AXPONA 2025 – Show Report & Awards

Best of the New

QSA Lanedri

QSA Lanedri made their AXPONA debut this year, and it was one of the rooms I was most eager to visit. I’d heard whispers about their technology, especially their claim that a $5 Amazon power cable could be transformed – through their proprietary treatment- into something that rivals ultra high-end cables. That’s a bold statement, and I wanted to hear it for myself.

Their process permanently alters the performance of conductors in cables, power supplies, and even internal components, aiming to improve clarity, dynamics, and realism. The Ultimatum series, launched in 2023, showed that even modest cables could be elevated into reference-level contenders, earning praise from outlets like Stereo Times and Alpha-Audio. Their newer Veridion treatment builds on that by extracting even more air, texture, and fine detail.

At the show, my longtime friend Roy Foliente and QSA’s co-founder Anas Lanedri set up a blind test between a stock $5 Amazon cable and a $250 QSA-treated version of the same. The difference wasn’t subtle – they didn’t even sound related. In fact, I’ve heard smaller shifts between cables from entirely different brands and design philosophies. Quite remarkable.

When asked about QSA’s treatment, this was their response:

I think the main point we want to stress is that Veridion is a treatment that alters a conductor permanently at the quantum level and can be applied to any conductor. QSA Lanedri is not really just a cable manufacturer and these treated Amazon cables are merely a proof of concept that we can make inexpensive ordinary conductors behave in a fashion that is revolutionary and never before seen in the industry. The treatment can be applied to components like music servers, transports, DACs, preamps, amps, speakers, and any other part of an audio or video chain resulting increased levels of transparency, clarity, dynamics, and perceived resolution. Veridion scales greatest with impure conductors and greater conductor mass which is why we are the only company in the world that would dare market a 4/0 AWG speaker cable and a 1/0 AWG power cord, the largest gauge in existence as far as a commercial audio product.

Does QSA have something that can disrupt the high-end cable market? Possibly. I’ll be getting a few of these cables in for review shortly.

Klipsch La Scala AL6

This room was constantly packed, but I managed to slip in just as Vital Tech Tones’ “Drum Stop, No Good” exploded off the Klipsch La Scala AL6. Victor Wooten’s bass hit with dense authority, while Steve Smith’s snare and cymbals snapped with a speed that felt almost percussive to the chest. The sound was hefty, yet unexpectedly open—muscular and articulate without being congested.

The La Scala AL6 is a reimagining of a Klipsch classic, originally designed by Paul W. Klipsch in 1963. It’s a fully horn-loaded, three-way loudspeaker featuring a new vented bass cabinet, a 3″ K-1133-HP midrange compression driver mated to a Tractrix horn with Mumps for controlled dispersion, and a K-771 tweeter equipped with an extended phase plug for cleaner highs. Available in both passive and active configurations (with an optional DSP crossover), it allows for refined system tuning and integration.

Built by hand in the U.S., the AL6 is finished in real wood veneers—options include American Walnut, Black Ash, and Auburn. At $14,998 per pair, it’s a statement piece worth a listen.

LAiV Audio

While the tonal balance leaned more toward neutrality than my usual preference, the LAiV system rendered music with striking agility and immediacy. Snare hits landed with crisp snap, guitars rang with clarity, and vocals carried a raw, textured edge—never harsh, just honest.

Imaging was impressively focused, especially for a system of this size. Spatial cues felt locked in, and the overall presentation was clean, coherent, and purposeful. The sleek aesthetics and compact footprint make it a compelling option for those seeking performance without visual clutter. Wife approval factor is not a problem with LAiV.

Car Audio Exhibit

This exhibit was a refreshing change of pace, especially given how familiar the AXPONA floor plan has become over the years. It offered a peek into the deep, obsessive world of high-end car audio—something I hadn’t fully explored before. Honestly, a few of the cars sounded better than some of the hotel rooms.

What impressed me most was how they managed to make waveguides and speakers mounted near your knees project sound as if it were coming from ear level. There was definitely a healthy dose of DSP at play, but the results were still impressive. Some owners described the lengths they went to—insulating doors, roofs, and even undercarriages—to create the ideal acoustic environment.

One thing that stood out was their approach to imaging: nearly everyone tuned their systems to place the vocals dead center between driver and passenger. The idea is that you’re both attending the same performance, where you could be a little off-centered. While I personally prefer the vocal image centered at the driver’s seat, I found their perspective fascinating. All in all, it was a fun and unexpected highlight of the show.