Florida Audio Expo 2023 – Coverage sponsored by XSA-Labs

By: Gary Alan Barker
February 24th, 2023

Welcome to our coverage of the 2023 Florida Audio Expo. We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to XSA-Labs for sponsoring our coverage, despite their not exhibiting at this show, showing their generous enthusiasm for the industry, and commitment to the community.

This was my first time to FAE but was told that it was the largest ever, which was quite believable as there were 12 floors of exhibitors. And every room was packed to the gills with attendees all three days of the show so it was definitely a success for all involved.

Qobuz/Aurender

2023 Florida Audio Expo Qobuz

Once again Qobuz was the official streaming service for the show, though I managed to miss meeting David Solomon throughout the entire show, Aurender was kind enough to share their space with Qobuz demonstrating their fantastic streaming music servers including the Aurender A20 ($15,000) which has a built-in single-ended headphone amp and the Aurender A30 ($19,000), which offers both single-ended and balanced headphone outputs along with a CD ripper, with a selection of headphones.

Moon Audio

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio

My first stop of the day was Moon Audio, who per usual was exhibiting a full array of exciting products including the exquisite dCS Lina System ($31,150) which shows the very pinnacle of what personal audio is capable of. Also on display for your sampling was the Lina’s little brother the brand new dCS Bartók Apex DAC/Headphone Amplifier ($22,950). What caught my eye was the Cayin HA-3A Tube Headphone Amplifier (1,599) paired up with the Matrix Audio X-Sabre 3 Pro MQA DAC ($2,999) so I selected a pair of Dan Clark Audio Stealth Headphones ($3,999) and gave it a listen, spectacular!

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
Drew & Darrell of Moon Audio
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
The dCS Lina System (Lina DAC, Lina Master Clock, and Lina Headphone Amplifier), Fostex TH-909 Premium Headphones
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
dCS Bartók Apex DAC/Headphone Amplifier
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
Auris Audio Nirvana IV Headphone Amplifier
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
Moon Audio Dragon Inspire IHA-1 Tube Headphone Amp, Chord Electronics Qutest DAC, Aurender ACS10 Music Server with CD Ripper
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
TEAC Audio UD-701N Music Player, RAAL|requisite VM-1a Variable Mode Vacuum Tube Ribbon Headphone Amplifier
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
Pass Labs HPA-1 Headphone Amp
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
Cayin HA-3A Tube Headphone Amplifier
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
Matrix Audio X-Sabre 3 Pro MQA DAC
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
Matrix Audio Element X2 Music Streamer, Bricasti M3 DAC or M3h DAC/Amp
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Moon Audio
Cayin N8ii DAP Music Player, Astell & Kern SP2000T Music Player DAP, Astell & Kern Kann MAX Digital Audio Player, Chord Electronics Hugo 2 DAC Headphone Amp, Astell & Kern SP3000 DAP Music Player, Sony WM1AM2 Walkman Music Player

Warwick Acoustics

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Warwick Acoustics

Next up was Warwick Acoustics with their legendary Bravura Electrostatic Headphone System ($5,995 for silver including Sonoma DAC/Amp, $6,795 for black). Of course, the highlight was their flagship Aperio Limited Edition Black Electrostatic Headphone System ($36,000) which for my money is the state of the art in headphone design and sound.

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Warwick Acoustics
Warwick Acoustics Bravura Electrostatic Headphone System
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Warwick Acoustics
Warwick Acoustics Bravura Electrostatic Headphone System Black
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Warwick Acoustics
Warwick Acoustics Bravura Electrostatic Headphone System Silver
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Warwick Acoustics
Warwick Acoustics Aperio Limited Edition Black Electrostatic Headphone System

Spirit Torino

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Spirit Torino
Spirit Torino Centauri Planar Magnetic Headphones, Audio-GD – R2R-11 mk2 Discrete R2R NOS DAC/Headphone Amplifier, Spirit Torino Valkyria Titanium Twin Pulse Isobaric headphones, Sigfrid Headphone/Speaker Hybrid Amp

Spirit Torino has long been a favorite with their unique Isobaric headphones, but their new Spirit Torino Centauri Planar Magnetic Headphones ($3,200) offer a whole new level in sound. They are also introducing a new headband design that is a significant improvement in comfort and seal, which will filter back into revised versions of many of their older models. Of further interest, they were displaying their $12,000 flagship Spirit Torino Valkyria Titanium Twin Pulse Isobaric headphone and their fantastic Sigfrid Headphone/Speaker Hybrid Amp ($12,438.61).

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Spirit Torino
Spirit Torino Centauri Planar Magnetic Headphones, Lotoo PAW Gold Touch Reference Portable Hi-Fi Player
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Spirit Torino
Spirit Torino Centauri Planar Magnetic Headphones, Lotoo PAW Gold Touch Reference Portable Hi-Fi Player, Mistral Radiant Bluetooth Mahogany Headphones, Mistral Blue Bluetooth Headphones
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Spirit Torino

Wyred 4 Sound

Wyred 4 Sound Florida Audio Expo 2023

One of the more exciting finds at the show was the newly released Wyred 4 Sound Pro Power Stream power conditioner ($999) which was in the Margules room. Unfortunately, it arrived too late to be used in the show though they did take the opportunity to test it Sunday morning before the show opened for the day. According to Bruce Ball of AV Luxury Group International, the drop in noise floor was quite significant, but that the change in sound was so dramatic that it would have required them to completely redo the setup which was simply not warranted at such a late date.

