- Stax SR-Lambda Pro Classic headphones7 September 2010, 1:46 pm
While headphone listening remains secondary to that of loudspeakers for most serious listeners, it's still an important alternative for many. And while good conventional headphones exist, electrostatics are usually considered first when the highest playback quality is required. As always, there are exceptions (Grado's headphones come immediately to mind), but most high-end headphones are electrostatic—such designs offer the benefits of electrostatic loudspeakers without their dynamic limita...
- Pierre Lurne: Audiomeca's Turntable Designer7 September 2010, 1:44 pm
Pierre Lurne's company took over responsibility for the manufacture of the straight-line tracking T3 tonearm in 1981, and was responsible for the design and manufacture of the Goldmund Studietto turntable in 1983 and the straight-line Goldmund T-5 tonearm the following year. These activities ceased last year when Goldmund moved the center of their operation from France to Switzerland, and Pierre introduced a turntable of his own, the $2700 Audiomeca J1, at the 1987 Las Vegas CES.... - Mark Levinson No.30.5 Reference digital processor7 September 2010, 1:40 pm
Specifically, the three boards that comprised the digital section of the No.30 have been replaced by a single board in the 30.5. The new four-layer board incorporates the digital input jacks, input-source selection circuits, input receiver, digital filter, and the heart of the No.30.5's new circuitry, the data buffer. Madrigal also substituted two AES/EBU inputs for coaxial (RCA) jacks, and added some other functional refinements. For example, the "aliases" (the names given to different source c... - Image Concept 200 loudspeaker7 September 2010, 1:37 pm
I like reviewing loudspeakers. The more you become familiar with the art, the greater the sense of anticipation as you open up a pair of cartons. A visual inspection of the speaker always reveals a challenging mixture of the familiar and the new. The size of the cabinet is always the first clue—has sensitivity been a design priority or was low-frequency extension uppermost in the designer's thoughts? You espy a known drive-unit—has this tweeter's propensity for upper-presence sizzle be... - Robert Silverman Performs, Re-records Beethoven's Piano Sonatas5 September 2010, 5:59 pm
... - Sumo Andromeda power amplifier2 September 2010, 5:35 pm
When the recession hit high-end audio in 1978–80, Bongiorno designed cost-effective versions of his original Sumo amplifiers. These included the $750 class-A Model 9 and the $899 Sumo Andromeda. These second-generation Sumo amps present a common appearance—a tall, shallow chassis attached to a rackwidth, 5mm-thick front plate with massive handles. Fortunately they do not include the noisy fan found on earlier Sumo products—a major improvement. Fans effectively diminish an amp's si...
- Apple's September Media Event Brings New iPods and Apple TV2 September 2010, 4:02 am
Channels: The Perfect Vision CyberListener Source: AVGuide Industry News: not At today's media event Apple refreshed their entire iPod line, introduced some new features of with the forthcoming iOS 4.1 and 4.2 as well as introduced a new version of i... - Teradek Cube Camera-Mounted HD Network Video Encoder31 August 2010, 10:10 pm
Channels: The Absolute Sound Pixels The Perfect Vision Hifi+ CyberListener Source: The Perfect Vision Industry News: This is Industry News ... - Denon Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary With Debut of Special Edition Product Collection31 August 2010, 8:36 pm
Channels: The Absolute Sound Pixels The Perfect Vision Hifi+ CyberListener Source: The Absolute Sound Industry News: This is Industry News ... - Axiom Audio Launches New Method of Customization31 August 2010, 8:11 pm
Channels: The Absolute Sound Hifi+ Source: The Absolute Sound Industry News: This is Industry News (Editorial note: Earlier this month the AVguide news desk received word from the Canadian speaker manufacturer Axiom that the firm was launching a new ... - Polk Redefines Home Theater Sophistication: New Blackstone Sub/Sat System23 August 2010, 6:23 pm
Channels: The Absolute Sound Pixels The Perfect Vision Source: The Perfect Vision Industry News: This is Industry News (Editorial Note: AVguide.com recently received word that Baltimore, MD-based Polk Audio ... - Hearing Loss In Teens Due to Earbuds/Common Headphones23 August 2010, 6:09 pm
Channels: CyberListener Source: Playback Industry News: This is Industry News (Editorial note: The German headphone manufacturer Ultrasone recently authorized its U.S. press relations agent, Brian Metcalf of the Max Borges Agency, to send an Email to AVguide.com with this subject line: &ldquo...
- HDtracks Duke Ellington And Hodges In 24 963 September 2010, 7:30 am
Get audiophile quality digital music downloads.... - Sunfire Dynamic Series Subwoofers2 September 2010, 7:30 am
Three new affordable subwoofer designs.... - Enjoy the Music.com Annual Blue Note Awards!1 September 2010, 7:30 am
Annual awards highlights the best in audio!... - Blue Note Award Special In Superior Audio1 September 2010, 7:30 am
We feature all award winning units!... - Onkyo PR SC5508 AV Pre Pro and PA MC5500 Amp31 August 2010, 7:30 am
Multichannel units with XLR balanced circuitry.... - Definitive Technology Bipolar Series SuperTower31 August 2010, 7:30 am
Four new floorstanders to choose from....
- Sonore Music Server Review8 September 2010, 4:30 am
As we approach Rocky Mountain Audiofest 2010 I can't help but think about the 2009 computer audio seminar at RMAF. During the seminar I mentioned Linux based music servers a couple times and how I thought they had great potential. I took a little heat from my fellow panelists for mentioning Linux. I still stand by my statements and think Linux has incredible potential as a music server operating system. If music servers are ever going to work as well and as easy as a toaster they'll need to run... - M2Tech hiFace Asynchronous USB To S/PDIF Converter Review24 August 2010, 9:41 am
The M2Tech hiFace has received a lot of press this year. It was one of the first very inexpensive asynchronous USB to S/PDIF converters to support all sample rates from 16/44.1 kHz through 24/192 kHz. The hiFace's good specs, good technical design, support for high resolution sample rates, and $150 price tag has had users from all over the world going gaga. While there is no such thing as bad press too much good press can make it very hard for a product to live up to expectations. Such is the ca... - Joe Sixpack's Sooloos - Dell SX2210T Multi-touch Monitor & J River MC 1513 August 2010, 8:08 am
Many of us computer audiophiles, and audiophiles looking to get into the music server game, have long wanted a music server that rivals the Sooloos touchscreen interface without paying the Sooloos price premium. What many people don't realize is how advanced the Sooloos product is as a complete package. Notably how it handles metadata and library navigation using this extended metadata. I continually research music servers and every related product under the sun but I've yet to find anything tha... - Digital Music Matters10 August 2010, 4:23 pm
Join Computer Audiophile at Listen Up in Colorado for Digital Music Matters. Myself, David Solomon of Peachtree Audio, and Adrian Eiben of Sonos will be talking about nothing but digital audio for three nights. The events will take place in Colorado Springs August 24, Denver August 25, and Boulder August 26. I'll be talking about how to get the best audiophile sound quality form a music server as well as sharing some tips and tricks related to computer audio. As usual I'll have plenty of high ... - Sonos S5 - Sound Quality and Simplicity4 August 2010, 5:20 am
I’ve used the Sonos S5 ZonePlayer for the last several weeks and have really grown to like the unit. At first I was skeptical and thought an Apple Airport Express based system would easily equal or better a Sonos system. After setting up the Sonos S5 a couple times and using it via the desktop and iPhone interfaces, not only do I like the all-in-one system, but I am certain the S5 is perfect for its target market. The simplicity and comparatively good sound quality of the S5 make it a luddite'... - Tom Petty Download At 24 bit / 48 kHz Plus CA Recommendation27 July 2010, 5:12 am
Not only is the new Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers release Mojo available for download at 24 bit /48 kHz, but Tom's Producer and Engineer Ryan Ulyate recommends Computer Audiophile as, "A very good resource for information on Hi-End computer audio and DACs." I have to say this is really neat news for me and I hope it's just as neat for the CA readers and contributors. I encourage everyone considering Tom's new album to purchases a version that includes the higher resolution download. The 24/48 ...
