Daily Audiophile

Today's Best Hi-Fi Reviews and Commentary

Stereophile
  • Analog Corner #322: Another Angle on Vinyl Playback & the Massif Audio Design Prime Reference Record Weight24 May 2022, 5:32 pm
    The stylus that cuts the grooves in your favorite records is best described, in simple terms, as "chisel-shaped." The most accurate playback styli—the "extreme" ones that extract the maximum amount of information from the grooves—have a similar shape, with sharper and more severe contact edges than a standard elliptical stylus, itself an advance over spherical styli. Tue, 05/24/2022...
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  • Three New Speakers from Raidho24 May 2022, 2:06 pm
    At a well-organized Munich press conference, Danish speaker company Raidho, now owned by Dantax, introduced the successor to the X1, the Raidho X1t Super Mini Monitor (€5800, presumably for the pair and equivalent to US$6210). The speaker is equipped with the company's planar-magnetic ribbon tweeter, which claims 50 times less mass than conventional dome tweeters; a 5.25" tantalum-coated ceramic-on-aluminum midbass driver, which claims to raise breakup modes to 15kHz; and a rear port. Frequ...
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  • Welcome to Munich High End 202224 May 2022, 1:46 pm
    Finally, after three dark years of COVID-related cancellations and postponements, one of audiophilia's biggest and most important shows, Munich High End 2022, took place on Thursday–Sunday, May 19&!50;22, at the city's huge MOC.Tue, 05/24/2022...
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  • Chario Aviator Amelia loudspeaker20 May 2022, 5:14 pm
    Great hi-fi can give you goosebumps. And it relates to another source of horripilation: live music, and its recordings. I've also always been a live music junkie—ever since I was a kid. I was fortunate to have grown up attending the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra's "LolliPops" children's concerts. I'd seen some tepid live acts as a kid (ie, Donny and Marie). But nothing prepared me for my first rock concert. It, um, rocked my world.Fri, 05/20/2022...
  • Re-Tales #21: Much a-tube about nothing?19 May 2022, 5:04 pm
    Unless you live under a rock, you've followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. You know something about sanctions against Russia and Russia's responses to those sanctions. If, in addition to not living under a rock, you're a tube-audio aficionado or electric guitar nut, you may have thought about a likely consequence of that war that's far less momentous than the destruction and carnage we see on TV: Will I be able to get new tubes for my amplifier? Especially those lovely Russia-made tubes. Thu, 0...
Absolute Sound
  • Introducing dCS Lina24 May 2022, 4:15 pm
    The following is a press release issued by dCS. May […] The post Introducing dCS Lina appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
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  • Editors’ Choice: Phonostages $2000-$600024 May 2022, 3:39 pm
    Sutherland Engineering 20/20 Mk2 $2200 (linear power supply option, $450) […] The post Editors’ Choice: Phonostages $2000-$6000 appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
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  • Editors’ Choice: Integrated Amplifiers $3000 and Up23 May 2022, 3:37 pm
    Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum MKIII $3295  Rogue’s 90Wpc Cronus Magnum […] The post Editors’ Choice: Integrated Amplifiers $3000 and Up appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
  • Pop Quiz (Everyone Wins): What Songs Give You Chills?20 May 2022, 5:11 pm
    Quick: what do Radiohead’s Creep, Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in […] The post Pop Quiz (Everyone Wins): What Songs Give You Chills? appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
  • Aurender N20 Music Server20 May 2022, 3:36 pm
    Within the last decade, we’ve seen the emergence of a […] The post Aurender N20 Music Server appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
Enjoy The Music.com
  • Press Release: EnjoyTheMusic.com Sponsors T.H.E. Show 202224 May 2022, 11:30 am
    EnjoyTheMusic.com, high-end audio's celebrated site for over 26 years and a leader in providing premium audio and music industry news, hardware reviews, and show reports, is pleased to announce that we're sponsoring T.H.E. Show's Thursday night media and exhibitor celebration! To be held from Friday, June 10th through Sunday, June 12th at the Hilton Long Beach in Southern California, both show exhibitors and members of the press are invited to join us for drinks, music, and good times. For decad...
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  • Rick Becker's Fantastic Luxury Hi-Fi On The 5th Floor At AXPONA 202224 May 2022, 11:29 am
    I First heard the Perlisten S7t at Capital AudioFest and was very impressed with what I heard. This is a new company with a multinational footprint, designing in the US and building in China. The fit and finish of the upgrade wood veneer were exemplary. Piano Gloss Black and Gloss White are standard....
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  • HIGH END 2022 Munich Show Report23 May 2022, 6:18 pm
    From May 19th to 22nd, 2022, the 39th HIGH END trade show in Munich will yet again shine the spotlight on excellent music reproduction, inspiring listening enjoyment and exquisite audio technology. For many years, the HIGH END has been providing both the big players in the industry and smaller owner-managed companies with their ideal presentation platform as the world's leading audio trade show....
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  • Australian Hi-Fi  May / June 2022 Issue23 May 2022, 12:43 pm
    Australian Hi-Fi's May / June 2022 issue features: Editorial: Greg Borrowman Is Stepping Out As Editor Audio News From Around The World Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 Amplifier JBL Synthesis HDI 5.1 Surround System ELAC Vela FS 407 Loudspeakers Rode NTH-100 Wired Headphones Silent Angel Munich M1 Streamer Interview With Chord Electronics' Consultant Rob Watts Hi-Fi Primer New Music / Music Album Re-Issues / Top Music Picks And much more!...
  • The End Of Cheap Tubes22 May 2022, 11:44 am
    Every year, when I focus on this Glass Audio issue of audioXpress, I like to dive into the archives and revisit a selection of the issues that Ed T. Dell produced twice a year, beginning in 1988. In 1990, in his column "Valve Views," contributing author Ken Kessler wrote "As you sit there poring over the latest Glass Audio, perhaps a small part of you is wondering: Am I devoted to a branch of hi-fi so obscure it could disappear at any moment? Believe me, such doubts affect us all at times, and n...
HIGH Fidelity
  • REVIEW: Octave JUBILEE PRE & MONO SE ⸜ line preamplifier & power amplifier | GERMANY1 May 2022, 12:00 am
    Review text WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Marek Dyba images Wojciech Pacuła | Octave No 216 May 1, 2022 ⌈ OCTAVE AUDIO is a German company founded in 1968 by KARL HEINZ HOFFMANN; initially it produced transformers. In 2000, his son, ANDREAS HOFFMANN took over the business, and from then on it has been called OCTAVE AUDIO. We are testing the top Jubilee system. ⌋ LTHOUGH THE FIRST OCTAVE AMPLIFIERS were made in 1975, and since 1977 they were all tube devices,...
