AXPONA - The Best Stereo Equipment & The One Thing I Wasn't Expecting
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 เม.ย. 2024
- In this video, I discuss my experience at AXPONA 2024. I share the good, the bad and the downright ugly when it comes to the stereo equipment show and everyone I met. I give my opinions on what stereo equipment really shined and what needs improvement (in my opinion, of course). I also show you the records I found at the record fair at AXPONA. Feel free to grab a cup of coffee, and listen in as I dish about stereo equipment from McIntosh, JBL, MoFi, FOCAL, Zesto Audio, Martin Logan and more. I also show records from bands/artists such as Black Sabbath, Frank Sinatra, and Neil Diamond. Most importantly, I share what I now think about my own stereo equipment. This was a terrific show and I am so happy to share with you the highlights of my AXPONA experience.
#VinylCommunity #MelindaMurphy #VinylCollection #RecordCollection
The thing I love about your videos is that you are so positive.
Thank you very much! 🤗❤️Have a great weekend.
Magnepan speakers are actually planar magnetic ribbon speakers as opposed to electrostatic, but they are awesome speakers. Martin Logan makes electrostatic speakers. I took the plunge a few years ago and bought a McIntosh C50 Preamp and a MC452 Power Amp. It was a stretch, but I don't regret it for a minute. They are not tube, but they sound sweet. With that said, I wish I could attend these conventions. Glad you got to go : )
Thank you for the correction. While doing my research, I thought for sure the website referred to them as electrostatic speakers. I'm still learning but I really regret the error. Have a great weekend. ❤️🤗
@@MelindaMurphy No worries Melinda! I've been an audiophile all of my life researching, listening and repairing stereo equipment and I still learn something everyday. What a great hobby it is : )
the audio show I went to had a guy with electrostatic type speakers he had made that frankly , looked like they were made from old screen doors, he wasn't much of a craftsman. I think he was looking for investors. the fact that nobody cared about what he was doing left just me and him in the room. he had only one red metal folding chair in the room , in the exact sweet spot that he offered to me, and said he had a reel to reel sergeant peppers tape if I really wanted to hear something. of course I stayed, the tape was wide, like studio stuff. .
the newer MLs on display sounded better than i remember them back in the Best Buy days.
20.7s w 2-Rel Carbon Specials
JLA cr-1 active crossover 😊
Coda Ts v3 800w@4ohms
Shunyata Denali 6000s v2 20A
Kimber Select KS6063 2.5m
W4S 10th edition DAC2V2SE
BS Node N130 (optical)
@@MelindaMurphy
Hey Melinda, glad you and your husband got to enjoy Axpona in Chicago! Totally cool getting to meet Chad Kassem from Acoustic Sounds and others! Sorry you're going through some crazy stuff at this time. Prayers are heading your way!❤😊
I appreciate the prayers. We're good but going through a very hectic time. 🤗❤️ Meeting Chad was very cool. He's a nice guy and so enthusiastic. Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
Glad you had a wonderful time, Melinda!
I sure did. Thank you so much! 🤗❤️
Great video as always Melinda! You and family have a great weekend! 🥰
Thank you! Have a wonderful weekend! ❤️🤗
Wonderful video reviewing your visit to AXPONA Melinda! I liked that you started with the people you met rather than jumping straight to the equipment impressions. People make the difference. Also your comment about the experience made you appreciate what you had resonated with me. Enjoy what you have, but it’s fine to want better. Just in moderation 😊 Take care! ❤
Everything in moderation! I really enjoyed meeting the amazing people. That really made this trip special. ❤️ Thank you and take care.
I’ve watched several TH-cam videos covering AXPONA and yours is by far the best, so enthusiastic, joyful, and appreciative of the experience. The people you met were familiar to me and it’s great to know that they are genuinely nice in person. Thank you for sharing your experience and I bet Phillip was glad you dragged him along.
Oh wow! Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment. ❤️🤗 It was great to meet so many amazing people. Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
Amazing equipment,, I enjoy looking at all the high end stuff, just to see what's out there, some of the new audio equipment is mind blowing, maybe someday! Thank you for sharing more great info. Have a Super RSD!
Thank you! Happy RSD! 🤗❤️
Very pleasing review..............thanks.
..............appreciating what you have ...............sharing that experience with you and others.
Thank you very much! ❤️🤗
Another terrific video, Melinda! As usual…thanks.
Thank you very much! Have a wonderful weekend. 🤗❤️
hello Melinda as usual this great generosity to share with us your experiences really I felt like I was with you in this expo or salon of new technologies in sound equipment and what is fun and how you described the details of this visit is like someone from my family who made this visit and from his return he tells us about his experience. congratulations and thanks again. i liked the JBL brand speakers with the orange color on the cover waw what design.
The JBL room was very cool and the sound quality was great. Their orange cover speaker is iconic. Thank you for the kind words. Take care. 🤗❤️
I just got sent to your channel but your take is so refreshingly honest and genuine. You are so classy with your kind assessment of very high cost items that you didn’t prefer. Thanks for your perspective.
Thank you so much! 🤗❤️ Have a wonderful weekend.
What a great video Melinda and I am so gald you had a gret time and got to meet Steve. Stay well and take care
Meeting Steve was definitely a highlight. Thank you and take care. 🤗❤️
Charming video, Melinda, thank you so much! How wonderful that you got to meet other TH-cam celebrities, and got to hear so much equipment. I know it was called Axpona, but maybe it should have been called, “Sounds Like a Dream to Me”. ❤
That name would certainly be appropriate. ❤️🤗 It was great to meet viewers and other TH-camrs. I was a little star-struck to meet Andrew Jones and Chad Kassam. Thank you and take care.
