Hello SECRETS readers! Once again, we will be bringing you coverage of the Audio Advice Live 2025 show to these pages as we ramble through the halls and rooms in Raleigh, North Carolina, this weekend. This is the show’s fourth year and will be held at the Sheraton Hotel – Raleigh, N,C from August 1st to the 3rd.

Secrets Co-Editor, Robert Kozel, will be in attendance this year, filing regular reports and outlining all the latest and greatest in audio and video that he encounters.

Please be sure to check back on this page regularly as we will be updating it, along with our Facebook and Instagram feeds, with show coverage as fast as we can. We hope you enjoy our coverage!

Robert Kozel
I am here in Raleigh, NC, attending the Audio Advice Live show, which runs from August 1-3, 2025, at the Sheraton Raleigh hotel. The show is open to the public and offers a chance to experience some of the latest technology for high-performance home theater and audio, two-channel audio, headphones, turntables, projectors, and much more. The show offers an opportunity to see, hear, and experience these products in one venue and talk with manufacturer and brand experts in person. There are also educational sessions offered on a wide range of topics.Audio Advice Live 2025 Show Banner.

Pre-Show

Thursday, July 31, 2025, was a setup day for the show and also a chance for the press to get a preview of some of the exciting and exclusive product announcements. The first room on the scheduled advance press tour was HARMAN Luxury Audio. They were showcasing products from JBL Synthesis, JBL, ARCAM, and Revel.
JBL Synthesis Display
JBL Synthesis SCL Series Custom Install In-Wall Speakers JBL Synthesis SCL Series Custom Install In-Wall Speakers
The JBL Synthesis Cinema was showing off the new SMA Series amplifiers, which are purpose-built for custom installation. Along with these amplifiers were a variety of SCL series in-wall compression-driver speakers. I look forward to listening to this demo later during the regular show schedule.
JBL Compact Theater System
The Compact Theater with JBL Stage 2 loudspeakers and MA Series AV receivers are designed to be a smaller-scale solution with a more stylish look. The speakers use JBL’s proprietary waveguide, and JBL says the AVR features the latest in HDMI, surround decoding, and intuitive streaming. Its styling is also unique and a departure from what we usually see in AVRs.
JBL Stage 2 loudspeakers and MA Series AV receiver JBL Stage 2 loudspeakers and subwoofer
The ARCAM SA45 integrated amplifier was on display, which features class G amplification, DIRAC Live room correction, and seamless streaming. It was paired with a beautiful pair of white Revel F328Be PerformaBe speakers.
ARCAM SA45 integrated amplifier with Revel F328Be PerformaBe speakers
White Revel F328Be PerformaBe speakers
White Revel F328Be PerformaBe speakers
Harman / Kardon was also showcasing the new Enchant series of wireless speakers. The system offers expandability from stereo configurations up to a full home theater configuration. It features a minimalist design that blends into the room and provides support for the latest in multi-channel audio formats.Harman / Kardon new Enchant series of wireless speakers.
At the next stop on the press event, Audio Advice was showcasing its new Revelation Luxury home theater seating. This chair retails for $1,349 and is not only fully adjustable but also features advanced amenities like USB-C, heat, shiatsu massage, and reclines in less space to provide more room in your theater, allowing for additional seating.Audio Advice Revelation Luxury home theater seating
I had a chance to actually try out the chair later in the evening. It was very comfortable, and the vegan leather had a very nice feel. The heat and massage were nice features. Keep in mind this isn’t trying to be one of those crazy massage chairs that you might have seen that wraps around your body. The massage feature was much more gentle but very refreshing after a long day.Audio Advice Revelation lighted cup-holder with controls Audio Advice Revelation Luxury home theater seating Audio Advice Revelation Luxury home theater seating Audio Advice Revelation Luxury home theater seating
The third stop on the press tour was Focal Naim. The theater in their room was an impressive 7.4.4 theater configured with their new Utopia Cinema speakers, which launched in February 2025. The speakers are designed for custom integration into private cinema rooms of up to 2153 square feet or 200 square meters. FOCAL Utopia Cinema Series speakers FOCAL Utopia Cinema Series speakers
The very impressive demo was an immersive clip from the last Bond flick, “No Time to Die”. If you are considering a custom high-end home theater, put these on your audition list.

