- Velodyne DF-661 loudspeaker17 May 2013, 11:13 pm
Silicon Valley–based Velodyne was founded in 1983 to develop a range of subwoofers that used servo-control to reduce non-linear distortion to vanishingly small levels. They succeeded in this goal to the extent that Velodyne is now perhaps the best-known subwoofer company in the US, currently employing 65 people.... - Tony Wins Some Schiit16 May 2013, 4:37 pm
Tony Tueni of Charlotte, North Carolina is the happy winner of our Schiit Bifrost USB and Modi DACs Sweepstakes. Tony's current system includes a Rega Planar 3 turntable, Onix integrated amplifier, Soliloquy 5.3 loudspeakers, Oppo CD player, and Squeezebox Touch.... - Passion of the Hi-Fi: Part VI - Resolution15 May 2013, 4:45 pm
JA guffawed, “It sounds like you need a tweeter-ectomy.” “I hope that’s all I need.” After buying a replacement tweeter for one of my Usher S-520s, I asked Stan Tracht, US representative for Usher, a pair of questions. “Will I need to solder anything?” “No soldering needed,” Stan advised. “Do I need to buy a second tweeter to ensure the speakers match?” I’m in the process replacing the tweeters on a pair of busted Polk Audio Monitor 7s I bought in the basement of the... - Boston Acoustics A40 loudspeaker14 May 2013, 10:02 pm
The Boston Acoustics A40 loudspeaker ($150/pair) has become "legendary" (ie, it's stayed around for a while), probably because a pair of them images as well as Rogers LS3/5As. Unfortunately, it is no match for the LS3/5A in terms of smooth midrange response.... - Altec Lansing 301 loudspeaker14 May 2013, 9:46 pm
One of the oldest names in US audio, Altec Lansing was building speakers for theaters and recording studios long before the introduction of the microgroove LP in 1948 (which date many see as marking the inception of high fidelity). Started in 1931 under the name All-Technical Services ~Corp., the firm later purchased another audio firm called Lansing Engineering, and merged the names....
- Munich High End 2013 Show Report17 May 2013, 8:03 pm
Good old-fashioned American chauvinism notwithstanding, Munich is by consensus the world’s most important high-end audio show, replacing CES as the place to do business—that is, if doing business in Europe and the Far East are on your agenda. However, it isn’t commerce or the large number of exhibitors that you don’t find at other shows that makes Munich so special (and so endearing) to me. We in the press are always talking about how important it is to find a means of sharing our hobb... - 2013 TAS Editors' Choice Awards: Power Amps $3000-$600017 May 2013, 3:35 pm
Exposure 3010S2$3195/pr.bluebirdmusic.com Based on the company’s top-end MCX Series monoblock, the 100-watt 3010S2 nicely balances brains with brawn, bringing a sense of “rightness” to music. Tonal balance is a tad toward the warm side, and don’t expect the finest detail or “bloom,” but Exposure puts its money into performance, not cosmetics, thus providing some of the best values in audio. AVA FET Valve 600R$3499avahifi.com What sets Frank Van Alstine’s 300Wpc tube/transistor hy... - Robert Harley’s Munich Show Highlights16 May 2013, 8:35 pm
The Munich show has become the “must-visit” show on of the year for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and journalists. One American manufacturer told me that if you’re not exhibiting in Munich, you’ll never break into the European market. That’s not surprising considering that this year more than 5200 trade visitors from 71 countries attended the show, not to mention the additional 11,000-plus consumers. Munich has become the show for world premiers. Highlighting this trend, Da... - MIT Cables Releases New Line Of Cables16 May 2013, 7:40 pm
May 13, 2013 - Rocklin, CA - High-performance manufacturer MIT Cables, announces a broad line of new products. Known for nearly 30 years for its top-of-the-line Reference interface products, MIT is launching a new range of StyleLine high-performance products utilizing many of the same patented features, but using advanced manufacturing techniques to miniaturize the networks and bring the cables to much more affordable price points. By listening to feedback from its long-term dedicated customer... - Sanisbury and Wood: Violin Concertos16 May 2013, 12:40 pm
Romanticism has proved more durable than seemed possible a half-century ago, when the brutal violence and icy pointillism of Pierre Boulez were all the rage and Samuel Barber was considered as passé as ornate Victorian furniture. But romantic music, with its gorgeous melody, rhapsodic expansiveness, sumptuous orchestration, and ardent emotion— though it never really left—is not only back, it’s back in style. Witness the 1989 Violin Concerto of Englishman Lionel Sainsbury (born 1958). Th...
- World Premiere! Napa Acoustic NA 208 H Headphone Amplifier1 May 2013, 9:30 am
Napa Acoustric's NA 208 H presents the music at a bargain basement $299 price.... - World Premiere! VPI Industries Classic 3 Turntable1 May 2013, 9:30 am
One powerhouse turntable and tonearm combo from VPI!... - In This Issue... Huge issue with five World Premieres, two show reports, new Lifestyle And Design section plus much more!1 May 2013, 9:30 am
Our May issue is jammed packed with reviews and a new section called Lifestyle and Design.... - World Premiere! Avantgarde Acoustic Uno Fino Loudspeakers1 May 2013, 9:30 am
The Avantgarde Uno Fino has stunning microdynamics and an ability to convey the smallest variations without hyper-detailness.... - Plus Many More Equipment And Music Reviews Now Online!30 April 2013, 7:30 am
See many more audiophile equipment reviews online right now by clicking this link....
