UK Audio Show Deluxe 2025 - Boyer Distribution Takes Sound of the Show Award with Wadax, Engstrom and Kroma Atelier

 

When you go to a show such as Audio Show Deluxe, and you know about the cost of the systems on demonstration, you might hope to be bowled over by the experience in every room.  If you've been reading through the full report, you'll know that this is not a given.  In fact, even at this level, it is still the exception. And here is the exception.

Here is a system that instantly grabs your attention. Not in a by-the-throat kind of way, but in a thats-so-much-more-believable kind of way. Its not that easy to describe a sound that's both outstandingly separated (each instrument or voice is distinct in its on right) whilst being a fully coherent part of the whole musical message. Clarity without being obvious or over emphasised, may be that's the way to explain it?  There's something here that's different - the ability to suspend disbelief, maybe? Sit back, relax and drink it all in.  As a veteran of tens of shows, its perhaps easy to become a little jaded, waiting for that room that you want to spend time in.  Over the weekend I probably spent nearly 2 hours in this room.  That's very disproportionate when there are 30 rooms and only 10 hours spent at the show.  One track that really stands out in the memory is Dim by Syml - its recorded in St Mark's Cathedral - on the Boyer system the acoustic is immense, giving a sense of the sheer scale of the venue - I listened to this tonight on my own system and it seems the Cathedral shrank when it came down my connection to Qobuz.

What goes to make up this experience?  A number of brands that many will not have heard of, never mind had the chance to listen to.  Wadax provided the CD player used as a streamer, being the Studio Player, launched this weekend. Power amplification is from Engstrom - the stunning looking LARS valve monoblocks.  Cables and power were provided by Shunyata Research. Finishing off the system is a pair of Kroma Atelia Jovita speakers in a dark blue finish. At times over the weekend, the amplification duties were delivered by the Orpheus Labs integrated in the front of the pictures.

If you wonder about paying 15 pounds to attend a manufacturer showroom such as Audio Show Deluxe, just consider the value for money you'd get from spending 6 hours in this room and you're sorted...

Ophidian / Innuos / Exposure - Highly Commended Award Winners at the Belfast Audio Show 2024

 

In the second room featuring Ophidian, the altogether more modest looking Incanto speaker featured on the end of an Innuos Zen Mini S with its LPSU power supply, an Exposure 3510 pre-amp (presumably here featuring the optional plug-in DAC board) and an Exposure 3510 power amp.

This compact system was in a very large room and on the first day of the show it sounded refined, imaged nicely and did nothing particularly offensive but nothing particularly ear grabbing either.

However, on the second day the tables had moved, the speakers were about 18-24 inches closer to the back wall and things were very different indeed. Well done to the team for putting some further effort into getting the best out of these components - a very clear demonstration of how important system set up can be and that its different for every room. This was transformational - a totally different experience and one that welcomed the listener into the music. Just as refined as on day one, but now with weight, engagement and an ability to drive along the pace of the music. That weight's not overpowering, its more subtle and self-confident than that. I'd like to spend more time with these speakers as its a sign of Ophidian's growing ability to challenge the existing players.