Acoustic Sounds UHQR
Lyra
Florida International Audio Expo video Pt.2
By: Michael Fremer

March 5th, 2026

Category:

Hi-Fi Shows

Florida International Audio Expo Part 2 Video

this "small" show will probably require four 1/2 hour videos!

Somehow, this "small" show produced so many great video moments, so much to see (and hear) that this second 1/2 hour video will not be the final one nor probably will the third one be. And I've tried to tightly edit these.

On this video you'll see the big Acora room, the Avid Relveo turntable, and Audio-Technica's complete cartridge lineup. In the Geshelli Audio segment you'll find low cost, well-engineered, versatile, and cost-effective American made amplifiers and DACs and a really nice DIY (from kit) Neil Blanchard Designs loudspeaker. An entire high performance system for around $5000.

Also, in the American Sound room Avant-garde's new speakers, a new phono preamp from Air-Tight, cartridges from Analog Relax, Wadax's top DAC/SACD player and I'll stop there because the list and timing points below tell you what you're in store for.

Keep in mind that this is not a passive walk in and out of the room video. I talk to the people and ask pointed questions to give you a complete picture of what's going on in the room. The video ends in the big Von Schweikert, VAC room where the sound was on the grand scale as it was in the Acora Acoustics room that begins the video.

VAC designer Kevin Hayes has always designed and built impressive gear but based on what I heard at this show, he's reached a new higher level of design and sound. Overall, the sound at this show was outstanding!

Once all the videos are posted, there'll be a written wrap up with photos.

Comments

  • 2026-03-05 02:28:05 PM

    Come on wrote:

    For me most interesting was the (probably limited) trend to active speakers (described by YG), which I'd prefer, mainly if it would also include analog implementations, not only DSP/digital based speaker designs. What I heard so far from other digitally based designs was clearly weaker than top analog designs in many aspects, but things might change some time. Also seeing the whole big Von Schweikert chain on Seismion bases must have sounded impressing in transparency and bass control, as I know the effect from my own setup on those bases.

    I'm always interested also in smaller analog active speaker setups aside of those of the few well known studio monitor manufacturers, in case you find some.