- REVIEW: Ayre AX-5 - integrated amplifier from USA5 May 2013, 10:00 pm
Published: 6. May 2013, No. 109 „Confessions of a Part-Time Audiophile” in its article RMAF12: Hot Ayre puts on the Best in Show gave the Ayre’s room Best in Show prize, and the magazine “The Audio Beat” at the same “Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2010” exhibition gave them Hot Product award (see HERE). This was where the new series “5” devices were introduced: the AX-5 integrated amplifier, the VX-5 power amplifier and the DX-5 universal ... - REVIEW: NuForce DDA-100 + Amphion Ion+ - amplifier integrated/DAC + bookshelf loudspeakers from USA and Finland5 May 2013, 10:00 pm
Published: 6. May 2013, No. 109 From a recording studio to a desktop audio system – that's a short story of Amphion Ion+ speakers. It might seem that these are two different worlds, right? But lets think about it again – what really is a modern recording studio? – that's a computer based system with advanced editing tools and multi-track recording capability. And music is recorded on a hard drive, not tape anymore! Nowadays there almost none recording studios using othe... - REVIEW: REED 3P – tonearm from Lithuania5 May 2013, 10:00 pm
Published: 6. May 2013, No. 109 Dear Wojtek, I am very glad to hear you after a long time. We keep working on Reed development. As you already mentioned we have new model Reed 3P. This model is different from our Reed 2A/3Q both by sound nature and design. One of the main design innovations is its bearing system – generally tonearm bearing system can be considered as gimbal, but it works like a unipivot one. Reed 3P has also fine VTA adjustment on-the-fly and even unique possibi... - REVIEW: Linear Audio Research IA-30T mk2 - integrated amplifier from Poland5 May 2013, 10:00 pm
Published: 6. May 2013, No. 109 In the first April's edition of High Fidelity you could read a text written by Mr Eugeniusz Czyżewski (see HERE), explaining why he created a new version of the amplifier, that Wojtek reviewed some time ago. I read all the reviews of Linear Audio Research products that had been written by Wojtek, including the review of the first version of IA-30T (see HERE), and I had always felt that I would have really liked their sound, if I only had a chance to liste... - REVIEW: Octave V 110 - integrated amplifier from Germany5 May 2013, 10:00 pm
Published: 6. May 2013, No. 109 A product coming from Germany that bears in its name the letter "V" followed by a digit or a number, carries negative connotations in Poland. Perhaps even more sinister in the UK, because it was on London that most of the V-1 flying bombs and the V-2 rockets were dropped. The “V” in the name of these technological wonders, because they were such, comes from their full name, "Vergeltungswaffe" ("retaliatory weapons" in German). Or should we, Pol...
- Positive Feedback Launches the PF Exchange!12 May 2013, 1:21 pm
A new place to buy, sell and discuss audio!... - Positive Feedback Launches a New Contest - JRIVER!12 May 2013, 1:21 pm
Win one of 10 copies of JRiver's Media 18 Playback Software (a $49.95 value)... - TBI Audio Millenia MG3 Gen 3 Amplifier
as reviewed by John Hoffman12 May 2013, 1:21 pm
The performance gap between my Electra Print amplifier and the Millenia amplifier has rapidly closed, as the latest cluster of improvements that Jan has devised for the TBI amplifier has effectively erased the largest flaws from the previous generation amplifier.... - A Brief Profile of Audirvana Plus
by Andy Schaub12 May 2013, 1:21 pm
This isn't a "shoot out" between music processing programs. This is really a profile of one that I've learned to like very much, Audirvana Plus.... - Morrow Audio MA1 Interconnects and SP4 Speaker Cables - A Budget Reference?
as reviewed by Steve Lefkowicz12 May 2013, 1:21 pm
I have largely avoided writing about cables. I have written one cable review that has been published, that being back in Listener Magazine, around 1999 or maybe 2000. I have largely avoided cable reviews for a few good reasons. At least I think they are good reasons....
- Further listening with the Unlimiteds18 May 2013, 11:06 pm
The entire line of German Physiks speakers, due to their omnidirectional nature, are incredibly easy to place, not requiring a tuned room to give their best performance. This was readily apparent from the minute we unboxed them, making for the shortest set up we’ve ever encountered. The major upside here is that the Unlimiteds will [...]...
- First Impression: Monk-Audio Tube Preampli-le petit17 May 2013, 2:42 am
We were so impressed with the Monk-Audio three input phonostage that we’ve made it part of our permanent reference collection. Their latest effort, labeled the “tube preampli-le petit, still features three inputs, though this time utilizes a pair of 12AX7 tubes instead of the solid-state construction of their larger model. Gone is the ability to [...]... - New From the National:13 May 2013, 11:33 pm
“I have only two emotions,” singer Matt Berninger observes early on the National’s sixth studio album. They are extremities, he warns: “careful fear and dead devotion.” He delivers the line with his detached, broken baritone in much the same way as he has over the Brooklyn-based band’s prior five albums—with bloodshot fragility that may or [...]... - The latest from She & Him7 May 2013, 5:56 am
One of the more unforgettable rock ‘n’ roll scenes in film comes during the 1980s sci-fi romance Back to the Future. In the final act, Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly grabs a guitar at a 1955 high-school dance and anchors a capable rhythm & blues band through the scorcher “Johnny B. Goode” and doo-wop slow-dance “Earth [...]... - REVIEW: The Funk Firm Little Super Deck3 May 2013, 9:25 am
Things that reference hallucinogenic drugs tend to pique my interest. And the Little Super Deck (or LSD) from the Funk Firm will indeed take you on a trip to vinyl bliss, doing so for a lot less money than you’d expect—$1,995 to be exact. Our review unit arrived in a very THX 1138–esque shade of [...]...
- KEF R900 Loudspeakers15 May 2013, 5:00 am
The value proposition is a difficult one to measure. The natural inclination is to buy the biggest, the fastest, the best. If one is buying a Ford Mustang, for instance, a V6 motor simply isn’t an option. It’s all well and good that it makes over 300hp and looks the part, but as soon as you pull up next to a 5.0-liter variant with 412hp, it’s all for naught. Of course, there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with the “base” Mustang -- except for the fact that a Mustang is supposed to hav... - KR Audio VA340 Mk.II Integrated Amplifier15 May 2013, 5:00 am
The single-ended triode (SET) amplifier enjoyed a fairly brief surge in popularity several years ago, but then audiophiles rediscovered facts that had become obvious in the 1920s and ’30s: SETs just didn’t have enough power to drive most speakers. So push-pull amplifiers again became the standard, and SETs dwindled in popularity. But some companies found the SET sound so beguiling that they tried to overcome the technology’s power deficit. Their success has been mixed. Several models with ... - Sonus Faber Venere 2.5 Loudspeakers1 May 2013, 5:00 am
As a glance in my closet confirms, I’m not a huge fan of fashion or style. I’m more about function and value. But despite my proclivity for practicality, I can appreciate when something looks good. And if I can get style, performance, and value together in one package, I’m good with that. But unless boxy really blows your skirt, there’s not much style to be found among inexpensive speakers. Sonus Faber (pronounced SO-nus FAH-ber) feels your pain, and has had the audacity to launch a line... - PMC IB2i Loudspeakers1 May 2013, 5:00 am
In June 2012, SoundStage! Network publisher Doug Schneider reviewed the PMC twenty.24, the flagship of the British company’s twenty line. Not long after completing his review, Doug told me how impressed he was with the twenty.24, noting that it displayed a remarkable midrange purity, and impressive bass extension for such a modestly sized floorstander. He then asked if I’d be interested in reviewing the IB2i, the smallest three-way studio monitor in PMC’s flagship “i” series. I respond... - Cabasse Pacific 3 Loudspeakers15 April 2013, 5:00 am
When I asked to review a properly expensive pair of loudspeakers and was offered a pair from France, my trepidation ran high. Damn. I’d been pining for some example of traditionally designed, overbuilt awesomeness to be ushered into my listening room for what would be my first foray into Ultra Audio territory. Instead, a pair of Cabasse Pacific 3s was sent from across the pond in what could only be an unorthodox fashion -- hot-air balloon, perhaps? Cabasse makes some pretty wonky stuff, t...
