- Pärt from Mullova and Järvi15 October 2018, 11:49 am
Forty years after he wrote his two-movement Tabula Rosa for violinist Gidon Kremer, Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, 83, is still alive, engaged and composing. Hence it should come as no surprise that when violinist Viktoria Mullova and conductor Paavo Järvi contacted Pärt about their plan to record five of his works for violin and various instruments for their Onyx album, Arvo Pärt, the conductor attended the recording sessions.Mon, 10/15/2018...
- Au Revoir, Marriott—Hello, Gaylord Rockies13 October 2018, 5:52 pm
This final shot of the shipping checkout area in the Denver Marriott Tech Center may lack glamour, but so, I'm afraid, does the Marriott itself, post-renovation. The freezing lobby looks impressive, and rooms are lovely for guests, but the latters' ability to accommodate systems plus attendees has been greatly diminished. With unmovable built-in credenzas, poor acoustics, and unacceptably noisy cooling systems, the time has come to move on.Sat, 10/13/2018... - JA's Final Report from RMAF13 October 2018, 5:35 pm
There are always chance encounters at an audio show, and when I went to meet AVTech America's general manager Keith Pray (left) and Hi-Fi News editor Paul Miller (right) to discuss, among other things, November's Hi-Fi News Show in Windsor, England, Audeze CEO Sankar Thiagasamudram was with them holding a sample of the California company's new Mobius head-tracking headphone ($399). The Mobius uses planar-magnetic diaphragms like the upmarket Audeze cans, but once zero'd in the forward direction,... - JA's First Report from the 2018 RMAF12 October 2018, 8:13 pm
I started my tour of RMAF in the ground-floor room next to the restaurant hosted by Colorado dealer ListenUp. There I did a double-take—wasn't that a JBL Century L100 three-way loudspeaker, with its distinctive Quadrex foam grille? No, this was the L100 Classic ($4000/pair), released by JBL Synthesis to celebrate the 48 years since this speaker was first released. "A modern take on a time-honored legend," said the press release, which is just as well because I was never a fan of the origina... - Up to the Wire on RMAF Day 311 October 2018, 8:49 pm
Although most rooms I visited at the end of RMAF 2018 offered fine sound, I single out the new Dragonfire Acoustics Mini Dragon self-powered desktop system ($10,000 total) for two reasons: a) its designer, Dragoslav Colich (aka Dr. C), who continues to design every Audeze headphone, calls these first desktop planar speakers from his new company his "life achievement…the finest transducer I have built," and, b) they sound fantastic.Thu, 10/11/2018...
- Arturo Delmoni Analog Master Tape to Direct Stream Digital Crowdfunding Project15 October 2018, 3:21 pm
The following is a press release issued by Arturo Delmoni. October 15, 2018 - 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the recording of Arturo Delmoni’s legendary Water Lily solo-violin recital LP Arturo Delmoni Plays Bach-Kreisler-Ysaÿe (WLA WS-07). That LP has been a fixture on The Absolute Sound’s Super LP List, and continues to be cited in equipment reviews in TAS and in other publications. Recorded at night in a monastery chapel, Delmoni’s compelling performances combine th... - RMAF 2018 – Loudspeakers Under $20k15 October 2018, 6:02 am
Whenever I crossed paths with my colleague Jonathan Valin at RMAF 2018, he didn’t look happy. Though there were exceptions, he said, mostly the sound was not so great. My experience was different and the reason, I think, is pretty clear: The smaller speakers I was covering had a better chance of succeeding in the rooms they had to inhabit at the Denver Tech Center Marriott than the more ambitious designs that Jonathan was listening to. In 2019, Rocky Mountain Audio Fest will move to a new ... - X Marks the Spot: West Coast Debut of Legacy VALOR at Legendary Capitol Studios12 October 2018, 7:02 pm
The following is a press release issued by Legacy Audio. October 12, 2018 - Join Legacy Audio on Friday evening, November 2, 2018 in Studio A at legendary Capitol Studios in Los Angeles for the West Coast debut of the Legacy VALOR system as part of The Home Entertainment Show’s exclusive event, “X Marks the Spot”. Legacy’s new VALOR flagship system showcases an extraordinary arsenal of new technology. At nearly six feet in height and closing in on 300 pounds, VALOR employ... - RMAF 2018 – Digital12 October 2018, 5:02 am
In the past I’ve reported on both digital and personal audio at RMAF in one report. But as RMAF and CANJAM have continued to expand, so has The Absolute Sound’s coverage. Now Chris Martens of HiFi+ will take over personal and portable audio, and I will concentrate on newest digital offerings. As usual, I found an ample supply of new digital components to explore, far more than I could include in one show report. The hardest part of this job is deciding which components to include in ... - RMAF 2018 – JV on Loudspeakers $20k and Up11 October 2018, 2:34 am
I haven’t been to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in three years. And although the show is planning to change venues in 2019, after this latest visit to the Marriott Tech Center I’m not sure I’ll be back. Why? This was one of the worst-sounding North American audio shows I’ve ever attended. Between the tiny rooms, the lousy electricity, and the single day that RMAF and the Marriott allow exhibitors to unpack and set up, you’d have to be mighty lucky—or mighty mi...
- RMAF 2018 Show Report9 October 2018, 5:00 am
Featuring a glorious and tasteful renovated venue, our Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest (RMAF) 2018 show report celebrates 15 years of reporting on the highly popular event. With continued and steady growth, RMAF has become the leading high-end audio fall event in Western America. Once again we have the Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest teaming up with Head-Fi's CanJam event! Audio gear from large reference speakers to the smallest in-ear monitors could be experienced at the show. S... - Merrill Audio Element 118 Solid-State Monoblock Amplifiers9 October 2018, 4:59 am
Regarding the Element 118, the layout they employ with the internal printed circuit boards (PCBs) in this amplifier has reduced the parasitic capacitance and inductance to near zero, and allow close to zero overshoot and ring, and therefore zero deadtime. The term "deadtime" might be the most important consideration here, and so it is worth explaining a bit further. The transistors in even some recent designs of some otherwise quite decent sounding Class D amps could not switch fast enough, thus... - Audioengine A5+ Wireless Speakers9 October 2018, 4:57 am
Simply calling the Audioengine A5+ a "wireless speaker" is not nearly enough information to properly describe these speakers. Of course, the raison d'être of the A5+ wireless speaker is its "high-fidelity advanced Bluetooth with aptX HD with a 24-bit upsampling DAC (AKM AK4396)". This type happens to be the older generation of Bluetooth connectivity. Although, to be honest, when I heard the term "wireless" in the name of the speaker I assumed that the A5+ would either have no wires connect... - FiiO M3K Portable Hi-Res Audio Player And BTR3 Bluetooth Amplifier9 October 2018, 4:57 am
Being an old timer in battery powered portable audio, including everything from a brand new 1970 Panasonic transistor radio to the world's first portable CD player (Sony D5 in 1985) and toyed with Diamond Rio mp3 player (1999), I am truly impressed at these two under $100 offerings. While there's bragging rights with the latest and greatest (and overly heavy imho) 'reference devices' that are big, overly bulky, and frankly hard to justify at lofty $3000(!) pricing for some, FiiO's M3K portable H... - See More High-End Audio Reviews...30 August 2018, 11:30 am
EnjoyTheMusic.com has many more high-end audiophile articles and reviews available this month. Click here to see them all. ...
