- Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations Dance, Dance, Dance15 December 2018, 9:18 pm
Terpsichore, the Greek goddess of dance and chorus. How appropriate that her delight in dancing should be honored in Terpsichore: Apotheóse de la Danse baroque (Alia Vox), the latest beautifully produced and packaged Alia Vox SACD from Jordi Savall and his baroque orchestra, Le Concert des Nations. Filled with high energy orchestral music by Jean-Ferry Rebel (1666–1747) and the even longer-lived Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767), the recording exalts the exuberant French style ... - Cary Audio SLI-100 integrated amplifier13 December 2018, 7:09 pm
My Russian neighbor's blind grandfather, Vlad, has very discriminating ears—but only when I tell him what to listen for. If I don't, he just bitches about my choice of music. And he refuses to listen to "weak" American orchestras. Not surprisingly, Vlad worships Mikhail Glinka. "Herb! Play Russlan and Ludmilla!" When he asks for "Pyotr Ilyich," I groan and quietly put the vodka back in the freezer.Thu, 12/13/2018... - Gramophone Dreams #25: Dr. Feickert, Jelco, Koetsu, My Sonic Lab13 December 2018, 6:59 pm
I needed one black tiddledywink (not provided) to use Dr. Feickert Analogue's three-speed, two-motor, two-armboard Blackbird turntable. The tiddledywink was for covering the Blackbird's painfully bright power-on LED so that it didn't blind me when I cued up a record. The first night, in my dark listening room, this tiny indicator sprayed the wall behind and the ceiling above with more light than a bright-emitting 845 vacuum tube. Thu, 12/13/2018... - Dealer Events in New Hampshire & Florida, Friday & Saturday12 December 2018, 8:41 pm
Friday December 14, at 3pm and 6pm, Fidelis (460 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH 03063) are presenting "An Afternoon with Michael Fremer" (above). Saturday, December 15, 11am–3pm, House of Stereo (8780 Perimeter Park Ct #100, Jacksonville, FL 32216) are hosting their 2019 KEF Product Launch event.Wed, 12/12/2018... - Wayne Shorter: How the Future Would Be11 December 2018, 6:14 pm
Wayne Shorter is 85. His mind moves at warp speed, a million miles from Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, who rescued him from Newark, New Jersey—or the Miles Davis's second great quintet, for which the saxophonist wrote the compositions that would establish his genius. Shorter's constellation of classic Blue Note recordings from 1964–67—Night Dreamer, JuJu, The All Seeing Eye, ETC, The Soothsayer, Adam's Apple, Speak No Evil, Schizophrenia—is now but a dim cluster of stars in hi...
- 2019 High-End Audio Buyer’s Guide: Music Servers and Peripheral Products14 December 2018, 1:22 pm
Audirvana Version 10 $50 If you have so far resisted buying any third-party music playback software for your Mac, Audirvana offers some compelling reasons to reevaluate that decision. Especially if you use multiple DACs or listen to higher-res files and DSD, Audirvana Plus is a more ergonomically elegant and sonically superior alternative to iTunes. And for readers who need to see and hear for themselves, you can download the trial version of Audirvana Plus for free. For fifteen days you can use... - Peter Murphy: 5 Albums12 December 2018, 8:46 pm
With his baritone voice, haunting melodies, brooding stage presence, and dark lyrics, Peter Murphy was tailor made to perform goth rock, a musical style he helped usher in while a member of Bauhaus. Peter Murphy—5 Albums charts the beginning of the solo career Murphy launched after the collapse of that band; stylishly packaged to resemble a hardback book, the 5-CD set includes all his LPs on the Beggars Banquet label along with alternate takes and mixes at the end of each disc. Bookended b... - New German Physiks Website Launched12 December 2018, 7:57 pm
The following is a press release issued by German Physiks. December 12, 2018 - A brand new German Physiks web site has been launched at www.german-physiks.com. It features a much more attractive graphic design and easier navigation. The texts for the loudspeaker range have been updated, including high quality pictures showing the products in a range of real-life settings. Details of our new Emperor high-end electronics range have also been added. These will be shown at Axpona 2019. We will short... - New GoldenEar Triton One.R Shipping Now12 December 2018, 3:39 pm
The following is a press release issued by GoldenEar Technology. Baltimore | December 12, 2018 - GoldenEar Technology is pleased to announce the introduction of the new Triton One.R. This extraordinary new reference quality loudspeaker is a smaller, less expensive follow up to the Triton Reference, which has had a remarkable response in the marketplace from both music and hifi enthusiasts as well as the press and reviewers from around the world, who have bestowed upon it innumerable Speaker-of-t... - Technics Turntable and Reel-to-Reel Workshop at PNW Audio Society11 December 2018, 10:00 pm
The following is a press release issued by Technics. December 11, 2018 - J-Corder welcomes you to a free analog source workshop showcasing the Reference Series 2018 products from Technics. Please join us at the Pacific Northwest Audio Society event to see and hear the SL-1000R Reference Class Turntable and modified RS-1500 R2R Tape Recorder. Jeff Jacobs from J-Corder will be presenting the Reference Series system by Technics including the new turntable and legacy magnetic tape recorder. Bring yo...
- Great Audiophile Gift Ideas For The 2018 Holiday Season13 December 2018, 12:13 pm
Welcome to Enjoy the Music.com's 13th annual Great Audiophile Gift recommendations! We all love gifts, yet getting that something special for an audiophile can be quite a challenge. Enjoy the Music.com's annual Great Audiophile Gift wish list has some truly spectacular ideas for music lovers starting at $25 and reaching to a still reasonable $300. While last year's gift ideas were extremely diverse, we've once again completely outdone ourselves this year! Read More ... - Accusound XD Interconnect, Digital Link, And XD Loudspeaker Cable13 December 2018, 12:12 pm
Steve Seropian, the CEO and founder of Accusound, has been manufacturing and selling Accusound cables since the beginning of the 21st century. Besides manufacturing cables for audiophiles and the pro music market, Accusound designs and manufactures cables for an impressive list of high-end studio microphone manufactures, which have included brands such as Telefunken, AEA Ribbon Mics, Lucas, ADK Custom Shop, Black Spade, and Upton Microphones. According to VP of Marketing Bill Benoit, Accusound p... - ZMF Vérité Over Ear Headphone Review13 December 2018, 12:11 pm
Since the release of the Focal Utopia back in 2016, the personal audio community has more than a passing curiosity about Beryllium drivers. Brands like Periodic Audio and Campfire Audio have dipped their toes into the fray and experimented with it in some excellent sub $1000 releases (the $299 Periodic Be and the $799 Campfire Cascade), to name a couple, but no one has really launched another ultra-endgame flagship with a different take on what beryllium drivers can do. Read More ... - LA & OC Audio Society 25th Anniversary Gala13 December 2018, 12:11 pm
It was a cool winter day in SoCal, that's Southern California, as my muse Heather and I attended LA & OC Audio Society's very special 25th Anniversary Gala. Originally formed by a small group of audiophiles many years ago, today the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society was ready to celebrate their 25th Anniversary by inviting all previous Award winners including Bob Carver, Chad Kassem, Tim de Paravicini, EveAnna Manley, etc. This event brings out many important influencers and engine... - See More High-End Audio Reviews...12 December 2018, 12:10 pm
EnjoyTheMusic.com has many more high-end audiophile articles and reviews available this month. Click here to see them all. ...
