AXPONA 2025 Show Report: Exclusive 11th Floor Innovations And Highlights
Rick reveals high-end audio innovations and audiophile trends.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker 

1129 AXISS Audio, Airtight, Franco Serblin, Reed, Beaudioful, Echole, And Nihon Onkyo Engineering
This room almost qualified as a three-brand system, but I spotted a Sbooster linear power supply on the floor behind the left rack. Then I learned there was another Accuphase power conditioner ($12k) hidden behind an amp.

It was a real treat to hear the Franco Serblin Ktema speakers ($38k) with their rear-firing woofers in this exquisite design from the Italian master.

The turntable was the Reed Model Muse 3C with friction drive ($28k) with a 3P 10.5” arm made with Panzerholz ($7.4k), fitted with an Air Tight Opus 1, the flagship cartridge of the Air Tight line ($16k). This was the North American debut of that tonearm.

Air Tight also filled out the rest of the rig with the huge monoblocks ($100k), the world premiere of the ATC-6 preamp ($15k), the world premiere of the ATE-5 phono stage ($13.6k), and some power supplies. World-class, and world-famous, from Japan.

The cabling was from Tara Labs, and in case you're wondering, Nihon Onkyo Engineering is an acoustical engineering company in Japan that makes the wood dowel diffusers seen here between the amps and across the front wall.

1130 AXISS Audio, Absolare, Echole, Rockport Technologies, And Nihon Onkyo Engineering
As fine as the previous AXISS room was, I liked this one even better. The relatively new Rockport Lynx speakers ($78k) appealed to me even more than previous models I've heard. While Andy Payor may have sold the company, I understand he is still active in design work. This speaker is evidence that the transition has been very successful.

An Absolare Model 2 hybrid power amp ($42k) drove the Lynx very well and exuded an aura of class above and beyond ubiquitous metal chassis designs with its leather cladding and contrast stitching. This amp fits into high-class environments where others fear to tread. This gorgeous amp should have been elevated on an amp stand to give it more prominence and respect.

A TotalDAC unit from France on the top left shelf was in action. It appeared to be just a DAC as there was an Eversolo streamer below on the bottom shelf. However, TotalDAC also makes a DAC with a built-in streamer.

The elegant Absolare Model 2 preamplifier ($40k) deserves all the accolades I mentioned above about its matching power amp. Considering this was a North American debut for the two Absolare components, they deserved a more prominent display.

A Transrotor Dark Star turntable ($4.6k) and arm ($1.5k) fitted with an Air Tight PC-1 Coda cartridge ($11k) were sitting idly on the right TAOC rack. I didn't notice the turntable and arm prices at the time, but if they are accurate, this seems to be a very high-value analog rig if you lean toward more massive styling. That was a Transrotor MC 8.2 phono stage ($5k) and power supply for the turntable ($895) below the turntable. A few years ago, Transrotor brought over a dozen or more models from Germany and had them on silent display, I almost got to hear one this year.

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