At one of the largest audio shows in the world, the prestigious magazine Audio Bacon has awarded us the ‘Best of Show’ award.

“In a show crowded with heavyweight, six-figure systems, Margules offered something far more rare—tangibility. This wasn’t just about resolution or scale; it was about feeling. I found myself so immersed in the music that I completely forgot to take photos, which, if you know my usual show habits, says everything.

Julian Margules and I had a great conversation about his design approach, which centers on how we experience sound—not just how it measures. In an untreated hotel room, the setup included the Century Overture Monitor Speakers, U280 30th Anniversary Special Edition Tube Amplifiers, SF220 Tube Preamplifier, MS-01 Music Server/Streamer, and the QR2 AC Line Conditioner. Despite the modest space, the system played with coherence, richness, and rhythmic poise.

Lene Marlin’s A Place Nearby revealed a presentation full of breathy nuance, a warm yet detailed midrange, and a dimensional stage that felt remarkably alive. This was one of only two rooms I made sure to revisit. The warmth didn’t come at the expense of precision—transients were crisp, dynamics immediate, and the tonal balance felt wholly natural. The magic lies in Margules’ ANA (Acoustic Neural Alignment) technology, which favors perceptual tuning over technical perfection. The result was a sound that was spacious, emotionally gripping, and—most importantly—deeply human.”

Jay Luong, Audio Bacon magazine

AXPONA 2025 – Show Report & Awards