October, 2025 Friday 17 – Sunday 19
As I was driving towards the Toronto Airport Westin hotel on Saturday 18 October morning, my mind was wandering and I was thinking that mid-October 2025 feels like a surreal time in history. Everyone is venomously angry about anything and everything. Reasonable and rational discourse has been completely abandoned in favour of lunatic outrage, breathtaking narcissism, and utterly delusional thinking. As a friend of mine recently commented: "It is f**k-aroundest of times, and it is the find-outest of times."
It's like everything is collapsing at a dizzying speed, and all we can do is to try to hang on to what little is warm, familiar, and still makes sense. For audiophiles and videophiles, this means focusing more intently than ever on live music, recorded music, movies, TV shows, and a plethora of on-line streamed content. Music is the food of life. It is nourishing, satisfying, fulfilling, and that which makes our lives more worth living.
The annual pilgrimage to the Toronto Audio Fest (TAF 2025) consumer electronics extravaganza is something that I sincerely look forward to experiencing every year. Why…? Stated succinctly, because the annual show is familiar—even calming and reassuring—in its familiarity.
Continuing my earlier show report HERE
Bryston
On Saturday morning, I arrived at the Toronto Airport Westin early. I ran into James Tanner—one of Bryston's founding members—in the parking lot. As I walked into the hotel with him, we chatted about the state of the North American high-end audio industry.
Bryston had a plethora of their awesome sounding gear set-up inside the Atmosphere North room on the ground floor. As busy as he assuredly was that morning, James was kind enough to take the time to chat with me—at great length—about some of the speakers and components that Bryston had brought to TAF 2025.
Bryston 2-channel system
Bryston 2-channel gear close up
Showcasing the new BR-20 all-in-one streamer/DAC/preamplifier ($7495 CAD) as a tablet-controlled source, Bryston's main 2-channel system fed signal to a pair of Bryston's 4B³ solid-state mono-block amplifiers ($16,600 CAD for a pair of mono amps). If desired, these single-channel amplifiers can be bought individually for $8200 CAD + taxes for Home Theatre (H/T) applications.
Bryston Room, various components
The floorstanders were a pair of Bryston's majestic T-10 loudspeakers ($10,995 CAD per each speaker) in a gorgeous 'white wash maple' wood veneer cabinet finish. Bryston's new BAX-2 active cross-over ($4395 CAD) features 2-inputs and 8-outputs to dial-in the highs, mids, and bass of speakers. The BAX-2 also has outputs to control the impact and intensity of two subwoofers.
Bryston also brought their new TS-10 tower subwoofer in the same stunning 'white wash maple' wood veneer finish ($18,000 CAD per pair). The TS-10 subwoofer is not powered. As such, it needs an outboard 2-channel amp to drive a pair of them.
Bryston's floor standing TS-10 subwoofer
Bryston's TS-10 floorstanding subwoofer
A few years ago, Bryston had been developing a custom 4-tower speakers + subwoofers array that was (potentially) going to be called the T-Rex system. Similar in approach to the monolithic 4-tower Genesis Infinity Reference IRS-V loudspeaker system that Arnie Nudell had once unleashed upon the audio world, the T-Rex had similar aspirations of bringing Titanic depth and Godzilla-level impact to the mid-bass and low bass frequency registers.
Although Bryston's T-Rex four-tower system never went into production, today in Oct 2025, the 2 x tower T-10 floorstanding speakers plus 2 x TS-10 tower subwoofers is the 4-tower system that resulted from all of the research that went into the original T-Rex system.
TAF 2025 was the North American premiere for the TS-10 subwoofers. According to James Tanner: "The whole idea behind the TS-10 subwoofer Towers is that they must be used in concert with the Main T-10 Towers as acoustically the Main and the Sub is now one speaker[;] not a main and a sub."
Bryston- 4 x various loudspeakers
Bryston also premiered their brand new Bi-101 solid-state 2-channelintegrated amplifier (projected MSRP $5000 CAD) at TAF 2025. Delivering 100 watts per channel into 8 Ohms, the Bi-101 combines Bryston's BP-19 preamplifier with two class 'D' solid-state amps in one box.
Bryston's Bi-101 integrated amplifier
Bryston's Bi-101 integrated amp
If an end-user chooses to mate the Bi-101 in a pre/power combo with two outboard mono-block amplifiers, the Bi-101 can bypass its own class 'D' amplifiers and be used exclusively as a high-end preamplifier.
