Axpona and EarGear 2025 - April 11-13 Schaumburg, Illinois

[rgbyhkr]

Show is coming up next weekend and while EarGear (https://axpona.com/floorplan-ear-gear) isn't as extensive as CJ, there are a decent amount of HP companies exhibiting. I will be attending Saturday and Sunday primarily for HeadFi related interests but will also check out a variety of speaker and related electronics rooms. Anyone else going?

Since I'm heading there solo I have been investigating any suggested/recommended show attendee social functions Friday and Saturday evening. I've been to Chicago multiple times over the years, including recently, so this trip is show focused and I'm ok not enjoying more of what the city in general has to offer. I saw info on the "concerts" Fri/Sat, and 2 mixers on Saturday evening pre concert (one put on by Axpona and another by Estelon Speakers) but if there are others, feel free to chime in and suggest. Thanks!

 

[BarefootDyl]

Will be there saturday. Gonna be a blast hopefully!

Im especially planning on getting impressions of the iFi Valkyrie plus comparison to my xDSD Gryphon, any Campfire IEM that i can, and any Grado that I can.

 

[rgbyhkr]

I've been doing my homework on the exhibitors and what I hope to get a chance to see/hear. Some of things I hope will be at EarGear:

Warwick - Aperio and Bravura

ZMF - The whole lineup. BC descriptions sound like it'll be what I buy but I will test them all, open and closed. Also they tend to bring along great amps that might not otherwise have representation at the show so eager to try out some of those too.

Campfire - Solaris, Clara, Axion

64 Audio - Solo, Volur, new color variants of U12t, U18t

RAAL - Immanis

Bloom - They will have (confirmed) demos of Prismatica and Spectrumica as well as the Legion and Aegis.

VANA - Austrian Audio, Ferrum

Manley Labs - Absolute Amp

Empire Ears - Raven and Triton

Auris/Earmen - Headonia, L-Amp

Upscale Audio - Curious to see what amps they bring. Feliks? Pathos? T+A?

IFi - Valkyrie

Not expecting but would be great if somoene had as part of their demo - LTA Z10e, Zahl HM1, Cayin 3A/6A, L&P EA4, Abyss JOAL

 

[james93]

I'll be there all 3 days. We'll probably be walking the first floor on Sunday, so that means Ear Gear.

As for the Cayin 3A/6A you might get lucky at ZMF as they are a Cayin distributor.

 

[rgbyhkr]

As for the Cayin 3A/6A you might get lucky at ZMF as they are a Cayin distributor.

That was my best guess as well. From what I've seen of videos for previous Axponas and CJs, ZMF often brings Cayin tube amps. Zach's Axpona table setup looks extensive but perhaps not as extensive as when they get a whole room at CJ, but I am guessing they'll still have a 3A and/or 6A. I'll also be on the lookout there for an Envy, Cayin Soul, Z10e, Ferrum stack, etc. Also very geeked up to see various wood finishes in person on the cans.

I doubt I'll see an L&P EA4 anywhere at EarGear unless an attendee happens to bring their own unit along, but I'll keep an eye out.

Definitely won't see an Audma HPA-1, but after all the watercooler buzz and CJ reports on it, it'll be on my list if I get to a future CJ show.

 

[AnyDave]

That was my best guess as well. From what I've seen of videos for previous Axponas and CJs, ZMF often brings Cayin tube amps. Zach's Axpona table setup looks extensive but perhaps not as extensive as when they get a whole room at CJ, but I am guessing they'll still have a 3A and/or 6A. I'll also be on the lookout there for an Envy, Cayin Soul, Z10e, Ferrum stack, etc. Also very geeked up to see various wood finishes in person on the cans.

I doubt I'll see an L&P EA4 anywhere at EarGear unless an attendee happens to bring their own unit along, but I'll keep an eye out.

Definitely won't see an Audma HPA-1, but after all the watercooler buzz and CJ reports on it, it'll be on my list if I get to a future CJ show.

I believe that we'll have a 3A, but not a 6A. We do keep them in stock, but I don't believe we have an open one for demo. We will also have the Aegis as well as other amps.

 

[cAsE sEnSiTiVe]

Woo Audio will have their new WA33 v2 direct-drive tube amp driving the Immanis.

 

[rgbyhkr]

Woo Audio will have their new WA33 v2 direct-drive tube amp driving the Immanis.

That's great! Do you know if the WA33 will be at the RAAL booth? I didn't see Woo or any of their dealers listed in the EarGear section so I wasn't expecting to see anything from them.

 

[cAsE sEnSiTiVe]

That's great! Do you know if the WA33 will be at the RAAL booth? I didn't see Woo or any of their dealers listed in the EarGear section so I wasn't expecting to see anything from them.

I don't know all the details, only that they posted as much on their Instagram page that the combo would be at the show.

 

[AnyDave]

That's great! Do you know if the WA33 will be at the RAAL booth? I didn't see Woo or any of their dealers listed in the EarGear section so I wasn't expecting to see anything from them.

I'm not certain, but my impression was that Woo would be in the RAAL both, so I would at least check there. It's entirely possible that I am incorrect, though.

 

[number1sixerfan]

Would be hard to change my schedule to attend, but found out about this late. Does anyone know if anyone plans to have a CRBN 2 or Susvara Unveiled on hand? Would be interested in a JOAL listen as well. I know Axpona brands for headphones are typically limited and looked through those on their site and it's mainly just resellers (which is totally cool). But wondering what will be on hand if anyone has any inside info.

 

[AnyDave]

Would be hard to change my schedule to attend, but found out about this late. Does anyone know if anyone plans to have a CRBN 2 or Susvara Unveiled on hand? Would be interested in a JOAL listen as well. I know Axpona brands for headphones are typically limited and looked through those on their site and it's mainly just resellers (which is totally cool). But wondering what will be on hand if anyone has any inside info.

HiFiMan and Audeze are listed as exhibitors, so I would imagine that they would have those, but I couldn't say for certain. I am sure if you reach out to them, they'd be happy to let you know. I didn't see JDS listed, but it's entirely possible that they will be represented there.

You can lookup exhibitors here: https://axpona.com/exhibitors-location/

 

[Hiker816]

That's great! Do you know if the WA33 will be at the RAAL booth? I didn't see Woo or any of their dealers listed in the EarGear section so I wasn't expecting to see anything from them.

I have it on good authority that Danny from RAAL is planning to bring a WA33 along.

 

[AnyDave]

I have it on good authority that Danny from RAAL is planning to bring a WA33 along.

That sounds like a good excuse for me to say hi to Danny and do a bit of listening.

 

[davesa]

Audeze has been an exhibitor the last two years and are listed again this year - they have had a CRBN the last two years so I see no reason they would not have a CRBN2 this year. I am excited to hear it as well. The Ear Gear area of Axpona is very cool - great place to hear pairings of headphones and gear you might not normally. It is also just fun to talk headphones with people... I had a great discussion with the team from Sparkos last year. It was also cool to be able to try different IEMs, and while I did not intend to I left with a set of high end IEMs the two years ago when I first attended.