Check out our second preview issue below to help plan your visit to Capital Audiofest this weekend

Black Ice Audio – Room 608

Black Ice Audio Introduces Superposition, a New Generation of Audio Gear Built in Carbon Composite

The Superposition Phono, a reinvention of the Fusion F159, is the first Black Ice Audio component made with in-house additive manufacturing.

BROOKEVILLE, Md., – Black Ice Audio today announced Superposition, a new line of high-end audio components built around a carbon composite chassis and a redesigned circuitplatform. The first product in the line, the Superposition Phono, is a reinvention of the company’sFusion F159 phono stage and will be available to order from blackiceaudio.com beginning November 20, 2026. Pricing will be announced after the launch at Capital Audio Fest, November 13 to 15, 2026.

Black Ice Audio spent more than two years rethinking how high-end audio gear is built. The team looked to aerospace and motorsports for ideas, then reworked the chassis, the circuit boards, and the shielding from the ground up. When no outside supplier could meet its requirements, the team developed its own.

Built on demand, in-house

Black Ice Audio will now use additive manufacturing in its own facility to build each carbon composite chassis on demand. The process cuts weight and material waste while improving strength and sound dampening at the same time. The carbon composite chassis also drastically reduces vibration and ringing.

Redesigned from the circuit board up

The engineering team streamlined the circuit design and redesigned the boards using modern PCB techniques. The new layout improves the signal path and power delivery, and it shields connections in ways that older construction methods could not. The Superposition Phono also adds AC filtration.

A Graphene Faraday cage:

Superposition uses a revolutionary Graphene Faraday cage. It blocks outside RF and electromagnetic interference, and it also absorbs the electromagnetic energy emitted by the tubes. The result is a drastically lower noise floor.

A leap beyond the F159

The Superposition Phono shares its circuit design with the Fusion F159, but the sound is a different story. It keeps everything the F159 is known for and adds more detail, more speed, and a black noise floor.

“When we finished the Superposition prototype, we sat down and listened to it side by side with the F159. The improvement was shocking. They sound like distant cousins, not siblings,” said JerredDunkerson and Jaime DeMarco, Partners at Black Ice Audio.

Easier to live with.

Loading controls now sit on the front panel, so adjusting for a new cartridge no longer means reaching around the back. The change makes swapping carts quick, especially for listeners who run multiple headshells.Hand-built to order. Each Superposition Phono is hand-built, with a build time of 15 to 20 business days. Orders open November 20, 2026.

About Black Ice Audio: Black Ice Audio, formerly Jolida, designs and builds tube audio equipment in Brookeville, Maryland. The company sells directly to listeners through blackiceaudio.com

Eastern Bay Sound – 732

SVS – Room 626, 706, 644, 661, 601 &604, 728

• SVS – Suite 626
  • Ultra Evolution Titan – front L/R
  • Ultra Evolution Center
  • Ultra Evolution Nano – surrounds
  • Ultra Evolution Elevation – height effects
  • Dual SB-3000 R|Evolution Subwoofers
  • Hegel H400 Integrated Amplifier (2-channel demos)
  • Marantz Cinema 30 AV Receiver (home theater demos)
• DC HiFi Group – Suite 706
  • Ultra Evolution Bookshelf
  • 3000 Micro R|Evolution subwoofer
• Rotel – Suite 644
  • SVS R|Evolution subwoofer
• Volti Audio – Suite 661
  • Dual 3000 Micro R|Evolution subwoofers
• Geshelli Audio – Suites 601 & 604
  • Ultra Evolution Pinnacle speakers
• Amped America – Suite 728

Arendal Sound – Room 855

e launched our new 1528 Wood Editions this week, and the show will be your first chance to see and hear them in person.

If you plan to attend the show, come by Listening Room 855 to meet the Arendal Sound team, take a closer look at the new finishes, and hear the 1528 with a track you know well.

Krimus Audio – Marketplace Booth 9

You are invited to the unveiling of our new product.

North American Premiere

Marketplace, Booth 9

Compact Cassettes, Walkman style players with BT with  record function as well as decks are making a comeback.

New Recorded tapes abound!

Dream Scapes AV – Even Hotel FLEX Room

DreamScapes A/V Brings North American Exclusives and Four Extraordinary Audio Experiences to Capital Audiofest 2026

From world-class two-channel systems to a reference-grade home theater, DreamScapes A/V invites audiophiles to experience some of the most exciting innovations in high-performance sound and cinema.