Sounds like you and your husband had a wonderful time. I can only imagine the sights and sounds of the audio equipment you got to listen to there. I hope that I'll be able to go and see it for myself next year. Thank you for sharing your experience!
If you have the opportunity, take it and go. I think you would really enjoy it like I did. Thank you and enjoy your weekend. 🤗❤️
Great video Melinda! I would have loved to have been there. All of that equipment is eye candy. Meeting those folks must have been surreal.
Meeting the people was truly the best and the stereo equipment was so shiny and beautiful. It was a great time. 🤗❤️ Thank you and take care.
Sounds like it was a blast. I remember years ago I would go to shows and be engulfed in the latest and greatest. It was a high I could not explain. Now for me it's a fond memory I would not change. Thank you Melinda for a memory i forgot I had. Godspeed.❤
Thank you Mike! I hope you stay warm tomorrow. Happy RSD! 🤗❤️
Hey Melinda. Thanks for another “rock steady” video. I learn something new every episode. Your channel is right up there with all YT greats. Steve G, Skylab, SkyFi, Just Audio, (the list goes on). Your sincerity and love for the hobby is unmatched. You’re a true ambassador for the community. RSD tomorrow…then R&R all night. ☕️
Wow! Thank you for the sweet compliment. You placed me in with a very special group of people. That's wonderful encouragement. Thanks again and have a wonderful weekend. ❤️🤗
Very cool Mike & Angel Rock!!! So cool you were able to meet the other TH-cam stars!
Yes, I loved getting to meet Mike & Angel and Nick. It's cool to meet people that I watch on TH-cam. Thank you and take care. 🤗❤️
This is a great recap of an audio show experience. The people we meet and connect with should be one of the highlights and I am so glad you had a great experience. You mentioned you loved the McIntosh room. The beautiful speakers in that room are Sonus faber. My new favorite brand. I have some of the less expensive ones and I love them. You really don't need to spend a lot of money to have great sound at home.
The speakers were incredible as well as all of the lovely McIntosh gear. What an elegant and great sounding combination. ❤️ Meeting viewers and other TH-camrs was the best. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend. 🤗
I love Sonus Faber (and have for 20 years), they just sound like music (I blame it on the wide soundstage and terrific off-axis response).
Yay! A new Melinda video! (These are becoming a meaningful part of my week.)
And since I live 45 minutes from "The In-Groove" record store, I'm going there tomorrow. Sure it will be a bit of a mad house.
Awww! Thank you so much. ❤️🤗
This is an excellent review. Perfect recap of an experience.
Thank you very much! 🤗❤️
Hi Melinda. Thank for the nice report from AXPONA. I thought AXPONA was a blast. So much great equipment. Yes, some of it was over the top but what the heck. I really enjoyed running into you while we were listening Focal Utopia’s on Sunday morning. I agree, the sound was amazing (especially on Sixteen Tons)! Keep up the good work with your channel.
Sixteen Tons was amazing and Wicked Game got me as well. I enjoy seeing all of the over the top equipment. That's part of the fun. Thank you and take care. ❤️🤗
Hi Melinda, I was there for my first time this year, and I didn't see you or Philip! Bummer! Hopefully next year if you two decide to go, I will stop over and say hello. I live so close to Axpona but this was the first year I was able to go there for 2 days. I agree 100% with your overall assessment. After listening to those awesome Focal speakers and going through soo many listening rooms drooling over the equipment, I came home, put my system on, and appreciated what I already have! Excellent video, as always!
It's wonderful that we can appreciate the new, gorgeous equipment and still be satisfied with what we already have. I do hope to go next year and it would be great to meet you. Take care. ♥️🤗
Loving the channel and content Melinda! Been subbed for a few years. Last year I purchased the Technics SL1200GR Turntable and JBL L52 Classic Speakers Awesome as an upgrade from Awesome Technics SL 3300 Full Auto from 1978/79 and some nice JBL 2050 I bought for my wife/GF at time in 1992 that are still great and have held up. This year I recently added a Marantz Model 50 and a Project Tube Box S2 so I can keep 2 turntables connected. Loving my Records Again! Keep up the Awesome work! Peace and Love from Rhode Island!
Wow! You have some wonderful stereo equipment. I was thoroughly impressed with the JBL room. That room rocked. ❤️🔥 Thank you and take care.
P. S. Thank you for the kind compliments. I appreciate it. 😀
Hi Melinda,i also live in Seminole Fla. Ive recently found your channel and i absolutely love your channel,keep up the great work.
Thank you for your kind words. I will be a Florida resident soon. 🤗❤️🌴🌞 Have a great weekend.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time! I’m not even qualified to talk about your equipment, let alone the equipment you saw at this expo lol. But I can understand the appeal. Back when I was still collecting comic books and went to conventions, I found it fun to see some of the classic issues that I knew I could never buy, but just liked to see them in person. I get that idea of being fearful of hearing something so much better than what you own because then you wouldn’t be happy with what you have. Thanks for sharing your trip with us! If you go out tomorrow I hope you have a great day😊
Hey Gary! It was fun to see the beautiful and pricey stereo equipment. Most of it sounds great but not that much better than what I already have, especially for the money. I did have a wonderful time. I'm probably not qualified to talk about stereo equipment either, but I do it anyway. Lol. 😄 Thank you and happy RSD!
I'm glad to hear that you had such a great time at AXPONA. I've never been to it but hope to some day get to listen to such amazing equipment. I've never heard electrostatic speakers but I own a few pairs of electrostatic headphones and I absolutely love them. The first time you listen to music you're very familiar with on electrostatic headphones you'll be amazed that you hear details in the music you've never heard before. Stax electrostatic headphones are excellent. Shure also has a couple of amazing portable electrostatic in-ear-monitors.
