2023 AXPONA Show Report

bubba12, I agree totally.  I've been twice now and really looking forward to this year.  Trying to make it 2 days but we'll see about that.  You have to realize you are not going for critical listening.  Just go and have a good time and marvel at the sheer amount of gear on display. Yes, alot of it is ridiculously expensive.  But, a man can dream right?

I've never needed earplugs except the one time in a Martin Logan room where the guy turned DSoTM up so loud the amps were clipping.  I think they were Parasound.  Not sure what he was thinking!  I was out of there in a heartbeat.  

I live close so this is a no-brainer for me.  I've thought that maybe Chicagoans should wear some type of sign so we can find/meet each other.  It would be cool to meet a few fellow 'philes.  Leave your attitude at the door.  

@bubba12  The earplugs comments are a headscratcher. I would think you would want to hear everything since you are going to a stereo show. I know there were some comments about the rooms playing the music too loud last year. People always complain about other people talking in the rooms when they are playing music. What are you going to do? Thousands of attendees who have a right to be there just like you. This isn't your private listening room.

One of the nice side benefits of going to shows is that you can come away with a lot of good new reference/demo recordings.  I went to the NYC show a few months ago, and despite the relatively few (but many good) presenters I came away with at least 10 new recordings I now have in my reference library.  Some of them you can pick off using Shazam, but it was well worth the effort to write down those that couldn’t be identified otherwise.  Just something to keep in mind if you’re on the fence or end up going. 

Mho....ear plugs Are a good idea, save your sanity and hearing for that which you Want to listen to, rather than the general hubbub, bud.... ;)

Since I wear aids, it’s become SOP. And the headphone version...not trying to be rude, just simple survival of the system...Mine.

"...a soap bubble amidst the sonics..." *G*

Audio Zen....

....that, and the gull on a shirt.... ;)

...and comfy shoes a Must...