Later on that Saturday afternoon, I returned to the Bryston room with a couple of audiophile friends to listen to the main 2-channel system again. At that time, I wrote down in my notes: "Impressive dynamics with a fluid, non-fatiguing, and tube-like warmth. Deep resolution with superb bass extension and palpable instrumental textures—especially in the lower mid-range, upper bass, and mid-bass registers."
A lot of the larger rooms at TAF 2025 sounded painfully harsh in the high frequency registers. This wasn't just because those poorer sounding rooms were playing the music at ear-splitting volume levels. Some of the rooms sounded so bad that I thought I should turn the stereos off, sit on top of the equipment, and listen to the hotel's HVAC system.
Bryston always manages to bring superb sound to audio trade shows. By mid Saturday afternoon, Bryston's 2-channel system was solidly ranked in my annual 'Top 3 Best Sounding Rooms at TAF'. Much to the surprise of many, Bryston were proudly using no-name cabling and a Home Depot power bar. They even had a comical plaque with the overall pricing for their system:
Bryston
I can only imagine how much better Bryston's gear and speakers might potentially sound with a 5-figure cable loom, a plethora of anti-resonance devices, and acoustical room treatments.
Lastly, Bryston recently bought the intellectual property (IP) rights to Magnum Dynalab's designs. Bryston had a prototype of a new vacuum tube triode MD-inspired tube preamplifier on display.
Bryston's Magnum Dynalab MDP-1 vacuum tube triode preamplifier
Bryston's MD-105T radio tuner
I'm curious to hear what Bryston's take on a tube preamp that was originally designed by Magnum Dynalab will sound like. For more information, please visit Bryston's website HERE.
Audio Note
For TAF 2025, Audio Note UK proudly showed their gear in the Dixon Room on the ground floor. Audio Note custom fabricates ALL of their goods—including their speakers and cable lines—in house. The result of designing and building everything under one roof is a sonic synergy with Audio Note's stereo systems that few (if any) other companies in the high-end audio CE industry can match; let alone beat.
Audio Note UK
Source components were an Audio Note CD 4.1x Red Book integrated CD-player ($30,800 CAD), an Audio Note TT-3 Reference turntable ($27,500 CAD), ARM-3 tonearm ($5250 CAD), and IO2 M/C cartridge ($1500 CAD). Phono signal amplification was via an Audio Note M3 RIAA phono stage ($18,700 CAD). The vacuum-tube power amp was a Jinro 211 SET line integrated amplifier ($53,800 CAD).
Playing a classical track, a lovely pair of Makassa ebony wood finish AN-E/SPx Ltd field coil floorstanding loudspeakers ($97,000 CAD) sounded amazingly lifelike, coherent, and tactile.
Audio Note components
The system was cabled-up with Audio Note's AN-SPe speaker cables (1.5m length - $3800 CAD) and AN-Vx interconnects (1.0m length- $2800 CAD).
TAF 2025 was the first time that the brand new AN-E/SPx LTD Field Coil speakers have been played at a Canadian CE trade show. While other field-coil speaker designs do exist, AN's beast is unique is that both the tweeters and the woofers use field-coils that are built by hand in their factory in the UK.
As a softer song played, I chatted with Audio Note's Daniel Qvortrup for a few minutes about Triptykon, Goatsnake, Cathedral, Electric Wizard, and Celtic Frost. Sensing that I'd appreciate hearing something heavier, Daniel decided to play Slayer's blistering track "Raining Blood" of off their seminal 1986 Reign in Blood album. Way-back-when in the mid-1980s, Slayer pushed the boundaries of what was musically possible with heavier music. In terms of ferocious speed, dynamic energy, technical precision, and overall heaviness, no one—repeat, no one—has ever equaled Slayer's rampaging 1980's era sound.
Last year at TAF 2024, I wrote: "If you think that Audio Note's speakers are only designed to play delicate female vocals or gentle acoustic guitar lines, think again. Had I not heard this system, I never would've believed that AN's speakers could play that loud with soooooh much gosh-darned bass while still maintaining the music's blistering PRaT (pace, rhythm, and timing), textures, and overall musicality."
Audio Note TT
Listening to the cement-mixer heavy and blitzkrieg speed of Slayer's music being reproduced so accurately by Audio Note's 2-channel system was, once again, a joyous experience. The sound put a gloriously twisted smile on my face. Oh my Heavens is there a lot of sonic information in that recording. And hearing the Mariana's Trench deep resolution of AN's stereo system gave me goosebumps. In particular, Dave Lombardo's thundering percussive assaults were rendered clearer—and more meaningful—by Audio Note's gear than I've (arguably) ever heard them before. Yep…this is how Slayer is supposed to sound.
