A Quick Trip to AXPONA 2024!

In this video, Kevin and Eric go to their first audio expo. What better one to visit first than the largest one in North America?
The guys made a quick trip of it this year just to get their feet wet. Wow! What an experience!
The best part of the whole trip was running into some of our favorite KZbinrs! We ran into Crazy Lenny, Chad Kassem, Ed from Old Guy HiFI, and Malinda Murphy! We also saw Randy, The Cheap Audio Man! We didn't have time to interview him. Maybe next time.
Let us know if you were there! Are there any other audio shows you are going to this year?
Enjoy!
Links to the KZbinrs we talked to. Check them out and subscribe!
Ed from Old Guy Hifi: / @oldguyhifi
Crazy Lenny: / @thatguywiththebeard
Chad Kassem: / @acousticsoundsks
Melinda Murphy: / @melindamurphy
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#vintagehifi #vinylrecords #vintagestereo

[@kevinroberts7740]

I love the look in their eyes when you jogged their memory about their first hifi. We always remember our first love.

[@MelindaMurphy]

Wonderful video! I loved meeting you guys. ❤️ Take care.

[@skylabsaudio]

You too!!

[@brunohebert1351]

@@skylabsaudio just want to let you know that I just reported an account which replied to my comment that is trying to impersonate you... It's annoying hopefully YT will ban it but a little PSA would not hurt to warn the viewers.

[@sabrowenie]

None of my kids, who have young families are interested in my gear. But I’m trying to get the grandkids interested so I have someone to pass along my love of music and vintage audio. I’m hoping their eyes light up when asked how they got started.

[@bryandickerson5365]

Damn - someone stole Cad’s Mom’s SX1250 during a party?! That musta been some kinda party if no one saw the perpetrator unplug and lug off a 70 pound unit the size of a small dog house!!! That was fun guys!

[@siriosstar4789]

I think one of the appeals of this excellent channel is the nostalgic aspect .it allows us oldies to fantasize about the good things in our past .

[@OldGuyHifi]

Kevin, It was great to meet you. Thanks so much for the shout out. Let me know about that panel discussion you mentioned.

[@skylabsaudio]

Will do!

[@skylabsaudio]

Ed, send us an email at [e-mail] with your contact info, please! Thanks

[@scottprice8994]

That was a good idea to ask people what first stereo equipment they had. I love that the one guy's first experience with stereo equipment was a Marantz 2270, Pioneer SX-1250, and a giant console stereo. It seems the bug was passed on from his parents.

[@brunohebert1351]

This is Chad Kassem from Analog Productions

[@scottprice8994]

@@brunohebert1351 -- I had seen Kevin's video previously with Chad Kassem. I just did not remember his name. My first experience with audio was a little kid's suitcase record player. I wish I grew up with a Marantz 2270 and a Pioneer SX-1250.

[@brunohebert1351]

@@scottprice8994 I know right, aren't we all wishing that? ;-) I grew up in France so we didn't know about those Marantz then. Now, I wish we knew even though I'm sure we would not have been able to afford it back then.

[@SuperWooba]

I didn't realize the guy from Just Audio had his own channel.

[@markmcminn5100]

1959 RCA console. Roughly 2' by 2' by 3' tall. Tubes. I rocked that from 1974-77. With classic 50s and 60s rock, it shined. Miss that system.

[@JohnScheppler]

It was great meeting and chatting with you and Eric. Planning on a trip down from Mason City soon.

[@skylabsaudio]

You as well!

[@spacemissing]

Technically my first system was a Pioneer SX-525 receiver, a Dual 1229Q turntable, a TEAC A-170S cassette deck, and a pair of Audio Design 808 speakers. I say "technically" because the Pioneer was the last part I acquired, having used the other pieces with my dad's HK 330B receiver. I still have all of these things except the speakers. Now I own almost enough additional components to start a museum.....

[@rancosteel]

I admire all the people involved with packing, unpacking and transporting all this equipment. Very impressive.

[@brunohebert1351]

Very good idea to do this question thing, especially as it is very hard to film an expo like that. It was very clever to insert some of the booths in between the interviewees (Now, I must admit I'm intrigued by Advance Paris, their gears look very slick, now I'm sure it's way out of my budget, but I'm going to research them a little) Thank you.

[@stevea.1929]

My first system in 1974 was a Pioneer 424 with a Benjamin Miracord turntable and Infinity POS 1's speakers. I know the POS's were made fun of because of the name but mine sound great and still have them in my surround system.

[@lisaharvey4373]

When I was 17 my girlfriends parents had a console stereo it was huge at least 6ft long and I half to tell you it was the first time I heard Elton Johnsons Yellow Brick Road album hearing Funeral For A Friend I turned it up OMG it was so loud and clean I suspect for what I know now it probably had Altec speakers inside tge bass was punchy and the high end so smooth and clear for the life of me I can't tell what brand it was I do know it had tape in and out because her dad had a Revox reel to reel hooked up he liked to make party tapes they entertained alot that guy you spoke with jogged my memory about console stereos pretty Kool!