- MIT Cables Announces the Release of StyleLine Interconnects and Speaker Cables16 May 2013, 10:08 pm
High-performance manufacturer MIT Cables, announces a broad line of new products. Known for nearly 30 years for its top-of-the-line Reference interface products, MIT is launching a new range of StyleLine high-performance products utilizing many of the same patented features, but using advanced manufacturing techniques to miniaturize the networks and bring the cables to much more [...]The post MIT Cables Announces the Release of StyleLine Interconnects and Speaker Cables appeared first on Dagogo.... - Flautist Katherine Bryan returns to Linn Records – FLAC 24bit downloads avaible16 May 2013, 10:00 pm
Linn Records is announcing the release of flautist Katherine Bryan second recording at their studio. With SACD and 24bit-192k FLAC downloads available now from their site. Fresh from her acclaimed debut recording, flautist Katherine Bryan returns with a recital which showcases her enviable technique and musicality. Featuring repertoire that is of personal significance to Katherine, [...]The post Flautist Katherine Bryan returns to Linn Records – FLAC 24bit downloads avaible appeared first ... - The Beatnik Boppin’ in New Orleans16 May 2013, 6:38 pm
My wife Becky is a huge college women’s basketball fan. So, she wanted to go to New Orleans this year for the “Women’s Final Four.” We hadn’t been back there since we moved from the Southeast to the San Francisco Bay Area 13 years ago, so I jumped at the chance to go. If you [...]The post The Beatnik Boppin’ in New Orleans appeared first on Dagogo.... - Dave Brubeck Quartet, Norah Jones, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Phoebe Snow, on Vinyl16 May 2013, 5:02 pm
The Dave Brubeck Quartet at Carnegie Hall Speakers Corner 180g LP , 2LPs, Pure Analogue Mastering Musicians: Dave Brubeck, piano, Paul Desmond, alto saxophone, Eugene Wright, bass, Joe Morello, drums Tracks: LP1 – Side 1: 1. St. Louis Blues 2. Bossa Nova U.S.A. 3. For All We Know LP1 – Side 2: 1. Pennies From [...]The post Dave Brubeck Quartet, Norah Jones, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Phoebe Snow, on Vinyl appeared first on Dagogo.... - VIP 7 – Jutta Hipp – The German Recordings 1952 to 1955 – Lost Tapes16 May 2013, 4:39 pm
Until this reissue by Jazz Haus, the only thing I knew about Jutta Hipp was that her early 10” LP from Blue Note, Jutta Hipp Quintet (New Faces-New Sounds From Germany), BLP5056. It was difficult to find and very expensive if in Mint condition. It’s also a good example of a fake DSM cover (David [...]The post VIP 7 – Jutta Hipp – The German Recordings 1952 to 1955 – Lost Tapes appeared first on Dagogo....
- The Complete Guide To HiFi UPnP / DLNA Network Audio10 May 2013, 7:01 pm
Intro The following guide was designed for audiophiles. The guide describes UPnP based home audio reproduction, provides use pro and cons of UPnP, examples, and recommendations for successful UPnP audio implementations. Overview Network based audio can be delivered using several different protocols and technologies such as UPnP, DAAP (Apple), and Ravenna among others. UPnP is the most common network audio protocol in use today. It's used in both two channel single room systems and... - ALO Audio Rx Mk3-b Portable Headphone Amplifier Review3 May 2013, 3:19 pm
ALO Audio along with a handful of other companies has been leading the charge on portable audio amplification. Their product lineup includes one of the largest and varied sections of both tube and solid-state portable headphone amplifiers. Sitting atop the mobile offerings is the ALO flagship Rx Mk3-b ($650). Offering both balanced and single-ended inputs and outputs, this battery-powered headphone amplifier is a reminder that head fi audio is slowly adapting the same principals as audiophile ... - Simple Design Rendu Ethernet to S/PDIF Converter Review30 April 2013, 2:19 pm
High end audio can be a polarizing hobby. Audiophiles like to select a product or technology and support it vigorously as if they have a large financial interest in its success. I was born an audiophile. I completely understand the desire for one's selection to be validated by the audiophile community. I also completely understand how unhealthy that desire for validation is and the neurosis it can cause. Audiophiles, myself included, must realize the products we select today will sound just as g... - Fun With Digital Audio – Bit Perfect Audibility Testing26 April 2013, 2:51 am
In this article, I independently adjust the amplitude (with digital eq) and bit-depth of a digital music file to identify at what threshold level I can start detecting a difference in sound quality compared to the original music file. In other words, how far away from bit-perfect can I detect an audible change in SQ. All music files are available for download. As a listening experience, feel free to participate to determine your own audibility threshold level. To correlate the listening tests wi... - A Visit To Aurender Headquarters In Seoul Korea19 April 2013, 12:10 am
This story starts in July 2011 at the California Audio Show. That's where I was introduced to the Aurender music server team and where I had my first opportunity to use the server. I was immediately impressed by the product and the people. Everyone in the room knew their stuff. I asked question after question about the server's capabilities and the team's design decisions. I received polite and comprehensive answers to all my questions. I also asked if I could shoot photos of all the internal se...