- ATP Festival coverage part two6 September 2010, 5:26 pm
Who needs lyrics? Instrumental bands–and the myriad ways such artists engage in dialogue without vocal support–flourished during the second day of the 2010 ATP Festival in upstate New York. But before all was said and done, two veteran noisemaking groups, Shellac and Sonic Youth, each featuring underground icons, had something to say, literally and figuratively. [...]... - ATP Festival: Day one coverage…4 September 2010, 6:57 pm
The Scientists fizzled, Mudhoney wailed, Iggy Pop and the Stooges sheared heads, and Sleep deadened eardrums. Attracting a mix of youthful hipsters and older rock fans to New York’s rural Catskill Mountains region, the first day of 2010’s All Tomorrows Parties Festival is in the books. Having started Friday with four bands each respectively performing [...]... - TONEAudio’s coverage of the ATP festival4 September 2010, 6:44 pm
Music editor Bob Gendron and I are here in upstate New York at Kutsher’s Country Club, covering the ATP (All Tomorrows Parties) Music Festival. Scroll down to the On Tour section or click here to read our coverage of Friday night’s bands: The Scientists, Mudhoney, Sleep and of course, Iggy Pop and the [...]... - Off to ATP!2 September 2010, 7:34 am
Music Editor Bob Gendron and I are headed off to the ATP music festival at Kutsher’s Country Club in Monticello, New York this weekend, so stay tuned for commentary and lots of pictures. Iggy Pop and the Stooges will be playing Raw Power in its entirety, Sleep will be performing Holy Mountain and that’s [...]... - New Pornographers2 September 2010, 7:28 am
The recent performance of the New Pornographers on their Together tour was more like a musical than just a concert performance. The nine band members treated the Canadian crowd to a healty mixture of new and old tracks with their set lasting just over two hours. Considering the high level of band/audience banter, [...]... - 2 September 2010, 6:59 am
Indie-pop wizard and El Guincho honcho Pablo Diaz-Reixa admirably executes a 180-degree turn on his new sophomore record, Pop Negro, yet still delights in the warm, beach-going fare steeped in techno, Afro-pop, tango, folk, Latin rock, and trance that informed his intoxicating 2008 debut Alegranza. Whereas the latter is comprised of a globe-spanning pastiche of [...]...
- Swan 2.1 SE Custom8 September 2010, 12:00 am
... - A Historical Overview of Stereophonic Blind Testing8 September 2010, 12:00 am
... - Issue #57 September 20108 September 2010, 12:00 am
... - DAC Cherry Jr. Amplifier8 September 2010, 12:00 am
... - Audio Renaissance LS-845-5 Integrated Amplifier8 September 2010, 12:00 am
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- WLM Stella Review28 June 2010, 10:46 am
... - DALI Mentor Menuet Review24 June 2010, 4:48 am
... - Fritz Carbon 7 Loudspeaker Review24 April 2010, 8:34 am
... - A close look at the Pangea AC-9 power cord.14 April 2010, 12:42 am
... - Beautiful Simplicity! A McIntosh and MIT Cables System Review3 March 2010, 7:21 am
... - Audiav Zirconia - Nice Rack!14 January 2010, 8:59 pm
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- Auditorium 23 Homage T1 Transformer
... - The Bruce Brisson Interview: on Music Interface Technologies Cables' Oracle Series, MA Series and Z Powerbar, Part 2 of 2
... - California Audio Show, Part 2 of 2
... - The Bruce Brisson Interview: on Music Interface Technologies Cables' Oracle Series, MA Series and Z Powerbar, Part 1 of 2
... - Blacknote DSS 30i tube digital-to-analog converter
... - California Audio Show, Part 1 of 2
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- Antique Sound Lab AQ1003 DT Mk.II Integrated Amplifier1 September 2010, 5:00 am
I was doubly keen to give the new AQ1003 DT Mk.II integrated amplifier a whirl -- it had been some time since I’d reviewed a tube amp, and I’d never heard a product from Antique Sound Lab (ASL). When I’d first looked into owning tube amps, ASL’s reputation for producing high-value, great-sounding products had made it a top contender for my dollars. Those familiar with the original version of the AQ1003 DT (discontinued) might remember that it was among the uglier audio products out ther... - Jaton Operetta RC2000P Preamplifier15 August 2010, 5:00 am
When the time comes for you to finally begin to assemble a top-notch stereo system, where should you begin? Speakers? Well, they’re the components that actually convert electronic impulses into the sounds we hear, so they’re vitally important. Source? That’s where everything begins, so yes, the source, too, is important. Amplification? Sure -- after all, that’s what gives the music its power to impress. All of those parts are important, and much careful thought should be given to the sel... - JBL LS120P Subwoofer1 August 2010, 5:00 am
Not all that long ago, "full-range" loudspeakers were enormous; witness classic systems such as the Klipschorn, which not only stood 51"H x 31"W x 28"D, but demanded to be placed in the corner of a room. Such systems provided wide bandwidth and wide dynamic range, but didn’t win good vibes from interior decorators, or the spouses of most audio addicts. Something needed to be done, and it was -- but it didn’t happen overnight. It was several decades before someone invented the modern powered... - Paradigm Special Edition SE 1 / SE 3 / SE Center / SE Sub Home-Theater Speaker System15 July 2010, 5:00 am
While removing my review samples from their impressive packaging, I was reminded of my first introduction to Paradigm loudspeakers. The year was 1999, and a fellow student, rather than shrink his ever-growing college loan, had decided to spend what was left of his limited summer-job savings on a pair of speakers: the then-new Paradigm Monitor 7s. While helping him shop, I found myself contemplating my own next loan payment. However, still having a year of college to go without so much as gas mo... - Simaudio Moon 300D Digital-to-Analog Converter1 July 2010, 5:00 am
About three years ago, publisher Doug Schneider and I toured Simaudio’s factory, in Montreal, Canada. Following our look-see, we sat down with two of the company’s executives and discussed the future of home audio. We agreed on many a thing, but not in one key area: While Doug and I were convinced that USB connectivity in digital-to-analog converters would be universal within a year or two, the Sims disagreed. But that was then. When Simaudio’s superb Moon i3.3 integrat... - JBL LS60 Loudspeakers15 June 2010, 5:00 am
The first genuine hi-fi speakers I owned were a pair of two-way JBL L88 Cortinas, which I bought in 1970 with my earnings from the JBL dealer where I worked. They offered the "West Coast Sound" for which JBL was famous: fulsome bass, forward midrange, sizzling highs. Ten years later I bought a pair of JBL L110s, a three-way bookshelf speaker that still provided plenty of bass, but toned down the in-your-face highs. I sold those in 1996 when I bought my NEAR 50 ME II towers. More recently, a list...