Here’s a look at the room components for this 7.4.4 Home Theater Room:

• NEW Focal Utopia Cinema (5x LCR + 4x Sub)
• Cinema LCR is $11,999 (x5 – $59,995)
• Cinema SUB is $5,999 (x4 – $23,996)
• Focal 1000 IWLCR Utopia ($8,499) (2x – $16,998)
• Focal 1000 IWSUB Utopia ($3,299) (2x – $6,598)
• Focal 1000 ICLCR5 ($2,699) (4x Atmos – $10,796)
• Naim CI-NAP 101 ($1,999) (4x – $7,996)
• Focal Astral 16 ($23,999)
• Vicoustic Room treatment (Multifuser DC3+Cinema Round Premium)
• Apple TV
• 200” Screen
• Sony VPL-GTZ380 projector
• Kaleidescape Movie Player
Total Focal Naim system equipment price: $150,378

Next up for the Focal demo were the Focal Diva Utopia 3-way active wireless speakers. These are active bass-reflex speakers, and they created an impressively nuanced soundstage without the need for any extra amplifiers or cables. They will also be customizable using different exterior skins to tailor the speakers for any room. They retail for $40,000/pair.
FOCAL Diva Utopia Speakers
Focal is hoping to unveil the Diva Mezza Utopia at the show, but they are held up in customs at the moment. But they are still hopeful they will be here for the weekend.

The fourth stop on the press tour was Epson. Melvin Diaz and Robert Brennan showed off the new Pro Cinema LS9000. This is a 4K HDR 3LCD laser projector. It has a 2,500,00:1 contrast ratio and uses 3 individual LCD chips to display 100% of the RGB color for every frame. It boasts a 20,000-hour solid-state light source and retails for $3,999. The projector was paired with a sound system featuring speakers from Polk Audio. One of the demos was Top Gun: Maverick, and the picture and sound were stellar. The Epson rendered a gorgeous image that immediately pulled the viewer into the action. The entire room is priced right around $20K with all components and the screen.EPSON Pro Cinema LS9000 4K HDR 3LCD laser projector.
The last stop on the tour was the ASCENDO/Trinnov demo. This was the first demo of Trinnov’s WaveForming technology at Audio Advice. A Trinnov Altitude32 processor and two Amplitude16 amplifiers were paired with 12 ASCENDO THE16 SUB ACTIVE SEALED subwoofers. The demo material featured a battle scene with a ton of action and explosions. The bass was off the charts terrific, and it was incredible how much you could actually feel the bass while watching the movie clip. I have experienced the WaveForming demo before in dedicated theater rooms constructed for past shows, but this was very impressive to have created such an experience in a hotel venue.

To round out the demo, some music from “Eric Clapton: The Lady In the Balcony Lockdown Sessions” showed how important the bass can be in enjoying music. If you are at the show, this demo is not to be missed.EPSON Pro Cinema LS9000 4K HDR 3LCD laser projector.
That concludes the press event coverage for today. In closing, I always appreciate how much effort goes into these shows. From the planning and coordination to the hours of setup and dedication needed to showcase these amazing products and solutions, the teams that make this happen should be congratulated. I especially enjoy seeing a couple of crates in the morning turn into this gorgeous work of art (the Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus) in the evening.Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus speakers (in crates)Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus speakers (static display)

Open Show Days

The Audio Advice Live show runs from August 1-3, 2025, at the Sheraton Raleigh hotel in Raleigh, NC. I started my first day of show coverage with Focal Naim. Their event space featured an impressive 7.4.4 theater configured with their new Utopia Cinema speakers, which launched in February 2025. The speakers are designed for custom integration into private cinema rooms of up to 2153 square feet or 200 square meters. The presentation included a very cool look inside a Dolby Atmos mix of “On My Knees” by Australian artist Rüfüs Du Sol. The content was provided by the Spatial Group and showed how the individual Dolby Atmos elements moved around the room.

Dolby ATMOS Mix Analysis On My Knees, Spatial Group

Focal/Naim

The Focal Naim demonstration also included Dolby Atmos clips from Top Gun: Maverick, and Lady Gaga singing in the movie A Star is Born, and the Spatial Audio version of Sir Elton John singing Rocket Man. All of the content sounded fabulous, considering we were in a giant hotel space, and it was a convincing reminder of how great Dolby Atmos and spatial audio can sound for both movies and music. I can just imagine what this would sound like in a proper room. Here’s a look at some of the speakers making the Focal Naim theater space come to life. Note the speakers installed in the hotel ceiling.FOCAL-NAIM Home Theater Demo at Audio Advice Live 2025Focal 1000 IWLCR Utopia and Focal 1000 IWSUB Utopia
And yes, that really is a ladder hiding behind the curtain.Focal Utopia Cinema LCR Speaker and Focal 1000 IWSUB Utopia

MartinLogan/JVC

The MartinLogan room featured an impressive collection of their electrostatic gear paired with a projector from JVC. The room was showcasing the new Grotto Series subwoofers set up in a 7.7.4 configuration. The processing was provided by a Trinnov Altitude Processor, and the video source was provided by Kaleidescape. The contents of the room retails for over $100K.MartinLogan HT demo at Audio Advice Live 2025MartinLogan HT demo at Audio Advice Live 2025Martin Logan Grotto SubwooferMartinLogan ESL SpeakersMartinLogan ESL Speakers and Grotto SubwooferJVC D-ILA Projector

