AXPONA 2025 High-End Audiophile Show Report
Audio Expo North America 2025 Audiophile / Home Hi-Fi Stereo Show Coverage

AXPONA 2025 Show Coverage By Chuck Bruce

Inside AXPONA 2025: Friday Highlights From The USA's Premier Audio Show
Beginning my deep dive into high-end audio gear at AXPONA 2025.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Chuck Bruce
Friday morning crowd gathers for tickets at AXPONA 2025, which is expected to be big and fun this year! Overall, the sheer variety of music that I heard today at the AXPONA 2025 audiophile show was outstanding. Some of the playlists were very well-produced and assembled by the presenters. Sure there may be a glitch or two during the day, it's a show so these things happen. Thankfully, we as an industry have become far better at integrating analog and digital to ensure great demos of the world's best home audio gear. Please let me say this again, a great compiling of music playlists at this year's AXPONA 2025 high-end audio show. The crowd was generous, and the music during the day was, overall, inspiring! While I'm looking forward to tomorrow, let's first get to the outstanding audiophile gear I heard today at AXPONA 2025.
---> Inside AXPONA 2025: Friday Highlights From The USA's Premier Audio Show.

Saturday's Sonic Innovations And Revelations At AXPONA 2025
Your hi-fi heavenly dreams come true.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Chuck Bruce
Saturday here at AXPONA 2025 promises to be exhilarating, especially considering the great gear I heard on Friday. Today was an exciting day for music lovers and audiophile enthusiasts. It was time for me to visit more exhibit rooms, see more magnificent high-end audio equipment, and experience cutting-edge audio setups from top brands from around the world. During the day were a variety of seminars and ‘Master Classes' to help inform and educate newbies and seasoned professionals alike. While walking the hallways it is always a joy to meet longtime friends. The many meaningful friendships created over the years are one of the many joys of this hobby of ours. Tonight's live music concert at 8 PM features headliner and renowned jazz artist Patricia Barber.
---> Saturday's Sonic Innovations And Revelations At AXPONA 2025.

Sunday's Audio Excellence At AXPONA 2025
Achieving audio excellence with immersive soundscapes.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Chuck Bruce
Sunday here at AXPONA 2025 audiophile / high-end audio show delivered more excitement as the final day began for music lovers. Registration and ticket sales open at 9 AM and once again today there were various informative and enlightening seminars. Once again the Master Class Theater Sessions provided knowledgeable insights from expertise within the audio industry. For car audio enthusiasts, IASCA (International Auto Sound Challenge Association), which is a new addition for 2025 to AXPONA, showcased high-performance mobile audio systems. Sound quality is the goal, though some car audio systems do reach very loud volume levels (high SPL). Of course, we can't forget the Ear Gear Experience for those who love their music via a wide range of headphones, in-ear monitors (IEM), and personal audio gear from top brands.
---> Sunday's Audio Excellence At AXPONA 2025.

AXPONA 2025 Show Coverage By Dr. Michael Bump

Friday's AXPONA 2025 Photofest Thx To Music Professor Michael R. Bump
Forty fantastic photos from Friday's AXPONA 2025 audiophile show.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Dr. Michael R. Bump
While having fun during Friday at AXPONA 2025, the vibrant beginning of the weekend was filled with high-end audio showcases during the day and live music performances at night. Enjoy the Music.com's exclusive coverage of the AXPONA audiophile show features an impressive lineup of audiophile gear, including the latest and greatest gear plus many world premieres! We know that attendees were treated to dynamic demonstrations of cutting-edge audio technology by experts in their field. Many exhibition rooms blend analog and digital sources sensationally. This evening's live music highlight was a live performance by the Kyle Asche Organ Quartet, delivering soulful jazz with classic Hammond organ grooves. The crowd was enthusiastic, and the atmosphere was electric, making it a memorable day for music, music lovers, audio enthusiasts, and gearheads alike. Enjoy the following photos, and remember to check back tomorrow for more Audio Expo North America 2025 high-end audio show coverage. As always... enjoy the music!
---> Friday's AXPONA 2025 Photofest Thx To Music Professor Michael R. Bump.

Saturday's AXPONA 2025 Photofest Thx To Dr. Bump
A stunning selection of stereo gear during Saturday's high-end audio showcase.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Dr. Michael R. Bump
AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) on Saturday was open from 10 AM to 6 PM, with a special live music concert event in the evening. Today's music lover and high-end audio event features a variety of activities, including static exhibits, listening rooms with active sound systems, and a variety of educational seminars. High-performance audio systems are often crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using advanced technology and high-quality materials to reproduce sound as accurately and naturally as possible. AT AXPONA today were a variety of specialized components such as amplifiers, reference quality loudspeakers, precision turntables, digital-to-analog converters (DACs), Hi-Res Audio music streamers, and more. With luxury in mind, the design of many pieces of audiophile gear provides both aesthetic excellence and high functionality, with sleek finishes and innovative engineering.
--->Saturday's AXPONA 2025 Photofest Thx To Dr. Bump.

