Inside Despacio: The Ultimate Audiophile Festival Experience

Step inside the Despacio tent, a unique festival attraction that has been described as a temple of music for audio geeks. Conceived by LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy, Stephen and David Dewaele of 2manydjs (aka Soulwax), and audio engineer John Klett, Despacio first debuted in 2013. Since then, it has traveled from festival to festival, delivering an unparalleled sonic experience to dancers. The setup is impressive: seven McIntosh speaker stacks power a 50,000-watt sound system, all playing vintage vinyl. The experience is completed by a custom lighting rig and an iconic disco ball, creating an immersive environment that prioritizes sound quality and physical engagement. In this video, CNET social producer Faith Chihil takes viewers inside the Despacio tent at Portola 2026, offering a glimpse of what makes this installation so special. For audiophiles and festival-goers alike, Despacio represents a pinnacle of sound system design and musical curation. The collaboration between these influential figures in music and audio engineering has resulted in a one-of-a-kind event that continues to captivate audiences. This segment provides an inside look at the passion and precision behind Despacio.