- REVIEW: Avcon NORTES Mk3 | loudspeakers / floor-standing | POLAND1 October 2018, 10:00 pm
POLISH AUDIO CLASTER vcon, a company founded and led by Przemysław Nieprzecki, came out of the DIY world. In 2008, it was a bold move, because Europe was in the midst of one of the biggest financial crises after the World War II. As it turned out - diligence and stubbornness paid off, and today, twenty-one years later, Avcon is one of the most important Polish loudspeakers manufacturers. Actually they make not only loudspeakers but also acoustic panels that significantly contributed to c... - CONVERSATION: TOMASZ ROGULA ※ Zeta Zero | owner, main engineer | POLAND1 October 2018, 10:00 pm
think that you do not need to present ZETA ZERO to anyone. Every year presentations during the Audio Video Show attract hundreds, if not thousands, of people who want to see and listen to some of the most original columns(loudspeakers) available on the market today. And I do not mean by any means only our domestic market, but also global. Zeta Zero Orbital 360 belong to a group of interesting constructions - these are all-directional (omnipolar) speakers. Probably you immediately thought abou... - REVIEW: Audiomica Laboratory ULTRA REFERENCE SERIES EUROPA + GENIMEDES + CALLISTO | interconnect + speaker cable + power cable AC | POLAND1 October 2018, 10:00 pm
POLISH AUDIO CLASTER ltra Reference Series by AUDIOMICA LABORATORY is one of the six series in its lineup, the second one from the top. On the very top there is the Consequence Series, and below Excellence and three named after colors: Red, Gray and Black. Each of them includes a full range of cables, from classic analog interconnects to digital USB, AES / EBU and Ethernet ones. The catalog claims there are several dozen models altogether. In addition to the fact that the company offers c... - REVIEW: hORNS by Auto-Tech ATMOSPHERE | loudspeakers / stand-mounted | POLAND1 October 2018, 10:00 pm
POLISH AUDIO CLASTER hen you hear: horn loudspeakers, most likely you're thinking about some huge speakers because first that come to mind come from Avantgarde Acoustic, Acapella Audio Arts, Blumenhoffer Acoustics and others. The horn loudspeakers are clearly divided into two types: with classic cabinets with wooden horns that are "hidden" inside the cabinets, and other ones with horns outside, most often made of epoxy resins. The problem with these speakers is what is also their main adv... - REVIEW: Shape of Sound T-2 + WT-10 | WT-12 | turntable + tonearm | POLAND1 October 2018, 10:00 pm
POLISH AUDIO CLASTER n response to a question sent from the user, the on-line language counseling of the Polish Language Dictionary gave the differences between three, often used interchangeably, terms - gramofon, adapter and patefon: Gramofon is a device used to play sound from vinyl records, it has the widest range of meaning from the given three. Adapter in everyday language, refers to an electric turntable used to play shellac or vinyl records (also called "black"). This word also has...
- The DENAFRIPS Pontus DAC15 October 2018, 5:21 pm
I remember my first high-end digital player, a California Audio Labs DX-1. Looking forward to perfect sound forever, I tried to sell myself on the virtues of that CD player. Listening through my (then) Martin Logan Aerius speakers and Classe amp, I could never shake the feeling that the DX-1's sonic signature was contributing to... Read More » The post The DENAFRIPS Pontus DAC appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Q & A with Aaron Diehl15 October 2018, 3:10 pm
Aaron Diehl's 2013 CD The Bespoke Man's Narrative, his début on Mack Avenue Records, fell like a thunderclap upon the jazz landscape, reaching No. 1 on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart. Something about the advance publicity must have caught my eye or ear, because I asked for a pre-release press copy of the CD. Upon playing it, I was so gobsmacked... Read More » The post Q & A with Aaron Diehl appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Notes of an Amateur: Pärt, Beethoven, Henze, and Blue Violet Duo11 October 2018, 7:07 pm
Arvo Pärt. Mullova - Järvi. Onyx 4201. Darf ich..., Fratres, Passacaglia, Tabula rosa, I Ludus, II Silentium, Spiegel im Speigel] I have never been drawn to the extremely popular and to be fair much admired Estonian contemporary composer, Arvo Pärt. I have found his music an example of the dictum that less may be less. It... Read More » The post Notes of an Amateur: Pärt, Beethoven, Henze, and Blue Violet Duo appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Arturo Delmoni Analog Master Tape to Direct Stream Digital (DSD256) Crowdfunding Project9 October 2018, 11:17 pm
Photo credit: Geoff Zagarola of La Naranja eBay auctions. I find it hard to believe that 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the recording session for Arturo Delmoni's legendary 1988 Water Lily solo-violin recital. Recorded at night in a monastery chapel, Delmoni's compelling performances combine thrilling technique with thought-provoking musical insights. This minimalist-audiophile, two channels from two... Read More » The post Arturo Delmoni Analog Master Tape to Direct Stream D... - Synergistic Research Galileo SX Cables - A Suspension of Disbelief9 October 2018, 3:26 pm
Let's keep it simple and direct. The new Synergistic Research Galileo SX cables are the finest cables that I have used in my system. Over the last two years, I have reviewed or personally auditioned flagship cables from many of the elite well established major brands and also from several new innovative upstarts. Not everything... Read More » The post Synergistic Research Galileo SX Cables - A Suspension of Disbelief appeared first on Positive Feedback....
- Anthem’s STR Integrated Amplifier5 October 2018, 1:16 am
It’s tough to get everything, but it’s a great feeling when you do. Over the last few years, high performance integrated amplifiers keep increasing in popularity – and for good reason. Space is at a premium, and many music lovers just don’t want to buy a rack full of gear. As a master of justification, [...]... - White Lightning Speaker Cable by Nordost4 October 2018, 3:32 am
Let’s just assume for a minute, you are of the mindset that premium cable makes a significant difference in how your system can sound. For today, if you aren’t with us, just move on. Your day will go easier, and no need to raise your blood pressure over this subject. Still with me? It can [...]... - Nordost Purple Flare USB4 October 2018, 3:23 am
I’m an implementation junkie. I confess loving products that are well executed. With so many garage builders entering the cable industry, with shoddily produced goods packaged like they came from a scout troop bake sale or estate sale, Nordost produces cable that feels great in your hands. And thanks to their extensive dealer network, they [...]... - The Cardas Clear Beyond XL Power Cable3 October 2018, 11:50 pm
Never resting on their laurels, the Cardas team in Bandon, Oregon continues their quest to build the perfect power cord. The effort has resulted in their new flagship, the Clear Beyond XL. After many years using Running Springs Audio Mongoose power cords – a Cardas-modified version of the Golden Reference – as my go-to power [...]... - Issue 911 October 2018, 4:05 am
Features Old School: Jeff Dorgay looks back at the PrimaLuna ProLogue One, the component that launched his career! 995: A Pioneer $295 Integrated!! By Jerold O’Brien Journeyman Audiophile: The MOON by Simaudio 600iV2 By Eric Neff Mine: It Should Be Yours Game Boy Watch AMMO NYC Car Detailing Foam JBL Xtreme Two Lennon Stamps and [...]...