Rockville, MD – November 11, 2026 – DreamScapes A/V is raising the bar at Capital Audiofest 2026 with four distinctive demonstration rooms, each featuring exceptional audio and video technologies, including equipment making its North American debut.

From ultra-high-end stereo systems and groundbreaking fully active loudspeakers to an immersive 11.8.6 home theater and a full-range surround system that needs no subwoofer, DreamScapes A/V is bringing together some of the industry’s most innovative brands to demonstrate what’s possible when exceptional engineering meets thoughtful system design.

“Great audio isn’t just about the equipment. It’s about the experience,” said John of DreamScapes A/V. “We’ve assembled four very different systems, each designed to challenge expectations and let the technology speak for itself. Whether you’re passionate about two-channel music, immersive cinema, or both, we want you to hear what’s possible.”

Four Rooms. Four Remarkable Experiences.

1. High-End Two-Channel: A North American First

EVEN Hotel – FLEX Room

For dedicated music lovers, this room delivers a rare opportunity to hear two extraordinary European audio technologies together for the first time in North America.

DreamScapes A/V will showcase the only pair of Aretai 350F flagship loudspeakers and the only set of A-Definition tube components currently in North America.

Building on the reputation of the award-winning Aretai 200F, the flagship 350F takes the listening experience to another level. Paired with A-Definition’s exceptionally low-distortion, low-noise tube electronics, the system is designed to reveal the finest musical details while preserving the emotion and realism of the performance.

For anyone who has experienced the Aretai 200F, this is an opportunity to discover what the company’s flagship can deliver.

The experience: High-end two-channel audio that puts the music, not the equipment, center stage.

2. High-End Fully Active Audio: Big Sound, Less Equipment

Main Hotel – Room 616

What if reference-quality sound didn’t require a room full of amplifiers, racks, and complicated electronics?

DreamScapes A/V will present the only pair of Sigberg Saranna loudspeakers in North America, bringing one of Europe’s award-winning active speaker designs to Capital Audiofest.

The Saranna challenges conventional high-end audio design with a sophisticated combination of technologies:

– Cardioid design: Controlled sound dispersion for improved performance across different room environments.
– Coaxial architecture: Cohesive, precisely integrated sound reproduction.
– Full-range performance: Typical in-room frequency response spanning 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
– Fully active operation: Built-in amplification and system optimization eliminate the need for traditional amplifier racks.
– Exceptional versatility: Designed to deliver engaging, high-quality sound across musical genres and listening levels.

Visitors can also explore nearly the entire Sigberg Audio lineup, including the Manta loudspeakers, 10D subwoofer, and Inkognito subwoofer.

Saturday Evening Surprise: An Exclusive First Listen!

And there’s more. DreamScapes A/V has one more surprise in store for show attendees: the first public audition of a brand-new, affordable loudspeaker that hasn’t even been named yet!

Join us Saturday evening in Room 616 for an exclusive first listen and be among the first to discover this exciting new addition to the audio world. The mystery speaker will be revealed at the show, so don’t miss it!

The experience: High-performance audio with fewer components, greater flexibility, and sound that needs to be heard to be believed—plus a surprise debut worth staying for.

3. Reference Home Theater: Where Music and Movies Come Alive

EVEN Hotel – Sage Room

DreamScapes A/V is transforming a hotel meeting room into a remarkable home cinema experience, demonstrating just how much performance can be achieved through expert engineering, acoustic treatment, and a carefully designed system—even with only two days to build it.

At the heart of the theater is an 11.8.6 Krix loudspeaker system, featuring the brand-new Krix UCX-118 infrasonic subwoofer, fresh from its Best of Show win at CEDIA 2026.

The system brings together some of the most respected names in high-performance audio and video:

– Krix: 11.8.6 immersive loudspeaker system with the new UCX-118 infrasonic subwoofer.
– Trinnov: 32-channel Altitude processor for advanced immersive audio processing and room optimization.
– Benchmark and MC2: High-performance amplification delivering precision, clarity, and dynamic control.
– Lumagen: Brand-new Artisan video processor for exceptional image processing.
– Christie Digital: M 4K15 projector delivering stunning 4K imagery.
– Stewart Filmscreen: Massive 150-inch Harmony G3 screen.
– Kaleidescape: Strato K movie player serving as the source for high-resolution music and cinematic content.