I will have to try out the headphones. I bet they are very good. I'm so sorry for the delayed response. Our family was having a garage sale this past week. I'm so glad it's over. Lol. Take care. 🤗♥️
Hi Melinda. Thank you for the video. Some great photos and reviews. Oh for an endless bottomless pit for cash!!!
Am so looking forward to tomorrow and Record Store Day!!! At least I will hopefully be able to afford some items!! Take care Dave
RSD should be great and records are much more affordable than stereo equipment. Have a great time and happy RSD! 🤗❤️
Cool video Melinda, bucket list ✔️ checked!
It was a terrific experience. ❤️🤗 Thank you and Happy RSD!
a really good video, thanks Melinda.
Thank you very much! ❤️🤗
Great to see you were able to see those interesting products and got to meet some great people too Melinda.
It was a great time. Thank you very much. ❤️🤗
Moving up in this world! Gorgeous equipment.
The equipment was beautiful. 🔥 Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
Loved hearing about AXPONA. Hope all is good with you.
AXPONA was a lot of fun. All is well. Thank you for asking. Take care. ❤️🤗
So glad you and your husband enjoyed yourself, a trip like that is on my bucket list. One of my dream systems would be Mcintosh Amps with JBL speakers and orange foam covers. It was so cool you got to meet Steve Gutenberg. The law of diminishing returns applies to high-end systems, sadly a lot of it seems to be just for show. Putting together a system on a budget that sounds good to you is a lot of satisfaction. Great video, thanks for sharing!
I was thoroughly impressed with JBL and McIntosh. They would be a wonderful dream set up. Thank you and take care. 🤗❤️
Great show report! It's so fun to see someone getting in to audio equipment, learning, experiencing their first high end audio shows. Melinda: you had an experience that is surprisingly common: going to a show expecting to be blown away and leaving thinking "actually, my system sounds pretty darned good compared to lots of that stuff!" For one thing it's hard for equipment to be shown at it's best in those hotel rooms and given short set up time. And that is competing with your own system, which you've selected to match exactly your sonic taste, and which has been dialed in to your satisfaction at home.
But boy it's fun seeing the wild west of audio design!
I agree. The hotel rooms aren't the ideal set up for stereo equipment but I was still impressed with a lot of the stereo equipment. I do feel very content with what I have but I loved seeing all of the beautiful high end stuff. ❤️🤗 Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
Hi Melinda, awesome review! And to be honest with you, I totally agree that after listening and watching the really expensive Hi-End equipment, it just lets us appreciate the gear we have, specially when it sounds awesone already! 👏🏼
The listening rooms were a lot of fun and I did see some very cool equipment but for the price of some of it, I will gladly keep what I already have. ♥️🤗 Thank you and take care.
great takeaways, nicely done Ms Melinda
Thank you very much! ❤️🤗
It was a pleasure meeting you at the show. Thank you for stopping by my room.
It was great to meet you too. 😀 Thank you.
Superb video, fun to see you meet In To The Groove people Mark and his wife, i see his video every week, he has a fantastic store, many people buy big and expensive speakers but they have not big enough room for it, the sound do not come to its right, keep up the good work, fan from Norway. 😉😉😊
It was great to meet Mike and Angel. They are fantastic people. ❤️🤗 Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
I totally agree on your experience at Axpona. I live 30 miles from the Axpona venues. I've been attending Axpona since its 1st show in 2025, so this is my 9th Axpona attendance. From 2015 to 2019, it was all vinyl and sacd's and after the pandemic its 95% streaming. I am a vinyl fan like you and seems like we have the same taste of music. I have seen a lot of your videos and they helps me decide on some of my purchases after your reviews. Yes i do wish that future Axpona's will have a more balanced presentation of vinyl and streaming and hopefully more Reel to reel tapes. Im starting to get into RTR playback which is such a great addition to vinyl playback. Keep up the good work on your videos and I'm hoping to meet you personally next year. Long live vinyl!🎉
I wish they were playing more vinyl but I also understand the convenience of streaming. High quality streaming with a correct set up can be very good. I'm just old school and love my vinyl. Lol.
It's nice that you live so close by and can experience it every year. I'm hoping to go back next year if possible. Thank you and take care. ❤️🤗
This is the first time I see your channel. I enjoyed watching you share your experience and look forward to watching more of your videos. You have a new subscriber!
I would like to make a comment for your consideration in future videos. I found when you fade into a photo of a room or zoom into a piece of equipment, you close the image to fast. Like when you talked about the Martin Logan room. I had to pause the video to spend some time looking at the speakers. Perhaps in the future, you can do a picture in picture with a photo or video of the room zoomed to fill the screen while you continue your dialogue in the smaller frame. That way we can enjoy watching the equipment or room while still being able to see you talk.
Thanks again for sharing your experience. Would love to be able to see a show like that someday.
Wow! Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. Have a wonderful weekend. 🤗❤️
So glad you went!
Me too! Thank you and enjoy your weekend. 🤗❤️
Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. We’ve always wanted to go to that particular convention. We were shocked that they allowed these knobs to eat in these rooms!🎧
I was shocked as well. The representative looked at him and I could tell he was annoyed but didn't say anything. He should have spoken for all of us. Lol. Thank you and enjoy your week.
