AudioShowDeluxe - Whittlebury Hall 25th-26th March 2023

September 1988. Audiofreaks entered the world of UK audio shows in a micro modest manner - from a small bedroom at the London Heathrow Penta Hotel. Hifi News & Record Review magazine was the established organiser of the UK leading quality and high-end audio exhibition. Only three brands of products constituted the original portfolio (Kuzma, Empire Scientific AG [later to become Benz-Micro] and Energy Loudspeakers [Canada]). All else needed to form an audio system was on loan from kind and generous benefactors (Lumley mono amplifiers, Cardas cables [NB. that is when I met George Cardas for the very first time and I fondly remember him sitting on the edge of the tub in a tiny bathroom while we discussed racing  exhaust systems for go-karts rather than cables...] and an ambitious home-made valve line/phono preamplifier).

As years needed to build seniority among the exhibitors went by, my show presentations moved into larger suites of the same hotel which became Ramada and Renaissance in the process. Audiofreaks remained loyal to the Hifi News event up to its last edition in 2006. In many ways, the best years to remember as a show exhibitor, always with acclaim and kind words about the sounds created, both within the UK and international audio press. And, most importantly and above all, the visiting audience.

Left without an official high-end audio event, I organised my own "private" show at the same Heathrow hotel in September 2007 and 2008 with a title "Audiofreaks unplugged". Several hundred visitors in 2007 intrigued enough a certain Roy Gregory (then the Editor of Hi-Fi+ magazine and one of the leaders in good audio thinking) to join me for the 2008 show. There were six suites in total where Audiofreaks, Hi-Fi+ and some of my best retail consultants showed what could be done in a variety of system concepts and applications to the delight of almost 1000 visitors. Some say "Audiofreaks unplugged" was and remained the one and only private event of the kind in the UK to this day.

With no serious audio exhibition within Greater London, Roy Bird of Chester Group bravely attempted outdoing what Hifi News magazine did so well for decades. And, to begin with, succeeded. He organised a show at the Whittlebury Hall resort, right at the edge of Silverstone racing circuit in Northamptonshire for September 2009. All those relevant within the UK high-end audio industry segment supported the project. We all enjoyed a superb weekend at the Whittlebury Hall that year, followed by another good reprise in 2010. Audiofreaks had a lovely suite on the 1st floor both years, and I am inclined to say our 2009 system's show performance may have been the 'best ever' simply because the room worked so well no matter what was thrown at it!

Sadly, most of us from the UK high-end community found the "Whittlebury Show" rapidly lowering  its standards in too many respects and, as a consequence, did not exhibit again. While the event continued to live for some years, true and serious high-end audio became gradually invisible. Audiofreaks participated one more time in 2011 with a small system in a small room and...that was it.

I have always advocated the need for a small, dedicated true high-end audio event. Call it a show, an exhibition, call it whatever you want - the essence had to be based on high standards of everything! As simple as that. No small bedrooms, no booths for show sales of all and sundry paraphernalia, only the very best products from UK manufacturers and distributors representing the ultimate creations manufactured around the world. Needless to say, no one had the courage and belief to organise such an event. And, for that reason, after the Whittlebury weekend in September 2011, I realised it was a lesser evil not to exhibit anywhere at all than exhibit for the sake of it.

Fast forward 12 years (!?) and, at last, there is an event that has every opportunity to become a milestone for the UK high-end audio scene. And, make up for the past, enrich the present and cater for the future! AUDIOSHOW DELUXE (www.audioshowdeluxe.com) will take place at the Whittlebury Hall) in Northamptonshire on Saturday 26th (10am-7pm) and Sunday 27th March 2023 (10am-5pm)! Hallelujah!

Rather than fabricate any wishful thinking, here is, in organisers' own words, what they hope the new show will achieve:
"AUDIOShow Deluxe will be something different and something truly unique in the HiFi calendar. A show where exhibitors are invited to bring only their truly high-end and luxury products and present them in an atmosphere that is in-keeping and sympathetic to their stature at the pinnacle of audio excellence and luxury."

AUDIOShow Deluxe should be a perfect package of the kind. Small number of selected exhibitors presenting their bespoke audio components and systems in large syndicate suites, live music events, workshops, lectures and gatherings with industry personalities...all a good Doctor would prescribe, isn't it?

Audiofreaks will be exhibiting in the CATALUNYA suite on the ground floor of the Whittlebury Hall. Music will be created by components from Karan Acoustics, Rockna Audio, Wilson Audio (thanks to Absolute Sounds Ltd for kind provision and support), Cardas Audio and finite elemente.

We would be delighted to have your visit and look forward to seeing many familiar and even more of the less familiar faces after such a long hiatus. Our lives and this world have radically changed since we did it last time, but I remain hopeful our ability to create a good enough sound for the sake of likeable and inspiring MUSIC, has not evaporated or been lost in all the hard transitions of recent times.

Welcome to AUDIOShow Deluxe!