  • REVIEW: Audio Note COBRA ⸜ integrated amplifier • tube | UNITED KINGDOM1 May 2022, 12:00 am
    Review text WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Marek Dyba images Wojciech Pacuła No 216 May 1, 2022 ⌈ AUDIO NOTE is a company founded in 1976 (company site says October 1979) in Japan by HIROYASU KONDO. The first products hit the world markets in 1989. In 1997, the company split into two parts, Kondo Labs, focused on the Asian market, and Audio Note UK, responsible for Europe and the rest of the world. A year later, the British branch was taken over by PETER QVORTUP, which ...
  • REVIEW: Vinius Audio TVC-05 SPECIAL EDITION ⸜ line preamplifier • passive | POLAND1 May 2022, 12:00 am
    Review text WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Ewa Muszczynko images Wojciech Pacuła No 216 May 1, 2022 | WORLD PREMIERE | ⌈ VINIUS AUDIO is a company founded in 2019 by Mr. ZDZISŁAW MACIEJ EJSMONT. It is a specialized manufacturer focused on designing and building passive transformer-based preamplifiers. We ARE FIRST to be testing their latest and most expensive model: TVC-05 SPECIAL EDITION. ⌋ he TVC-05 SPECIAL EDITION is a passive preamplifier fr...
  • REVIEW: MuzgAUDIO DAC01S ⸜ digital-to-analog converter | POLAND1 May 2022, 12:00 am
    Review text WOJCIECH PACUŁA images MuzgAUDIO | Wojciech Pacuła No 216 May 1, 2022 | WORLD PREMIERE | ⌈ MuzgAUDIO is a Polish company, based in Rzeszów, founded in 2019 by an engineer KONRAD SIEMIENTKOWSKI for one purpose: designing and manufacturing audio components. We are testing its reference product in a semiconductor version, the DAC-01S digital-to-analog converter. This is its WORLD PREMIERE review. ⌋ OOKING AT THE CONTEMPORARY AUDIO SCENE, it...
  • REVIEW: Luna Cables LUNA ROGUE ⸜ analogue interconnect + speaker cable | CANADA1 May 2022, 12:00 am
    Review text WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Marek Dyba images Wojciech Pacuła No 216 May 1, 2022 ⌈ LUNA CABLES is a small French-speaking company from Quebec run by Mr. DANNY LABRECQUE. Their cables are made in a nineteenth-century, beautifully renovated and adapted barn. One of the basic assumptions of this company is harmony with the surrounding nature. ⌋ ET’S START WITH THE BASICS. There are several types of companies among cable manufacturers. Their sp...
Positive Feedback
  • Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors T.H.E. Show 2022 Media & Exhibitor Celebration 24 May 2022, 5:54 pm
    (May 24, 2022) Enjoy the Music.com, high-end audio's celebrated site for over 26 years and a leader in providing premium audio and music industry news, hardware reviews, and show reports, is pleased to announce that we're sponsoring T.H.E. Show's Thursday night media and exhibitor celebration! To be held from Friday, June 10th through Sunday, June 12th... Read More » The post Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors T.H.E. Show 2022 Media & Exhibitor Celebration  appeared first on P...
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  • The New Keith Monks Prodigy Record Cleaning Machines23 May 2022, 3:46 pm
    Celebrating over 50 years of the Record Cleaning Machine with new siblings for the world's first Threadless point suction cleaner. High-End Munich MOC Hall 3 N07. Jonathan Monks, the son of the founder Keith Monks, today announced two new additions to the Prodigy series and updates to the original machine. Prodigy series brings the world's first... Read More » The post The New Keith Monks Prodigy Record Cleaning Machines appeared first on Positive Feedback....
  • Vertere Acoustics announces new Silencer support pods23 May 2022, 3:41 pm
    Vertere Acoustics MOC Munich Thursday 19th May 2022. Touraj Moghaddam Vertere's founder and chief designer today announced the new Silencer equipment supports. These and an Iso-Shelf are part of the demo record player system in Atrium 4.1 E121.  The Vertere Iso-shelf sits under a record player supported by low profile Iso-balls or the superior Silencers. Silencer is... Read More » The post Vertere Acoustics announces new Silencer support pods appeared first on Positive Feedb...
  • Nuït by Maya Fridman and Maarten van Veen from TRPTK23 May 2022, 3:35 pm
    Can you like a work of music without understanding it? Indeed, yes. I don't claim to yet understand what Maya Fridman and Maarten van Veen have created in Nuït, their new release from TRPTK. But I do like it, and I plan to continue listening to come to grips with it. It is a wonderful... Read More » The post Nuït by Maya Fridman and Maarten van Veen from TRPTK appeared first on Positive Feedback....
  • Two New Audiophile LP Benchmarks: Eric Clapton Unplugged and Patricia Barber Higher23 May 2022, 3:33 pm
    Eric Clapton, Unplugged (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab) This latest limited edition Mofi UltraDisc One-Step box set was cut by Krieg Wunderlich and pressed at RTI. You get your two 180 gram 45 RPM LPs on Supervinyl with all the usual packaging and perks, but I had to wonder if this pressing was really going to... Read More » The post Two New Audiophile LP Benchmarks: Eric Clapton Unplugged and Patricia Barber Higher appeared first on Positive Feedback....
TONEAudio
  • The FYNE 500SP18 May 2022, 3:49 pm
    Small speakers can rarely energize a good-sized room with full-range sound. This is always the magic that is FYNE. Featuring the coherence that usually only comes with electrostatic speakers, the time-aligned, coaxial driver of the FYNE speakers delivers a seamlessness that you might expect from a pair of vintage Quads, with a serious dynamic punch [...]...
  • Joni Mitchell: Live at Carnegie Hall – 196929 April 2022, 2:07 am
    When I was a little kid, I remember listening to albums from my parent’s collection that that have stuck with me throughout the ups and downs of life. Throughout her career as a songwriter, painter and musician, Joni Mitchell has never made any excuses about being a strong Canadian woman, expressing herself in her art [...]...
  • Issue 11127 April 2022, 5:06 pm
    Cover Story: We pay tribute to the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin: A product that defined a market segment Features Old School: The ESS AMT-1b -By Jeff Dorgay Cartridge Dude: The BENZ LP-S 1095: Gear for Just over a G The LSA LS 50 Signatures Merch Table: Relics From Rock’s Past Mine: It Should Be Yours Music Playlists: [...]...
