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

Room 712   Gershman Acoustic, LampizatOr, And Pass Labs
I so enjoy visiting the Gershman Acoustics room and experiencing music through their always well-crafted assembly of audio instruments. To have missed this opportunity would have been a personal disservice to the weekend! In particular, it is always such a pleasure to visit with company owners Ofra and Eli Gershman.

In addition to featuring the Gershman 30th Anniversary Grand Avant Garde speakers ($19,500), powered by a Pass Labs Integrated 250 ($13,000), Ofra Gershman let Enjoy the Music.com know the system premiered the LampizatOr GENYA DAC ($17,500 base), the key feature of which is a refurbished Horizon-1 digital engine. Production plans are a limited edition run, dependent on the number of Horizon engines recovered. The degree of clarity, micro-/macro-dynamic balance, and transient detail, particularly at low amplitude listening, is always a hallmark of the Gershman sound.

Gershman Acoustics 30th Anniversary Grand Avant Garde speakers - $19,500 pr

Pass Labs Integrated 250 amplifier - $13,000

LampizatOr Gulf Stream server - $9500

LampizatOr GENYA DAC - $17,500 (base) NEW

Cardas Audio Clear Beyond cabling

Nirvana A   Joseph Audio, J. Sikora, Berkeley Audio Design, And Doshi Audio
The Nirvana A room vibe was constantly abuzz with attentive ears. Jeff Joseph and other room managers were excellent in accommodating listening and learning opportunities for attendees, allowing for one of the great experiences of the show. The presentation was absolutely commanding, gut-punching when needed, then transparent and translucent in the blink of an eye. Transients popped without artificiality, mids were slightly forward (but I happened to enjoy it), and low frequencies were taught and true-to-source.

The analog front-end of this system (J.Sikora Reference SE turntable ($49,250) is a beautiful sound sculpture / no-compromise assembly – smooth as silk in sound, function, and appearance. The Joseph Audio Pearl Graphene Ultra speakers ($51,999) continue to amaze at a relatively reasonable cost point. 

On static display, we know longtime Enjoy the Music.com devotees want to know about the world premiere of the J. Sikora ASPIRE turntable ($TBD), designed to serve as the new entry point into the J. Sikora line.

Overall, the Nirvana A room was an AXPONA 2025 experience I was compelled to immerse myself in more than once during my visit.

Joseph Audio Pearl Graphene Ultra speakers - $51,999 pr

J. Sikora Reference SE turntable - $49,250

J. Sikora KV 12MAX tonearm - $14,500

J. Sikora ASPIRE turntable - $TBD NEW

J. Sikora KV 9" VTA tonearm - $7,495

AidasTru-Stone Violet Limited Edition cartridge - $6500

Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference 3P - $34,000

Berkeley Audio Design Alpha USB Reference - $6500

Aurender N30SA 8T server - $25,000

Doshi Audio EVOLUTION monoblock amplifiers - $45,995

Doshi Audio EVOLUTION preamp - $22,995

Doshi Audio EVOLUTION phono stage - $22,995

Cardas Audio Clear Beyond Cables

Conclusion
Alas, all good things eventually come to an end, as "they" say. I only regret I was unable to experience every audio system and surely missed many outstanding rooms. Nevertheless, plenty of great memories for the early drive home Sunday, with a renewed energy and inspiration for the art of high-end audio. The determination to reproduce live music as authentically as possible by so many gifted and talented designers has never been more vibrant. From those of us who create the music, I am humbled and most appreciative of these incredible efforts. Until next time...

"Keep rockin' in the free world."

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