EPSON/Polk Audio

The EPSON room featured the new Pro Cinema LS9000. This is a 4K HDR 3LCD laser projector. It has a 2,500,00:1 contrast ratio and uses 3 individual LCD chips to display 100% of the RGB color for every frame. It boasts a 20,000-hour solid-state light source and retails for $3,999. The projector was paired with a sound system featuring speakers from Polk Audio. The screen was a 120” Stewart Filmscreen Cima Neve series, and the gain is 1.1. It retails for $2,049. One of the demos was Top Gun: Maverick, and the picture and sound were stellar. The Epson rendered a gorgeous image that immediately pulled the viewer into the action. The entire room is priced right around $20K with all components and the screen.EPSON/Polk Audio HT demo at Audio Advice Live 2025Polk Audio SpeakersPolk Audio SpeakersDenon AVR-A10H Receiver and Kaleidescape ServerDenon AVR-A10H Receiver and Kaleidescape Server

EPSON/Bowers & Wilkins

Across the hall was another EPSON room, this time with the $35,000 EPSON QL 7000, which is able to produce 10,000 lumens of equal color and white brightness. The system was set up in a 9.4.6 speaker configuration featuring Bowers & Wilkins custom install CT series speakers. The CT7.3 speakers were used for the base layer, and CT7.4 speakers for the Atmos channels. It was powered by two Marantz AV10 amplifiers and controlled by a Marantz AV20 processor. A madVR Envy Core processor was used for the video processing. This was yet another great demonstration at the show, and it once again featured a clip from Top Gun: Maverick and an awesome track from the Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague concert. Hans Zimmer: Live in PragueMarantz AVR, Amps, madVR Labs Envy Core Processor, and Kaleidescape serverMarantz Cinema AVRBowers & Wilkins custom install CT series speakers.

Bowers & Wilkins – The Abbey Road Experience

Next door, there was a very special room. Bowers & Wilkins was showcasing The Abbey Road Experience with a pair of very special 801D4 speakers. Only 140 pairs will be available worldwide. The dark walnut finish on the speakers matches the finish of the “Lady Madonna” piano used by Paul McCartney when recording the famous song during his time with The Beatles. The leather trim matches the leather found on the chairs in the famous studio. These are the same sonically as the 801 Signature speakers. The speakers were driven by two Marantz Model 10 integrated amplifiers biwired to the speakers. The system was controlled by a Marantz LINK 10n used as a dedicated preamplifier. During the listening session, they played the London Symphony Orchestra’s Washington Ending / Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Ark. It brought back the magic of seeing that movie for the first time. And it was extra special to consider that we were listening to what was recorded at Studio One at Abbey Road. This was an exceptional experience at the show and not to be missed.Bowers & Wilkins, The Abbey Road ExperienceBowers & Wilkins 801D4 Abbey Road Limited Edition Speakers Bowers & Wilkins 801D4 Abbey Road Limited Edition Speakers Bowers & Wilkins 801D4 Abbey Road Limited Edition Speakers Marantz Link10n and Model 10 Bowers & Wilkins 801D4 Abbey Road Limited Edition Speakers Bowers & Wilkins 801D4 Abbey Road Limited Edition Speakers. Close Up view.Bowers & Wilkins 801D4 Abbey Road Limited Edition Speakers. Close Up view.

ASCENDO Immersive Audio/Trinnov Audio

I stopped by the ASCENDO / Trinnov Audio room again to take in another demo of the WaveForming technology and to experience the infrasonics from the ASCENDO subwoofers. This is the first Audio Advice Live show offering a demo of Trinnov’s WaveForming technology. A Trinnov Altitude32 processor and two Amplitude16 amplifiers were paired with 12 ASCENDO THE16 SUB ACTIVE SEALED subwoofers. The video was processed by a madVR Envy Extreme processor. The demo material featured a battle scene from 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi with a ton of action and explosions. The bass was off the charts terrific, and it was incredible how much you could actually feel the bass while watching the movie clip. The demonstration also included a clip from A Star is Born with vocals by Lady Gaga. I have experienced the WaveForming demo before in dedicated theater rooms constructed for past shows, but this was very impressive to have created such an experience in a hotel venue. As you can see from the pictures, this was hardly an ideal space, and it was impressive what the ASCENDO / Trinnov Audio / Audio Advice teams could accomplish. If you are at the show, this demo is also not to be missed.Trinnov and MadVR Envy.A Star is BornAscendo Immersive Audio HT demo at Audio Advice Live 2025 Ascendo Immersive Audio HT demo at Audio Advice Live 2025 Ascendo Immersive Audio Infrasonic Subwoofer

