The Only Complete Coverage Of Cutting-Edge Audio At AXPONA 2025
Rick's first floor coverage features top-level audiophile gear & innovations!
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker 

Theo Stack (right) and his associate John Brownbridge came over from Great Britain to meet with customers. I've known Theo for years and reviewed many of his Linn LP12 aftermarket components here at Enjoy the Music.com.

In recent years, he has done very well with footers for both components and heavier items like speakers and racks. I've reviewed them very favorably. They are the best I've tried in a reasonable price range, and I use them in my reference system. The Auva footers for speakers look fantastic on my Acora speakers and a friend's Wilson Sabrina.

Stack Audio has also jumped into the streaming field with its modestly priced SmoothLAN Network filter.

Stack Audio followed up with the SmoothLAN Regenerator, also modestly priced.

What I didn't photograph at the Stack Audio booth was their new Serene Mat ($84) for turntables and their Serene Record Stabilizer ($218). One of each fell into my briefcase for review. I am working on an inclusive article on affordable turntable upgrades that will feature both items, among several others. I'll let the cat out of the bag and suggest you try the Serene Mat first, as this is the most effective and higher value. If you've got more loose change, pick up the Serene Record Stabilizer, too. And keep your eye out for my article sometime this fall for more winning tweaks to take a modest turntable to a much higher level.

Fern & Roby had a room on the 5th Floor (584), but also offered an assortment of small items at their booth here. I've gifted the round wooden coasters with wood-burned images of classic vacuum tubes (seen in the lower left corner) on a couple of occasions. They are very classy, and who doesn't need a coaster beside their listening chair?

Butcherblock Acoustics appears at shows frequently, selling to people who prefer something organic to support their gear.

I've seen the Snake River Audio booth at Capital Audiofest, and since read about their silver cables. Next time I come across them, I will inquire more deeply.

The Chicago Jazz Orchestra is an actual group, not a jazz festival like I was thinking.

I was able to get a shot of Anne Bisson hard at work with her pen. Usually, when I get this close to her, she grabs an LP, holds it up, and flashes a big smile.

Yes, kind of like this!

Doctor of Grooves, Charles Kirmuss, is always busy at shows. Here he is checking the sound quality of an LP he has recently cleaned and restored for a patron. At the time of Axpona, he was out of stock in his famous record cleaning/restoring machine due to supply chain issues, but the situation has likely changed by now. List/MAP advertised price is $1,490, but he often has special show prices, so be sure to look him up at your next show. At the very least, get an education from his very informative website.

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