  • The Heretic A614 Speakers23 April 2022, 5:19 pm
    Warning, these speakers tend to keep you cemented in your listening chair. The Heretics are “album side” speakers if that makes sense. Spinning Nightmares on Wax’s In A Space Outta Sound, the dub heavy, trippy vibe is intoxicating. Next up, Propellerheads Decksanddrumsandrockandroll. Again, the whole album goes by without the slightest urge to make a [...]...
  • Bob Carver at Axpona with their newest…18 April 2022, 1:42 am
    Stop by the Carver room at Axpona to see their latest. As you may or may not know, Bob Carver is back, with a great team of engineers and craftspeople to implement his latest visions. Company director of operations, Jim Clark, will be in room 1410 at this week’s Axpona, answering questions and showing off [...]...
SoundStage! Hi-Fi
  • Simaudio Moon Voice 22 Loudspeakers15 May 2022, 4:00 am
    Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link. Simaudio was established more than 40 years ago as an electronics manufacturer. Today, employing more than 60 people in its facility in Boucherville, Quebec, the Canadian company is best known for producing preamplifiers, power amplifiers, integrated amplifiers, and phono preamplifiers sold worldwide under the Moon brand name. Earlier this month, the company surprised everyone ...
  • The Best of Montreal Audiofest 20221 May 2022, 4:00 am
    As Gomer Pyle used to say: “Surprise, surprise, surprise.” That’s what I wanted to say after Montreal Audiofest 2022 wrapped up on March 27. From what I could glean while covering the show for our SoundStage! Global site, the three-day hi-fi show had about 60% of the exhibitors it had had in 2019—the last show before the pandemic shut it down. That drop in exhibitors didn’t surprise me because no one expected that manufacturers, distributors, and retailers would be...
  • Recommended Reference Component: Monitor Audio Silver 300 7G Loudspeakers1 May 2022, 4:00 am
    In March 2022, we presented the Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G loudspeaker with a Recommended Reference Component award. Philip Beaudette had reviewed the speaker on this site the month before, when it received a Reviewers’ Choice award. Dennis Burger reviewed Monitor Audio’s Silver 300 7G, the 500 7G’s little brother, on SoundStage! Access in March 2022, where it too earned a Reviewers’ Choice award. Now, like its sibling, we’re presenting the Silver 300 7G with a Rec...
  • Blown Away by Monitor Audio Bronze 100 Loudspeakers1 May 2022, 4:00 am
    Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link. Diego Estan reviewed a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 100 loudspeakers on SoundStage! Access in August 2020. About three months after that, Jay Lee produced a follow-up Take 2 video review on the Bronze 100 for our YouTube channel. Last month, James Hale wrote about the 100 yet again for his “Art+Tech” column on SoundStage! Xperience. Does anything more really need to...
  • Sumiko Reference Celebration 40 Moving-Coil Phono Cartridge1 May 2022, 4:00 am
    My analog life can be divided into three acts. Scene 1, Act I, circa 1976, began at Christmas when I received a Juliette all-in-one audio system, with a record changer on top and an 8-track player built into the front panel. The Juliette became landfill a few years later, but I still have my first record—Lighthouse’s 20 Great Hits on K-tel. ...
Dagogo
  • Parasound NewClassic 275 v.2 two channel power amplifier Review20 May 2022, 4:52 pm
    I really enjoyed my time with the Parasound NewClassic 200 Pre preamplifier in my last review. I find Parasound products to sound great, are a tremendous value, and are built to last based on my own almost 30 years of personal experience with the brand. The Parasound NewClassic 275 v.2 power amplifier is one of [...] The post Parasound NewClassic 275 v.2 two channel power amplifier Review appeared first on Dagogo....
  • Glanz MH-1200S stainless steel tonearm Review14 May 2022, 2:53 am
    The tagline for Glanz is “A legendary brand is reborn” and it is not an exaggeration. The Glanz name was first used in 1972 by the Mitachi Onkyo corporation when a twenty-three-year-old Masataka Hamada joined and developed the company’s first moving magnet cartridges. He went independent in 1980 while continuing development of audio technologies for [...] The post Glanz MH-1200S stainless steel tonearm Review appeared first on Dagogo....
  • Simaudio releases Moon Voice 22 bookshelf speakers5 May 2022, 2:00 pm
    The following is a press release by Simaudio. MOON is delighted to announce VOICE 22, the first loudspeaker in Simaudio’s history. The Canadian high-end audio product manufacturer has used its more-than-forty years of audio design experience to create these exceptional speakers. Featuring premium materials and industry-leading technologies, for the very first time they give the [...] The post Simaudio releases Moon Voice 22 bookshelf speakers appeared first on Dagogo....
  • Chord Electronics launches Ultima Pre 3 preamplifier4 May 2022, 8:27 pm
    The following is a press release from Chord Electronics. All-new ULTIMA PRE 3 offers next-level performance A new ground-up-design preamplifier harnessing more than 30 years of amplifier building expertise Kent, England, 4 May 2022: Chord Electronics has launched an all-new ground-up-design analogue preamplifier, the ULTIMA PRE 3. The new preamp is an entirely fresh design both inside [...] The post Chord Electronics launches Ultima Pre 3 preamplifier appeared first on Dagogo....
  • One man’s dream: the Acapella Spharon Excalibur speakers system (a consideration)1 May 2022, 2:00 pm
    Introduction I became friends with Jim some years ago, as we were both pursuing an interest in the Audio Note UK top DA converter at the showroom of Colorado dealership Audio Federation. Jim’s determination to build a system that could reproduce as well as possible the sound of live music, particularly the symphonies and piano [...] The post One man’s dream: the Acapella Spharon Excalibur speakers system (a consideration) appeared first on Dagogo....
Audiophile Style
  • Munich 2022 Show Report22 May 2022, 8:06 pm
      Wow, what a show! HiFi is human again!   The 2022 Munich High End show is now over. As I type from my hotel room overlooking this great Bavarian city, I am ecstatic. It was absolutely terrific to see the people of this great industry and see the fantastic people who enjoy our wonderful hobby. Even this introvert couldn't help but give a few hugs to friends and enjoy long nerdy conversations about music, audio, and where we should go for dinner. Life is good.  ...
