Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Show Report
SWAF 2025 high-end audio / audiophile event coverage.

  Now in their second year, the Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) high-end audio show by the dynamic duo Gary Gill (Capital Audiofest) and Lou Hinkley (Pacific AudioFest / Daedalus Audio) brings magical music to Dallas. SWAF 2025 follows their sensational success with the popular Pacific Audio Fest event. Attendees may listen to many of the world's top manufacturers who create a wide variety of exciting home and portable audio products. Within this expansive Resort environment, bask in luxurious sounds that caress your ears and bring newfound meaning to many of the songs you've heard many times in the past. All this and more within a curated experience filled with fine art and acres of event space.

SWAF 2025 Show Coverage By Michael Harkins

Part 1: SWAF 2025 Highlights From The Upper Floors
Delightfully dynamic stereo sound systems at the SWAF 2025 audiophile show.
Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Show Report By Michael Harkins
Even before the successful Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) of March 2024, show organizers Lou Hinkley and Gary Gill vowed to keep it going in SWAF 2025 high-end audio event. Lou honchos the Pacific Audio Fest, while Gary does the same in D.C. for the Capital Audio Fest. The two of them team up for this event which may well become one of the nation's largest and most successful... but give it time. This is only year two. The SWAF 2025 audiophile show started this year with a medium-sized, but lively and well-attended event at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. One of the hotel's spacious atrium areas surrounded by many floors of guest rooms proved to be an excellent venue for the event. Adjoining the atrium on the first two levels are several large rooms that allow high-end audio manufacturers, stereo system dealers, and distributors to show off their audiophile ware.
---> Part 1: SWAF 2025 Highlights From The Upper Floors.

Part 2: SWAF 2025 Highlights From The Large Rooms And Marketplace
Southwest Audio Fest 2025 high-end audio / audiophile show was a resounding success!
Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Show Report By Michael Harkins
Within part one of this SWAF 2025 report, I visited many rooms on the top three floors of the event. They were good-sized hotel rooms that were spaced out so that adjacent rooms didn't contaminate the sound in any given room. Within this Part 2 Southwest Audio Fest report for Enjoy the Music.com, we explore a sampling of the larger rooms found on the first two floors of the Hilton Anatole Dallas, the lobby level, and the mezzanine level. Because of a large staircase adjoining the lobby level, it was easy to move between the two levels without tying up an elevator. And, in fact, there wasn't a lot of elevator congestion on any of the floors, which was nice to see. Starting at the lobby level, the marketplace was the center of attraction. But I first went to several of the named rooms at the lobby level and then on to the Mezzanine.
---> Part 2: SWAF 2025 Highlights From The Large Rooms And Marketplace.

Michael Harkins' Best Of SWAF 2025 Blue Note Awards
Only a few exhibitors can earn the prestigious
Enjoy the Music.com Best Of SWAF 2025 Blue Note Award
Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Show Report By Michael Harkins
I promised at the start of this two-part article to find high-value products at the show. After roaming around the many rooms, one gets the impression that if you don't have at least $10,000 for speakers, $5,000 for a DAC or preamplifier, or $10,000 for interconnects, you may as well not participate in this thing called high-end audio. The "high-end" moniker serves to illustrate that we are often talking big bucks. Thankfully, I was able to scrutinize a sampling of rooms. Many electronics products on display were made by respectable names in the business such as Audio Research, Aurender, Boulder, VAC, AGD, and others. It's hard for some of these companies to make lower-cost models when their focus is no-compromise audio. But I must give credit to Audio Research for introducing several new products that were less stratospheric in price but are still top performers.
---> Michael Harkins' Best Of SWAF 2025 Blue Note Awards.

SWAF 2025 Show Coverage By Greg Weaver

Friday Fun Preview: SWAF 2025 Show Pics
Photofest Friday pics of great audio gear here at SWAF 2025.
Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) 2025 Show Report By Greg Weaver
Enjoy the Music.com's Creative Director, Steven R. Rochlin, says "Welcome to the first of our very extensive Southwest Audio Fest 2025 show coverage! Get ready for an unforgettable journey through the world of sound, where innovation meets artistry. We're thrilled to bring you exclusive coverage by multiple music lovers from our extensive staff. As we celebrate Enjoy the Music.com's 30th Anniversary in 2025, we want to showcasing the latest audio technology, groundbreaking performances, and inspiring industry insights. Whether you're a passionate audiophile, music lover, LP crate digger, a curious music creator, or simply here to enjoy the vibe, there's something for everyone here at Enjoy the Music.com."
---> Friday Fun Preview: SWAF 2025 Show Pics.

Saturday @ SWAF 2025 = Sensational Sounding Stereo Systems
Just when you felt you'd hear the best sound... there's more!
Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Show Report By Greg Weaver
"Day 2, Saturday at the Southwest Audio Fest 2025 was a thrilling experience for audiophiles and music enthusiasts alike," says Steven R. Rochlin of Enjoy the Music.com. "Saturday delivered more great time to showcase an impressive array of high-end audio equipment, from cutting-edge speakers to state-of-the-art amplifiers. For Day 2 (Saturday), attendees were once again treated to live demonstrations of some of the most innovative audio technologies from around the world, including the much-anticipated new hi-fi gear from various manufacturers. Some of which is photo'ed below thanks to Enjoy the Music.com's longtime Senior Editor and seasoned professional Greg Weaver (a.k.a. the audio analyst on YouTube). The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as visitors explored floor after floor of audio showcased well, while also mingling with industry experts, and discovering great luxury audio gear"
---> Saturday @ SWAF 2025 = Sensational Sounding Stereo Systems.

