Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Highlights

ERRATA: Popori Hypersail does NOT include subs, demo had optional REL subs in place. MBL 101 X-Treme price is $433k/pr (4 pcs).

Tom Martin and Jason Methfessel return from this year's Southwest Audio Fest with a list of some of the most compelling products and rooms they experienced at the show. Listen in to see what's new!

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[florianwiegand]

Thank you for the hours of talks with Tom and James. Great having you there - Florian from Clarisys Audio

[adrianalexander]

This is great ! Great review/conversation

[theredboneking]

The Songer speakers were driven by Whammerdyne amps. One of my dream amps.

[referenceanalog]

Thanks for the kind words about our Rockport/Boulder/Timbre room. You’re welcome to come by anytime you are through Oklahoma :)

[vendelius]

When I win that Powerball... Thanks Guys..

[gtrguyinaz]

Great review… I wish we could have a show in the phoenix market.. So many great rooms..

[Guards]

Great coverage- I enjoyed the show- hope it grows.
I loved the Zellaton. It is hard to know how much each component plays into a set up, but I thought those speakers were absolutely stunning. I also agree with your assessment of the.Poporri- great sound from a unique product. And the YG set up was amazing. Thanks for your well done analysis

[BB..........]

5:16 Those amps remind me of the kerosene heater in my garage.

[JD-mmub]

I’m really liking how you two are double teaming the reviews.

[johnnycashlesscomedy]

Amazing to see the Popori electrostat mentioned by Tom! I haven’t heard them yet but should be hearing their entry level speaker in a few weeks! Supposedly like Soundlabs but much smaller and with bass and good efficiency.

[Roudaki]

The Rockport room was probably the best room, however, when I was there the turntable was in use not the DAC.

[davidlambert]

The Von Schweikert speakers are very cool-looking as far as that goes. I'd love to hear a pair of those!

[mikegeary]

I wanna hear a Meezbo record on one of those billion dollar systems.

[williekenk]

Love seeing so much great coverage of this show! Can’t wait till next year.

My favorite rooms were the two Genesis rooms and I always love the Rosso Fiorentino room. Hope to see y’all back next year.

[jgallesok]

I thought the Reference Analog rooms were outstanding, especially the Boulder/Rockport set up

[-zy]

Put blindfolds on these two guys, set up a Craigslist special in various rooms and they will make up words to describe how shimmering, forward, relaxed, vibrant or whatever comes to mind the sound is....

[chrislj]

5:17 Those amps look like kerosene heaters.

[_audiophile]

Nice Show, plenty of products represented but attendance was thin (Spring Break?). Considering size and space, the YG Room was a standout. Nice integration of their Sub Tower. The SunCoast Clarisys Room was outstanding. I thought the VSA/Westminster Labs/Rockna room was exceptional. I couldn’t quite engage with the much hyped Popori Room on Saturday. Positioned on the long wall, the listening space was two or so rows, short. Perhaps it would have benefited in a larger room. The large Acora room playing the Flagship model seemed not optimally balanced with the right channel overplaying the L. One tendency I noticed in most every room was high volume levels.

[jeremywangen]

Good video guys, who’s room? And whose Quad diffusers in the background?

[EnglishAcademy]

''kind of...kind of....'' so effing tedious.