  • Munich, Music, and More16 May 2022, 3:55 pm
        Munich    Hey hey guys, it's a big week for high end audio. The Munich High End show is back for the first time in two years! I'm really excited to attend the show this year. Seeing and hearing all the great products and music is one thing, but seeing friends who share a passion for this stuff is even better.    The Munich show is where I usually get my fix of great horn speakers, electrostatic speakers, and other items that I don't ha...
  • The Immersive Audiophile Update 612 May 2022, 6:21 pm
        As of today, my immersive audio system is 99% selected, and much of it has arrived. In this update I'm focusing on digital to analog conversion and decoding immersive audio. There are two ways to accomplish the decoding and conversion, and they are quite different. Which way did I decide to go? Both. At least for now.    The immersive audio format with the largest marketshare for music is Dolby Atmos, by far. Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon all stream Do...
  • KEF LS60 Wireless HiFi System12 May 2022, 9:03 am
        A quick announcement this morning about the new KEF LS60 Wireless.    The LS60 Wireless is available for pre-order right now, and should ship by the end of May 2022. The price for the pair is $7,000.    Fans of the LS50 II Wireless series will feel right at home with the LS60 Wireless. It's an elegant looking larger sibling with nearly identical technology embedded. One thing to note with loudspeakers is physics. The laws of physics ca...
  • Audeze LCD-4 vs LCD-5: Yin and Yang10 May 2022, 2:34 pm
        I had an opportunity to listen to the Audeze LCD-4 and LCD-5 headphones extensively over a two-week period while developing high resolution FIR equalization filters for them. While I have reviewed the LCD-4z, I have not had a chance to listen to both Audeze flagship headphones until now. A real treat!   Up front, I will say I am surprised at how different these headphones sound compared to each other. I would have thought that the next version of a company&r...
Analog Planet
  • Spinning Live Tales With Graham Nash17 May 2022, 1:28 am
    Graham Nash In Performance. (Photo: Ralf Louis) “I’ve been a harmony singer most of my life. I know what to do, and where to be.” That’s Graham Nash, 80 years young, not only defining his artistic M.O. as a tenor vocalist, but also speaking to his inherent instincts for knowing what the right tones are for the music he’s making, and, frankly, where he stands on life and society in general. ...
  • Big Bill Broonzy---<i> The Bill Broonzy Story </i> &nbsp;Verve MGV 3000-5--- The Records You Didn’t Know You Needed #1116 May 2022, 7:42 pm
    On the evenings of July 12, 13, and 14, 1957, Bill Broonzy made his last recordings at Universal Recording Studios in Chicago. He was suffering from lung cancer, was scheduled to be operated on in a few days, and had been told that he would probably not be able to sing after the operation. ...
  • Yarlung's GRAMMY nominated <i>Fire and Fancy</i>&nbsp; Is Music For Moderns16 May 2022, 6:49 pm
    In my previous review of the Korppoo Trio by the Sibelius Piano Trio and Yarlung Records, I spoke a great deal about the recording philosophy of this boutique classical outfit and their AAA, 45rpm chamber music records. From the same recording sessions that brought us that exquisite romantic delight, we have another outing with musicians Petteri Iivonen, Juho Pohjonen, and Samuli Peltonen, this time with a decidedly different program. Primary Category: Album ReviewsCategory: AAA Vinyl...
  • 40th Anniversary Mobile Fidelity "One-Step" <i>Thriller</i> Coming November 18th (CLARIFICATION UPDATE!)16 May 2022, 5:28 pm
    LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Music and the Estate of Michael Jackson today announced that it will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the biggest selling album of all time, with the November 18 release of Michael Jackson Thriller 40, a double CD set comprised of Michael’s original masterpiece Thriller and an exciting second disc full of surprises for fans including never-released tracks which were worked on by Michael for the Thriller ...
  • Rega Research io Integrated Amp With Built-in Phono Preamp—A Cautionary Tale15 May 2022, 7:57 pm
    The $725 ($995 CAD) io is Rega Research’s entry level integrated amplifier. At 30 watts per channel into 8Ω—compared to the more costly Brio’s 50—the io aims toward listeners using easy-to-drive loudspeakers and/or headphones. Featuring the Brio’s moving magnet phono preamplifier and class A/B power amplifier stage, the io strives to borrow at a lower price point the Brio’s sonic characteristics: wonderful detail, wide dynamic range, and raw musicality. ...
Audiophiliac Daily Show
  • DOLBY Atmos for MUSIC, here to stay?23 May 2022, 12:00 pm
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  • These $499/pair speakers ROCKED my world!19 May 2022, 12:00 pm
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  • KLIPSCH RP-600M II: Updated, Revised, and Better Than Ever!15 May 2022, 12:00 pm
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  • SACD, DVD-AudIo, Hi-Res, Multichannel Music, Pro Monitors vs Audiophile Speakers...10 May 2022, 12:00 pm
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  • VERY HIGH-END sound, from a VERY SMALL design6 May 2022, 12:00 pm
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Part-Time Audiophile
  • High End 202222 May 2022, 3:17 pm
    As I write this, High End 2022 in Munich has just ended. I originally intended to start coverage today, but there’s a small problem. I have to get home first. From a high-end audio show [...]...
  • Holo Audio May KTE DAC | REVIEW20 May 2022, 10:00 am
    The Holo Audio May family of DACs may be unfamiliar to those of you unacquainted with headphones, but the Holo Audio (website) brand indeed has a long history and excellent reputation, and not merely in [...]...
  • Return to Munich | High End 202218 May 2022, 6:00 pm
    I didn’t think there was going to be a “Return to Munich.” Back in 2019, I was able to attend the largest high-end audio show in the world, High End in Munich, and it was [...]...
  • Mingus, The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott’s | The Vinyl Anachronist18 May 2022, 10:00 am
    Resonance Records is on a roll right now, and this Mingus album just might be their finest release yet. The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott’s, recorded in August 1972, wasn’t quite lost–Mingus always intended to [...]...
  • Rotel A12MKII Integrated Amplifier | REVIEW15 May 2022, 10:00 am
    I am a self-professed integrated acolyte. An all-in-one box, such as the Rotel A12MKII, really sits on my astral plane for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which it is (virtually) guaranteed to [...]...
Darko.Audio
  • dCS readies LINA: a summit-fi headphone listening station24 May 2022, 8:39 am
    One of the more attractive press releases to hit the Darko.Audio inbox this year comes from dCS. Inside a beautifully laid out .pdf we find news of LINA, the UK manufacturer’s new headphone listening station, which comes as a three-box ‘stack’. We start with the network DAC – reportedly the […] The post dCS readies LINA: a summit-fi headphone listening station first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled o...
