What Are the Best Audiophile Consumer Shows to Attend?

Comparison of the Various Audiophile Tradeshows

The fact is that there are fewer and fewer stereo stores and audio salons around today than even five to 10 years ago. While these businesses can be very profitable, as well as lots of fun to run, more and more cities in the United States aren’t served by nearly as many top or A-list audio stores. For many locations in the nation, Magnolia AV is the place where the best audiophile experiences live, and what’s not to like about Bowers & Wilkins, McIntosh, Pro-Ject, BlueSound, KEF, SVS, ELAC, Marantz, and so on? That’s a great start to some of the best-performing gear in the hobby. Still, there are hundreds upon hundreds of other audiophile brands worthy of consideration and if you’ve got little to no options for local audiophile stores – what’s one to do?

First, call your travel agent (yes, I have a travel agent – it is the best $35 per trip I spend, thanks to automatic airline status, three-level room upgrades, global support and so much more), because you are a perfect candidate to go to an audiophile show.  This article takes you on a tour of the top audio trade shows, offering an inside look at each one and highlighting why they’re worth adding to your calendar. Whether you're chasing the latest innovations or planning your next adventure, discover the events that perfectly align with your passion and travel plans.

How Do You Determine What is the Best Audiophile Show for You?

I’ve been to nearly every good audiophile show in the English-speaking world in the past two years, and I can tell you that they all have their unique advantages and disadvantages. None are perfect, and none are must-see without question. The first matter to consider is general proximity. How far do you need to travel to go to an audiophile show? Our uber-high-end audiophile reviewer, Paul Wilson, lives in North Carolina. and he and I often meet up in the fall to go to Capital Audiofest in Bethesda, Maryland. We will get into this show in detail in a bit, but the drive up from North Carolina can be done in a few hours and Paul drives some pretty luxurious cars. For me, living in Los Angeles, the flights (my ass and my ego are too big to fit in anything but Business Class) are around $1,500, but they are United Polaris Class, meaning sleeper seats and some actual space/luxury for one’s travel. Considering that the same United 787 Polaris service to Newark is $3,500 to $4,500 a seat – going to Dulles to catch up with my audiophile friends and clients is a relative value, but of course can be done for less in, say, an Economy Plus seat. If you can easily drive or somehow otherwise travel to a show that is nearby – even if the show is small/limited in its scope – it could very well be worth your time.
 
Beyond local shows, here are some thoughts on the best shows I’ve been to recently, and a report on the value proposition. Travel costs and logistics are unique to where you live and how you travel, but here’s a bit of an insider’s guide to the audiophile shows that are waiting for you to make an appearance.

The Florida International Audio Expo (Tampa, Florida - February)

This is a show that logistically has gotten easier to attend for me from California, as last year there were no non-red-eye direct flights to Tampa, Florida. This year, there was one, and it was expensive, but not insanely expensive, especially thanks to the creative use of American Airlines miles and some tricky connections. The show is a traditional “hotel show” that has improved in its scope to include more than just a handful or two of local dealers moving their stereo store into a hotel room or suite. I got a chance to extensively hear some crazy-good (and crazy-expensive) Soulution gear in Tampa, as well as chat with the importers, which is heading towards a future review. I didn’t love the show venue in 2024, as it wasn’t the type of hotel that people who can buy a $20,000, $50,000, or $100,000 audiophile component would ever venture into. No valet (or good) parking? Ouch. The good news is that the show is moving to a newer, bigger venue next year and, if the travel costs aren’t too high, I will likely return, as this show seems to be trending up. I will miss having a Waffle House directly next door, however, as we don’t get Waffle House in California, which is on the short list of problems here, right behind earthquakes and fires.

SVS Ultra Evolution Speakers - First Listen, INCREDIBLE!

Check out Audioholics 2024 Florida Audio Expo Youtube Video Coverage

Southwest Audiofest (Dallas, Texas – March)

My friends who run Capital Audiofest are growing the number of shows they do in different parts of the United States, and Dallas is their latest addition in 2024. This show was in its first year and was understandably modest in its size. The show hotel venue is one of the more upmarket ones and had enough exposition space that there was room for some big listening rooms. The more mainstream upstairs hotel rooms weren’t too crowded, and quite a few companies were making great sound there. I didn’t need more than one day at the show to see everybody that I wanted to, which was fine with me. I was also able to find a 777 back on American Airlines that was headed onto an upcoming international route that wasn’t too expensive, thus the travel grind. Dallas is thankfully an easy city to get to from pretty much anywhere in the nation. This is a show worthy of keeping an eye on for year two and beyond.

AXPONA (Chicago, Illinois – April)

Now we are getting into the meat of the topic in terms of exceptional audiophile shows. Paul Wilson and I rarely miss AXPONA, as this centrally located show in Chicago is hosted in a 16-story, somewhat upmarket business hotel that has tons of large exposition space, which saw a $4,000,000 horn speaker-based system on display from China (no, I didn’t make that up, and yes, a lot of people were scratching their heads while mumbling “why”), as well as room after room after room of audiophile displays from nearly every manufacturer out there. There are uber-high-end players, smaller companies, mainstream brands, and so much more.
 