- Krakow Sonic Society | meeting #117: SHUNYATA RESEARCH Denali D6000S vs Denali D6000T vs Triton v3 | USA / POLAND-KRAKOW2 December 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ Audio devices must be supplied with the purest possible power – that is obvious. The cleaner the power, the better the sound - it also does not require a comment. However, when we explore the topic further, things get complicated. ⌋ here are at least a few ways (in general terms) to deliver pure power. The most important dividing lines may be described as: "battery supply ↔ mains supply" and "passive filtration ↔ active filtration". Each of these ways to improve... - INTERVIEW | THE EDITORS: KARI NEVALAINEN of Inner magazine | Editor-in-Chief | FINNLAND2 December 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ THE EDITORS is a series of interviews with audio magazine editors from all over the world – both printed and online magazines, and portals. It started on January 1st 2012 and 25 interviews have been published so far – the one below is our No. 26. Our aim is to make our readers more familiar with the people who usually hide behind the products that we review. It is the “WHO IS WHO?” of specialized audio press. ⌋ hen you look at the list of authors that I... - REVIEW: Muarah MT-2 + PSC | turntable + speed controller | POLAND | RED Fingerprint2 December 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ We are reviewing the MT-2 turntable made by Polish company Muarah, adapted to work with 12'' tonearms. We will also show you how the sound changes after replacing a tonearm with more expensive model, a what can you expect after adding the PSC speed control to the system. ⌋ t all started with a quadraphonic sound, at least that's how I remember it. In 2015, MUARAH debuted during the Audio Video Show in Warsaw and presented a complete system for playing a quadraphonic signal fro... - BEST OF THE BEST: BEST SOUND 2018 – ACCORDING TO “HIGH FIDELITY”2 December 2018, 11:00 pm
he following list has been divided into four groups. First, you will find our Special Awards. This year we decided to give two of these to: Polish Audio Cluster and Shunyata Research. Another category is the Statement Award - prizes are awarded to best-of-the-best products. Usually, we give very few of them, so as much as seven, that we awarded this year, says a lot about the current, great state of the high-end world. The biggest group includes products awarded by us with the Best Sound awa... - REVIEW: Fezz Audio MIRA CETI | integrated amplifier | POLAND2 December 2018, 11:00 pm
hen Mr. Maciej Lachowski, the owner of the FEZZ AUDIO called me to remind me about the review we had agreed a long time but that somehow did not happen so far, the whole wave of memories came to my mind. The call was about the Mira Ceti model, i.e. a 300B SET. It was this triode that my unwavering passion for SET amplifiers really began with. | A trip down the memory lane I remember the first few meetings and auditions in home systems of other music lover in different parts of our countr...
- Audio-Technica AT-VM95C Phono Cartridge15 December 2018, 5:03 pm
The AT-VM95C is a cheap cartridge. Not merely affordable, not budget-friendly, but downright cheap. It's $34. I took two people to Starbucks the other day and did more damage. A replacement stylus is $21. What else can you call something priced less than fast food? And, more importantly, should you take it seriously? Of course... Read More » The post Audio-Technica AT-VM95C Phono Cartridge appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - German Physiks HRS-130 Loudspeakers14 December 2018, 11:30 pm
One of my fondest memories as a teen was poring over the pages of the Tech Hifi catalog. Located on Route 35 in Eatontown, NJ, it was the closet thing the Jersey Shore offered to high end audio, and to me it represented the state of the art in home sound reproduction. The catalog lay... Read More » The post German Physiks HRS-130 Loudspeakers appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Robinson's Positive Feedback Brutus Awards for 2018, Part the First13 December 2018, 11:45 pm
Unbelievably enough, it's the end of the year 2018…already! I know that I say this every year, but every year it's worse and worse; time whizzes by faster and faster, and the final quarter always arrives long before I'm ready for it. The Earth rotates, and faithfully follows its annual orbit around yon Sun, so... Read More » The post Robinson's Positive Feedback Brutus Awards for 2018, Part the First appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Somesh Mathur's Time Stood Still13 December 2018, 10:16 pm
Sweetbeats Productions, Digital download available at Apple Music and Google Music $8.99 I know I've raved about recordings in reviews, even in the last year, where I remarked that I put it in my CD player or an LP on my turntable and I didn't take it out/off for a very long time. That's a... Read More » The post Somesh Mathur's Time Stood Still appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Papa's Got a Brand New DAC! PS Audio's New Snowmass Operating System for DirectStream Junior12 December 2018, 4:28 pm
On December 11, 2018, PS Audio announced download availability of the newest Operating System for the PS Audio DirectStream Junior DAC. Named after another of Colorado's 14,000 foot peaks, Snowmass, this update to PSA's DirectStream digital converters is likely to be judged a significant step up in sound quality. Handwritten for the DirectStream Junior's Field-Programmable Gate Array... Read More » The post Papa's Got a Brand New DAC! PS Audio's New Snowmass Operating System for ...
- Paradigm’s Persona B7 December 2018, 5:47 pm
Listening to the intricate fretboard work of Bill Frisell on his Good Dog, Happy Man album, I’m reminded of three things: Frisell’s remarkable performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival a few years ago, how much the Persona B captures the essence of their top Persona 9H, and how incredible these little speakers are. Every Paradigm [...]... - ARC’s top effort yet – The REF160M Monoblocks3 December 2018, 2:14 am
Some products you have a casual, cursory exposure with, and others you have a relationship with. Audio Research is a brand I’ve had a long relationship with. They are one of about six brands that I go back decades with, having owned nearly 20 of their products before I even started reviewing hifi gear. And like [...]... - Issue 9219 November 2018, 5:35 am
Features Old School: Jeff Dorgay revisits the KEF C60s 995: Kanto YU6 Powered Speakers By Jerold O’Brien Journeyman Audiophile: Totem’s Sky Towers By Rob Johnson Mine: It Should Be Yours Peanuts Watch Plaid Flannel Jammies Blue Wine Segway’s Go Kart and more…. Music Playlists: We share our readers choices from around the world Can’t Get [...]... - Paradigm’s Newest Atom…19 November 2018, 5:05 am
I often get criticized for only being interested in the mega gear, but nothing could be more wrong. As much fun as the big bucks stuff is, no one starts there, and for me, hifi is a journey. One of the most exciting parts of the journey is the beginning – what got you excited [...]... - Amphion Helium 510 Speakers19 November 2018, 3:22 am
Listening to Eric Clapton float between these quietly elegant, white speakers from Amphion, it’s easy to see why they named this speaker range “helium.” The slight waveguide machined into the front panel of the cabinet, adds dispersion to the dome tweeter, giving these small Finnish monitors an ease that is rarely included at their $1,130/pair [...]...
- Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) Network Streamer15 December 2018, 5:00 am
Call them network players, music servers, or, as London-based Cambridge Audio does, network streamers -- these devices have become an almost essential source in home audio systems, whether as a separate box or integrated into another component, particularly integrated amplifiers and CD players. In the last few years I’ve bought far more music as files than as spinning discs, and I don’t think I’m alone -- with the likes of Spotify, Tidal, and Primephonic, streaming services are... - The Best of Audio Video Show 20181 December 2018, 5:00 am
Since 2016, when I began covering Warsaw’s annual Audio Video Show (AVS), it’s presented one surprise after another. When first invited to attend, by the show’s organizer and owner, Adam Mokrzyck, I’d had no idea AVS even existed. When I arrived in Warsaw and found that AVS occupied 170 rooms spread across three venues -- the Radisson Blu Sobieski and Golden Tulip hotels, and the Warsaw National Stadium -- I was less surprised than shocked. How could a show this big have ... - Recommended Reference Component: Fostex TH909 Headphones1 December 2018, 5:00 am
In his review of the Fostex TH909 headphones last month on SoundStage! Solo, Brent Butterworth remarked that “Fostex has one of the most unusual product lines in the headphone biz. They mostly split between pro ’phones priced under $200, and high-end consumer models priced at $599 or more.” Brent, who’s “been a Fostex fan since 1997,” wrote that “I had yet to hear a set of Fostex headphones I didn’t like” -- including the TH909s ($1799.99 USD... - Bryston Middle T Active Loudspeaker System1 December 2018, 5:00 am
Around five years ago, established Canadian electronics manufacturer Bryston began making loudspeakers. This began as a pet project of James Tanner, VP of Sales and Marketing, who wanted a reference speaker for his own use. To achieve the level of performance he desired, the speaker developed was a fully active design. The performance of that speaker was so good that Bryston decided to bring it to market. However, because of the complexity and added cost of active speakers, they decided to first... - East vs. West1 December 2018, 5:00 am
It wasn’t my first time in what was once a country ruled by evil, soul-destroying Commies. It wasn’t even my first time in Poland. Long before I was lured to Warsaw, I had visited one country formerly behind the now-forgotten (by many) “Iron Curtain” on numerous occasions: Hungary. Of course, every trip to Budapest was about hi-fi; I went to visit the late, sorely missed Istvan Csontos, the most enthusiastic audiophile I ever knew. He ran amazing hi-fi shows in the late 1...
- Sumiko Rainier and Olympia cartridges Review14 December 2018, 6:32 pm
During the 1980s I had a Sumiko Talisman S sapphire low-output moving coil cartridge, which was a great match for my Sumiko Premier MMT tonearm. It had a beautiful midrange to go along with a rich natural sound. By the time it wore out, that model Talisman had been continued. I did find a less [...] The post Sumiko Rainier and Olympia cartridges Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Audio News: SonicTransporter i5 CD Ripper14 December 2018, 4:03 am
Prices: $1,295 – 2TB spinning hard-drive $1,455 – 4TB spinning $1,625 – 8TB spinning $1,495 – 2TB Solid-state drive $1,695 – 4TB SSD $2,195 – 8TB SSD The sonicTransporter i5 CDR (CD Ripper) is a CD Ripper with a Hard Drive to rip and store your audio CDs. It replaces your desktop, laptop, Mac mini, etc., and [...] The post Audio News: SonicTransporter i5 CD Ripper appeared first on Dagogo.... - Spinning round and round12 December 2018, 11:00 am
Hours, days, years were spent listening to records only to find tape cassettes more portable and Compact Discs closer to perfection. Hindsight, as it is, makes me regret so many life choices, but we’ll stick to recorded music formats. It is safer that way for everyone concerned, especially for me. Tempted by the shiny disc, [...] The post Spinning round and round appeared first on Dagogo.... - Bricasti Design M21 DAC6 December 2018, 4:55 am
Massachusetts-based Bricasti Design’s claim to fame is in the design and manufacturing of professional components for recording studios, its product line comprising the Model 7 Stereo Reverb Processor, the Model 7M Mainframe Stereo Reverb Processor, the Model 15 Stereo Power Amplifier and the Model 28 Monoblock Amplifier. In the consumer section, the company’s M1 dual-mono [...] The post Bricasti Design M21 DAC appeared first on Dagogo.... - Nothing but a …5 December 2018, 9:00 am
Streamer, you know you are a Streamer Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no! I said Streamer, you’re nothing but a Streamer Well can you put your hands in your head, oh no! I said, “far out, what a day, a year, a life it is!” You know, well you know, [...] The post Nothing but a … appeared first on Dagogo....
- Audio Engineering Matters, Not The Format13 December 2018, 2:44 pm
Tribalism. It seems to be baked into human DNA. The compulsion of most of us to divide into groups. To associate with those that think like us, look like us, worship like us or worse, actively exclude those perceived as different from us. It invades our politics, our religious thinking. Audiophiles are not immune to tribalism as we all know. From tubes vs. solid state, to vinyl vs. digital, we see and hear the same topics brought up and discussed ad nauseam in various audio related magazines... - Apple's AirPlay 2 arrives today on Bluesound11 December 2018, 5:27 pm
I recently spent some time with Bluesound at the CEDIA show in San Diego and can say this platform continuously gets better. Today is no exception in that AirPlay 2 is now available to all Bluesound customers with a Generation 2i product. In the coming months we can also look forward to additional integrations between hardware manufacturers and the Bluesound platform. The time, expense, and expertise needed to create such a platform is way beyond anything the typical HiF... - The Next Track Episode 13410 December 2018, 5:48 pm
It had been way too long since I appeared on Kirk's and Doug's The Next Track podcast, so I was excited when the guys reached out to me to participate in a show about a downsizing one's audio system. Heresy you say! Downsizing is antithetical to the audiophile ethos! As used car salesmen say, there's as ass for every seat. People need different things at different points in their lives and when designing systems for friends and loved ones. I'm keeping my dedicated listening room and big syst... - The Best Version Of… Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On7 December 2018, 4:15 pm
Nearly 50 years ago, Marvin Gaye released What’s Going On, an album that was not only an undeniable artistic leap forward for Gaye, but also a revolutionary statement of political agency and artistic freedom (especially for a Motown artist). Like Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks, Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew, or Joni Mitchell’s Hejira, What’s Going On is a singular, genre-defying expression of musical auteurship. For the first time in his career, G... - New Limited Edition McIntosh System6 December 2018, 3:09 pm
Today McIntosh announces a special limited edition commemorative system comprised of the MC2152 70th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Amplifier and C70 70th Anniversary Vacuum Tube Preamplifier. Only 70 of these systems will be sold to coincide with the company's 70 anniversary in 2019. For those who don't demand special markings and matching serial numbers, they'll be able to purchase these together or individually once the initial 70 are sold out. In addition to these new products, M...
