Ken Micallef

AXPONA 2024

Fidelity Imports, Perlisten, Primare, QED, Titan Audio

Ken Micallef Apr 29, 2024

Steve Jain’s Fidelity Imports turned heads at AXPONA with a kaleidoscope of digital and analog sound, a few of which were home-theater focused. They filled no fewer than six rooms, each showcasing an array of products, new and less new, from all corners of the world.

AXPONA 2024

Stereo Haven, Dynavector, Well Tempered Lab, Lejonklou, JM Reynaud

Ken Micallef Apr 29, 2024

Audiophile dream team Mike Pranka (Dynavector, Well Tempered Lab, JM Reynaud) and Charlie Schnyder (Stereo Haven) transformed room 624 into a sonic oasis. This well-tuned system made up of meticulously curated equipment delivered precision and nuance.

AXPONA 2024

TriangleArt

Ken Micallef Apr 27, 2024

For sleeping, past convention nights have sometimes been a nightmare, stuck next to the rooms of exhibitors who think "lights out" means "crank it up to 11!" Neighbor TriangleArt was a exception. They silenced their space by 7 pm, and their music was so good, it literally floated through the walls, beckoning me in.

AXPONA 2024

Gestalt Audio Design, Wolf von Langa

Ken Micallef Apr 26, 2024

Colin King and Doug K of Gestalt Audio Design of Nashville, Tennessee, presented one of the more unusual looking rigs at AXPONA, complete with a fantastical copper-colored turntable with a steampunk clamp, a pair of bug-eyed loudspeakers each with a field-coil midrange driver, and a master controller that looked like it had been rescued or stolen from a Russian submarine circa 1957.

AXPONA 2024

Linear Tube Audio, Clayton Shaw Acoustic Lab, Atma-Sphere, Anticables

Ken Micallef Apr 26, 2024

The Caladan loudspeakers from Clayton Shaw Acoustics ($3000/pair) were a sleeper hit at the Capital AudioFest, so I made a beeline to the fifth floor, slow-motion elevators not withstanding.

AXPONA 2024

MoFi Distribution: Balanced Audio Technology

Ken Micallef Apr 25, 2024

Balanced Audio Technology’s chief designer Victor Khomenko and BAT rep Steve Shade unveiled new products in conjunction with MoFi Electronics in 334.

AXPONA 2024

Saturday Audio Exchange: Bluesound, NAD, PSB, Pangea Audio, AudioQuest

Ken Micallef Apr 25, 2024

In the Innovation room, operated by Joe Corona of Chicago-based dealer Saturday Audio Exchange, two systems played, both featuring new components.

AXPONA 2024

Ampsandsound, Auralic North America Inc., SME

Ken Micallef Apr 24, 2024

Ampsandsound’s Justin Weber brought a big pile of black vinyl to Chicago, lining the small room’s walls with album jackets. He had me at Sphongle, an electronic industrial act that churned out of the world-debut Ampsandsound Hudson 3-Way speakers ($18,000/pair) like dirty psychedelic water erupting from a broken sewer pipe.

AXPONA 2024

Well Pleased AV, Vinnie Rossi, Merason, QLN

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2024

Well Pleased AV’s Mark Sossa corralled me for an early-morning listen session. I'm glad he did.

AXPONA 2024

AXPONA Coverage Resumes: Clarisys Audio USA, Convergent Audio Technology, Black Path Audio, and Essential Sound Products

Ken Micallef Apr 22, 2024

In the Nirvana C ballroom, Nguyen Phuong of Clarisys Audio USA played his range of Clarisys Audio Panels, of which the smaller Minuet panel had so impressed me at the recent Florida International Audio Expo.