Welcome back to my coverage of AXPONA 2026
I would like to take a quick moment to thank VERA-FI AUDIO LLC, manufacturer of some of the finest audio products and accessories, including the Vera-Fi Audio LLC Main Stream – Master Class Dynamic Parallel AC Line Conditioner a truly amazing noise suppression device, for sponsoring our coverage of AXPONA 2026 in a gesture of goodwill for the audio community at large, as they do not even show at AXPONA.
Resolution Audio Video/Accuphase/Dynavector/ Nagra/Technics/Western Acoustics/AudioQuest
Resolution Audio Video were debuting the Western Acoustics Type 2.1 Loudspeaker ($6,000/pr) powered by an Accuphase E-4000 integrated amp ($13,975) with a Nagra Streamer ($5950) and Nagra Compact PSU ($3950) providing digital with a Technics SL-1300G Turntable ($3,999.99) fitted with a Dynavector 10X5 MK2 Moving Coil Cartridge ($800) with cables and power conditioning by AudioQuest.
2WA Group/Grimm Audio/Aequo Audio/Trilogy Audio/VPI
2WA Group were featuring Aequo Audio Ensium Loudspeakers ($50,000) matched to a pair of Trilogy Audio 994 Mono Block Amplifiers ($30,000) and Trilogy Audio 914 Preamplifier with a beautiful VPI Avenger Turntable ($40,000) through a Grimm Audio Phono Preamp (5,650) making up the analog source and a Grimm Audio MU1 Server ($14,000), Ideon Absolute Stream ($28,500), Ideon Absolute Time ($13,000), and Ideon Absolute DAC ($55,000) providing digital source, with Wire World cables throughout.
Western Electric
One of the oldest and newest tube manufacturers, Western Electric was out to impress with their massive Western Electric 100E Monoblock Amplifiers ($150,000/pr), providing an incredible 160 Watts Single-Ended Triode power to Western Electric A2 Three-Way Loudspeakers ($150,000/pr) with radial air-motion-transformer tweeter and midrange. This was fronted by a Western Electric 203C CD player ($12,000) and a Western Electric 91E preamplifier ($8000).
Third Ear/Mark Levinson
Third Ear was showing off their Third Ear AT36 Reference Monitors ($21,250) with their Third Ear AT46S Subwoofers ($9,250) using a Mark Levinson No 519 Audio Player ($25,000) as source for the active loudspeakers.
LUMIN/Marten Parker
In a display that highlighted their entire line of electronics, for their primary system, LUMIN paired their new LUMIN X2 Network Player ($16,800) with their LUMIN L2 Music Library & Network Switch ($3,700), and LUMIN AMP Amplifier ($14,000) to drive a pair of Marten Parker Trio Diamond Floorstanding Loudspeakers ($54,000).
Woo Audio/Aretai/Ø Audio
In a departure from their regular headphone displays, Woo Audio teamed up with Aretai and Ø Audio to enter the world of two-channel Hi-Fi and demonstrate their fantastic new Woo Audio WA 300-BAL 300B Power Amplifier ($24,999) with the Aretai Contra 200F Loudspeaker ($26,500/pr) and the Ø Audio Icon 12 Loudspeakers ($25,000/pr). The sound with the Aretais was simply spectacular.
QUAD
In an attempt to shake their image as a speaker for Classical Music lovers, Quad was playing to impress with a selection of amplified and electronic music only through their new Quad ESL 2912 Electrostatic Loudspeakers ($18000/pr). While it is quite impressive how much dynamic range and bass they were able to get out of electrostatic speakers, I would have liked to know if they still have the magic of their classic offerings. For electronics they paired up the ESL 2912s with a Quad Platina Integrated Amplifier ($5,495), Quad Platina Stream Network Player ($4,495), and Quad Platina CDT CD Transport ($1,995)
That concludes Part 9 of my coverage of AXPONA 2026, I would once again like to thank VERA-FI AUDIO LLC for sponsoring this coverage. Stay tuned for part 10.
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