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  • All that glitters is not g……oh, wait24 May 2022, 7:05 am
    New from iFi Audio: the Go bar, a USB DAC for smartphones and laptops where a true-balanced circuit design culminates in a ‘symmetrical twin-channel output stage’ and Pentaconn 4.4mm headphone output for 550mW into 64 Ohms (and 7.5V into 600 Ohms). A (presumably less powerful) 3.5mm socket keeps more vanilla […] The post All that glitters is not g……oh, wait first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or...
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  • Munich High-End 2022 and the letting go22 May 2022, 9:40 am
    The largest and slickest hi-fi show on the calendar, Munich High-End, ends its four-day run for 2022 this afternoon. It’s the first time the event has taken place since 2019; this year with 500+ exhibitors in tow. So expansive is this show that first-time attendees arriving with the intention of […] The post Munich High-End 2022 and the letting go first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permissio...
  • A short film about the KEF LS60 Wireless19 May 2022, 6:18 am
    🎥 Camera: Olaf von Voss 🎬 Editor: John Darko 🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko 💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan Further information: KEF KEF LS60 Wireless (€6500/pair): https://darko.audio/2022/05/kef-celebrates-sixty-years-with-the-ls60-wireless/ 🎛 Other stuff seen in this video… Giant Giant Sand – Tuscon: 🛒 (US) https://amzn.to/3LGlblL 🛒 (UK) https://amzn.to/3sLO5tP Samsung Frame 2022 55″: 🛒 […] The post ...
  • NAD announces MDC2-equipped C 389 integrated amplifier17 May 2022, 6:55 am
    New from NAD: the C 389 Hybrid Digital DAC amplifier that builds a DAC circuit around the same ESS Sabre DAC chip found in NAD’s Masters series amplifiers, which in turn feeds multiple UcD amplifier modules – configured in balanced bridged mode – for 130wpc into 8 and 4 Ohms. […] The post NAD announces MDC2-equipped C 389 integrated amplifier first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without pe...
Audiophilia
  • Phasemation EA-350 Phono Amplifier6 May 2022, 12:36 pm
    It’s been a long audiophile and vinyl journey to the Phasemation EA-350 Phono Amplifier ($6700). Even though I love all my components and value them equally, I must admit a soft spot for the very important phono stage. If you cheap out on one (beware, I’ve heard lousy expensive ones), no matter the quality of the cart/turntable, the sound is diminished. And likely, a worse effect than the inherent weaknesses heard in cartridge design and turntable/tonearm geometry. As such, vinylphil...
  • Schiit Freya+ Preamplifier6 May 2022, 12:30 pm
    The Schiit Audio Freya+ ($949) is a passive or active, solid state or tube, balanced preamplifier.Over 10 years ago when I began to put together a more serious audio system with a DAC, I did not include a standalone preamplifier. The DAC had a built-in volume control, and I had not yet acquired a turntable—my old one from years earlier had fallen off a shelf abruptly ending its life. “Direct to amps” was what many had suggested and there even was a catchy ongoing mant...
  • In The Moment—Nicolas Van Poucke, piano. Direct to Disc vinyl6 May 2022, 12:00 pm
    The subtitle of In The Moment is ‘Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)’. This is a rare direct to disc (D2D) recording and is released on Night Dreamer Records. I’m reviewing the vinyl pressing—the album is also available via digital download and on cassette. Purchase here (no financial affiliation). It was released April 4, 2022. The recording contains two of Beethoven’s delightful and profound piano sonatas. Piano Sonata No. 12 in A♭ major, Op. 26 was compo...
  • Harbeth Audio P3ESR XD Loudspeaker15 April 2022, 9:25 am
    If you’re a passionate audiophile, a fan of social media, on a fixed budget, and haven’t been totally bunkered down and switched off over the past few years, you couldn’t help be inundated with tweets, Instagrams and videos on YouTube about what I call the ‘audiophile darlings’ of social media—NAD, Denafrips, Cambridge Audio, Linn, ELAC, iFi Audio, KEF and the subject of this darling review, Harbeth Audio.Shipping, supply chain and computer chip problems aside...
  • Sennheiser IE 900 IEM15 April 2022, 9:24 am
    To see a World in a Grain of Sand                                                                              ...
Hi-Fi+
  • WIN! A Lateral Audio Stands LAS-9 Cadenz equipment support worth £9207 October 2021, 10:14 am
    We have teamed up with our friends at Lateral Audio Stands to bring you a fantastic competition for a chance to win a four-tier LAS-9 Cadenz equipment support worth £920. Our editor, Alan Sircom reviewed the LAS-9 Cadenz equipment support in Hi-Fi+ issue 199 where he wrote, “At first glance, LAS-9 Cadenz is very much the traditional modular equipment stand.” But, he pointed out, “Looks can be deceptive, however. There are a lot of clever techniques used to help dissipate ...
  • After the US, Japan and China, BAYZ also lands in the UK4 October 2021, 7:40 am
    We are pleased to announce that BAYZ Audio (http://www.bayz-audio.eu/) speakers will be available for audition at this year’s UK AUDIO SHOW on 9-10 October in Daventry. The event has deservedly aroused considerable interest among British audiophiles and specialist journalists as we have not been able to show off our products during the last 2 years in the UK due to the pandemic. So we can safely say that this event will be the debut of our speakers at this point on the globe. We are also h...
  • Russell K are proud to launch the new Red 120Se Loudspeaker at the UK Audio Show 2021.30 September 2021, 7:16 am
    How to improve a speaker already heralded as “sounding fast, controlled and natural”? Enter the ‘Designed and manufactured in England’ Red 120Se which succeeds in raising the performance of the Red 120 to an even higher level. The new 120 Special edition shows exemplary coherence and delivers even more true-to-life dynamic nuance and detail. It’s vivid and highly engaging and because it delivers more micro-detail you hear the true relationship between musical events...
  • Accuphase DP-570 CD/SACD Player21 September 2021, 1:17 pm
    Turns out it’s been a while since I last reviewed a CD player. A few years, in fact. And to be honest, given my long-term player of choice is the dCS Puccini that came in for issue 65 and never really left, any review units following that always had to go some to get my attention. But somewhat to my surprise, it’s been ten years since I bought that dCS player. Probably the most obvious reason why I haven’t reviewed a CD player in a while is that there are rather fewer on offer ...
