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

240  Essentia Technology And Stereo Untypical
In yet another Essentia Technology room, I found a pair of Michell turntables in action. The room was crowded both times I visited, and noisy. The speakers playing were Q Acoustics monitors on the metal stands, but both a small and a large Klipsch speaker were tucked back into each corner.

The entry-level Michell Technodec ($3,800 w/o arm), seen above, was playing on my first trip to this room. The other turntable was the Michell Revolv ($10,900) fitted with a Goldring Ethos cartridge, which was said to be feeding the Michell Apollo/Muse phono stage ($5,800).

In the main rack was a Triode Lab 2A3 EVO single-ended triode integrated amp in orange. I reviewed an earlier 2A3 amp from them years ago and absolutely loved it, but it is low-powered (3.5 Wpc, $9k), so it requires very efficient speakers. To the right was a finale' VOXIS EL34 push-pull integrated amp that puts out 30 Wpc, offered as a show special at $6,200. I still don't know why these are two separate brands, as the same people make them both.

They had separate room lists for each system they played in this gear-packed room, which was a great idea, but there were at least two such signs on the floor, and neither one featured the Q Acoustics monitors that were playing.

When I returned on Sunday, it was a different game altogether. The large Klipsch Cornwall speaker in the corner was playing, and there was a sign for finale's F-20-II Monoblock amps, a single-ended KT88 Class A design putting out 11 Wpc…at a show special of $6,200.

Another "Now Playing" card listed a Mitchell TechnoDec TA2 ($4299) fitted with a Hana EH cartridge. A discontinued Manley Labs Chinook phono stage was used, along with an Advance Paris Apex A-CD player ($1150) at the front end. A Finale Audio VOXIS amplifier ($6,200) powered the smaller Klipsch Rebellion speaker ($4,199). QED cabling came to around $700. And the Madera Works double-stack shelving was $1,800. But it was never clear what was playing. Again, lots of people and noise. This could have been a really good room with a little more organization and serenity.

Off to one side in the room was this tall rack filled with tube amps. From the top down was a finale' 8298 GT, a finale' Symphonia in a beautiful green hammertone finish ($9k), a Triode Lab EL84TT EVO (from $8k), and a Triode Lab 2A3S Hommage single-ended integrated amp with a show special price under $5k.

Out in the hall, I ran into Frank NG of Triode Labs and finale' (right), who once delivered review samples to me before either of us were well-known people. To his left was Noam Bronstein, who has helped Frank get his amplifier business rolling and promoted. These are boutique amplifiers of high quality, and I suspect they are highly coveted by their owners. I'm still missing the ones I reviewed.

241  Phonographe Inc And Speaker & Song
Phonographe is an importer and distributor of artisanal audio products from smaller companies. Their presentations at the Montreal show over the years have been among the best, and they replicated that here in Toronto. Speaker & Song is a boutique retailer in Mississauga, Ontario, which is new to me, and offers the brands in this room, along with many others. A Leben tube integrated amplifier drove one of the smaller Revival speakers. A Wattson Audio Madison Streamer and power supply from another boutique manufacturer in Switzerland provided the excellent front end for this minimalist system.

Revival Audio speakers from France have made quite an impression on me over the past couple of years. I love the fine sound and fine workmanship. Their prices are a bargain compared with many of the larger, more established brands.

This headphone display in the narrow hotel hallway might be considered a hazard in case of fire or a medical emergency. I can appreciate that the large Earvana Fest room was filled, but the much wider hallways on the first floor would have been a more appropriate location for this display.

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