- Back in the Habit: Mercury Living Presence, Vinyl Box-Set #217 May 2013, 12:32 pm
UMG/Decca Classics has just released the second official, limited-edition vinyl reissue box-set containing five classic Mercury recordings pressed onto 180gram vinyl...... - PREVIEW: Goldenote Stibbert Black Pearl III16 May 2013, 2:40 pm
Goldenote Stibbert Black Pearl III CD Player Victor Goldstein has been importing (and obviously promoting) audio components for 18 years, and in my experiences evaluating them, he has...... - Daft Punk: In It… “Random Access Memories”15 May 2013, 4:53 pm
I remember being transfixed by Daft Punk’s video for “Homework” – the title track of their timeless electronic masterpiece. There were tiny robots dancing to “Around the World”,...... - Two Limited Edition LP’s from M-A Recordings7 May 2013, 8:05 pm
Todd Garfinkel of M-A Recordings is releasing a new, limited edition 33 rpm LP from Argentinian musicians, Sera Una Noche, entitled; La Segunda. Also being offered is a limited...... - Discovering Wilco: The Whole Love7 May 2013, 6:27 pm
After about a year of wearing out the vinyl of The Whole Love I saw that the album was now also available in 96kHz.24 bit from HDTracks.com. I quickly downloaded the......
- Acoustical Systems' New Axiom Tonearm Appears to Break New Ground13 May 2013, 11:31 am
New tone arms on display at Munich's High End 2013 point towards a renewed interest in their design and execution, especially among German enthusiasts. Acoustical Systems' Dietrich D. Brakemeier, the inventor of the SMARTractor alignment system premiered here in last April's New York Audio Show coverage along with the unique head shell also used on the AXIOM but available as a separate product, has thought of just about everything in this design but rather than me describing it, why not let him?... - AMG Introduces 9" Version of its Tone Arm13 May 2013, 11:10 am
At Munich High End 2013 German manufacturer AMG (Analog Manufaktur Germany) introduced a new 9" version of its innovative tone arm that the company has been packaging with its Viella turntable. You can see cutaways of the arm's innards in the CES 2013 show report. The arm uses a unique spring-type vertical bearing system, similar to what's used in helicopter rotors. The value in this is that there is no bearing chatter possible since there is no bearing as such. The arm uses a pair of them. ... - Joachim Gerhard's New Phono Preamplifier12 May 2013, 7:43 pm
Joachim Gerhard is best known as a loudspeaker designer. He founded Audio Physic and later went on to design speakers first called Sonics By Joachim Gerhard, which later became Spiral Groove loudspeakers and are currently called Canalis. Along with the name changes, came driver and cabinetry improvements. But Mr. first page: 1 ... - See Munich High End Show From the Editor's Point of View Video #112 May 2013, 10:28 am
Join my walking tour of Munich's High End Show 2013 courtesy GoPro camera mounted on my head. This is the first time I used the camera. This show consists of two huge floors of displays—mostly static—and then floors of Atrium rooms where manufacturers set up as they do in hotel rooms. first page: 1 ... - Thoress Phono Preamp Features Point-to-Point Wiring, Variable RIAA11 May 2013, 11:46 pm
Reinhard Thöress's point-to-point wired hybrid JFET/vacuum tube powered phono preamp features five phono inputs, plus variable RIAA that allows you to adjust variances from the RIAA curve at the time constant "knees" of the curve. If the purist/retro approach sounds as good as it looks, it should be one sweet sounding machine. Imported to America by Highwater Sound in New York City. first page: 1 ...
- Gallo Micro SE: How can a speaker this small sound this good?18 May 2013, 2:36 pm
Few "lifestyle" speakers tempt discerning audiophiles, but Anthony Gallo Acoustics' latest crop of mini models will challenge their expectations.... - Three great-sounding affordable sound bars15 May 2013, 2:36 pm
Sound bars have always just been a step up from the yucky speakers built into TVs; the latest Sony, Vizio, and Sharp 'bars are breakthrough designs.... - Take it to the limit: Fostex TH600 headphones12 May 2013, 3:06 pm
The Audiophiliac checks out a pair of ultra-high-end headphones with impeccable clarity.... - The Audiophiliac picks the best speakers under $65011 May 2013, 2:56 pm
A Top 10 list of rock-bottom priced -- but still awesome-sounding -- hi-fi, sound bar, subwoofer, and desktop models.... - PSB Image T6: A high-end tower speaker at an affordable price8 May 2013, 2:36 pm
PSB Speakers' big T6 tower is a seriously powerful performer, equally accomplished with music and home theater sound....
- Hifi Pig in Munich, Part 1017 May 2013, 1:22 pm
Stuart Smith over at Hifi Pig has “syndicated” his coverage of the High End Show in Munich. Many thanks for letting folks on the wrong side of the pond in on the action! In this part of the show … Continue reading →... - In Focus: Nagra Jazz and MSA17 May 2013, 12:01 pm
I probably should make a joke here about how the word ‘Nagra’ is defined as “high-end audio jewelry”, but I suspect you’ve already heard that cliché. And if not, you’re welcome to just pretend that it was a good joke … Continue reading →... - Hifi Pig in Munich, Part 916 May 2013, 8:40 pm
Stuart Smith over at Hifi Pig has “syndicated” his coverage of the High End Show in Munich. Many thanks for letting folks on the wrong side of the pond in on the action! We’ll come back to the main listening … Continue reading →... - Hifi Pig in Munich Part 8; A Bird’s Eye View v315 May 2013, 2:17 pm
Stuart Smith over at Hifi Pig has “syndicated” his coverage of the High End Show in Munich. Many thanks for letting folks on the wrong side of the pond in on the action! Bird: UK slang meaning a woman/wife/girlfriend, synonyms: … Continue reading →... - Hifi Pig in Munich, Part 715 May 2013, 12:28 pm
Stuart Smith over at Hifi Pig has “syndicated” his coverage of the High End Show in Munich. Many thanks for letting folks on the wrong side of the pond in on the action! Living Voice For those that don’t know … Continue reading →...