[@thetubesrock]

Great video Kev. It was a little surreal seeing you and Melinda sharing the same screen. Keep up yhe great content and keep on spin'n.

[@adsph]

Hi Kevin. Great that you made it to Axpona. I was repping A Skylab t-shirt and I was asked if I was with them. I said no but they may be at the show.

[@skylabsaudio]

Appreciate it!

[@hjalmarfossi5728]

definitely gonna be a fun one.

[@mikecampbell5856]

I'm glad you enjoyed your time at Axpona. I also started with my mom's console. It seems to be a common theme with young future audiophiles.

[@dixonkim8659]

So good that you made it to Axpona Kevin! My buddies and I flew out from California and were there the whole 3 days. We had a blast, hope you did too!

[@Sunrayman123]

I was there Sunday just a 25 minute drive from my house in North Chicago. I wish I had seen you there, cause I am new to your You Tube stuff and love your material! Plus I would have tried to bum some logo or ordered a shirt or something from you before you got away! Another You Tube channel I have followed for a few months was Steve Guttenberg Audiophilic, and was surprised to run into him! He's from Brooklyn, NY. Been in the audio world for many years. Mostly speaker reviews to my limited knowledge. Hope you enjoyed the Expo!

[@OscarSanchez-tk3hx]

My father gave me a Marantz 2265B when I was a teenager I still have the unit fully restored for sure will be in the Family for many years to come

[@tomday7309]

Wow, that was a quickie! Loved the stories of how the youtubers got into hifi. It's funny how a few of them remember the consoles their parents had that are younger than me! My aunt and uncle had a console that was huge, a dark wood and had the "tunable" shutters on the ends in front of the speakers to direct the sound.

[@JackT_Music_on_Vinyl]

Awesome video. Thank you so much for sharing. I may head over there next year. Also was not aware of the Atlantic 75 year series from the label. I need to check it out!

[@j.patrickmoore9137]

My parents bought a Magnavox console in the early 60's, 19 " B&W TV in the center, turntable on the left and receiver on the right. Had an output from the tuner for FM Multiplex but that option was never used. We had an antenna on a mast mounted on the roof. Due to our location (not that far from the TV broadcast towers, but two hills between our house and the towers) our TV reception was never very good. The tracking force on the tonearm made the stylus more like a chisel. The were two sliding panels on either end to access the stereo. My mom would load the record changer with Christmas music, play through the stack and have one of us kids turn them over and play the other sides. In January she had Hawaiian music loaded on it.

[@kevinfestner6126]

19 inch color tvs were considered large, too. My first color tv was a 13 inch sony, trinitron, I think it was called. I worked all summer for that TV.

[@jpatrickmoore5158]

​@@kevinfestner6126 Sony Trinitron was THE TV to buy. Among other things, I sold TVs. Sony had the best color and was easiest to adjust.

[@kevinfestner6126]

TY I want to take a vacation to Skylabs. I just enjoying seeing what's on the ole bench.

[@danielh.-td9uu]

My first: late 70s NAD integrated amplifier, tuner, cassette deck, with tower JBL speakers. I still have and works!

[@johnrobins795]

Thank you showing equipment that others had chosen not to. Am not unaware there's A LOT to see and little time, especially if making videos of it. But I stayed and watched yours when I saw components that I had not seen anywhere else❤🎶...and the Melinda Murphy cameo was cool!

[@stevenholquin2127]

Thank You For The Crazy Lenny Vignette

[@ethimself5064]

I got butterflies in my stomach from all of the eye candy - I did, still have

[@kevinfestner6126]

Everyone had a smile on their faces thinking back. Mine, which I still fondly recall was this little low watt Lafayette receiver with ceramic phono inputs and two one way speakers. I graduated to a marantz 2270. But, I still have all the Lafayette catalogs from 74 to 80. Love looking through them. I still have some radio shack catalogs from the 70s, too, when Arthur Fiedler was the spokesman for Realistic. Yes,, the conductor of the Boston Pops.

[@joesugarman1355]

Cool video! Lots of familiar faces. Heading over to Just Audio shortly to see Lenny and browse the toys...

[@knivesandfire1]

Great video Kevin. I’m subscribed to Melinda Murphy’s channel and what a surprise to see her out there at AXPONA.

[@tomiossi8092]

Thanks so much Kevin. Great short. You left us wanting more. Sadly, I live 1.5 hrs from Shaumburg and didn’t realize it. Is there any single clearinghouse of stereo/record (new/used) that we can visit to find all of these shows?