  • Norma Audio Revo IPA-140 integrated amplifier21 September 2021, 1:03 pm
    There are some audio brands that arguably get more coverage than they deserve. There are others that deserve more coverage than they get. Norma is in the second group. It consistently turns in an excellent performance at sensible prices, is loved by almost anyone who hears any product in the line, and both the Norma name and products like the Revo IPA-140 integrated amplifier deserve greater recognition. I can understand why the company flies below the radar, too. Norma has that charming, but ul...
Hi-Fi News
  • Marantz Model 2226B receiver24 May 2022, 6:07 pm
    Buy one of these late-'70s beauties secondhand today and you'll own an amp from a pedigree name with radio thrown in for 'free'. So, is this a receiver worth considering? The receiver (tuner/amplifier) has always divided opinion, in the UK at least. While popular in Europe and the US, the British market never embraced these units to the degree it did separate tuners and amplifiers. And this wasn't because they could not rival a two-box counterpart on performance due to any technical reason. Th...
    New!
  • Melco N10/2-S38 Network Audio Library23 May 2022, 11:20 pm
    Computer giant Buffalo's high-end audio brand, Melco, has an updated two-box flagship with enhancements debuted in the limited-edition N10 anniversary edition There are two distinct Melco families: the conventionally-sized N1 models, 430mm wide, and the half-width, 215mm, N10 series, of which the new N10/2 models, starting from £6999 for the N10/2-H50 and rising to £8999 for the N10/2-S38 flagship we have here, are the latest iteration. Why the two prices? In a word, storage: the N...
    New!
  • Chord Mojo 2 USB DAC/Headphone Amp20 May 2022, 5:19 pm
    Tiny, solidly made, UK-built and now even more capable, is this compact USB DAC/headphone amp from Chord Electronics still the one to beat below £500? Inundated as we are with pocket-money portable headphone amp/DACs, Chord's Mojo 2 asks the question: why drop £449 on a portable headphone DAC? Once you hear it, you'll understand, especially if top-quality sound on the move matters to you. The Mojo 2 is an upgrade on the top-drawer Mojo [HFN Jan '16], the battery-powered, smaller-th...
  • Audio Research REF Phono 3SE Phono Preamplifier19 May 2022, 6:03 pm
    Fans of the brand know that when Audio Research adds an 'SE' suffix, the changes go beyond the cosmetic. The latest to earn this upgrade is the Reference Phono 3 Let's talk about names. Audio Research's abiding Reference range has long been subject to shorthand – even the factory calls the models 'REF' for brevity – while updated (mk2) components are now defined by 'SE'. And that now applies to the £17,500 Reference Phono 3SE. In this case the revisions are retrofittable and...
  • Duke Ellington: <I>Anatomy Of A Murder</I>17 May 2022, 6:03 pm
    The band leader was an unusual but inspired choice for the soundtrack of Otto Preminger's courtroom drama, says Steve Sutherland, as he considers the 180g reissue Whether life was imitating art or vice versa is a moot point, but whichever way you look at it Joseph Nye Welch was one extraordinary geezer. A partner in a Boston law firm called Hale and Dorr, on the 9th of June 1954 he found himself in court challenging Senator McCarthy to provide 'before sundown' the list of 130 Communists posing...
ecoustics
  • Rega Research Kyte 2-Way Bookshelf Loudspeaker: The Audiophile System Builder24 May 2022, 10:00 am
    The Rega Kyte bookshelf loudspeakers are still flying under the radar for some and that's something that needs to change....
    New!
  • Pro-Ject Debut PRO Turntable: Review24 May 2022, 8:23 am
    If your budget for a new turntable can stretch to $1,000, the Pro-Ject Debut PRO Turntable is definitely the one to buy....
    New!
  • Top 10 Hi-Fi News Stories of the Week23 May 2022, 6:00 pm
    For the week ending May 15, 2022 we roundup the top 10 Hi-Fi news stories of the week from across the web....
  • Podcast: Syng Reimagines the Home Loudspeaker23 May 2022, 10:40 am
    Syng CCO, Rio Caraeff reveals deep insights about the company's first all-in-one wireless speaker called the Cell Alpha....
  • New Music Mondays: The Black Keys, Mavis Staples & Levon Helm, Harry Styles and Kendrick Lamar23 May 2022, 7:00 am
    Mavis Staples and Levon Helm highlight a really strong New Music Mondays with some help from Kendrick Lamar and the Black Keys....
Secrets of HT and High Fidelity
  • Focal On Wall 301 Speaker Review23 May 2022, 12:00 pm
    The Focal On Wall 301 Speakers are designed to be a discreet, premium sound solution for both stereo and home theater enthusiasts. Made in France, their exclusively designed flax drivers offer a detailed presentation that adds a high degree of realism to your movie night and livens up the dance tracks at your in-home party […] The post Focal On Wall 301 Speaker Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com....
  • Monoprice SB-300 2.0 Sound Bar Review18 May 2022, 12:00 pm
    The Monoprice SB-300 2.0 Sound Bar delivers amazing audio performance for its size. With a low price of just $200, it’s an ideal... The post Monoprice SB-300 2.0 Sound Bar Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com....
  • Q Acoustics M20 HD Bookshelf Speaker Review11 May 2022, 12:00 pm
    Even before I received the Q Acoustics M20 HD Bookshelf Speakers for review, I already knew I was going to like them aesthetically and sonically. Touted as a full-blown, high-resolution wireless music system. It is in their words: ‘…the most powerful, immersive, and convenient way to enjoy music, movies, and gaming sound anywhere in the […] The post Q Acoustics M20 HD Bookshelf Speaker Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com....
  • Rotel RA-1572MKII and RCD-1572MKII Music System Review2 May 2022, 12:00 pm
    Rotel is offering the ideal pairing of its RA-1572MKII Integrated Amplifier and RCD-1572MKII CD Player as a high-fi music system at a... The post Rotel RA-1572MKII and RCD-1572MKII Music System Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com....
  • Pro-Ject Classic EVO Turntable with Sumiko Amethyst Cartridge Review27 April 2022, 12:00 pm
    The Pro-Ject Classic EVO Turntable with Sumiko Amethyst Cartridge is an all-in-one turntable system that is offered for a moderate price. The post Pro-Ject Classic EVO Turntable with Sumiko Amethyst Cartridge Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com....
10 Audio
  • “Air” Is Not Air22 April 2022, 3:18 pm
    Air isn’t some ephemeral thing that simply appears between your speakers. “Air” isn’t air! That sense of openness and space is precisely the presence of harmonics from notes in the midrange and treble. Air is largely created from harmonics and resonances. Air is important musical content. It helps define subtlety, nuance, and artistic skill. The […]...
