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As We See ItAXPONA 2024
AXPONA 2024 in the Rear View
Jim Austin  |  Jun 14, 2024  |  11 comments
Photo: John Atkinson

If buying a hi-fi product from an internet retailer is like an arranged marriage, a hi-fi show is like speed dating. Not everyone, I realize, approaches hi-fi shows (or speed dating, for that matter) the same way, and anyway, the analogy between hi-fi and dating is far from perfect. Speed dating is how this year's AXPONA, America's biggest hi-fi show, held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center (above) near Chicago in April, often felt to me as I moved from room to room. Every new system I heard had the potential to become a long-term relationship. Could I live with this one forever?

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AXPONA 2024Spin Doctor
The Spin Doctor at AXPONA 2024
Michael Trei  |  Jun 13, 2024  |  1 comments
These days, there's a hi-fi show taking place somewhere on the planet pretty much every weekend, but for me, spring is show season. First, in April, comes AXPONA, which is held near Chicago. AXPONA is the largest North American high-end audio show, making it pretty much impossible for one person to see everything during the three-day event. Even with my focus on record-playing gear, I found myself skipping some rooms, telling myself that I could catch them a month later at High End Munich. Munich is even bigger than AXPONA, so we'll have to see how that plays out.

With that in mind, here are a few things that caught my eye at AXPONA 2024.

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Munich 2024
Fink Team and Epos
Jason Victor Serinus  |  Jun 12, 2024  |  0 comments
Speaker designer Karl-Heinz Fink’s Fink Team recently bought British loudspeaker brand Epos. “We have changed the Epos designs considerably,” Fink told me about the company’s three speaker models. “Epos loudspeakers are less expensive than Fink Team’s, but the engineering is nearly the same as the Fink Team’s.”
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Music and Recording Reviews
June 2024 Classical/International Record Reviews
Herb Reichert, Jason Victor Serinus, Stephen Francis Vasta, Ray Chelstowski  |  Jun 12, 2024  |  3 comments
Será Una Noche: Otra Noche; Bela Fleck: Rhapsody in Blue; Mahler: Symphony No.3 & R. Strauss: Death and Transfiguration; Maya Beiser × Terry Riley: In C; Schubert: String Quartet No.15 in G major D887 • String Quartet No.8 in B flat major D112; Stravinsky: Pétrouchka & Debussy: Jeux, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune.
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Music and Recording Reviews
June 2024 Jazz Record Reviews
Thomas Conrad, Andrey Henkin  |  Jun 12, 2024  |  0 comments
Stephan Crump: Slow Water; John Surman: Words Unspoken; Arve Henriksen/Harmen Fraanje: Touch of Time; Charles McPherson: Reverence.
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Music and Recording Reviews
June 2024 Rock/Pop Record Reviews
Jim Austin, Ray Chelstowski  |  Jun 12, 2024  |  3 comments
Beyoncé: Cowboy Carter; Various Artists: We Still Can't Say Good Bye: A Musicians' Tribute to Chet Atkins; Old 97's: American Primitive.
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Munich 2024
Marten’s Coltrane Quintet
Jason Victor Serinus  |  Jun 11, 2024  |  5 comments
I cannot recall a single instance where I was less than thoroughly satisfied—thrilled, usually—by the sound Marten loudspeakers made at shows. Given how tricky show set-up often is, Marten’s track record of stellar sound is no mean achievement.
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Munich 2024
Triode Japan
Ken Micallef  |  Jun 11, 2024  |  3 comments
Triode Japan premiered two products at High End Munich: the Triode Evolution Pre Preamplifier and the Triode Evolution Musashi Integrated Amplifier ($10,830). The latter runs in class AB in a push-pull configuration, outputting 100Wpc into 8 ohms. It uses four KT 150 and four 12AU7 tubes for its power and pre stages, respectively.
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Munich 2024
Straight2Tape / 2inch Records
Ken Micallef  |  Jun 11, 2024  |  2 comments
I followed the throng towards the Straight2Tape booth. A darkened entryway beckoned, promising access to a hidden music haven. But as I neared, the illusion shattered. The passageway was a masterfully crafted cardboard facade, complete with lifesize musicians frozen in mid-performance, a gleaming microphone outstretched, and a realistic pop filter catching the nonexistent light.
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Music and Recording Features
Jazz Without the Poverty: The Jazz Cruise Rides the Waves in Style
Thomas Conrad  |  Jun 11, 2024  |  4 comments
The Jazz House All-Stars. All Photos: John Abbott Photography c/o Jazz Cruises

Jazz leads a hand-to-mouth existence. It was born in the red light district of New Orleans in the early 20th Century, and has never fully overcome its disreputable origins. Jazz lacks the support from governments, foundations, and rich donors that other, more decorous art forms enjoy. Jazz is too much of the street to be considered high culture, yet its audience is tiny compared to the masses who consume popular music. Pop stars like Taylor Swift perform in huge stadiums. Important jazz musicians play the Bar Bayeux in Brooklyn.

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