Day 3 Features A Dazzling Array Of High-End Audio Gear At FIAE 2025
Thoughts concerning the most expensive hi-fi stereo audiophile sound systems in Tampa.
Florida International Audio Expo 2025 Show Report By Brett Rudolph

  After completing the fourth floor, it felt like my head would explode. Some excellent systems were presented in some interesting spaces. They ranged from affordable to price no object and everywhere in between. The remaining floors held the same promise; my photographer son Dylan and I were ready to conquer them all. We both agreed to get some rest because while we wanted to leave lots of time to go back to rooms we loved, our ears could only take so much stimulation. Plus, some exhibitors and the attendees like their music a bit loud. If your Apple watch says that your hearing may be damaged by excessive noise levels, you should listen to it at some point.

A new day dawned in Florida, and it wasn't quite as cold, which was a welcome change. We might not have made it out of the building, but even in our room, it was freezing. We got dressed, and after stopping at the hotel's club lounge, I forgot to mention that somehow, we were on the club floor, so we went to the lobby. We met up with Enjoy the Music.com's Steven R. Rochlin and his lovely wife Heather. After a fast conversation and some data files transferred, we started over again. Today I decided to start on the second floor.

Before I forget, on Saturday morning Sue Toscano (PR for FIAE 2025) had arranged a bit of entertainment, and a score of young violinists from a local school came to greet attendees as they arrived to get their badges and begin their day at the event. It was really spectacular and something I would love to see again. Huge thanks to Sue for arranging it.

We watched them for a bit of time, but the show waited. With a bit of regret, we pulled our eyes away from the young students and started to make our way back to the expo. We wanted to finish off the remaining room before the end of the day so we could finally take stock of what we had and enjoy the show for ourselves. 

Room 372   Maximum Audio/Video
The Maximum Audio/Video room showcased the Golden Ear T66 Red speakers. These speakers caught my attention. They had a wonderful, sweet sound without being syrupy. Part of the reason was their ability to resolve details without sounding overly analytical. The sound stage that they created wasn't holographic but immersive enough to let you melt into the music and feel your cares fade away. At this point in the day, that alone was a fairly impressive feat!

A nice thing about them is that although they are floor-standing, they aren't overwhelming and don't take over the entire room with their presence. Also, they fill the room with music regardless of your location. They didn't have a place where they sounded better, but you didn't have to be in it to enjoy the music. It was a pleasant experience.

The system consisted of Golden Ear T66 Loudspeakers ($6000), Anthem STR Streamer/Preamplifier ($5000), and Hifi Rose 150 Amplifier ($5000). Audioquest did the cabling. One note here: the Hifi Rose 151 was supposed to make its debut here, but unfortunately, it was damaged, and it never came.

Room 371   Liquid HiFi, CH Precision, And Nordost
The Liquid HiFi room showcased several different products from several companies. The spotlight was not only on equipment but on acoustical treatments and tweaks. This does many other things. Overall, it did make the system sound good. Still, it also makes trying to figure out precisely what the show's real star is nearly impossible in a setting such as this. I'm not going to try to do that; instead, let me give you my overall impression of the room and provide you with a list of what was included in the system. You'll have to figure out the rest since, in the end, especially with tweaks, it's the only way to know if they are right in your system.

The entire system was well-curated. It played loud if that is your thing. There was a very low noise floor, so you could hear what was happening without annoying artifacts or weird sounds when the music was low. Additionally, the separation was exceptional, so you could hear what you were listening to without straining. In fact, I discovered some detail in a track I never knew existed, something I hadn't expected. It was an interesting system and, with tweaks, an even better one. I enjoyed my time in the room even though the room was crowded by the time we arrived.

The gear in the room consisted of Wadax Studio Player ($39,800), CH Precision M1.1 Amplifier ($57,000), Stenheim Alumine 2.5 loudspeakers ($23,500), Arye Audio RevOPods ($1495/set of four), Reiki Audio Super Switch Pro ($3495+), Aardvark Ethernet Isolators ($499+), Harmonic Resolution Systems Isobase ($995+), Vicoustic Room Treatments ($479+)

Room 366   Innovo Audio Designs
I was lucky to discover the Innovo Audio Designs speakers at Capital Audio Fest 2024. They are exhibiting again in their home USA state at the Florida International Audio Expo 2025. These speakers caught my eye because they are self-contained and will fit almost anywhere, but they sound phenomenal. I was blown away when I first heard them, and this time was no exception.

They are equally at home with music as they are with playing the sound from your television, making them the perfect addition to any room, even if it's a place where you might not typically think of adding such an audiophile-quality monitor. Their sound hits all the right points. They have clear sound; they can handle the music I have heard thus far and have enough power to make anyone I know happy. They have multiple inputs, which should make most audiophiles happy. What's more, although I didn't get to hear it this time, the sound when you hear movies through them is outstanding, so you can have impressive sound both from your music and your television in a room you would normally never think to listen to your high-resolution music. You can still keep your whole household happy. 

Here's the best part: Guess what's on the equipment list? If you thought of the Innovo TL-10 speakers, you're right! Suppose you are looking for a fantastic pair of wireless audiophile-quality speakers. In that case, you owe it to yourself to give these an audition.

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