  • Miyajima Destiny Moving-Coil Phono Cartridge16 April 2022, 8:29 pm
    Welcome to the fourth review here on 10 Audio of a Miyajima moving-coil phono cartridge. Previous reviews include the Miyajima Shilabe, Kansui, and Madake phono cartridges. In those reviews, all of these products received the best “10 LP” rating due to their unending musicality. The $7,600 Destiny is currently at the top of the Miyajima […]...
  • Audio-GD R7 MK2 Digital-to-Analog Converter22 March 2022, 9:32 pm
    Audio-GD is a new brand here in the U.S. Distributed by Underwood HiFi (link below) in the US, Audio-GD is a Chinese company that makes a wide range of audio products including DACs, headphone amplifiers, preamps, and power amplifiers. Their motto is “Wisdom in mind, enthusiasm at heart”. From their Web site: “All Audio-GD’s products […]...
  • Alta Audio Celesta FRM-2M Loudspeakers22 February 2022, 6:46 pm
    Welcome to the NEW  **10 Audio**  website. Thanks for stopping by! ——- Michael Levy, founder of Alta Audio which is located in Huntington, New York, has been designing and manufacturing loudspeakers for about 30 years. Mr. Levy is an avid concert goer, regularly attending live performances in New York City and other locations. Alta Audio’s […]...
  • Aurorasound VIDA Mk.II Phono Preamplifier31 January 2022, 5:43 pm
    Aurorasound is located in Yokohama, Japan. Shinobu Karaki has 28 years’ experience working for Texas Instruments Japan, Inc. He is a passionate musician, music teacher and a long-time audiophile. His love of music, combined with trained ears and extensive know-how in electronics and integrated circuits makes Mr. Karaki well suited to design high-end audio components. […]...
Wall of Sound
  • Ace And Steve: Reviving The Leak Stereo 20 (Part 1)20 May 2022, 5:45 pm
    Ace and Steve’s Big Vintage Summer Adventure:  Update No. 1 Leak Stereo 20 Progress, and I Share a Testing Tip    by Steve Graham The Leak Stereo 20 is up and running.  I installed the remaining caps and resistors (Ace had already replaced about 75% of them).  I also made a couple of supports for the new B+ filter capacitors (A in picture below) mounted on the underside of the chassis.  The mount and caps are held in place with sticky-as-all-get-out, double-si...
  • DALI Spektor 1 Vs DALI Menuet – A DALI Mini-Monitor Shootout19 May 2022, 7:09 pm
    A Tale of Two DALIs – DALI Menuets versus Spektor 1s – A Mini-Monitor Shoot Out ‘In the House’ Review by David Neice DALI Menuet speaker pair – MSRP $2099 (Canadian) DALI Spektor 1 speaker pair – MSRP $399 (Canadian) DALI C8D Subwoofer – MSRP $699 (Canadian)   Verdict: It turns out that the DALI Menuets are a vocal listener’s dream. Extreme precision in the Menuet’s midrange direct the listener to focus on vocals or else concentrate on t...
  • Ace and Steve’s Big Vintage Summer Adventure: And So It Begins9 May 2022, 3:09 pm
    Steve’s Return to Rehab by Steve Graham (Tube Amp Rehab, That Is)   I have agreed to help an audiophile in distress.  A friend of a friend has amassed a large collection of audio gear, much of it vintage.  Let’s call him Ace – a variation of AC, or Anonymous Collector. Though handy with a soldering iron himself – probably better than your faithful scribe – current circumstances and commitments have left Ace little time to curate his collection.  ...
  • ICYMI: ‘The Montreux Years’ Releases21 April 2022, 2:05 am
    (In Case You Missed It)   As audiophiles we’re often bombarded with ‘new’ reissue series, like the terrific Music Matters and Tone Poet Blue Note releases. Less frequently, a trove of unreleased material comes out – as with today’s subject matter. The Montreux Jazz Festival has been running annually in Switzerland for over fifty years, and founder Claude Nobs’ Foundation has more than 5,000 recordings in their vault. Of course, various Montreux recordings...
  • Review: Fezz Audio Mira Ceti 300B Integrated Amplifier20 April 2022, 2:24 am
    Fezz Audio’s Mira Ceti Integrated Tube Amplifier – 300 B Single Ended Triode – Excellent! ‘In the House’ Review by David Neice MSRP: $4090 (Canadian)   Verdict: You just have to love all of those seven or eight watts per channel! This amplifier reinforces all the great attributes assigned to 300B SET (single ended triode) designs by countless audiophiles. It faithfully renders all the delicacy and organic richness found in musical ensembles, and weaves extra hy...
Headfonics
  • 7Hz Eternal Review22 May 2022, 11:47 pm
    This is a review of the 7Hz Eternal which is a new 14.5mm dynamic driver IEM launched in celebration of the company’s 10-year anniversary. It is priced at $249. Disclaimer: This sample was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at Linsoul for giving us this opportunity. To read more about 7Hz products we have previously featured on Headfonics click here.  Note, that this article follows our latest scoring guidelines which you can read up […] 7Hz E...
  • Topping DX3 Pro+ Review21 May 2022, 9:56 am
    This is an in-depth review of the new Topping DX3 Pro+ which is an affordable desktop integrated DAC and headphone amplifier. It is priced at $199. Disclaimer: This is a sample unit that was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at Shenzhen Audio and Topping for giving us this opportunity. To read more about Topping products that we have previously featured on Headfonics click here.  Note, that this article follows our latest scoring guidelines whic...
  • Loxjie D40 Review20 May 2022, 1:39 am
    This is a review of the Loxjie D40 which is an integrated dual DAC, MQA decoder, and 1.4W capable headphone amplifier. It is priced at $429.99. Disclaimer: This unit sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at Loxjie and HiFi Express for giving us this opportunity. To read more about Loxjie products we have previously featured on Headfonics click here. Note, that this article follows our new scoring guidelines for 2021 which […] Loxjie D40 Review...
  • TempoTec Sonata E35 Review18 May 2022, 11:32 am
    This is a review of the TempoTec Sonata E35 which is a dual DAC dongle capable of up to DSD256 and 80mW of output power. It is priced at $69.90. Disclaimer: The TempoTec Sonata E35 sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank Linsoul and  TempoTec for this opportunity. To learn more about TempoTec products that have been previously featured on Headfonics you can click here. Note that this article follows our latest scoring guidelines […] TempoTec Sonata E3...