Switching things up a bit, Daniel also played a much softer track by Saarth Effrikan… er… South African singer Lette Mbulu. What impressed me to no end was how effortlessly the AN 2-channel system made both of these recordings sound so darned good. Hot damn… what a memorable moment that was for me!
For more info, please visit Audio Note's website HERE.
Audio Sensibility
Located in central Toronto, custom cable fabricator Audio Sensibility was selling a wide range of audiophile cables and tweaks. CEO Steven Huang has invested heavily in 3D printers to custom-fabricate specialty cables, odd connectors, and unique power supply tweaks for audiophiles. If no-one else can figure out how to build a one-off cable or a connector for you, AS is the company to go to.
Audio Sensibility cable display board
Audio Sensibility finished cables
I wrote a review about AS' top-of-the-line Signature 'Special Edition' (SE) A/C power cord for Positive Feedback HERE.
For more info, please visit Audio Sensibility's website HERE.
Wynn Audio
Located in Richmond Hill (north Toronto) Ontario, Wynn Audio was swinging for the fences with a 'State of the Art' 2-channel stereo. For source components, this system showcased a German-made Thiele TT-01 turntable ($45,000 CAD) and a Thiele TA-01 Zero Tracking Error tone arm ($20,800 CAD).
Wynn Room entire system
Centered around Japanese Kondo Audio Note components, this 2-channel system featured a Kondo SFz MC step-up transformer ($20,000 CAD), a Kondo M7 Heritage preamplifier with phono stage ($90,000 CAD), and a Kondo Ongaku Integrated Amplifier ($158,000 CAD).
Wynn Audio components
Wynn's loudspeakers were a pair of German-made Tidal Contriva G3 floorstanders ($150,000 CAD). Combined with a Critical Mass Systems' Olympus V12 equipment rack, an Entreq Olympus Hero grounding box ($36,300 CAD), and a full loom of Crystal Cables, this 2-channel system created holographic 3-dimensional sound.
Wynn's sonic gurus are experts at tuning rooms. Even in a large, open-concept, basement room with assuredly challenging acoustics, their 2-channel system had a relaxed, organic, and natural sound that was a pleasure to listen to. I spent far longer than I should have enjoying music that was being played through this stereo.
Please visit Wynn Audio's website HERE.
Lenbrook Americas
Located in the Windsor Room of the Westin hotel, Lenbrook used TAF 2025 for the North American premier of the new NAD M33 V3 integrated Blu-Sound streaming system ($8599 CAD). Partnered-up with NAD's M23 power amplifier ($5699 CAD), this striking NAD pre/power combo drove a pair of Dali Epicore-9 floorstanding speakers ($50,000 CAD).
Lenbrook room
This 2-channel system also incorporated a colossal 140Lb Dali VF-16 subwoofer ($10,000 CAD).
Lebrook Dali tower and VF-16 subwoofer
Listening to Chris Stapleton's song 'Bad As I Used to Be' that was used to great effect in Brad Pitt's F1 movie, the overall sound quality in an acoustically difficult larger room gave me shivers. In my notes, I wrote: "Incisive resolution, palpable texturing, bass to die for, and a thoroughly immersive 3-dimensional soundstage." Looking back, this now remembers as one of my favourite moments of the entire TAF weekend.
Please visit Lenbrook's website HERE.
Bliss Acoustics
Bliss Acoustics room
Based out of Ottawa Ontario Canada, Bliss Acoustics brought two turntables to TAF 2025. The first was a Polish J. Sikora Aspire turntable with a carbon-fibre tonearm ($13,600 CAD). The second turntable was a Japanese C.S. Port TAT-1 M2 'table ($42,950 CAD) with a C.S. Port AFU 1-2 linear tonearm ($13,850 CAD).
Bliss Acoustics J. Sikora Aspire turntable
Bliss Acoustics CS Port TT linear tonearm
Combined with a CS Port C3EQM2 battery-powered phono stage ($18,250 CAD) and a several Etsuro M/C cartridges, these two vinyl sources both sounded amazing.
For digital source components, Bliss also brought a Wadax Studio Player ($57,500 CAD), a Synergistic Research network switch ($3200 CAD), and a WAY Mind Intuition X Ethernet cable ($2985 CAD in a 1.5m length).
Bliss used a Pilium Leonidas MY-25 integrated amplifier ($71,000 CAD) to drive a pair of Audio Solution Virtuoso S tower loudspeakers ($58,560 CAD in the custom Martini Racing finish). Featuring a mixture of Hemingway Audio and Luna Audio cables, Ictra Design amp stands and equipment racks, and Graphite Audio isolation platforms, the sound quality of this system was breathtaking.
Please visit Bliss Acoustics' website HERE.
For more information on Luna Cables, please visit their website HERE.
EQ Audio
For TAF 2025, EQ Audio from Barrie Ontario, (about 60 miles north of Toronto), brought an Avid Relveo turntable ($16,000 CAD including standard tonearm), an Aavik U288 preamp + DAC + streamer ($41,000 CAD), and an Aavik P288 power amp ($33,000 CAD).
EQ Audio room
Driving a glistening pair of Borresen T-5 Cryo floorstanding loudspeakers, ($212,000 CAD), this 2-channel system had toe-tapping PRaT and deep resolution.
EQ Audio gear
Using a full loom of Ansuz cables, an Ansuz A3 network switch ($5800 CAD), and an Ansuz power distribution filter ($10,000 CAD), EQ Audio's system created wonderful sound.
Please visit EQ Audio's website HERE.
Up on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Airport Westin Hotel, I walked past many rooms that had… ehm… less than pleasing sound. If the sound out in the hallway is fatiguing, I won't waste my time even entering the room. I truly do not understand why sooooooh many exhibitors think that cranking their stereos up to ear-splitting 120+ dB concert-level volumes is the best way to showcase their equipment, cables, and tweaks. Believe me, it isn't. Suffering through deafeningly loud noise is more like torture than a pleasing musical experience.
I know that I sound like a broken one-note Piano-Saurus, but if you're an exhibitor, please… pull-lease… do your potential customers a sincere favor and stop playing your systems at ridiculously high SPL levels.
Maco Loudspeakers + Whammerdyne
Room 354 featured a pair of Maco Macaria open-baffle loudspeakers ($15,699 CAD) and a pair of Whammerdyne Heavy Industries single-ended triode (SET) DAM-2 Ultra 2A3-based mono-block tube amplifiers ($17,500 USD). Using a LampizatOr Amber-5 ($7000 USD) as a digital source and cabled up with a full loom of German Via Blue cables, this 2-channel stereo easily ranked in my top-3 sounding systems at TAF 2025. Compared to the Whammerdyne + Maco 2-channel system, the sound quality of most of the other stereos at TAF 2025 was drier than a California fire hydrant.
Waco Whammerdyne
Listening to Led Zeppelin's song 'Hairway to Steven'… er… 'Stairway to Heaven', the breathtaking warmth, palpable textures, and immediacy of this lengthy track gave me shivers. The Whammerdyne + Maco system easily won my annual Yennifur Low-Pez 'Big Ass Soundstage' award for 2025.
Maco Whammerdyne
The glowing warmth of the Old School 2A3 vacuum tubes used in Whammerdyne's mono-block amps mesmerized me like a stack of gold bars. These valve amps created the midrange bloom of vintage tube gear with the power and control of the best solid-state amplifiers that I've ever heard.
Maco Whammerdyne gear
As I barnstormed from room to room and floor to floor, I kept hearing audiophiles and music lovers chatting excitedly about that 'Maco/Whammerdyne' room. I even overheard a sight-impaired gentleman being protected by a gentle guide dog and led by a female friend mention something to the effect that he felt that: 'Whammerdyne had the best sound at the entire show'.
If you had asked blind guitarist Jeff Healey (God rest his soul) which stereo system sounded the best, back in the day, you'd likely have gotten a much more accurate opinion on the actual sound quality than from a person with 20/20 eyesight. In theory, there would be nothing—in terms of aesthetics—that would cloud Mister Healey's thinking on the overall sound quality. It (obviously) wouldn't matter what the gear looked like to him. Hearing a blind gent remember a specific room as having the 'best sound at the entire TAF 2025 show' really does say something profound about the sonics of that specific room. And that room was 354: the LampizatOr, Maco, and Whammerdyne room.
For more info, please consult these websites:
VIABLUE Cables • High-End Audio System
Best sounding 2A3 Single Ended Tube Amplifier | Class A Made in USA
Final Thoughts
Why go to any audio show? Why do this? Stated succinctly, if you love listening to recorded music, there is no better way to see, hear, and possibly even buy such a large volume of components, speakers, cables, and all manner of audiophile tweaks than at the annual Toronto Audio Fest trade show. You can get face-to-face access to the lords and ladies who design and build the high-end audio products that they sell. Learning how good recorded music can sound is worth the price of admission alone. Do make the pilgrimage. Believe me, it's worth doing so.