Margules

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Margules

Rising star (though at almost a hundred years in business, can’t say newcomer) Margules were back with their fantastic tube amps, driving a pair of Raidho Speakers TD2.2 Loudspeakers ($46,000). When matched up with the Margules Audio U280-SC 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Class A Tube Amplifiers ($12,000), a Margules Audio SF220 Special Edition Tube Preamplifier ($8,000), and Margules Audio’s yet-to-be-released Music Server (TBA) I would give them best sound of the show, but even with the tiny Margules Audio Magenta ACRH-3 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier the sound was spectacular.

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Margules
Margules Audio Magenta ACRH-3 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Margules
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Margules

Focal Naim/House of Stereo/VPI

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Focal Naim/House of Stereo/VPI
Naim NDX 2 Music Streamer, Naim Statement system, Focal Maestro Utopia EVO loudspeakers

Focal Naim shared space with Jacksonville Florida dealer House of Stereo. The true show stopper was the Naim Statement system ($200,000) driving a pair of Focal Maestro Utopia EVO loudspeakers ($38,000/Each) fed by a Naim NDX 2 Music Streamer ($8,799), the sound was simply fantastic. Also available for your listening pleasure was Naim’s Uniti Atom Headphone Edition ($3,799) with a selection of Focal Headphones, Focal Stellia Headphones ($2,990), Focal Utopia Headphones ($5,000), Focal Clear MG Headphones ($1,499). In a separate room, Naim was featuring their New Classic 200 series with the NSC 222 streaming preamplifier ($8,999), the NAP 250 power amplifier ($8,999), and NPX 300 external power supply ($8,999) driving a pair of Electric Orange Focal Sopra N°2 Loudspeakers ($20,998/pair), and a beautiful VPI Industries Avenger Direct Turntable ($36,000).

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Focal Naim/House of Stereo/VPI
Naim NDX 2 Music Streamer, Naim Statement system
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Focal Naim/House of Stereo/VPI
Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition, Focal Stellia Headphones, Focal Utopia Headphones, Focal Clear MG Headphones
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Focal Naim/House of Stereo/VPI
VPI Industries Avenger Direct, NSC 222 streaming preamplifier, the NAP 250 power amplifier, NPX 300 external power supply, Focal Sopra N°2 Loudspeakers
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Focal Naim/House of Stereo/VPI

Across the hallway House of Stereo was hosting the global debut of the outstanding Avantgarde Acoustic Duo GT loudspeaker system ($61,050/pair passive, $74,000 active), these were matched up with a VPI Industries Titan Turntable ($51,000), a Phasemation EA-2000 Tube Phono Stage ($54,000), a Phasemation CA-1000 Control Amplifier ($51,500), a pair of Phasemation MA-2000 tubed monoblock amplifiers ($51,500), along with a T+A SD 3100 HV Reference Streaming DAC ($36,000). The most impressive part of this was a live performance by singer-harpist Isabeau Corriveau against a backdrop of her recorded self run through the system.

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Focal Naim/House of Stereo/VPI

Geshelli Labs

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Geshelli Labs

Newcomer family owned and operated Geshelli Labs are expanding on their line of excellent personal audio products to enter into the two-channel loudspeaker market with their brand-new integrated amplifier the Zoofa (TBA) which they had running a pair of Klipsch R-800F Loudspeakers ($599 each) and a Klipsch R-101SW Subwoofer ($349) producing excellent sound. The true focus of the show was their new Geshelli Labs Archel 3 PRO Headphone Amplifier ($599) featuring discreet opamps from Sparkos Labs. The craftsmanship that this family puts into building their products is stunning. Their reasonably priced Amps and DACs are available in a wide range of customizable options such as metal or wood handmade cases with an array of color choices for both the case and the plexiglass front panel, and a choice of DAC chips.

2023 Florida Audio Expo - Geshelli Labs
Geshelli Labs JNOG2 DAC, Geshelli Labs Zoofa Integrated Amplifier, Geshelli Labs JNOG2 DAC, Geshelli Labs Archel 3 PRO Headphone Amplifier
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Geshelli Labs
Geshelli Labs ERISH2 Headphone Amplifier, Geshelli Labs Archel 2.5X Headphone Amplifier, Geshelli Labs JNOG2 DAC
2023 Florida Audio Expo - Geshelli Labs
Geshelli Labs ERISH2 Headphone Amplifier, Geshelli Labs Archel 2.5XL Headphone Amplifier, Geshelli Labs JNOG2 DAC

That concludes part 1 of our Florida Audio Expo coverage, stay tuned for part 2.

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