  • Astell&Kern USB-C Dual DAC Cable (PEE51) Review16 May 2022, 3:16 am
    This review covers the Astell&Kern USB-C Dual DAC Cable (PEE51), a dongle DAC/amp capable of supporting up to DSD256 and 32bit/384kHz playback. It is priced at $149. Disclaimer: This was a purchased unit and does not have to be returned to the company. You can check the official Astell&Kern US website here. To learn more about Astell&Kern products we have previously featured on Headfonics you can click here. Note that this article follows our latest scoring guidelines which you can [...
AudioHead
  • Pro-Ject Announces A Special Edition Metallica Turntable – High End 202220 May 2022, 5:55 pm
    Those familiar with Pro-Ject turntables might be aware that they sometimes partner for some pretty cool one-off designs and collaborations. The post Pro-Ject Announces A Special Edition Metallica Turntable – High End 2022 appeared first on AudioHead....
  • Focal And Naim Announce Special Edition Package – High End 202219 May 2022, 4:35 pm
    Just in time for the High End Munich Show in Germany, Focal and Naim announced this morning that they will The post Focal And Naim Announce Special Edition Package – High End 2022 appeared first on AudioHead....
  • BA Maker Knowles Revisits The Harman Curve With “The Knowles Curve” For Headphones18 May 2022, 4:41 pm
    This morning balanced armature maker Knowles unveiled a white paper outlining a new frequency curve as a response to the The post BA Maker Knowles Revisits The Harman Curve With “The Knowles Curve” For Headphones appeared first on AudioHead....
  • Andrew Jones Joins MoFi Electronics – AXPONA 202215 May 2022, 2:41 pm
    Fans of speaker designer Andrew Jones who attended AXPONA 2022 this year might have missed an important shift from the The post Andrew Jones Joins MoFi Electronics – AXPONA 2022 appeared first on AudioHead....
  • Focal Adds To The In-Ceiling Lineup With The 300 ICA6 Speaker10 May 2022, 3:17 pm
    We got a chance to hear some of Focal’s in-wall speakers at a recent audio show in Chicago. The results The post Focal Adds To The In-Ceiling Lineup With The 300 ICA6 Speaker appeared first on AudioHead....
Headphone.Guru
  • AXPONA 2022 Coverage Sponsored by Underwood HiFi Part 424 May 2022, 6:00 am
    Welcome to our continuing multi-part coverage of AXPONA 2022 once again thanks to our good friend Walter Liederman of Underwood The post AXPONA 2022 Coverage Sponsored by Underwood HiFi Part 4 appeared first on Headphone Guru....
    New!
  • Warwick Acoustics Announces New APERIO Limited Edition Black23 May 2022, 4:54 pm
    Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK, Thursday 19th May 2022 Warwick Acoustics Ltd, the company behind the range of multi-award-winning Electrostatic Headphone Systems is pleased The post Warwick Acoustics Announces New APERIO Limited Edition Black appeared first on Headphone Guru....
  • Sendy Audio Peacock Planar Magnetic Headphone – Refined Elegance23 May 2022, 6:00 am
    I’ll admit that Sendy Audio is new to me, though they have been around for a few years and have The post Sendy Audio Peacock Planar Magnetic Headphone – Refined Elegance appeared first on Headphone Guru....
  • iFi’s pocket rocket is best bar none19 May 2022, 9:00 am
    Top-of-the-line USB model in iFi’s GO Series of ultraportable DAC/headphone amps, the small yet mighty ‘GO bar’ is the world’s The post iFi’s pocket rocket is best bar none appeared first on Headphone Guru....
  • Focal And Naim Present an Exclusive Hi-Fi System: Aria K2 926 and Uniti Star, Ash Grey Finish19 May 2022, 9:00 am
    May 19, 2022 (Munich) – Focal and Naim present a hi-fi system with exceptional performance and finishes: the new Aria The post Focal And Naim Present an Exclusive Hi-Fi System: Aria K2 926 and Uniti Star, Ash Grey Finish appeared first on Headphone Guru....
Hi-Fi Choice
  • Astell&Kern introduces AK UW10024 May 2022, 10:01 am
    Debut true-wireless buds from A&K...
    New!
  • KEF updates Blade and Reference ranges23 May 2022, 3:28 pm
    Two bursts of energy from Maidstone, Kent...
  • June issue now on sale19 May 2022, 9:44 am
    Cyrus Audio's i9-XR amplifier, Astell&Kern's A&Norma SR25 MKII portable digital player, AirPulse A80 desktop speakers and a budget standmount loudspeaker Group Test...
  • Do you own wireless loudspeakers?19 May 2022, 8:49 am
    Have you ditched the cables? Do you own wireless loudspeakers? Choices Yes, I love them No, they're not for me I plan to invest in the future Leave this field blank Show Promo ImageHi-Fi ChoicePrimary Category: TechnologyCategory: Technology...
  • Record Store Day tunes for June18 May 2022, 9:20 am
    Our pick of the pops for RSD's second drop...
Audio Bacon
  • 10% Off on Lazuli Products Nov 25 through Dec 2523 November 2021, 7:53 pm
    From November 25 through December 25, 2021, Danacable will hold a Giving2021 sale on standard headphone products across all Lazuli product lines. You get 10% off the product’s price by entering the coupon code Giving2021 at checkout. At the end of the Giving2021 sale period, Danacable will tally up the discounts given and match the total in […] The post 10% Off on Lazuli Products Nov 25 through Dec 25 appeared first on Audio Bacon....
  • JCAT Launches OPTIMO Nano PSU Upgrade Set11 September 2021, 7:17 am
    ELEVATE YOUR COMPUTER AUDIO TO THE NEXT LEVEL. JCAT INTRODUCES OPTIMO NANO – POWER SUPPLY UPGRADE SET FOR THEIR USB & NET CARDS PROMISING EXCEPTIONAL SONIC IMPROVEMENT. OPTIMO nano filters and enhances power coming from computer or almost any ‘audiophile grade’ power supply on the market. It will revitalize JCAT cards and allow them to express their […] The post JCAT Launches OPTIMO Nano PSU Upgrade Set appeared first on Audio Bacon....
  • The World’s Best Audiophile Linear Power Supplies6 August 2021, 5:00 pm
    So…I spent the last four months listening to the world’s best linear power supplies. If you’re looking for power supply upgrades for your gear, this review may help point you in the right direction. Any audiophile knows: having high-performance linear power supplies is essential for an enthralling listening experience. