Which Speakers are you Most Interested in Hearing at AXPONA 2025?

[No Regrets]

Just curious as to which speakers are you most excited to hearing at the AXPONA 2025 SHOW next week?

I'm kinda of interested in listening to some horn speakers, myself. But ultimately, I really want to hear what people may think are the total state of the art right now.

Any suggestions for SOTA Horns or otherwise, for that matter?

Best wishes,
Don

 

[tmallin]

As to horn speakers, check out Avantgarde, JBL, and Volti. They exhibit year in, year out and have figured out by now how to get the best sound from their speakers in the AXPONA rooms. Klipsch will also be there and plans to show the new AK7 version of the K-horn. The new time alignment of the K-horm via a DSPed crossover has at least the potential to solve most of what has ailed K-horn sound for decades; we'll have to see what magic the DSP really creates, if any.

As for the best sounds at AXPONA, again because they are long-term exhibitors and because I have been impressed by their AXPONA sound in prior years, I suggest you plan to hear the larger Magico speakers (usually shown with Luxman electronics), the Vivid speakers in the GTT room, and the Linkwitz room. If you are a Wilson or Sonus Faber fan, you will find excellent demos of those as well in the Quintessence-sponsored rooms.

 

[tmallin]

The common problems with AXPONA demos, at least one of which plague at least 95% of the exhibits, are a frequency balance skewed toward the highs, too much midbass thump (very few exhibits use electronic equalization to get rid of this common room-related problem), no real depth of field/three-dimensionality/envelopment, and playback levels which are far too high for comfort for either the listeners or the speakers being used. Also, most rooms use common banquet chairs which put your ears at least 46 inches above the floor, which is far higher than you should be sitting to be on the best listening axis for most speakers; this may be one reason for the frequently overemphasized high frequencies.

 

[No Regrets]

Hello Tom,

Thank you for your reply for sharing your suggestions
Decades ago I owned a pair of Walnut K-horns. It would be nice to hear what they have done to improve on the original design.

I'll be there Thursday thru Sunday again, so I am looking forward to taking it all in

Best wishes,
Don

 

[tony22]

playback levels which are far too high for comfort for either the listeners or the speakers being used

This.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Just curious as to which speakers are you most excited to hearing at the AXPONA 2025 SHOW next week?

I'm kinda of interested in listening to some horn speakers, myself. But ultimately, I really want to hear what people may think are the total state of the art right now.

Any suggestions for SOTA Horns or otherwise, for that matter?

Best wishes,
Don

Check out Chario Serendipity if you are able. If the Audiophysics of Germany will show their top of the line model, also worth checking out. Whatever Jeffrey Catalano of the Highwatersound will bring over. Not sure if Viva Audio will exhibit, or if Bob Rhapsody NY will show his Lorenzo, or Diesis horn designs. If Albeido speakers from Italy will exhibit, their top line speakers are fantastic, if little overpriced in the US market. Other than that, same brands as from the last year, no Goldmund flagship, and no Zellaton. I'm not going to attend this year, kinda too boring for my tastes....

 

[No Regrets]

Check out Chario Serendipity if you are able. If the Audiophysics of Germany will show their top of the line model, also worth checking out. Whatever Jeffrey Catalano of the Highwatersound will bring over. Not sure if Viva Audio will exhibit, or if Bob Rhapsody NY will show his Lorenzo, or Diesis horn designs. If Albeido speakers from Italy will exhibit, their top line speakers are fantastic, if little overpriced in the US market. Other than that, same brands as from the last year, no Goldmund flagship, and no Zellaton. I'm not going to attend this year, kinda too boring for my tastes....

Thank you for your reply...

Yes, Jeffrey always manages to get great sound year after year. Besides him always having a great system to listen to, I always seem to discover new music recordings when visiting his room!

I was hoping to see Bob @Rhapsody but sadly, I don't think that he will be exhibiting at AXPONA this year. I hope he will chime in and correct me if I am wrong, but I honestly cannot find him on the exhibitor's list.

I appreciate the other recommendations your provided to me as well.

Best wishes,
Don