- Hegel Music Systems H590 Integrated Amplifier-DAC15 October 2018, 4:00 am
Note: Measurements can be found through this link. My relationship with Hegel Music Systems has now spanned six years -- almost all of my admittedly brief reviewing career. While the Norwegian company has been around since 1997, its dramatic uptick in popularity seems to have coincided with my own introduction to the brand in 2012, through their H300 integrated amplifier-DAC ($5500 USD, discontinued). Integrated amplifiers with built-in digital-to-analog converters are now commonplace, but... - Pro-Ject Audio Systems Classic SB Turntable1 October 2018, 4:00 am
Pro-Ject Audio Systems, of Vienna, Austria, makes a turntable model for everyone. Their lower-priced models range from the Essential ($299 USD) through the Debut Carbon ($449, the model I bought) to the Esprit ($599) and beyond. The features and bundles vary -- claimed improvements in motors, platters, and cartridges account for the rises in price. Visually, however, many of Pro-Ject’s turntables look similar, with 8.6” tonearms (though of varying materials), and glossy, rectangular ... - Added to that $926.95 System: A $289 Turntable and $359.94 Worth of Speaker Footers?1 October 2018, 4:00 am
In this month’s photos of the system I wrote about last month in “A Feature-Rich, Fully Modern Hi-Fi System You Can Begin, Live, and Grow With -- for $926.95,” keen-eyed readers will notice two additions: a turntable, and footers for the speakers. The turntable shouldn’t be a surprise -- I mentioned last month that I was thinking about adding one -- but as you’ll read below, for this system update the turntable and footers go hand in hand. ... - Baby Boomer Box-Set Bonanza1 October 2018, 4:00 am
After hi-fi became populist in the 1960s, thanks to Japanese imports bringing down the prices of hi-fi separates, an unfortunate “disconnect” manifested itself. It was the creation of a chasm between the two elements of music playback that should never have exhibited anything other than total cooperation. I am referring to the massive gap between the major music labels and the high-end audio community, the latter consisting of both audiophiles and manufacturers. ... - Recommended Reference Component: Muraudio SP1 Loudspeakers1 October 2018, 4:00 am
The Muraudio SP1’s 42”-tall cabinet looks like a cylinder cut in half lengthwise, set atop a 15”-high integral stand bolted to the cabinet’s bottom panel. There are two 6” midrange-woofers at the bottom of the front panel and two more at the top, the two drivers of each pair positioned side by side. Between these pairs is an electrostatic panel about 21”H by 11”W, inset a little and looking like a window with a shallow sill. Most will agree that, even in...
- Hana EH moving-coil cartridge Review13 October 2018, 7:20 pm
I have been using the Hana EH high output moving coil phono cartridge for the past two years, and I had a chance to meet the man responsible for the Hana cartridge distribution, Mr. Masahiro Shibazaki of Sibatech when I was in Japan last year. His company, Sibatech, was originally contracted to do worldwide export [...] The post Hana EH moving-coil cartridge Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - COS Engineering D1 DAC + Pre-Amplifier Review11 October 2018, 6:26 pm
Three Taiwanese connoisseurs of sound decided they need to bring some of their perspectives to the world, so they started COS, which stands for “connoisseur of sound”. Evidently they wish anonymity, considering this is the extent of information given about them on the website: “COS Engineering, founded by three close friends serious about audio entertainment, [...] The post COS Engineering D1 DAC + Pre-Amplifier Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Small Green Computer releases the Sonicorbiter OS V2.79 October 2018, 4:38 pm
Small Green Computer, manufacturer of the sonicTransporter servers and the series of Sonore Rendu players (microRendu, ultraRendu, Signature Rendu SE) has released its latest operating system, the Sonicorbiter OS V2.7 on October 8, 2018: ‘This release brings several amazing features to the SGC sonicTransporter series servers and Sonore Rendu series players. These updates include Tidal [...] The post Small Green Computer releases the Sonicorbiter OS V2.7 appeared first on Dagogo.... - Interview with Slawa Roschkow of SW1X from England5 October 2018, 10:26 pm
Slawa Roschkow/SW1X: Valves/Tubes in the 21st century. Were it not for my restlessness on one of my many excursions to London, England where I found with myself with free time, idle hands being dangerous, coupled with black diamond level curiosity and that could mean only one thing: GOOGLE. So, there I was searching the Greater [...] The post Interview with Slawa Roschkow of SW1X from England appeared first on Dagogo.... - Rogers High Fidelity 65V-1 tube integrated amplifier Review3 October 2018, 3:38 am
It’s been a while since tube/valve gear made any extended appearance in any of my homes. Nothing against the gear, but what with graduation and traveling and not settling down it just wasn’t practical. This is not to say that in my time I did not possess tube/valve gear from Audio Research and Conrad-Johnson, but [...] The post Rogers High Fidelity 65V-1 tube integrated amplifier Review appeared first on Dagogo....
- RMAF 2018 Show Report9 October 2018, 4:30 pm
At Chris’s request, I’ve consolidated my contemporaneous postings about RMAF into this show report. This is my second year attending RMAF at this venue, and like last year, it was very enjoyable. With the benefit of past experience, I was able to organize my time better, so got to see more of the rooms and exhibits than I did last year. Before I get any further, a word about what this report is, and what it isn’t. It IS a highly personal chronicle of my exper... - First Listen And A Visit To dCS For The New Bartok2 October 2018, 9:27 pm
I recently spent a couple days at dCS headquarters in Cambridge, England to get all the details about the new Bartok DAC / Headphone Amp and more importantly to listen to the Bartok on the dCS reference system. The Bartok is quite a component, to say the least! Upon my arrival at dCS on Monday morning I walked past an interesting contraption with clothes hanging inside. John Quick, General Manager of dCS Americas, told me it was a drying rack for the clothes of the guys who bi... - Kevin Schmidt: We Are the Robots Exhibit Review27 September 2018, 5:50 pm
Archimago, myself, and our lovely wives met up at the Vancouver Art Gallery where we viewed and listened to Kevin Schmidt’s: “We Are the Robots” exhibit. The exhibit runs to Oct 28, 2018. It is an incredible audio visual experience! Words and pictures can only convey so much of the experience, so I made three binaural recordings to share the audio experience. Listening to binaural recordings over headphones puts you in the room, listening... - New Linn Selekt DSM: First Listen20 September 2018, 5:37 pm
Linn has long been a pioneer in the world of HiFi. Its products featured an Ethernet input back in 2007! Many manufacturers today are still thinking about implementing network based audio, while Linn has over a decade of experience perfecting the implementation and performance. This week at the James Hotel in Chicago Linn introduced its newest product the Selekt DSM. I had an opportunity to sit down with the Linn team to talk about the brand, the Selekt DSM, and listen t... - My Quest for a New DAC, Part 3 - Denafrips Terminator12 September 2018, 3:55 pm
In this installment of my article series on my quest for a new DAC, I'll be evaluating the Denafrips Terminator. When I revealed my shortlist and the criteria by which I selected DACs I'd evaluate, the Terminator was easily the one for which I received the most questions and anticipation. Clearly, this DAC has many people intrigued. And why not? On paper, it appears to deliver formidable value for its cost (US MSRP $4299). But let's back up. I first heard about this DAC, and t...
- 50% Off All Vinyl at The Nonesuch Store Today Only!15 October 2018, 4:33 pm
Nonesuch email blast just now announces 50% off "everyday low prices" for the next 24 hours on all vinyl, CDs, MP3s, FLAC, HD merchandise. Just enter promo code AUTUMN at checkout. Nonesuch is one of the only labels that does not sent reviewers any vinyl promos so I'll be shopping too. Sale ends 1PM Tuesday October 16th (the 2000 Year Old Man's birthday).... - The Dig’s New Double EP Is Finely Crafted From Start To Finish14 October 2018, 4:42 pm
“If there’s one thing that ties the two EPs together, it’s that all the songs are about moving,” wrote Brooklyn-based indie rock band The Dig in a recent press statement. Over the course of their move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, they wrote and recorded Moonlight Baby and Afternoon With Caroline the songs that would make up two new EPs. After dropping tracks from these releases throughout the year, the latter has finally been released in full and both EPs have been paire... - "Making Vinyl" Detroit: Day One First Panel: "Record Store Day 11 Years Later"13 October 2018, 2:29 pm
After brief opening ceremonies at "Making Vinyl" event in Detroit October 1st and 2nd, co-founder/organizer Larry Jaffee introduced Record Store Day founder Michael Kurtz who moderated a fascinating panel intended to explain "why and how nearly 750,000 records were sold last April 21st in the U.S." and more interestingly how these releases were chosen, manufactured and distributed. ... - MMM (Malachi’s Mat Mishegas) Felt Mat File Identities Revealed11 October 2018, 1:27 pm
The file identities of "MMM"are as follows:... - Pro-Ject’s New “Juke Box E” System Is A Decent Entry Into Analog (Manufacturer's Response Added)7 October 2018, 6:43 pm
The all-in-one turntable market has one gargantuan issue looming over it: the Crosley Cruiser. With everything an analog neophyte thinks he or she needs, these $70 “turntables” sell by the boatload, only to seriously damage records after but a few plays with their five grams of tracking force. Why are they so popular then? Because they’re small, inexpensive and the purchaser doesn’t have to think about piecing together an entire system; it’s right in front of them. ...