Mind-Blowing Innovations At AXPONA 2025 – The Ultimate Audio Revolution
All great music has a very special soundscape you must hear to believe!
AXPONA 2025 High-End Audio Show Report By Dr. Michael Bump
The audiophile-faithful descended once again on Schaumburg, April 11th through 13th, for AXPONA 2025 high-end audio show (report), which is North America's largest gathering of audiophile and luxury premium audio designers, manufacturers, and enthusiasts of all levels and backgrounds. AXPONA 2025's immersive music event is now officially in the books as the largest to date, with Event Director, Liz Smith, wanting Enjoy the Music.com to share with you that just over 10,000 attendees enjoying 700 international brands / designers, retailers, and exhibitors. With 213 dedicated listening rooms distributed over 12 floors of the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, this year's AXPONA provided ample opportunity to experience and celebrate some of the finest home audio designs in the world. Though the above numbers for this 14th annual AXPONA are impressive, I am continually inspired by the welcoming, tight-knit community that it represents.
---> Mind-Blowing Innovations At AXPONA 2025.

AXPONA 2025 Ear Candy, Sonic Magic, And Audiophile Bliss
Music Professor Michael Bump's special Best Of AXPONA 2025 Blue Note Awards
AXPONA 2025 High-End Audio Show Report By Dr. Michael Bump
AXPONA 2025 delivered a symphony of sonic excellence, but only the crème de la crème earn the coveted Enjoy the Music.com Best Of AXPONA 2025 Blue Note Award — a distinction reserved for the gear that transcends expectation and elevates the listening experience to new heights. This year's winners didn't just impress; they mesmerized, setting the standard for audiophile bliss with innovation, artistry, and unrelenting musicality. Whether through breathtaking detail, staggering dynamics, or pure analog magic, these standouts prove that the pursuit of high-fidelity perfection is as thrilling as ever. "Enjoy the Music.com wants to express our deepest gratitude for an incredible AXPONA 2025 experience. The passion, innovation, and dedication on display made this event truly unforgettable. From the remarkable audio demonstrations to the inspiring conversations, every moment was a testament to the thriving community of music lovers and high-fidelity sound enthusiasts."
---> Dr. Bump's Special Best Of AXPONA 2025 Blue Note Awards.

AXPONA 2025 Show Coverage By Rick Becker

Audio Expo North America Show 2025 Prelude
By 10 a.m. I pulled into the distant parking lot....
AXPONA 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker
Assorted Photos By Dr. Bump And Chuck Bruce
I had requested a Press Pass weeks ago and packed my bags on Thursday, but as the time to depart approached I had misgivings about going. It was going to be a pleasure trip without writing a show report but I was only halfway through my Montreal report from that show, two weeks earlier. There was still much writing ahead. As I sat at my computer after dinner, the phone rang while I was scanning the internet for political news at 6 p.m. and trying to decide whether to go or stay. Steve Rochlin, who was unaware I was planning to go anyway, asked if there was any way I could get to Chicago to cover the show. The main reporter couldn't make it at the last minute. At 7 p.m. I tore the receipt off the gas pump and hopped on the New York State Thruway with a full tank. After five hours of sleep in a service area on the Indiana Toll Road, I grabbed a thermos full of coffee at the 7-Eleven.
---> Audio Expo North America Show 2025 Prelude.

Part 1: AXPONA 2025 Show Report 16th Floor
My in-depth Audio Expo North American 2025 show report begins....
AXPONA Show Report By Rick Becker
Ze'ev Schlik had a fine-sounding rig with a new two-way Duet15 Horn1 open baffle speaker with a compression horn on top, starting at $7,350. As in recent shows, the rig was wired with Silversmith Audio cables — the ribbon speaker cable and their new interconnects. Note the Silversmith 3-D printed cable risers. A Luminous Audio Technologies Axiom II Walker passive line stage caught my eye, which undoubtedly helped with the transparency of this rig. A Pass Labs First Watt SIT 4 amplifier drove the speakers. An Aurender streamer provided the source. This LAiV Harmony DAC ($2700) caught my eye with its handsome design. First time I've seen it. LAiV was founded in 2023 in Singapore, and from what I see in the fit and finish of this small DAC, you will be hearing a lot more about them in the future. It features a FEMTO clock, I²S synchronization, RCA and XLR outputs, and a remote control.
---> Part 1: AXPONA 2025 Show Report 16th Floor.