Paradigm/Anthem

The Paradigm / Anthem room featured the Founder Series 120H speakers ($9,000/pair), a 90C center channel ($2,900), the 40B speaker for sides and rears ($2,400/pair), the E80R for Dolby Atmos ($1,300/pair), a pair of Defiance S12 subs ($1,600/each), and a pair of Defiance S10 ($1,200/each). The electronics were an AVM90 processor ($7,500), an MCA 525 amplifier ($3,800), and an MDX12 to power the remaining channels ($1,600). The projector was from EPSON ($18,000), and the screen was a Stewart Filmscreen Harmony G3, with woven screen material. The total price was over $60K. The system sounded truly impressive and featured familiar demo material that we were hearing throughout the show, like Lady Gaga from A Star is Born. It was actually nice to hear some similar material across the various demo rooms since it did help with comparisons.Paradigm/EPSON HT demo at Audio Advice Live 2025Paradigm/EPSON HT demo at Audio Advice Live 2025Paradigm Founder Series 40B speakerEPSON 4K Laser Projector Anthem AVM90 processor and an MCA 525 amplifier along with measurement mic.Anthem AVM90 processor and an MCA 525 amplifierParadigm Founder Series 120H Speaker.Anthem Show Banner

MadVR Labs

I have been seeing so many demo rooms using a madVR processor. I stopped by their booth to find out more about them. MadVR Labs was showing the Envy Core ($5,995) and the Envy Extreme ($15,995). The Envy Core is ideal for TVs and mixed content sources found in your typical home theater. The Envy Extreme would be used in a dedicated home theater. MadVR Labs Envy Core and the Envy Extreme Processors.
Some of the feature highlights include things like HDR dynamic tone mapping, auto aspect ratio control and geometry control, 4K and 8K (Envy Extreme) upscaling and sharpening, subtitle handling, and much more. This all sounded great, but I still wasn’t convinced that I might want one for my home theater until we started talking about subtitles. These Envy processors already do amazing things like resizing an image only when necessary to fit subtitles on the screen. This is a feature that projector owners absolutely love. But…madVR is now going to allow the subtitle text to change colors dynamically so you aren’t blinded and distracted by white text when watching your favorite movie. Check out this subtitle:MadVR Labs self coloring subtitles.
This was such a cool feature. You could clearly read the subtitles, but it was now using the color palette from the current content, and it does all this dynamically. This feature will be coming out in a future software update to the Envy processors. If that wasn’t enough to pique your interest, then maybe their creative menu options like the insane, ludicrous, and insane+ settings might do it. I enjoyed this very nerdy demo a lot. MadVR Envy Processor Settings. MadVR Envy Processor Settings. MadVR Envy Processor Settings.

SVS

SVS was showing off the SB 5000 Revolution 15” subwoofer, which retails for $2,000. It was paired with the Ultra Evolution bookshelf speakers, which retail for $1,200/pair. The demo clip was from Ready Player One and featured the road race scene across the bridge. The demo was exceptional since the subwoofer was able to work its magic and produce awesome bass that you could feel! The speakers sounded great, and this demo was a reminder that awesome products came in many price points.SVS HT demo at Audio Advice Live 2025. SVS SB 5000 Revolution 15” subwoofer,SVS HT demo at Audio Advice Live 2025.SVS HT demo at Audio Advice Live 2025.SVS HT demo at Audio Advice Live 2025.

GoldenEar

With GoldenEar Studio, Inc. now joining forces with Paradigm, Anthem, and MartinLogan as part of PML Sound International, it was great to see the new GoldenEar T44 loudspeakers paired with an Anthem STR integrated amplifier. The T44 is now available for $4,900 in black or $5,200 in the beautiful Santa Barbara red. The demo room was a welcome relief from the loud theater rooms at the show, and it was a delight to enjoy the fabulous sound of the next generation of GoldenEar speakers.GoldenEar T44 loudspeakers Anthem STR integrated amplifier and HIFIRose Streamer

Kaleidescape

The Kaleidescape products have really become an expected staple at these types of shows. This is the Kaleidescape Strato E movie player. It comes with a 480GB solid-state drive, which can store 4-6 downloaded 4K movies. The Strato E supports 4K, SDR, HDR10, and Dolby Vision. The Kaleidescape movies are sourced from the studio master files and are larger, higher-quality content files compared to even those found on 4K Blu-rays. The Kaleidescape ecosystem is also scalable with options to add servers to provide more storage and more players to support a large household.Kaleidescape Strato E movie player

