- Dolby® Upsamples & Apodizes TrueHD17 May 2012, 7:00 pm
Pictured (from left to right): Rhonda Wilson, Senior Member, Technical Staff, Products & Technology Group, Dolby Laboratories; Craig Eggers, Director, Content Creation and Playback, Home Theater Ecosystem, Dolby Laboratories; Poppy Crum, Senior Staff Scientist, Dolby Laboratories pose with some of the most recent titles using Dolby TrueHD with advanced 96k up sampling. At 12 noon PST today, Dolby Laboratories, Inc....
- Paradigm Reference Studio 20 v5 loudspeaker15 May 2012, 12:21 am
I have fond memories of the Paradigm Reference Studio 20. When I reviewed the original version for the February 1998 issue of Stereophile, it was the model that started me on my quest to seek out the best affordable loudspeakers. I believe that of all the speakers I've reviewed, the original Studio 20 remained in the magazine's "Recommended Components" longest.... - Krell Cipher SACD/CD player15 May 2012, 12:16 am
Around the turn of the century, a review of the latest hair-raisingly expensive turntable would often begin with a soothing chant that, yes, the RotorGazmoTron XT-35000 is a tad pricey, but it will be the last piece of analog gear you ever buy—so go ahead, take the plunge. A dozen years later, pressing plants are stamping out LPs 'round the clock, and new high-end turntables are rolling off production lines at a respectable clip. So who knows whether today's Cassandras might be equally prem... - Exile On Main Street11 May 2012, 4:55 pm
Many if not most of the world’s most admired albums attained their fame slowly. In the case of Exile on Main Street which was released forty years ago on May 12, 1972, it took years for its ragged, bluesy charms to percolate into the collective psyche and eventually emerge as if not the best, then one of the contenders in the Stones catalog. The debate over an alternative champ has raged for years. Let It Bleed? Some Girls? Sticky Fingers? Beggar’s Banquet? Aftermath?... - 101 Albums11 May 2012, 3:49 pm
Somebody asked me for 10 albums, so here are 101: Oneohtrix Point Never: Returnal Zola Jesus: The Spoils Nicolas Jaar: Space is Only Noise James Blake: James Blake Drake: Take Care Zomby: Dedication Mark McGuire: Living with Yourself Demdike Stare: Tryptych... - Peachtree DAC•iT D/A converter11 May 2012, 3:14 am
It's common knowledge that manufacturers tune the sound of each DAC model. There are the facts of product design and marketing: inputs, outputs, case materials, price points. After that, what's left are the trade-offs of different circuit designs and filter options, which are chosen with care—each has a subtle yet telling effect on a DAC's sound. Most designers try to go from bits to analog with minimal deviation from perfect. But when you look at the measurements and listen closely, you re...
- Computer Audio for Beginners - Part 2 (Hi-Fi+ 86)14 May 2012, 4:36 pm
Icon ( new ): picresized_1337014180_Computer Audio Part 2 Pic 1.jpg Channels: The Absolute Sound Hifi+ Source: HiFi+ Industry News: not Sub-Title: ... - PMC Twenty24 Loudspeakers (Hi-Fi+ 86)11 May 2012, 8:09 pm
Icon ( new ): picresized_1336768041_PMC 24 Loudspeaker 1.jpg Channels: The Absolute Sound Hifi+ Source: HiFi+ Industry News: not When PMC launched the twenty series back in Septemb... - HeadAmp Blue Hawaii SE Electrostatic Headphone Amplifier (Playback 56)9 May 2012, 2:28 pm
Icon ( new ): picresized_1336574356_bhse_front2.jpg Channels: CyberListener Source: Playback Industry News: not Sub-Title: Musicality Comes First HeadAmp ... - NuForce Icon iDo Apple-Compatible DAC/Headphone Amp (Playback 56)8 May 2012, 9:28 pm
Icon ( new ): picresized_1336513432_iDo_11.jpg Channels: CyberListener Source: Playback Industry News: not Sub-Title: Apple Audio Unbound I’ve been g... - NAD VISO 1 Wireless Digital Music System (Playback 56)8 May 2012, 3:08 pm
Icon ( new ): picresized_1336490580_picresized_1336490518_VISO1_3_4-1-F.jpg Channels: CyberListener Computer Audio Source: Playback Industry News: not Sub-Title: ... - Focal XS Book Desktop Speaker System (Playback 56)8 May 2012, 2:42 pm
Icon ( new ): picresized_1336488341_picresized_1336488280_XS_2.0_couple_3-4_face_dos.jpg Channels: CyberListener Source: Playback Industry News: not Sub-Title: A Desktop Smo...
- May High End Audiophile Review Magazine Now Online!17 May 2012, 12:31 pm
Many world premiere reviews, music reviews and much more in Enjoy the Music.com's May high end audiophile Review Magazine.... - In This Issue.... More show reports plus Twitter, Facebook and a surprise coming soon!26 April 2012, 12:31 pm
Enjoy the Music.com joins the social media sites!... - Audio Networking Article By Martin Colloms26 April 2012, 12:31 pm
A potpourri of computer network audio findings, including updates on the Naim UnitiServe, gigabit switches, CAT cable and ripping issues.... - New York Audio And AV Show 2012 Show Report26 April 2012, 12:31 pm
See our extensive coverage of the New York Audio And AV Show.... - World Premiere! EgglestonWorks Isabel Signature Speaker26 April 2012, 12:31 pm
Able to reproduce sound with a realism that, at times, is downright scary!... - World Premiere! Coincident Speaker Technology 211PP Dragon Mk II Monoblock Amplifiers26 April 2012, 12:31 pm
Outstanding vacuum tube amplifier from Coincident Speaker Technology....
- REVIEW: Funk Tonstudiotechnik LAP-2.V3 - linear preamplifier/headphone amplifier from Germany1 May 2012, 10:00 pm
Published on: May 1. 2012, No. 96 The division between „pro” and „home” audio is a fact. Guys from recording studios, working in concert halls and so on think that audiophiles are simply freaks (at most) and audiophile audio companies are just crooks. On the other hand audiophiles consider sound engineers to be deaf woodenheads. It is obvious that none of these … opinions are right, but it clearly shows how the relationship between these two parties look like... - REVIEW: Entreq KONSTANTIN 2010 - headphone cable from Norway1 May 2012, 10:00 pm
Published on: May 1. 2012, No. 96 Led by Mr. Per-Olof Friberg, the Swedish Entreq is one of a fairly large group of micro-companies offering their products and services to people who – shortly speaking – know what they want. Here I mean experienced audiophiles who seek a change for the better in the areas that others only begin to see; those who are aware of the fact that where it comes to sound everything is important, literally every detail. In case of Entreq they offer equi... - COVER STORY - REVIEW: Struss Amplifiers R150 - integrated amplifier from Poland1 May 2012, 10:00 pm
Published on: May 1. 2012, No. 96 Started over twenty years ago by Mr. Zdzisław Hrynkiewicz-Struss, Struss Amplifiers had their commercial debut in the form of the 01-2 amplifier in 1995. What it may have lacked in the good looks department, it made up for in its sound quality, so much that it was compared to the best amplifiers in this price range, including the Pioneer A-400X. Already at that point it showed some characteristics that were to be subsequently developed in later models. ... - REVIEW: Franco Serblin ACCORDO - standmount speakers + stands from Italy1 May 2012, 10:00 pm
Published on: May 1. 2012, No. 96 As we read in company materials, the latest speakers designed by Franco Serblin, Sonus Faber founder and director (between 1983-2005), in their form allude to their designer’s sources of fascination – mini-monitors. Although they have much in common with the Ktêmas that we have reviewed. They resemble the latter in their curved side and front panels, and the engineering technology. The new speakers from Mr. Serblin are two-way designs pe... - REVIEW: M2TECH hiFace EVO + EVO Supply + EVO Clock - D/D converter + PSU + Precision master clock from Italy1 May 2012, 10:00 pm
Published on: May 1. 2012, No. 96 The present review is primarily focused on the hiFace EVO digital-to-digital converter (digital interface), which converts USB signal from the computer into one of the five types of input signal “understandable” to a classic D/A converter: RCA, BNC, TosLink, I2S, AES/EBU ST. Its operation can be further improved by applying the EVO Supply, an external battery power supply and plugging, through the BNC input, the EVO Clock, an external precisio... - REVIEW: TransFi Salvation + Tomahawk - turntable with linear-tracking air bearing tonearm from Great Britain1 May 2012, 10:00 pm
Published on: May 1. 2012, No. 96 There is a chance that some of you noticed me using for quite some time already a TransFi Terminator T3PRO tonearm as my reference one. It is also possible that some of you read my review of that tonearm in one of the magazines. Don't worry if you didn't – this review will cover both TransFi tonearm and turntable, both made by the same guy - Vic Pattachiolla. I came across information about TransFi products maybe 2 years ago on one of the American f...
