A very special thanks to Gordan Waters of The Audio Company in Marietta, Georgia for putting together this incredible system. He advertised it as “The Ultimate in Sound” and, while there are some that rival this system, from what I heard, it deserves its name. The new version of the Von Schweikert Audio ULTRA 11 speakers bi-amped with four VAC Statement 450iQ mono power amplifiers and a VAC Statement Line and Phono Stage. We were lucky enough to be invited to a two-hour listening session, and I will be doing a follow-up article about this incredible system soon.
Becky and I also had a private listening session with the Burwell & Sons speakers matched with tube electronics from Rogers Hiigh Fidelity. It was as good, or maybe better, than I had ever heard this system sound.
It was so good to see Triangle speakers back at an American audio show. The top of the line Magellan speakers mated with Luxman electronics sounded incredible.
In the larger of the TriangleArt’s rooms, their Master Reference turntable, their electronics and the EgglestonWorks speakers made for one of the best looking and sounding rooms I heard.
The AudioThesis room was making some very nice music with speakers from Russoflorentino, Mastersound electronics and digital gear from North Star Designs.
The combination of Fern and Robby speakers and Linear Tube Audio tube amps was a sound made in heaven.
The Spatial Audio room with Linear Tube Audio amplification was another great sounding room with their X2 Modular speakers.
The Studio Electric room paired the M4 monitors I recently reviewed with electronics from ModWright Instruments. The sound was great, but I have to apologize for my inability to get a decent picture of the metal speaker grills. They are beautiful despite my picture.
In the Vandersteen Audio room, the Quatro Wood CT speakers were paired with Vandersteen’s own new smaller and less expensive monoblocks. The sound was very good.
Show after show, the Volti Audio room is one of the best. It was no different here as they paired with BorderPatrol Audio electronics and Triode Wire Labs to make great sounding music.
Orinda Acoustics from the designer of Sunny Cables brought a complete system that sounded very promising.
Bob Carver’s line source speakers and amplifiers really sounded good at AXPONA this year.
Gold Note of Italy’s room looked and sounded incredible. It’s great to have their products brought to America.
Daedalus Audio had two good sounding rooms. This one combined with Linear Tube Audio for amplification and Lampizator for the source. By the way, every room I heard with the new LTA amp sounded great.
The Falcon Acoustics LS3/5a speakers, Line Magnetic amps, and Well Tempered Lab turntable produced one of the best sound from small speakers at the show. Best of all, these speakers won’t break your back or your bank.
Sonus Farber’s speakers and Audio Research tubed electronics produced a simply gorgeous sound.
