AXPONA 2017 Show Report -- Audio Expo North America
AXPONA Show Report Part 1 By Steven R. Rochlin

  Moving on to the Marketplace section of AXPONA 2017 was a Tweak Studio's table featuring Torus Power model RM 15+ ($2999). This hefty 15 Ampere unit remains unparalleled for performance, protection, and value from Torus Power. Their RM 15+ is said to be ideal for mid-size systems, while their RM5 can be dedicated to front-end components, media servers, etc. Benefits of using this unit include toroidal isolation, excellent noise filtering, high instantaneous current delivery capability plus lightning and surge protection. Need more? You can get larger custom installation models rated 60 Ampere and 100 Ampere. Balanced power input provides clean, protected power for the largest, and expensive, custom installed systems.

With Hi-Res Audio DACs being a fave front-end source for many audiophiles, the MQA-equipped Mytek Manhattan and Brooklyn DACs/pre were at AXPONA 2017 with the designer proudly demonstrating the advantages of music via a high-end DAC. MQA controversy aside, personally i feel whatever promotion we as an industry have to move people away from lossy MP3 and into something, anything, of higher resolution is good.

Now we're just waiting for some real money being invested into promotion Hi-Res Music and Hi-Res Audio. Will Meridian, i mean Bob Stuart and MQA, invest in widely promoting their MQA format? Or will it just remain a semi-secret like Sony's DSD format as MQA uses whatever leverage they might have to license their format. Bob could just follow the same strategy as he did his surround format i guess. Of course there are many types of surround sound, so will MQA be lost in the multi-format noise instead of rising up via proper marketing? What does Apple plan to do, as J.I sees no demand for Hi-Res Audio.  Guess the real question is: Is anyone willing to invest in promoting higher-than-MP3 digital audio to the masses so there is true demand for whatever format(s) come about? Anyone? Hello, is this mic on? 

Nordost was being used in many wonderful sounding rooms at AXPONA and here within the marketplace was their table loaded with great products. From cables including analog interconnects, speaker cables, digital (USB and Ethernet) plus a wide assortment of tweaks. Their QRT power filter/distribution is getting much positive recognition too! To see the intricacies of their Valhalla cable, they had a magnifier you could look into so as to truly grasp the immense detail work involved. Nordost also offers some truly fine headphone cables, and use it here with my beloved Audeze LCD-3 Steampunk planar magnetic headphones. Great stuff! 

Shine on your crazy diamond! Grant CT of Hi-Fi+ was at their AXPONA table offering great deals on subscriptions and free magazine handouts too! 

Chad Kassem of Acoustic Sounds is proudly holding their new Hugh Masekela Hope reel-to-reel release. As we all know, Acoustic Sounds, with sister company Quality Record Pressings., delivers both new and used vinyl LPs, reel-to-reel tape, CDs, SACDs, Hi-Res downloads, etc. So basically think of Acoustic Sounds as your one-stop-shop for all things audiophile music. And remember kids, each year they also hold a wonderful Blues Masters concert, which Enjoy the Music.com / Enjoy the Music.TV broadcast live a few years back. You can watch our 1080 videos from the 17th annual Blues Masters at the Crossroads concert at this link. We also toured Acoustic Sounds offices here, plus the Quality Record Pressings plant too available at the same link above.

---> Click here for Part 2 of Steven R. Rochlin's AXPONA 2017 show report.