
Improving a system that’s already been called “the best” is no easy feat—but we’re always up for the challenge. And this year, our efforts paid off!
We made several key updates to our system, including the strategic addition of a few Odin Gold Power Cords. These enhancements brought a welcome richness and presence to the sound. And as a result, we were honored with two Best in Show: Best Sound awards from The Absolute Sound’s Robert Harley and Andre Jennings, along with a close runner-up nod in the same category from Jonathan Valin. We also received fantastic coverage from Tracking Angle, Analog Planet, and TAS’ Jeff Wilson.
The Nordost room in Schaumburg F featured a world-class, reference-level system with Stenheim loudspeakers, components from VTL, dCS, and Grand Prix Audio—and of course, Nordost’s own audio cables, power components, and audio enhancers. The sound was described by Jonathan Valin as having a “uniformly rich, dense tone color; outstanding (and outstandingly well-controlled and articulated) bass; sweet treble that never shrieked (unlike many other rooms); and phenomenal dynamic range that brought these high-sensitivity transducers vividly to life.”
Beyond the incredible sound, there was plenty to see and hear in Schaumburg F. Showgoers enjoyed a full schedule of Nordost-hosted events, including:
- Daily lunchtime jazz listening sessions featuring records from Newvelle Records
- Abey Fonn, founder of Impex Records, presenting Patricia Barber’s Modern Cool fresh off the press
- A lively “Flash DJ Session” with Qobuz’s David Solomon
- An exclusive audio showcase of a test lacquer pressing of an upcoming piano release by VDM Sound Group
- And the next best thing to attending in person: The Who: Live at Leeds!
But there was even more to experience from Nordost–not only in our own demonstration room, but also in the many other rooms throughout the show hosted by our partners and friends at CH Precision, Watson Audio, Morel Audio, JBL, Arcam, and Holm Audio.
Here are some of our favorite snapshots from AXPONA 2025!
Nordost’s world-class system in Schaumburg F













Nordost Demo Room




Holm Audio







CH Precision



Watson Audio



Morel Audio


Arcam and JBL