Part 2: AXPONA 2025 Show Report 15th Floor
A fantastic voyage filled with musical fun.
AXPONA 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker
Since Heaven 11 Audio is from Montreal, I've noticed their integrated amp for years, as I also cover the Montreal 2025 audiophile show. They are on the brink of producing the new Mk III version as I write. It is their only product, but it comes in Classic (with DAC, Bluetooth, phono stage, and analog inputs) and Spartan editions. You also get to customize it with a choice of ICEpower or Hypex (+$250), black or silver finish, a choice of knobs and tubes. There is a configurator on their website to sort it all out. I'm big on driving Class D power amps with tube preamps, so this should be a step above all-solid-state designs, as you can roll the tubes if you wish. They've garnered a few accolades over the years, too. Here at the AXPONA 2025 high-end audio show, they had two units to alternate between the ICEpower and Hypex units — a very cool idea, but I didn't have time to spend to check out the difference.
---> Part 2: AXPONA 2025 Show Report 15th Floor.

Part 3: AXPONA 2025 Highlights, Must-See Audiophile Innovations, And Top High-End Audio Trends
12th And 14th Floors: Schaumburg's annual high-end audio event for USA audiophiles.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker 
It has been several weeks since my AXPONA 2025 Part 2 show coverage was posted, as I was very busy with my extensive Montreal Audiofest 2025 show report. My attention was diverted to completing the Montreal Audiofest report at the request of my Canadian friends. It is now past the end of AXPONA, and much attention is now focused on the the globally important must-attend HIGH END 2025 show in Munich. Enjoy the Music.com has also found a way to produce Lone Star Audio Fest 2025 high-end audio show coverage this year. There is still value in continuing the written AXPONA 2025 show report in that I visited almost every room, something that few, if any, other coverage has yet to accomplish. I hate the thought of participants spending the large sum of money necessary to participate in this show, and having no one even acknowledge their presence. I am grateful to have a way of picking out subtle details that others may have overlooked, and a strong historical perspective that goes back many decades.
---> Part 3: AXPONA 2025 Highlights, Must-See Audiophile Innovations, And Top High-End Audio Trends.

AXPONA 2025 Show Report: Exclusive 11th Floor Innovations And Highlights
Rick reveals high-end audio innovations and audiophile trends.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker 
The Warfedale Elysian 4 speaker ($11k) with its horizontal veneer both looked and sounded very good. While Vinyl Sound may have hosted this room, the music was streamed over HiFi Rose gear — RA180 integrated amp ($7k) and the new RS151 Network Streamer ($5k). That was a MoFi MasterDeck turntable with UltraGold M cartridge ($7k for both), a MoFi MasterPhono preamp ($6k) below it, and an Isotek V5 Aquarius power conditioner ($3k) on the bottom shelf of the Solidsteel rack. This fine-sounding room was unusual in that it featured relatively expensive front ends in the form of the Benny Audio turntable on the right and the Taiko digital gear on the left. But the amplification from Manley Laboratories and the Hana Umami Red phono cartridge was relatively modest in price.
---> AXPONA 2025 Show Report: Exclusive 11th Floor Innovations And Highlights.

7th Heaven Unplugged: Where AXPONA 2025's Audio Dreams Soar!
Immersing yourself in the magic of music at a high-end audiophile event.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker
With a look slightly reminiscent of Crazy Eddie's, the Affordable Audio Room was a bit of a mystery. Neither "Affordable Audio Room" nor "All Elite Audio" was listed as an exhibitor. All Elite Audio took me to their site online for a store opening on May 31st in Timonium, MD. The room was filled with an amalgam of more affordable brands represented by a single component from each brand, likely to be floor samples at their grand opening. My brother-in-law lives in Timonium, so there's a chance I might stop in to check them out. The Audible Solutions room was a wayward sheep from the flock of Playback Distribution rooms up on the 12th Floor. I've been a fan of this speaker brand from Lithuania since I first heard them at RMAF back in 2018 when Oz Turan was the importer. They are a very high-value line, and the presentation here confirmed that. Be sure to check the size measurements of the model that interests you, as they tend to be larger than you would guess, given their prices.
---> 7th Heaven Unplugged: Where AXPONA 2025's Audio Dreams Soar!

Audiophile Insights At AXPONA 2025 Sixth Floor
Exploring next-gen high-end audio technologies.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker
Alta Audio teamed up with ModWright to put together this great room with more going on than first meets the eye. As I've said several times before, I really like the Alta speakers with the curved sides when finished in gloss black, and they did not disappoint here. I noticed the absence of spikes in favor of sound-absorbing pads from either Symposium Acoustic or AV Room Service, presumably. The doublewide Solidsteel rack was filled with a confusing array of equipment. Below the blue Pure Fidelity turntable on the right was the ModWright LS 300 Reference tube balanced preamp. Below that was a ModWright power supply and a Pure Fidelity Conductor power supply for their turntable. On the bottom right was the ModWright tube Analog Bridge that fed the digital source signals up to the LS 300 preamp. On the left side of the rack was a SOTA Nova VII ($7k, starting price) turntable with an MM cartridge. Below that was the ModWright Reference PH 150 phono stage handling the signal from the blue Pure Fidelity turntable.
---> Audiophile Insights At AXPONA 2025 Sixth Floor.

