Toronto Audiofest 2026 Show Report Part 1
High-End Audio Highlights, New Gear Debuts, And Must-See Listening Rooms
Top-performing listening rooms, exciting product introductions, prestigious audio gear, and value-packed hi-fi sound systems that captivate music lovers.
Toronto Audiofest 2026 Show Report By Rick Becker

  The clouds dispersed as I headed toward Buffalo early on Saturday morning, and not a single cloud appeared for the entire weekend in Toronto. Saturday was cool, and Sunday was a bit warmer. Whether the weather was a factor or the tentative state of the economy (due mostly to political turmoil), attendance seemed lighter this year. Or perhaps it was the spacious new venue at the Sheraton that made the crowd seem thin. The hotel was clearly visible on Dixon Road from either direction, but as I pulled into the parking lot (free for those attending the show), I wanted a banner of some sort to assure me I was there on the right weekend. A black, unmarked Pantera caught the eye of several visitors as we hiked in from the far corner of the parking lot.

With two entrances to the show, the floor plan I had studied on the Audiofest website didn't correlate with the physical reality. As I was late to arrive due to heavier-than-usual traffic, the opening crowd had already dispersed among the sleeping room exhibitors in the hotel and the nineteen larger rooms in the conference center. By the end of the day, I had fully acquainted myself with the layout and found it to be a very pleasant and easy show to cover. Had it not been for my photo-journalist duties, I might have seen the whole show in a single day. But there were plenty of interesting rooms and high-quality music presentations to warrant a second day if you were truly shopping for new gear.

Most Important
Of all the news and gossip I absorbed at the show, the most important for our US readers is the fact that there is no tariff on audio gear made in Canada. They fall under the CUSMA (Canada / US / Mexico / America) trade agreement that is still in effect. The tariffs on Canadian goods are limited to certain categories such as aluminum, wood, cars, and car parts—items that generate huge income. As expensive as high end audio gear is, in the big picture, this is a small industry. Of course, with President Trump, anything can change tomorrow.  If in doubt, enquire before you buy.

All prices are listed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Speakers are priced as pairs.

At the time of publication, 1 CAD = 0.7132 USD

Fourth Floor (7 Rooms)
As usual, I started in the hotel rooms on the uppermost floor of the show. The floors each had a straight hallway, so they were easy to navigate. The 4th and 3rd floors each had only seven rooms to visit, and the 2nd Floor had eleven. There were stairways at each end, and the elevators responded quickly, so it was easy to get around. Furthermore, being close to the Pearson International Airport, the rooms were well soundproofed.

422  Harmonia Distribution And Kennedy HiFi
Inviting music was pouring forth from the O Audio speaker from those hatchet-wielding craftsmen in Norway. I've heard this speaker a couple of times before in much more expensive systems, but this was the first time I was warming up to the music.

Harmonia Distribution had a trio of PrimaLuna Evo integrated tube amps on the rack (300, 200, and 100 from the top down. Eversolo streaming gear was stacked on the bottom shelf. Cabling was from Kimber Kable.

The O Audio speaker on the left is a relatively high-efficiency speaker, so you can run it with tube gear—the better the amp, the better the music. Like many rooms at the show, there was no room sheet to help me identify the gear or give me pricing. You will have to do your own homework.

426  Trutone Electronics, Erikson Consumer
The folks here tried to turn the room into a real living room with upholstered furniture and a coffee table. Unfortunately, the room was jammed with people engaged in conversation with the hosts. I've been hoping for another chance to hear the JBL L100 speakers again, but it wasn't going to happen here. Not on my first pass on Saturday, or my second on Sunday.

I managed to wiggle my way in for a glimpse of the JBL speakers.

And I caught a glimpse of one of my favorite Technics turntables (the ones without all the speed indicator squares around the beveled platter). It was equipped with a Goldring Eroica HX High Output Moving Coil Phono Cartridge. I caught up with a more elaborate display of Technics turntables on Sunday. The turntable was resting on a Mitmat Foundation I, made in Canada, that seemed to be a foam or rubber mat. On the rack below were a couple of components from Arcam.

The coolest component in the room (pun alert) was the Marshall room refrigerator for your dedicated listening and drinking room. I was told it is a modestly popular item. They need to seek out a contract for supplying all the Hard Rock hotels.

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