Axpona 2024 - April 12-14th - Chicago IL

I made it out Saturday, but was only able to stay for a couple hours due to family duties and the fact that I am content with my headphone system and am building my next(hopefully last) set of speakers. I spent most of my time hanging out at the ZMF table, catching up with @zach915m and Bevin, with some time spent chatting with folks who also came by the table. It was great to meet and chat with @tommytakis and listen to a prototype he brought by. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer and meet more SBAF folks or do my duty as a city dweller/host (I don't know the suburbs much). Maybe next year we can coordinate a little better and group up officially if folks are interested.

 

Stereophile has a more in-depth description of the gear that was in the Estelon room.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/estelon-crystal-cable-and-vitus-audio-knock-our-socks

 

The Estelon room was truly outstanding. It was one of my first stops. I have heard those Estelons before at my local dealer but I'm not familiar with the Vitus electronics. You could barely tell that the speakers were red in the darkened room. The Stereophile pictures look really great and allow you to see the color really well. I love when something in the unobtanium realm like these Estelons, or the blue Blue Magicos have some color to them rather than just piano black or white (Focal Grande Utopia EM).

I thoroughly hate everything about Chicago and vowed to never go back after this trip. Every time I go to Chicago something bad/shitty happens and this time was no exception. But I really had a great time at Axpona!

 

Anyone else listen to the MASS-Kobo Model 465? I've not heard anything else like it. Every headphone I tried was perfectly focused and balanced, including planars and dynamics, which I didn't think was possible for a single amplifier.

 

Holy crap. You can get the designer/builder to hand deliver it to you if you pay for his flight (if I am reading that correctly). https://www.mimic-audio.com/products/mass-kobo-model-465

I am intrigued to read your impression since you have had/listened to some pretty nice amps, but that price is crazy (but maybe not if it can handle every headphone perfectly).

 

To hell with that, I'd go on a vacation to Japan and pick it up myself. And then bring it back in a briefcase handcuffed to my wrist.

 

FWIW, two of my favorite systems from Axpona 2022 (I think) were the Volti Audio/Border Patrol room and the big Avantgarde Trio system, the former just being a great, surprisingly mellow listen, and the latter just having incredible scale, palpability, detail, and dynamics.

Wonder if those were rooms were back again this year?

 

What was the source(s) you heard with it?

I wonder which one it was at the show (from the website):

"3. Serial numbers will be assigned in the order in which we receive the orders. No special requests will be honored for specific serial numbers.

....

6. We have secured materials for 9 units for sale, but as of August 1, 2022, 7 units have already been sold. The remaining 2 units can be manufactured immediately, but after that, depending on the availability of materials, it will take a longer amount of time before delivery. (4 months or more as of August 1. It may take several years depending on the production supply situation of the parts manufacturer)"

 

I've seen a couple impressions of the Model 465 posted for shows, and it's always described as being perfect, the best whatever headphones have ever sounded, etc. Which it had better be for that price. I've always been curious about those amps, maybe I should've made the trip.

 

Masuda-san is one of the nicest guys I met at tradeshows before. He was at NAMM show and explaining Pro-audio is his primary business and even then he doesn't have the capacity to meet demand since its him building everything. But does High End Audio as his passion project on the side. He has been going CanJams recently and Music Teck/Mimic Audio has his stuff at shows for display.

 

TJ from a Mimic has a showroom here in Chicago, let me know if you want to meet up to listen! I wouldn't mind hearing it again.

 

The Meitner MA3: https://www.emmlabs.com/ma3.php