- These high-end audio devices take sound to another level - CNET15 October 2018, 2:51 pm
The Audiophiliac finds so many high-end audio goodies at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in Denver.... - Focal's Elegia headphone gobsmacks the Audiophiliac - CNET14 October 2018, 7:05 pm
It's Focal's first high-end closed back headphone, and it sounds awfully good!... - Here’s the best reason to upgrade your audio system - CNET6 October 2018, 4:17 pm
High-fidelity music will actually make you feel better.... - Wowza! The Audiophiliac picks the best headphones, from $26 to $6,000 - CNET6 October 2018, 3:47 pm
The best of the best in-, on-, and over-the-ear headphones according to Steve Guttenberg, the Audiophiliac.... - Monoprice ups sound quality game with a sweet $150 headphone - CNET29 September 2018, 6:34 pm
This comfortable, full-sized M650 is the best-sounding product I've ever heard from the company....
- Audio Advice: Music Matters 2018, and 40th Anniversary Celebration15 October 2018, 10:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile Audio Advice celebrates forty years in business by pulling out all the stops during their annual Music Matters event. Music Matters, is an annual celebration of music listening. However this year is an extra special event as Audio Advice not only celebrates their love of music, but also 40 years in business. With nearly twice as many brands as usual on hand to meet with customers and demonstrate some of the most exciting audio gear on the planet, everyone was ready for this ... - RMAF 2018: Nola , VAC, Nordost; The Metro Grand Reference Gold 2, a live experience in-room14 October 2018, 1:00 pm
Part-Time Audiophile It is almost impossible to visit every room at an audio show. To do so would require running shoes, twenty-something knees, and a stopwatch for limiting your listening window to only two minutes. Now with my excuses firmly in place, I want to take the opportunity to mention, that before this day at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in 2018, I had not reserved the requisite time to dedicate myself to in-action and listen to Nola speakers. The Story Accent Speaker Technology is Nola, ... - RMAF 2018: Ayon, Lumenwhite, USA Tube Audio, rock us like a hurricane14 October 2018, 10:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile Ayon Audio and USA Tube Audio brought to Rocky Mountain Audio Fest one of the more popular rooms at the show. Not only for bringing great sound, and a stunning product, but for consistently playing great pop and r&b music. If you want a crowd, content matters. That is a rule of media and broadcasting. Content is king, and it’s what you don’t do that matters. One of those “don’ts” these days is to drown your audience in Diana Krall and the us... - RMAF 2018: Auralic, YG Acoustics, Kubala-Sosna; Perfect timing and sound down to the atomic level13 October 2018, 10:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile The Story When I first walked into the Auralic + YG Acoustics room at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, admittedly a little anxiety washed over me. However, I’ll go into why later. For now, let’s talk about Auralic, a brand I (and we at Part Time Audiophile) have descent experience with. Auralic has been impressing the members of our team for a years now, and more recently of note, a lot of press writers around the industry with the debut of their G Series DACs and stre... - RMAF 2018: Spatial Audio, Vinnie Rossi, Innuos and Anticable; a nomination for Best-In-Show sound.12 October 2018, 10:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile The Story Starting at the source, the Innuos ZENITH which is directly a more affordable version of their SE model, and spiritually their reference Statement model. The ZENITH is no slouch by any means, — seriously, it has three linear power supplies, it is not a toy — but the ZENITH is also not the company’s most refined offering. I want you to know this, because I especially took note of this once the music started playing. It shouldn’t sound this go...
- Wrapping up RMAF 2018 with Angela Cardas (& more)14 October 2018, 9:16 am
As RMAF 2018 drew to a close, I joined Angela Cardas in the Marriott hotel bar for a chat about her role as manager of Cardas Audio and what she thinks of the term ‘WAF’. Guess what! She’s “not a fan”. The way Cardas tells it, the days of audio […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copyright 2010-2018 · Darko.Au... - Eat Schiit, audiophiles!13 October 2018, 4:05 pm
Aegir (“Ae-jjj-ear”?) is the forthcoming stereo (and mono-blockable) amplifier from California’s Schiit Audio and teased at RMAF 2018: a Class A-ish circuit dropped into a Vidar chassis that borrows from the Lyr 3’s Continuity output stage to deliver 20wpc into 8 Ohms, 40wpc into 4 Ohms. It was designed by […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. Fo... - The talking heads of RMAF 2018: Gordon Rankin12 October 2018, 7:39 pm
The USB stick, handed to me early Saturday morning by Wavelength Audio’s Gordon Rankin, detailed the five new models being shown at RMAF 2018: the Duetto v5 8w 300B amplifier, the (flagship) Crimson HS3x ES9038 USB DAC, the Cosecant HS3x ES9038 USB DAC, the Brick N2 Hybrid NOS Ladder DAC […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copyright 2010-20... - The talking heads of RMAF 2018: Sean Casey11 October 2018, 3:20 pm
Numerous high-end loudspeaker manufacturers show at RMAF but none are quite like Utah’s Zu Audio. They are the only exhibitor to constantly play interesting music all weekend, to consistently throw a kick-ass party with their main system on the show’s Saturday night and to demo their gear in visual and – […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For p... - Andrew Jones must be stopped!11 October 2018, 8:39 am
“Dear John. I don’t know about you but I’m becoming heartily sick of Andrew Jones. His US$20,000+ loudspeaker designs for TAD were great and all – and the US$129 Pioneer SP-BS22-LR was a cute attempt to snag entry-level buyers – but ever since he decamped to ELAC a few years back, […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use o...
- The AVM Ovation CS 8.2 All in One10 October 2018, 5:58 pm
Some forty or more years ago, the average person who set out to buy a stereo system, typically ended up with a stereo receiver. Things were much simpler then; all you needed was a receiver, a turntable and a pair of speakers. As for ‘audio furniture’, milk crates were the order of the day. A pair of included patch cord interconnects and if you were somewhat sophisticated, a run of heavy gauge lamp cord and you were in business. You didn’t have to give any thought to power... - Vinyl you may not know that should be in your collection Vol. 228 September 2018, 4:24 pm
If you visit the top vinyl sales websites such as Elusive Disc and Acoustic Sounds among others, the quality vinyl lists are fairly similar. All the familiar suspects—RCAs, Lyritas, EMIs, Mercurys, Blue Notes, Argos, Deccas—populate the must haves. And many fabulous reissues also are cross referenced (Testament, Speakers Corner, Classic Records, etc). I’ve been reviewing lots of cartridges and phono stages lately and have been deep diving into my vinyl collection to... - Shelter 5000 MC Phono Cartridge19 September 2018, 5:09 pm
Recently, I had the very good fortune to review the Shelter 501 III MC Phono Cartridge. No sooner than the review was published, a Shelter 5000 MC Phono Cartridge dropped into my lap. For my review of Canadian startup Pure Fidelity’s Eclipse Turntable, the designer John Stratton suggested he setup his Shelter 5000 as it had been so successful during the turntable’s beta testing. I killed two birds with one stone for that review and jotted down some thoughts about the 5000 once ... - Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 coming in TWO WEEKS—Denver, CO19 September 2018, 5:00 pm
Unless knee deep in a surprise Rocky Mountain snowstorm, Fall is a beautiful time of year to visit Denver, CO, one of the coolest, most progressive cities in the USA. It's a place that reveres craft beer (there's even a museum in the airport dedicated to the subject), has many fine restaurants, and where you can get high. Legally. In addition, the local audiophiles run what has become one of the finest high end audio shows in the world. And my favourite. Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (R... - The Audio by Van Alstine Vision SET 400 Amplifier14 September 2018, 4:38 pm
Over the years it’s been my good fortune to have reviewed and/or been exposed to many fine power amplifiers. These ranged from solid state Class A, a variety of tube amplifiers, with and without transformers, to the latest solid state Class D designs. I concluded there is no one right way to achieve excellent sound quality. We all hear differently and we all have our individual preferences. So, it can be difficult to review a product that will make an impact on a field of quality pro...