Ruark Audio

Distributor Fidelity Imports was showcasing products from British Company Ruark Audio Limited. On display were the Ruark Audio Sabre R bookshelf speakers. They feature a 2-way tuned bass reflex design.Ruark Audio Sabre R bookshelf speakers Ruark Audio Sabre R bookshelf speakers
The system was driven by a Ruark Audio R610 streaming integrated music console. It includes Internet, DAB, DAB+, and FM tuners, a phono stage, and support for popular streaming services. The turntable was a Michell TecnoDec. To the right of the R610 is a Ruark Audio R-CD100 USB CD player. The components were shown in a walnut finish. Ruark Audio and Michell Audio
This is the Ruark Audio R810 High Fidelity Radiogram. In addition to the same tuner and streaming functionality found on its smaller sibling, the R810 features a 5-channel Class A-B amplifier driving two Ruark 27mm silk dome tweeters, two Ruark 100mm NS+ bass-mid units, and a Ruark 200mm long throw subwoofer. It supports HDMI ARC and eARC and also comes with a separate hand-held Bluetooth-connected RotoDial control. Ruark Audio R810 High Fidelity Radiogram Bluetooth-connected RotoDial control
This is the Ruark Audio R1 Mk4 Deluxe Bluetooth Radio, which offers Internet Radio and DAB, DAB+, and FM tuners. It also features the familiar RotoDial controller built in.Ruark Audio R1 Mk4 Deluxe Bluetooth Radio
This is the Ruark Audio R410 integrated music system. It features two Ruark 20mm silk dome tweeters and two Ruark 100mm NS+ bass-mid units. It supports the same tuner and streaming services as the R810, and also includes support for HDMI ARC and eARC. It also comes with a separate RotoDial controller. Ruark Audio R410 integrated music systemRuark RotoDial controller

Knosti

A selection of Knosti Disco Antistat vinyl cleaners were also on display. The product lineup includes both manual and ultrasonic cleaners.Knosti Disco Antistat vinyl cleaners Knosti Disco Antistat vinyl cleaners

Perlisten Audio

The Perlisten Audio listening room was crowded with show attendees. The demo system consisted of the Perlisten S5M monitors ($14,000/pair) along with a Perlisten R18s subwoofer ($6,000). The turntable was a Michell Gyro SE ($5,300), and the integrated amplifier was the Primare SPA25 Prisma ($7,000). The phono stage was the Michell Apollo ($5,000). The cables were from Viablue. The sound from this system seemed effortless with stunning vocals, fantastic detail, incredible dynamics, and outstanding bass and imaging. All of which drew the listener into the music.Perlisten S5M monitors, a Perlisten R18s subwoofer, a Michell Gyro SE Turntable), the Primare SPA25 Prisma integrated amp, the Michell Apollo phono stage, Viablue cables. Perlisten S5M monitors, a Perlisten R18s subwoofer, a Michell Gyro SE Turntable), the Primare SPA25 Prisma integrated amp, the Michell Apollo phono stage, Viablue cables. Perlisten S5M monitors, a Perlisten R18s subwoofer, a Michell Gyro SE Turntable), the Primare SPA25 Prisma integrated amp, the Michell Apollo phono stage, Viablue cables. Perlisten R5m monitors with Viablue cables.Perlisten R5m monitors with Viablue cables and R18 subwoofer.Rear of Perlisten R5m monitors with Viablue cables.Perlisten S5M monitors, a Perlisten R18s subwoofer, a Michell Gyro SE Turntable), the Primare SPA25 Prisma integrated amp, the Michell Apollo phono stage, Viablue cables.

DALI

Dali was demonstrating the RUBIKORE 8 speakers in a gorgeous red maroon high-gloss finish. The speakers are $13,000/pair, and the RUBIKORE series itself is about a year old. They are handcrafted in Denmark. The speakers had a surprisingly wide dispersion and were not toed-in. They sounded great even when moving around the large demo room. The speakers use a ribbon and silk dome tweeter. The pulp fiber drivers are stamped to create a more rigid driver.DALI RUBIKORE 8 with NAD M33 Integrated amp.DALI RUBIKORE 8 speaker DALI RUBIKORE 8 speakerDALI RUBIKORE 8 speakerDALI RUBIKORE Series
The system was driven by a NAD Masters M33 streaming DAC/amplifier, which is part of the BluOS system of network-connected devices. NAD will have an updated V2 version of the M33 coming out this fall with updated DACs and amplifier sections.NAD Masters M33 streaming DAC/amplifier

Roksan

Roksan was showing the Capsian Series 4G integrated amplifier paired with a BluOS NODE NANO.Roksan Capsian Series 4G integrated amplifierRoksan Capsian Series 4G integrated amplifierRoksan Banner.

