SW1X at Axpona 2026
Gestalt Audio, Room 592
Gestalt Room Feedback at What’s the Best Forum
by mxk116
I visited most of the “big” rooms on Saturday. By “big,” I mean the rigs that were set up could not be accommodated in homes without a ballroom. Like the YG Acoustics, or Acora rooms pictured below (these photos only suggest how gigantic these rooms are).
Honestly, to me, these big rooms sounded more alike that distinctive from each other. IMO it’s a miracle they sounded as good as they did, but other than the shock and awe of their size and cost, none of them (this year) left me moved by the music they played. I admire these systems for the effort that was used to assemble them, but I don’t desire them.
On the other end of the spectrum was one of my favorite rooms. A carefully curated assembly of components that actually tickled my emotions. The Gestalt Fine Audio, Room 592, was my happy place. Colin King (Mr. Gestalt) was there and he has a knack for playing music that by itself is tantalizing to me and also displays the remarkable attributes of the components selected to achieve this harmonious result. I would bet that everyone’s “favorite” rooms shared the same ability to move the listener with the sound and content of the music.
The speaker in use, a brand new, single driver, crossoverless, back loaded horn from Wolf von Langa (WVL) called the ORGANIC, was paired with SW1X Audio Design triode electronics, a PrimaryControl Kinea II turntable + FCL tonearm, and a Fuuga cartridge (as well as some additional odds and ends that I didn’t ask about). I am somewhat familiar with WVL speakers but those are the dipole speakers like the SON. This system messmerized me for nearly an hour on Sunday. I could not get past the cognitive dissonance that a single driver speaker could deliver the musicality, tonality from top to bottom, with live music dynamics, powered by a 3 watt/channel (!) amp. Wowser. I can only imagine what this system would sound like in my home environment.