- The Audiophile Style Collection Hi-Res Hat17 May 2012, 3:36 am
The First item available from The Audiophile Style Collection is the limited edition Computer Audiophile Hi-Res Hat! The Hi-Res Hat features a prominent stylized CA with raised letters on the front, silver button on top, and computeraudiophile.com on the rear. Featured discreetly under the hat's bill is the date Computer Audiophile started 11.20.07. Internally the hat features a custom Official Hi-Res Hat label and the words Low Jitter And Bit Transparent repeated on the hat's seams. Now that it... - Guide To Converting From iTunes To Dedicated Music Server9 May 2012, 3:55 am
The only constant in computer audio is change. Let me qualify that statement so as not to create discomfort among hesitant consumers. The only constant in computer audio, for early adopters and those seeking better solutions, is change. It's entirely possible to purchase a Mac, PC, or canned music server today and use it for the next five to ten years. But just because it's possible doesn't mean it's probable. As new servers, operating systems, and playback applications are released with better ... - A Gift From Sonic Studio To CA Readers4 May 2012, 3:54 am
Sonic Studio is marking the release of Amarra HiFi v2.4 by giving away 50 fully licensed copies to Computer Audiophile readers. Amarra HiFi offers a simple yet sophisticated interface and auto sample rate control up to 192 kHz. Read more to find out how to obtain a complimentary copy. ... - Computer Audiophile Mobile Apps for Android and iOS Available Now1 May 2012, 2:26 am
Just a quick update on the mobile apps and site overhaul. So far the transition to CA 3.0 has gone very smooth. Thanks in large part to the dedicated CA readers who've accepted the change so graciously. Also, thanks to the readers who notified me of minor issues with the site. You guys really are the best! This afternoon Apple approved the CA Mobile application for iOS devices including iPhone and iPod Touch. I have no current plans to create an iPad version as the desktop and mobile web interf... - Welcome to Computer Audiophile 3.022 April 2012, 12:59 am
Computer Audiophile has been completely overhauled. Everything from the server that runs behind the scenes to the software that CA readers see every day has been upgraded. The site now offers much better functionality and many new features that were nearly impossible to implement until now. Some highlights of the new site include both desktop and mobile user interfaces, easier navigation of reviews and articles, better search capabilities, user groups such as U.S. CA Readers, U.K. CA Readers etc... - SOtM sMS-1000 Audiophile Music Server Review12 April 2012, 5:56 pm
The SOtM sMS-1000 music server may appear somewhat familiar to computer audiophile readers. The server contains the much lauded SOtM tX-USB audio output card, is based on the popular Vortexbox software, and can be controlled by a number of applications including MPaD for the iPad. Where the sMS-1000 differs from similar servers is the external design including alluring casework and elegantly hidden slot loading disc drive, and SOtM's ability to make the whole greater than the some of the parts. ...
- Dynamic Design Nebula AC Power Cords
as reviewed by Robert H. Levi3 May 2012, 3:21 pm
... - Computer Audio on the Cheap! Another view… Part 1
by Steve Lefkowicz3 May 2012, 3:21 pm
... - Unison Research Unico Primo Integrated Amplifier
as reviewed by Andre Marc3 May 2012, 3:21 pm
... - Rogue Audio Perseus Magnum Preamplifier
as reviewed by Steve Lefkowicz3 May 2012, 3:21 pm
... - Issue 613 May 2012, 3:21 pm
... - AVM Audio System MA 3.2 amplifiers, PA 3.2 Preamplifier, and 3.2 CD Player
as reviewed by Gary Lea3 May 2012, 3:21 pm
...
- Simaudio Moon 810LP12 May 2012, 10:00 pm
Following their assault on digital playback last year with their 650D and 750D DAC/Transports, they’ve given analog lovers a real treat with their new 810LP phonostage. And it’s a beauty. Priced at $12k and featuring the same slim case design as the 650D/750D, the 810LP is a full scale assault on high performance analog reproduction. [...]... - Turntables in Munich4 May 2012, 4:54 am
The Munich High End show opened yesterday and it’s clear that the Europeans are serious about analog! This display from Pro-Ject is just a smattering of the wide range of turntables here on display. Stay tuned for more tomorrow!... - Nagra’s New Jazz Preamplifier4 May 2012, 4:39 am
Nagra announced yesterday that they are introducing their new Jazz preamplifier here at the Munich Hi End Show. Named in homage to the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival that Nagra has sponsored for years, the Jazz preamplifier follows in the line of the famous PL-L and PL-P preamplifiers. Compact size, high performance and top notch build [...]... - Coming Soon, Black Lion Records!19 April 2012, 11:06 pm
Jazz lovers rejoice. Steve Hoffman, Chris Bellman and Bernie Grundman have teamed up with ORG Music and Pallas in Germany to produce a series of records from the Black Lion imprint – A London based label featuring an interesting roster of artists and releases. These records are long out of print and have never been remastered. [...]... - The Latest From Crystal Cable17 April 2012, 1:53 pm
Crystal Cable, known for combining performance with elegance, announced their new Absolute Dream cables today, positioned above their award winning Dreamline series. It is the first cable to use pure mono crystal technology in both the core and the braided shielding. The pure mono crystal silver core is covered with Dupont’s Kapton and PEEK as [...]... - Gear Index Updated!11 April 2012, 5:08 am
We’ve just updated our gear index again, through issue #44. Now you can find all your favorite TONEAudio reviews quickly…. Download it here....
- Music Reviews12 February 2012, 1:04 pm
... - Virtue Audio Sensation M451 Integrated Amplifier and Piano M112 February 2012, 1:03 pm
... - Studies On Residential Power Line Noise- PS Audio P5 AC Regenerator12 February 2012, 1:02 pm
... - Maverick Audio TubeMagic D1 Digital to Analog Converter12 February 2012, 12:57 pm
...
- Opus 3 Test Records
... - Teresonic Silver EXP audio cables
... - 47 Labs Model 4733 Midnight Blue headphone amplifier/pre-amplifier/USB DAC
... - 2012 High End, Part I: Dr Feickert Acoustics Firebird, Audio Physic Virgo 25 Plus, MAD The Duke LE, Purist HDR 5D, KEF LS50
... - Melody AN211 integrated tube amplifier
... - The Future of Quality Audio - A Manifesto for Progress
...