@@MelindaMurphy You as well, keep up the great work! 🎧
Dear Melinda, thank you so much for doing this, you come forward as one of the most credible, genuine, honest people in the whole audio industry. I trust your opinion now more than probably any other reviewer out there, You simply use your ears and provide your genuine opinion,. Way to go Melinda and please continue this insanely great channel 🤠😎🤗
Insanely great work Melinda 🤩
Thank you so much for the very kind comments. Your encouragement means a lot. Have a beautiful weekend. 🤗❤️
Great feedback on the show. I recently upgraded from the JBL L100 Classics (2019) to the new MKII (2023). Running them bi-amp with that new crossover. Wow! Just amazing sound with excellent bass and imaging. They'll be in my system for a long time. Chris Hagen knocked it out of the park with these updates. Cheers!
That's so exciting. It's great to have new equipment that works so well. ❤️🤗 Congrats! May you enjoy it for a very long time. Take care.
wish i saw you at AXPONA. Your channel is great!
Thank you! I would have loved to have met you. Have a great week! 😀
Awesome Melinda I went also glad you enjoyed Axpona I went on Saturday surprisingly I bumped in to Kevin Gray outside the restroom and had a chat with him he was so cool . The John Devore speaker room blew me away I would love to get those . I agree some rooms the prices didn’t match the quality. That McIntosh tubes room was killer .
I loved the McIntosh room. I really wish I had run into Kevin Gray and you. 🤗❤️ I'm glad you got to meet each other. It must have been a great conversation. Have a wonderful weekend.
Hi Melinda, nice and cool video. Hifi shows are awesome, talk and meet people can’t be beaten. That’s how I learned about and put my system togetehr. I also think that the one thing we learn from them: the best system is the one that makes you happy
You're exactly right. There were several pieces of equipment there that would probably make me happy but I still love what I already have, especially when comparing costs. Meeting other TH-camrs and viewers was the best. It's great to hear from you Filipe! Have a fantastic weekend! ❤️🤗
Looks like a great trip - many familiar faces! I hope you got to enjoy some good Chicago cuisine during your stay 🙂
I hate to admit this but I actually got food poisoning and was sick Saturday morning. 😳 I missed out on some great meals unfortunately. Other than that, Axpona was terrific! Thank you and Happy RSD. ❤️🤗
@@MelindaMurphy nooooooo! hopefully you are feeling better now. Happy RSD to you as well MM!
Lovely video, so well spoken. Appreciate you representing women in audio!
Thank you very much. ❤️🤗
another great video my friend
Thank you! 🤗❤️
Melinda, great thoughts on the Expo! I own both Magnepans 1.7i and Focals 716, and they offer vastly different sonic experiences. However, when paired with a powerful amplifier and a tube preamp, the Magnepans deliver an incredibly natural, open sound that feels as though there are no microphones involved. Vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, strings, brass and wind, sound phenomenal on the Maggies. Theres nothing like it. If one is really a classical, jazz, acoustic music listener, they are one of the best speakers IMHO. Congrats on your great channel.
I do hope to have an opportunity to listen to Magnepans again. I don't feel they were properly represented for what they can truly do. ♥️🤗 Thank you and have a great day.
It was great seeing you & your husband at the show, i doubt you will remember me but i was the guy that came up to you before the expo opened the first day and said this trip could be costly,lol I go to many show and it's so difficult to rate equipment from one listen at a show- way to many variables-room setup, music choice, background noise, etc.. But i sure hope you guys had fun-Tony
I do remember that. Lol. The show in some ways created interested in new equipment but also made me more content with what I already have. It was a lot of fun listening to all of the wonderful gear of all prices ranges. Thank you and take care. 🤗❤️
I'm so glad you had a great time. It sounded like a blast. It's nice you walked away with a renewed appreciation for your gear. That is the great thing about music and gear. The only one who has to like it is you.
Perfectly said. I loved seeing all of the beautiful stereo equipment but I'm also glad for what I have at home. Thank you and take care. 🤗❤️
Greetings from across the pond. Love the Jazz Singer. No sniggering here. And that Sabbath greatest hits is fab. I got the same one on Nems. Good stuff Melinda. x
The Jazz Singer is a terrific soundtrack. ❤️ I am looking forward to listening to the Black Sabbath record. 🤗 Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
I enjoyed hearing about the people you met. I appreciate the Neil Diamond record. I like his song writing.
It was great to meet so many nice people and other TH-camrs. ❤️ Neil Diamond is a very talented guy and great writer. Thank you and take care.
Awww very cool, I want to go to one of those soon and it sounds like that was THE one to go to, sounds like a lot of people were there that I would like to meet, including you, imagine walking around with a t-shirt with you on it, maybe you need some merch haha would be awesome!!😎🤘
The merch idea is intriguing. I haven't thought of a shirt idea that I think would be cool. It was a lot of fun and it was great to meet so many fantastic people. Thank you and take care. ❤️🤗
I missed ya there. I attended on Saturday. It was so packed, i didnt stay long. Saw a few really cool rooms and setups. But that place is overwhelming.
It was overwhelming. I did the best I could with the amount of stereo equipment rooms there were. Thank you and take care. 🤗❤️
I love going to audio shows, so I'm glad that you had fun!
Your pronunciation of Focal is correct, and the speakers in the McIntosh room were by Sonus Faber.
Yes, we need more vinyl spinners at shows!
The McIntosh room was incredible. The speakers were a perfect pairing. Thank you and take care. 🤗❤️
Your vids are a great diversion during my lunch hour in my office at the high school's IT Dept. I recall our local show (THE Show in Newport Beach, Ca) in the 2010's. There were 2 rooms where I heard "magical" sound. One was a VPI turntable sourced system with Manley tube amps and the other was a CD based system with player & speakers by Audio Note UK, also using tubes (excuse me, *valves* I mean 😉). Since then, I've been a vacuum tube fan. Also, they allowed me to hook up my MacBook at the headphone table & listen to lots of phones & different amps with my own music (Kate Bush, Thomas Dolby, Camel, etc.) which introduced me to HiFi Man headphones. Got to chat with Mike Moffat of Schiit Audio, too.