Klipsch/Onkyo

Outside the Klipsch and Onkyo room was a small table teasing what was behind the door. On that table was also a very rare item, and appreciated greatly by me at least, a piece of paper in a plastic table display. So why would I even mention this? In so many shows over the years, the products shown in a room were nicely summarized with item names, model numbers, and prices. It was a handy way to remember what was in a room and show visitors would snap a photo for follow-up, and some rooms even had a stack printed if a potential customer wanted one for reference. At this show, most of the rooms had none of this and instead had a QR code outside the door that was supposed to take you to the same info. While it was a nice idea when it worked, many of the rooms had incomplete or missing information online. Hopefully, this gets addressed for next year’s show.Klipsch and Onkyo display,Klipsch and Onkyo display,
Here is the Klipsch and Onkyo demo system. Klipsch and Onkyo demo system at Audio Advice Live 2025.
This is the Klipsch La Scala AL6 3-way fully horn-loaded loudspeaker, which retails for $15,399/pair. It was shown with the optional Klipsch La Scala active crossover, which is $3,499. The finish is American Auburn. This was one of the first public demonstrations for the speaker with the crossover.Klipsch La Scala AL6 3-way fully horn-loaded loudspeaker Klipsch La Scala AL6 and Klipsch Forte IV speakers.
This is the Klipsch Forte IV in the new Red Oak finish, which retails for $5,499/pair. The look is a bit more contemporary, paired with a soft-gray heathered grille.Klipsch Forte IV speaker in the new Red Oak finish Klipsch Forte IV and Klipsch La Scala AL6 speakers.
The Klipsch La Scala system featured three Onkyo Icon M-80 power amps ($1,999 each), an Onkyo Icon P-80 preamplifier ($1,999), and an Onkyo Icon C-30 CD player ($349). The Klipsch Forte IV system featured an Onkyo Icon A-50 integrated amplifier ($1,599) and an Onkyo Icon C-30 CD player. Listening to both of these systems was a treat. They sounded terrific in the large listening room, and I especially enjoyed the La Scala speakers, which were another speaker that seemed effortless in its musical reproduction. The La Scala was easily able to make me forget I was listening to components and brought me into the music. Onkyo Icon M-80 power amps, an Onkyo Icon P-80 preamplifier, an Onkyo Icon C-30 CD player, an Onkyo Icon A-50 integrated amplifier, and an Onkyo Icon C-30 CD player. Onkyo Icon M-80 power amps. Onkyo Icon P-80 preamplifier and an Onkyo Icon C-30 CD player. Klipsch LaScala boxes.

ARCAM

This is the ARCAM SA45 integrated amplifier, which features class G amplification, DIRAC Live room correction, and seamless streaming.ARCAM SA45 integrated amplifier

JBL

Here’s a better look at the JBL Compact Theater with JBL Stage 2 loudspeakers and MA Series AV receivers, which are designed to be a smaller-scale solution with a more stylish look. The speakers use JBL’s proprietary waveguide, and JBL says the AVR features the latest in HDMI, surround decoding, and intuitive streaming.JBL Compact Theater with JBL Stage 2 loudspeakers and MA Series AV receivers.

Harman/Kardon

Here’s a better look at the new Enchant series of wireless speakers from Harman/Kardon. The system offers expandability from stereo configurations up to a home theater configuration. It features a minimalist design that blends into the room and offers support for the latest in multi-channel audio formats.Harman/Kardon Enchant wireless speakers.

Coastal Source

Down in the hotel lobby, Coastal Source was featuring a demonstration of their outdoor speakers and lighting system. They are designed to withstand the elements and produce a big sound, especially in the confines of the hotel lobby. Coastal Source offers a range of solutions to bring your high-end music system with you while enjoying the outdoors.Coastal Source outdoor speakers. Coastal Source outdoor speakers.
Friday night featured a fun event hosted by Audio Advice Live, open to all attendees. The Audio Advice team thanked all their staff, partners, and attendees.Audio Advice Live 2025 opening presentation.
The event featured a keynote from Audio Advice’s CEO, Scott Newnam, and a concert by the Sleeping Booty band.Audio Advice’s CEO, Scott Newnam with band.

Focal

I went back to see Focal early Saturday morning. Focal was showcasing their speaker and headphone lineup as you entered their event space.Focal speakers. Focal speakers. Focal speakers. Focal speakers. Focal speakers.Focal speakers. Focal headphones with Naim Uniti Atom HE. Focal headphones with Naim Uniti Atom HE.
Of course, the big news this morning was that the Diva Mezza Utopia had indeed cleared customs and were ready for everyone at the show to experience them. Here they are shown in the same positions that just yesterday were the Diva Utopia.Focal Diva Mezza Utopia active speakers.
The new Focal Diva Mezza Utopia retails for $69,000 per pair. Each Diva Mezza Utopia speaker has four 8” mid-base drivers. The power has been increased to 500 watts per cabinet compared to the Diva Utopia. 90 watts are distributed to the beryllium tweeter. 130 watts to the midrange driver compared to 75 watts on the Diva Utopia. Power is split 140 watts per side for the mid-base. The bass drivers are used in a push-push configuration. All the great features from Diva Utopia also carry over, like the customizable skins. The Diva Mezza Utopia will be available in ivory at launch.Focal Diva Mezza Utopia active speakers. Focal Diva Mezza Utopia active speakers. Focal Diva Mezza Utopia active speakers.
Compared to the Diva Utopia, the Diva Mezza Utopia came across as effortless in its delivery. Vocals were very detailed with wonderful decay. The imaging was excellent across the pair. The pair could deliver deep bass even in the hotel space. Listening to these made me pause to consider that there were no other components needed to enjoy these awesome active speakers in your home.Focal Diva Mezza Utopia active speakers. Focal Diva Mezza Utopia active speakers, rear panel.
Here’s an example of the custom skins that will be available in the future. These examples are specifically from the Diva Utopia.Custom Skin Swatches for Focal Diva and Mezza Utopias.

