Part 5 — Lower Level, And Left (Outremont / St. Laurent Rooms) At The Montreal Audiofest 2026 Show
Major demos, new high-end audio tech, and very interesting audiophile innovation.
Montreal Audiofest Show Report By Rick Becker

O2  Axiom And Bryston
Bryston was promoting their multi-tower version of what they call an active system. The amplification and crossover are external to the speaker itself. A 4Bł Stereo amp in the middle of each amplifier stack powered the tweeter and midrange drivers located in the inner towers. A 7Bł Monoblock, seen above and below each 4Bł Stereo amp, was used to drive the woofers in the inner full-range speaker, and in the outer woofer towers. A newly developed BAX-2 DSP crossover is used to accomplish this feat. An audiophile could start with just a stereo amp and the full-range speakers, and move up to this active system by adding additional amplification, crossover, and the woofer towers.

The woofer towers provided a very natural and even bass response throughout the room, and I felt this was the best presentation I've ever heard from Bryston over the past three decades. The music flowed unstressed, providing an accurate, relaxing musical experience.

A commemorative series of products has been issued in the name of Christopher W. Russell, who co-founded Bryston along with his brother Brian W. Russell. Seen above was the 28Bł Mono amplifier, which has identical construction and specifications as the standard model.

Also seen in this 50th Anniversary Christopher W. Russell series were a BP-19 preamplifier with mm/mc phono stage, and a BCD-3 CD player. Additional products are also available in this commemorative series.

James Tanner wanted me to mention Bryston now has a Legacy Program and offers pre-owned refurbished units of some of their most popular amplifiers at a substantial discount with a three-year warranty. You can check availability on their website.

Speaker manufacturer Axiom is associated with Bryston and had a small display of their products on hand, including this finely veneered subwoofer with both high and low-level inputs as well as the usual controls.

O3  Audeze
Moving down the hall just past the McLaren again was the Audeze room with the picture window allowing passers by to view their table full of demo stations.

I've known Jerome Fragman for years, and once again, he lured me in to try on some headphones, which, admittedly, is not my field of expertise.

I have to admit I was impressed with this model LCD-5S with copper trim, which is said to add more slam, powered by a Chord Dave DAC. At this price level, one should definitely be impressed.

He also pointed out the Maxwell 2 ANC with noise cancelling, which will be out soon, if not already.

O4  Madera Works And Yamaha Canada Music
Yamaha had an attractive demonstration with a pair of monoblock amps driving their famous NS 5000 speakers, along with Luna Cables from the Mauve and Rouge series.

Beneath the preamp, I spotted the Canadian COGA footers again.

They also had this praiseworthy poster of the components in the rig, along with important specifications.

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