- RME ADI-2 Pro : a Technical Overview29 July 2018, 4:00 pm
"I recently found myself intrigued by an interface from the pro-sound world, the RME ADI-2 Pro," writes John Reekie. This line-level convertor and audio interface is billed as RME's "reference" A/D and D/A convertor, but also has a solid complement of onboard processing, two powerful headphone amps, and technical performance good enough for use as a measurement front end.... - Droidisk – Playing music28 July 2018, 1:01 pm
John Reekie wraps up his articles on inexpensive SBC-based music servers, with instructions on how to install music-related services on the ODroid HC1. This time, he's also using an Android tablet as the renderer.... - Music In The Mountains20 February 2018, 7:49 am
"In year’s past, the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) has been hampered by an aging, rather stale venue, and backward looking management. This year, things were looking up with the hosting hotel being newly refreshed and the exhibitors better able to cope with the remodeled rooms." Oliver Masciarotte provides his retrospective of the 2017 show.... - Droidisk – An inexpensive compact music server11 February 2018, 12:49 pm
John Reekie revisits his Raspberry Pi based music server with a new offering: the ODroid HC1 ("home compute server"). "The HC1 has the distinguishing feature of a SATA port, so that it connects to a hard drive without going through USB. It also has a Gigabit Ethernet port and a much faster processor than the Pi." Get ready to sharpen your command line skills!... - JWM Acoustics Alyson AML II24 December 2017, 12:20 pm
JWM Acoustics aims to deliver custom-designed products to meet the needs of individual audiophiles who purchase for the long haul. Patrick Dillon spends time with their standmount Alyson AML speakers and finds them capable of performance that marries unique style to exceptional musical resolution....
- iFi Audio xDSD Portable DAC/Amp Review15 October 2018, 2:00 pm
If you are searching for a way to make the music from your smartphone/DAP sound better, or if you need to drive some less efficient headphones, iFi Audio submits the xDSD portable DAC/Amp for your consideration. It looks to be an impressive little beast that is barely bigger than a deck of cards. The post iFi Audio xDSD Portable DAC/Amp Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - VIZIO P65-F1 65” Ultra HD Television Review9 October 2018, 2:00 pm
Today, I’ll be checking out my first Dolby Vision-capable display, VIZIO’s P65-F1. It’s a 65” Ultra HD television with HDR10, Dolby Vision, a full-array LED backlight with 100 zones, and an impressive suite of apps to stream content. It should delight videophiles and cord-cutters alike. The post VIZIO P65-F1 65” Ultra HD Television Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - PSB M4U TW1 Earphones Review3 October 2018, 2:00 pm
PSB M4U TW1 Earphones are all-new wireless in-ear monitors with the latest Bluetooth technology. They look strikingly handsome with a sound quality that is engaging and non-fatiguing. They are also very comfortable, secure-fitting, and water-resistant. The post PSB M4U TW1 Earphones Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Sumiko Olympia Oyster Series and Songbird Reference Series Phono Cartridges1 October 2018, 2:00 pm
It may be time to replace your phono cartridge, perhaps even a modest upgrade. Sumiko gives you many options and with the introduction of six new models, it may be time to consider this 40-year-old brand. The post Sumiko Olympia Oyster Series and Songbird Reference Series Phono Cartridges appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - NAD VISO HP70 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone Review26 September 2018, 2:00 pm
The NAD VISO HP70 headphone is the fraternal twin to the PSB M4U 8. Both have essentially the same internal components and specs, and both are equipped with the latest iteration of Paul Barton’s RoomFeel tuning. That is where the similarities end however, as their external design and aesthetics are about as different as can be. The post NAD VISO HP70 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com....
- Darwin Cable Company Truth II Interconnect and Power Cables22 March 2017, 8:45 pm
There is one thing that all high end audio components require to function as a system, and that is signal and power cables. No getting around it. Of course, there is no market segment more controversial than audiophile cabling. This is partially due to questionable scientific claims and pricing that would make even true believers raise an eyebrow. The great Read more...... - Audioengine HD3 Powered Speakers & DAC Review7 February 2017, 4:02 am
Multi-function powered speakers are all the rage in 2017, and no other company has been more at the forefront than Audioengine. They have been making affordable, great sounding, and versatile powered monitors since 2005, along with DACs, headphone amps, and accessories. There are a number of things I find refreshing about Audioengine. First, their pricing makes Read more...... - Burson Cable+ Active RCA Cable Review24 January 2017, 5:10 pm
A lot of excellent HiFi products are designed and produced in Australia, and none more than Burson Audio belong in the upper tier of offerings from Down Under. Not only do Burson’s products sound excellent, but they also do not make cookie cutter gear, and inject original thinking into the process. I reviewed and loved Burson’s superb Read more...... - Bryston BCD-3 CD Player Review10 January 2017, 9:17 pm
Canadian heavy hitters Bryston surprised everyone a few years ago with their introduction of a speaker line, which now, after wide acceptance and a slew of positive reviews, are considered class leaders in many circles. In fact, the Mini T three-way monitor is my current reference. Possibly more surprising is Bryston’s introduction of the BCD-3 CD Player, with Read more...... - Okki Nokki RCM-II Record Cleaning Machine5 December 2016, 6:37 pm
At the beginning of the year, a good friend called me over to his garage and surprised me with a gift of around 500 vintage vinyl records he had little patience to deal with. I gladly took them off his hands. When I got home and started sifting through the albums, I realized there were hundreds of original pressings of Read more......
- Naim Audio Super Lumina interconnects and loudspeaker cables9 October 2018, 7:42 pm
OK, I’ll get this out of the way first. I hate the way the ‘Super Lumina’ logo looks. I get why Naim Audio did this (it’s meant to show superluminal motion in action, itself an abstraction of an abstract concept) but it just looks like someone had a progressively broken space bar when writing that name – ‘S U P E R’. I’m staying distinctly Newtonian here. Many of Naim Audio’s core buyers have an ‘interesting’ relationship with cab... - Bluewave Get portable headphone amp/DAC9 October 2018, 7:32 pm
Taking in the afternoon sun for a spot of al fresco coffee action, I discovered the one big flaw to the Bluewave Get Bluetooth headphone amplifier from Canada. With a dark-coloured headphone cable blending into the table, I was asked several times by people if they could borrow my lighter. From 10 feet away, the Bluewave Get looks like a good quality Ronson. That’s about it though; being mistaken for a smoker is the biggest downside to owning a Bluewave Get! With Apple removing the 3.5mm T... - Raidho TD-4.8 floorstanding loudspeakers9 October 2018, 7:24 pm
By big loudspeaker standards, the Raidho TD‑4.8 isn’t actually that big. It stands about as tall as the average middle-aged European and its front baffle is about face-wide. It sits on two outriggers that give the speaker a remarkably narrow footprint. It’s deep, yes, but not that deep and is designed to work relatively close to the wall, so it doesn’t come intimidatingly far into the room. In short, Raidho’s newest addition to the family is the best big little loud... - Burmester Audiosysteme 175 turntable system9 October 2018, 6:09 pm
It took 41 years for Burmester to make its first turntable, so the 175 had to be something really special. The company showed the world the 175 in prototype form in Munich 2017, with a mind to get the integrated turntable, arm, cartridge, and phono stage system out to interested parties a few months later. Now, just after Munich 2018, it’s finally ready... and it was worth the wait. Since the reboot of vinyl, there has been an almost undisclosed and undiscussed part of the story; the high-... - WIN! $11,900 worth of Critical Mass Systems Center Stage2 footers4 October 2018, 5:05 am
Hi-Fi+ has teamed up with the clever guys from Critical Mass Systems to bring you an exciting chance to win $11,900 worth of Center Stage2 footers to transform your system! Alan Sircom reviewed the Center Stage2 footers in issue 163 of Hi-Fi+. He wrote, “Center Stage2 is made by “choosing and sequencing materials that possess the perfectcombination of damping, elastic modulus, and thin rod speed to lock in the desired effect.” That effect is, “a catalyst in a complex ener...
- Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2v2SE 10th Anniversary Limited Edition DAC16 September 2018, 1:45 am
State of the art precision. State of the art focus. State of the art harmony. The Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2v2SE 10th Anniversary Limited Edition digital-to-analog converter does not sound like a digital component. It much more closely performs as an excellent analog source. When you compare a good CD with this DAC in your system to the sound of your analog rig, you could very well have the same reaction that this listener experienced: a big smile! The musicality and level of enjoyment that Wyred 4 Sou... - B.M.C. MCCI Signature ULN Phono Preamplifier29 July 2018, 10:42 pm
The original B.M.C. Audio MCCI phono preamplifier earned very positive reviews when it was introduced in 2013. Carlos Candeias used his designs for the $1400 Aqvox Phono 2Ci, reviewed here on 10 Audio, and introduced a much-upgraded model as the MCCI under his own brand, B.M.C. Audio. The MCCI ($3890) was replaced with the MCCI Signature ($4298) in 2016. The model under review today is the MCCI Signature ULN ($4690) which hit the market in March, 2018. B.M.C. Audio builds large numbers of each m... - GoldenEar Triton Seven Loudspeakers24 June 2018, 9:01 pm
GoldenEar Technology was started in 2010 by Sandy Gross and Don Givogue. Mr. Gross might be familiar to audiophiles from his association with Polk and Definitive Technology, both of which he co-founded. Mr. Givogue also co-founded Definitive Technology and holds a patent for multi-driver bi-polar speaker arrays. The GoldenEar Triton Seven was born not from some tinkerer’s basement, but from people with extensive knowledge and experience in speaker design, manufacturing and marketing. There... - Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE Stage 2 Preamplifier10 May 2018, 3:47 pm
The Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE line stage preamplifier was originally introduced in 2009 and has been gradually updated and improved over the years. This latest, top of the line model includes many parts and technology that we find in cost-no-object preamplifiers from some of the most respected and expensive brands. There are three variants of the STP-SE preamplifier. All are available in basic black or silver and include over 164,000 uF of capacitance, more than many power amplifiers. The STP-SE, $19... - Paradigm Persona B Loudspeakers7 April 2018, 10:29 pm
The Paradigm Persona B is the smallest speaker in the new Persona product line. It is a stand mounted, 2-way speaker using beryllium for the dome of the tweeter and also for the cone of the mid-woofer driver. While this very light and strong material is being used by several manufacturers in their tweeters, Paradigm is the only one to apply a beryllium cone to a woofer. The Persona B has a list price of $7000 for a pair, and the dedicated stands are $1200 per pair. The included aluminum brackets...
- Updates On Upcoming Reviews (Busy, Busy!)12 October 2018, 8:43 pm
Here’s a brief rundown (maybe not so brief) on what’s in the Wall Of Sound pipeline. Steve’s Tetra Phono project is well underway. Knowing Steve, most of this should “happen” in October. Noam is wrapping up his review of the Xavian Perla Esclusiva speakers, a most exotic Czech/Italian standmount. Coming very soon! Noam, or one of us, with a little luck, will drop by the Toronto Audiofest next week, and share a report on the show. Noam is reviewing an amazing biograp... - DIY Phono Project Part 2, Chassis Prep & Ordering of Remaining Parts10 October 2018, 8:56 pm
DIY All Tube Phono Preamp Project Part 2, Chassis Prep & Ordering of Remaining Parts By Steve Graham Bits and pieces galore, but don’t worry, I’m a man with a plan A quick note before we start. As I write this, on September 28, 2018 my local hospital has today taken delivery of its new CAT scan machine for the diagnostic imaging department. They were literally rolling it in the door today. My sincere thanks to those who have contributed by purchasing my WoS projects. ... - DIY All-Tube Phono Preamp Project: It’s on!8 October 2018, 1:32 am
Update: DIY All-Tube Phono Preamp Project / Part 1 By Steve Graham Prototype shown above, the one I’m building for our kind patron will be similar but somewhat prettier Thunderbirds are GO! Hopefully International Rescue won’t need to be called. (link) I was a bit old for it when the Thunderbirds TV series arrived in the mid 1960s, but my two younger brothers enjoyed it. Now I find them charming, in that endearingly hokey way the Brits sometimes do things. They always brin... - My Audio Life: Part 9, Headphone Amp Obsession20 September 2018, 2:57 am
By Steve Graham Tubular Obsession Confession Time Have you ever had an audio obsession? Never happened to me, not much! I became preoccupied with headphone listening for a while. I still do it occasionally, but I really became obsessed with headphone amps. The line of Earmax HPA’s from Germany became a particular fixation after reading a Ken Kessler review in HiFi News and Record Review many years ago. I actually saw one in a display case at a stereo store so... - DIY All-Tube High End Phono Preamp Project10 September 2018, 5:52 pm
DIY All-Tube Phono Preamp Project (Update) by Steve Graham The response to my proposed DIY Phono Preamp project has been a bit tepid. So, once more with feeling: WoS is looking for a patron to finance this project. The kind person that fronts this project will, at the end of it, receive a phono stage very similar to the one pictured here. The preamp pictured here (my prototype) uses a Tubecad Tetra phono amplifier board and PS-3 power supply. It is a bit of a mashup from bits ...
- FiiO M3K Review14 October 2018, 12:05 pm
8.3ScoreFiiO has been inside the market for portable music players for some time now. Ceaselessly expanding their prowess in the DAP field of tomorrow with new entries for our ears to enjoy. Today, we will be looking at their ultra budget M3K, which is a $69USD model that might be one that redefines the best […] The post FiiO M3K Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - Earsonics Birdy Review12 October 2018, 12:22 pm
Tonality8.5Build Quality8.4Matchability8Functionality8 8.2Score$290EarsonicsDisclaimer: The Earsonics Birdy was sent to us a sample in exchange for our honest opinion and does not have to be returned. We thank Earsonics for this opportunity. Bluetooth wireless streaming. Love it or loathe it is here to stay. Thankfully developers such as Sony and Qualcomm have taken notice of the […] The post Earsonics Birdy Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - Effect Audio Leonidas II Review10 October 2018, 12:02 pm
Tonality9Build Quality9Comfort & Handling9.1Matchability9 9Score$888Effect AudioMusicteck USADisclaimer: The Effect Audio Leonidas II was sent to us in advance of retail release to allow us to complete this review. Many thanks to Effect Audio for giving us this opportunity. Some time ago I asked Eric Chong, the Marketing Manager, what was Effect Audio’s most critical products […] The post Effect Audio Leonidas II Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - ESS 252 Headphones Review7 October 2018, 12:07 pm
7.8Score$129ESSDisclaimer: The ESS 252 was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion in this review. Many thanks to ESS for giving us this opportunity. Not too long ago, ESS sent over a package that contained their 422 and 252 closed back headphones. I reviewed the 422 some time ago and enjoyed it plenty. […] The post ESS 252 Headphones Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - Colorfly U8 | First Contact5 October 2018, 12:29 pm
Disclaimer: The Colorfly U8 was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion in these forthcoming impressions, video, and review to come soon. Many thanks to Colorfly for giving us this opportunity. Note, to watch the video simply click on the play button in the middle of the picture above. Colorfly was one of […] The post Colorfly U8 | First Contact appeared first on Headfonics....