AXPONA 2025 Part 7: High-End Audio's Fantastic 5th Floor
Great gear reveals and audiophile trends for music lovers.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker
Bob opened The Analog Shop in 1992, in nearby Victor, New York, about the time I discovered high-end audio, and we became friends in the ‘90s, bartering furniture for his children's rooms for audio gear. Another passion of Bob's was collecting and reading rare books and first editions. He carried very reputable lines, treated customers fairly, and was a good man. As it says on his website, he wasn't ready, but he went peacefully on April 14, 2025. A good friend asked me why I keep writing about the AXPONA 2025 high-end audiophile event when the show happened two months ago and has been eclipsed by the HIGH END show in Munich. A lot of other websites have hit the high spots for readers and viewers who see show reports primarily as "news." The print magazines lag because of the lead time necessary for publication and distribution.
---> AXPONA 2025 Part 7: High-End Audio's Fantastic 5th Floor.

AXPONA 2025: Inside the 4th-Floor Sonic Playground
Gear, great grooves, and perhaps some juicy gossip too!
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker
"From Rick's exceptionally detailed report below, AXPONA's buzzing 4th floor seemed like a self-contained city of high-end audio, where every hallway bend revealed another system vying for 'best-in-show' bragging rights," says Enjoy the Music.com's Creative Director Steven R. Rochlin. "From boutique vacuum tube and solid-state amplification to floorstanding and stand-mounted flagship loudspeakers, the rooms here proved that innovation and indulgence can coexist in seriously photogenic style. Let's all dive into Rick's excellent room-by-room report for the gear highlights, sonic surprises, and insider gossip you might've missed!" Rick's report begins with Harmonia Distribution out of LaVerne, California, in conjunction with local retailer Quintesence Audio (who had multiple rooms on the 1st Floor), put together a very nice sounding system with Fyne Audio F701SP stand-mounted monitors in gloss black driven by the Pathos Acoustics InPol Remix MkII tube hybrid integrated amp.
---> AXPONA 2025: Inside the 4th-Floor Sonic Playground.

More Enjoy the Music.com AXPONA 2025 show reporting will be online shortly. Check back daily for more Audio Expo North American high-end audio show reporting.

About The AXPONA 2025 High-End Audio Show
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 took place from April 11th through 13th at The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center close to Chicago. This annual three-day immersive audio experience features a multitude of floors, hallways, and exhibit rooms with a total of approximately 200+ home audio sound systems. There is also a large area featuring a variety of personal audio gear. Special showcases include the Expo Hall that featured The Record Fair, The Ear Gear Experience, and a variety of seminars. Whether you're a serious high-end audio enthusiast, audiophile, a newcomer or longtime seasoned professional, or simply a music lover, you will easily discover everything you need to immerse yourself in your favorite tunes.

Concerts
Jazz group The Kyle Asche Organ Quartet will be performing at AXPONA 2025 on Friday, April 11 at 8PM. Patricia Barber will be headlining the Saturday night show.

Listening Rooms
See and hear the world's top audio brands reveal their latest and greatest gear in many listening rooms. Experience your music like never before!

Ear Gear Experience
Searching for the latest personal audio gear? In need of the best headphones for an on-the-go listening experience or an upgrade to your rig? The Ear Gear Experience is the place to go to find everything from open-back, closed-back, in-ear headphones and accessories, as well as cables DACs and players. Visit the Ear Gear Experience at AXPONA and find top manufacturers.

The Expo Hall And Record Fair
Shop audio accessories, turntables, cables and more in the Expo Hall. Plus find new and vintage vinyl in AXPONA's own Record Fair.

IASCA Car Audio Competition
A car audio showcase by IASCA (International Auto Sound Challenge Association) will offer live demonstrations, interactive exhibits highlighting some of the best in-car audio technology from top-tier manufacturers. Car audio enthusiasts will compete for top honors in achieving audiophile sound clarity and precision in custom-built car audio systems. Competition vehicles will be on the expo floor in a designated area and also be available for spectator demos throughout the show.

Where
The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center
1551 N. Thoreau Drive
Schaumburg, IL 60173

When
Friday, April 11 from 10am to 6pm
Saturday, April 12 from 10am to 6pm
Sunday, April 13 from 10am to 4pm

Previous AXPONA Show Reports
Enjoy the Music.com's previous coverage includes AXPONA 2024,2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 coverage.