- Meitner Audio MA-1 Digital-to-Analog Converter15 May 2012, 5:00 am
I’m no early adopter because there’s no upside. Invest too early and you not only end up spending too much money, you might end up with an expensive white elephant as the technology continues to progress -- or, in the worst case, withers on the vine, a victim of market forces. This is why I never took sides in the debate of SACD vs. DVD-Audio, and instead waited for a universal player or music server that would meet my criteria for the ultimate in sound quality and convenience. I had no int... - PSB Imagine T2 Loudspeakers1 May 2012, 5:00 am
Note: Measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link. PSB’s founder, Paul Barton, has been designing loudspeakers for 40 years. But even after all that time in the game, Paul is not one of those designers who yearn to create the most expensive model they can, whether or not they have the talent to do it; instead, he uses his formidable experience and expertise to create speakers that are affordable for the masses -- speakers tha... - Siltech Ruby Hill II and SPX-800 Power Cords / Octopus Signature Eight Power Distributor1 May 2012, 5:00 am
Recently, a novelist friend sent me a case of Italian wines -- an assortment of reds from Ischia, Umbria, Etna, and Tuscany. None were familiar to me, although I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can about Italian wines, especially the grossly pricey ones called “Super Tuscans.” When I get to Italy, I run around not only to museums and ancient walled cities, but also to various vineyards, audio manufacturers, and restaurants serving great regional cuisine -- often all on the same day. D... - Focal Chorus 807 W Prestige Loudspeakers15 April 2012, 5:00 am
Note: Measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link. It’s fairly common in the world of high-end loudspeakers for a company to first use a newly developed technology in its flagship model, and only later apply that technology to its less expensive models. This practice is especially common in bigger companies, where ongoing research and development ensures a steady stream of new ideas and approaches. A good example is the Chor... - Monitor Audio Gold GX300 Loudspeakers1 April 2012, 5:00 am
Last year, when I reviewed Monitor Audio’s Silver RX6 loudspeaker, I was a bit dumbfounded by the vast improvement over the outgoing Silver RS6 -- everything was new from the ground up, including the sound. So when I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing Monitor’s new Gold GX-series flagship, the Gold GX300, I was intrigued. I’d had a small glimpse of what I might expect from this redesign of the Gold GS60 at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show. At that time, the Gold GX line had ... - BSG Technologies qøl Signal Completion Stage1 April 2012, 5:00 am
BSG Technologies is a startup cofounded by Larry Kay, best known in audio circles as publisher of the defunct Fi magazine; and by Barry Goldfarb, an audio designer and professional musician. The qøl Signal Completion Stage is an all-analog line-level component that is said to reveal information lost in the processes of creating and playing recordings. Kay and Goldfarb say that the qøl adds nothing new or fake -- the qøl reveals tonal, dynamic, and spatial information about the original perfor...
- Cambridge Audio Azur DacMagic Plus Digital-to-Analog Converter15 May 2012, 5:00 am
Digital-to-analog converters have been popular almost since the introduction of the Compact Disc, in 1983. I can understand why DACs were needed in those early days -- CD players’ built-in DACs were of dubious quality, and manufacturers cut corners to bring costs down. But as CD players improved, I couldn’t be bothered with an external DAC, and the two-box solution of CD transport and separate DAC introduced another problem: jitter, or timing errors in the transfer of data between transport ... - Audioengine 5+ Active Loudspeakers1 May 2012, 5:00 am
It’s curious to me that, as a generality, the more money you spend at a restaurant, the less you get. Yes, the coeur de gigot d’agneau en gasconnade and accompanying Bordeaux performed the most tuneful tandem that my taste buds will witness for the foreseeable future. Yes, my plate’s presentation was more artfully done than I could have managed on my own. And most important, yes, two hours later I was once again hungry, my wallet felt uncomfortably light, and I experienced a growing sense ... - Musical Fidelity M1DAC Digital-to-Analog Converter15 April 2012, 5:00 am
In the distant wake of the Trojan War, Odysseus, king of Ithaca, returned home in a journey of the most circuitous sort. Famed for his cunning, as exemplified by the Trojan Horse, and for his blinding of a certain Cyclops named Polyphemus, he navigated myriad obstacles in his ten-year trip. These included the stupor-inducing Lotus-Eaters, the giant, cannibalistic Laestrygonians, the six-headed Scylla, and the whirlpool Charybdis. The seas were not always rough for the Ithacan, however; Odysseus ... - Orb Audio Mod1 Loudspeakers / Super Eight Subwoofer / Booster Mini Integrated Amplifier1 April 2012, 5:00 am
Most speaker manufacturers market a full line of speakers, or even several lines, each line serving a different market niche. Though the models within a line usually vary in size, they often share the same design principles and some of the same parts. Orb Audio makes precisely one model: the Mod1 ($239 USD per pair), a nearly spherical speaker that, at 4 3/16"W x 4 3/16"H x 4 7/8"D, is a little bigger than a softball. Orb offers many different configurations of single and multiple Mod1s. The Mo... - Spin-Clean Record Washer Mk.II15 March 2012, 5:00 am
I’m not made of money, but when it comes to record care, I have high standards. The ways in which you can clean your records are legion, and almost all of the good ones are expensive. Even the cheapest vacuum-powered record-cleaning machine out there costs more than a decent pair of bookshelf speakers. Many years ago, I began my quest for clean records with a basement record-cleaning station stocked with LAST brushes and fluid. Those punky little brushes had a velvet coating on them with a na... - Tyler Acoustics Decade D4M Loudspeakers1 March 2012, 5:00 am
I spend a lot of time thinking about how to shave my beard: which sort of razor to use, whether to use a cream or gel, which brands of each to buy. It’s the same sort of deliberation that goes into assembling a stereo system. In this analogy, your amplifier is your choice of razor. Three blades? Four blades? Five? Tubed or solid-state, the amp could determine how smooth your music will sound, or how close you get to the artists’ intentions. Your recordings are your face -- you can clean the...
- Synergistic Research Element Copper, Tungsten, and Copper-Tungsten-Silver Interconnects and Speaker Cables15 May 2012, 12:00 am
In April 2009, when I reviewed Synergistic Research’s Tesla Apex interconnects and speaker cables, I concluded that they were among the best cables I’d heard regardless of price -- and I had heard more than a few. However, as a result of nothing more than my own carelessness and the need to begin my next review, I failed to give the Teslas the Reviewers’ Choice award they deserved. I remedied that failing two months later in a follow-up review, and wondered what Synergistic could come up w... - Crystal Cable Arabesque Mini Loudspeakers1 May 2012, 12:00 am
Thinking outside the box. Some designers do it, others don’t. Gabi and Edwin van der Kley, the husband-and-wife duo behind the Dutch sister companies Crystal Cable and Siltech, have coupled a solidly engineering-based design approach with a questioning spirit that leads them beyond the status quo. Whether it’s a novel amalgam of silver and gold conductors, or a cable-design philosophy based on the principle of thinner is better, the van der Kleys favor elegant solutions. Known principally fo... - EgglestonWorks Fontaine Signature Loudspeakers15 April 2012, 12:00 am
Way back when, I was a teenager looking to buy my first set of "serious" speakers with the hard-earned money I made on my paper route, and went looking for the biggest suckers I could find per dollar spent. Sound quality was a consideration, but I’m embarrassed to say that looks and woofer size were at least as important as the quality of sound the speakers could produce. I ended up with a pair of Pioneer HPM100s. I still have them today . . . though I can’t remember the last time a signal p... - AudioQuest Diamond and Carbon FireWire 800 Cables15 March 2012, 12:00 am
This review is completely and utterly insane. If you read it, then describe it using such words as preposterous, impossible, improbable, hogswallop, or the ever-popular bullship, I won’t disagree. I did all the work here, and I still think it’s the goofiest thing I’ve ever experienced in audio since I got seriously involved in the field 40 years ago. It should be impossible. I was trained as and worked as an engineer -- mechanical, electrical (including power-supply compliance), software, ... - Artos Audio Sunrise Loudspeakers1 March 2012, 12:00 am
As a reward for my efforts in 2011, editor Jeff Fritz made me an offer: Would I like to review my first loudspeaker for the SoundStage! Network, the Artos Audio Sunrise ($23,000 USD per pair)? Their construction is first-rate, and the speakers are not only beautiful to look at but sound good. I said yes, and Jeff put me in touch with Artos Audio’s US distributor, Alfred Kainz, who owns highend-electronics, Inc., in Apple Valley, California.... - Esoteric I-03 Integrated Amplifier15 February 2012, 12:00 am
When it comes to amps, my beat here at the SoundStage! Network involves integrated amplifiers, which for the most part have been solid-state. The one exception has been the Esoteric A-100, which I reviewed in 2008. Reviewing that $19,000 USD amp based on the KT88 output tube was a singular experience -- it remains one of the finest amps I’ve ever heard. So I was intrigued when Jeff Fritz offered me the opportunity to experience what Esoteric could do in a lower-priced but higher-powered solid-...