- Analog Corner #10416 December 2018, 12:30 pm
If you're looking for something completely new and/or different in a turntable design, you won't find it in Musical Fidelity's new $5000 M1 turntable. The M1 uses tried and true mechanical concepts, design strategies, and materials, with an emphasis on precision machining. The goal, according to MF's press release, was "very low mechanical and electrical noise, excellent mechanical isolation, speed accuracy and stability, [and] pitch control."...
- Joan Baez's Debut Album Still A Wonder11 December 2018, 12:11 am
Joan Baez recorded this Vanguard debut in 1960 at age 19. With her impossibly high and pure quavering voice and matching pristine finger picking guitar, she and this album created a sensation that helped shift the "folk-revival" back to authenticity from the commerciality into which it had drifted. Though while she sounded like a barefoot waif recently arrived from the Appalachian mountains, she was born on Staten Island. Her Mexico-born father who grew up in Brooklyn, the son of a minister, was... - Furnace Record Pressing Fires Up!9 December 2018, 5:37 pm
Last year when AnalogPlanet visited Furnace Record Pressing in Alexandria Virginia last year it was an enormous, mostly empty building. The vinyl pressing plant infrastructure installation had just begun. ... - Analog Corner #1038 December 2018, 12:38 pm
"What's this? The new Thorens turntable? It doesn't look like a Thorens turntable." That's what I thought as I unboxed the new Thorens 850—part of the new 800 line from the rejuvenated company. Sure, I'd seen mockups at trade shows, but until I get the finished product in my hands, I really don't pay careful attention.... - "John Wesley Harding" 3-Way Reveal!6 December 2018, 7:05 pm
AnalogPlanet recently posted 3 96/24 "John Wesley Harding" files recorded from original, Sony Legacy and Mobile Fidelity mono records and asked readers to weigh in on what they heard and which they preferred (if any)....
- Spellbound by the sound of Kinter’s $33 stereo amplifier - CNET15 December 2018, 9:18 pm
The Audiophiliac gets smitten by Kinter’s flyweight K2020A+ amp that costs and weighs next to nothing.... - What the world needs now is a $250,000 power amplifier - CNET15 December 2018, 8:55 pm
High-end cars, watches, planes and clothes prices have all gone through the roof. Now the high-end audio market is ready for the $250,000 Dan D’Agostino Relentless amplifier.... - Unstoppable: JBL’s mighty 4429 and S3900 speakers - CNET8 December 2018, 11:09 pm
JBL's 4429 and S3900 challenge the norms of what we expect from high-end speakers.... - Headphones, speakers and converters: Audiophiliac’s 2018 holiday gift guide - CNET8 December 2018, 10:37 pm
This year’s holiday gift guide runs the gamut from speakers, headphones, digital converters, books and music.... - Klipsch Reference Premiere 600M, the Audiophiliac Speaker of the Year - CNET1 December 2018, 6:17 pm
The Reference Premiere 600M is full of surprises, at every turn it’ll make you reconsider what a mid-size bookshelf speaker can do....
- Thales Simplicity II Tonearm Review16 December 2018, 11:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile On March 27th, 1983, the New York Times published an article titled “Sound; Tonearms: Is Linear Better?”. The article read like a technical paper, more sophisticated than some of today’s articles found in Audiophile magazines. Without too much introduction, the article jumped right into contrasting the pros and cons between tangential versus pivoted tonearms as if it was normal kitchen table talk. But when Sony released the first commercial CD player in 198... - Jakarta 2018 IHEAC | Photo Tour15 December 2018, 11:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile Our friend Lukasz Fikus of LampizatOr went to Jakarta for the Indonesia High End Audio Club (IHEAC) Audio/Video Show 2018 … and took a few pictures. They’re presented without introduction or explanation — but offered as a window, both familiar and exotic, to the rest of us. Enjoy. The post Jakarta 2018 IHEAC | Photo Tour appeared first on Part-Time Audiophile.... - RMAF 2018: Darryl’s View14 December 2018, 2:00 pm
Part-Time Audiophile by Darryl Lindberg RMAF Intro Let’s get this out of the way right now: I love the Rocky Mountain Audio Festival. I’ve made the trek every year and I’ve never thought, “maybe next year I’ll give it a pass.” That’s because the vibe at this show is just so pleasant. And that’s a tribute to Majorie Baumert and all the Colorado Audio Society volunteers who step up to the plate every year to take on this deman... - Newvelle Records | The Deep End14 December 2018, 11:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile If you’re a music lover who is older than 35 or 40, you’ve probably joined the Columbia House Record Club at some point in your life. I joined for the first time back in 1976, when I was barely a teen and had just purchased my very first turntable—a Soundesign all-in-one with a BSR changer that cost me a whopping $49.95. I know it was ’76 because my first “Selection of the Month” was Bowie’s Station to Station, and that’s when ... - CAF 2018: MoFi, Tenacious Sound and a Whole Lotta Real Estate11 December 2018, 11:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile Tenacious Sound, one of my old dealers out of Syracuse, New York, has been busy expanding over the last couple of years–owner Shayne Tenace has moved his base of operation into Augusta, Georgia and has just purchased a store in Jacksonville, Florida. Shayne teamed with industry stalwarts such as Jonathan Derda from MoFi and Lenny Mayeux from Audience to make a big presence at the 2018 Cap[ital Audiofest. Tenacious Sound had a total of eight systems set up in four separ...
- Global feedback: trick and treat16 December 2018, 10:48 am
Berlin. I’ve lived here for two years now. Two years in which I’ve twice completely re-arranged my listening room, tweaked loudspeaker positioning too many times to mention and, in a more general but no less important sense, got to know the room as one might get to know a friend. […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copyright 2010-2018... - Darko.Audio’s Holiday Gift Guide 201813 December 2018, 9:41 am
You won’t see it in the nighttime happy snaps of Berliners huddled in groups at Christmas markets, sipping on Glühwein and eating Pfannkuchen. And you won’t see it in the opulence of KaDeWe’s seasonal displays, nor in Friedrichstraße’s understated lights. At this time of year, Berlin says Auf Wiedersehen to […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without per... - KIH #63 – Passive struggles, active solutions12 December 2018, 8:56 am
Dynamically challenged? Being referred to as dynamic speakers makes the breed distinct from planars like classic MartinLogan, Quad and Magnepan. Following nomen est omen, one might conclude that dynamics would be a dynamic speaker’s greatest forté. But speaker designer Pat McGinty (of Meadowlark) explains why they’re more challenged than you […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-pu... - Cables & consistency11 December 2018, 12:43 pm
Tell the Average Jo/e not versed in the double trouble of electrical noise and jitter that you dropped US$350 on a USB cable and s/he’ll likely question your sanity. Audiophiles know what Jo/e does not: that not all USB connections are born equal. For this commentator, there’s no doubting the Curious […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use... - OnSight: a video view of the Linn Selekt DSM10 December 2018, 12:04 pm
Boxen Gross. Big speakers? Not for this commentator’s first visit to the Kreuzberg hi-fi store of the same name. Instead, I’m here to meet one Guido Schuetze – Brand Ambassador for Linn in Germany, Austria and Switzerland – for an extended introduction to the Scottish company’s first foray into a more […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permissio...
