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 

1133 Nagaoka
Nagaoka filled a table with their affordable cartridges on display, and displayed enlarged replicas of various stylus designs in Plexiglas, as seen in the upper right corner of the photo above.

Prices ranged from $149 to a bit over $1000, making this venerable Japanese line, dating back to the 1940s, within reach of almost anyone serious about enjoying vinyl. Entry-level cartridges have aluminum cantilevers, and more expensive models step up to boron. All are Moving Magnet designs. Nagaoka cartridges are made in Yamagata, Japan. They seem well poised to take advantage of the resurgence of vinyl among young people today, starting from entry-level and moving upward.

This was a Technics SL-1500C-K direct drive model ($1,300) in action, fitted with a Nagaoka MM cartridge.

1134 Technics / Rediscover Music, Yamaha, And Benchmark Media
This was a 100% Technics system, except for the PS Audio AC regenerator on the bottom shelf. Again, the seats were full, and I didn't get a good listen.

The Technics for Automobili Lamborghini - SL-1200M7B model is available in three colors and is marked down from $1,600 to $1,200.

These are the turntables for which Technics is most well-known. They have a slider on the right side for adjusting speed, which aids DJs in beat matching amungst other things. They come in black and silver at two price points: $2,200 and $4,300. I'll let you go to their website to sort out the differences. Note the spindle/motor unit of the direct drive motor sitting open on the table between the two turntables.

Technics also offers two models far above these with a separate power supply: one at $11.5k and the flagship at $20k.

What I like most about Technics turntables is the form factor and weight, which allows them to be wall-mounted. This strategy removes a lot of noise from footfalls and floor vibration and enables you to mount the table where you don't have to bend over when cueing up a record, making the ritual more enjoyable. It also keeps the table away from cats, dogs, and small children — a few more pluses that might be relevant.

1139 PSI Audio
PSI Audio is a Swiss manufacturer of pro audio monitors. The white model seen here seems to be a domestic version of their A17M, their reference for active nearfield monitors — nearfield being 0.7 to 2 meters. It was priced at $4k. Being Swiss, I expect this monitor to be exceptionally accurate and very well made.

PSI also promoted a cylindrical AVAA C314 active bass trap ($4k each) that absorbs frequencies in the 15 Hz to 160 Hz range with no calibration required. I scribbled a note about it containing a microphone inside, but you will have to do your own research to find out more. You can see a black model of the bass trap in the corner just below the right forearm of Roger Roschnik, CEO of the company.

1142 Yamaha
Yamaha had two rooms tucked in the corner at the end of the hall. The first one had a display of Yamaha instruments and audio components on silent display, with a couple of knowledgeable gentlemen to answer your questions.

1144 Yamaha
The second Yamaha room had an active system. While there was a real LP on the turntable, music was streamed through the unit on the bottom shelf to one of two integrated amplifiers driving either the stand-mounted monitor or the floorstander beside it. At the Montreal show, I typically have a better opportunity to hear their speakers, and I prefer the less expensive models to their pricy flagship, which seems more difficult to set up.

1145 Benchmark Media, Studio Electric
I've seen and heard some quirky Studio Electric speakers over the years, but they all featured dynamic drivers. So it was a surprise to meet Dave MacPherson, owner of the company, showing an electrostatic model. I'm not certain the large subwoofer under his left elbow was part of the deal, but it sure had an impressive-looking driver.

That was a Benchmark DAC3 B and LA4 preamp by his elbow and an AHB2 power amp at his feet. Using these amplifiers with an electrostatic speaker, you expect crystal clear sound. The aluminum base plate for the speaker was fitted with casters, but could easily adapt to other footers.

That's A Wrap For The 11th Floor
That's the 11th Floor from one end to the other. Within my AXPONA 2025 Part 5, I'll do the same on the 7th Floor. Come back in a few days for more AXPONA 2025 show coverage.

---> Onward to Part 5 of Rick Becker's AXPONA 2025 show report.

---> Back to the AXPONA 2025 show report homepage.