It was an honor to talk to a person that actually designs stereo gear (Andrew Jones in my case). Their work brings so much joy to our lives. ❤️ I would love to hear a tube amp with my stereo equipment. I'm sure they would sound incredible together.
VPI turntables are nice. I considered buying one a few years back. Thank you and take care. ❤️🤗
You met the best of the best. Kudos Melinda 🎼
Yes, I was a little star struck. 🤗❤️ Thank you and take care.
I love my records, stereo and listening to super duper expensive stereo's, but I get more spine tingling moments from live music more than anything else. It might be because it's a unique one off experience in that room on that night...especially if the band is really on! This was really interesting Melinda and the photos of some of the gear is mind boggling. Especially the prices 😂
Live music is definitely a thrill. I just saw Stevie Nicks and she sounds incredible. Thank you and take care
❤️🤗
Glad you had a nice time at AXPONA. I've been to a few shows myself. I agree with you that you're happy with what you have. Funny you mentioned JBL Magnepan, By the way Magnepans are Magnetic Planar not electrostatic. I have both JBL & Magnepans. Couldn't sound more different from each other & I love them both. I could afford more expensive speakers but I"m perfectly happy w/ what I have, besides, I'm a cheapskate!
I was concerned that I would leave feeling discontent with my stereo equipment. I'm glad that wasn't the case.
I'm sorry that I misspoke about the Magnepans. Have a great weekend. ❤️🤗
I have been to many stereo show. I try not to pass judgement on anything i hear , whether good or bad. The room itself is a major factor in the sound. I generally go on the last day of the show, so the exhibitor has a chance to optimize the room, although some rooms may be too hard to get good sound from. Also there are so many things to listen to that I get fatigued easily. I am glad that you enjoyed the show.
There were so many listening rooms to choose from. It was a lot of fun. I agree that this is fun but I wouldn't rule anything out based on sound quality from these set ups. Thank you and take care. ❤️🤗
Its a great show.I bought most of my equipment after listeneing to it at AXPONA.I have PS Audio m800 amps,Thorens turntable,Cambridge Streamer,JBL L100 speakers.Works great in my smaller room.
That's awesome. It's so great to hear so many different brands. I loved it. Thank you and take care. 🤗❤️
Sorry that I ate chips next to you!! lolol, I am teasing, it was NOT me, as I am thousands of miles away and did not attend 🤣 Many annoying things like that happen in life, people talking during movies, or checking their phones, and we experienced people talking at The Phantom of The Opera in NYC years ago, very annoying!
I find it cool and probably very slick of you to bring Eye in The Sky because of Sirius being played at Chicago Bulls games for years, so the locals would like that! That could be a thread for the VC, "what 1 album would you bring to an audio show to have demo'd" Cheers 😀
That is a great idea for a video. 🤗 People can be quite annoying. And yet I am always shocked. Lol. Thank you and take care.
Did I not even see you? ... or maybe I did and I just didn't recognize you two. Glad to hear the re-cap ! =)
We were there all three days but so was about 9,000 people so you may have missed us. Lol. What a fun trip. Thank you and take care. 🤗❤️
I didn’t go this year but probably will be back next year. Your takeaway saying it made you appreciate what you have is exactly how I feel after these shows. Like there are definitely superior speakers and gear. I always liked MBL, YG Acoustics, Kingsound, Sonus Faber, Scan Sonic, and Magnepan speakers. I can’t afford any of them but I can appreciate them! I got meet Mike Fremer a year or two ago. I totally agree on your complaints about distractions from the listening experience. Some vendors can’t get out of their own way either. They do more talking than letting people hear. Sometimes the cologne can be overwhelming in those small rooms. Still, overall it’s an incredible experience and I wish they happened more than once a year.
I agree that overall this was a fantastic weekend and a great way to learn about different equipment. Thank you and take care. ❤️🤗
Ha, you can get a pair of Magnepans cheap. The hardest part is mating them with a sympathetic amp or receiver. Look on the used market.
I was also disappointed in the sound of some of the highest priced gear at these shows. But it seems mostly bad rooms and mediocre setups.
Love meeting up with people at these shows. That’s almost the best part.
And I agree about more vinyl and a variety of genre not just slick smooth jazz and female vocals.
Austin record show for me soon.
Great video Melinda ✌🏼
The extravagant equipment was fun to look at and listen to but at the end of the day I left with a better appreciation for my own equipment.
The meet ups were great and it would be awesome if someday we get to meet in person. 🤗
Have a great time in Austin. Take care.
Thanks for the superb report video! Just to note, Magnepan speakers are not electrostatic panel speakers. They are actually planar magnetic panel speakers. Different operational principle entirely. Many people make that mistake of identity, because both types are of the panel form factor, so it's not surprising. If you wanted to listen to actual electrostatic speakers, some of today's examples are from Martin-Logan with their hybrid ESL panel/subwoofer series, and from Quad Electroacoustics with their ESL Series (UK/China), and others from Audiostatic (from Holland), Sound Labs (from Utah, I believe), and King Sound (from Hong Kong), as well as some other examples of ESL speakers still made today and maybe from newer companies. Thanks again, for the wonderful video report and glad to hear that you enjoyed attending the event! 😊👍
I apologize for the error. The website I used to get the information was incorrect. Ugh! I was really wanting to hear the Magnepans at the show. Unfortunately, I just don't think the rooms they were in suited them for what they are capable of. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend! 🤗❤️
Awww, nice vid Melinda
Thank you very much! 🤗❤️
Melinda, at one point I was practically standing next to you at the show but wasn't sure if that was you or not. I'll say hello next year for sure. Yes I am a big fan of your channel. Other speakers you may want to check out in the future should include Mission, PMC and Q-Acoustics. All good value brands. Good luck with whatever is keeping you from listening to your system as much as you would like. Happy RSD!