- Audio News for May 18, 201218 May 2012, 7:01 am
Ultra-D 3D Without Glasses Technology; Free Streaming of Tanglewood Concerts; Denon’s Networked AVR Trio... - MAHLER: Symphony No. 9 – New York Philharmonic/ Dimitri Mitropoulos – Archipel17 May 2012, 7:01 am
A moment of emotional white heat from New York in 1960, with Dimitri Mitropoulos at the helm in Mahler’s last-completed symphony.... - Tommy Igoe and the Birdland Big Band – Eleven – Self-produced17 May 2012, 7:01 am
A swinger from start to finish.... - SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2; RODION SHCHEDRIN: Piano Con. No. 5 – Denis Matsuev, p./ Mariinsky Orchestra/ Valery Gergiev – Mariinsky17 May 2012, 7:01 am
A great match up for two disparate composers, with superb performances.... - JÖRG HERCHET: Das Geistliche Jahr: Four Cantatas – Meißner Kantorei 1961/ Ensemble vocal modern/ Christfried Brödel – querstand (SACD + CD)17 May 2012, 7:01 am
This is important, often deeply disquieting, contemporary music.... - LASSE THORESEN: Himmelkvad (Vocal Sextet, Op. 42 and Helligkvad, Op. 19) – Berit Opheim Versto, vocalist/ Nordic Voices – 2L (Blu-ray + CD)17 May 2012, 7:01 am
Involving and affective music that probes the soul and prods the emotions....
- Hy End - Bruckner, Brahms, & Bang-Bang Lang Lang Liszt, by Hy Sarick
"Here, the showiest of pianists encounters the showiest of composers, and produces a stunning disc of great passion and virtuosity. Lang has been a devotee of Liszt's work from the age of 2 (!!), since his first encounter with Classical music - Tom & Jerry's version of the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2...." ... - Zu Omen Standard Loudspeaker
"Zu Audio is a different kind of speaker company. You’ll know this already if you’ve ever seen them exhibit at shows (more DJ booth/house party than hi-fi demo), had a read of their (extremely frank and detailed) website, or even just had a careful look at one of their speakers. Their corporate slogan is “a revolution in American hi-fi” and their goal is nothing less than bringing “back the stereo as the most important and rewarding furnishing in the home.” ... - NAD C 446 Digital Media Tuner: NAD Goes Media Mad!
"Digital audio in its many variations seems to yield new categories of product constantly, this new product from NAD a case in point. It will snoop for music files in your computer via its wired or wireless networks, receive AM and FM broadcasts, and search the internet for transmissions of all sorts, from faraway radio stations to specific podcasts, and send all of these directly to your high end audio system via 24-bit/192-kHz DACs (caveat coming) via RCA jacks, or by direct digital feed (Tosl... - Watching A little TV: VIZIO VMB070 Portable 7″ LED/LCD NTSC/ATSC Widescreen Television
"And turning to that excellent tuner, it brought in more digital stations from my outdoor antenna (the switch to all digital had already happened here in Ontario, so no analog signals were available) than my Zenith off-air tuner, and the extra input also proved useful for monitoring off satellite when watching off air on the big screen, as well as for monitoring recordings to DVD or hard disc on my LG DVD video recorder. So checking out the VMB070 for analog reception will have to wait until nex... - Bain’s Blog - Snakes In The Brass
"Adolphe Sax, a second generation instrument maker in Brussels with a penchant for design, after developing his Saxhorn family of brass valved horns of various size and pitch, and having developed the first really workable bass clarinet, installed a bass clarinet mouthpiece on one of his firm's ophicleides. He was aware of the tonal disparity among strings, winds, and brass, families; in which the strings and winds were generally overpowered by the brass. What he produced was, in essence, a br... - Samson ZOOM H2n(ext) Handy Digital Recorder - ZOOM Forges Ahead of the Pack…
"I've admired and owned ZOOM products for a few years now, both H4 and H2 passing through my studio and out into the field. Those reviews have already been published, and this Japanese company has now taken over its own worldwide distribution of its newest products..." ...
- Review: Fatman Mi-Tube17 May 2012, 3:25 pm
Ever since the Fatman brand was founded in 2006, its mission has been to marry upstart digital devices such as the iPod and iPhone with vacuum tube amplifying technology, bringing both a much-needed boost in perceived audio quality to the former and some street cred to the latter - as we saw with the Fatman Mi-Tube's sibling the iTube 452.The Fatman Mi-Tube Valve Amplifier with Bluetooth, though, is arguably the smallest and neatest expression of Fatman's philosophy yet. What you get for the ver... - Review: Plantronics BackBeat Go17 May 2012, 3:28 am
Shopping for a stereo Bluetooth headset can be hit or miss. When looking for the best solution, do you choose a product made by a company known for their commitment and mastery of audio technology or one that is known for their Bluetooth technology?And herein lies the dilemma with the Plantronics BackBeat Go Bluetooth headset: it's a good stereo headset that's great for phone calls. That said, hardcore audiophiles will no doubt be disappointed by the bluetooth headset's overall music performance... - Review: Incase Sonic Over Ear Headphones15 May 2012, 9:53 pm
When you think of the name Incase you'll invariably think about aftermarket Macintosh products. From super slick iPhone and iPad cases to protective products for your MacBook Pro, SF-based Incase does one thing very well: They make great looking products that are both stylish and functional.When we first heard that the company was jumping into the audio market with a complete line of Incase headphones and earphones we had no doubt that they'd be great looking and "hip." The question that... - Review: Samsung HW-E5513 May 2012, 9:15 am
IntroductionInterest in one-piece soundbars is booming. According to the market analysts at GfK, the UK will see sales leap to 120,000 pieces this year, up from 75,000 in 2011. Their appeal is easy to understand. If you can't fit a multi-speaker sound system in your living room, a single, wide-dispersion enclosure, helped by a subwoofer, is reasonable compensation. But with the new Crystal Surround Air Track HW-E551, Samsung has broadened this appeal further. Rather cannily, the main soundbar ha... - Review: Roberts Stream 83i27 April 2012, 8:30 am
The design of the Roberts Stream 83i Wi-Fi streamer/internet radio/DAB radio has proved to be particularly divisive within the office. The phrases 'ugly' and the slightly more diplomatic 'lacking in style' have been bandied about, but so too has 'retro' and 'I like it'. Looks aside, it has the solid build quality we've come to expect from Roberts, and it's easy to connect the Stream 83i to a wireless network and browse the huge range of internet radio stations and podcasts. Plugging in a USB sti... - Review: Logitech UE Air Speaker19 April 2012, 3:49 pm
IntroductionWe like Logitech's speakers, and we like AirPlay, Apple's technology for streaming video and uncompressed audio over Wi-Fi. In theory, then, we should like Logitech's first AirPlay speaker, the Logitech UE Air Speaker. And we do - but not without reservations.Let's talk AirPlay first. So long as you have a Wi-Fi network and at least one PC or Mac running iTunes 10.1 or later, or a recent iOS device, you can stream your music to the Logitech UE Air Speaker. With an iOS device, you can...