- RMAF 2018: ZMF impresses with Verite and Aeolus prototypes14 October 2018, 5:42 pm
I’ve known Zach Mehrbach, the founder and owner of ZMF for several years now, and he’s quite an interesting guy, having at various times been a professor of film at Columbia, a professional luthier, and now a headphone maker. ... - RMAF 2018: Sony DMP-Z1 Headphone amp and MDR-Z1R headphones12 October 2018, 12:09 am
Walkman. That’s pretty much all you have to say to anyone to trigger a universal response to conjure up the name SONY.... - RMAF 2018: Meze Empyrean headphones9 October 2018, 9:17 pm
The Meze booth stood out to me upon first walking into CANJAM at RMAF this year because their managing director, Mircea Fanatan, was standing there looking very peaceful amid a sea of headphone-enthusiast chaos which was buffeting every surface and corner of the event. It practically felt windy in there.... - RMAF 2018: MrSpeakers Ether 2 and Abyss Diana Phi6 October 2018, 9:35 pm
The well-dressed twenty-something’s eyes were wide open and he was rocking back-and-forth in his chair like he was at a speed-meta concert with a look of euphoria on his face. “You gotta hear this!” He yelled at his friend who was hovering over his shoulder checking the track listing on the laptop that was part of the system feeding the new MrSpeakers Ether 2 headphones he was demoing.... - HIFIMAN launches Arya, Limited-Edition HE5se, Jade II ElectroStatic Headphone System and R2R2000 Streaming Audio Device at RMAF4 October 2018, 12:42 am
Wasting no time in making new product announcements, HIFIMAN has hit the ground running at speed in the mile-high city with multiple launches of their latest products. The company rolled four major announcements today, so let’s touch briefly on each one based on their press releases and then follow up with more detail after RMAF....
- RMAF 2018: DeVore Fidelity Orangutan Reference loudspeaker system12 October 2018, 6:11 pm
We’ve all lost something that we swore was just there ”a second ago.” You know what I’m talking about, you put down your phone, or a book, a CD or tape… you turn around to take your coat off or just to sit down and poof it’s gone. Vanished into thin air.... - RMAF 2018: Old Forge Studio10 October 2018, 8:50 pm
Some rooms at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest are jammed packed all the time, making demo sessions a pain as trying to really get a sense of what a system is doing can be difficult with 20 hot, sweaty bodies and all their whispering, muttering and jostling which can easily bump the room’s noise floor by 20dB.... - RMAF 2018: Islands in the AudioStream8 October 2018, 3:52 am
Rocky Mountain Audio Fest has been a glorious non-linear, stream-of-consciousness tilt-a-whirl of audiophile OCD immersion. And this is only my first post on it, I bet you can’t wait for everything in-between this and my show wrap. But I digress.... - Metronome DSC1 mini-preview4 October 2018, 1:31 am
It’s built as if from a solid billet of alloy and has almost as many (digital) hook-ups as Rob Lowe did in the ‘80s.... - RMAF 2018 with AudioStream2 October 2018, 8:57 pm
The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest is unlike any other show I habitually travel to in North America....
- JWM Acoustics & Aries Cerat – RMAF 201815 October 2018, 7:12 am
by Eric Shook It’s been a full year since I first laid ears on the JWM Acoustics ALYSON AML II... - Auralic – RMAF 201812 October 2018, 9:41 pm
There is always something interesting brewing with Auralic at audio shows, this year at RMAF was no different. The digital... - PranaFidelity – RMAF 201812 October 2018, 3:16 pm
by Eric Shook Steven Norber is the founder, designer, and “Mr. Everything” of PranaFidelity. PranaFidelity manufacturers speakers, electronics, and excellent... - Bryston – RMAF 201811 October 2018, 7:49 pm
By Eric Shook Bryston is a Canadian company with a proven history of offering products that famously stand the test... - Campfire Audio Goes Custom With the Equinox IEM – RMAF 201811 October 2018, 6:09 pm
Campfire Audio Founder Ken Ball is a multi-talented guy. According to this podcast interview he started ALO audio as a wire...
- CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 – Coverage sponsored by Kimber Kable PT215 October 2018, 5:00 am
The post CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 – Coverage sponsored by Kimber Kable PT2 appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 – Coverage sponsored by Kimber Kable PT112 October 2018, 5:00 am
The post CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 – Coverage sponsored by Kimber Kable PT1 appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - Introducing Elegia: the First High-End Closed-Back Headphones from Focal5 October 2018, 3:00 pm
The post Introducing Elegia: the First High-End Closed-Back Headphones from Focal appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC – A New Era5 October 2018, 5:00 am
The post PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC – A New Era appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - Quad ERA-1 Planar Magnetic Headphones – A Classic in the Making4 October 2018, 5:00 am
The post Quad ERA-1 Planar Magnetic Headphones – A Classic in the Making appeared first on HeadPhone.guru....
- RMAF 2018 – Day Three – Nagra, Kanto Audio, Nola, and More12 October 2018, 8:19 pm
For the first part of our third-day video tour, we heard great stuff from Kanto Audio, Borresen Audio, Nagra, Nola, and Audio Solutions at the High End by OZ room. Commentary by our seasoned reviewer, Siao Jer. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, Facebook, and Instagram! The post RMAF 2018 – Day Three – Nagra, Kanto Audio, Nola, and More appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - ATC SCM7 v.3 Bookshelf Speakers – Love at First Listen11 October 2018, 10:42 pm
ATC (Acoustic Transducer Co.) had its beginnings in the professional sound industry in 1974. It was founded by Bill Woodman – who is also a pianist and studied engineering in Australia before moving to the UK. He was an employee of one of the first BBC LS3/5A monitors licensees – Goodmans Loudspeaker. After immersing himself... Read More The post ATC SCM7 v.3 Bookshelf Speakers – Love at First Listen appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - RMAF 2018 – Innuos Statement vs. ZEN Mk.3 Music Servers10 October 2018, 11:41 pm
As we step into the Well Pleased AV room, we see a huge smile from one of the industry’s most genuine people – Mark Sossa. If you’ve ever heard Hip-hop or gangsta rap coming from his room, I was probably in there. Mark is one of those few exhibitors who takes the time to try to... Read More The post RMAF 2018 – Innuos Statement vs. ZEN Mk.3 Music Servers appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - RMAF 2018 – Day Two Highlights and Video Tour10 October 2018, 2:51 am
We just finished wrapping up day two at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018! Wilson Benesch Verity Audio Göbel High End ESD Acoustics Kyron Audio German Physiks Gryphon Audio Design Falcon Acoustics JBL Nordost Zu Audio There were plenty of great sounding rooms on the second day. Day three coming up soon! Be sure to follow... Read More The post RMAF 2018 – Day Two Highlights and Video Tour appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - RMAF 2018 – World Premiere of Verity Audio’s $1,000,000 Monsalvat System8 October 2018, 11:36 pm
Verity Audio had one of best sounding rooms at last year’s RMAF so we were excited to hear what was in store for us this time around. Here’s our interview with Verity Audio’s co-founder and designer, Julien Pelchat. He discusses in detail the design of their massive Verity Audio’s Monsalvat loudspeaker system. Verity Audio’s system... Read More The post RMAF 2018 – World Premiere of Verity Audio’s $1,000,000 Monsalvat System appeared first on Audio Baco...
