Show Reports

Welcome to Part 5 of my show report series on Toronto Audiofest 2025, a.k.a. TAF 2025. Let’s get back on into it!

KUZMA / CORBY’S AUDIO – COHERENT AUDIO
Speaking of great Canadian audio gear, I moved down the hall to Bristol A, where Corby’s Audio, Coherent Audio, Saturn Audio, Audio Sensibility, Tough Nut Audio, and Baetis Audio were all situated. The first time I popped into this room on Friday, I noticed Frank Fazzalari, founder of Coherent Audio, with a concerned look on his face. It didn’t take long to realize why his concern was valid, as it was clear those beautiful Coherent 18 (a.k.a. “The Eighteen”) loudspeakers ($35,000) weren’t sounding the way that they should have — but he and his team soon enough figured out what was what to take care of it.

On that initial visit to Bristol A, the sound was dry and tight, and not what I was used to hearing from Coherent speakers — but, fortunately, by the time I made it back there for my followup visit, Fazzalari, Don Corby, and the team had not only figured out the issue, but they had the system running beautifully. Kudos!

And indeed, said system itself was fantastic, starting off with a Kuzma Stabi S turntable ($7,800) fitted with a Kuzma Safir 9 tonearm ($35,000) and Kuzma CAR 80 MC cartridge ($25,000). All of that great Kuzma gear (including the Stabi S table’s power supply) was perched on two Tough Nut Audio stands — a PIRS 39 five-tray isolation rack ($6,300) and a PIRS 21 three-tray isolation rack ($4,550) with a GP2 isolation platform ($2,200).

Filling out those stands were a Baetis Audio Reference 4 Mingo+ streamer/server ($21,000), Saturn Audio 103C MKII power filter ($2,800), Saturn 202 DAC ($4,800), Saturn 401 phono preamp, ($2,800), Saturn 501 preamp ($4,500), Saturn 601 stereo amp ($5,500), and Saturn 701 integrated amp ($7,800), as connected with Audio Sensibility Signature and Statement cables (approx. $11,000).

Before I continue, I must admit that I absolutely adore Dierdre Francis, co-owner of Tough Nut Audio; Shelley Fazzalari, wife of aforementioned Coherent founder Frank Fazzalari; and Natalie Thomas, wife of Matt Thomas from Hearken Audio. When I had returned to Bristol A for another listen, Frank smiled and let me know that “the girls are behind the curtain.” It was there that we all shared a few well-needed laughs, in turn taking a break away from the bustling hallways to have some well-deserved audiofille time.

After that lovely reprieve, it was then time to focus on that beautiful system and hear some great music. Onto that wonderful Kuzma Stabi S table went one of the LPs from Kruder & Dorfmeister’s 1998 multidisc set The K&D Sessions (!K7/G-Stone Recordings, !K7073LP), and I got to enjoy the ensuing trippy electronica with crisp percussive details. Getting the opportunity to a) not only hear an unfamiliar album that was recently reissued in an expanded, upgraded form through a system like this, but also b) have the privilege of hanging out with such incredible people were just another couple of good reasons why TAF 2025 was ultimately quite fun.

THIELE / WYNN AUDIO
I’m a huge fan of Wynn Wong. Not only is he a lovely person, but he also consistently puts together some very nice gear. And, at TAF 2025, he was actually running three systems. Instead of the usual spectacular all-in-one setup that you might usually expect when you see Wynn Audio at shows like MAF or AXPONA, this time, Wong separated them according to the type of media being played. Of course, I focused upon the turntable-centric system, but I do admit I was also intrigued by the CD and digital setups.

In all fairness, I had previously heard the fabulous Thiele TT01 turntable ($45,000) with TA01 zero tracking error tonearm ($20,800) equipped with a Lyra Etna Lambda low-output MC cartridge ($14,000). Considering some of the systems I had also seen Wynn Audio display at other audio shows I have attended over the past years, this one seemed almost stripped down, if you can believe it — but it still made quite a statement.

Using a three-shelf Critical Mass System Olympus rack fitted with Center Stage footers and O-BIT Audio footers, a full array from Kondo Audio — including the SFz MC step-up transformer ($20,000), M7 Heritage preamp ($90,000), and Ongaku power amp ($158,000) — was complemented by an Entreq Olympus Hero ground box ($36,300) and a gorgeous pair of Tidal Audio Contriva G3 loudspeakers ($150,000). Wowzer!

On my first visit to this space, hearing the incredible 2022 Impex pressing of Saturday Night in San Francisco by Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin, and Paco De Lucía (Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment/Impex IMP6045) — which was recorded live on December 6, 1980, at the Warfield Theatre — made me very happy indeed, with incredible details in the layers of rapid-fire guitar. It was then I realized that this Wynn setup was not only a well put together and balanced system, but the sound was clean and full with beautiful highs. It was tone rich, and symmetrical throughout the space.

ALL THAT JAZZ
Before I close out this segment, I should note that another popular place for us vinyl enthusiasts at TAF 2025 was the space where crates and crates of albums were available for sale, as hosted by my dear buddies from Stayner, Ontario — Gord Crawford and Steve Buccilli, a.k.a. All That Jazz. I don’t think these guys ever got much of a reprieve during show hours, as their spot in the busy Second Floor corridor was always hopping. As you can see in the above photo, I did my own due diligence there, just to make sure.

Part 6, my final TAF 2025 installment, is coming soon!

If you want to check out McKellar’s TAF 2025 turntables teaser reel, go here.