- Audiophilia Recommended New Releases 20128 May 2012, 1:00 pm
[The CD title is linked to our affiliate, Amazon.com - Ed] This post will updated regularly through the year. Please check back often, or, even better, subscribe. Link to 2011 recommendations. Audiophilia Recommended New Releases - Update 8/5/12 Vanhal – Two Symphonies, Cello Concerto [55:01] Istvan Vardai – Cello, Camerata Schweiz / Howard Griffiths CPO 777612-2 (2011) Johann Baptist Vanhal (his surname [...]... - Audiophilia Eye Candy1 May 2012, 12:00 pm
May 1 update Some Danish loveliness in the form of a CD player and DAC. The Gato Audio CDD-1 - CD-player ⁄ DAC. Gato Audio describes it — At Gato Audio we are very pleased to announce the long awaited and very versatile CDD-1 CD player and D/A converter. It has now been delivered to our [...]... - Audioengine D2 24-bit Wireless Computer Interface15 April 2012, 1:46 pm
by Anthony Kershaw Audioengine was formed 6 years ago out of a desire to bring reasonably-priced and great-sounding studio monitor speaker designs to the consumer audio market. The Audioengine team succeeded beyond their dreams with the Audioengine 5 powered loudspeaker, a wildly popular speaker for the computer audiophile generation. Getting the speakers right, they moved on [...]... - The Fritz Carbon 7 Loudspeaker8 April 2012, 2:52 pm
by Henry Wilkenson Small two way speakers have been around for quite some time now. Once known as bookshelf speakers, people actually did put these speakers on book shelves. You could have your system in a neat package that had a very high wife acceptance factor. The sonic results of this practice were another matter [...]... - The Orb Audio Sakura deStat Handheld Static Charge Eliminator6 April 2012, 1:59 pm
by Martin Appel One of my favorite rooms at the 2012 CES was the Acoustic Zen/Triode room. Robert Lee of Acoustic Zen and Santos Oropel of Twin Audio Video, a dealer for those wonderful Triode amplifiers, were both very enthused about a product called the Sakura. They used this hair dryer shaped device on all the [...]... - Titanic. Anniversary Edition27 March 2012, 12:26 am
by Anthony Kershaw I was chastised recently in an otherwise friendly letter. The remonstration? ‘Review more soundtracks.’ Just as I was feeling suitably scolded, this blast from the recent past showed up at the office. Soundtracks, you want? Here you go. This is the ‘Anniversary’ Edition. It includes nice packaging (stickers, detailed notes, etc) and two discs. [...]...
- TEAC NS-X120 April 2012, 10:35 am
Product category Dock systems It’s almost a given these days that we expect devices like the TEAC NS-X1 to do everything except the washing up, but most inevitably have one or two holes in their spec. Product NS-X1 Pros Great feature set; elegant design; wall-mountable; easygoing sound Cons Needs more bass; can get ill-defined with more complex material Abstract Stylish and ver... - Dynaudio Xeo 320 April 2012, 8:41 am
Product category Hi-fi speakers The Dynaudio Xeo 3 active wireless standmounters made their UK debut at the recent Bristol Sound and Vision Show 2012. Dynaudio has incorporated a distinctive take on wireless operation to its existing high-end loudspeaker engineering to create a system that can deliver high-quality music over a wireless network. Product Xeo 3 Pros Wireless; clear and dynamic; good timing; multi-source; multi-room; easy to set... - Cambridge Audio SLA2517 April 2012, 5:20 pm
Product category Dock systems Powered speakers like the Cambridge Audio SLA25 are useful when you’re short on space, or want something with a little more pep than laptop speakers that sound like a bee in a jam-jar. They work by including the amplifier in the speakers, so you don't need a separate amp: source components connect directly to one of the speakers, as does a mains lead, while conventional cable runs to the second speaker. Product SLA25 Pros... - Cyrus 6a17 April 2012, 9:57 am
Product category Hi-fi amplifiers So, here's the Cyrus 6a amplifier – the replacement for the company's 6XP amp, and at a knockdown price of £699 (the 6XP was £925). Product 6a Pros The usual Cyrus traits: precision, clarity, speed, detail and confidence; upgrade potential Cons Many rivals are more powerful Abstract The Cyrus 6a is a fine amplifier, and even better value than... - Burmester 911 Mk III monoblocs13 April 2012, 11:17 am
Product category Power amps The Burmester 911 MkIII monobloc power amps will set you back £32,800. Yes, we know, we know... but they do deliver 535W, or 770W into a 4ohm load, look and feel reassuringly expensive at 31Kg a pop – and, after all, you do get two for that money! Product 911 Mk III monoblocs Pros Intricate, powerful sound; terrific dynamics and volume; exceptional build Cons Large and very heavy... - Burmester 07712 April 2012, 2:22 pm
Product category Preamps The Burmester 077 preamplifier is a cool £19,900 – and let’s face it, spending the better part of £20k on a preamp, let alone well over £50,000 when you include the pair of 911 MkIII monoblocs with which we tested it, is as much an exhibition of wealth as it is a pursuit of audio nirvana. Product 077 Pros Intricate, powerful sound; terrific dynamics and volume; exceptional build Cons ...
- Bose Updates Wave Systems
New Bose MkIII models have optional DAB radio tuners and optional Bluetooth connectability... - Sennheiser PC 323D Gaming Phones
Sennheiser PC 323D premium gaming headset delivers 7.1-channel super-realistic surround when powered by Dolby Headphone and Dolby ProLogic IIx... - Vincent SV-233 Integrated Amplifier Review and Test
If I’d handed in Vincent’s Operating Instructions as an assignment, my old English teacher would have marked it ‘Needs Work.’ The English is mostly fractured and the pages bore ‘corrections’ in the form of poor- quality photocopies glued (though very neatly, I must admit) over the erroneous text and illustrations.... - I'm Shocked: Why am I Getting a Tingle?
These days, hi-fi and video components are technically electrically safer than they’ve ever been. So why is it very common to get an electrical shock when installing equipment? Experienced electronic designer and technician Joe Raine reveals some shocking secrets…... - Von Schwiekert VR-35 Export Deluxe Loudspeakers Review & Test
There is no ‘non-deluxe’ version, nor is there a ‘non-export’ version manufactured solely for sale in the USA… which then, of course, begs the question as to why the speakers’ model name is not just plain ol’ ‘VR-35’.... - Strange New Magnepan
Wisdom Audio and Magnepan have joined forces at the upcoming T.H.E Show in Newport Beach, California, where Magnepan will release a strange new design....
- Get the vinyl on the platter...11 May 2012, 10:28 pm
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... - Interesting blog from nearby dealer22 April 2012, 10:52 pm
... - qøl™: review upcoming21 April 2012, 3:52 pm
... - Speaking of speakers...12 April 2012, 3:12 am
... - Origin Live does speakers...6 April 2012, 9:15 pm
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- Onkyo to offer Dolby TrueHD 5.1 channel music downloads16 May 2012, 2:36 pm
Music-only surround formats have failed again and again; is Onkyo's new high-resolution download scheme doomed from the start?... - Audiophiliac readers' favorite headphones, speakers, and receivers13 May 2012, 2:46 pm
The readers' selection lists for the best-of-the-best gear were full of surprises, with winners and losers in each category.... - When did music become unimportant?12 May 2012, 2:36 pm
MTV gave up on music ages ago, and only a handful of young bands make money selling records. Has music just become a 'soundtrack' to other activities?... - A new high in desktop speaker sound quality?9 May 2012, 2:36 pm
Adam Audio ARTist 3 speakers' radical tweeter design takes the sound to another level.... - Meet the next generation of music tech6 May 2012, 2:56 pm
The Audiophiliac drops in on an advanced audio production class at NYU.... - The best way to discover new music5 May 2012, 2:36 pm
Internet radio, Spotify, and Pandora are good, but "curated" music podcasts are an even better way to discover new music....
- Vienna Acoustics Haydn1 March 2012, 1:00 am
"A confession: I’ve always preferred full-range speakers," writes Peter D'Amario in his review of the Vienna Acoustics Haydn. He explores the realities of real-sizing with these small monitor louspeakers, and concludes: "Buy some stands, ensure that you have adequate amplification, and you will find that these are speakers with which you can live happily ever after."... - Eastern Electric M881 March 2012, 12:00 am
"The last two pairs of speakers that I reviewed are tube-friendly designs. So tube-friendly, in fact, that their designers would go so far as to suggest that it be preferable to drive their speakers with just one, solitary tube per speaker." Thad Aerts goes in search of more "oomph" than SET, and discovers the Eastern Electric M88 integrated amplifier.... - M. Ostermeier – The Rules of Another Small World29 February 2012, 11:00 pm
"I was first intrigued with this album because of its cover, images of an abandoned sci-fi pod-style housing project in northern San-Zhr," writes Walker Burns of M. Ostermeier's most recent album. "It sounds as if one is exploring the environs of what is depicted on the album’s cover... this is music-on-the-edges of consciousness or the fringe of a dream."... - Wywires Cables: a whole system rewired29 February 2012, 10:00 pm
Patrick Dillon explores the concept of doing a complete system rewire with cables from a single manufacturer. "The theory, if we may call it such, is that the true benefit of cable changes are found when one employs the same manufacturer’s cables for the complete rig rather than cherry picking different cables for different components." The results? Read on...... - Fostex HP-A3 DAC and Headphone Amp29 February 2012, 9:00 pm
"My relationship with headphones and associated equipment has been pretty hit-and-miss over the years. Headphone listening has always been a definite second choice..." John Reekie goes in search of a more enjoyable listening experience with headphones, and settles on the little-known USB-powered Fostex HP-A3 DAC and headphone amplifier.... - On Dipole Subwoofer Placement29 February 2012, 8:00 pm
John Reekie measures the effect of dipole subwoofer placement with respect to listener and wall distance. While he had earlier obtained good results with nearby placement of a diple subwoofer, he asks "Can these results be generalized into a recommendation for others to try?" This series of measurements suggests that they can....