Most experienced showgoers think it takes a full two days to see AXPONA. Paul and I (Eric Forst thankfully stepped in for Paul this year) go to the top floor and use gravity to get from the 16th floor all the way to the ground floor, which has tons of audio to experience. The show promoters deliver thoughtful details like putting out water to drink and setting up bathrooms on each floor. While FutureAudiophile.com is about preparing for the next generation of audiophiles, today, 65-plus-year-old men tend to need to pee on the hour, which can make elevator traffic a nightmare. These promoters are in touch with their audience, and it is little details that make the show experience so good.

The Best & Most Interesting Loudspeakers ‪@AXPONA‬ 2024

We recommend that you look at a non-show hotel to stay in during any of these audiophile events as they have much less traffic and noise while still being within walking distance of the show. There are a handful of hotels that are a five-minute walk from AXPONA. With Rocky Mountain Audiofest gone in the fall, AXPONA is currently the best show in the country to travel for.

The Munich HIFI Show (Munich, Germany - May)

Three to four weeks after AXPONA comes the world’s largest audiophile show. The Munich HIFI Show is hosted by a local audiophile society, this event is massive. It is set in what I would best describe as a three-floor campus owned by BMW (it is Bavaria, you know) that is specifically unique. There are all of the main audiophile players, as well as some from other parts of the world that don’t make it to all (or any) of the U.S.-based shows. I met the co-founder of the Chi-Fi giant, Topping, which was a strong connection for me. I got to talk with SPL (wait until you read my review of their German Mid-Fi stuff – WOW) to go over some details about their game-changing gear. I met my client from Japan at STAX without going to Japan. The international scope of the show is very appealing.

At the same time, there are some major downsides to the Munich show for many U.S.-based audiophiles. The travel time and costs from Los Angeles were punitive. A direct flight in Business Class on Lufthansa’s A380 started at $8,650 round-trip and went up quite a bit in the months before the show. At those costs, Munich is a hard NO for me. I ended up flying through Frankfurt on an airline called Condor that partners with or is partially owned by Lufthansa and was $3,750 (I used a year’s worth of my Capital One miles to take the sting out of that expense), which was a little easier to swallow, but still not easy overall. Munich is also a very crowded show, which is both a good thing and a challenge. I missed the press day and the first day open to the public was jam-packed. How packed? Security guards were working the stairways to keep people moving so the fire department didn’t close the event down. While the scope was huge, meeting the right people (owners, decision makers) was a little tricky, if not downright hard. When the show started, the rooms became packed and I didn’t experience much great audio. not because it wasn’t on display, but because I couldn’t/wouldn’t fight my way into a room to get a demo.
 
For me, Munich is a maybe for next year, more because of cost and logistics. It has a bit of the “international” feel that CES (now long gone for the audiophile business) once had. The Munich staff couldn’t have been more welcoming and helpful, which is alluring for a return trip.

T.H.E Show (Orange County, California – June)

Here is an example of a small show that I can experience in a few hours and on well less than a tank of gas, thus the lowest cost and (if timed right for traffic on the 405 Freeway) an easy, low-frustration show for me, living in Los Angeles. T.H.E. show was a “carpetbagger show,” meaning it wasn’t affiliated with CES, but was located right next door to the audiophile exhibits at the Consumer Electronics Show when those rooms were found at the Alexis Park location in Las Vegas. Today, this show’s founder has sadly passed away, but Maurice and Emiko have taken the reins and run the show in a way that many of our staff like. The current Orange Country venue is pretty nice by audiophile show standards. It is also right across the street from John Wayne Airport, so anybody living in the southwest can jump on a plane (perhaps Southwest, but I hope not …) and be right there in about an hour, thus making it a day trip from Northern California, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and so on. If you live in Miami, this isn’t likely a show you would attend without a unique reason, but if you live somewhere like Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, or San Diego – this is a good spot to experience some excellent audio in a stress-free, beachy environment. Spouses would likely want to come along for this show, too, as Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and the surrounding areas are known for great shopping, luxury resorts, and fantastic food.

Audio Advice Live (Raleigh, North Carolina – August)

The Audio Advice Live show has gained popularity in recent years and is inspired by Definitive Audio’s long-standing summer show in Seattle. Audio Advice Live has since taken on a much larger, more national scope. This show has fewer new product launches than the Definitive show but it is not limited to just brands sold by Audio Advice which is a smart move on their part. If you live nearby, this is a good chance to experience some amazing audio in ways that are more unique than you might find in a retail location. It is also a lot more volume of audio experience which is a very compelling value proposition. Gene and his crew from Audioholics have put a lot of effort into covering this show (three years in a row) since its inception, so it's a great chance to meet the Audioholics and some of your other favorite YouTube influencers.