- Power Supply for Behringer Microphone
... - Why Some Audiophiles Fear Measurements
... - Keepers: Mahler at 100, or 150, or . . . Who’s Counting?
... - Off the Cuff with David Chesky of HDtracks.com and Chesky Records
... - Weiss DAC202 Digital-to-Analog Converter
... - Paradigm, Room Correction, Hi-Rez, and More
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- JVC DLA-HD950 Video Projector17 August 2010, 12:00 am
JVC DLA-HD950 Video Projector SRP: $8000 Features. 1080p 3-chip (.7 inch) 120Hz D-ILA (LCoS) projector with rated 50,000:1 contrast ratio; 900 lumens; 200W UHP lamp with 3000 hour rated lamp time in Normal mode; THX certified; ISF certified; 2x motorized lens with motorized focus, HQV Reon-VX video processor; Color Management System (CMS); accepts 24p material; normal/high lamp mode; 1.38-2.79:1 throw ratio; vertical stretch (for 2.35:1); Lens Shift (80% vertical, 34% horizontal); illuminated ..... - Esoteric Sound Rek-O-Kut Rondine 3 Turntable1 August 2010, 12:00 am
Esoteric Sound Rek-O-Kut Rondine 3 Turntable SRP: $1300 Multi-speed turntable adjustable from 16-90 rpm with +/- 15% pitch adjust; DC motor; hinged dust cover, 17” transcription playback with ability to play vertical cut discs; removable spindle for eccentric records; 12 fixed speeds (16.67, 22.5, 33.33, 39.13, 45, 68.5, 71.29, 76.59, 78.26, 80, 85, 90 rpm); belt drive; Delrin platter (3.75 pounds); rated wow & flutter .09% max; four included Vibrapod feet; strobe disc; 25 pounds; 6.5” H... - Three Audio Tweaks =
AudioPrism Ground Control
FIM Formula Eight Disc Enhancement Mat
Cardas RCA & XLR Protective Caps9 July 2010, 12:00 am
Three Audio Tweaks = AudioPrism Ground Control SRP: $149.95; Reference Version $249.95 FIM Formula Eight Disc Enhancement Mat SRP: $129.99 Cardas RCA & XLR Protective Caps (SRP: RCAs $3.69 ea., pair of XLRs $29) AudioPrism Box 24203 Seattle, WA 98124 425-922-2198 info@audioprism.com First Impression Music 425-868-5326 www.fimpression.com wma@fimpression.com Cardas Audio 541-347-2484 480 11th St. SE Bandon, OR 97411 support@cardas.co...... - Universal Remote Control MX-6000 2-Way Touch Panel
Universal Remote PSX-2 iPod Interface Dock5 July 2010, 12:00 am
Universal Remote Control MX-6000 2-Way Touch Panel SRP: $1500 IR, RF and Wi-Fi (802.11 B/G) Remote Control, receives artists, albums, songs for cover art, news, sports, weather and stocks. The unit is compatible with the MSC-400 Controller offering RS-232, IR, relay control and with MRF-260 (4 IR outputs) and MRF-350 (6 IR outputs with separate antenna) RF bases for IR control of standard components. PC Server software enables media server control on any PC with iTunes or Windows M..... - Optoma HD8600 Video Projector2 July 2010, 12:00 am
Optoma HD8600 Video Projector SRP: $6500 (no lens), $500 standard lens, $1500 long throw lens, $2000 short throw lens Optoma USA 715 Sycamore Drive Milpitas, CA 95035 408-383-3700 (voice) 408-383-3702 (fax) http://www.optomausa.com Basic Description Native 1080p HD projector using .65” DC3 DLP technology; 1600 ANSI Lumens; 50,000:1 Contrast Ratio with Dynamic Black; 3000 Hour Standard Lamp Life/2000 Hour Bright Mode (280W bulb); 30-110% Vertical Lens Shift; +/-5% Horizontal Shift; +...... - CEntrance DACport USB 96/24 Headphone Amp26 June 2010, 12:00 am
CEntrance DACport USB 96/24 Headphone Amp SRP: $399.95Class A amp, adaptive isochronous USB input USB 1.1 or 2.0 compliant Works with Mac, PC or Linux OS No driver software Output: ¼” stereo phone jack (¼”-to-1/8” stereo adapter provided) Sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.1, 96K Word lengths: 16 or 24 bits JitterGuard clock management system Freq. response at 96K: 20Hz-40kHz Max. output power: 1.5V THD+noise: -97dB With belt clip, 6’ USB cable, felt carry pouch Size: 4.5” length x 1” diam...
- HD Projector Project Update - The Anthem LTX-500v
"One significant improvement is the reduction in fan noise to 19 dB. Though the previous model was also so rated, this new one is definitely quieter. With the projector just behind my right shoulder, this is a very good thing, and I don't find it intrusive, even when listening at night with the volume quite low. Another is the improved remote control, which makes operation easier, especially in the dark. It has a centrally located Light button that saves battery wear from automatic backlighting,... - Bain’s Blog, June 2010, The Jazz Loft
"Those jam sessions encompassed a "Who's-Who" of Jazz at that period. The loft, where Hall Overton had installed pianos and drum kit, became an after-hours magnet for local and touring musicians. Regulars included: Zoot Sims, Charles Mingus, Roland Kirk, Jim Hall, Bill Evans, Bob Brookmeyer, Jimmy Giuffre, and Steve Reich. Visitors: Doris Duke, Norman Mailer, Salvador Dali, Bob Dylan, Robert Frank, Diane Arbus, and Henri Cartier-Bresson. Smith recorded and photographed everything until 1965.... - JH Audio JH 13 Pro In Ear Headphones - The Best In Ear ‘Phones You Can Buy?
"I had been wanting to try a pair of custom in-ear headphones for some time, but when I started reading online about the JH Audio headphones, including not only some rave reviews but some background on their pro audio and aviation background (the Company is named for its founder, Jerry Harvey who not only founded Ultimate Ears [he left the company in 2007] but started developing stage monitors for musicians back in 1995 while mixing live shows for Van Halen, K.D. Lang, The Cult and many other ba... - Bain’s Blog, April 2010
"I rode my first train in 1950, give or take a year. Harry Patterson was taking his two sons, Jim and Will—childhood friends— and me, fishing on the "Little Mississippi" just north of Kingston. This was a half-hour or less by car, but as he did not drive, we took the Canadian Pacific train from the downtown Kingston station.This was in fact the old Kingston-Pembroke Railway: what was affectionately—or otherwise— known as "The Old Kick and Push"... ... - OPPO BDP-80 Universal Blu-ray Player
"I was interested in this player as much for its audio capabilities as its video quality. That said, I started my evaluation with our standard Blu-ray and DVD video test discs through the Anthem LTX-500 1080p projector onto our Vutec 92" pull-up screen. The discs included Joe Kane's Digital Video Essentials in both Blu-ray and DVD editions, and the FPD Benchmark Software disc. There are tests for colour, resolution, greyscale, geometric performance, and motion artifacts, to mention some of the ... - Hy End, April 2010 - The Guarneri Quartet: Music by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Dvorak, Kodaly, and Dohnanyi
"The Guarneri String Quartet (so named because of the instruments they play - Guarneri was a rival of Stradivarius in 17th Century Italy) were for many years the "house" quartet of RCA/BMG/Sony in its various iterations over the years. They were responsible for recording a substantial chunk of the conventional string quartet repertoire. Now, 45 years after their founding, they have decided to retire, and Sony has done them proud by re-releasing a great deal of the music they recorded over their ...