- Enhanced Digital Output applet for Squeezebox Touch16 May 2012, 12:32 am
These past few weeks I’ve been flirting with the Enhanced Digital Output (EDO) applet for the Squeezebox Touch. This app is the industrious work of Slim Devices senior member triode. It adds two key features to the SBT: 1. The ability to connect asynchronous USB DACs (WITHOUT hearing clicks & pops) 2. 176.4KHz and 192KHz [...]... - Empirical Audio Synchro-Mesh review16 May 2012, 12:30 am
Steve Nugent is no Johnny-come-lately. Working under the banner of Empirical Audio since 1994 he has a solid track record in digital audio; especially with digital clocks. Nugent believes that the clock (data timing) is the most important part of getting digital audio (sounding) right. He’s been selling the Pace-Car reclocker for some years now. [...]... - Schiit Bifrost 24/192 DAC (AKM 4399) review8 May 2012, 11:41 pm
It’s Bifrost, not Bitfrost. Upgradable and modular and deploying one of the lesser common decoder chips (AKM 4399), Schiit’s first splash into the DAC scene has the forum’s a-buzzin’ and the manufacturer running at full tilt. After weeks in the publication ante-room, my review of Schiit’s entry level DAC has finally crash-landed on the TONEAudio website. Supplementary words [...]... - Electronica for audiophiles (Part 2)8 May 2012, 11:30 pm
I don’t think that Diana Krall or Melody Gardot are necessarily bad. Not strictly my cuppa tea, they sound pleasant enough. Perhaps all that Pleasantville is a turn-off in itself? All that candy-sweet-talking rots teeth. No, the problem with such artists is that they hold an almost irreversible sway in many (most?) audiophile circles. Go [...]... - CEntrance Audiophile Desktop System (A.D.S.) review3 May 2012, 5:27 am
An audiophile system-in-a-box that far surpasses desktop audio expectations. High fidelity sound for anywhere in the world. ANYWHERE. “I’m not as interested in the high-end as I am in quality hifi gear that better lends itself to modern, smaller living spaces. Think of medium-high density living where people occupy units/flats/apartments with poor wall/floor insulation. Is [...]... - John Kenny JKDAC32 review9 April 2012, 11:41 pm
NanoPhosphate battery power –> Hiface –> I2S –> DAC chip —> RCA connectors. If you require only a single USB input, John Kenny’s JKDAC32 is more than worthy of your consideration. “Think of the JKDAC32 as a JKSPDIF + DAC chip, a USB DAC whose input is already optimised. In the context of my previously-documented [...]...
- NEW 192kHz/24bit Mastering of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On18 May 2012, 1:42 pm
HDtracks has just released Marvin Gaye’s 1971 landmark recording, What’s Going On, which revolutionized music history. The brilliant concept album featured politically charge anthems tackling themes of urban decay, environmental issues, police brutality, unemployment and poverty. Included were the monster hits, “What’s Going On” and “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler).” Mastering was completed [...] ... - Cable Comparison Tests: Radio Shack verses Reference Grade16 May 2012, 11:11 pm
The Audio Society of Minnesota convened recently to try and answer the age-old question: do cables matter? They compared regular old lamp cord to several high-end cables and I think you’ll find their results interesting. It’s good to see folks coming together to perform tests like this. April 2012 Speaker Cable Listening Test ... - Red Lobster Speakers by ikyaudio16 May 2012, 1:12 pm
Audio speakers handmade from PVC pipes. Who would have thought? ikyaudio has received lots of attention from the likes of Wired Magazine and Gizmodo.com with their uniquely unorthodox desktop speakers. But how do they sound? We couldn’t let this go unanswered and contacted Eric Nelson from ikyaudio to received a pair of their Red Lobster [...] ... - Free DSD Downloads from Blue Coast Records13 May 2012, 11:35 am
Happy Mother’s Day! There are three free DSD downloads available today from Blue Coast Records and Audiogate. PlayBeauty by Suzie Daines PlayLoving You Always by Tom Powder Alta Powder Day by Garett Brennan If your playback software doesn’t already support DSD, you can get the free Audiogate from Korg. ... - Stealth Audiophile? Tivoli Audio RadioCombo12 May 2012, 5:04 pm
Tivoli Audio was co-founded by Henry Kloss, one of the most respected names in audio. And as we’ll see in the RadioCombo, his vision for affordable and practical high-quality audio carries on today. First, a little history on Mr. Kloss: 1950′s – Started Kloss Industries to manufacture speakers 1954 – Co-founded Acoustic Research (AR) and produced the first [...] ... - Daddy, Where Do Recordings Come From?11 May 2012, 2:05 pm
We’re all caught up in jitter, bit rates, and sampling frequency – and rightly so – we want the best playback we can get. But lets take a step back from the signal chain in our homes (CD player > preamplifier > amplifier > speakers) and journey further upstream to take a look at the [...] ...
- It’s just a step to the left18 May 2012, 2:04 pm
Got a new toy yesterday that I can’t wait to try it out! No, it’s not new speakers. Or a new amp. Or a new pre, phono pre, cartridge, tonearm, or turntable. Not cables! Nor any kind of digital source, … Continue reading →... - Second Take: Vaughn Loudspeakers Pinot Monitor16 May 2012, 4:00 am
Jim Jordan of Vaughn Loudspeakers has been building SET-friendly speakers for over a decade now. He uses top-notch parts, like Bybee in-line filters, in most of his designs and includes as a matter of course some beautiful cabinetry and stylish … Continue reading →... - The Magnepan Mini System hits my desk14 May 2012, 10:03 pm
My demo Magnepan Mini System showed up on Friday of last week. I got them set up and running, but couldn’t spend much time with them. So, after a grueling weekend filled with honey-do’s, I was finally able to sit … Continue reading →... - Look what the postman brought12 May 2012, 2:48 am
Filed under: Speakers Tagged: Magnepan... - Update: What’s New and What’s Coming2 May 2012, 9:41 pm
In with the new In case you missed it, I picked up a pair of Joseph Audio Pulsars while I was in New York for the NYAV12 Show. This was most definitely not an impulse buy (for a change) as … Continue reading →... - NYAV12: Tweak Studio presents Burmester, Walker Audio, and an Evening of Euphoria1 May 2012, 8:19 pm
Arnold Martinez of Tweak Studio put on one of the poshest setups at the NYAV show. Burmester paired up with Walker Audio? It brought tears to my eyes. Okay, maybe not, but I was suitably impressed. No, really. This is … Continue reading →...
