hear them. I never considered myself a tube guy, but I always find myself drawn to them. Mofi also had a lot of other stuff in the room, including the new retro Sandwich speakers from LEAK and some Hifi Rose streamers/amps, amongst other things.
Another highlight of the big rooms was the Focal/Naim room, which never disappoints. It was set up pretty much the same as last year. Still, they had some new stuff on display, including the new Focal Aria Evo X N°3 floorstanding speakers ($5200), which they had paired up with some reasonably priced electronics from Musical Fidelity, including the M2Si integrated ($1149). The little system sounded pretty good as far as I could tell in the noisy area, but I would love to hear more.
Additionally, they had their obligatory flagship system on display, comprised of Focal Grande Utopia EVO Speakers ($279,998 pr.) and $20,000 of Naim Statement gear, and it was rocking! You also had headphone systems and static displays covering all the Focal/Naim offerings.
One of the joys of AXPONA is the unexpected encounters. I discovered some small manufacturers showcasing innovative speaker designs in some of the other ballrooms. A remarkable one was the Aries Cenat Aurora, a three-way horn speaker shaped like a cube.
This speaker had three unorthodox axes, including four bass drivers on the faces of the cube, a midrange compression driver mounted inside a large horn, and a ribbon tweeter mounted on the side. The speakers sounded remarkably cohesive, and I had to take a minute to read about the thought process behind these speakers. Moments like these are pure gold, offering significant insights into audio innovation.
I also saw a beautiful system with speakers from Stratton Acoustics, a brand I was hearing for the first time. They are made and designed in Britain; I haven’t seen anything like them. The speakers had beautiful details, especially in the stands, which made them look like works of art.
Some show mainstays, including Dynaudio, Acora Acoustics, Vimberg, and local company Legacy Audio, returned with impressive rooms.
Of course, AXPONA isn’t just about gear. I bumped into familiar faces like industry veterans and fellow writers, along with some passionate audiophiles I was meeting for the first time. There’s a heartening camaraderie in this community. Everyone was there because they loved the pursuit of incredible sound.
As day one wound down, my ears were buzzing, my notebook was a mess of scribbles, and my feet were more than a little sore. But I couldn’t stop smiling. AXPONA reminds me why I’m obsessed with this world. The endless pursuit of better sound, the blend of artistry and technology… these are the things that fuel my passion. And I knew the next day promised just as much excitement.
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I’m an audio writer who started as a young audio salesman/consumer electronics professional back in the late 90s. That’s where I discovered the magic of 2-Channel sound. My hunger for great sound has led me on a delightful music quest that continues today.
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