Thank you very much for the suggestions. I can understand your hesitance. I started to say hello to somebody there only to realize it wasn't who I thought it was. Lol. Enjoy your weekend. 🤗❤️
Hi Melinda, great review of the show. I’ve done a few shows here in the UK in the last few years and your experiences are very similar to mine. I don’t come back wishing I had a better system either.
One thing that has happened at the recent Bristol show is the proliferation of turntables compared with even a year ago. Perhaps the trend will migrate to Axpona next year with the continued resurgence of vinyl.
The best rooms are those where the exhibitor has thought carefully about the size of the space, introduced some treatments to the room, within the boundaries of what is possible, and selected equipment from their ranges that match that space. This applies mostly to the speaker choice, of course. A well positioned stand mount or mini floorstander will almost always do better in a small under-damped room than some monster tower, but it doesn’t stop some manufacturers from having a go!
In the end, it is a rare thing to be impressed with a system at a show but occasionally it happens. Last year I heard a pair of speakers which genuinely surprised me. I called a dealer after the show and arranged a home demo. What can I say, they never left 😁.
So my conclusion is, shows are great for meeting people including, in my case, Roy Gandy of Rega and Harley Lovegrove of Pearl Acoustics. They’re great for seeing exotic gear which only the well healed can afford and just occasionally they can point you in the direction of a potential upgrade.
Keep up the great work and I wish you all the best of luck with whatever it is that ails you or yours.
AXPONA was a great way to meet people and see new equipment. I also enjoyed the listening experience although I did keep in mind the limitations. I loved the experience and hope to go back again. Thank you and have a great week. ❤️🤗
If you didn't manage to make it to the Linkwitz room (1421) this year, but you go again next year, do put it on your schedule. The sound in that room is really something special.
I don't think I made it to the Linkwitz room but I went to so many that I can't be sure. That suggestion will be a great help to me when I explain to my husband that we need to go again next year. 🤗❤️ Thank you and take care.
Excellent T-shirt!
Thank you very much! 🤗❤️
@@MelindaMurphy - your welcome - I’ve just launched my own channel where I too will be modelling some vintage Rock T shirts - your more than welcome to critique my choices !
Hi Melinda, thanks for your videos and in particularly this AXPONA review which was on top of informative, very brave. Yes brave in telling your assessment about those outraged very expensive equipments which in real terms of audio reproduction they are not offering any sort of quantum leap proportioned with the level of price. The fundamental reason for that is the law of diminishing returns which applies also here. There might be other elements of value to pay these great amounts of money for such equipments as it might be differentiation, exclusivity or prestige but no Audio Reproduction quantum leap. The true important thing should be to devote time to enjoy the listening of the music, music that provide emotions to the heart and help this world to be a bit more human. Congratulations & Thanks from Spain
I understand the desire for cool looking equipment for someone with unlimited funds. They were cool and sounded great but the mid range equipment was just as good and sometimes better in my opinion. ❤️🤗 Thank you and have a great week.
Hello Melinda: FYI, the speakers, along with the McIntosh system you saw, was "Sonus Faber." They are a McIntosh brand. Made in Italy. Wonderful Speakers. I have a McIntosh system myself and have been a McIntosh FanGirl since I was a kid, and I'm no kid anymore - Hum! They are worth wishing for. Also, I appreciate your Jazz reviews and that your favorite is Jazz piano. I'm sure you've listened to Bill Evans. Worth looking into, if not. Thanks again for your program and, please, keep the Jazz coming.
They are wonderful speakers. ❤️🤗 I do love Bill Evans. I would have loved to have heard him in the McIntosh room. Thank you and take care.
I'm impressed that Focal got your attention! They are gorgeous looking, any price range and sounding. I love focal! Maybe you should consider doing a review on their more affordable ones, like Viesta, or new Aria line!
I would love the opportunity to do that review. 🤗❤️ Thank you and take care.
Nice video I have a MC 901 Mono amplifier from McIntosh and bi amping so worthwhile to do. It's tube combo with solid state. Unable to go to these shows but someday maybe I will be
You have wonderful stereo equipment. ❤️🔥 I hope you can attend a show like this someday. It was a lot of fun and an overall great experience. Thank you and take care.
I love the way you say "ElectroStatic Speakers" and I'm glad you chose to bring "Alan Parsons Project-Eye In The Sky" I'm a big fan of The Project and I can truthfully tell you that their vast entire catalog all have those amazing sounds that Abbey Road produces plus Alan has worked with The Beatles and Pink Floyd he has a great ear for dynamic sound - So glad you took a photo of those monstrous $280k speakers - I figure if you need speakers that big in your room you're probably deaf - It was great to see that Sabbath LP again what we call a JEM Import basically a compilation of their first 4 LPs on Vertigo - great sounding LP by the way - A very entertaining video ❤Melinda - see you next week!
Eye in the Sky sounded wonderful on the stereo equipment and I know that intro by heart. 🤗❤️ I haven't heard the Black Sabbath album yet but I'm so glad to hear it sounds good. It was a gamble on whether to buy it or not. Thank you and I always love hearing from you. Take care.