- Synergistic Research Tesla Series AC Power Conditioner and Power Cables17 May 2012, 8:00 am
Moving can really suck. On top of everything else, it seems like I always lose stuff, at least temporarily. Eventually, that lost pair of shoes will turn up in a box labeled "towels," but it had been a few months since the move and I was still looking for some of the magic of my system. Reviewed here is the Synergistic Research Tesla Series Power Conditioner and Power Cables. Read more...... - Runco LightStyle LS-100d DLP LED Projector14 May 2012, 8:00 am
For a truly immersive home theater experience, nothing compares to a large image that fills your field of view. Unfortunately many of us don’t have a room that will work for a projector due to space and throw limitations and are forced to make do with a far smaller plasma or LCD display. Runco has a solution for those challenging situations with their LS-100d, a short throw, LED-based projector capable of producing a 100” image while being placed right up against the wall. Read... - Emotiva ERC-2 CD Player7 May 2012, 8:37 pm
Emotiva continues to occupy an interesting space in the audiophile realm. It is now possible to get an entire two channel or five channel system consisting almost entirely of Emotiva products, CD player or DAC, a preamp, a variety of amplifiers from one to five channels, a pre-pro on the way and interconnects. The Emotiva ERC-2 is a two-channel CD player with balanced outputs for low noise transfer between the CD player and your preamplifier. At $449, this is a player to reckon with. Read more... - Sony VPL-VW95ES 3D Projector7 May 2012, 8:00 am
With the shift from CRTs to flat panel and projection displays, Sony has had to find something to replace the veritable Trinitron that was a symbol of excellence for so many years. Their proprietary version of Liquid Crystal on Silicon, SXRD, has been their high-end technology, appearing in products their Qualia reference line, to the first home 4K projector this year, and in the VPL-VW95ES reviewed here. Read more...... - A Collection of New Vinyl Releases for the Audiophile - May, 20124 May 2012, 5:11 pm
I've always been fascinated by revolutionary political movements. Maybe I'm drawn to the theatricality of it as I have absolutely no personal frame of reference for what it feels like to take extreme political action. Read more...... - Home Theater Movie Renter's Guide - May, 20124 May 2012, 8:00 am
War Horse (Blu-ray), The Deer Hunter (Blu-ray), Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (Blu-ray), A Streetcar Named Desire (Blu-ray), Pariah (Blu-ray), Roadracers (Blu-ray), One For the Money (Blu-ray), Haywire (Blu-ray), Buck Privates (Blu-ray), Albert Nobbs (Blu-ray), Underworld: Awakenings (Blu-ray), Dark Tide (Blu-ray), Men in Black II (Blu-ray) Read more......
- Paradigm SHIFT E3m Earbuds Review27 April 2012, 6:26 pm
I’ve enjoyed Paradigm products for a number of years now. The Canadian loudspeaker company is well known for producing a wide variety of products across most price points. They make everything from 5.1 mini systems, like the Millenia System to mid priced home theater speakers in the Monitor Series, and reference Read more...... - Marantz SA-15S2B Limited Edition SACD Player Review20 April 2012, 4:57 pm
Last month I reviewed a terrific preamp from a small company, and I mentioned that great products can come from small artisans that build per order. I also mentioned that large, multinational companies can also produce great products, with the power of economies of scale and resources that are very difficult to compete with. Marantz is clearly Read more...... - Belles Soloist 3 Preamplifier Review21 March 2012, 9:40 pm
Audio products emanate from all sorts of places. Many come from big established multi-national companies like Marantz or Harmon International. Some hail from medium sized, independently owned firms. And some even come from small shops run by artisans plying their trade. One such artisan is David Belles, who runs Power Modules Inc. out of Pittsford, NY.... - Unison Research CDPrimo CD Player Review6 March 2012, 1:05 am
Unison Research is a family owned high end audio company based in Treviso, Italy. They have been making tubed, solid state, and hybrid components since 1987. There are a number of unique things about Unison Research, one of them being that all their products are still made in their factory in Italy. You can bet that is one factory tour Read more...... - Trends Audio SA-10 Monitors & CQ500 Speaker Cable Review23 February 2012, 6:43 pm
Trends Audio, located in Hong Kong, is one of my favorite purveyors of budget minded, nice sounding, mini components. Recently a real market has grown for smaller components that don’t compromise on sonics and are affordable to all. I had a blast with their PA-10 Tube Headphone and Pre Amplifier and ... - Rein Audio X-DAC Review9 February 2012, 10:00 pm
Rein Audio, out of Germany, was unknown to me until I received an email from Rein’s Jason Tornald asking if I was interested in reviewing their new X-DAC. Since I have done a slew of budget, or better put, reasonably priced DAC units in the past year, including those from Channel Islands Audio, Arcam, and Musical Fidelity, Read more......
- The National & The Continental – ALO Audio’s Finest?20 April 2012, 4:39 pm
They say you could be waiting for ages and then two buses arrive at once so which one do you take? Depends on where you are going, the fare and...... - V-Moda Crossfade LP – A Mid-fi Competitor?7 April 2012, 1:35 pm
When our buddies at Digital Walker asked if I wanted to review the LP I knew one of our guys had taken a shot at the True Blood M80 with...... - ClarityOne Earphones review – treble heads take note..4 April 2012, 7:37 am
Ok so I know most of the major earphone brands out there but PureSound Technologies Inc. is a new one on me so when Hifi Headphones asked me to give...... - Kingrex UD384 DAC & Upower – ultra mobile, ultra good!1 April 2012, 7:15 am
Up until this point my DAC’s have all been in the form of a big black box or a all in one amp and DAC such as the Maverick Audio...... - German Maestro 8.35 D Headphones – Surprise of the year?10 March 2012, 4:09 pm
I have been hearing whispers and gossip regarding the German Maestro range for quite sometime now. Some of it good and some of it not so good. Naturally I have...... - House of Marley – Exodus Headphones7 March 2012, 1:26 pm
The House of Marley has been on my radar for quite sometime. Cool styling, ethical approach business wise and a competitive price point piqued my interest late last year. The......
- The Cable Company Offers a Headphone Lending Library16 May 2012, 4:04 pm
Wow! What a refreshing read! Show Promo Image Have you ever struggled through a long string of purchases to find just the right headphone for you? Ever wonder what some of the top-end headphones can deliver? Ever think to yourself, "Meh, headphones. How good can it be?" Well ... now you can find out. The Cable Company makes a lovely offering. ... - Audyssey Lower East Side Media Speakers14 May 2012, 4:00 pm
Welcome to the East Side Show Promo Image Audyssey, best known for their room correction solutions, enters the personal audio market with a pair of powered speakers. Dubbed "Lower East Side", or LES for short, these compact monitors aim to deliver big sound by fusing quality hardware with proprietary Audyssey processing. Do they succeed? Read ... - About InnerFidelity11 May 2012, 10:49 pm
If you want to know about InnerFidelity, you will need to know about four things: Source Interlink Media - This is the mother ship. Source Interlink Media (SIM) is the largest men's enthusiast periodical publisher in the United States. Home Tech Network - Covering audio, video, and photography for SIM, the Home Tech Network is a family of magazines and websites dedicated to bringing you the best information on capturing sight and sound for the contemporary enthusiast. InnerFidelity - This w... - The Harbeth P3ESR10 May 2012, 9:30 pm
Editor's Note: You're probably looking at the high-water mark for speaker reviews here at InnerFidelity---I'll let my colleagues at Stereophile and AudioStream report on speakers up the food chain from here. But I do like to review compact speakers which might find their way into your personal desktop listening system, and since Steve has been reviewing the more expensive near-field speakers here, I asked him to have a listen to what I consider one of the very best. ... - The Tivoli Audio iSongBook Portable iPod/Radio Stereo Speaker System4 May 2012, 11:22 pm
Browsing Tivoli Show Promo Image Ah, the lowly boombox. Certainly, a device that sits squarely centered in the domain of personal audio. Promising so many things: radio; aux inputs; a clock maybe. Unfortunately, boomboxes rarely deliver more than the glorious resonant tones of plastic. Tivoli tries to buck the tide with their iSongBook. Let'... - InnerFidelity May Update3 May 2012, 3:18 pm
Man! April just zoomed by. Don't know why I had such a hard time getting reviews out. The Denon review took way longer than it should have, and the back and forth with Steve took a bit of time. Still, I reckon I need to dig in and get more reviews out this month. Accuracy Schmaccuracy Show Promo Image Oh, my! Spring is here, and my back porch...
