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

234  Executive Stereo, Simaudio, And MartinLogan
In the third Executive Stereo room, co-sponsored by Simaudio, a MartinLogan Classic ESL 9 hybrid speaker was driven by new Moon electronics from their entry-level Compass Collection, including the 491 Network Player/preamplifier, and a pair of the 461 stereo power amps used as monoblocks. The amp puts out 150 Wpc @ 8 Ohms, 300 Wpc @ 4 Ohms and 450 watts into 8 Ohm in bridged mono mode, as used here.

235  Audionation
Audionation put on a good show here with the quirky Guru Q10 speakers designed in Sweden and made in the EU. You don't normally expect good sound from a cubical box, but the Q10 incorporates a Helmholtz resonator and a front slot port. Sensitivity is 87 dB with nominal 5 Ohms. Frequency response is said to be 30 Hz-30 kHz in room, and the bass seemed surprisingly good for such a small monitor.

The stand actually has three legs and an aluminum top plate. The whole combo has a mid-Century modern appeal.

On the credenza was a SoulNote A-1 v2 integrated amp (right) and d-1N v2 DAC (left). On the lower shelf were some Silent Angel Bonn network switching devices.

The system goes for $17k, plus cables and digital network.

237  Audionation
In the second Audionation room was another affordable and fine-sounding system.

I've praised these Ruark all-in-one components before, and they performed admirably here once more.

The loudspeaker is also high-value, offering more style and finish than, say, a basic Tekton Design speaker. Jeff Wells from Audionation was on hand to agree with me.

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