Nice !!! Hope to make 2025 Axpona and meet you and Phil !!!!
I hope we can go again next year. That would be awesome. Thank you and enjoy your weekend. 🤗❤️
@@MelindaMurphy That would be COOL ! I was scheduled to go but life got in the way ! I am so happy you were able to confirm that these multi tens of thousand/ multi hundred thousand dollar systems are not necessarily that much better than what the everyday person can afford. It's an economics phenomenon called the Law of Diminishing Returns and it is alive and well in the audio market...
Big fan of your channel. I wish I into you . I go every year except for the pandemic year . This year I love the affordable open baffle in solid wood for $3000 by Shaw acoustic running with affordable electronics
I wish I had met you as well. 🤗 I love a cool design at an affordable price. Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
I was able to attend for the first time this year also. The new MoFi 888's were hands down my favorite. I want to get a pair, but part of me wonders how much of the sound was created by the 400 watts he was pushing through them. I wonder if my 100 watt Rogue amp would get similar results. I saw Steve too and I think I bought a record from Nick from Toad Hall without even realizing it until I watched your video. I also found a sealed mono pressing of the Beatles Rubber Soul! (Love the Jazz Singer! Love on the Rocks, You Don't Bring Me Flowers, and of course, America!)
If you are serious about wanting to buy the MoFi speakers, buy from a dealer that allows you to keep them for a certain amount of time to make sure you are happy with them. Many dealers will take them back within 30 days or so. That's what I did. It was so great to meet Nick and Steve in person. They are nice guys. Thank you and take care.
I took my grandson to Axpona about 7 years ago. It's one of those bucket list things for me. But the fun part was that I told him, before we went in, that he'd see people selling records there and to notice the type of stuff they sell. i.e. it's music to demonstrate the quality of a really, REALLY good hi-fi. But most of it would also be what I called most Sheffield direct to disk recordings back in the 70's, when I sold HI-Fi: Bad music recorded really well.
But it was a fun event for me, and interesting for him. I was especially amazed by the "all bamboo" stuff that was demonstrated in one of the hotel rooms. Even the tonearm on the TT was bamboo.
Hi-Fi is one hobby that has no limits in quality and cost, kinda like exotic cars.😁
And yes, I'm listening to your video as I type this (and restringing my guitar).
I think everyone should go at least once. It's an amazing opportunity to hear stereo equipment of all kinds and price ranges. Thank you and enjoy your weekend. ❤️🤗
@@MelindaMurphy Absolutely! It was convenient for me because the grandkids live in the Chicago area and the timing of the trip was perfect. On a side note, Kentucky is in its "million shades of green" mode right now. Spectacular!
Not sure if someone beat me to the punch, but the two speakers in your photos of the McIntosh rooms were from two separate brands. The first pic had a speaker from GoldenEar, and the second was a Sonus Faber speaker. Also, Im glad you enjoyed your experience. I enjoy your channel and wish you continued success going forward.
The Golden Ears speakers are the ones in the listening room. They were quite nice! ❤️🤗 Thank you for the kind words.
I agree with most of your comments. It was like we had the same thoughts and preferences at the show. I explained to my friend who was with me. Speakers are like spaghetti sauce. Everybody has their own idea what is the best sauce recipe, and therefore, we have so many different approaches to speaker designs. As you said, there was something there for everyone.
Definitely. It was fun to test everything out. ❤️🤗 Thank you and have a great week.
Wow! That is s-o-o-o cool! I love Chicago and now I have another reason to go. I hadn't thought about meeting so many cool people. I don't know why, but there are always "celebrities" at shows like these. The first and only electrostatic speakers I've seen and heard were a pair of Infinity speakers back in the '70's. Just sheets of metal? with the driver in the base. Those were what put Infinity on the map.
It just goes to show you, what something sounds like is totally personal and a matter of opinion. A different set of ears may hear something differently. Back when I was shopping for speakers back in the early-80's, Circuit City was having a sale on JBL speakers. I purchased a pair of JBL 2800's, which are 2-way 8" speakers. They sounded better to me than the 3-way speakers one model up. When I finally put together my quadraphonic system a few years ago, I felt the JBL 2800's would be ideal, so I had to buy another pair. I found them on eBay. My systems sounds as I hoped.
It's wonderful that you put a great system together. JBL is a great brand. Chicago is terrific and so beautiful lit up at night. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend. ❤️🤗
Turntables are my favorite eye candy at these shows too. The mechanics are a marvel.
They were pretty impressive. 😀
It was my opinion that audio was about SOUND. Wonder what people would like if all glamour and glitter was behind curtains and you just had to rely on your hearing. My guess, it would be a huge laugh.
@@ESL-Plus By definition, audio is about sound. However, human beings have five senses. That's why we have picture discs. That's why half the fun and watching Pink Floyd's pulse concert he's saying the light show that goes along with comfortably numb. Part of it is audio and part of it is video. And when you put the two together it's what makes it such an emotional experience for me to watch.
I'm in a band. I can tell you what that most confidence that one of the things that makes a band a truly enjoyable experience for the crowd is when they see the band members truly having fun playing together.
Eye candy matters. That's why so much effort is put into what equipment looks like when you're buying audio equipment that cost thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Finally, part of my love of using vinyl is the whole experience. If all I cared about was raw sound quality, I would probably dump all of my vinyl and go pure digital. That song called it is only part of the formula.
I really enjoyed hearing about your experiences there. I think you should have picked up those Focal speakers for your main system. 😅
Lol. I almost wrote the check. Not. 😄 Thank you and take care.