McIntosh

McIntosh was showing the ML1 speakers. The ML1 is based off of the first speaker that McIntosh ever made. This updated model is a 4-way speaker with five separate drivers rated up to 600 Watts. The finish is American Walnut.McIntosh ML1 speakers.McIntosh ML1 speakers.McIntosh ML1 speakers.McIntosh ML1 speakers.McIntosh equipment stack.
The system featured an MT5 precision turntable and the MSA5500 2-channel streaming integrated amplifier.McIntosh MT5 precision turntable and the MSA5500 2-channel streaming integrated amplifier.
The C12000 preamplifier and the MC1502 2-channel vacuum tube amplifier rounded out the equipment.The McIntosh C12000 preamplifier.The McIntosh MC1502 2-channel vacuum tube amplifier.

Pro-Ject Audio Systems

Pro-Ject Audio Systems was showcasing their beautiful turntables.

Pro-Ject Audio Systems clear turntable.
Here is the Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2.Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2 turntable.
This is the limited special edition of the Pro-Ject AC/DC turntable. This was gorgeous and so unique.Special edition Pro-Ject AC/DC turntable.Special edition Pro-Ject AC/DC turntable. Special edition Pro-Ject AC/DC turntable.
Pro-Ject also makes cleaning machines to maintain your vinyl collection.Pro-Ject record cleaning machine with integrated vacuum. Pro-Ject record cleaning machine with integrated vacuum.

Sonus faber

Sonus faber was showcasing their Concertino System. These are the Concertino Maestro Edition bookshelf speakers and stands. The front of the speakers is wrapped in plant-based leather, and the side panels are made from solid walnut with brass accents and a special edition plate. The stands are made from iron with walnut veneer accents. The sound from these bookshelf speakers was impressive, and these were easily my favorite bookshelf speakers at the show. They sounded so much bigger than their size, with an impressive soundstage and excellent bass.Sonus faber Concertino Maestro Edition bookshelf speakers and stands. Sonus faber Concertino Maestro Edition bookshelf speakers and stands. Sonus faber Concertino Maestro Edition bookshelf speakers and stands.
The system featured a McIntosh MSA5500 2-channel streaming integrated amplifier and the McIntosh MPC500 power controller. McIntosh MSA5500 2-channel streaming integrated amplifier and the McIntosh MPC500 power controller.
Sonus faber also had a theater demo at the show that was split into two rooms. The first room served as a waiting area and featured an inside look at some of the theater speakers and their components and construction. Very gracious staff were on hand to answer questions and explain all the technology before the demo.Sonus faber Custom Install HT speakers. Sonus faber Custom Install HT speakers. Sonus faber Custom Install HT speakers. Sonus faber Custom Install HT speakers.Sonus faber Custom Install HT speakers. Sonus faber Custom Install HT speakers.
The Sonus faber theater demo room itself was surprising in that it was a 5.4 system configuration. It was held in one of the upper floors of the hotel, and there was certainly no way for Dolby Atmos speakers to be installed in the solid ceiling of this room. The main speakers were Sonus faber Amati floor-standing speakers. The center channel was the Sonus faber Vox. The rear channels were Sonus faber Serafino speakers, and the four subwoofers were Sonus faber Gravis VI. The system components included a McIntosh MX180 processor, two McIntosh MC611 1-channel solid state amplifiers, three McIntosh 1.25KW 1-channel solid state amplifiers, a McIntosh C12000 2-channel solid state and vacuum tube preamplifier, and a McIntosh MPC power controller.

The demo material included a song from Sing 2, a clip from Dune, and, of course, a clip from Top Gun: Maverick. This theater demo was likely the most engaging at the show. It benefited from being in a smaller, more dedicated space, but what struck me the most was how immersive this was, and remember, I didn’t say anything about Dolby Atmos. It was particularly noticeable in the Top Gun: Maverick clip, where this might have been the first demo at the show that really brought the viewer into the cockpit with Maverick as he flew the plane. You could feel his body moving inside the plane as he navigated tight maneuvers. It was a very special demo. The clips of Dune and Sing 2 were equally impressive, with one of the sandworm scenes in Dune being especially terrifying.The Sonus faber 5.4 channel home theater demo roomThe Sonus faber 5.4 channel home theater demo roomSonus faber Vox center channel speaker Sonus faber Vox center channel speakerSonus faber Amati G5 floor-standing speakers Sonus faber Amati G5 floor-standing speakers Sonus faber Amati G5 floor-standing speakers

KEF

KEF was showing their XIO soundbar. This is a 5.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos soundbar. It can be mounted horizontally or vertically, and it sounded amazing with great detail and excellent bass. It is loaded with innovative technology and retails for $2,500. If you are looking for the ultimate soundbar, put this on your short list.KEF XIO soundbar. KEF XIO soundbar. KEF XIO soundbar. KEF XIO soundbar.KEF XIO soundbar. KEF XIO soundbar.

