The AXPONA 2023 Chronicles: Part 8
The fascinating 5th floor of premium audio gear.
Audio Expo North America 2023 Show Report By Rick Becker

Refined Audio
Refined Audio is a retailer in Forest Park, IL, on the west side of Chicago, about 3/4 of the way to downtown Chicago from Schaumburg. They sell Cube Audio speakers from Poland, First Watt amplifiers, and Pass Labs electronics... and that seems to be it. Their room was well presented with a pair of Cube Audio Jazzon speakers in extra-cost gloss red ($10,490). Basic finishes are $8,490. While this may seem like a lot for a single-driver speaker, it is half the price of Cube Audio's top-selling Nenuphar model. The drivers alone for their speakers range from 2k to 7.5k Euros/pair.

The speakers are designed to tilt back with footers only at the front corners. The bottom of the cabinet becomes the opening for the interior horn. With no crossover for the driver, Cube Audio speakers can be driven with low-powered tube amps, providing high-quality sound for this niche market.

Also shown here was the First Watt SIT-4 amp from the hand of Nelson Pass, a limited production model priced at $5k. Using Static Induction Transistors (SIT) provides a simple single-ended Class A circuit without negative feedback that sounds very much like triode tubes. It also has a damping factor of five, which is common for low-powered tube amps.

Big band jazz was playing on the TW Acoustic Ravel GT turntable (a popular item at the show). It was equipped with an Audio Creative 12" Groovemaster III tonearm ($2500) equipped with a Koetsu Rosewood Signature cartridge ($5k). The tonearm on the left was a Schroeder Reference (about $9k, depending on options). A Pass Labs XP-27 phono preamp ($12k) and XP-32 line stage ($18,375) were also in service.

Other equipment included a Metronome DCS ($31k) and a Jena Labs Sequoia Sapling 2 power conditioner ($8k).

Linn Products
Linn, from Scotland, presented their LP12 turntable and digital electronics along with a Sonus Faber speaker from Italy. It looked to be the new Serafino in Wenge finish from the new 5th Generation Homage line. Simply gorgeous.

The silver equipment rack was the new EXR-1515-5V system from HRS (Harmonic Resolution Systems ($9,595). Linn was using their digital front end when I passed through.

Antal Audio Group, Electrocompaniet, And Triangle Speakers
Antal Audio Group is an importer of Triangle speakers from France, Electrocompaniet electronics from Norway, and Soulines turntables from Serbia. I've seen the Soulines turntables at Adirondack Audio and Video in Queensbury, NY, not far from Glens Falls where Antal Audio Group is based, so I suspect they are different companies under the same person. These three lines are the only ones they carry, though their retail operation in Upstate NY (and probably in Brooklyn and Vermont, as well) is a real treat to visit with a lot of high-end product lines.

The blue line of lights made the room memorable as I write this more than four weeks after the show. Electrocompaniet. The sound was quite good too. Electrocompaniet has been out of the US market for some years, so it is nice to see their well-made gear back again. They are celebrating their 50th year this year.

The Soulines Kubrick DCX turntable had a rather unique look about it with the kidney-shaped motor and speed control module. It was highly recommended by Art Dudley back in 2017.

The wood finish on the Triangle speaker was almost as good as the Sonus Faber and even more dramatic with its contrasting grain, but the integration of the drivers was rather distracting. The surrounds of the drivers with the black sections were a lot less blingy than shiny chrome would have been. The arc base was an interesting solution for achieving a wide-spread set of spikes to make the tall speaker more stable. I noticed that the three woofers had intentional uneven folds in the surrounds, something I've seen only one other time on an exceptionally good midrange driver.

Note the Nordost speaker cable in use here and the elegant finish on the Electrocompaniet. There were three different monoblocks listed on the Electrocompaniet price sheet: AW180 (250 Watts) at $11.2k, AW400 (400 Watts) at $15.2k, and the AW 800m Nemo 2 (800 Watts) at $45k, so you see they have a wide range of prices. Their ECI 6 DX Mk II integrated amp has 120 Wpc, DAC, streaming, and network control for $7500, which should be an interesting item.

SB Acoustics
SB Acoustics seems to be the manufacturer of many series of drivers. They also offer speaker kits. Some of those were likely the speakers shown in black and white in this room.

The geometry of the baffle of this speaker was certainly unusual.

A Bluesound streamer was the source for a Benchmark DAC3 HGC with headphone and volume control and the Benchmark AHB2 amp directly below it. It made for a compact system that fits nicely on what looked like a contemporary metal and glass end table.

Madisound
Madisound had a silent room with a table full of drivers and another one with crossovers and kits.

The gentleman above was hard-core with a three-day pass.

---> Next Page.