Hello and welcome to a new week, and to Part 5 of Julie Mullins’ AXPONA 2025 show report series. In this installment, Mullins heads into the Treehaus Audiolab room to check out the SME Model 12 MKII turntable along with some classic, old-school tube gear. . .

By now you’ve probably heard the news that Elton John has paired up with Americana crossover phenomenon Brandi Carlile on their fine new Top 10 LP Who Believes in Angels?, which was released by Rocket/EMI on April 4, 2025. Given all the advance hype, we suspect some of you fence-sitters are probably wondering how the album actually sounds on vinyl, so read Mark Smotroff’s review to see how it holds up to repeated spins. . .

Welcome to Part 4 of Julie Mullins’ AXPONA 2025 show report series. This time around, Julie spends time in Monarch Systems Distribution’s Room 434 and checks out setups comprised of the SME Synergy full-package system featuring the company’s MK2 turntable, Chario Academy Serendipity loudspeakers, B.audio amplification, and more. . .

Our in-depth AXPONA 2025 coverage continues! In today’s installment, AP’s chief product reviewer Ken Micallef shares video footage of as many turntables that he could get on camera at the big show — plus some new tonearms and cartridges, to boot — including cool new offerings from the likes of Well Tempered Lab, TriangleArt, TW Acustic, Vertere, AVM, and many, many more. . .

Hello and welcome to the third installment of Julie Mullins’ AXPONA 2025 show report series. In this edition, Mullins visits with Wilson Benesch to see what’s up with their new Prime Meridian turntable system. . .

In Part 2 of our AXPONA 2025 show report series, Julie Mullins checks in with EveAnna Manley to get the scoop on Manley’s new Precision line and phono preamp. . .

One of the more under-the-radar releases that we didn’t see or hear many people talking about pre-Record Store Day 2025 is the 30th anniversary 180g 2LP vinyl reissue of Passengers’ Original Soundtracks 1, a 1995 collaboration between U2 and their then-producer Brian Eno — but it absolutely should warrant your immediate attention, front and center. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why you need to track down this RSD gem, pronto. . .

AXPONA is back, and bigger and better than ever. People packed Chicagoland’s Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center’s rooms and hallways the weekend of April 11-13, 2025, and AP was there to take in all of it. Read Part 1 of Julie Mullins’ AXPONA 2025 show report to see what she saw and heard from Thiele, Rega, and AVM. . .

Welcome welcome welcome to Part 3 of our AXPONA: First Impressions series. Today, we take a look at and a listen to some cool new TEAC gear, including their TN-5BB turntable, PE-505 phono preamp, and AP-507 power amp. . .