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.
2026-03-05 06:22:36 PM

Azmoon wrote:

I have a fairly high end system which sounds great to me and others who have heard it. But the prices of some of the hardware on these show videos is insane. They throw out 20k, 30k etc. like it’s nothing. I bet the diminishing returns is through the roof on this stuff. Great way to turn off younger people.
- 2026-03-06 01:35:17 AM
  
  Zaphod wrote:
  
  I disagree 100%
  
  Young people today seem to have no problem throwing money away on $10 coffee and paying for someone to bring them fast food via door dash, etc.
  
  When I was young, I came from a working class family, but once I discovered Hi-End Audio I started saving and 40+ years later I have an awesome system.
  
  You also need to remember that some of prices have gone up because of taxes and honestly, 20K is not that much any more. Houses where I live used to cost 100K just 5 or so years ago but now it will cost you close to 250K if not more.
  
  Part of the enjoyment in audio is the journey from Kenwood to Leben HiFi, and from Cerwin Vega to Marten Design, from Solid State to Tubes etc.
  - 2026-03-06 09:10:05 AM
    
    johnnymidnight wrote:
    
    I disagree as well - when I was young I didn't spend a lot of time at the auto show checking out the Honda Civics. I got into audio by hearing very high-end systems at a store near my campus - while aspirational it gave me an idea of what could be, and then I managed my budget to get as close to that as possible. Some of it may be goofy for sure but part of the fun I guess. A big part is the attitude of the retailer - do they see a young person interested in learning, and are they willing to cultivate the next generation of hobbyists, or do they only see an empty pocket and treat them as such, making it seem like it's closed off an unattainable? "Hey man, the first taste is free..."
- 2026-03-07 08:22:14 PM
  
  Michael Fremer wrote:
  
  I put the Geshelli room near the beginning hoping to make you happy….
- 2026-03-09 02:20:09 AM
  
  Jeff 'Glotz' Glotzer wrote:
  
  There are sooo many thousands of products online, at dealers and on Amazon for really good prices well under $1000 for any category of audio. The 20K up gear is really that good. It takes ignorance and intolerance to think it doesn't sound like every penny is well spent. It is rather their jaded mistrust of everything these days that prevents an opening of minds, but that's what the shows are for!! It's really still a question of great marketing rather than okay marketing.
2026-03-05 10:32:50 PM

db wrote:

Playback Distribution with the Avid turntable was my favorite small room. Me and a buddy listened to a whole LP side of Aaron Copland Rhapsody in Blue. Those Silent Pound Bloom speakers (from Lithuania) sounded very good, especially piano.