Welcome to our continuing multi-part coverage of AXPONA 2022 once again thanks to our good friend Walter Liederman of Underwood HiFi, https://www.underwoodhifi.com/ , the best place to find high-end audio at affordable prices. As AXPONA cater to the Personal Audio community as well as the two-channel loudspeaker community, we will be running these reports on both Headphone.Guru and HiFiAudio.Guru simultaneously.
AV Luxury Group International
AV Luxury Group International are a new face in extreme high-end audio, but its principles, Bruce Ball and Thomas Kiss, have over 50 years combined experience in the field and are responsible for bringing some of the most famous audiophile products to the market, and this new venture is no exception as they hit AXPONA with a big splash, hosting three rooms and cosponsoring Stereophile’s pre-show party (it was on Thursday and I did not get in until afterward, but I hear that it was a hoot). Their product line includes Raidho Acoustics (considered by many to be the best speaker in the world), Scansonic HD (Raidho’s budget line of speakers, world-beaters in their own right), Brodmann Acoustics (famous piano manufacturer turned speaker manufacturer), Margules Audio (Mexico’s oldest high-end audio manufacturer with a 90-year history), and RSX Technologies (the latest entry from the legendary cable designer Roger Skoff of XLO fame).
Brodmann Acoustics/RSX/Gold Note/Shunyata Research
One of the more compelling systems was in the AV Luxury Group International Brodmann Acoustics room where they were featuring a pair of Brodmann Acoustics F2 Piano Floorstanding Speakers ($8,200 USD), being driven by a Gold Note PA-1175 MKII Power Amplifier ($8,199USD), fed from a Gold Note PH-1000 Phono Stage/Preamp ($15,999USD), with a Gold Note Mediterraneo Turntable ($9,599USD) and Gold Note Tuscany Cartridge ($8,999USD) as source as well as a Gold Note DS-10 Streaming DAC ($2,995USD) with a Gold Note PSU-10 EVO Power Supply ($1,399USD) for the digital end, with a Shunyata Research Everest Power Conditioner ($8,995USD) supplying AC via RSX Technologies Power Cables. Fantastic sound.
Margules Audio
AV Luxury Group International’s Margules Audio room was all Margules, being a top-down manufacturer, the system consisted of a Margules Audio Magenta DMS Bluetooth Music Streamer/DAC ($995) running through a Margules Audio ARCH-3 Hybrid Integrated Amp ($4,000 USD), driving Margules Audio Orpheo Loudspeakers ($30,000 USD), with AC noise filtering being performed by a Margules Audio QR-2 Noise Line Suppressor (TBA) with power cords supplied by RSX Technologies. Easily one of the more musical rooms at the show.
Raidho Acoustics/Scansonic
Last, but certainly not least of the AV Luxury Group International rooms was their Raidho Acoustics room, which received “Best Sound of the Show” from many of the attendant Audiophile magazines. This stellar sounding system consisted of a pair of Raidho Acoustics TD3.8 Speakers ($117,000 USD), a pair of the magnificent Margules Audio U280-SC 30th Anniversary Limited Edition (only 30 units will be made) Class A Tube Amplifiers ($10,000 USD), a Margules Audio SF220 Special Edition Tube Preamplifier ($7,000 USD), the stunning VPI Avenger Turntable ($12,500 USD), a pair of Phasemation EA-550 Phono Amplifiers ($9,600 USD), and an Aurender A30 Caching Music Server/Streamer/CD Ripper/HDD Storage/Full MQA Decoder DAC/Headphone Amplifier ($18,000 USD) and once again RSX Technologies Power Cables. There was also a pair of the Raidho Acoustics TD1.2 Speakers ($25,000 USD) with stands ($3,600 USD) available for listening.
Etymotic Research/Westone Audio
Westone Audio and Etymotic Research who are now under one umbrella were showing their extensive line of custom and universal In-Ear Monitors designed for the Pro-Audio and consumer markets. Westone was emphasizing their Pro X series of universal IEMs designed to appeal to performing musicians starting at $174.99 USD for the Pro X10 for the single balanced armature driver IEM, followed by the Pro X20 dual BA driver IEM ($299.99 USD), then the Pro X30 triple BA driver IEM ($399.99) and going up to the Pro X50 with five BAs selling for $649.99. Etymotic Research on the other hand was focusing on their new EVO Multi-Driver IEM ($499.99) with Dual Balanced Armature Low-Frequency Drivers and a Single Midrange/Treble Balanced Armature Driver moving away from the more analytical sound of their single driver IEMs to something punchier with a wider appeal to the consumer market.
Jerry Harvey Audio
JH Audio was introducing their new flagship In-Ear Monitor, the Sharona ($2,300 USD), their first-ever 16-Driver configuration with a true 4-way Crossover, featuring the all-new Knowles RAU Quad Supertweeter. Essentially designed to combine the low-end of the Layla with the midrange of the Roxanne, the Sharona offers a more musical performance with a more detailed wider soundstage.
Once again thanks to our good friend Walter Liederman of Underwood HiFi, https://www.underwoodhifi.com/ for supporting our in-depth coverage of AXPONA 2022, stay tuned for Part 5.
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