Axpona 2024

3 days, 200 listening rooms, 9,000+ attendees, 600+ high-end audio brands, 445 photos.

DeVore Fidelity O/bronze + Komuro K300S Stereo Amplifier + spinning 78s = hifi heaven.

I bet you saw this one coming from a mile away.

I first met Tone Imports proprietor Jonathan Halpern long before I started writing about hifi while he was working at NYC dealer In Living Stereo and just beginning to import the exquisite gear from Japan’s Shindo Laboratory.

One of my favorite systems I had the pleasure of living with and reviewing, ever, was comprised of a pair of Rockport Atria II loudspeakers powered by a Soulution 330 integrated amplifier.

I first met and reviewed a product from Vinnie Rossi in 2005 and while I like to think we’ve  both come a long way, Vinnie has more demonstrable proof in his line of BRAMA gear.

Some people know how to get great sound at a hifi show regardless of room gremlins and Jeff Joseph of Joseph Audio is one such hifi show setup pro.

Think BIG.

Vive la différence!

One of the things I love about a hifi show is difference because difference reminds us there are as many ways to approach hifi design as there are hifi designers.

I’ve heard a number of speakers from Switzerland’s Stenheim over the years at shows and my reaction to them, more specifically to the systems they’ve been part of, has been a bit mixed.

I hold fond memories of my time with the Marten Parker Trio and Constellation Inspiration Integrated 1.0, both things I reviewed that also sit on my Favorite Gear Lists.

I know my way around some YG and Ayre having reviewed the YG Summit loudpseakers and an entire Ayre stack.

It’s been some time, Axpona 2019, since I’ve had the pleasure of hearing a complete Gryphon system.

Distributor/Dealer Jeff Catalano of High Water Sound is a professional.