AXPONA 2019 – Day 3

Fidelis Distribution – Stenheim and Einstein

This was the world debut of the Stenheim Alumine 3 loudspeakers. They were driven by Einstein amplification. The source was Einstein’s The Record Player Deluxe and their DAC.

Bluebird Music Ltd.

This room was playing the Vienna Acoustics loudspeakers. The digital source was the Chord Electronics DAC and transport. All of the electronics were by Jadis.

Voxativ

Voxativ was debuting their new Absolut System approach with the Zeth tower speaker and the Hagen stand-mounted speaker. They each come with their own Absolute Box that enables you to play music on a smart phone, computer or music server. The Absolut Box contains a cutting-edge DAC/DSP with Class A/B amplification that is custom-tailored to the individual speaker.

Joseph Audio

Joseph Audio was debuting their Perspective 2 Graphene loudspeakers. They were being driven by Jeff Rowland Design Group electronics. The digital source was an Aurender 10 Network Music Server and a Jeff Rowland Design Group AERIS DAC. The analog sources were a VPI HW 40th Anniversary turntable with a Audio Technica ART 1000 cartridge and a restored vintage Technics RS1500 Open-Reel used with a Doshi Audio tape stage. Cables were by Cardas.

ModWright Instruments, Inc.

The musicality of this combination was impressive. Starting with the Studio Electric FS1 Loudspeaker and monitors, the source was the Fern & Roby Montrose Turntable with their Unipivot arm and the Hana SL cartridge. ModWright provided the amplification, including their new Unity Gain 6DJ8 Tube Analog Stage to power the Pro-Ject S2 DAC. Cables were from Zu Audio.

Distinctive Stereo – German Physiks

Playing well together was the order of the day for the duo of audio brands in this room. German Physiks presented their Borderland Speakers with a high-gloss finish, their Emperor Extreme Stereo Amplifier and their Emperor Linestage Preamplifier. Mojo Audio offered up the Mystique V3 Balanced D/A Converter, the Deja Vu Music Server with Roon/Linux, the Illuminati V3 dual independent power supply, Lucent X balanced interconnects and Enigma X power cables. Speaker cables were the Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval 8 speaker cables. WyWires Platinum USB Cables were also used.

DANA LTD – EAT and Audio Physic

In this room was the EAT (European Audio Team) Forté Leather Edition turntable. They used the brand new F-Note 12″ Tonearm along with the E-Glo Tube Phonostage, their E-Glo Petit Hybrid Tube Phonostage and a Jo No. 5 cartridge. Audio Physic was represented with their Virgo III loudspeakers and their Clasic 15 loudspeakers.

Playback Designs and Verity

In this room, Playback Designs used their MPS-8 integrated SACD player + D-DAC with a Stream-X option. They also uses the Playback Designs Stream-IF (streamer interface) and the Playback Designs Sonoma with the Merlot DAC, Syrah Server and Pinot ADC. Amplification was using the Playback Designs IPS-3. Sound was provided using the Verity Parsifal Anniversary Speakers. Cables were by Kubala-Sosna.

Monitor Audio – ROKSAN

This room displayed three Monitor Speakers; the Monitor Audio Gold 100s in Piano Black, the Monitor Audio Gold 200 Loudspeakers in Piano Ebony and the Monitor Audio Gold 300 Loudspeakers in Piano Ebony. The Roksan Blak Integrated Amplifier and the Roksan Blak CD Player provided the source and amplification.

Larsen Audio

It was the world debut of the Larsen 9 loudspeakers. They were driven by a pair of GamuT monoblocks and a GamuT preamp. The source was a Pear Audio turntable. GamuT supplied the cables.