AMAZING $12k 7.2.4 Definitive Technology In-Wall Demo Experience!

Pacific Audiofest (Seattle – September)

This is yet another new regional audiophile show from the Capital Audiofest guys, this time up in Seattle. I made the ambitious day trip to Seattle to go to the first version of this show and, while I am likely to go back, I am going to splurge for a modest hotel room, as that was just too much for one day, as I was wasted the next day after that much travel (2.5 hours each way – up and down the coast). The venue is a bit worn, as compared to their even newer Dallas show or, say, T.H.E. Show in Newport Beach, but the audio was good. Lots of solid high-end displays. Some really large rooms allowed for audiophile experiences that are unlikely to be found at any retailer. I expect more exhibits to be available in year two, as this show has a good base of local audiophiles to pull from.

CEDIA (September)

CEDIA is a trade show, so not everybody can get in, but it isn’t impossible to crash if you are so inclined. CEDIA tends to hop around between different cities, and it isn’t an all-audio show, as it serves the custom installation, video, and automation worlds as much as it does the audio community. That’s not to say there aren’t audio demos to be had – and good ones. If your local AV dealer is going, they likely can get you a pass. This year the show is in Denver, but it has been hosted in cities such as San Diego (very popular), Atlanta (not popular at all), and Dallas (lukewarm response). Denver seems to be the city that is best suited for CEDIA, although they sometimes will move the show back to Indianapolis, which is the organization’s hometown but is also a city with no respectable flights from major cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco, which represent the number one and number two best markets in the nation for home theater and custom installation. The audio rooms at CEDIA aren’t the best, but there can be some really good demos there. This is a solid show for my business model as well as for Audioholics, but it might be a bit of a long shot for the pure audiophile, as there are many other shows that offer more audio-related content for your audiophile travel dollar.

Perlisten S7t Limited Edition Speaker Demo Blew Us Away!

Capital Audiofest (Bethesda, Maryland – November)

This show is a good example of the growth of the audiophile show category. It is housed in a pretty patina hotel, but the venue is a mere $60 Uber ($100 for Uber Black) from Dulles Airport and also has wonderful access to local trains. Anybody in the Northeast should consider making a trip to this well-established show, as a jaunt up (or down) I-95 will likely get you rocking out to a significant number of meaningful audiophile demos at Capital Audiofest. The show hotel is usually pretty booked up, but there are a few slightly off-site yet close-by Marriott options that are completely suitable and not expensive at all. You can build your audiophile experiences nicely at Capital Audiofest in a show that isn’t so big (think: Munich) where you can’t get access to the decision-makers. In earlier years, Capital Audiofest was more of a dealer show, but now more and more manufacturers show up to this event, which is great. The timing of the show is good, too, in that it is in the fall, which used to be dominated by Rocky Mountain Audiofest in the Denver Tech Center part of town. That show is gone and, with CES also dead, Capital Audiofest has filled an important gap in the yearly audiophile show schedule. I will be booking a flight there soon, as this is a good show that many of my staff and a lot of our readers like.

Other Audiophile Consumer Shows and Some Defunct Shows …

Earlier, we just covered Rocky Mountain Audiofest which is gone after the founder died, and his lovely wife decided not to continue. I bumped into Marjorie helping the guys at Pacific Audiofest last year, which was great to see. There are other audiophile shows worldwide that I didn’t put on the list. Toronto and Montreal are both of note. Other European and Asian shows can be larger in scope, but also larger in cost. The Definitive Audio Show in Seattle is well worth your effort if you are local to them, as they are a top dealer for some of the best brands in audio, and it isn’t uncommon to see an exciting product launch at their retailer show. CES was another tradeshow that was the Super Bowl of all things audiophile, but that died off completely when the CTA (Consumer Technology Association) moved its focus away from traditional audio to topics like driverless cars and Internet of Things (IoT) hairbrushes. CES is still the largest trade show in the world, even without the audiophile community, and many in the audiophile world were happy not to converge on Las Vegas in January at the peak of flu season to mingle with 180,000 of their closest friends. CES invented the concept of the “super-spreader event” long before COVID, and didn’t handle the pandemic very well – just ask Samsung, which ended up closing their booth one year when everybody caught COVID (reportedly from the unvaccinated setup staff) and had to be rushed back to Korea. Ouch.

This growing list of audiophile shows is making the hobby less geo-dependent. More of the gear you read about from publications like Audioholics.com and FutureAudiophile.com (and many others) is available without too much overall travel fuss and muss. The educated consumer is a better consumer and a trip to one or two of these shows can make you much more experienced in audio. As Jimi Hendrix once said “Get Experienced…” which is good advice.

Will you be going to any audiophile shows this year or in the coming future? If so, which ones? Do you like audiophile consumer shows? Can you listen to good audio systems often installed in small hotel rooms with lots of background noise? We do because the overall experience is well worth it and the community builds on the fun that the hobby offers. Where do you stand on audiophile shows? Comment below and we will moderate your comments quickly.