The result is a theater designed to excel at both music and movies, with powerful dynamics, detailed sound, immersive spatial effects, and breathtaking visuals.

The experience: A professionally engineered home theater that demonstrates what immersive entertainment can become when no detail is overlooked.

4. High-End Media Room: Surround Sound Without Compromise—or a Subwoofer

Main Hotel – Room 619

Who says a surround sound system can’t match the musical performance of a dedicated high-end stereo setup?

DreamScapes A/V is challenging that assumption with an innovative 7.0 Aretai surround system, featuring the debut of the new Aretai 200C center-channel loudspeaker.

Developed in collaboration with Aretai, the 200C is a full-range center channel designed to complement the acclaimed Aretai 200F, even matching its cabinet volume.

And here’s the surprise: With Aretai’s full-range center channel and the 200F’s extreme bass extension (18 Hz in most rooms), we are demonstrating that a proper 2-channel/surround system doesn’t always require a subwoofer.

Featuring electronics and processing from Kaleidescape, Trinnov, and Lumagen, along with Benchmark’s highly regarded AHB2 amplifiers and DAC3 converters, the system is designed to deliver the detail, dynamics, and musicality audiophiles expect from their finest two-channel setups—across a full surround soundstage.

For music enthusiasts reluctant to embrace multichannel audio because of perceived compromises in sound quality, this room offers a compelling reason to reconsider.

The experience: A true audiophile-grade surround system that proves immersive sound and musical fidelity can coexist beautifully.

An Invitation to Experience, Explore, and Connect

Beyond the demonstrations, DreamScapes A/V is creating opportunities for attendees, reviewers, and industry professionals to connect directly with the people and technologies behind these systems.

Special Invitation for Press and Reviewers

Members of the media are encouraged to reserve private demonstration sessions for extended listening, product discussions, and firsthand evaluations.

DreamScapes A/V will also host Friday and Saturday evening mixers, featuring:

– Extended listening and theater demonstrations.
– Conversations with brand engineers and product experts.
– Opportunities to explore the technologies and design decisions behind each system.
– Drinks, appetizers, and informal networking with fellow audio enthusiasts and industry professionals.
– An exclusive Saturday evening unveiling and first audition of a brand-new, yet-to-be-named affordable loudspeaker in Room 616.

These sessions offer reviewers the opportunity to experience the systems in greater depth, ask technical questions, and connect with the experts behind the products.

Experience DreamScapes A/V at Capital Audiofest 2026

Whether you’re a dedicated audiophile, a home theater enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of high-performance entertainment, DreamScapes A/V invites you to discover four remarkable approaches to experiencing music and movies.

Visit DreamScapes A/V at:

– EVEN Hotel – FLEX Room: Aretai 350F and A-Definition flagship two-channel system.
– Main Hotel – Room 616: Sigberg Saranna fully active loudspeaker system, plus an exclusive Saturday evening surprise audition.
– EVEN Hotel – Sage Room: Krix 11.8.6 reference home theater.
– Main Hotel – Room 619: Aretai 7.0 audiophile-grade media room.

Press and reviewer inquiries: Contact DreamScapes A/V to schedule a private demonstration or arrange a conversation with participating brand representatives.

About DreamScapes A/V

DreamScapes A/V specializes in creating exceptional high-performance audio and home theater experiences. Bringing together world-class equipment, thoughtful system engineering, and a passion for extraordinary sound, DreamScapes A/V helps music and movie enthusiasts discover what’s possible beyond conventional entertainment systems.

MC AudioTech & Amp and Sound – Room 309

MC AUDIOTECH and AMPS AND SOUND

Room 309

Our Room will exhibit the newest

TL-12 and TL-8 Loudspeakers

from MC AUDIOTECH

and the

BADLANDS Preamp,

BRYCE Monoblocks Amps,  DAC 4.4

and a 

NEW MONO AMPLIFIER!

 from AMPS AND SOUNDS

GTT Audio – Room 711

Moon Audio – Room 803

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news about Capital Audio Fest.

You will be able to meet the Europa, if you have not already: Our Inaugural Masterpiece

The Europa Fully Differential Tube Headphone Amplifier & Preamplifier represents everything we believe premium audio should be. Named after Jupiter’s most captivating moon, the Europa reveals the hidden depths in your music—those subtle currents and emotional layers that lesser amplifiers leave undiscovered.

