AXPONA 2025 Show Re-cap - Monarch Systems Distribution

Additional photos below | Press coverage links below

Post-AXPONA Write Up

April is almost over and we’re preparing to head off to Germany for the annual High-End show in Munich, however we wanted to give everyone a recap of what went on just a few weeks ago at the AXPONA show in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Chario Becomes a Leg Lamp

For anyone who’s ever seen the movie “A Christmas Story,” you’ll remember the scene where the father wins “a major award” that turns out to be a leg lamp, and that Ralphie couldn’t help but run his hand up and down the leg. Well, apparently the Chario Serendipitys have the same effect on audiophiles because we noticed that everyone came into our room, walked up the speakers, and did the same thing. Which meant that each of us said, “Ralphie!!” multiple times a day and laughed to ourselves. All of this is funny, however it did make us realize that the solid walnut hardwoods of all of the Chario speakers are a story unto themselves: not only are the speakers not made with a veneer (they’re wood up to 3cm thick in places), but the story of the wood and where it comes from and how it got there and why it’s used is pretty interesting. And the craftsmanship that goes into making the speakers leads to a wood finish that everyone simply has to reach out and touch.

Free AXPONA Passes!

If dealers (and prospects) are considering going to the show next year, we’d like to let you know that we will provide a limited number complementary 3 day passes for the show. Just reach out to us in advance and we’ll secure admission to the show for its entire duration. The more people we can get to the show, the greater the chances of it being successful for all of us.

B.audio and New Software Revisions

A new beta-tested version of software was loaded onto our B.dpr EX Reference streaming preamplifier ($24,600) at the show by the folks from B.audio who came over from France to help out. This software will make its official debut at the Munich show, but we got it in time for the show and had a chance to use the new features. We can’t tell you what the new features are, but we can tell you that they make certain things much easier and it’s well worth it. Once everything is announced at the Munich show we’ll send links to download the update to everyone.

Siltech and REL Subwoofers

For everyone who is a REL dealer, this should be very important to you: Siltech surprised us at the show by hand delivering a 3.0 meter cable to be used with the high-lvel inputs of REL subwoofers. Having listened to this cable (we have a second example on order to try stereo subs) in three systems now, we can tell you how much more solid bass response is, as well as low frequencies having much better texture and power. The Siltech cable is a big step forward dynamically and the way the subs engage with the room is quite improved.

Siltech and Stroopwafels

The folks at Siltech were kind enough to bring me two tins of stroopwafels. Anyone who knows me knows that have a severe addiction to these things (almost as much as sauternes). And yes, I ate most of them myself.

SME and the Turntable That Wasn’t

Like everything involving the government these days, things seem to be in a bit of upheaval. SME’s new Model 8 was shipped by airfreight to the show weeks in advance and yet somehow was still stuck in customs so long that it never made it in time for the show. It eventually arrived and had to be forwarded to our offices in Denver, but it was absent for its own debut. Here are a few product highlights compared to the outgoing Model 6:

This is really important: the Model 8 comes as standard with SME’s iconic Model 309 tonearm!
40% more mass in the chassis plinth
A new arm board, meaning better stability and isolation
A thicker, heavier, less resonant platter
A new speed control derived from the Model 60
Three color options: black, white, and Midnight Blue (we haven’t seen Midnight Blue, but it sounds cool)
New output connectors from WBT and improved umbilical connectors

We’ll provide photos and more info as it becomes available. We’ll also be touring with the Model 8 as soon as we can.

Special Guests in Our Room

This year we were lucky enough to have multiple guests in our room for product support, explanations, and general friendliness: Thomas Saheicha from Audio Physic (be on the lookout for new product announcements coming from the Munich show!), Kat and Alester from SME (who taught us quite a bit about the Model 8 even though it wasn’t there, as well as the Model 35), the Bermann brothers, Cédric and Sébastien, from B.audio (who trained us on the use of the EQ setting in the EX models and answered many, many questions that we couldn’t), and Gabi and Viktor from Siltech who made a few appearances in our room (and brought me stroopwafels!).

Special Guests for Dinner

Lastly, we’d like to thank everyone who attended our press dinners during the show, including the dealers who just happened to be in the right place at the right time and were also able to attend. We plan to be doing the same thing again next year and hope to see you there!