- Download of the Week: Beach House18 May 2012, 1:34 pm
Beach House Bloom Any Cocteau Twins fans out there? If you go for dreamy washes of keyboards, fluid guitar, and angelic vocals floating over the top, all wrapped up into songs that are not afraid to sound beautiful, you may very well like Beach House. Show Promo Image Beach House Bloom Any Cocteau Twins fans out there? If you go for dreamy was... - Getting Along With Streamers 10117 May 2012, 10:00 am
Each week another press release crosses my Inbox announcing another receiver, preamplifier or dedicated device with streaming capabilities, i.e. an Ethernet connection and DLNA/UPnP support. There are a few things you need to know (and have) if you want to play your ripped or downloaded music through a Streamer. Here's a down and dirty guide to the basics. The State of Streaming c.May 2012 Before we dig in, it's certainly worth noting that the state of Streaming is in flux. I think its more tha... - Well Rounded Sound WRS WP 2 Desktop Speakers Sweepstakes15 May 2012, 8:31 pm
Register to win a pair of Well Rounded Sound WRS WP 2 Desktop Speakers (MSRP $699) we are giving away. According to Well Rounded Sound, the WRS WP 2 incorporates a high end Full Range Driver with excellent detail retrieval and very wide sound stage. Solid aluminum machined phase plug helps to extend high frequencies to 20,000Hz. Bamboo reinforced paper cone with exponential curve sounds well extended, supremely smooth and fatigue free. ... - Dynamic Compression. To Have and Have Not?15 May 2012, 1:13 pm
John Chamberlain, Dolores James (1962) Painted and chromium-plated steel. 184.2 × 257.8 × 117.5 cm. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York 70.1925. © 2012 John Chamberlain/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo: Kristopher McKay © Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Over on the Stereophile website, Ariel Bitran put up a post titled, "The Unofficial Dynamic Range Database". Show Promo Image ... - "Man, things are never as they seem"11 May 2012, 5:41 pm
I had a fairly lengthy and pleasant exchange (30 some emails back 'n forth) with reader Tom D. that began with Tom asking how he could get iTunes-based music to play through his recently purchased Marantz AV7005 AV Preamp/Processor. But that was only the beginning. Show Promo Image I had a fairly lengthy and pleasant exchange (30 some emails bac... - Download of the Week: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy11 May 2012, 10:00 am
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Hummingbird Originally released on Spiritual Pajamas as a limited edition 10" Record Store Day EP, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's Hummingbird is slow, sad, and to my way of hearing, lovely. As the title suggests, we open with Leon Russell's "Hummingbird" where Billy is joined by a host of musicians including “Farmer” Dave Scher, Paz Lenchantin and Derek James (Entrance Band) for a hand-clapping, foot stomping funk-infused simmering delight. ...
- Re: Diffusion vs absorption? My set up18 May 2012, 4:57 pm
No. Localisation is placement of instruments in a sound-stage. Image (used here) is the referencing the central image. Click on the globe under my name. It will take you to my virtual system where I explain my observations in some detail.... - Re: Mono chassis $49 + shipping18 May 2012, 4:55 pm
Jason, Thanks a ton. You removed the last hurdle, as long as the other items have opening dimensions online, which I presume to be the "case" (as in "chassis"...no pun intended). I hope to have it sorted to forward to TrungT by tonight. Jason, wh...... - Re: Surge protection...18 May 2012, 4:54 pm
What are the actual test technical specs of this unit?... - Re: VMPSAUDIO.COM web site issue? Hacked!18 May 2012, 4:51 pm
I get the same message on my Windows 7 machine (have not tried it on my Mac tower with Safari). It happens.... - Re: Surge protection...18 May 2012, 4:51 pm
Dave,If I recall, in the past you had recommended something like a Brickwall prior to a Buss in the chain:http://www.brickwall.com/surge-protectors/video/products/view/5/3.htmlCan you comment on this type of the solution vs. your new surge protector......
- HiFiMan HM-101 $39 headphones amp/DAC unboxing & impressions18 May 2012, 3:55 pm
Just wanted to share with you this $39 DAC/headphones amp. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OET63Hxazv8&feature=youtube_gdata_player... - Do low output moving-coils "rock"?18 May 2012, 3:50 pm
I'm in the process of changing my main system around. So far I've sold my solid-state power house gear, and have been moving towards an all-tube amplification chain. I've also switched speakers, moving from Magnepans to *cough* UREI 813As - a once popular pro monitor speaker that uses Altec 604 drivers. I had a recent conversation with one of my audiophile friends. In the past he has owned one or two LOMCs, but mostly the more expensivel Grados, an Ortofon 2M Black, and currently a Dynavec... - Bob Carver Videos, meet Bob18 May 2012, 1:59 pm
Hi Guys, I saw a post on the "Where's Bob Carver Now" thread about the Cherry 180 video review. I thought I'd share some other videos about Bob... he tells his story about how he got started, how he learned about soundstaging, and his greatest products. He's a very modest and thoughtful man. You can almost feel his friendship through the videos: Meet the legend: The Bob Carver Interviews (http://www.avshowrooms.com/Bob_Carver.html) Also, here's the link to the Cherry 180 videos:... - Channel Volume Imbalance from TT18 May 2012, 12:23 pm
I've noticed when doing needledrops to digital, the right channel comming out of my phono stage is of lower volume than the left (by about 1.7 db according to the graphs). When I switch Left/Right imputs to the phono stage, the volume imbalance follows the TT outs, meaning the imbalance is comming out of the Turntable. Still have the problem after switching cartridges, so the problem is somewhere after the cart and before the phono stage. The imaging is affected, because center is pulled sl... - My latest turntable purchase, she's a keeper!18 May 2012, 5:43 am
I had sold off my technics sl-1200mkII a while ago so I decided to buy one back. I won't be making that same mistake twice! I already have a rega planar 3 that I just can't let go of so I decided to keep both, I will use the Rega in my headphone setup. I still am amazed of the quality of the sl-1200mkII. Audiophiles seem to bash this table only because it was ''popular'' amongst djs, this table is a work of art! Here are some pics with the audio technica at130e cartridge. Image: http://... - No 5.1 analog audio out in top of the line Pioneer BD player18 May 2012, 12:31 am
I'm looking for a new BD player. After setting my sights on a top of the line Pioneer, I learned that it doesn't have 5.1 analog audio out capabilities, just stereo, optical and HDMI. I'm not setup for digital in, and don't really want to be. I feel left behind. :cry:...
- Thread for them what's never owned Naim.18 May 2012, 4:45 pm
If not why not?... - Worth upgrading, and suggestions18 May 2012, 3:11 pm
Hello all, this is my first message to the forum. And i'm new to hi-fi:) i have rega brio r amphli, yamaha ns-555 speaker and marantz cd5004 player. im considering to upgrade my speaker or cd player. replacing my speakers or adding rega dac to system, which one is better for my system in your opinion? i can get some floorstanding speaker suggestions at this point. rega rs5, monitor audio rx6, tannoy dc6t.... others? thanks in advance.... - Identifying a Linn K918 May 2012, 3:04 pm
Chaps, In 1985 I purchased a Linn Axis and the optional K9 cartridge as recommended at the time by the dealer. I sold the Axis less than a year later to move on and am pretty sure I put the Linn Basik cartridge back on the turntable for the buyer and kept the K9 as did not want to give it away. I have my "K9" in its orignal box since then still unused, everything looks brand new. I've seen pictures on the web like ebay of a K9 with a yellow stylus body and also elsewhere a grey stylus bod... - Linn Sara18 May 2012, 2:58 pm
Have any of you guys converted the old style xlr connection on the Linn Sara loudspeaker to a connection for banana plugs? I have soldered short lengths of speaker cable into the xlr with female banana plugs soldered to the other end but i would like to plug my speaker cable straight into the speakers if possible.... - NAS for Logitech SB?18 May 2012, 9:30 am
I am thinking about getting a Synology DS212j for my SB but is it powerful enough to run Squeezeserver? :confused: It only has 256 mb. of ram. That might be an issue?... - which NAIM do you own18 May 2012, 9:29 am
Which naim do you MOSTLY own to CURRENT naim owners only please...