- NAD launch ‘next generation’ D 3020 amplifier18 May 2013, 6:27 am
“Thirty twenty”. A most common utterance when NAD comes up in hifi conversation; it was the integrated that brought audiophillia to thousands upon thousands of households. The NAD 3020 was – and is – a quintessential piece of everyman hi-fi. I own one. It’s a tidy benchmark from which to judge other amplifiers that pass through these doors. Heck, its... - Resonessence Labs ready INVICTA Mirus DAC18 May 2013, 12:18 am
Remember Resonessence Labs’ INVICTA – their statement DAC and headphone amplifier? Refresh your memory with Michael Lavorgna’s review at Audiostream and Srajan Ebaen’s coverage over at 6Moons. You’ll note from the picture below that Mark Mallinson’s team have added DSD support to new and existing INVICTA owners (via a field-flashable firmware upgrade). DSD, DXD, PCM 352.8kHz and PCM 384kHz playback now runs on... - AURALiC Vega review (Part 3 – vs. Metrum Hex, 6Moons)14 May 2013, 10:35 pm
My final thoughts on AURALiC’s Vega have just gone up on 6Moons. Make no mistake - this is one fine-, fine-sounding DAC. It gives the listener far more aural satisfaction than DACs swimming in the budget end of the market (say, <$1000). For a similar cash drop, the Metrum Hex is capable of pulling up alongside. Both DACs have well thought... - Omega Loudspeakers introduce Super 3T desktop loudspeaker12 May 2013, 6:57 am
Louis Chochos has taken his budget-friendly single-driver Omega Super 3T standmount and transmogrified it for use on to the desktop. A longer front spike ensures the sound is better angled toward the ear and the (rear) port has been moved to the bottom of the cabinet so that positioning close to rear walls won’t mess with lower frequencies. Having reviewed... - Wyred4Sound mINT vs Peachtree Nova125 – a review of sorts8 May 2013, 8:03 am
As an appetizer to this stand off, I suggest you first devour two slices of dedicated Wyred4Sound mINT review commentary from 6Moons (where it summarily dismisses the Bel Canto C5i) and TONEAudio (where TWO writers dig and find gold). Also check out Sam Tellig’s words on the Peachtree Nova125 at Stereophile. My coverage isn’t a straight up review of Wyred4Sound’s minT. Instead,...
- Finally A Portable 192kHz USB 2.0 DAC11 February 2013, 10:34 pm
The AudioQuest DragonFly and the CEntrance DACPort have gained some rave reviews due to their portability and sound quality. But if you’re like me and been holding off on one of those little USB DAC “dongles” because of their 96kHz sample rate limitations, your wait is over. Meridian has announced their Explorer DAC with some great features and specifications. [...] ... - An Inside Look At McIntosh Labs21 January 2013, 12:10 am
I try to focus our reviews and articles on more affordable high quality audio – and for that reason don’t often get to talk about McIntosh Labs. They make some amazing equipment that sounds great and lasts for decades and makes for a strong secondary market. The next time you’re looking for a great amp [...] ... - New HDtracks Download Manager3 January 2013, 1:08 am
If you’ve ever purchased high-resolution albums from David and Normal Chesky’s ever expanding HDtracks, but were put off by their strange and quirky Java download manager, rejoice! Released today, their new download manager is an installed application that appears to be the product of a collaboration with JRiver, makers of the popular JRiver Media Center. I [...] ... - Sicphones Headphone Amplifier Kit Completed!31 December 2012, 6:31 pm
Some of you may be aware of the Sicphones project on Kickstarter that ran successfully this fall. It was able to gain enough funding to produce somewhere around 100 headphone amplifier kits. My box of parts arrived last week and I was finally able to sit down this weekend and spend some time with it. [...] ... - 5 Biggest Audiophile Stories of 201231 December 2012, 3:11 pm
Crowdsourcing Audio Stuff I suppose crowdsourcing got its start in the pre-Groupon days when folks would get together online to organize and take advantage of group-buying price discounts by making a single high-quantity purchase from a manufacturer or distributor. These days, crowdsourcing describes support of the development and manufacture of products that don’t even exist [...] ...
- The Blakhole Isolation Feet by Redpoint Audio Design16 May 2013, 2:00 pm
Audiophilia’s Henry Wilkenson adds his thoughts to Martin Appel’s review of this Audiophilia Star Component winning isolation device. by Henry Wilkenson Over the years I have used many different isolation devices, everything from ceramic to soft jell to brass. Simply stated, the Redpoint Blakholes are the most effective isolation devices that I have used. These deceptively simple devices [...]... - Shostakovich: Symphony no 7 ‘Leningrad’ — Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Vasily Petrenko15 May 2013, 2:31 pm
By James Norris Having heard the live performance given by these forces in Liverpool in January 2012 I am pleased to say at the outset that this recording lives up to the expectations I had at that time. It is a very fine interpretation. For too long, Shostakovich’s Leningrad Symphony has been used as a musical battering ram in [...]... - Toronto Symphony Orchestra closes 2012/13 season with a bang.14 May 2013, 6:53 pm
Tailgate and Music Mob with our great orchestra. The hugely improved TSO closes its season with some innovative ways to enjoy classical music. Party on! Two really cool initiatives are in bold. For Rhapsody in Blue (June 1 & 2), one of the most popular American concert works, conductor Bramwell Tovey will take to the piano to play Gershwin’s beloved jazz-infused Piano [...]... - Audiophilia Eye Candy - May 2013 update14 May 2013, 6:07 pm
... - Victoria Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tania Miller with James Ehnes, violin13 May 2013, 12:58 pm
by Roger Kershaw Oesterle : New World: Of Hope and Refuge (World Premiere) Sibelius : Violin Concerto Stravinsky : The Rite of Spring May 11, 2013. Royal Theatre, Victoria, BC — Juno award winning, Julliard educated wunderkind, brilliant violinist, artist extraordinaire — how many superlatives can be heaped on one Canadian fiddler? After hearing star James Ehnes last night [...]...
