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 

731  Auer Acoustics
A second room for Auer Acoustics had this poster on a locked door when I came by. Perhaps they had a second system?

734  Ball Audio Distribution, Margules, RSX Tech, Raidho, Margules, And VIABLUE
Room 734 was a small suite with two rooms, each with its own system from Ball Audio Distribution out of Henderson, Nevada. I've come to know Bruce Ball over the past couple of years as he has put together excellent presentations here and at Capital Audiofest. The larger Raidho speakers here were driven by a Margules integrated tube amp from Mexico. This is not the first time I've heard great synergy between these two brands, and they have taken a Best Rooms Award from me at CAF in 2023. RSX is the cables used here, except for the speaker cables. I also spotted the handsome amp stand with a solid wood shelf.

On a side display was a Margules HA-1 headphone amp/server ($4,500) with EL 34 power tubes mated with the Margules HP-1 headphones ($2,500) with solid wood cans and a two-tone real leather headband.

In the other room of this suite was an all-Margules rig, right from the power conditioner to the stand-mounted monitors (turntable excepted). And again, RSX cables throughout.

This is the Orpheo Century Overture monitor. Note the multi-faceted front baffle with the round wood surrounds on the air-motion-transformer tweeter and the 6.5" long-throw mid/woofer. Even the corporate shield has a wooden lip around it. This is a rich design.

739  Turnbull Audio And Stenheim
This darkened Turnbull Audio room was intended to highlight the ultra-expensive cable line, but how can you accomplish that without some direct comparisons? That said, these cables premiered in The Voice That Is room, featuring Tidal speakers and electronics, at Capital Audiofest last year, where they earned a Best Rooms Award. The music here was way above average, too, but speakers and components were considerably more affordable. If $18k power cords and $44k speaker cables don't make you shy away, give them serious consideration.

I've heard the full spectrum of Stenheim speakers over the years, and this was probably the second or third time I've heard the Two.Five models. It's their most affordable floorstander and the sweet spot in their line for most real-world audiophiles. I find it attractive for its modest size, which works in smaller rooms, yet plays loud enough to be used in larger ones. The 93dB/W/m efficiency and 8 Ohm impedance make this an attractive choice for low (but not lowest) tube amplifiers. If you need significantly deeper bass, simply add a subwoofer for less than moving up the line to their more expensive models. On a cautionary note, Stenheim speakers have very high resolution, so care needs to be taken with everything upstream from them.

This was the first time I've seen this speaker dressed in one of the four color choices other than black. It was difficult to photograph in this light, but I enhanced the photo to reveal the top and sides in the Mocca finish. Light grey, dark grey, and ivory finishes are other options.

I couldn't identify the streamer and integrated amp in the photos, but I suspect the amp was by Vitus Audio.

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