What Makes the Europa Special:

• Fully Differential Tube Topology – A two-stage vacuum tube design that maintains perfect signal balance from input to drivers, delivering spatial depth and clarity that single-ended designs cannot match
• Handcrafted in North Carolina – Every Europa is meticulously assembled by skilled artisans in our Cary headquarters, ensuring each unit receives the focused attention only human hands can provide
• American Engineering Excellence – Premium components, thoughtful design, and a commitment to sonic purity that connects you to your music with unprecedented emotion and precision

The Europa will be available for $8495.

See it at Capital Audio Fest

If you’re attending, we’d love to see you in Room 803 to experience it for yourself.

Can’t make the show? We’ll be sharing more details, specifications, and ordering information in the coming weeks.

Where celestial precision meets earthbound musical passion.

Genesis Audio – Room / Distinctive Stereo – Frederick Room

Announcing the Hyper TianDi Loudspeaker at Capital Audio Fest, November 13 15 th , Rockville, MD 2026.

Kirkland, WA Genesis Advanced Technologies, designer and manufacturer of legendary audiophile loudspeaker systems, is proud to announce a new loudspeaker, made in collaboration with Hyper Analogue Production of Hong Kong, the Hyper TianDi (Heaven & Earth) a new four-tower flagship speaker.

A new design, a new collaboration, a new future for Genesis, said Mr. Gary Leonard Koh, CEO and Chief Designer of Genesis. Since the launch of the G7 line and the lessons learned from it, I’ve been trying to solve the age-old question of how we can design a speaker that remains faithful to the Genesis reputation for absolute fidelity to sound reproduction and yet meet a price point that is more affordable in this economy.

Everything I’ve learned from developing the affordable, multi-award winning G7-series: isobaric woofers, bamboo composites, simpler crossover configurations, etc. have made this loudspeaker possible, continued Mr. Koh. That, and a close collaboration with Hyper Analogue Production, leveraging their efficient and rigorous production capabilities in China.

A ‘no compromises’ approach has been taken to ensure that the production of this speaker meets our exacting quality standards, said Ms. Carolyn Koh, COO of Genesis. We had the buy-in of the factory owner and generated much excitement in their engineers and top techs as they competed to be selected for the build team of the TianDi. Gary spent many months personally supervising the first builds, and the result is the world-wide launch of the Hyper TianDi in Thailand, Singapore, China, and the USA.

The Tian (heaven) loudspeaker is a 5-way full-range loudspeaker with two Genesis planar magnetic ring-radiator ribbon tweeters (front and back), a single 3.5-inch solid Titanium-cone midrange driver, two 6.5-inch aluminum mid-bass couplers and four 8-inch woofers in isobaric configuration. The speakers are a fully capable full-range pair that would satisfy most music and deliver for all music. The highs sparkle, the midrange is warm and mellow, and imaging and sound stage is exceptional. With two mid-bass couplers and four 8-inch woofers in an isobaric configuration, bass is authoritative.

The Di (Earth) woofer towers feature the famed Genesis Active Servo-bass system driving four 8-inch woofers per tower to deliver the hall-filling, tight, dynamic and accurate bass that is expected of Genesis loudspeakers.

With the high-pass of Tian at 32Hz, the two are made to integrate seamlessly below 90Hz to deliver down to 24Hz lower than a standard piano or double-bass. A classic high gloss black lacquer finish was chosen for the TianDi. Like the classic grand piano or the little black dress, it will fit well into most any home décor.

The Hyper TianDi will be available through authorized Genesis dealers and distributors worldwide early 2027 at MSRP of US$39,800 for the Tian stereo pair, and US$39,800 for the Di woofer towers in the USA. Find us in the Frederick Room at Capital Audio Fest together with dealer Distinctive Stereo, and industry friends Profundo Audio and Pro-Audio Ltd. Complete specifications for the Hyper TianDi loudspeakers can be found at https://www.hyper-analogue.com/

About Genesis Advanced Technologies

Genesis Advanced Technologies is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-end, luxury and reference loudspeaker systems, amplifiers and accessories with a commitment to absolute fidelity ® in product, performance, and service. The hallmarks of the Genesis sound are a large family-friendly sweet-spot, top-to-bottom harmonic and rhythmic coherence and believable you -are- there imaging and soundstage.

With a 40-year technology legacy, Genesis loudspeakers are often referred to as the world‘s best when it comes to high-frequency clarity and bass extension.