- Legacy Audio Studio HD1 March 2013, 2:00 am
Patrick Dillon takes a look at the Legacy Audio Studio HD. Offering an 8" woofer and folded ribbon tweeter in a compact cabinet, the Studio HD is the baby of the Legacy lineup. He concludes that the Studio HDs "soundstage extremely well, offer great resolution across most of the important frequency ranges, good timbre and easy placement" but has reservations about their performance with rock: "bass can overwhelm or lag behind the nimble response of the upper frequencies..."... - The Electrostatic “Sonic Panel” – Interview with Charlie van Dongen and Rob Mackinlay1 March 2013, 1:00 am
"I was intrigued recently to learn of a new electrostatic panel from Australian company Involve Audio," writes John Reekie. Now available as a standalone panel together with the necessary power supplies and stepup transformer, the electrostatic panel offers interesting possibilities for the DIY speaker builder. John asks Charlie Van Dongen, chief designer of Involve Audio, and Rob Mackinlay of E R Audio, also involved in the design of the panel, for some inside info.... - Interview with Ryan Scott, Vapor Audio1 March 2013, 12:00 am
A relatively new entrant in the speaker market is Vapor Audio, notable for the use of top-quality drivers and an extremely solid cabinet construction method using laminated Baltic Birch ply. As a direct-sales manufacturer, their pricing also suggests outstanding value. John Reekie asks Ryan Scott, the designer and principal, if he would share his insights on loudspeaker design and his experiences on the path to become a speaker manufacturer.... - MOTU Microbook II28 February 2013, 8:00 pm
John Reekie continues his quest for the perfect audio interface for acoustic measurements on a reasonable budget. He picks the MOTU MicroBook II because of its precise input gain control, but discovers that the MicroBook is useful for much more than originally anticipated. John writes: "the MicroBook II is an audio geek’s Swiss Army knife: an incredibly handy set of tools in a compact package... if you don't mind a learning curve and have an inclination to tinker and experiment."... - Mid-priced DACs – how to choose28 February 2013, 7:00 pm
"These days, DACs come in a wide variety of packages and price points, with a broad range of features and sometimes questionable benefits," writes Oliver Masciarotte is his opening salvo in demystifying the vast range of DACs in the $500 - $2000 range now on the market. He looks at the key features that make a DAC worthy of consideration for a two-channel hifi enthusiast, and why, based on his inside knowledge of studio and mastering practices....
- How to use the Dr. Feickert Adjust+ software7 May 2013, 10:24 pm
... - The master passes5 May 2013, 4:31 pm
... - Brad Mehldau, Chris Thile blend, bend and transcend boundaries21 April 2013, 1:04 pm
... - Smoke on the martini....23 March 2013, 8:08 pm
... - When albums ruled the world video21 March 2013, 2:07 am
...
- Mitsubishi HC8000D-BL 3D DLP Projector15 May 2013, 8:00 am
Whenever I attend the CEDIA Expo, I visit all the projector manufacturers, both large and small. While Mitsubishi is a large company, their projectors are not as well-known as other brands. At the 2012 Expo, I had a chance to check out their all-new DLP models. In this review, we test the Mitsubishi HC8000D-BL single-chip DLP 3D projector.... - Sennheiser Momentum Over-the-Ear Headphones14 May 2013, 8:00 am
Sennheiser will always hold a special part of my heart as the HD580 my first audiophile headphone. I can still remember the soft velvety fabric of the earpads and the revelation that was quality music playback. Since then, I have experienced the sound of many other headphones, including the Sennheiser Momentum over-the-ear headphones, which are reviewed here.... - The New Wave of Color Calibration Technology: Cube Calibration13 May 2013, 8:00 am
One of the Awards given out in 2012 by Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity for "Technology on the Rise" was for Cube Calibration. For most people this probably doesn't mean much yet, but for those of us that are calibrators, or enthusiasts with an interest in calibration technology, this was a huge development. One might even say that Cube Calibration is the biggest improvement to consumer display technology since the introduction of the Color Management System (CMS).... - Emotiva XPR-1 Monoblock Power Amplifier6 May 2013, 8:00 am
After releasing a 500 watt monoblock power amplifier, the XPA-1, Emotiva didn't stop there. The newest addition to their monoblock power amplifier line is the XPR-1, which delivers 1,000 watts RMS into 8 Ohms. It may strain your back to move it, but it will set you back only $1,500.... - BenQ W1070 Projector1 May 2013, 8:00 am
I'll be blunt: I don't like 3D. I've never been able to justify paying extra to see it in the theater, and at home it has always left me cold. Most implementations give me a headache almost instantly with their crosstalk-filled images and ghosting the drives me crazy... Fast forward to CES 2013 and BenQ is in the South Hall showing off a pair of projectors that are very similar to the W7000, but scaled down: the W1070 and W1080ST....
- SVS Ultra Bookshelf Loudspeaker Review7 May 2013, 8:30 pm
Founded in 1998 and quickly making a name for themselves in the subwoofer market, SVS is now a global maker and distributor of complete speaker systems. They are a unique organization, with a design team and warehouses spread across North America, and manufacturing based in China. The products are sold direct with a generous Read more...... - Opera Mezza Loudspeakers Review24 April 2013, 1:55 am
Italian speaker maker Opera has been making headlines recently with their great-sounding demos at various audio shows, earning them positive print and online reviews. I reviewed their floor-standing Seconda model, which I found to be beautifully made, with sonics to match. Marc Phillips, of Colleen Cardas Imports, contacted me about reviewing the ... - Vanatoo Transparent One Powered Monitors Review4 April 2013, 7:13 pm
Active speakers have had a tough road in the audiophile world. They are fairly commonplace in recording studios and other pro sound environments. I have heard several theories for this, including the fact that powered speakers are not as tweakable. Certainly, audiophiles seem to relish in the ability to independently choose every element of a system, and maybe most importantly, Read more...... - Rein Audio X3-DAC Review19 March 2013, 6:46 pm
Rein Audio impressed me when I had the opportunity to review their very fine sounding X-DAC last year. The German based company, just a few years old, has since developed a few more products, including a headphone amplifier and a series of high performance cables. They also decided to design, from scratch, a higher Read more...... - HiFiMan RE-400 In-Ear Monitor Review5 March 2013, 10:46 pm
The very aptly named HiFiMan has been around since 2007, and I first became aware of the company from the ads for their high performance portable file players. They have developed into a one-stop shopping destination for portable audio lovers. In addition to players, they currently offer headphones, headphone amps, cables, accessories, and a DAC.I have seen many Read more......
- Fritz REV5 Speakers2 January 2013, 3:21 pm
Bookshelf Speakers.... - Luminous Audio Axiom II2 January 2013, 3:21 pm
Passive Preamplifier.... - Aperion Audio Verus Grand Loudspeaker2 January 2013, 3:21 pm
Quality Internet-Direct Bookshelf speakers.... - Review: Yamaha TSX-140 Desktop Audio System6 April 2013, 3:21 pm
desktop review... - Tips For Buying And Selling On Ebay6 April 2013, 3:21 pm
article...