- The Nagys Audio Digital Cable Link31 August 2010, 12:00 pm
by Roy Harris Normally, when reviewing cable, I always include a complete set, i.e., interconnect, speaker, power, and if available, digital. Thus selecting only a digital cable in absence of the others merits an explanation. I was attending a meeting of the Audio Syndrome, a local audio club. The president was expounding on the virtues of an [...]... - Recommended New Releases 2009/201027 August 2010, 1:00 pm
A new Audiophilia feature, the brainchild of our resident Aussie, Andy Fawcett. Andy and other Audiophilia writers will adding to the 09/10 list regularly. It will reappear at the top of the page as new releases are added. [The CD title is linked to our affiliate, Amazon.com - Ed] Recommended New Releases (27/08/10) John Sheppard – Media Vita [...]... - The AER Disc Energizer26 August 2010, 2:27 pm
by Roy Harris While waiting for the Eastern Electric Sabre DAC, the subject of my next review, which was held at customs in NYC, the importer, Morningstar Audio, suggested that I review another product. I believe he based his assessment upon the fact a customer who borrowed the product, “refused to give it back”. Its goal [...]... - Piano Music of Edvard Grieg — Sandra Mogensen, piano26 August 2010, 1:52 pm
by Anthony Kershaw Sandra Mogensen is a Canadian concert pianist at home both as a solo artist and accompanist. Here, she takes center stage in the first of two volumes of Grieg’s much underrated solo piano music. Mogensen studied in her home province of Ontario as well as the Mozarteum in Salzburg and The Royal Danish Conservatory. [...]... - Antipodes Audio Komako Interconnects25 August 2010, 2:42 pm
by Andy Fawcett “It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream – making a vain attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the dream-sensation…” Joseph Conrad There’s nowhere quite like New Zealand; surely the world’s most beautiful country, and an unforgettable experience for any traveller. Now cemented in the popular consciousness [...]... - NuForce Delivers High-End 24bit/96kHz Modular Audio Systems For the Mass-Consumer Market20 August 2010, 2:54 pm
Press release from NuForce [Full disclosure -- NuForce is a longtime sponsor of Audiophilia] High end gear from NuForce with a small footprint and well priced. Milpitas, California, August 3, 2010. NuForce, Inc., a California-based manufacturer of consumer audio products, announces the release of its Icon-2 and uDAC-2 desktop audio components. Together with the [...]...
- Review: Castle Knight 28 September 2010, 9:00 am
Castle Acoustics was a Yorkshire-based company started in the early 1970s. Best known for its rich, real wood veneers and refined acoustic, the firm soon established a following from those appreciating a warm, full-bodied sound. As with many of the British greats, however, Castle fell upon hard times at the turn of the millennium and came under the ownership of IAG (International Audio Group). With IAG's impressive portfolio that includes Quad, Castle should be in safe hands and as if to prove t... - Review: Arcam rDAC8 September 2010, 8:30 am
Over 20 years ago Arcam produced the Back Box standalone digital-to-analogue convertor. This was one of the first (for obvious reasons, the claim to exactly who was first is hotly contested) devices that could bypass the output of an existing CD player via an S/PDIF digital output and convert it to an analogue signal via a higher-quality output stage than the CD player had internally. Consequently, the Black Box was highly regarded and sold well. During the late 1990s, research into jitter and a... - Review: Altec Lansing MIX iMT8003 September 2010, 8:30 am
The 80s was a curious decade. The music was synthesised clicks and bleeps, the movies were violent and shallow, and the fashions made men look like women and the women look like discarded Christmas decorations. But even if its popular culture is best forgotten, its technology is fondly remembered. The 80s gave us the personal stereo and the ghetto blaster, and this unapologetically retro speaker system brings the descendants of these two concepts together, packing that most modern technology, th... - Review: Bowers & Wilkins 802 Diamond26 August 2010, 2:20 pm
First sight of the new B&W 800-Series Diamond models immediately called to mind that much quoted comment from a nineteenth century French journalist: "Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose". It's easy to track this new and imposing £11,500 three-way 802 Diamond model right back to the Nautilus 802 in 1998. The two models look superficially almost identical and you'd be hard pressed to tell them apart from across the room. Indeed the only visual differences apparent in these latest series-Dia... - Review: Sony STR-DH81023 August 2010, 9:30 am
Were you to catch the prime movers and shakers at Sony at an unguarded moment or ply them with drink, many would admit that, until comparatively recently, the company was going through a dull patch lasting some years. There was nothing wrong with what they made, but somehow many of their mainstream products lacked the pizzazz historically associated with the brand. Denon and Yamaha seemed more on the ball with technical (and sometimes also sonic) innovation and, more recently, Onkyo has stolen a... - Review: Pioneer SC-LX8321 August 2010, 9:00 am
Back in 2008, Pioneer launched the SC-LX81 and we liked it. We liked it so much, in fact, it won awards and everything. It used ICEpower Class D amplification developed by B&O and it was the best-sounding implementation of the technology we had heard. It scooped all the Oscars for style and was festooned with must-have widgets, too. A year later came the equally good and stylish SC-LX82, but by this time the peer group had caught up in sound quality and surpassed it on sheer features. 'Righty-ho...
- Epos Encore 5022 August 2010, 9:00 am
They have an awesome capability for power handling, but at this kind of price, we'd expect much more from these Epos floorstanders... - Stello A150022 August 2010, 9:00 am
Although this South Korean company isn't as well known as it could be, it's proving more than able, with top notch products like the Ai500... - Monitor Audio BX212 August 2010, 11:00 am
A worthy successor to the accomplished Bronze BR2s, the Bronze BX2s represent incredible value for the money... - Acoustic Energy Neo V2 Three12 August 2010, 11:00 am
The Acoustic Energy Neo V2 Three floorstanders look the part and deliver impressive bass... - DALI Ikon 6 MK212 August 2010, 11:00 am
More impressive than its forerunner but the DALI Ikon 6 MK2 has flaws... - Cambridge Audio Azur 350C10 August 2010, 10:00 am
The Cambridge Audio Azur 350C is fine value, but spend a little more for a more accomplished all-rounder...
- New Vinyl-Ripper from Pro-Ject9 August 2010, 10:21 am
Pro-Ject has released a turntable with a built-in DAC with a USB output, for audiophile-quality vinyl ripping, and a built-in phono stage.... - Get some wood into your system9 July 2010, 11:12 am
NorStone Design has released a new AV equipment rack made from timber, steel and glass... - Len Wallis Audio & Morrisons Launch Loewe Reference9 June 2010, 7:09 pm
Morrisons Mercedes-Benz and Len Wallis Audio launched Loewe Reference range in style at a recent spectacular…... - Denon DHT-391 is 3D-ready9 June 2010, 4:00 pm
Denon announces a new 3D-ready home theatre system... - Simply Swedish9 March 2010, 4:05 pm
Built entirely in Sweden, Bladelius’s new Embla delivers audiophile-quality sound from internal flash memory…... - Review: Moon i-1 Integrated Amplifier9 February 2010, 4:31 pm
For a company that manufactures some spectacular-looking and completely individual products (the CD5.3 CD player and i5.3 dual mono integrated come immediately to mind) Moon seems to have been playing it safe of late: obviously by intention, hence the ‘Classic Series’ moniker that attaches to the Moon i-1....
