AXPONA Chicago April 10-12, 2026 - Who is going??


Hi gang, I'm looking forward to attending again - all three days. If you're going, what are you most looking forward to hearing/seeing?

As was mentioned elsewhere, Andrew Jones and his new field-coil speakers will definitely be getting attention, but what else is on your radar?

Anyone want to meet for a cocktail on Friday or Saturday?

DC

don_chisholm

The headphone room had a lot of good stuff.  I will just say what I like regardless of price point since that is different for all of us.  

My headphone highlights were (in no particular order) the Audeze LCD-X and MX4,, Dan Clark Audio Stealth and Noire X , Meze 109, ZMF Atrium Closed and the Fiio FT7, Fosi i5 PLanar Magnetic

Headphone amps that stood out: the Europa from Moon Audio (expensive but mind blowing)  also a preamp, Pass  HPA-1c, Auris Nirvana (really liked it), and the Prima Luna 100 (integrated), the iFi idsd phantom (amazing for the price), allnic asra.  Oh, yeah, Ampansound products were incredible. Competes the the best.  

 

Focal Room was too loud to really get an idea.

I did not go to Axpona but I have heard a lot of the phones that were at the show. The Allnic ASRA headphone amp is amazing and not back breaking in cost. I wish that amp had preamp out (RCA).

The more expensive Allnic HPA 15000 OTL/OCL has preamp out (RCA). I had that in my home for a couple of weeks, and it was excellent with all the phones I tried it with, including natively with the RAAL 1995 Magna. I also used my RAAL SR1a with this amp but had to use Mitch Barnett's convolution filter with the HPA 15000 to mimic the baffle compensation which that phone needs. Again excellent, but costly.

I am also a big fan of the ZMF Caldera Closed phone. I heard that with a great amp at another show. A shame it is so expensive, I ended up buying a used Meze 109 Pro for $500 for my bedroom. It is not too bad with the Schiit AsgardX amp with integrated Mesh DAC.

ericfhodes1, yes, the Infigo system is the other half of the equation in the superb performance of the Altec Ribbionacci. I meant no disregard to Infigo. I know Hans, a personable man. He was showing me the Infigo streamer at the show, and he takes extreme measures in design to assure superb sound. Definitely not off the shelf design or sound. 

@hilde45, I just watched the video. I loved it! I was laughing my ___ off! True Mikey no doubt. I find his opinions honest Some of them may offend some people. I like that he cuts through all the BS. I've been down to see him in Atlanta a couple of times to buy gear. He has treated me very well regarding audio gear. Great advice and great components. He absolutely knows what he's talking about. 

We don't agree on everything, I'm a vinyl guy he of course is digital. He did coordinate helping me buy a matching amp to the power amplifiers I was buying the first sale we did together. Mikey didn't charge me for matching us up. The amp with sent to him, he checked it over for me and I picked it up when I bought the power amps from him.

I also have a vintage rig which I enjoy almost as much as the main rig. I don't have anything from Mikey in that rig.

I don't think he said anything untrue. I'll buy more from Mikey.