- Speakers Corner records vinyl package18 May 2013, 6:01 am
... - Kef at Munich High end audio show 201318 May 2013, 5:19 am
... - Devialet at Munich High end audio show 201318 May 2013, 4:54 am
... - Thrax Audio Dionysos and Heros test review is coming up17 May 2013, 6:41 am
... - High end all the way17 May 2013, 6:25 am
...
- Bryston B135 SST² Integrated Amplifier/DAC
"This all-purpose amplifying and control device has been at the heart of my audio system for several weeks now, first as a basic amp, replacing a 3B SST, and subsequently operating as a full preamp/amp/DAC. I won't say that it has surprised me a lot, but it is a case where familiarity definitely does not breed contempt..." ... - Behringer 1002B Portable/Studio Mixer - A Remarkable Recording Tool, Especially At The Price!
"This compact battery/AC small mixer is just one part of a multitude of pro audio gear from this company, which engineers and designs its products in Germany, and manufactures them in its own facility (even Apple can’t claim THAT!) in mainland China. Their catalog, available online, a pretty good read for any budding or practicing audio engineer, offers a vast array of products, many for very targeted uses, and this little beauty turned out to be almost exactly what I was looking for at a pric... - AUDIO IDEAS: Not-So-Audio-Related Thoughts About Clouds, Passwords & Controlling Remotely!
"Cloud Computing - It's like entrusting your candy to the babysitter, or your booze to the handyman. You'll look up and find your cloud gone. It's inevitable. I put my trust in USB drives (I have a 250-Gig), SDHC (XC?) cards (great for recording music these days), DVD-Rs, and now Blu-ray-Rs." "I guess other people worry about identity theft. I worry about identity DENIAL!" "And the fact is, there is, as far as my extensive experience has shown, no true universal remote in existence. They all,... - Audioquest DragonFly USB DAC
"This is a product that may look a little like a Dragonfly, but one that soars more like a Dragon flying, as seen in various special-effects-heavy Hollywood films of late. It's a friendly beast, too, easy to set up and use with any computer of today's normal specs for USB digital audio output. It can be used with headphones, powered speakers or as your computer output into an audio system. I had mine going in 10 minutes through Windows 7 in my new Quad-core i7 laptop PC. ... - AURALiC Taurus Headphone Amplifier & Analog Preamplifier and ARK MX+ 96 kHz Coaxial/USB DAC
"AURALiC is a Hong Kong-based company that has its own very specific, and special ideas about designing audio components. With ideals based around classic professional products, such as the famous and revered designs of Rupert Neve, the company sets high standards for itself." ...
- BENCHMARK® EXPANDS ITS DAC2 LINE WITH DAC2 D7 May 2013, 8:12 pm
BENCHMARK® EXPANDS ITS DAC2 LINE WITH DAC2 D A new addition to the DAC2 line, perfect for digital audio enthusiasts and audio engineers looking for reference-level performance. SYRACUSE, New York, April 24, 2013 – Benchmark Media Systems is proud to announce the immediate availability of the DAC2 D, its newest digital-to-analog converter. The DAC2 ...read moreThe post BENCHMARK® EXPANDS ITS DAC2 LINE WITH DAC2 D appeared first on HionHiFi.com.... - Kimber Announces New Kimber Select KS2400 Line of USB Cables22 April 2013, 4:05 pm
Kimber Announces New Kimber Select KS2400 Line of USB Cables USB Audio has emerged as a premier source for all listeners. The KS-2400 series has broken the mold for mass produced machine built cables. Each is handcrafted using our artisan approach to lift the veil that has been separating you from your digital music. The ...read moreThe post Kimber Announces New Kimber Select KS2400 Line of USB Cables appeared first on HionHiFi.com.... - Magico Advises Against Aftermarket Feet for Its Loudspeakers22 April 2013, 3:59 pm
Magico Advises Against After-Market Feet for Its Loudspeakers Magico has received a tremendous number of inquiries from both consumers and dealer/distributors regarding spikes. There are a few things that we believe our partners must know. To start, Magico engineers an extremely rigid sealed-box cabinet. This is one of the many technologies which create the Magico ...read moreThe post Magico Advises Against Aftermarket Feet for Its Loudspeakers appeared first on HionHiFi.com.... - Pivetta Opera One22 April 2013, 3:52 pm
For high end music lovers you evidently need the best, you need a very good power amplifier. But if you like everything especially your music to be distinct and prominent then you have to have one of the latest the Pivetta Opera One. The six feet tall and half a ton heavy giant monster has ...read moreThe post Pivetta Opera One appeared first on HionHiFi.com.... - Cary Audio introduces 2 new DAC’s2 April 2013, 8:13 pm
Introducing the DAC-100 & DAC-100t USB Digital to Analog Converters (DACs) If you asked most music lovers today how they purchase and store their music, the word computer would surely pop up consistently. The Cary Audio DAC-100 and DAC-100t digital to analog converters (DACs) were specifically designed to address this growing segment of computer based ...read moreThe post Cary Audio introduces 2 new DAC’s appeared first on HionHiFi.com....
- The Custom One Pro by Beyerdynamic7 May 2013, 12:33 pm
Everyone knows Beyer’s quality and of the last few years their drive for a bit of innovation in driver technology such as their Tesla technology and of late they have been churning out some fantastic audiophile level quality in the T70 and naturally the T1. Their DT range has seen the arrival of the DT1350 [...]... - The International by ALO Audio28 April 2013, 11:19 am
The International is the latest portable DAC and headphone amp by ALO Audio released a little earlier this year and I would have reviewed it right away except the whole design form factor is made to fit nicely in with the AK100 from Astell & Kern (iRiver) so I actually wanted to spend just a [...]... - The UM1 by Westone16 April 2013, 1:38 pm
I actually own a 5-way driver hybrid and have tested a ton of Dual BA’s over the last year but this is my first single BA driver based design and it’s by one of my favorite earphone specialists, Westone. I covered the UM3X a while back and to date I still think it is one [...]... - The Soloist by Burson Audio14 April 2013, 10:13 am
I have to admit that the first things that struck me about the Burson Soloist were the finish and the weight. The latter I noticed even before I opened the box, given how heavy it was, and I didn’t realize how badly I remember the size of the last Burson products I saw (the 160D [...]... - The AKG K618DJ – Another Beats Slayer?7 April 2013, 5:01 am
The AKG 618DJ is in many ways I guess is the spiritual successor to the K518DJ. The K518 for many is the original gaudy colored bass head starter kit complete with clamp of death and near indestructible build quality at the ever so right and tempting price. With the K618DJ gone now are the Fischer [...]...