SWAF 2025 Show Coverage By Paul Schumann

Friday: Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Audiophile Show Photos
Friday's the first day of fantastic music at SWAF 2025.
Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Show Report By Paul Schumann
My Southwest Audio Fest 2025 preview photos for Enjoy the Music.com's loyal longtime fans provide an enticing window into the heart of this year's event, set against the stunning backdrop of the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. These captivating images bring to life the innovation and artistry that make the audio world so vibrant. From meticulously crafted turntables and towering, state-of-the-art speakers to sleek, minimalist designs and retro-inspired gear, the photos reflect the diverse range of technology and aesthetics on display. Beyond the equipment, the photos also capture the passion and dedication of both exhibitors and attendees, offering a glimpse into the excitement and energy that define this premier gathering of audiophiles.
---> Friday: Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Audiophile Show Photos.

It's Showtime Here At SWAF 2025
This year's game plan is to enjoy the music.
Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Show Report By Paul Schumann
Has it been a year already? It felt like I drove up to Dallas just a couple of months ago. Before I knew it, I was back in the beautiful Hilton Anatole Hotel to enjoy the second Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) high-end audio show. Last year was my first audiophile show here at SWAF in 2024, so it was a bit like drinking through a firehose. With a better game plan this year, I was able to enjoy this show more and take longer listens in the rooms. There was a lot to be excited about in the SWAF high-end audiophile show. The first system to catch my attention at SWAF was set up just outside the VAC ballroom. Compared to many audiophiles, my listening space is pretty modest, so I'm always attracted to setups that fit easily into my comfy living room. This system consisted of a VAC Essence Line preamp ($9,000), two VAC Essence 90 Monoblock Amplifiers ($9,000 each), Acora Acoustics MRC-3 speakers ($15,990 per pair), an Arender A1000 Streamer / DAC ($3,500), and Cardas cables throughout.
---> It's Showtime Here At SWAF 2025.

Note: A lot more Southwest Audio Fest 2025 show coverage will be online shortly, so check back daily for more.

SWAF 2025 Details
The show promoters worked very hard to secure this amazing event venue, which is extremely safe, family fun friendly, and features great weather during March too! The Anatole Hilton in Dallas will host the Southwest Audio Fest audiophile show that is slated for March 21st through 23rd, 2025. Southwest Audio Fest 2025 focuses on being a small but solid regional event. Both Lou Hinkley and Gary Gill are very confident that this show will continue to grow, as the Anatole has all the exhibit space one could desire for a high-end premium audio event.

SWAF 2025 Includes:
• Over 200 brands
• 60+ listening rooms, 20 of which are large high-end exhibits.
• SWAF has as many large rooms as other major events in North America
• Audio Systems for all budgets and tastes
• A Vibrant marketplace filled with quality vendors
• Great nightly Live music free for attendees
• Daily guest speakers with interesting topics
• Thousands of records to dig through!

With over 17 million people and exceptional wealth in this corner of Texas, the local demographics is excellent for a high end audio show. The location is also very safe and is a very convenient ride from the airport. Plus there are two major hub airports and the ability to get a non-stop flight to Dallas from virtually anywhere in this country and beyond. The SWAF 2025 event promoters have secured an ideal location for a major high-end audiophile / luxury audio event. Spring in Dallas is exceptionally beautiful, with live music at local clubs augmenting this amazing audiophile show venue.

Seminars, Music, And More!
Seminars daily with live music in the evenings.
Local Wine, Beer and Spirit Tasting
Hi-Fi Marketplace
Vinyl Record Row
Personal Hi-Fi Head Zone with dozens of listening rooms.

Show Schedule
Friday, March 21   10pm to 6pm
Saturday, March 22   10am to 6pm
Sunday, March 23   10am to 4pm

Where
Hilton Anatole
2201 North Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75207

About The Southwest Audiofest Promoters
Gary Gill started the Capital Audiofest as the East Coast's largest and longest running consumer high-end audio show, and the only show in the Mid-Atlantic area. Started in 2010 by Gary Gill, CAF presents a wide range of music reproduction products for the enthusiast, from start-up and cutting-edge technologies to cost-no-object aspirational gear, and everything in between. Capital Audiofest offers a fun and congenial weekend for the whole family, including live music, seminars and presentations and tasting from local distilleries.

In 1992, Lou Hinkley founded Daedalus Audio as a manufacturer of high-quality speakers for both professional and home use. For the last 30 years, the highly acclaimed Daedalus speaker systems have been used by professionals in both live and studio settings, as well as in home audio systems around the world. During the past three decades, Lou Hinkley has exhibited in practically every type of festival and audio show, plus he knows the industry well from the manufacturer's perspective. Lou started the Pacific Audio Fest as a way to reach music lovers in Washington Sate.

Both Gary Gill and Lou Hinkley have partnered together as show promoters to give us the Southwest Audio Fest show. Learn more about the SWAF at this link. 

Previous Southwest Audio Fest Show Reports
Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) 2024 Premium Audiophile Show Report.