I spent 4 hours at Axpona yesterday and it was worth going; next year I'll do two mornings before the crowds. I'd never justify to myself (or my wife!) spending $100k on a stereo but for reference it was indeed worth experiencing the MBLs. I had to shut my eyes and just enjoy the music because they look like harbor bouys sans the beacon. Closer to earth, the large Tannoys in one of the Upscale rooms was marvelous. An unexpected pleasure was hearing the new version of the Mission 700.
The varying SQ had me scratching my head. All of the above speakers were in small rooms. Some that I expected to sound great were just OK, like the Fritz speakers in the Atma-Sphere room. And there were others where I had to leave, they sounded so bad. I want to be a Vandersteen fan but in a crowded room where an unpleasant salesman was extolling some magical Audioquest DC line cleaner the gorgeous Vandersteens were causing my temples to vibrate like a driver. I am well-disposed to both Vandersteen and Audioquest, but I couldn't get out of that room fast enough. The beaming salesman was surreal.
Altogether the show was well worth it to me. It's always good to have one's expectations challenged.