- Linn’s cup of coffee – the game-changing Selekt DSM15 October 2018, 12:56 pm
NEWS: The Selekt DSM isn't like the other Linn digital music streamers, not in design and structure... but like all things Linn, audio quality marches ahead.... - Devialet’s explosive new Phantom… Reactor12 October 2018, 1:30 am
NEWS: Devialet is hell-bent on proving that size doesn't matter... its latest compact wireless speaker, the Phantom Reactor, delivers a whole lot of wallop from an even smaller egg than previously.... - Chord Qutest DAC – engaging sonic spectacle7 October 2018, 2:03 pm
REVIEW: Built like a brick, sporting cutting-edge conversion technology and taking up very little space on your desk, Chord's Qutest DAC yet has quite a bit going for it.... - Vitus Audio SS-103 stereo power amplifier – resistance is futile30 September 2018, 12:23 pm
REVIEW: How does a whole lot of amplifier muscle - in weight and watts - sound when refined the Scandinavian way? The Vitus Audio SS-103 Signature answers this question for us...... - Accuphase E-470 integrated amplifier – one for a lifetime20 September 2018, 2:26 pm
REVIEW: When do you say "enough", when you don't have megabucks to spend on hi-fi equipment? The Accuphase E-470 integrated amplifier certainly seems to represent that point......
- Edifier S350DB Review13 September 2018, 1:40 pm
If you’re after plenty of inputs, smart aesthetics and convenience features with better sonics than the average one box solution, these are worth a look. For no compromise audio performance, look elsewhere. The post Edifier S350DB Review appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Clear Groove Vinyl Record Cleaner28 August 2018, 2:08 pm
Herein we feature the products of Clear Groove, a family run business specialising in the design and supply of products for vinyl and CD care and cleaning The post Clear Groove Vinyl Record Cleaner appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - SweetVinyl SugarCube SC-1 Vinyl Click & Pop Remover Review21 August 2018, 1:26 pm
The SugarCube enhances the listening experience with vinyl old and new, and for that it earns a thoroughly deserved recommendation. The post SweetVinyl SugarCube SC-1 Vinyl Click & Pop Remover Review appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Five 1980’s Singles You Thought You’d Forgotten26 July 2018, 5:09 pm
But here, to make you either cringe or smile from ear to ear are five corker ear-worms of 1980's singles you thought you had forgotten. The post Five 1980’s Singles You Thought You’d Forgotten appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Vinyl Record Cleaning fluids Compared, Pro-Ject & Vinyl Shelter6 July 2018, 2:45 pm
Vinyl Shelter offer an excellent cleaning product, perfectly suited to the cleaning of vinyl records. While we only tested two fluids here, the results did not conclusively prove that one fluid was vastly superior to the other. The post Vinyl Record Cleaning fluids Compared, Pro-Ject & Vinyl Shelter appeared first on Audio Appraisal....
- Audiophile Review!Benchmark HPA4Headphone Amplifier/Line-Stage Preamplifier:"Precision Volume, Pure Transparency"31 July 2018, 5:28 pm
... - Audiophile Review!Essence HDACC II 4KHeadphone Amp/DAC/Preamp“Low Cost, Versatile HDACCGets Major Performance Boost”27 June 2018, 8:00 pm
... - Home Recording Studio Review!PreSonus Studio 192 Command Center24-Bit Audio Recording Interface17 May 2018, 5:16 pm
... - Digital Converter Review!Benchmark DAC3-DX Dual-Buss Output DAC:More Output Options,Incredible S/N Performance!23 January 2018, 6:54 pm
... - EAN Bench Test!Doing The Numbers OnThe Benchmark DAC3-DX DAC18 January 2018, 12:42 am
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- REVIEW: VINCENT AUDIO KHV-1 HYBRID HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER1 October 2018, 7:26 am
Germany's Vincent Audio has a reputation for delivering value for money Hi-Fi products, so as a headphone enthusiast it's KHV-1 amplifier piqued my interest. We take a closer look at its Hybrid Headphone Amplifier.... - REVIEW: SENNHEISER HD 820 FLAGSHIP CLOSED-BACK HEADPHONES7 September 2018, 10:45 pm
When it comes to high-end closed-back headphones, the choices are surprisingly slim. Do Sennheiser's new HD 820 and its first foray into the high-end, audiophile level closed-back headphones have what it takes?... - BLU-RAY REVIEW: DEADPOOL 2, PLUS WIN A BLU-RAY7 September 2018, 1:53 am
Deadpool 2 is undoubtedly bigger than the original and for the most part just as entertaining. To conicide with the Blu-ray review, StereoNET has five copies to give away thanks to Klipsch. Read on ...... - REVIEW: ELAC MIRACORD 70 TURNTABLE29 August 2018, 1:36 am
The more affordable little brother to Elac's Miracord 70, it reflects important milestone's for Elac's rich heritage. So how does this sub-$2000 turntable perform? Read on.... - REVIEW: NAD ELECTRONICS HP70 NOISE CANCELLING BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES21 August 2018, 1:39 am
What better way to test noise-cancelling, Bluetooth over-ear headphones than on a flight? Read on for this real-world test of NAD's HP70 headphones....
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- Vinyl Review: John Coltrane – Coltrane’s Sound (ORG Music, 180g, 45RPM)11 June 2018, 1:25 am
Sound: 7.2 Pressing/packaging: 9.2 Value: 8.4 ORG Music reissue released in 2014. 180g vinyl, 45RPM, 2LP, limited edition, numbered. Catalog Number: ORGM-1091. Mastered by Bernie Grundman. Pressed by Pallas in Germany. UPC: 711574708413. MSRP: $49. Buy on Amazon.com Introduction This LP was originally released by Atlantic Records in 1964. It consists of tracks recorded in […]... - Vinyl Review: Chopin – Polonaises Nos. 1-7, Maurizio Pollini (Deutsche Grammophon 180g)3 June 2018, 7:08 pm
Sound: 7.6 Pressing: 7.4 Value: 5.0 Deutsche Grammophon reissue released in 2016. 180g vinyl. Catalog Number: 479 6653. UPC: 028947966531. MSRP: $23. Buy on Amazon.com Introduction I’ve been on a Chopin rampage lately (if such a thing could ever exist). As far as solo piano works go, I spin Chopin more than any other composer. […]... - Vinyl Review: Sibelius – Violin Concerto, Oistrakh, Ormandy, Philadelphia Orch (Speakers Corner 180g)2 April 2018, 2:35 am
Sound: 8.8 Pressing: 8.4 Value: 9.0 Speakers Corner reissue released in 2017. 180g vinyl. Catalog Number: Columbia MS 6157. UPC: 4260019715333. MSRP: $35. Buy on Amazon.com Introduction Speakers Corner is mining the Columbia vaults for early stereo gems, of which this title is one. There are some legendary titles and performances from that era, but […]... - Vinyl Review: Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come (ORG Music, 180g, 45RPM)15 March 2018, 2:45 am
Sound: 9.8 Pressing: 3.5 Value: 8.5 ORG Music reissue released in 2013. 180g vinyl, 45RPM, 2LP. Catalog Number: ORGM-1081. Mastered by Bernie Grundman. Pressed by Pallas in Germany. UPC: 711574707218. MSRP: $49. Buy on Amazon.com Introduction Much has been said about this, Ornette Coleman’s shot across the bow of jazz as it was known in […]... - Vinyl Review: Stravinsky – The Firebird, Dorati, LSO (Speakers Corner 180g)4 March 2018, 3:15 am
Sound: 9.2 Pressing/Packaging: 9.4 Value: 9.7 Speakers Corner reissue released in 2008. 180g vinyl. Catalog Number: Mercury SR90226. UPC: 4260019714978. MSRP: $35. Buy on Amazon.com Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete). London Symphony Orchestra. Antal Dorati, conductor. Introduction As per our review philosophy, we focus reviews here exclusively on sound quality. Lots of analysis out there […]...