Products of note. There were lots (and lots) or things at Axpona 2025 I wished I could get to know better having been bit by their charms during my fleeting time in their company.
Ø Audio Icon 12
Perhaps the most buzz at Axpona 2025, at least the buzz that came my way before and during even after, had Norway’s Ø Audio at the tippy top. Pictured here and playing at the show in a room hosted by Harmonia Distribution are their Icon 12 loudspeakers ($23,400/pair), a floorstanding, leaning?, 2-way with a horn-loaded 3.4″ carbon fiber tweeter and a 12″ ultra-linear long-stroke woofer. Sensitivity is rated at an amp-friendly 92dB and the Icons sit in the middle of the Ø Audio 3 speaker range. I expressed more than interest in the larger Verdande and its 15” woofer. Woof!
Dynaudio Confidence 20A Loudspeakers
Just add source. The new active 2-way Confidence 20A loudspeakers ($24,000/pair) feature the same Esotar 3 / 7″ NeoTec MSP woofer pairing as found in the Dynaudio‘s Contour 20 Black Edition but here they’re powered by 400W (woofer) and 150W (tweeter) of Class-D power. And the cool part is all of the electronics—amps, DAC, DSP, etc.—are inside the included stand. The even cooler part is they were filling the not-small room at Axpona 2025 effortlessly. Nice.
ModWright KWA 300 Reference Solid-State Power Amplifier
I was very impressed with Dan ModWright’s KWH 225i Hybrid Integrated Amplifier I reviewed back in 2022 for its “superb control as low as your transducers go with dead quiet operation, extreme separation, and a sweetness that makes music sound rich and ripe and delicious.” Seeing as the KWH 225i offers 225 Watts (into 8 Ohms) of power, can you guess that number for the new ModWright KWA 300? Yup, 300. More power, when it comes to hifi, is not a bad thing.
Wattson Audio Madison Amplifier & Madison LE DAC
The mighty and relatively mini products from Wattson Audio have turned more than my head and you’ll find their Emerson Analog streaming DAC and Madison streaming DAC on my list of digital favorites. I recommend both to most everyone looking for a simple, great-sounding streaming DAC solution. Inside scoop (OK it’s kinda outside but worth repeating)—Wattson Audio is now “a CH Precision company” and there’s some CH DNA in the new Madison amp and LE DAC. I hope to see both in Barn very soon. Stay tuned.
Golden Ear T44 Loudspeakers
Meet the GoldenEar T66’s little brothers. You can think of them as a smaller version of the impressive, especially for the money, T66 I reviewed back in March of last year because that’s what they are. Price is TBD but their sound was TBE (To Be Enjoyed).
Air Tight ATM-1E Stereo Power Amplifier
What’s not to love? Originally introduced in 1986, the Air Tight EL34-based ATM-1 ($14,975) is a slice of classic hifi goodness. Yum.
True Audio Distribution | G.I.P.
I am more than intrigued by the G.I.P. 4165 field coil loudspeaker system, distributed in the US by True Audio Distribution, that sports a replica of the Western Electric fullrange 4165 woofer (originally built in 1933) paired with the G.I.P. TW 38 tweeter. One thing I’d love to hear—this same system in a larger room. That said, I went back on Sunday afternoon and with the help some minimal room treatment this system was swinging even sweeter.
Grimm Audio LS1c Active Loudspeaker System
Grimm Audio is on a roll. Their MU1 and MU2 digital products rank among my favorites and I chose to make the MU1 my server/streamer for good. The new LS1c (starts at $26,500/pair) is the company’s latest and greatest iteration of the Ls1 active speaker platform and the most relevant information I can share is this very pair are en-route to the Barn as I type. Stay tuned for more…
Magnepan & Rogue Audio
Just like eggs and bacon, every time I sit in front of Magnepan & Rogue Audio system, I smile. The Magnepan 1.7x ($4995/pair) got their power from Rogue Audio’s ST-100 Dark Amplifier ($4995) and new RP-3 Preamplifier ($3495) and I want more. (and no, those prices are not missing a zero).
Nagaoka Cartridges
I own and still love my Nagaoka MP-110 Cartridge that runs around $140, which is nearly free in hifi numbers. Founded in 1940, this was the company’s first appearance at Axpona and they had a room showing off a number of their colorful cartridges.
Directly across the hall, the Nagaoka MP-700 ($1399) was in play on the very appealing (hint) Technics SL-1300G turntable ($3299). To state the overstated, I love hifi companies with real history and these are two well worth your attention.
Treehaus Audiolab 300B-2 SET Amplifier
Did you know I have a thing for 300B-absed amplifiers? Now you do, if you didn’t. Rich Pinto from Treehaus Audiolab makes two and his 300B-2 SET Amplifier was at work at Axpona 2025 powering a pair of his Phantom Of Luxury Field Coil loudspeakers I reviewed just about a year ago. Between you and me, I plan to explore some 300B amps in the near future…
Well Tempered Lab Amadeus 354 GT Turntable
I think it’s fair to say my good pal Alex Halberstadt loved the Well Tempered Lab Amadeus 354 GT Turntable ($8750) which he wrote about in his highly recommended Brilliant Corners column for Stereophile. I stole a few moments in its presence at Axpona 2025 but more time would be welcome when and if the time comes I stick my ears back into analog reviews….
ampandsound
Justin Weber’s ampandsound room at Axpona 2025 was mostly filled with ampandsound gear from his modified Audio Note Kit DAC to the Yellowstone preamplifier ($25,000 top left), Black Pearl XL SE amplifier ($19,000 bottom right), and Sasquatch speakers ($17,000/pair). While I think this small room wasn’t doing this system any favors, I heard enough goodness to be interested in further exploration.