Capital Audiofest returned this spring with one clear theme: active, DSP-driven speakers are no longer a niche category. Several exhibitors who have historically shown passive towers paired with separate amplifiers brought active alternatives instead, citing demand for simpler, more consistent setups.
Room correction was the other constant. Almost every demo room ran some form of automated calibration before the session started, and several exhibitors were happy to show attendees the before-and-after measurement overlay on a laptop screen — a level of transparency that wasn't common at past shows.
For hobbyists who can't make it to a show in person, the takeaway is simple: more manufacturers now expect you to measure your room, not just trust factory tuning. That trend is exactly why understanding your own spec sheet and measurement output matters more each year.
