Big room, no make that huge room, small speakers. Not typically a winning combination in my experience.
But the diminutive (especially in this context) Joseph Audio Pulsar2 Graphene Mini Monitors fittingly filled the massive Nirvana A at Axpona 2026 ballroom with help from regular show partners Doshi Audio (electronics), J. Sikora (turntables), and Cardas Audio (cables). Similar setups were on my Favorite list from Axpona 2024 and CAF 2025. Why mess with a good thing?
During my stay Jeff played a track from the recently released Blue Note Tone Poet remaster of Sinatra’s seminal 1955 album In The Wee Small Hours which is my favorite Sinatra record. I grew up with his music as my father was a Springsteen-level fan for a more recent NJ native musical reference. Bruuuuuce! Frankie! And I’m not at all shy about the fact that I mist up a few times per hifi show because of the music in play and I swallowed a few extra big gulps while memories of Mick (that’s what I called my father) and times past flooded my present from the sweeping sounds of Sinatra and strings courtesy of the always sweepy weepy Nelson Riddle & his orchestra.
The System (in use when I was there)
Joseph Audio Pulsar2 Graphene Mini Monitors: ($9999/pair)
Doshi Audio EVOLUTION Monoblocks: $45,995
Doshi Audio EVOLUTION Preamp: $21,995
Doshi Audio EVOLUTION Custom Stage: from $35,995
J.Sikora Standard MAX 15th Anniversary Turntable: $38,500
J.Sikora KVMAX 12” Tonearm: $14,500
Aidas Gold Mammoth Tusk Limited Addition Cartridge: $10,450
Racks from HRS
Cables from Cardas