The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 1
Sensational sound on the 16th floor.
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Report By Rick Becker

AXISS Audio
Axiss Audio put together a spectacular room here, not just in sound quality but also in the high level of construction. Most of the components here were from Air Tight, including their new ATC-7 control amplifier.

The new Air Tight ATM-2211 monoblocks with 211 power tubes put out 32 Watts each.

Seen behind the Air Tight ATM 3211 monoblock above, were an Accuphase C280 preamplifier and their new PS-1250 power supply/conditioner.

This Reed Muse 1C turntable in naked wood was a real eye-catcher, along with the Reed 5T tonearm, and was one of my favorite components of the entire show.

This was a rare opportunity to hear a Franco Serblin speaker. This one sells for $40k and is a combination of unique artistic form, reasonable size, and outstanding sound quality that is difficult to find in the high end.

Devialet
Devialet made a huge splash in the high end when they first entered the market and they not only have established their niche in the market but have been the forerunner of the all-in-one movement that has more recently emerged. They dominate that category in style and sound quality as well.

The elegant Devialet Dione soundbar is shown here just below the video screen above. The company paid to enter the EISA Awards, and of course they received an award for high-end soundbar that incorporates an unbelievable number of drivers.

When I look at the sound bar and then read the specs, the first thing that comes to mind is science fiction. 24Hz to 21kHz... really?

Devialet's white speaker here drives me crazy. It sounds amazing, but the vibrating side-firing woofers are visually distracting. My head gets blurry. The little black one also has side-firing woofers, but, being black and smaller, did not suffer that problem as much to my eye. Maybe I should just wear blindfolds when I watch TV?

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