For more information please contact: Genesis Advanced Technologies • 11118 117 th Place NE • Kirkland, WA 98033 • voice: 425-415- 8383 • info@genesisloudspeakers.com • www.genesisloudspeakers.com

Gershman Acoustics – Madison Room

Rum, Music & the New Symphoria
The thinking behind Symphoria
We call Symphoria “The Euphoria of Symphony,” a design where art meets acoustic science with one goal: to bring music to you in its purest and most emotional form.
Two modules, one voice. Eli Gershman separated the speaker into two cabinets. The tweeter and midrange sit in their own enclosure, floating on isolators in the “V” of the bass cabinet without ever touching it. Our patented SSAS keeps woofer vibration away from the drivers that carry voices and detail, and the module slides forward or back to fine-tune phase and imaging in each room.
Eliminating the back wave. Every woofer pushes sound backward into its cabinet as well as forward. In Symphoria, that back wave isn’t left to bounce around the box and back into the cone. Each woofer has its own patented Bass Trap chamber, and the back wave is redirected into it, where it loses its energy. The result is deep, fast, clean bass without boom or smear.
Made by hand. Symphoria is hand-built in Canada, with sculpted lines, slotted walnut grills and a point-to-point hand-wired crossover.

What the critics heard.
In his September review for The Absolute Sound, Andrew Quint described Symphoria as the “sweet spot” of our range: “The speaker is aesthetically pleasing and, in many real-world environments, will perform at least as well as the manufacturer’s next model up… How sweet it is.” He also wrote that “the Symphoria speakers can clarify complex music to a surprising degree,” that “Bass was powerful and extended,” and that “Vocal and instrumental timbres were true to life.”

Brett Rudolph of Enjoy the Music was just as moved. Of the floating module, he wrote: “A totally novel approach to a true nightmare of a quandary.” Of the sound: “Their ability to exude a sense of depth was uncanny,” and “They drew you in with beauty and kept you there with intricacy. It made everything seem so incredibly immediate and alive.” His verdict: “They are simply one of the best speakers I have ever experienced. They redefine what is possible.”

In the Madison Room, Symphoria plays with a system built by friends: Lampizator, Cardas Audio, and Pass Labs.

Fidelity Imports / The Listening Room – Room 605, 706, 759, 750, 755, 751, 753, 803, Atrium Booth 5,6,10

605 –

• Cambridge L/R x
• Acoustic Signature
• Mosart SAudio
• Clarus Audio
• Gold Note

706 –

• Cambridge
• Wiim
• Dual
• JBL
• SVS

759 –

• Wilson Benesch ACT 3Zero
• Matrix Audio Sl-1
• Grimm MU2
• Grimm PA1
• VIABLUE Cables

750 –

• Perlisten S4b Black Editions
• Perlisten D10 Subs
• Perlisten DSP x2.6
• Audia Flight FLS 8s
• Audia Flight FLS 1
• Aurender A1 15th Anniversiary
• Aurender NH10 Network Hub
• VIABLUE Cables
• Audraspire X-Ref Rack

755 –

• Diptyque DP 170 Evo
• Audia Flight FLS 10
• Michell Revolv
• Michell Apollo
• Aurender N20
• VIABLUE cables
• Quadraspire SVT rack, 4-level

751 –

• Perlisten DSP X2.6
• Perlisten D3is subs
• Magnepan X Program Custom Projects
• Aurender A15
• Rogue RP-7 v2
• Rogue M-250s
• VIABLUE cables
• Quadraspire SVT rack, 4-level
• FRONT ROOM
• Magnepan MG 1.7x
• Aurender A200
• Rogue RP-1 v2
• Rogue RA-1 power amps
• REL Planar PL-2 sub
• VIABLUE cables

753 –

• Perlisten A4t
• Matrix Audio MD-1P
• Oracle Audio Origine
• HANA cartridge
• VIABLUE cables
• Quadraspire SVT rack, 3-level
• Matrix Audio

803 –

• Grado
• Meze Audio
• dcs
• Pass Labs
• Wattson Audio
• Bricasti Design
• Saros Audio

Atrium Booth 10 –

• Matrix Audio
• Luxman
• Accuphase
• Parasound
• Eversolo
• Magnetar
• Silent Angel
• REL Acoustics

Atrium Booth 5/6 –

• STAX International
• ES Lab
• Dan Clark Audio
• Meze Audio
• HIFIMAN
• Astell&Kern