Show Reports

Welcome to a new week, and to my ongoing coverage of Toronto Audiofest 2025 (a.k.a. TAF 2025). Let’s get right back into it!

MICHELL / ESSENTIA – CORBY’S – SATURN
Having an emotional connection to the music is something that is of utmost importance to me personally, and I’m not ashamed to say I had one of those teary-eyed experiences at TAF 2025. Thus, I’m ever so grateful for the wonderful folks from Essentia Technology, Corby’s Audio, and Saturn Audio in the Carlton Room that make that moment happen with the brand-new Michell Gyro turntable.

We all know that Michell turntables have been solid choices for years, but the TAF world premiere of both their Revolv ($6,599) and Gyro turntables ($9,699) showed how this veteran company is still evolving their products. (For more about the specs and features for both of these new tables, you can read AP editor Mike Mettler’s recent news report on them here, which posted on October 20, 2025.)

I think that some fun facts about this company are that a) they are still owned by the late John Michell’s family, and b) the turntable seen in 1971’s A Clockwork Orange was a JA Michell Transcriptor Hydraulic Reference model, chosen personally by legendary director Stanley Kubrick himself. 

In the Carlton Room, Essentia Technology had a full static display, including samples of the inner workings of the turntables on hand. While talking with Scott Pugh from Essentia, he thoroughly explained the changes that Michell have made to their tried-and-true products to improve the experience for listeners. I then had the pleasure of meeting Jonathan Nye, Michell’s Managing Director, straight from the U.K., and I also had a lovely chat with Essentia’s President, Leonie Alexander-Tomas.

During those conversations, I found out more about Michell’s Apollo phono preamp as powered by a Muse power supply ($5,599). This heavy two-piece system forms a faraday cage, effectively reducing vibration and RF interference. On display, along with the stunning new Revolv and Gyro, Alexander-Tomas also pointed out the special TecnoDec package, which, for $3,699, includes a TecnoDec turntable, record clamp, factory-fitted T2 tonearm, Goldring E3 cartridge, UniCover lid, and an Arm Plate. 

I was thrilled to see this particular setup included a gorgeous wood stand from Tough Nut Audio. On the performance side of things, Q Acoustics 5050 floorstanding speakers ($2,399) were connected with a full-on Saturn Audio gear array that included the latter company’s 701 integrated amp ($6,500), 201 DAC ($4,800), 401 phono preamp ($2,900), and 103 MK II power filter ($2,800) completed the sound equation, which was full, dynamic, and balanced.

With the Michell TecnoArm 2 tonearm ($2,500) and Michell Cusis E MC cartridge ($1,800) installed on the Gyro, Pugh was kind enough to share his own personal cobalt blue vinyl copy of Blue Rodeo’s 1993 Five Days in July LP, via its more recent 30th anniversary 2023 2LP pressing (WEA 1-143146). I was the lucky one when he played “Dark Angel” (LP2, Side D, Track 1), and the latter half of “Know Where You Go / Tell Me Your Dream” (LP2, Side D, Track 2). Something about the sweetness of guest musician Sarah McLachlan’s delicate piano and the flow of her voice with Blue Rodeo’s lead singer Jim Cuddy got me right in the feels. Michell’s motto is, after all, “For the love of music” — and, after wiping the tears away, I got it. 

Like I said at the outset of this post, I’m always looking for that emotional connection to the music. Well, I’m happy to say that I found it here with the Michell Gyro/Blue Rodeo combo, and enjoyed every minute of it. This new Michell Gyro turntable and the great folks in the space make it to my “My Heart Truly Feels It” list. I needed it, so thank you to the team in the Carlton Room for that.

HANA – REED – LINNENBERG / HEARKEN – NORTHSTAR
Last but certainly not least on this installment’s Canadian premieres list goes to an item that I could have easily slipped into my handbag. I am still wondering if Matt Thomas from Hearken Audio and Jon Anderson from Northstar Audio would have noticed if the Hana Umami Black cartridge ($14,900) mysteriously disappeared from the Reed Muse 1C turntable ($20,000) that sported a Levin Mat ($550) and a Reed 3P tonearm ($7,210) in Room 351 — but I digress. (I would never do such a thing, of course!)

Not only was that fantastic Hana cart having its debut at the show, but the Linnenberg PS30 phono preamp ($25,000) was also making its first appearance at TAF 2025, a wonderful show debut indeed from this notable German manufacturer. In general, Room 351 had a spectacular overall sound to it — but after hearing the first few bars of “Cognitive Dissident” (LP1, Side 1, Track 1), from The The’s 2024 comeback 2LP set Ensoulment (Cinéola/Ear Music 0219535EMU), I was hooked. The opening percussion and guitar work made me immediately take notice — but it was Matt Johnson’s low-toned vocals, full of warmth and growl, that made me want to take that Umami Black cart home.

This system in Room 351 consisted of a well-balanced Transformatic Eos+ power amp ($16,000) and Transformatic Lara line-level preamp ($16,300), Ilumnia Magister Novus speakers ($55,000), and Soundkaos Gravitas D12.3 dipole subwoofer (the ripole variant; $8,900) and active mono filter/250W amp ($1,300). Keep in mind that those Ilumnia speakers are quite special too, as they are purported by the company to be the world’s first-free floating cone speakers wherein the “floating” driver eliminates mechanical resistance.

Having the Reed turntable and related componentry unobtrusively tucked away in a corner on an HRS stand ($12,500) that included a HRS E1X isolation base ($2,625) gave those beautiful speakers room to breathe. Using an array of accessories such as the Rockna Wavedream Reference DAC ($35,995), Antipodes Oladra digital streamer/server ($39,995), SPL crossover (3,999), Yeti Reference Power cables ($4,200), Nexgen phono cable ($7,000), and Reference Ethernet cables ($1,800 ea) — as well as MasterBuilt Ultra USB cable, Ultra XLR, and power cables — showed the attention to detail in getting the best sound possible. Furthermore, Stein Blue Sun, Blue Diamond, Black Diamond, and Harmonizer HPro S room treatments ($6,020, all in) allowed visitors to truly enjoy that buttery smooth Hana sound.

Fully recognizing how challenging it can be to turn a hotel room into an ideal listening space, Thomas and Anderson’s meticulous setup made that a reality. Thomas cued up St. Vincent’s 2024 gem All Born Screaming (Total Pleasure 001196922755491), and “Broken Man” (Side 1, Track 3) fully demonstrated the finesse in this system with the vocals front and center, along with the rocking instruments perfectly throat-punching my senses.

Room 351, take heed — you won my “Give Me More of That Please” award for the show. Freaking fantastic! Thank you so much to Thomas and Anderson for bringing these great pieces to TAF 2025.

Needless to say, Part 4 is up next, so more TAF 2025 coverage is coming soon!

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