Southwest Audio Fest (Updated for '25)

displayname · Mar 21, 2024

SnowmaNick said:
@displayname By any chance did you see or even better hear a Rega NAIA at the show?

Actually I saw zero Rega gear at the show, at least none I can recall. The main local dealer for Rega attended as a guest instead of exhibiting. I wish they would have, but maybe they wanted to see the turnout of the new event.

SnowmaNick · Mar 21, 2024

Thanks.

displayname · Mar 19, 2025

Reviving this thread for the 2025 show that will be taking place this weekend! They've added a whole extra floor of showrooms. This year I'm going in with a more focused approach to really spend some time with gear and brands I'm actually considering. I've also decided that while shows are not the best way to evaluate gear, they are a decent way to evaluate vendors. If they can make gear sound interesting in a hotel room for a weekend, they can probably dial things in pretty well when they have more time too.

If anyone is joining just let me know. Would be happy to meet up!

Jbraswell · Mar 19, 2025

displayname said:
Reviving this thread for the 2025 show that will be taking place this weekend! They've added a whole extra floor of showrooms. This year I'm going in with a more focused approach to really spend some time with gear and brands I'm actually considering. I've also decided that while shows are not the best way to evaluate gear, they are a decent way to evaluate vendors. If they can make gear sound interesting in a hotel room for a weekend, they can probably dial things in pretty well when they have more time too.

If anyone is joining just let me know. Would be happy to meet up!

Please share your experience.

Thanks!

displayname · Thursday at 6:39 AM

Jbraswell said:
Please share your experience.

Thanks!

Absolutely!
Just one day left!

SnowmaNick · Saturday at 2:53 AM

I wonder if they will have an audiophile torture device there like this setup?

Joe Mac · Saturday at 4:51 AM

SnowmaNick said:
I wonder if they will have an audiophile torture device there like this setup?

View attachment 229567

Could you imagine rocking up home with something like this and saying:

“Hey, look at the new speakers I bought myself for x room”

I think you’d soon be listening to them in your small rented studio….

displayname · Saturday at 8:17 AM

SnowmaNick said:
I wonder if they will have an audiophile torture device there like this setup?

View attachment 229567

None of these specific brands, but mostly rooms like this honestly.

displayname · Saturday at 8:22 AM

Here comes a big photo dump. I didn’t even get through half yesterday, only had about 3 hours to walk around and lots of time catching up with friends.

I started with the bigger rooms and today I’ll get through smaller rooms and be more focused with my time.

displayname · Saturday at 8:23 AM

displayname · Saturday at 8:27 AM

Favorite experience so far was in the room pictured below, they played In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, on reel to reel, and they played it loud! It wasn’t the most refined system, or the ultimate best sound, but boy did it have the magic! I felt an emotional connection to that music like never before.

Jbraswell · Saturday at 10:46 AM

More tape decks there this year than normal?

SnowmaNick · Saturday at 2:43 PM

displayname said:
Favorite experience so far was in the room pictured below, they played In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, on reel to reel, and they played it loud! It wasn’t the most refined system, or the ultimate best sound, but boy did it have the magic! I felt an emotional connection to that music like never before.

View attachment 229586
View attachment 229587 View attachment 229588

Do you recall if that’s a Tri-Planar on the Technic’s?

displayname · Sunday at 8:58 AM

Jbraswell said:
More tape decks there this year than normal?

About the same as last year, a few but not common.

displayname · Sunday at 8:59 AM

SnowmaNick said:
Do you recall if that’s a Tri-Planar on the Technic’s?

Yes, 100% tri-planar. I made note because it was the first time I’d seen one in person.

displayname · Sunday at 10:38 PM

Something followed me home…

displayname · Sunday at 11:02 PM

Ok, I’m officially a believer in SUTs now.

displayname · Sunday at 11:49 PM

Now to share some other highlights from the show. I'll do more photos later, but have some fun stories.

It was truly a star studded event. I saw most of the YouTubers in person and landed in the same room with some of them various times. I didn't introduce myself to them, but it was fun seeing them around.

David Chesky was also there supporting his son who has launched an excellent more affordable pair of speakers at just 17 years old. I was legitimately star struck and it took me a minute to approach him. Really nice guy! I still can't believe he was just hanging out.

I also got to spend a few hours with Mat Wiesfeld of VPI. He's really fun and has even more energy and stories in person than he does in interviews. Just fun to hangout and have a drink with. Also the new VPI Forever Model 1 is really cool. I've been wanting more of a zero maintenance turntable, but man that TT is cool and just attractive. Excited to see what it's like when they extend the line.