- PS Audio DirectStream (DS) DAC: Snowmass Upgrade11 December 2018, 1:13 pm
Over four years ago, in May 2014, I reviewed the PS Audio DirectStream (DS) DAC. I ended up purchasing it and I still use it as my reference. Many times over these last four years I have been approached by other audiophiles asking why I have a DAC as my reference that is not ‘new’ and ‘up-to-date’ as compared to other DACs that have the newest DAC chip. ‘Oh no’, I say, ‘you are wrong’, ‘my DAC is only at most months old, it is your... - Brahms: The Four Symphonies—DG Limited Edition 180g vinyl reissue4 December 2018, 6:39 pm
I usually write music reviews, especially classical, with my classically-trained hat on, commenting on performance, interpretation, comparables, etc. My audiophile nature kicks in at times and posts commentary in each review, for sure, but the main event is always the music. For this review, it’ll be primarily about the sound. What is the lover of classical music, Brahms, von Karajan, the Berliner Philharmoniker, and especially of reissue vinyl, getting from yet another version of ... - Our Favourite Christmas Albums3 December 2018, 7:04 pm
From all of us at Audiophilia, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Here are a few of our favourite Christmas albums, some you’ll know, some maybe new to you. All are spectacular, both in execution and musicianship. All recordings are on CD, with most on the streaming networks. Get them all in a queue for Christmas morning. Here’s to a happy, healthy and prosperous 2018. And a very special thank you to all for your support in 2017.... - Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20/Sonatas K281 & 382—Seong-Jin Cho, piano/DG28 November 2018, 7:39 pm
Seong-Jin Cho is the young Korean phenom who won the XVII International Chopin Piano Competition in 2015, joining such winning luminaries as Martha Argerich, Maurizio Pollini and Krystian Zimerman. A healthy ratio of winners of this particular competition go on to renown and legendary status. Even though the 2015 competition was filled with very gifted pianists, Cho was the jury and audience favourite. He’s a very refined musician with a wonderful aesthetic and great technique. A wo... - Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker—DG/Dudamel conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic27 November 2018, 6:42 pm
Recordings of The Nutcracker usually come thick and fast around the holidays. Orchestras and ballet companies have made fortunes performing the perennially wonderful music and telling the story. If only Tchaikovsky knew? And, what about Disney? I usually bin the idea of listening to the ‘Suite’, be it Nutcracker or Firebird—both Russian fairy tales sound much better in their original, ‘full’ guise. As for ‘Suites’, composers and publishers like to ...
- Audioengine A5+ Wireless Speakers9 December 2018, 3:24 pm
Patrick Dillon enjoys a change of pace with the Audioengine A5+ wireless speakers, trying them out both with bluetooth and wired via computer and external DAC. His conclusion? "I could envisage a pair of these serving as an almost one-stop audiophile rig, paired with whatever digital device you have. Throw in some stands and you could be rockin’ the joint and having personal late night sounds for comparative chump change in the audiophile universe."... - 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!...
- Spatial Audio M4 Triode Master Speaker Review13 December 2018, 2:00 pm
Spatial Audio’s M4 Triode Master speakers deliver holographic imaging and powerful dynamics from four high-efficiency drivers mounted in a sleek panel. They are easy to drive with both low - and high-powered amplifiers, and will make engaging music with pretty much any kind of amplifier you have on hand. They are easy to place in a listening room, work well with many styles of décor, and just plain look handsome. And the qualities they deliver at their selling price are hard to beat... - VIZIO PQ65-F1 65” Ultra HD Television Review10 December 2018, 2:00 pm
Today, I’ll be checking out VIZIO’s 65” P-series Quantum display. The PQ-65F1 offers a 2000-nit backlight and full coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut... The post VIZIO PQ65-F1 65” Ultra HD Television Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII Speaker Review4 December 2018, 2:00 pm
The Sonus faber Sonetto VIII floorstanding speakers not only look like a million bucks but sound that way too. And the Sonus faber Sonetto VIII speakers aren’t even Sonus faber’s top of the line! Everyone who walked into my living room during this review had the exact same reaction to them - “Oooooooh! – What are THOSE?” Although they are quite large, they have the highest visual acceptance factor of any speakers I’ve yet reviewed, and they sound every bit as ... - Fluance Signature Series HiFi Two-Way Bookshelf Surround Sound Speakers Review28 November 2018, 2:00 pm
Fluance’s Signature Series Bookshelf Speaker aims to take a sizeable chunk out of the budget speaker market with it’s latest offering. Does it live up to all of Fluance’s lofty claims? The post Fluance Signature Series HiFi Two-Way Bookshelf Surround Sound Speakers Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - ELAC Debut 2.0 Home Theater Speaker System Review26 November 2018, 2:00 pm
How do you make a good thing better? When it comes to audio, ELAC answers this age-old question by bringing to us their recently updated Debut line of loudspeakers, now known as the Debut 2.0. What was already a widely praised entry-level series of speakers has now been thoroughly re-engineered and expanded. The goal being better overall sound, and flexibility, in a variety of installations while still providing an excellent value to the consumer. The post ELAC Debut 2.0 Home Theater Speaker Sy...
- 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......
- Ansuz X Series cables and power conditioner11 December 2018, 5:44 pm
When it comes to gnomic discussions about cables, Ansuz gets close to winning the prize. Normally, when it comes to discussions about cables, there isn’t great deal to talk about, but what there is usually settles on the materials used in the conductors, the dielectric, the type of plugs used. Within these fairly limited parameters, things get a bit florid. You might start with ‘copper in a PTFE shield’ but by the end of the proceedings, it’s the finest filigree ductile c... - Cyrus Audio One HD integrated amplifier11 December 2018, 5:25 pm
The Cyrus One (tested in Issue 144) was a bold new departure for Cyrus. In a redesigned, more cost-effective half-sized case (not the evergreen traditional cast Cyrus case of the company’s more long-standing range), the One was a bold move for the company because it was app controlled, sported an aptX Bluetooth receiver and used Cyrus’ own Class D amplifier circuits in everything except the headphone amp. Because it was designed for a new generation of buyers, the remote control was ... - Zanden Model 3000mk2 line preamplifier11 December 2018, 5:12 pm
I had a niggling doubt floating round when reviewing the Zanden Model 9600mk2 power amplifiers. There was something missing; the Zanden Model 3000 line preamplifier had been upgraded to Model 3000mk2 status, completing the full Classic line of phono stage, preamplifier, and mono power amplifiers. This was the older of the two changes, first seen at CES 2017, but in a way discussing one without the other is like talking about Butch without Sundance or tuning in to watch a ‘Hardy’ movi... - McIntosh MA7200 integrated amplifier11 December 2018, 5:01 pm
In McIntosh world, there are things that remain forever unchanging. The planet could be on fire, aliens could be taking over and controlling our every action, but so long as McIntosh has that traditional glass with black livery, green logo, and bright blue VU meters, things will be OK. The McIntosh look is distinctive, slightly old fashioned to some eyes, matches precisely nothing apart from other McIntosh products... and any McIntosh fan would have it no other way. Into this changeless realm of... - VPI HW-40 ANNIVERSARY EDITION10 December 2018, 2:13 pm
The HW-40 anniversary edition turntable has been lovingly engineered in New Jersey by the US masters of vinyl replay, VPI. Inspired by their rich history, the HW-40 pays tribute to forty years of audio development and engineering excellence. Forty years ago, VPI’s founder, Harry Weisfeld, started creating accessory components for his audiophile hobby. With a background in electrical engineering, he was always fascinated with direct drive turntables and how he could make accessories to impr...
