T.H.E. Lone Star Audio Fest 2026 Show Report
High-end audio comes back to Austin.
Lone Star Audio Fest (LSAF) 2026 Audiophile Show Coverage By Paul Schumann

  Last year was a big occasion for the high-end audio community in Austin, with the T.H.E. Lone Star Audio Fest having its inaugural show there. Therefore, I was excited that Emiko and company were bringing it back for a second go. I did see some familiar faces, but also some new ones, as this audio show retained its Texas feel.

Lone Star Audiofest 2026 (LSAF) returned Memorial Day weekend, running May 22nd through 24th at the Embassy Suites in Round Rock, Texas. The three-day event promised a mix of exhibitor rooms, seminars, and live demonstrations aimed at audiophiles, hobbyists, and industry professionals. The festival highlighted a long tradition of hands-on listening rooms, DIY, and a marketplace atmosphere where both established brands and up-and-coming builders present loudspeakers, amplifiers, turntables, and DIY projects.

Demonstrations within exhibit rooms showcased the world's finest hi-fi gear to audiophiles and music lovers alike. The festival's venue, the Embassy Suites Round Rock, places the show minutes north of Austin and provides exhibitor rooms open to the public Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..

Decibel+
The distributor Decibel+ presented the first room I visited. This room featured Atlantis-Lab speakers, AudioByte digital electronics, Neoson tube amps, Soul Note electronics, AGS diffusers, and Music Tools racks. When I was in the room, AT 31 PRO speakers were being driven by a Neoson Evolution amplifier, and Soul Note electronics on the front end.

The French-made AT 31 PRO speakers are four-way towers that surprised me with how fast and dynamic they were. When I looked them up, I was shocked to see they are 101dB/W/m. The Soul Note electronics are really beautiful, and I'm sorry my pics couldn't do them justice.

The Vintage Lounge
The Vintage Lounge hosted the next room I visited. This room featured restored and upgraded vintage equipment. On the table to the left was a mouth-watering collection of goodies. The VTL monoblocks definitely caught my eye.

The stars of the room were the smooth-as-silk Quad ESL-988 speakers. There's nothing that beats electrostatics in transparency. 

The preamp was a Music Reference RM 10 MKIII, and the amp was a Music Reference RM 200. The source was a Steve Sank-modified Denon DCD 3000 CD player. This system produced a relaxed, warm sound that invited you to stay a while.

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