PRESENTATIONS, TALKS AND LISTENING SESSIONS CONFIRMED FOR NORTH WEST AUDIO SHOW 2026

There is far more to the North West Audio Show than simply walking from room to room looking at equipment. One of the things that continues to make Cranage special is the opportunity to sit down, listen, learn something new and spend time with the people behind the music, recordings and technology.

This year’s show features a wide range of presentations, demonstrations and listening sessions across the weekend, covering everything from vinyl replay and recording techniques to loudspeaker design and high quality streaming.

Whether you are deeply into the technical side of audio or simply enjoy hearing great music played well, there is plenty happening throughout the show beyond the exhibitor rooms themselves.

CHORD COMPANY CABLE DEMONSTRATIONS

Chord Company will host a series of demonstrations and listening sessions in Noble on John Coltrane Street. Visitors will be able to hear the effect of the company’s new V-Link speaker terminal links and explore the evolution of Chord Company cable technologies from ARAY and TunedARAY through to SuperARAY and Taylon dielectric designs.

Demonstrations will run hourly throughout both days of the show.

QOBUZ LISTENING SESSIONS

In Stephenson 2 on Rock Street, David Solomon will present relaxed Qobuz listening sessions focused on great recordings and high quality streaming playback. Expect carefully selected music played through serious HiFi systems with discussion around recording quality, mastering and musical performance.

Sessions take place at 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

VERTERE VINYL REPLAY DEMONSTRATIONS

Vertere will host demonstrations of its new PHONO-1LX MM/MC preamplifier in the Newton room on Bob Dylan Street. Alongside demonstrations of the DGX and MG1 record players, visitors will be able to hear special acetates and test pressings featuring artists including The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Supertramp and Queen.

Demonstrations begin from 11:30am on both days.

CHASING THE DRAGON AUDIOPHILE RECORDINGS

Mike Valentine of Chasing The Dragon Audiophile Recordings returns to NWAS for a series of talks exploring the art and science of audiophile recording techniques. These sessions always prove popular and offer a fascinating insight into how recordings are captured, produced and mastered with realism and natural presentation in mind.

Talks take place in Baird 2 on Rock Street across both days of the show.

ARKE AUDIO SPEAKER DESIGN PRESENTATIONS

Arke Audio will present what it describes as a potentially world first modular loudspeaker concept in Room 146 on B. B. King Close. Visitors will be able to hear the company’s compact Mikros standmount evolve into the larger Altus floorstanding system during live demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Sessions run multiple times daily across Saturday and Sunday.

INSIDE THE MUSIC WITH DAVID SOLOMON

David Solomon also returns for a second Qobuz session in the Mercer room on Mick Jagger Lane alongside Brian and Trevor. These sessions focus not only on the music itself, but also the stories, performances and production decisions behind the recordings being played.

Last year’s sessions proved hugely popular, with standing room only at times, so visitors are advised to arrive early if they want a seat.

As always with NWAS, some of the best experiences at the show are often the ones you stumble across unexpectedly. Whether it is a technical presentation, a relaxed listening session or an in depth discussion about music and recording, there will be plenty happening throughout the weekend for visitors who want to go a little deeper.