- Review: NAD D 3020 V2 Stereo integrated amplifier with built-in DAC and Bluetooth13 December 2018, 5:50 pm
I owned an original NAD 3020 back in 1980 and I loved, loved, loved it. Everything about it including its $135 price tag. The new NAD D 3020 V2 clocks in at $399 which, when adjusted for inflation, costs the same as the original (give or take some cents). The “D” in the new one’s […]... - Twittering Machines 2018 Product of the Year6 December 2018, 8:21 pm
Bucking trends in and of itself can produce nonsensical results. On the other hand, there are times when it’s the perfect time to buck. With that being said, I am very pleased to announce the Twittering Machines 2018 Product of the Year: I’ve owned a lot of amplifiers. My amplifier ownership list includes the Nelson […]... - News: Qobuz Prepares for US Launch, Announces Pricing Plan28 November 2018, 7:27 pm
While there’s no set date for the US Qobuz launch, it “will be announced soon”. Soon is good! We do however, have the Pricing Plan! Hot off today’s Press Release: Sublime+: $299.99/year for full Hi-Res streaming and substantial (40-60%) discounts on purchases from the Qobuz Hi-Res (up to 24-bit / 192 khz) download store. Studio: […]... - Review: Micromega M-150 All-In-One Integrated Amplifier27 November 2018, 12:00 pm
My great-grandmother on my father’s mother’s side loved Chiclets, especially the red ones. She didn’t speak much English, dressed only in black after her husband passed, and perpetually rolled rosaries between her thumb and fingers, the speed of the passing beads based on what was on her mind or on the TV. A woman in […]... - In Barn: Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature Preamplifier & L2 Signature Monoblocks15 November 2018, 4:43 pm
Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature Preamplifier (starts at $14,995), L2 Signature Monoblocks ($14,995). The review unit L2 Signature Preamplier includes the optional DAC (+$3,495) and Phonostage (+$3,495). L2 Signature Preamplifier Specifications Frequency Response (with stock EH300B tubes): 2Hz – 500kHz (+/- 0.5dB) 0.5Hz – 950kHz (+/- 3dB) Output Impedance (SE and BAL): < 100 ohms Input […]...
- Xavian Perla Esclusiva Loudspeakers11 November 2018, 10:00 pm
Xavian, a loudspeaker manufacturer in Prague, Czech Republic, contacted 10 Audio in June of this year inquiring about a review of their very new Perla Esclusiva two-way speaker. The Perla, the smallest model in the Natura product line, had recently been upgraded to the new Perla Esclusiva version. So here we are today, taking the first look – and listen – to a speaker from a company that should be on everyone’s radar. The name of the company comes from the Greek mythology. &ldq... - Balanced Audio Technology VK-43SE Preamplifier16 October 2018, 2:46 pm
Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) is a decades old company specializing in, you guessed it, balanced audio components. They have produced a long line of vacuum tube and solid-state preamplifiers and amplifiers, phono preamplifiers and, more lately, digital converters. The BAT VK-300xSE integrated amplifier was reviewed here in 2004, and the VK-31SE tube preamp was reviewed here in 2005. BAT has received numerous “best of” awards over the years for their excellent sounding and innovativ... - 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...
- Hi-fi Holiday Gift Guide 2018 Edition (Part 2)29 November 2018, 12:42 am
Noam’s Picks for the Season What follows is an eclectic mix of mostly unrelated stuff that either interests me, and/or that I think would interest WoS readers. Most of my suggestions this year fall well below the $200 mark. So break out your wallet, and make some audiophile loved one happy this holiday season. (I’m just kidding, audiophiles are never happy) Vincent Bélanger – Audio Note Music CD’s and LP’s. $20 – $60 CAD. By now the gifted cellis... - Hi-Fi Holiday Gift Guide 2018 Edition (Part 1)19 November 2018, 5:47 pm
Holiday Gift Guide, 2018 – Hi-Fi Stocking Stuffers and Gifts, Part 1: Steve’s Picks By Steve Graham Beteran KZ ATE Dynamic Balanced Armature IEM. $23 CDN Hey Miss K, put those cheap and cheerful IEM’s in the box. I already gave you a pair. Santa Steve knows who’s been naughty. These are super-fun earphones and so much better than anything that comes standard with most portable electronics. I’ve already given seven pairs to friends and family... - DIY Tube Phono Project Part 5: Circuit Board – Chassis Integration16 November 2018, 2:49 am
DIY All-Tube Phono Preamp Project Part 5, Circuit Board–Chassis Integration The Finish Line By Steve Graham This is it. We wrap it all up here. I hope I’ve enticed a few people to give this project a try. Yes, there have been many long attachments detailing the build procedure, but it’s the pictures that take up a lot of space. If you tackle this project, just take it step by step. Scrolling down to the attachment links below will get you to the finish line. Commonly available ... - There’s Something Special in The Beatles (White Album) 50th Anniversary Reissues12 November 2018, 11:26 pm
As the albums in The Beatles’ catalog reach their 50th anniversaries, we’re seeing some interesting ‘deluxe edition’ reissue packages rolling out from the vaults of EMI’s Abbey Road Studio. The latest is The Beatles (‘White Album’), which came out around this time in 1968. This double LP came barely a year after Sgt.Pepper, and the work on it started right on the heels of the lads’ trip to India to study meditation with their guru, the Maharishi Ma... - Review: Finale Audio F-7591 Power Amplifier11 November 2018, 2:52 am
Review: Finale Audio’s F-7591 Power Amplifier by Steve Graham I didn’t get to spend as much time with this amplifier as I’d have liked to. I simultaneously had in-house the Spendor D7’s, the Shindo Aurièges and the Finale F-7591 you see here. I was so entranced by the first two, that the poor Finale was somewhat neglected. I know, me of all people, neglecting a tube amp! In my defence, the kind person loaning this gear wanted a f...
