The Big AXPONA 2024 Show Report
The largest, most well-managed, and most amazing show in North America!
Audio Expo North America 2024 Show Coverage By Greg Weaver

1628 – AXISS Audio – Minor Room
It was wonderful to run into Cyrill Hammer, of Germany's Soulution, debuting the just-introduced second generation of its 3 Series of products in this room. I didn't get to hear any LPs while I visited, but the performance delivered by the new 3 Series 360 DAC, 326 Preamp, and the stereo 312 power amplifier, as paired with the Gauder Akustik Capello 100 loudspeakers, of Renningen, Germany, was exceptional.

System Details:
Innuos Pulsar Music Server - $7,999
Innuos PhoenixUSB USB Bridge/Re-clocker      - $4,349

Soulution 360 DAC - $24,975 - NEW!

Transrotor Bellini TMD Turntable - $6,495 – NEW!

Transrotor Studio 9" Tonearm - $5,595 – NEW!

Transrotor MC Tamino MC Phono Cartridge - $18,975.00
Soulution 350 Phonostage - $21,975 – NEW!
Soulution 326 Preamplifier - $21,475 – NEW!

Soulution 312 Power Amplifier - $28,975 – NEW!

Gauder Akustik Capello 100 - $25,975 - NEW!
Beaudioful RACK-R (3 Shelf/Large/Studio Cherry & Black) - $4,800 – NEW!
Nihon Onkyo Engineering AGS FS1 - Floor Standing Diffusors - $4,695

Nihon Onkyo Engineering AGS MN1 – Floor Bounce Diffusors - $1,095

Tara Labs The Muse 1M AES/XLR - $5,800

Tara Labs The Muse 1M RCA/XLR Interconnects - $8,995

Tara Labs The Muse 8' Speaker Cables - $15,500

Tara Labs The Cobalt AC 6' - $5,000

I didn't spend an inordinate amount of time in this room, but I was moved by the remarkably fine sense of dimensionality balanced with the naturalness and presence I heard with everything I listened to while I was in the room.

1632 – AXISS Audio – Main Room
The new owner of AXISS Distribution, Cliff Duffey, had JUST taken the reins from Arturo Manzano, the former president, just the week before last year's AXPONA. Making sure we knew that they were serious and knew what they were up to, they managed to knock it out of the park in this room with their full-on assault on hyper-audio. I had some time to chat with Vice President of Sales and Dealer Relations, TJ Goldsby, and have been very taken by what they presented in this room.

System Details:
Transrotor Tourbillon Reference Turntable - $47,975

Transrotor Tourbillon Stand - $15,975

DS Audio Grandmaster EX Optical Cartridge - $22,500

Soulution 757 De-Empasis EQ Phonostage - $84,975 – NEW!

Innuos Statement NG w/1 TB Music Server - $25,000

Soulution 760 Digital to Analog Converter          - $79,975

Soulution 727 Preamp with Phono Module          - $89,950 – NEW!
     Also - Absolare Eternum Preamplifier - $85,000

Soulution 511 Power Amplifier (as Monoblocks) - $41,975
     Also – AbsolareAltius 2 - Hybrid Power Amplifier - $120,000/pair
Gauder Akustik DARC 250 Mk II (4-way Reference Loudspeaker) - $249,975/pair – NEW!

Accuphase PS-1250 Clean Power Supply - $17,575

Beaudioful – (4 Shelf/Large/Studio Multiplex Finish) - $10,800

Nihon Onkyo Engineering AGS ST1 SFS Diffusors - $2,995/each - NEW!

Nihon Onkyo Engineering AGS FS1 Floor Standing Diffusors - $4,695.00/Pair

Nihon Onkyo Engineering AGS MN1      - $1,095/each

Echole  Infinity AC Calbes 6' - $24,500/each

Echole  Infinity Interconnects - 3' - $28,500/each

Echole  Infinity - Speaker Cables -9' - $44,000/each

The LP playback here was sublime. Listening to Jeff Buckley's take on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," from his 1994 breakthrough record Grace was the perfect choice to show off what Ontario, Canada's Transrotor transcription system, fitted with Japan's DS Audio flagship Grand Master EX optical phono cartridge, driving the new reference Gauder Akustik DARC 250 Mk II loudspeakers, with this latest iteration of the Soulution 7 Series of electronics, launched just last May, could deliver. The result was both an intimate and immediate presentation, loaded with musical detail and a level of transparency to the source that was riveting.

1642 – American Sound Of Canada
As enchanting as the presentations had been in the Alexander Suite in the middle of the floor, this room, at the very end of the hallway, was so inviting that it may have been my favorite performer of the three.

System Details:
Aurender A30/DAC/Streamer/Preamp - $28,000
Phasemation MA1500 300B tube monoblocks - $30,800/pair

Rethm Saadhanna speakers - $23,000/pair

All Transparent cables ~ $8,800

While I'm not typically a big fan of single-driver loudspeakers, the Rethm Saadhanna makes significant advances on that simpler model. Each enclosure features one of their single 7" wideband drivers up top, but adds four 8" bass drivers, configured in two isobaric pairs, in a separate enclosure below. Those woofers are driven by an internal 400-Watt (@ 8 Ohms) Hypex UCD digital amplifier. A deucedly clever choice, if you ask me. Isobaric loading first became popular in the 1970's, and it would seem that the method is making a comeback of late.

Everything I listened to here exhibited openness, space, and to-die-for texture while featuring an exceptional balance of detail with body.

1643 – Bob Carver Audio
Ever since I first heard Bob's Phase Linear products back in 1973, I've been an unrepentant fan of his work. Working with him to write his bio and history for inclusion in The Absolute Sound's Illustrated History of High-End Audio, Volume 2: Electronics, in 2015 was one of the major joys of my writing career. The products being offered today represent not only the acquired decades of experience and expertise, but represent a remarkable value to anyone wanting to get into tube gear.

System Details:
Bob Carver RAM 285 valve-based amplifier - Introductory Price - $4,495

Eversold DMP A8 DAC/Streamer/Preamp – $1,999
Magnepan LRS + Loudspeakers - $995/pair

Sublime K235 Crossover - $899.95

Elac Sub 3070 Adante Subwoofer - $2,499

The Reference Amplifier Model RAM 285 is the latest and most advanced legacy design from Bob, and uses one 12AX7, two 12AT7, and two 6AL5 tubes (for the DC Restorer circuit) in the preamp section, while four matched KT-120s deliver 85 Watts per channel into an 8 Ohm load. It features the latest iteration of his DC Restorer circuit, used to prevent the DC bias from sagging under highly dynamic loads. This circuit not only allows for the delivery of a more dynamic performance, but it does so by using a lower idle current and producing lower heat output, which helps to extend tube life considerably. All this and a five-year warranty, too!

Music played here was surprisingly transparent and resolving with no edge or glare, offering exceptional body, with just a bit of limitation to dimensionality – which – more than likely may have been room-related. Overall, this system was very neutral and natural. I was very impressed by how effectively that explosive "P" sound in the mentioned Dire Strait's track "Fade to Black" loaded the room. Pretty impressive.

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