[@pathfinderdiscovery9395]

Wow I see some great modern equipment up in there , man I love all Stereos new but old I like the best , k just love the fullness an the knob controls ,

[@ivansbacon]

Thank, i think i would rather go to a show like this to see my fav KZbinrs than to see all of the unobtainium stuff. The first records i ever heard were on my grandma's console.

[@primeanalogrecords]

Super fun one! Love the cameos of the VC stars! Great video!

[@lisaharvey4373]

Great video so fun jogging all their memories

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you!

[@santiagomoyano4036]

Amazing vibe to the video

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks!

[@kevin6385]

Very nice stuff. I like my HPM 150s

[@LouMontana-wc7nr]

Thank you for making these people feel more real.

[@userbosco]

Love your content Kev, thanks for sharing dude!

[@skylabsaudio]

I appreciate that!

[@EdwinEdwards-cb7ol]

I've seen that guy with the long beard, somewhere. 🤔

[@karaDee2363]

Looks like it was a cool show. And all the KZbin High Fi channels went to it... although the only one I know is crazy Lenny, he's funny. A wild and crazy guy. LOL

[@chrishoffman6537]

More of the first hi-Fi memories!

[@RobertKohut]

Unique perspective of the show.... 🙂

[@handymoore-ik7oc]

Very nice video Kevin.

[@TheVintageNewbie]

I’m so jealous!!

[@PlaybackMansion]

Excellent

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks!

[@jim010109]

So out of all that gear,did anything really stand out? It's way way out of my price range, but the Accuphase stuff looks awesome.

[@aammdj]

Awesome...and you can write it off as a business expense.

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Wild gear and passionate people

[@ericgonzales854]

That was cool

[@billsmith5166]

Great question!

[@thomasdix8453]

cool!

[@2954sf]

👍👍👍

[@eprohoda]

greeetings. Yeah. really superb trip!

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks a lot!

[@jjjcmo]

This was swell!

[@scottprice8994]

I watched a video by Steve Guttenberg at AXPONA 2024. The prices on the stereo equipment are very high. You have to be rich to buy those systems. Steve showed a pair of speakers that cost $65,000. The law of diminishing returns is often mentioned. Kevin showed vintage stereo systems (receiver, turntable, and speakers) that can be purchased for $600 or less. I have no doubt that the stereo systems in those showrooms sound better, but do they sound $100,000 or $200,000 better? I do not think so. You can pay many thousands of dollars more so you can say your stereo system sounds something like 10% or 20% better. It seems a little crazy. Someone who has the money can do what he or she wants with money, but it is difficult for me to justify spending that amount of money on a stereo system. My dream stereo receiver is a Pioneer SX-1250. It is supposed to be the best vintage stereo receiver made. Really nice ones are selling for about $3,500 to $4,000. That is a lot of money to me, but it is not $65,000. I suppose if you are Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos you would not care if the speakers cost $65,000. This may be a good topic for Kevin to make a video on. I know Kevin said in a recent video that he is not the customer for expensive stereo equipment. I think most people feel the same way.

[@carloreubenvongerkin9760]

yay! BONUS!!!! I know you must've asked a few questions about the Paragon. Tell us.......

[@robmaxfield780]

Super cool!!!

[@stevenholquin2127]

My First Stereo was a Montgomery Wards All in One Amp Turntable and 8-Track Player and It Was All Plastic This Stereo Was My Gateway Drug To Stereo Addiction Am In Recovery Now and in a Stereo 12 Step Plan I Went Off The Deep End When I Bought Two Pairs of Gold Plated Speaker Wire For $10,000 Grand That’s When i Sought Help Through Stereo Addiction Anonymous

[@bryandickerson5365]

(Chad)

[@skylabsaudio]

One of the greatest humans on the planet- for real

[@dandinhofer9240]

Nobody (Blu collar) can afford Any of that gee whiz show stuff without a third mortgage - and raiding the grandkids college fund. Which is why the newbies are raiding every and any local estate or garage sale looking for the one that almost got away. 😅😅😅

[@RandySmith-iz1ml]

What did you think of that $4,000,000 system? For me $100,000 is way out there, so this is just beyond ridiculous.

[@skylabsaudio]

Hard to say honestly- so many people moving in front of you constantly. that room was packed every time we walked by

[@gilbertwashburn7095]

That console Chad was talking about was an Ampex my friend had one and it was solid mahogany two tube monoblocks AM FM tube tuner turntable and reel to reel you could get in that super cool thanks to the video have a great day I keep watching it keeps me inspired

[@thumbnailexpert]

Your videos are great! I noticed that your thumbnails could be made even more appealing with some minor adjustments. I'm a graphic designer, and I can help improve your thumbnails to make them stand out more. If you're interested, feel free to contact me!

[@evanbutt2344]

That blink shirt ❤