KLH Audio

KLH Audio was showing the Model Seven speaker, which will retail for $5,998 for a pair, including the stands. They were announced in May 2025 and are officially launching at Audio Advice Live. The speakers use a wide baffle, which allows for more energy to be directed at the listener. The speaker has 2.5 cubic feet of cabinet volume. The 13” bass driver is in its own enclosure. The speaker has an acoustic balance control that allows for the customization of the high-frequency response based on room layout and acoustics. I loved the soundstage and clarity of these speakers. There was a lot of texture to the music, and the bass was excellent.KLH Audio Model Seven speaker Bryston 4B Power amplifier.KLH Audio Model Seven speakerKLH Audio Model Seven speaker
The beautiful KLH Model Five was also on display.KLH Audio Model Five speaker

IsoAcoustics

IsoAcoustics was showcasing their full line-up of isolation products and was showing a comparison demo using a pair of Monitor Audio speakers. IsoAcoustics Gaia Neo IsoAcoustics Products. Monitor Audio Speakers with IsoAcoustics Products. Monitor Audio Speakers with IsoAcoustics Products.

MartinLogan

MartinLogan was showing the Motion F20, which retails for $3,800/pair. MartinLogan Motion F20

JL Audio/Paradigm

JL Audio was showing their subwoofers paired with a pair of Paradigm Persona 5F speakers and an Anthem STR integrated amplifier.JL Audio, Paradigm, and Anthem.

Kanto

Kanto was showcasing its line of desktop and bookshelf speakers. Their speaker product names are really unique and fun. TUK, for instance, is named for Tuktoyaktuk, which is in the Northwest Territories in Canada.Kanto Speakers and Subwoofers. Kanto Speakers and Subwoofers.

Fyne Audio/Ø-Audio/Pathos

Harmonia Distribution was showing two systems in their room. The first system consisted of the Fyne Audio F502S floorstanding speakers, which retail for $3,500/pair. Fyne Audio is from Scotland. They were paired with a PrimaLuna EVO tube integrated amplifier ($3,995) and an Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2 streaming DAC ($1,399).

The second system included the Ø-Audio Frigg 02 floor-standing loudspeaker in light Nordic Oak, which retails for $3,499.00/pair. Ø-Audio is from Norway. They were paired with a gorgeous Pathos Logos MKII tube hybrid integrated amplifier ($5,995), which included the HiDac MkII internal DAC card ($759). This system also used the Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2 streaming DAC ($1,399).

I loved the sound from both of these systems, despite being in a less-than-ideal hotel room. This demo room was very special not only for the wonderful sound of these systems, but also for Harmonia Distribution’s house DJ who was on-hand, presenting the speakers. He was not only super knowledgeable about the companies and products, but his passion for the music that he was playing made this about enjoying the music AND the speakers. Thanks for an outstanding listening experience at the show.Harmonia Distribution demo room. Ø-Audio Frigg 02 floor-standing loudspeaker and the Fyne Audio F502S floorstanding speaker.Pathos Logos MKII tube hybrid integrated amplifier. Pathos Logos MKII tube hybrid integrated amplifier. Harmonia Distribution demo room.

MoFi

MoFi was showing the SourcePoint V10 Master Edition floorstanding speakers, which retail for $7,995/pair.MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition floorstanding speakers, MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition floor-standing speakers and SourcePoint 8 speakers. MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition floor-standing speakers and SourcePoint 8 speakers.

Marantz

A pair of Marantz Horizon speakers were in an open area near the other demo rooms. They created an enormous sound that filled the space with beautiful music. I can just imagine how one would sound in the home. It is a very cool product and certainly doesn’t look like a speaker. Marantz Horizon speaker. Marantz Horizon speaker. Marantz Horizon speaker, rear view. Marantz Wireless Speaker information sheet.

Sony

Sony was showcasing their beautiful Bravia displays.Sony BRAVIA Displays.
The Sony theater demo played a clip from No Time to Die. What was unique about the demo was how good it looked despite having a lot of ambient light in the room. That was the point of the demo to showcase how bright the Sony projector could be and still be effective at producing a beautiful image.Sony AVRs. Sony AZ7000 AVR.The Sony theater demo played a clip from No Time to Die.

Samsung

Some of the Samsung 8K and 4K QLED displays were shown. The stars of the show were definitely the projectors, but it was nice to see flat-panel sets on display.Samsung 65QN900F 8K Display Samsung 65QN900F 8K Display Samsung 65QN900F 8K Display Samsung 65QN90F 4K Display

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed the Audio Advice Live 2025 show. It was nicely organized and provided a great opportunity for visitors to experience a wide range of products and technologies from a diverse group of manufacturers and distributors. There was something here for anyone who enjoys audio and home theater. I hope you enjoyed the coverage. Thanks for reading.