- Crosszone CZ-1 Review16 December 2018, 11:55 am
Tonality8.5Build Quality9Comfort & Fit8.8Matchability9 8.8Score$2500CrosszoneDisclaimer: The Crosszone CZ-1 was sent to us as a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank Crosszone for this opportunity. I saw the Crosszone booth at CanJam in Singapore I believe 2017 and maybe 2018 but I never actually managed to sit down and hear their products. It […] The post Crosszone CZ-1 Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - Lotoo PAW Gold Touch – First Contact14 December 2018, 11:58 am
$3199LotooMusicTeck USADisclaimer: The Lotoo PAW Gold Touch sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at Lotto and MusicTeck USA for giving us this opportunity. This is our first time to work with Lotoo on impressions and reviews. To read more about DAPs we have reviewed before […] The post Lotoo PAW Gold Touch – First Contact appeared first on Headfonics.... - AKG N5005 Review12 December 2018, 12:16 pm
8.3Score$999AKGDisclaimer: The AKG N5005 sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at AKG for giving us this opportunity. To read more about AKG products we reviewed on Headfonics click here. As an earbud man, I’ve come to love in-ear IEMs of all types and regard universal […] The post AKG N5005 Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - NextDrive Spectra X Review9 December 2018, 12:08 pm
8.3Score$189.99NextDriveDisclaimer: The NextDrive Spectra X sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at NextDrive for giving us this opportunity. To read more about NextDrive Products Review on Headfonics click here. Earlier in the year, I reviewed the NextDrive Spectra DAC with good marks. Today, I will […] The post NextDrive Spectra X Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - MrSpeakers Ether C Flow V1.1 Upgrade Kit Review7 December 2018, 1:01 pm
$29.99MrSpeakersDisclaimer: The MrSpeakers Ether C Flow V1.1 Upgrade Kit was sent to us a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank MrSpeakers for this opportunity. To learn more about MrSpeakers product reviews on Headfonics you can click here. The price of entry to flagship headphones of late is increasingly ‘taxing’ on the wallet. I […] The post MrSpeakers Ether C Flow V1.1 Upgrade Kit Review appeared first on Headfonics....
- InnerFidelity Recommended Components 2018 – Under $50014 December 2018, 10:10 pm
With a lot of help from contributor Grover Neville we bring you the first of three in a series of the 2018 InnerFidelity Recommended Components Lists. Sure to please many, sure to disappoint more than a few. Regardless, this is it.... - Roon: Questions? We May Have Answers13 December 2018, 9:56 pm
I get asked a lot of questions regarding playback software specifically and as someone who deals with multiple software-playback packages on multiple platforms, Roon is probably the one I get queried about the most. If you’re into streaming music or computer audio then most likely you’ve heard of this music-playback software and might be wondering what it is exactly and why you should think about using it.... - MQA Support Announced for Latest Astell & Kern Portable Players11 December 2018, 7:41 pm
In a world that seems bent on division when it comes to the streaming and download/playback format MQA, Astell & Kern has placed themselves even more solidly in the for MQA column with their announcement today that as of December 12th (tomorrow), MQA support (which is already available on the SP1000 portable player) will be available via firmware update for the SP1000M, SE100 and SR15 players as well.... - The Christmas Mix on InnerFidelity by Scott Eastlick9 December 2018, 7:37 pm
As far as religious holidays go, none have been as potently marketed as Christmas. Defined by an endless stream of catchy original songs, unabashed commercialism, and a magical mascot, Christmas often seems more like a Disney production than an especially holy endeavour. Irrespective of our individual beliefs, Christmas exists as an open-source holiday that everybody is able to celebrate in different ways and for different reasons. ... - InnerFidelity Holiday Gift Guide5 December 2018, 10:08 pm
I wandered the downtown Vancouver streets, slightly dazed as it was early, the coffee in my hand only half-finished and thus not fully waking my mind to operating temperature. It was, after all, the beginning of December and things like holiday gift shopping for our families and friends was starting to dawn more brightly every morning into the waking brains of the urban populace (who surround my small oasis of a home in the city) as the month creeps forward inexorably to it’s zenith on the...
- AudioStream Best of 2018 Under $50016 December 2018, 7:47 pm
Thanks to a lot of hard work from contributor Grover Neville, AudioStream brings you the first of three in a series of the 2018 AudioStream Recommended Components Lists. This little list is sure to please some of you and sure to disappoint more than a few. But we just can’t fit everything we’d like to. Regardless, here it is.... - Tips for getting the most from Roon Software13 December 2018, 7:56 pm
Roon. If you’re into streaming music or computer audio then most likely you’ve heard of this music-playback software and might be wondering what it is exactly and why you should think about using it instead of just running Tidal, Qobuz or Spotify natively via a web-browser interface.... - Music Downloads: Jean-Michel Blais – Eviction Sessions12 December 2018, 1:00 am
If you follow any of my musical musings on this site you’ll know I have what some would refer to as mildly eclectic taste. ... - The Christmas Music Mix9 December 2018, 7:24 pm
As far as religious holidays go, none have been as potently marketed as Christmas. Defined by an endless stream of catchy original songs, unabashed commercialism, and a magical mascot, Christmas often seems more like a Disney production than an especially holy endeavour. Irrespective of our individual beliefs, Christmas exists as an open-source holiday that everybody is able to celebrate in different ways and for different reasons.... - Qobuz announces US pricing plan, will Tidal feel the heat?7 December 2018, 7:02 pm
Faith. There seems to be a sense of spiritual angst among the audiophile faithful who stream their digital audio via cloud-based music services and its cause seems to be the continuing delay of the French high-resolution music service Qobuz from entering the North American market....
- Eight Awesome Audio Products On Adorama14 December 2018, 12:19 am
Focal Kanta No. 2 Focal’s newest $10k floor stander packs quite a punch. The new lifestyle-ish line has made the The post Eight Awesome Audio Products On Adorama appeared first on AudioHead.... - PlanterSpeakers and Groove Tone by Intelligent Audio Products – CAF 201813 December 2018, 5:41 pm
You will be charmed, you will be seduced. The PlanterSpeakers from Intelligent Audio Products are not a gimmick, nor are The post PlanterSpeakers and Groove Tone by Intelligent Audio Products – CAF 2018 appeared first on AudioHead.... - Review: ZMF Pendant11 December 2018, 8:12 pm
ZMF Pendant Headphone Amplifier Review Over the years Zach from ZMF headphones has partnered with a varying companies to bring The post Review: ZMF Pendant appeared first on AudioHead.... - KEF, Parasound, Straight Wire, The Vinyl Revivers, The Audio Hunters – CAF 201810 December 2018, 8:14 pm
I’m a fan of the KEF Uni-Q driver. I own pair of KEF Q100’s that I keep on hand for The post KEF, Parasound, Straight Wire, The Vinyl Revivers, The Audio Hunters – CAF 2018 appeared first on AudioHead.... - McIntosh Announces A 70th Anniversary LE Commemorative System6 December 2018, 6:45 pm
Just in time for the holidays, McIntosh is releasing a 70th anniversary collectors edition of the MC2152 amplifier and C70 The post McIntosh Announces A 70th Anniversary LE Commemorative System appeared first on AudioHead....