- 2013 Munich High End Show Highlight: PSB Viso HP 50 Sealed Headphones17 May 2013, 7:34 pm
Ever since I started measuring headphones I've wanted a compensation curve based on what the measurement head would hear from two very flat speakers in an acoustically treated room. Headphone compensation curves based on Diffuse Field or Free Field measurements aren't at all what speakers deliver. I mean, it just makes sense doesn't it? Stereo music is mixed on and made for two speakers in a room. Isn't that what headphones should emulate? ... - 2013 Munich High End Show: Astell&Kern AK120 High-Resolution Portable Audio PLayer17 May 2013, 6:20 pm
I've been a long time fan of iriver's iHP-140 portable media player, which was one of the only players to have an optical digital output. I still use mine regularly. Unfortunately they've been long discontinued, and subsequent models from iriver (they've changed the capitol "R" of iRiver to lower case now) did not include the digital output. Show Promo Image ... - 2013 Munich High End Show: Erzetich Audio Headphone Amplifiers16 May 2013, 9:13 pm
One of many cool and unusual features of the Munich High End show was a "Newcomer" area. Upstart firms have a hard time affording the big room rates, so a budget display area is a great idea. Arranged radiating in a circle, about eight chest high counters (each about 6'x2') gave Newcomer exhibitors the opportunity to reach out to show-goers. There, introducing themselves to the audio world, was Slovenian headphone amp maker Erzetich Audio. CEO Blaz Erzetich started the company last September b... - 2013 Munich High End Show: Furutech and Alpha Design Labs16 May 2013, 5:33 pm
I spent a bit of time talking with Graeme Coley, Furutech's Sales and Marketing Manager, about the new ADL H118 ($269) full-size, sealed headphone and ADL X1 ($479) headphone amp. The prototype H118 I heard at CES earlier this year didn't impress, but this time around it sure perked my ears up—can't wait to get one in for an extended listen and measure. Show Promo Image ... - 2013 Munich High End Show: HiFiMAN RE-400 and RE-60016 May 2013, 4:24 pm
Never at a loss for a new product, Fang Bien of HiFiMAN gave me a listen to his new RE-600 ($399) in-ear monitor, which I enjoyed very much. I'll definitely get a pair to listen and measure, and then send off to ljokerl to consider for review. The real treat for me, however, was getting to hear the RE-400. I'd read a lot of posts saying it was good, and since the demise of the Etymotic ER6 I've been searching for a good motorcycle earphone. ...
- Download of the Week: Lucrecia Dalt17 May 2013, 11:58 am
Here's another re-recommendation that originated from Stephen Mejias. Lucrecia Dalt's Commotus released on Human Ear Music in 2012 is her second record and its filled with ideas, rhythms, sounds, melodies, smokey and sultry stuff, with Lucretia's lovely vocals hovering near the surface all fragile-like and haunting. I've listened to Commotus on nearly infinite repeat and it just gets deeper with each listen. “Commotus is a Latin word which means 'agitated', 'moved'. ... - Munich High End 2013 The Wrap17 May 2013, 12:30 am
Pieter Bruegel the Elder's "Das Schlaraffenland" (1567) which I got to see on my first day in Munich at the wonderful Arte Pinakothek "It's how all hi-fi shows should be." I heard this sentiment expressed by more than a few people about the Munich High End Show and I agree. While the MOC where the event is held does not offer the last word in friendly room acoustics, the benefits of the place far outweigh the sonic pitfalls. And these benefits include location, location, and location. ... - Avantgarde Zero 116 May 2013, 11:30 pm
The Zero 1 (€9000) from Avantgarde Acoutic wins my award for best Trendspotting piece of kit because the Zero 1 packs up pretty much everything you need minus the source(s) into a horn loaded package. You get a DAC, preamp, and amp with USB, Toslink, S/PDIF, AES/EBU, and optional analog inputs stuffed inside a pair of horn-loaded loudspeakers. And I mean loud. Show Promo Image ... - Miscellaneous Munich16 May 2013, 10:50 pm
the LEEDH E loudspeaker detail (€16,000/pair) I also covered the Munich High End Show for Stereophile where my assignment was to pick a few favorite things. You can read all about my picks right here but this task also led me to places I wouldn't normally travel, namely rooms without computer audio stuff. Show Promo Image the LEEDH E loudspe... - JPlay/Thrax Audio16 May 2013, 10:20 pm
Thrax Maximinus Universal DSP controlled discrete resistor ladder 32bit/384kHz audio DAC I got to hear two very interesting A/B comparisons in the JPlay/Thrax Audio room. For the first A/B, we switched back 'n forth between the same song by none other than Elvis playing from a 12" 45rpm single (A) and a 16/44.1 rip (B). The second A/B was a live LP (A) compared to the digital download of the same. During the A/B'ing in the first comparison, the differences were negligible at best. ...
- SVS PB-1000 Subwoofer9 May 2013, 5:46 am
Powered subwoofers aren’t always a part of the audiophile setup. Often times getting the .1 to blend smoothly with the “2” can be a challenge. Home theater is no stranger...... - The Marimba Bookshelf Loudspeaker by Music Hall30 April 2013, 7:18 pm
Music Hall is a company known for their affordable audio perspective. Their products generally offer high performance without the high costs and allow the everyman to dip a toe in...... - The HiFiMan RE-400 Universal IEM25 April 2013, 8:39 pm
Hifiman has been producing fine audiophile products for a while now. Their full size headphones help lead the charge for planar magnetic drivers (HE-6, HE500) and they more recently started...... - An Audiophile Weekend in the Midwest22 April 2013, 6:39 am
This was a busy weekend in the Midwest for those interested in the finer arts of audio listening. My journey began with a 3-hour road trip to the great state...... - The Alpha Design Labs ADL H118 Headphone13 April 2013, 8:26 pm
Alpha Design Labs is a Tokyo-based company known for its [recent DAC products], while its parent company Furutech is rooted in audio parts and cables. The ADL H118 ($270) represents......