Constellation’s Revelation 2 Lives Up to Its Name, With Assists From Magico, Esoteric, Cardas, and Transparent
For me, one of the biggest surprises at Munich High End 2024 was the performance of Constellation’s new Revelation 2 stereo amplifier ($30,000), preamplifier ($25,500), and phono stage ($29,000). I’d expected refinement, but not this level of clarity; previous Constellation gear had sometimes struck me as a little dark. In Munich, the sound was beautifully illuminated, with wonderful colors and an ideal amount of brightness in the treble.
DeVore Fidelity, Leben, Well Tempered Lab, Box Furniture: Vinyl, Intention, and the Art of the Demo
John DeVore brings more than music to his rooms: he brings thoughtfulness, a sense of discovery, and superbly curated recordings.
Do-It-All, Done Right? Arcam’s SA45 Makes the Case
Arcam’s $4999 SA45 aims to prove that “do-it-all” and “high-end” can coexist. For the first time at a show, Jim Garrett, a senior director of product strategy & planning at Harman International, gave a live demo of the British brand’s SA45 streaming integrated amplifier.
Watch Mark Henninger’s interview with Jim Garrett.
Estelon, Vitus, Sonorus, Taiko, Crystal Cable, ART, and Ekustik: A New Kind of Clarity
Aldo Filippelli of Luxury Audio Group brought essentially the same system he showed at the Florida Audio Expo, where Mark Henninger and Julie Mullins filed a comprehensive video report. Familiar or not, the performance was still superb.
Everything in Its Rogue Place: Magnepan, Rogue Audio, and Darwin Cables
Rogue Audio’s Bill Magerman and Nick Fitzsimmons introduced the RP‑3 at AXPONA 2025—a new preamp that’s tube-equipped and unmistakably Rogue. The RP‑3 ($3495) is a feature-packed machine with two 12AU7 tubes in a mu‑follower design, a remote control, home-theater bypass/unity-gain inputs, three sets of RCA inputs, and two pairs of XLR inputs. Also on-board: a mono button, a tube-based high-power headphone amp, linear power supplies, and a three-year warranty. Like all Rogue gear, it’s made in the USA.
Fidelity Imports Demos Ruark Gear: British Bite on a Budget
At AXPONA, Steve Jain’s Fidelity Imports and UK-based Ruark Audio teamed up to present a stylish, musically satisfying system. Founded in 1985 on England’s south coast, Ruark is known for combining classic British design with forward-thinking engineering.
Fidelity Imports’ Power Trio: AVM, Wilson Benesch, and Perlisten
Steve Jain of Fidelity Imports seeks out high-quality audio brands poised for greater recognition. While some, such as Wilson Benesch—now distributed in the US by Fidelity—are already well-established in the industry, Jain’s commitment is evident in his support of respected manufacturers like Perlisten, Knosti, QED, Unison Research, and Audia Flight.
Friends with (Sonic) Benefits: Stenheim, VTL, Grand Prix, Kuzma, Nordost, and dCS
Stenheim, VTL, and Nordost returned as AXPONA system partners, joined this year by several notable additions. The analog front end featured Grand Prix Audio’s Monaco 3.0 turntable ($56,250) with Fuel Station battery power supply ($15,250), Kuzma’s Safir 9 tonearm ($23,140), and a Lyra Etna cartridge ($8995). Nordost showcased four rare Odin Gold power cords ($43,999), alongside its familiar Odin 2 and Valhalla 2 cables and a broad range of accessories. Digital duties had shifted from last year’s dCS Rossini Apex to the full Vivaldi Apex stack: DAC ($46,500), Upsampler ($27,000), and Master Clock ($21,000).
From Japan with Glow: VK Music Presents Sunvalley and Elekit
Victor Kung of VK Music in Canada offers Japanese-made tube amplifier kits that cater to DIY enthusiasts. The amps that VK Music distributes are also available fully assembled—but where’s the fun in that?
Got Cash? Magico, D'Agostino, Antipodes, Wadax, Telos, and Vyda Build a $2M Temple of Tone
Among the many systems at AXPONA 2025, Magico’s claimed the triple crown: most expensive, most imposing, and most sonically impressive. Entering the hushed, curtained-off, two-story Club Room felt like crossing into sacred space.