- AUDEZE HOLIDAY SPECIAL14 December 2018, 1:59 am
The post AUDEZE HOLIDAY SPECIAL appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - Apple AirPlay 2 Arrives December 11, 2018, to Bluesound11 December 2018, 7:48 pm
The post Apple AirPlay 2 Arrives December 11, 2018, to Bluesound appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - FiiO FH5 In-Ear Monitor – REVIEW BY ENJOY THE MUSIC.COM11 December 2018, 6:00 am
The post FiiO FH5 In-Ear Monitor – REVIEW BY ENJOY THE MUSIC.COM appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - MrSpeakers VOCE and ETHER2 win 3 Awards each10 December 2018, 9:49 pm
The post MrSpeakers VOCE and ETHER2 win 3 Awards each appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - HIFIMAN Holiday Specials!6 December 2018, 2:02 am
The post HIFIMAN Holiday Specials! appeared first on HeadPhone.guru....
- A Survey – The Thing About Mechanical Vibration Isolation…10 December 2018, 9:08 pm
Many audiophiles throw their equipment and speakers on expensive racks, Swedish butcher blocks, and spikes assuming “it’s better than nothing.” But is it? You’ve probably seen this demo from IsoAcoustics: Having purchased the IsoAcoustics Aperta myself, I could vouch for its performance. Without the Aperta, the sound was muddied and flat. I also purchased one […] The post A Survey – The Thing About Mechanical Vibration Isolation… appeared first o... - McIntosh to Celebrate Its 70th Anniversary with a Special Limited Edition Commemorative System6 December 2018, 3:00 pm
Only 70 Commemorative Systems to be available with each to benefit Save the Children; just one coming to the UK! December 6th, 2018, Binghamton, NY – McIntosh, the global leader in prestigious home entertainment and ultimate-quality audio since its founding by Frank McIntosh – a.k.a. “Mr. Mac” – in 1949, will be celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2019. To […] The post McIntosh to Celebrate Its 70th Anniversary with a Special Limited ... - Unboxing the Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler5 December 2018, 1:00 pm
Unboxing a Million Taps The post Unboxing the Chord Electronics Hugo M Scaler appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - In the Frying Pan: Iconoclast by Belden from Blue Jeans Cable4 December 2018, 12:03 am
If you’ve been following the Iconoclast by Belden thread on PS Audio, you’ll know there are a bunch of folks super excited about these interconnects and leads. Audio Bacon has secured a set of their cables. In the frying pan are two sets of the Gen 2 UPOCC XLR cables, a set of the Gen […] The post In the Frying Pan: Iconoclast by Belden from Blue Jeans Cable appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - KEF LSX vs. KEF LS50 Wireless Speakers – Hear the Difference1 December 2018, 2:49 am
While I was in Singapore, I bumped into KEF’s David Chan at The Adelphi – the mall to visit for all things HiFi. I was planning to do a comparison between the KEF LS50 Wireless and the new LSX in the upcoming weeks. Fortunately, David was able to help me out with a direct comparison right in the […] The post KEF LSX vs. KEF LS50 Wireless Speakers – Hear the Difference appeared first on Audio Bacon....
- All I want for my (hi-fi) Christmas15 December 2018, 3:39 am
FEATURE: If you're still in Christmas shopping mode, we've rounded up a list of hi-fi/AV/headfi gear that our teamsters dream about as Christmas gifts... for themselves!... - Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones – third time’s a charm13 December 2018, 3:09 am
REVIEWS: Sony again ups its game in the realm of noise-cancelling, wireless headphones... the new WH-1000XM3 is the most refined of various iterations, and perhaps the best for the money.... - McIntosh helps Save The Children with 70th anniversary special9 December 2018, 12:59 pm
NEWS: A McIntosh special has been made available for the hardcore fan/collector to commemorate the company's 70th anniversary in 2019... and there's a charitable angle, too.... - Magico expands M-Series with M2 floorstander7 December 2018, 11:21 pm
NEWS: Magico introduces another heavyweight in its M-Series line - the M2, which will be available in the first quarter of 2019.... - Audia Flight FLS10 integrated amp – elegant and well-poised3 December 2018, 2:56 am
REVIEW: It took a while, but when the Audia Flight FLS10 finally opened up, our reviewer was taken on the sort of magical and musical journey he wasn't expecting at first......
- Reloop HiFi Turn 5 Direct Drive Turntable Review13 November 2018, 10:27 am
The Reloop HiFi Turn 5 is a well built, well specified and keenly priced alternative to the norm. The post Reloop HiFi Turn 5 Direct Drive Turntable Review appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Vinyl Styl Audio Cassette Head Cleaner And Demagnetiser24 October 2018, 1:37 pm
Cassettes may be making a comeback, but as yet the machines to play them aren’t. As such it is necessary to keep old machines in good health with regular maintenance and TLC. The Vinyl Styl cleaning and demagnetising tape does just that. The post Vinyl Styl Audio Cassette Head Cleaner And Demagnetiser appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - 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....
- Audiophile Review!McGary Audio SA 1Stereo Tube Amplifier"The Little Tube Amp That Can"14 December 2018, 11:52 pm
... - 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
...
- REVIEW: ANTHEM STR INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER5 December 2018, 12:23 am
Does Anthem's new STR Integrated Amplifier perform at a higher level that justifies the higher asking price than its previous integrated amplifiers on offer? Well, let’s find out.... - REVIEW: BLUESOUND NODE 2I WIRELESS HI-RES MUSIC STREAMER30 November 2018, 2:23 am
The latest update to Bluesound's Node Wireless High-Resolution Multi-Room Streamer comes in the form on "2i", and after the previous generation performed so admirably, we were keen to take a look at the latest revision.... - REVIEW: SERHAN+SWIFT BRIGADIER MU.2 STAND-MOUNT SPEAKERS29 November 2018, 5:04 am
Collectively known as Serhan+Swift, their Brigadier range of loudspeakers are now making waves around the globe having featured at Hi-Fi shows in both United Kingdom and United States in just the last few months. Let's take a closer look at the Mu.2... - REVIEW: LUXMAN L-505UXII INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER26 November 2018, 12:53 am
Luxman's L505uXII is the Mark II version of the L-505uX Integrated Amplifier first released in 2011. Having owned a Luxman turntable in my youth, I was keen to see where the company was at in 2018. We take a closer look at this latest offering from Luxman... - REVIEW: BOWERS & WILKINS 603 FLOOR STANDING LOUDSPEAKERS20 November 2018, 10:27 am
The largest speaker in Bowers & Wilkins' latest version of its 600 Series range, we take a closer look at the 603 Floor Standing Loudspeakers....
- Want uncompressed music, without EQ? Check out these labels16 December 2018, 11:26 am
... - Billy’s back, taking about his Tekton, Magnepan, Vandersteen & Snell systems15 December 2018, 12:36 pm
... - Does your system rock your world? + Music review14 December 2018, 11:10 am
... - I love Grado headphones, maybe because they sound like horn speakers13 December 2018, 11:09 am
... - My nomination for the worst audio format of all time12 December 2018, 11:12 am
...
- German Physiks refresh their site and product line12 December 2018, 2:32 pm
... - Audioengine A5+ review live9 December 2018, 8:48 pm
... - Hendrix Box Set Amazon Woes7 December 2018, 2:22 pm
... - Guy King gives me hope for music7 December 2018, 4:17 am
... - And it really is goodbye to TAS12 November 2018, 1:02 am
...
- 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 […]...