T.H.E. New York International Audio Show 2025

Robert Lighton's custom rig included his prototype turntable with a rosewood armboard and customized 10" Audio Note tonearm with a Miyajima Madake MC cartridge. An Audio Note S9 step-up transformer ($28,000) and M9 phono preamp ($185,000) did the analog business. An Audio Note CD 4.1x ($16,000) made music from shiny silver discs.

Norm Steinke, Burmester sales manager for the US, presented two complete Burmester Audio systems at T.H.E. Show in New Jersey. Both systems were composed of components drawn from Burmester’s tiered product lines: Signature Line, Reference Line, Top Line, Classic Line. The two displayed setups featured an assortment of components divided among these categories.

Atlantis Lab’s Yusuke Yasuda, and Decibel+’s Gabriel Andrés Toro brought one of the most surprising systems of the show, featuring Neoson tubed amplifiers and Atlantis Lab loudspeakers, both brands manufactured in France. Atlantis Labs' concept designer Eric Buy and Neoson concept designer Walter Blondel were also on hand.

"New Life Audio—Good For The Soul" adorned the entrance to Queens, New York, dealer New Life Audio Solutions's room. Owner Shawn Mathew's smiling countenance and gentle personality made me feel welcome.

Succasunna, New Jersey's Orchard Audio didn't come to play. Joined by Kimber Kable and Soundfield Audio, Orchard got down to business, but quick. "We are an audio company that provides an immersive listening experience by offering top-quality DACs, streamers, and amplifiers," its website states.

San Marcos, California's Audience AV and old friend Ralph Karsten of Atma-Sphere bought a fresh system to T.H.E. Show.

Vinh Vu, my first friend in this audiophile thing, has been a busy bee since we met in the 1990s. With his company Gingko Audio, he's marketed his unique isolation platform, Danacable, and the Sextet Modular Speaker System, among other products that have stood the test of time.