Southwest Audio Fest 2026 moves to Sheraton Dallas Hotel in downtown -- July 23-25

[MarcT]

For some reason, the show will be held at the Sheraton Convention Center in downtown Dallas, July 23-25. I probably won't attend because of it being downtown but what say you? Also, it will start on Thursday and end Saturday.

SouthWestAudioFest | July 22-24, 2027 | Downtown Dallas, Texas / America's audio Show

SouthWestAudioFest - Dallas Texas / America's Audio Show

www.southwestaudiofest.com

Yes, this link shows 2025, but when you open the page, it shows 2026.

 

[SigbergAudio]

For those in the area and interested: Both the Sigberg Audio Manta AND the Saranna will be presented at SWAF this year!

You will find Sigberg Audio with DreamScapes A/V at in the 10th Floor Presidential Suite.

 

[Thighsofsteel]

in the 10th Floor Presidential Suite.

I would expect nothing less!

 

[Laserjock]

Thinking of doing Thursday and Friday.
Probably stay at a Hilton property 10 min walk away though.

 

[MarcT]

Thinking of doing Thursday and Friday.
Probably stay at a Hilton property 10 min walk away though.

Not sure yet if I'll attend. My buddy from CO talked about coming down to attend but haven't heard for sure. I'd rather the show was still at the Anatole because I don't really like going downtown, but I understand the parking is supposed to be easy. It's about a two hour drive for me.

 

[Laserjock]

Not sure yet if I'll attend. My buddy from CO talked about coming down to attend but haven't heard for sure. I'd rather the show was still at the Anatole because I don't really like going downtown, but I understand the parking is supposed to be easy. It's about a two hour drive for me.

About 5.5 hrs for me but “no step for a stepper” as my Dad used to say.
I have a HS buddy that lives in the area I might meet up with too.

The wife might go as well but not sure she’ll “browse” the rooms with me like she did at RMAF.

Chris

 

[ehowarth]

Show Directory

 

[Laserjock]

Not sure yet if I'll attend. My buddy from CO talked about coming down to attend but haven't heard for sure. I'd rather the show was still at the Anatole because I don't really like going downtown, but I understand the parking is supposed to be easy. It's about a two hour drive for me.

Listening to the Prodigio Vitorla now

 

[MarcT]

Listening to the Prodigio Vitorla now

How are the dynamics with those? Is Eminent Technology at the show? My buddy has a set of their $5,600 LFT-8c speakers and I've never heard such clarity and coherent soundstage.

 

[Avp1]

I spent two days roaming between room at SWAF show. I cannot say that it was successful. Attendance was very low this time. Rooms were spread through 8 floors, but on some floors there were only 3-4 rooms in use. Obviously rooms with mainstay speaker brands like Magico, Rockport had good sound, though often quality of music was too low to show what these systems can do. Surprisingly three rooms with tape machines played less than stellar records. Audio Note room was a complete disappointment, I never heard these speakers sounding so poorly. I did like Alcon speakers (https://www.alconsaudio.com/), but in that room they did not give enough time to audio payback, mostly running Atmos home theater rig there. Main discovery for me was French brand of speakers https://atlantislab.eu/about-us/ They are inexpensive, but sound quality was in the top range for the show. Rosso Fiorentino and Zelaton speakers gave good performance in large rooms, but here we talk about $50-100K price range.

 

[MarcT]

I spent two days roaming between room at SWAF show. I cannot say that it was successful. Attendance was very low this time. Rooms were spread through 8 floors, but on some floors there were only 3-4 rooms in use. Obviously rooms with mainstay speaker brands like Magico, Rockport had good sound, though often quality of music was too low to show what these systems can do. Surprisingly three rooms with tape machines played less than stellar records. Audio Note room was a complete disappointment, I never heard these speakers sounding so poorly. I did like Alcon speakers (https://www.alconsaudio.com/), but in that room they did not give enough time to audio payback, mostly running Atmos home theater rig there. Main discovery for me was French brand of speakers https://atlantislab.eu/about-us/ They are inexpensive, but sound quality was in the top range for the show. Rosso Fiorentino and Zelaton speakers gave good performance in large rooms, but here we talk about $50-100K price range.

Thanks for the report. As to the low attendance, to what do you attribute that? I lost interest in attending because they put the show in downtown Dallas and I am not experienced with driving and parking in downtown. I wish they had left the show at the Anatole. I think another possible reason some may not have attended is that, from viewing the exhibitor list, it was mostly high dollar gear and very little of the gear from mainstream brands. I remember when you could listen at audio shows to lower and mid level speakers from companies such as Dali, Paradigm, Revel, KEF, Focal, Wharfedale, B&W, Monitor Audio, etc.

 

[Avp1]

Thanks for the report. As to the low attendance, to what do you attribute that? I lost interest in attending because they put the show in downtown Dallas and I am not experienced with driving and parking in downtown. I wish they had left the show at the Anatole. I think another possible reason some may not have attended is that, from viewing the exhibitor list, it was mostly high dollar gear and very little of the gear from mainstream brands. I remember when you could listen at audio shows to lower and mid level speakers from companies such as Dali, Paradigm, Revel, KEF, Focal, Wharfedale, B&W, Monitor Audio, etc.

None of the brands you mentioned were there. But these days you can find them in big box store like NFM. The idea to put show in downtown was plain wrong. People who potentially could attend, live mostly to the north from Dallas, thus Plano along 121 freeway would be much more appropriate. Parking was not an issue - hotel own garage is right across the street. Though the hotel location is not a place where you can find many people on the street, like there is no place to eat lunch when hotel's restaurants are closed (as they were for some reason between 2 and 6pm). There were almost no ads about show, like nothing on local classical and jazz radio stations. And finally: Fri-Sun schedule would likely work better than Thu-Sat, which organizers chose.

 

[SigbergAudio]

Thanks for the report. As to the low attendance, to what do you attribute that? I lost interest in attending because they put the show in downtown Dallas and I am not experienced with driving and parking in downtown.

Off-topic, but this is a fun insight into cultural differences with regards to transportation patterns.

Here in Norway everyone would think it was awesome to have a show in downtown Oslo, as then you could just take the train or the bus to the show, and it would be easy to get to from the airport to the show for those who were flying in.