AXPONA 2018 Show Report – Day 2

Room 458: Verity Audio, AnalogueWorks, High Fidelity Services, Signal Projects, Trilogy Audio Systems, Vibex. Speakers: Verity Audio Otello ($18,695). Amplifier: Trilogy Audio Systems 925 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier ($15,995). Phono Pre: Trilogy Audio Systems 907 Phono Preamp ($3,995). Turntable: TW Acustic GT SE with TW 10.5 Tone arm ($18,000). Cartridge: Ortofon A95 ($6,500). Digital: Melco N1ZH Mk. 2 ($4,995). IC cables: Signal Projects IC and speaker cables. Power cables: Vibex V3 and Granada Dual DC and Alhambra AC Mains Power Filters ($5,000).

Room 462: CH Precision, Haniwa, Thales Turntable and Tonearm, YG Acoustics. YG Carmel 2 speakers: $24,300. I1 Integrated amplifier: starting at $38,000. D1 SACD / CD transport: starting at $38,000. Thalès Reference turntable: $14, 000. Thalès Simplicity II tonearm: $9,000. Haniwa HCTR01 MK2: $8,000. Set of CH Speaker cables: $2,500. Set of Nordost power cables.

Room 470: Well Pleased AV, ANTICABLES, Aqua Hifi, Audio Hungary, Gigawatt, Innuos, Kanso Audio Furniture, Rethm Bhaava speakers ($4,499/pr). This room is featuring the new Aqua Hifi La Voce S3 Discrete DAC ($4,700), Innuos Zenith SE server ($7,000), Gigawatt PC-3 EVO SE power conditioner ($6,300), and Audio Hungary QUALITON A50i, Class-A integrated amplifier (2 x 50W, ~$8,000). This combination of gear sounded incredibly smooth, resolving, with the right amount of tonal weight and timbre. One of the best sounding rooms at the show. Shout outs to Mark Sossa of Well Pleased AV.

Room 474: Western Electric, Gauder Akustik.

Room 478: Emerald Physics, DSpeaker, LSA, Outlaw Audio, WyWires. Prototype LSA-10 Statement ($3,4950/pr) and LSA-20 Signature ($3,495/pr) and Statement ($5,995/pr) monitors.

Room 482: Fidelis, Acoustic Signature, Aurender, MSB, Stein Music, Stenheim, VAC. Stenheim Alumine FIVE speakers ($50,000/pr). VAC’s new Sigma 170i integrated amplifier ($14,000). Acoustic Signature’s new Double X turntable. MSB Analog DAC ($9,950). Aurender N10 ($8,000). Tellurium Statement speaker cables ($13,900/pr). Stein Music H2 Harmonizer ($2,395/set).

Room 486: Vinnie Rossi, Fidelis, Harbeth, Triode Wire Labs, and Acoustic Signature. Vinnie Rossi LIO DHT Preamp ($12,580) and L2 Signature Monoblocks (Shipping June 2018). Triode Wire Labs “Seven Plus” power cords ($549+), American Speaker Cables ($699+/set), and Discrete USB ($299). Check out Triode Wire Labs here. Unfortunately, the Harbeth 40.2 weren’t plugged in when we arrived. However, we were amazed to find out the huge sound was coming from the tiny Harbeth P3ESR 40th Anniversary Edition ($2,890/pr, only in Olive Wood)! Sweet, textured sound with convincing timbre and dynamics. I’m very tempted to get a pair. The Harbeth 40.2 40th Anniversary Edition is priced at $17,990/pr and is available in Walnut, Silver Eucalyptus, and Olive Wood. The Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary Edition is priced at $6,890/pr and available in Silver Eucalyptus only.

Room 594: Gobel Audio. One of the new products at the show, the Epoque Aeon Fine ($140,000/pr). Incorporates the unique bending wave technology: This bending wave technology is based on the principals of sound creation through musical instruments. It had an unconventional sound for a speaker (in a good way) and provided a very resolving and tactile sound that was very “accurate” sounding. One of my favorite sounds from the show.

Room 504: Bel Canto Design, TIDAL speakers.

Bel Canto Black EX integrated

Room 506: Silnote Audio Cables, Allnic, Magnepan. Magnepan 3.7i speakers ($5,995/pair)

Room 510: Wyred 4 Sound & Fritz Speakers. W4S MS ($3,499), Recovery USB Reclocker ($199), DAC-2v2se 10th Anniversary ($4,499), STP-SE Preamp ($1,999), ST-750-LE ($1,799). Fritz Carrera BE ($3,500/pr).

These Fritz LS 7 ILLUMINATOR are quite the sexy ($3,800/pr)

Room 514: Clarus Cable

Room 518: Parts Express

Dayton Audio Epqieu CBT24K Line Array Speaker kit ($995/pair). Interesting piece. Based upon declassified U.S. Navy underwater sound research, the legendary Don B. Keele Jr., in conjunction with Dayton Audio developed the Epique CBT24 floor-standing curved line array. The CBT24 provides sonic accuracy and sound field coverage control surpassing even the finest high-end loudspeakers.

Room 528: Burwell & Sons, Rogers High Fidelity. Rogers EHF-200 + EHF-200 MK2 integrated, PA-1A Photo preamp, Burwell & Sons speakers ($80,000/pair)

Room 532: High Fidelity Cables. It’s Rick Sch…what the heck is that a Tesla coil??