Toronto Audiofest 2026 Show Report Part 2: Hi-Fi Highlights, Great New Gear, And Must-Hear High-End Audio Systems
From the newest turntables and DACs to reference-quality loudspeakers and remarkable tweaks, Part 2 explores exciting audiophile exhibits and presentations.
Toronto Audiofest 2026 Show Report By Rick Becker

Algonquin

Anthem Electronics, JVCKenwood Canada, Inc., And Paradigm
They had the marquee at the entrance, and movies rolling inside. I think the word "immersive" is a bit overused in the industry. The acoustic orientation here was still designed with the music coming primarily from the front of the room, as you would expect it to be at a live concert. And this is appropriate when watching the performance on a screen.

It is rare that I refuse the offer of free popcorn at the movies, but I think this was the venue where that happened. In any case, it's always fun to catch a few minutes of Mick Jagger on stage.

Muskoka I

Axiom And Bryston
The setup here was much the same as at the Montreal show. The two towers were treated as one speaker by using their BAX-2 Digital Electronic Crossover, programmed for these speakers. The inside pair were fed the midrange and treble, while the outside pair served as the bass driver. Multiple amps were stacked to amplify each range, in effect tri-amp'ing the complete package. Many of their speakers can be set up this way as what they call an "active" speaker. And many speakers can be set up for single, double, or tri-amp'ing by changing a modular unit with the binding posts.

The Trim T speaker on the inside can also serve as a nearly full-range speaker. The addition of the Trim T10 bass tower on the right makes it a true full-range loudspeaker.

One side of the room was lined with a wide range of Bryston speakers, while the other was lined with all of their electronic components. James Tanner shared that while business from the US has fallen off a bit, their exports, particularly to the Far East, have picked up substantially. In the current political climate, it is no secret that Canada is seeking to broaden and strengthen its global partnerships.

Muskoka II

Audio Group Denmark  And Wynn Audio
Wynn Wong brought a breath of fresh mountain air to back up a primo system from Audio Group Denmark. That wasn't a photo of Lake Louise, but it sure looked like the Canadian Rockies.

It was hard to tell from the listening position, but the speakers had green sides that played into the environmental theme here. The music had the typical house sound of Audio Group Denmark, but it was especially well manifested here. Highly resolved, transparent, and very dynamic.

You can figure out the components from the price list, but keep in mind the Ansuz gear is not something that needs to be on display as shown here. The two pieces on the top shelves are where the action and human interaction take place, via remote control if you wish.

The subwoofer was not on the price list. It features two opposing drivers that emit sound through the vertical openings on the front and back, filling the entire space.

With the cables added in, and the racks, you are still below a million dollars.

The house sound is very consistent while the design concepts remain the same, so you can scale down if you wish, while still retaining very enjoyable music.

Here, you should easily be under $100k.

Borresen also makes stand-mounted monitors with dedicated stands if your requirements dictate less prominent speakers or reduced bass response. And they do it at every price level.

I missed a photo of these speakers, but the list gives you an idea of some of their more affordable models.

In a kiosk in the room, Wynn featured samples of the elegant fono Acoustica XLR interconnects, power cords, and the Compas, a passive speaker grounding device.

---> Next Page.