1. Home
  2. misc-audio
  3. 135437-109487

My first visit to AXPONA

I took the 2 hour drive from Milwaukee today to check AXPONA out. What an overwhelming experience. I posted a couple weeks ago about my system that I love but after being on this forum for a while I was wondering what I'm missing. This was my first chance to hear some really elaborate and expensive set-ups. After a 2 hour drive home and analyzing what I heard, I decided to give a hug to my system. My Infinity Kappa 8's and the rest of my $8000.00 system will work for me. Don't take this wrong, I would love to upgrade but with my financial situation I will live and enjoy what I have. If by chance I win some lottery some day I know where $100,000.00 would go. 
golden210
psnyder149's avatar
psnyder149
32 posts
 
Quintessence Audio had a room where they had many pieces of equipment displayed but they were using an Aurender A10 directly into a SimAudio Moon amplifier (might have been an integrated amplifier) into the small Wilson speakers.  Seems to me that the entire system with cables was well under $50K (perhaps, less than $40K... I don't know what power treatment and cables cost) and it sounded really, really great.  Yes, the more elaborate and expensive systems were better but it showed that ultra high end performance could be achieved without a 6 figure budget. I would never have known without asking that they weren't using the high end SimAudio Moon DAC and preamp with the 860 amp also being displayed which would have probably exceeded $75K.
hifidream's avatar
hifidream
47 posts
 
High end audio is similar to many extremes of any hobby or sport. There is always a place where price and performance meet. For us that price point is higher than people who don’t appreciate systems like ours. There is a point where doubling price doesn’t add appreciable performance. To be truly elite is crazy expensive and is always on the cusp such as high jumpers, many collegiate jumpers can jump 7” but only a handful in the world can jump 7’2” plus, millions of dollars are spent to get milliseconds faster per lap on Indy and F1 cars, many examples abound. It is satisfying to know you don’t have to break the bank to get world class sound. Especially if you’re creative and patient. 
jafant's avatar
jafant
10,525 posts
 

Nice reporting guys.

Happy Listening!

jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
1,962 posts
 
I went to Axpona for three days, The Expo hall has many good products to sell, especially CDs , vynil, headphone, cables, For me this year the place is way much larger, much nicer, plenty of mezzanine to rest...convenient parking. Rooms are also nicer....plenty nice expensive set up.But I like best is the GINGKO room and Elac B6 2.0...both musically organic....The Yg acoustics set up, where Lyn Stanley is, also sounds very good...steinheim set up gave me and Markr real goosebump...Its really a blessing living 35 minutes from that venue ....this year it’s more fun...my wife enjoyed it too...
jsm71
141 posts
 

I haven't been to tons of shows, but I've done Axpona twice, RMAF once, and most recently last year's Capital Audio Fest.  Each show venue is different, but each offers entertainment and a great deal of education if you limit evaluations to things you can hear a difference with.   The best expectation is to have fun, learn about a product type you may be considering (headphones, ultrasonic cleaners, room correction, music servers, etc) and maybe buy some music or accessories.

If you go to a show to hear speaker XYZ hoping to be really impressed, don't write it off if it sucks at the show.  I absolutely love my speakers despite less than good initial exposure to them.  I did hear the qualities I was looking for and knew they would do better in my room.

Most rooms won't come close to your room, not by a long shot so everything you may actually like will sound different at home, usually better unless you have a challenged room.  

Managing crowds so that people can year things at their best is also nearly impossible.  There are limited speaker types (Omni) and setups that accommodate people all over the room, both standing and sitting.  Many systems need their sweet spot for best sound.  How many of us have entered rooms where getting the sweet spot just isn't worth the wait?

You just need to know shows won't give you all the answers.

More to discover