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

EARVANA FEST (Ambrosia III)
As promised, here is a walk around the EARVANA FEST room. I'm not a headphone guy, so I don't have much to say here, except it was still busy on Sunday afternoon. When these headphone geeks get a set of cans on their heads, they become reluctant to give up their seat.

I was hoping to get to listen to some ZMF headphones because I admire their designer wood cups, but it was evident these guys would be camped out here until the end of the show. Maybe I'll get lucky at Capital Audiofest.

The adults made the mistake of leaving their kids in charge while they left to explore the show.

Princess Pasta Audio was collecting their wares as it was getting close to closing time. They were listed as a distributor in the show program. I thought they were a retailer. Maybe both?

That wraps up the show coverage. I gave a Thank You and a hug to Sarah Tremblay, who was still running around taking care of business on my way out the door.

I had one more errand to do in Toronto—return an old preamp to my friend Eddie Wong way over on the east side of town. He insisted on taking me out to dinner with his wife, and I could not refuse. While I love seafood, I wasn't prepared for this Japanese restaurant. Fortunately, Cher did all the ordering, and over the course of more than an hour I had more new food experiences than the previous forty years of my life. 85% was delicious!

A new dish miraculously appeared every five minutes.

When I realized I was the only Caucasian in the house, I knew the food was authentic.

We left the restaurant in daylight and parted with hugs. Toronto traffic being what it was, it was dark by the time I was halfway across town. Fortunately, I stayed in the local lanes, as the two left lanes on the express side of the barrier were closed up ahead.

At the U.S. Customs, my inspector happened to be a minor league audiophile with an old Accuphase amp, and I got involved in a conversation that certainly didn't make the people behind me happy. By 12:30 a.m. I was home in bed.

Part 3 Honorable Mentions And Best Rooms
Coming soon is Rick's Best Of Toronto Audiofest 2026 Blue Note Awards and his personal choices and expert assessment for Honorable Mentions.

Coming Soon: Capital Audiofest 2026
See you at Capital Audiofest 2026, be sure to see the many exclusive, and extensive, show reports from CAF 2026.

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