- New reviews and music on the way6 September 2010, 3:12 pm
Labor Day -- must mean it's the end of summer. I just spent a couple of very interesting months with the Digital Amp Co's Cherry Jr power amp. Oodles of power, no shortage of finesse and bass power that never runs out. $2k worth of Class D that is a good as I've heard near the price, makes one wonder just how good their top of the range amps might be. The full review will be in Sept 2010's Affordable Audio. Kudos to DAC for engaging with us - you'd be surprised how many companies decline our inv... - What price the 'audiophile' label?30 July 2010, 2:09 am
We all know audio hi-end gear is priced in a manner that defies comprehension sometimes, cables in particular. But sometimes even the cheaper end is harder to fathom. I bought a Cartridge Man digital gauge 9 years ago from the Elusive Disc when I purchased my VPI Aries (I had little choice, they told me I needed a gauge if I wanted to set up the table and this was the only one they had....cue another $250 on the total!). Now maybe you change cartridges every year and need to check tracking force... - DAC Cherry in for review24 July 2010, 1:40 am
I have a Cherry Jr from the Digital Amp Company in for review and it sounds like no other Class D I've heard -- and I've had the Wyred4Sound, PS Audio, Nuforce and Spectron amps here for months at a time. Full review scheduled for the Sept issue, all things being equal. In the meantime, check out their forum at Audio Circle to learn more about these products and their designer, Tommy O'Brien. More in due course but right now it's powering my Vons easily.... - But this might keep the 'net alive20 July 2010, 12:28 am
Ever try to sell hifi or convince others that audio matters? Then enjoy this little videoAnd can you validate my parking?... - The internet is dead, apparently18 July 2010, 1:47 am
The artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as 'Prince' has declared the internet dead in a recent article with the Daily Mirror in the UK. Not sure how he imagines a CD cannot be ripped and shared anyhow but I have to admire his strong convictions. I'd be a little more interested in his views if he hadn't chosen a rag tabloid in the UK to host his new release however.... - Onward in the DIY stakes17 June 2010, 11:30 pm
Ok, enough of the bad experience with A'gon, best to turn my thoughts to more positive experiences. I spent a few hours over the last weeks assembling the TB Kit 3.1 speaker. I'll be writing up the process and reviewing the resulting sounds for Affordable Audio next so not too much info here other than to say there is something totally liberating about building audio stuff! Not only does this give you a sense of where the money goes in audio gear, but it seems listening to something that you h...
- World's best-sounding 3D Blu-ray5 September 2010, 3:29 pm
AIX Records has been making great sounding DVDs for years; now they're making 3D music Blu-rays!... - Poll: What makes bad sounding recordings sound bad?3 September 2010, 2:58 pm
Why is there so much truly awful-sounding music? Vote in the poll and express yourself!... - iPod 160GB Classic: Not dead yet2 September 2010, 2:31 pm
Worries that the iPod Classic would bite the dust proved unfounded, but is it still the go-to choice for audiophiles?... - Get turned on by circuit board art31 August 2010, 6:35 pm
Theo Kamecke's fine art sculptures use circuit board patterns in fascinating ways.... - World's most amazing subwoofer has no woofer29 August 2010, 3:31 pm
Subwoofer designers usually stuff a big woofer in a box, but Eminent Technology's TRW-17 sub doesn't have a woofer or a box.... - The audio reviewers dilemma: Can they predict what you'd like?27 August 2010, 2:56 pm
Reviewers have opinions, just like everybody else. The difference is audio critics have listened to a vast range of products....
- New LINNENBERG cdp3E CD player3 September 2010, 10:11 pm
The LINNENBERG cdp3E is now available. This player is specialized in playback ofRed Book CD’s exclusively.As a solid starting point the cdp3E employs the famous CD-PRO2 mechanism. Therugged die-cast mechanism undergoes extensive modifications in order to meet ourvery stringent guidelines, in particular the jitter performance. Although completelydifferent in nature, jitter is the equivalent to harmonic distortion in theanalogue domain. Both have in common that it is not the absolute value of ji... - Heavens Gate Audio high-quality audio cables3 September 2010, 7:27 pm
After four years of intense research & development Heavens Gate Audio introduced a new series of high-quality audio cables in August 2010.Christoph Kraemer, Chief Designer and President of Heavens Gate Audio said:”Designing cables for audio applications is limited to some fundamental basics,a balanced combination of various options and last but not least, hundreds of trials and errors.For me, it's like the 'Old Masters' of Art. Whether Rembrandt, Rubens, van Goch, or Botticelli - they all ... - Robert Kŏda ‘Takumi K-70’5 August 2010, 9:09 pm
.Robert Kŏda ‘Takumi K-70’:A journey that spanned the globe over twenty years blossomed with the birth of the Japanese ‘Robert Kŏda’ brand. Ex-Audio Note UK and Audio Note Japan (Kondo) engineer Mr. Robert Koch merges traditional artisan techniques with lateral-thinking to express his unique philosophy.The ‘Takumi K-70’ tri-chassis power amplifier is a marriage of a single-ended triode input stage, thirty-two power transistors and a 600 VA R-core transformer per channel, e... - Interview with Robert Koch of Robert Koda audio21 July 2010, 12:29 pm
.Where it all started for you?I guess there was no defining moment. I picked up an interest in audio, radio and electronics when I was less than twelve or so. I remember the other kids at junior school used to scratch their girlfriends names into the tables, I used to scratch in things like “Quad or Rogers”!Do you consider yourself as an audiophile?Yea, of course! A person who is interested in finding ways to make better sound from their home audio system is an audiophile. But no, I... - AUDIOMECA11 July 2010, 7:19 pm
The company, the man and the new productsThe Analogue record, the black vinyl, the LP, was launched long ago and remains with us today. When the cassette tape arrived in the mid-sixties, nobody seriously thought it would cause the demise of the LP. Nowadays the cassette is out. The CD surfaced in 1983. Despite the poor musical qualities during these early days, CD sales soared, equalizing vinyl sales as early as 1987. As a result, many forecasted the death of the old standard. And yet twenty (20... - Vipera cables. Best new affordable high-end audio cables from Danish cable brand?10 July 2010, 12:21 pm
Introducing a new Danish cable brand, with a goal to set new standards in the audio world.At Vipera we wanted to try something new. Today’s high security with internet-shopping provides some unique opportunities to deal directly with customers worldwide. We thought; why not make use of this to the customers’ advantage, and deliver in-house-produced cables, directly to you?Danish founder Kenneth Jensen decided to start the company Vipera in summer 2008. The goal was to make a company that was...
- CD Reviews for the Audiophile-September7 September 2010, 7:00 am
Imagine my surprise when I began to play what I naïvely assumed was a disc of Spanish music, only to discover the sounds of overtone chanting filling the room. Through them came another voice, low and haunting, with a special beauty that comes from inner illumination. Read more...... - Thiel MCS1 LCR Speakers6 September 2010, 7:00 am
Thiel Audio has been designing and building loudspeakers for over 30 years. The 1978 Model 03 was one of the first multi-driver speakers to utilize a time and phase accurate design. This has been at the heart of all Thiel designs ever since, and is consistently found throughout their product line. This is a lofty and difficult design choice which, when done right, can provide an enveloping and realistic musical presentation. In this review, we take a look at the Thiel MCS1, which is a monitor... - Home Theater Movie Renter's Guide - September, 20105 September 2010, 7:00 am
Harry Brown (Blu-ray), Good (Blu-ray), Dexter Season 4 (Blu-ray) Read more...... - Integra DHC-80.1 Surround Sound Processor30 August 2010, 7:00 am
The AV receiver has become a very important component in home theater today. This box is the hub that ties all our other components together. Everything runs to and from this key device. While receivers have nearly reached dime-a-dozen status, those of us desiring separates have fewer options. The choices that do exist are usually very expensive. The problem is once you’ve experienced the superior dynamics and power handling of separates, it’s hard to go back to a receiver. Read more...... - Waterfall Audio, Iguasçu Evo Floor-Standing Speakers26 August 2010, 7:00 am
I’m hoping to not be the minority when it comes to design and audio equipment. Far too often you hear of audio and videophiles mentioning that a piece of gear has a high WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor). All too often this denotes it’s not a boring slab of black electronics or a monolithic boring speaker. Why is it only the spouse who has high aesthetic requirements? Here, we review Waterfall Audio's Iguasçu Evo floor-standing speakers that have glass enclosures. Read more...... - Pass Labs INT-30A Integrated Stereo Amplifier23 August 2010, 7:00 am
For nearly forty years, Nelson Pass has been designing simple, high-performance electronics. In 1991, with twenty years experience under his belt, he founded Pass Laboratories which has since become among the most highly regarded companies for high-end power and integrated amplifiers. His design goals couldn’t be more clear: power, simplicity and performance. Read more......
- Sony MDR-Z1000 Headphones7 September 2010, 4:55 pm
Since the end of the MDR-CD3000 several years ago, Sony has largely ignored the high-end closed headphone market and concentrated instead on their open and rather unusual looking SA headphone series. That's finally about to change with the release of the new MDR-Z1000, which is part of a launch of several new headphone models from Sony. The MDR-Z1000's design is quite conservative when compared to competitors from Denon or Audio-Technica which feature exotic wood baffles, but Sony has not skimpe... - Ultimate Ears Reference Monitor IEM3 September 2010, 8:30 am
The latest custom fit IEM from Ultimate Ears (now part of Logitech) is the new In-Ear Reference Monitor. Designed for studio engineers, recording artists and other sound professionals, the Reference Monitor has a flat response curve from 5Hz to 18kHz and provides up to 32dB of isolation.Continue reading Ultimate Ears Reference Monitor IEM... - JohnBlue M3 Mini Speakers1 September 2010, 6:44 am
The latest creations from full-range specialist JohnBlue are the M3 mini speakers. Designed for small home theater applications, the M3's enclosure is a svelte 4.1" cube made from 0.4" thick high-density fiberboard. The 3" driver is meant to be paired with a subwoofer as low frequency response is extremely limited.Continue reading JohnBlue M3 Mini Speakers... - Parasound JC 2 BP Preamp27 August 2010, 3:19 am
Many owners of Parasound's flagship JC 2 preamplifier have requested the ability to integrate it into their surround systems, and Parasound has now responded with the new JC 2 BP (BP standing for bypass). Parasound claims that the modified potentiometer board, new control software, and circuits which remove the volume control from the signal path do not compromise the JC 2's performance in any way.Continue reading Parasound JC 2 BP Preamp... - Meridian M80 Music System27 August 2010, 3:16 am
Meridian has released a new follow up to their popular F80 music system, called the M80. The M80 loses the Ferrari branding, but gains a leather finish for the custom mineral composite cabinet, available in Obsidian Black, Chestnut, or Ivory. Every M80 also includes the previously optional i80 iPod dock.Continue reading Meridian M80 Music System... - Polk Audio Blackstone TL Home Theater Speakers27 August 2010, 3:12 am
Polk Audio has released a new 5.1 channel home theater speaker package called the Blackstone TL. The main channels of the Blackstone TL system consist of four TL3 satellite speakers and one TL3c center channel speaker, which feature "advanced Time Lens Technology" to align the acoustic centers of the .75" ring radiator tweeter and 3.25" Aerated Polypropylene Cone (APP) mid-bass drivers.Continue reading Polk Audio Blackstone TL Home Theater Speakers...
- Capitol Audiofest 201020 June 2010, 7:29 am
(Note: This is a preview article, published to provide a timely update for those interested in the Capitol Audiofest Show. Look for the full article in the August edition!) The first annual Capitol Audiofest took place in the Washington D.C. suburb of Rockville, Maryland on June 11—13. The term “first annual” always gives me a [...]... - Interview with Albert Von Schweikert2 June 2010, 1:00 pm
Albert Von Schweikert, award-winning designer of speakers from budget to cost-no-object, has spent nearly four decades in the industry. Here he talks with Patrick Dillon about his experiences and thoughts on speaker design and the hi-fi industry.... - The Controlled-Pattern Offset Bipole Loudspeaker2 June 2010, 12:00 pm
Duke LeJeune of AudioKinesis explains the theory behind the controlled-pattern offset bipole loudspeaker, and demonstrates how this configuration can - if used correctly - lower room-related frequency response anomalies.... - A Paradigm Shift in Hi-fi2 June 2010, 11:00 am
The DEQX HDP-3 preamp-crossover-equalizer is an incredibly powerful tool for building and fine-tuning your own active loudspeakers. Tyson Neidig describes his active loudspeaker journey and the place of the DEQX.... - The Salk Signature Soundscape2 June 2010, 10:00 am
Jim Salk and Dennis Murphy, from Salk Signature Sound, talk about their new flagship loudspeaker. "These speakers do not stand out in any way. All you will hear is the music... nothing more, nothing less. Once you hear them, you will understand."... - The Virtue Audio Sensation2 June 2010, 9:00 am
Seth Krinsky, of Virtue Audio, talks about his newly-released Sensation amplifier, based on the Tripath chip and packaged into a no-compromises design and chassis. Along the way, he learned a few things that he shares with us here......
- Marten ‘Momento’ speakers30 August 2010, 2:56 am
Mike Valentine has written up the Marten Momento speakers [their second largest, penultimate speakers] . The Momento speaker article has several photos and his listening impressions (fortuitously for most of us here, it has been translated into English ): Mike Valentine: Marten Momento Speakers [Thanks Mike!]... - Recommended Music29 August 2010, 3:41 am
First off, this post is not going to list music we recommend. Sorry. In fact, we don’t really recommend music, per se, and this post is going to talk about why. First, although I think we both enjoy it when someone else plays their canned selection of tracks… THIS one shows awesome mid bass, that one [...]... - Summarizing25 August 2010, 3:59 pm
OK, summarizing the last few posts and comments… I am of the opinion that: 1. It is a disservice to audiophiles and the equipment/systems to lump everything into more or less two categories: good and pretty good but that this is the state of affairs for 99% of the reporting by both laypeople and reviewers. 2. [...]... - Farming Music24 August 2010, 2:43 am
No, I do not mean music to farm by… A common argument people use to sidetrack audiophiles and audiphiling is to say, in this ‘trump-card tone of voice’, “well its the music that is the important thing”. That is like telling an organic farmer [oh, so now you see the why of the title? not [...]... - Another kind of ‘compression’ in high-end audio19 August 2010, 3:46 am
Anyone who reads the average show report, the average review or any forum runs into the dreaded ‘blowed me away’ or “best I’ve ever heard” or even the infamous ‘best ever’ mixed with your usual sprinkle of awesomes and wows. To some extent this is the fault of the English language - mathematics is much [...]... - HRS - Harmonic Resolution Systems - News18 August 2010, 4:21 pm
[Got a number of posts to… uh… post. So please bear with us!] Some of this you already know these Harmonic Resolution Systems tidbits - but just so that the blog has a record of all this… The HRS R1 Isolation Base: The new R1 Isolation Base at $1095 works in the same frame system as S1 ($1695) [...]...
- The Poetry of Motion17 August 2010, 9:01 pm
MartinLogan’s newest loudspeakers have us questioning the old adage about getting what you pay for The sad fact of the matter is that most readers of Home Entertainment will take one look at the prices of MartinLogan’s new Motion Series loudspeakers and never even consider auditioning them. That’s a curious thing to say, perhaps, in a publication that has reviewed and enthusiastically endorsed speaker systems with stickers comparable to a Porsche 911 Carrera 4, but without the installment ... - Linn Majik DS-I Review16 July 2010, 7:38 am
Brèagha ceòl: Linn's new Majik DS-I combines the best bits of their digital player, preamp and digital amplification, all squeezed into one package. To be honest, I think Linn is an odd company. Looking at their product lines, you have to wonder if they lack a decent spell-check or are just lifting names straight out of the Ikea catalog. read more... - iPad @ hOme9 July 2010, 8:55 am
Sure it's cool and trendy, but what can the iPad do for the A/V Enthusiast? Well, quite a lot it turns out.Somewhere after the time the fanboy lines abate and before it cures cancer or something, the iPad turns out to be a ridiculously useful device for the ePerson. read more... - Pass Labs INT-30A Review2 July 2010, 9:37 am
The Pass Laboratories INT-30A integrated amplifier doesn't do much, and that's what makes it great! I've probably reviewed well over a hundred amplifiers, but I can't say I've ever really heard one. I'm always listening to an amplifier driving a speaker, so the sound is really the combination of the two. I'm pretty sure Nelson Pass has not only listened to more amps and speakers than I have, he's designed more than a few of my favorite high-end amps. read more... - HiFi Digital Audio25 June 2010, 7:05 am
Digital AudioAnalog SoundEveryone has music on their computer. The question though, is what’s the best way to get it from there to your ears? We take a look at how it all works and poke at three DACs vying for your attention while we're at it. read more... - Wadia 151PowerDAC mini Review25 June 2010, 7:05 am
Don't let the size fool you Wadia is the maker of one of my favorite products of the past few years: the 170iTransport, the only digital iPod dock. It was clearly a success for them, as the 151PowerDAC mini was designed to match up with the 170, with a nearly identical form factor. read more...
- New Apple TV, iPod Lineup, Social Networking for iTunes1 September 2010, 7:53 pm
Today, Apple held their music keynote complete with Chris Martin from Coldplay finishing out Steve Jobs announcements of their fall lineup of Apple products with a couple popular Coldplay hits. Apple rolled out a variety of new announcements, the most exciting being a simplified version of the Apple TV, a sleeker, smaller version of the iPod Nano complete with a Read more...... - Nixeus Fusion HD 1080p Media Player Review31 August 2010, 5:19 pm
It's just about impossible to find a digital media player that does everything, but if you look hard enough you'll find one that does everything you need. The Fusion HD from Nixeus won't satisfy those looking for a Boxee Box like device – it's not built around streaming. If you're looking for something that will handle your digital media collection Read more...... - An Interview with Michael Fremer30 August 2010, 8:47 pm
To serious audiophiles, Michael Fremer really needs no introduction. He has long been a distinguished high performance audio reviewer for several decades and enjoys a lengthy stint as a senior contributing editor at Stereophile magazine. His passion for Vinyl playback is unparalleled and his monthly column at Stereophile, Analog Corner, is among its most popular. But that is just scratching Read more...... - B&W P5 Hi-Fi Headphones Review25 August 2010, 11:39 pm
Back in my jaded days of audiophilia I can remember clearly discounting the iPod as any serious means by which to listen to music. Sure, they were convenient and sure you could put a lot of songs on them but at what price. I knew the answer as I had heard music ripped to the mp3 format with even more Read more...... - Manley Labs Snapper Monoblock Amplifiers Review25 August 2010, 11:07 pm
Manley Labs, out of Chino, CA, is one of my favorite high-end audio companies. I had the pleasure of reviewing the wonderful 300B Preamplifier, and the very cool MAHI... - 10 Fantastic Subwoofers for Home Theaters18 August 2010, 8:44 pm
When you’re thinking about modifying the sound in your home theater, nothing can make or break the overall effect of your sound system like a subwoofer. A weak sub can make even the most thrilling action sequence seem muted, and a sub that’s too much for the room can overpower the rest of the system with ease.But there’s Read more......
- Re: Recommendations for a great recording of Mahler's 7th Symphony8 September 2010, 9:14 am
I'll second the Bertini set - it's probably one of the most consistent Mahler cycles recorded, not to mention my favorite of the Third. I too am very partial to MTT/SFS (as I live in the area!), but I think he did a spectacular job on the Seventh with ...... - Re: Cherry jr review in Affordable Audio8 September 2010, 7:54 am
Quote from: satfrat on Today at 07:22 AM Sweet review Tommy, it's a good read which runs true to what I've heard many many times.. It's sure to catch some eyes & ears and well it should. Cheers...... - Re: What are you currently listening to?8 September 2010, 7:32 am
Quote from: VOLKS on 6 Sep 2010, 07:11 PMClassic. That brings back some memories."Operator, could you help me place this call..."... - Re: Cherry jr review in Affordable Audio8 September 2010, 7:22 am
Quote from: AmpDesigner333 on Today at 05:00 AMCherry jr review in Affordable Audio:http://www.affordableaudio.org/aa2010-09.pdf Sweet review Tommy,...... - Re: What classical music you listening to, luv?8 September 2010, 7:03 am
Mahler's First on Harmonia Mundi. Very nice....
- Anyone try Bid-a-Note auctions?8 September 2010, 6:01 am
Can you believe these guys? In the "about us" column they complain about what the other "auction sites" charge and then go on to say that they only charge 5%.... Ouch!... - Beautiful Vintage Turntable From Museum Of Modern Art8 September 2010, 1:32 am
Saw this beauty at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City over the past weekend. Also had a great meal at the restaurant there, called The Modern. A nice day. Attachment 156692 (http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=156692) Attachment 156693 (http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=156693) Jeff... - September 2010 Issue Affordable$$Audio7 September 2010, 11:41 pm
The staff at Affordable$$Audio proudly announces that Issue #57 is now available for free download. This month read reviews of the Swan 2.1 SE Custom monitors, the DAC Cherry Jr. power amplifier, and StereoKnight Silverstone Balanced Preamplifier. In addition we have included Prof. Raife Smith's eye-opening Historical Overview of Stereophonic Blind Testing that is sure to stir up the objectivists vs. subjectivist debate. Thanks for reading!! Visit www.affordableaudio.com and click on the ... - Static electricity on vinyl7 September 2010, 11:32 pm
Even though I live in Vancouver (the wet coast) I often have a real problem with static electricity on my vinyl. Some records are fine but sometimes the vinyl actually 'sticks' to the platter and I can feel the pull when I pick them up. I use the Zerostat but it doesn't seem to do much (I know it works but it is old). I keep a wet sponge next to the turntable as the water on my fingers is the only way to disperse the static. Any suggestions?:help:... - Linear Contact stylus question?7 September 2010, 11:03 pm
I'm using new/old Audio-Technica TrackMaster 8 or TM8 on an classic Dual 1219 turntable. The packaging says it's a Linear Contact stylus. So do I use the elliptical or the conical setting on the anti-skate? Since I replaced my old Shure 91ED for the TM8 the output has really decreased. I've gone from 5.0 mV to 3.0 mV and I really have to crank the volume up now! The TM8 sounds great, just not is loud! I have found a way to increase the output by running the phono output through the Sansui's... - Ortofon banana w/ straight tonearm?7 September 2010, 9:20 pm
I read these banana style carts are designed to track with curved tonearms. A DJ friend put a Concorde Pro S on my straight tonearm and HOLY CRAP it sounds nice- much fuller/heavier sound than whatever came with the table, AMAZING bass. Sits at a strange angle but it's spherical (recommended in the Gemini manual), it tracked some old records perfectly. I'm seriously in love with it, but will it kill my records if I keep it? Image: http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt167/HiRizeBear/...
- AVI Brio's8 September 2010, 4:14 am
Hi, AVI bashing aside, I was wondering if any of the forum members have had any experiences with the AVI Brio's. I have the opportunity of acquiring a pair and would like to know your thoughts. How would they compare with the likes of ATC and what other speakers are in the same class?... - Creek 4330 integrated - use as a preamp?7 September 2010, 9:16 pm
I'm currently using a 4330 but having introduced ATC SCM7 speakers into the equation it needs the volume turned up a fair bit (which I expected as I know ATCs are inefficient). I can't easily get at the rear of the amp so does anyone know if you can use this as a pre-amp then I'll consider a more muscular power amp? Any tips on a compatible power amp (preferably under £100 - cheaper the better)? Thanks... - Linn vs mcintosh7 September 2010, 7:35 pm
Hi Guys This is my first post on here. I have the upgrade bug, at the moment i have a full Linn system 2xlk140 aktiv into Katans,Genki cdp,Kairn pre and lp12 Ittock with an Adikt and Lingo2(non cirkus don't think it adds much to the sound i like from the LP12 sorry). The logical upgrade would be AK2200 or AK4200 and new pre etc to stay with linn, which would be fine except i dont much like the new Linn boxes. I'm drawn to mcintosh amps and ATC speakers the question is would this work with the... - CB HiCap on ebay: POWER AMPLIFIER?7 September 2010, 2:42 pm
I am intrigued by an ad currently on ebay (uk) for a CB HiCap which is described by the seller as a power amplifier. Also included is a Burndy interconnect (quote) which, again according to the seller, is available elsewhere new for £380. This, he says, is for use with the HiCap. Someone has already asked if he is in fact selling a 135 mono amp: seller say 'no'. Might be worth someone asking him if he actually knows what he has for sale? Hope this works - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NAIM-AUDIO... - Squeezebox switching between libraries7 September 2010, 5:34 am
I have a SB Duet and on touch and when I want to listen to "my music" from the SB server, while previously listening to from my "squeezebox applications"(internet radio, face book etc) it asks me to switch libabares Then when I want to switch back I cant without stopping the SB server. How can I switch between the two without switching the libraries and stopping the SB server, many thanks in advance... - Active speaker concerns?6 September 2010, 9:37 pm
---Quote (Originally by afewbeers)--- I had a very interesting experience recently with Linn speakers, power amps and active crossovers. I decided for several reasons to move on from Isobariks and give some Keltiks a try out. I had already decided to update amps to the new Chakra (Akurate 4200) amplifiers and used the new internal Linn activ cards thinking this would be a neat (no more spaghetti junction) solution. Well this system had bucket loads of rhythm. It really did bounce along and ...
- Simple way to add voice track to WAV?7 September 2010, 7:21 pm
Hey folks. my mom wants to add voice notes (via external mic) over existing WAV files and save it back to WAV/CD format. Please suggest any simmple program that will allow her to do it. I prefere...... - Help with choosing 2.1 DSP with XLR7 September 2010, 3:40 am
Hey all, New to the home audio world. What I want to do is use active speakers (full range - 50-20khz) along with subwoofers (all contain XLR inputs) for 2.1 music and home studio use. Along with...... - Budget amp for outdoor stereo7 September 2010, 12:15 am
We recently purchased 2 Polk monitor 60's for our tailgate for use during football season. Unfortunately, we blew the tweeters at the first game. As you can imagine the receiver was running close...... - 2.1 Setup help!!!3 September 2010, 4:13 am
Hi Guys first of all I'm no "Audiophile" so my system may seem "lame/poor" for some if not all in here. Like the title states I have a 2.1 channel setup that I use for Music only, my amp is a...... - HELP! Newby questions? Car audio vs home audio2 September 2010, 10:01 pm
Ive got a few newb questions for all of you. I have a audio set up i had in my jeep that consists of 4 kicker kb6000 speakers, these are actually bookshelf speakers, and 2 kicker subwoofers. The 4...... - Differences between HK 3390 and 34902 September 2010, 3:38 pm
I am mainly interested in finding out whether the amps and preamps (especially phono) in both these receivers are differenent or the same ? Is the design of these sections or the active devices used......
- ANN: Issue 2 of Vinylphile is now available!7 September 2010, 10:47 am
Hi all, Just a quick line to say that Issue 2 of Vinylphile is now available for FREE download! Here's a direct download link (it's a 36 MB PDF file): [link] Enjoy, and thanks for reading!... - [Admin] Problem with post From headers3 September 2010, 4:15 pm
We've had a hiccup with the post processing software causing many posts to have an incorrect From header of "Da...@newsguy.com". Please do not reply to those posts as the correct versions should be sent soon. If you are an author of one of those posts and you don't see the corrected version by the evening of 9/3. then please let us know.... - Acoustic properties of indoor plants1 September 2010, 4:41 pm
I tried to find some info on the acoustic properties of indoor plants. I searched the following journals J. of the Acoustical Society of America J. of the Audio Engineering Society Applied Acoustics J. of Sound and Vibration Acustica/acta acustica J. of the Acoustical Society of Japan and engineering databases... - More on Apple TV -- a couple of gotchas1 September 2010, 4:02 pm
I discover the wireless receiver on an Apple TV is kind of marginal, at least when compared to my MacBook Pro. I had to get an ethernet over power line kit to make it work without dropouts. That caused another problem. I also listen to LPs via a low output MC cartridge. When the ethernet adaptor is plugged in, it puts a huge... - [Admin] Posting problems mini-FAQ31 August 2010, 12:15 am
Rec.audio.high-end is a moderated group. As stated in our guidelines, submitted messages that are not acceptable for posting to the group will receive a rejection notice unless it is one of the following: 1. Spam 2. A "for sale" or "wanted to buy" post. 3. Crossposted 4. Uses a spam-proofed or some other type of non-replyable address.... - Hard Disks as a source for digital music30 August 2010, 2:43 am
I have been fascinated by the idea of music servers but unwilling to pay the price. Then it occurred to me I already had the nucleus of a music server in iTunes on my MacBook Pro. Adding a DroboS backup system gave me all the space I needed and an Apple TV, with its optical output, provided the way to pass the music to my DAC....