Hi Melinda, thanks for this new episode at AXPONA 2024 and your feelings. I would like to meet Chad Kassem me too 😊Few months ago I changed my Hi-Fi system for the analog Yamaha 5000 Series system, including the M5000 amp, C5000 preamp, NS5000 speakers and GT5000 turntable. This system was developed for analog music by the project manager Susumu Kumazawa. Each element has been developed to work with the others and give together the best of the best. The result is really fantastic. Have a good day from FRANCE Melinda.
It's so great to know that you are loving your stereo equipment. It's wonderful when everything works well together. ❤️ Thank you for the kind words. Have a great week.
@@MelindaMurphy Thank you Melinda, have a great week with Philip.
The Jazz Singer is a fun album. I have four systems (I know, over the top), but my favorite is my original stereo receiver I purchased back in 1987. It is a Luxman R-115 stereo receiver. My Cambridge Audio stack sounds great. My two Marantz AVRs sound great but I just love my Luxman. Everytime I think of replacing it, I just decide I like it to much. Thanks again!
Nope, not over the top at all. There's nothing wrong with stereo equipment in as many rooms as possible. 😀❤️ I'm glad you are so content with what you have.
The Jazz Singer is fun and there are so many beautiful, gut-wrenching songs on it. So many memories as well. Thank you and have a great weekend. ❤️🤗
I have never been to Axpona but I do attend demos at our local dealership when they have them. It is a very good feeling when I come home and find my own modest equipment to be just as musically satisfying or more so for a fraction of the price.
Yes, that was my takeaway from a very fun weekend. I am now curious about different brands but still overall very pleased with what I have. Thank you and enjoy your weekend. ❤️🤗
Thanks for sharing your experiences at the show! I regret you had to endure a rude person eating chips during an audio exhibition! Someone should have alerted him to his lack of judgment. It is probably a good thing I wasn't there because I probably would have. Lol.
I think the representative of the stereo equipment should have said something but I think he was as shocked as we were. Thank you and enjoy your weekend. 🤗❤️
The best planar-magnetics under $10K are the Eminent Technology LFT8b speakers - and they are only $3200! The upgrade is the LFT8c, and they’re only $4200. I bought the LFT 8b speakers after watching Steve Gutenberg review them. I got about a hundred hours on them now, and the sound hits all my buttons. (I owned and enjoyed Maggies - the 12Q/Rs - for over 10 years before them.)
The owner and chief wizard at Eminent Technology is Bruce Thigpen, and a nicer guy would be hard to meet. They’ve been around for decades but remained relatively unknown, and are made in Tallahassee, Florida. If you ever get the opportunity to hear them, take it!
Love your channel!❤️
Thank you for the information. I'm so glad you are happy with your purchase and feel good about the company. That's always important. Take care. ❤️🤗
Hi Melinda, I am happy for you to be able to experience Axpona, I was wanted to know what you think about my speakers in my profile, They are multiple layers, covered with solid oak and I use all top notch crossover components and silver solder and they sound really good, I wanted to try to bring them to the public and I just wanted a totally honest opinion, so I know if I should just make them boxes like everyone else. I wish I could send them to people for reviews , maybe someday. Thanks Melinda 😊
Your speaker looks beautiful! 🤗❤️ I wish I could hear them. Maybe someday you will bring them to a place like AXPONA so they can be heard. Thank you and enjoy your weekend.
@@MelindaMurphy thank you Melinda! You are a nice person. That's my dream to someday be able to be able to do a show like that. It's not even about money, it's a passion. But thanks again 😁
Loved the video. I have been in this hobby for over 20 years and right from day one I only purchased Mcintosh gear for amps and pre-amps. Loved it but kept reading how some other brands are better sounding and so on, so last year I sold all my Mcintosh gear and switched manufactures.. Same price gear. What a huge mistake that was. I went from using the stereo 2 to 3 times a week to once a month. In the fall, I am selling of my current gear and going back to Mcintosh. Internet is full of terrible advise. PS: the speakers that they used with the Mcintosh gear were by Sonus Faber. The same make of my current speakers; the are a sister company to Mcintosh, thus usually pairted together; and for a good reason.
Oh wow! Thank you for sharing your honest story of regret. I would love to hear a McIntosh tube amp with my existing stereo equipment. I hope you are able to change out your stereo equipment soon so that you can get back to enjoying your records. Thank you and take care. ❤️🤗
good choice, not commenting without a longer review. I have had several pair of Magnepan....they are amazing, but they deserve a longer audition. I agree with you re the Focal. They are excellent. The "4 million" stereo was somewhat underwhelming to me. You are very right when you say there is something for everyone. Next year, if you go, listen to the Avant Garde horn speakers in the cost no object category. I am not a fan of horn speakers, but I really like those. Also, listen to the MBL speakers from Germany.
Thank you for the suggestions. I sure hope I get to go next year. This was so much fun. I definitely need more time with Magnepans. Thank you and take care. ♥️🤗
I worked on the Sinatra Impex release. Looking forward to your review, Melinda.
-Martin Melucci
I played it Saturday night for my entire family. It sounds great. Impex did a fantastic job on this one. Congrats! ❤️ Thank you and take care.
@@MelindaMurphy Much appreciated from us all, Melinda. Thank you!
Glad to hear your perspective on the ultra-high end audiophile gear. I've always wondered the same thing: would hearing a $1m stereo blow me away and make me feel my $600 vintage setup is pathetic and inadequate in comparison, completely ruin the fun for me? Now I'm thinking probably not!
While the expensive equipment was nice, it didn't outperform my stereo equipment very much at all. A lot of the money spent on high end equipment is for the aesthetics. I was pleasantly surprised. Thank you and enjoy your weekend. ❤️🤗