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 

660  Dynaudio And Music For Pleasure
Dynaudio lowered the price and made the system here more complex. The Dynaudio Contour 20 Black Edition speakers ($8k) featured drivers that trickled down from the Confidence series, including the Esotar tweeter. The Stand 20 and Contour 20 adaptors were an additional $598.

The components were from Atoll Electronique in France. On top was the CD400 Evolution top-loading CD player ($7,900). Below was the ST300 Signature Streamer / Hi-Res DAC / Preamplifier ($4,900), and on the bottom shelf was the IN400 Evolution integrated amplifier ($7k). On the floor, beneath the rack, was a Transparent Powerwave power conditioner ($2,300). The cables were also from Transparent.

The new look from Atoll is fresh and contemporary, and the sound quality seems to have taken a step up, too. The rack had an Art Deco look with its tapered silver legs.

664  ATOHM Loudspeakers And Atoll Electronics
AtOhm Loudspeakers from France combined nicely with Atoll Electronics, also from France. And here was that Art Deco style rack again. I noticed the thumb drive inserted into the faceplate of the streamer on the bottom shelf.

668  The Sound Organisation, Chord Electronics Ltd., Chord Company, ProAc, And Rega Research
The ProAc K3 speaker seen here was not gathering moss. Many presenters at this show felt compelled to make their rooms stand out by using colored lights that often made my photos look weird. ProAc has shaken off its classic look with raised cabinets to accommodate downward-firing ports.

On the tall rack from HRS was an affordable Rega Planar 3 RS Special Edition turntable. On the lower table was the digital front end with an Eversolo streamer on the right, a Chord Hugo TT2 DAC on the left, and a Hugo M Scaler between them. I've experienced a demo of the M Scaler, and it provides a noticeable uptick in sound quality when coupled to the DAC, but it only works with DACS with a certain connector. On the shelf below was a Chord Ultima integrated amplifier that puts out 125 Wpc. The Chord architecture is both distinctive and sophisticated, and it is available in both black and silver. The amp accepts both balanced and single-ended inputs.

The electrical components here were from Chord Electronics; the Chord Company made the cables. Both are from Great Britain. On the HRS rack, the electronics were from Rega, also from the UK. They featured the new Mercury preamplifier and Solis power amplifier, the first separates Rega has ever produced.

On the countertop at the side was a naked plinth from a Rega P8 turntable, minus every other part. It was amazingly light and rigid, eschewing the philosophy of Rega that lighter is better. The silver aluminum part is permanently affixed to the skeleton. The entire piece didn't feel much heavier than a Frisbee.

One of the coolest components of the entire show was the Chord Suzi system. All of the pieces seen above fit together like Legos to create whatever system you need. I can't begin to remember how it all goes together, but there is the Suzi Pre in the 3 o'clock position, and a Hugo2 DAC with its 2go adaptor already attached in the 9 o'clock position. The gold-plated RCA connections should give you a sense of scale, but don't let the size fool you. This is a serious system with superb build quality for audiophiles on the go who want to take quality music with them. Listening would be through headphones.

672  Martin Logan
Martin Logan kept the focus on their Impression 11A electrostatic hybrid speakers ($12k). A Gryphon Diablo 333 integrated amplifier ($25k) was off to the side on the counter, along with the new Hegel D50 (The Raven) DAC ($5k). Qobuz was streamed through a MacBook Pro. Also involved was a Martin Logan Perfect Bass Kit ($119) with a microphone and stand that worked with the ARC already designed into the speakers.

I've been negligent about paying attention to Martin Logan (as well as other electrostatic speakers) since I'm a lower-power tube guy, and electrostatics require more current. But here (and in Montreal), the music was impressively clear and non-irritating, even standing off to the side. And there was no discontinuity between the bass and the electrostatic panel. It's always better to be in the sweet spot with electrostatics, but as late in the day as it was on Friday, the room here was packed.

676  Hegel America
Hegel used the top shelf of the HRS rack for their stand-up card promoting their new D50 (The Raven) DAC, which I had also just heard (to good effect) at the Montreal show. Beneath the DAC was a Hegel integrated amplifier  (H190V?), and on the bottom shelf was an AudioQuest power conditioner. Cables were also made by AudioQuest. The speaker was from the YG Acoustics Peaks series, likely the Ascent model, one down from the top, and appropriate for this size room.

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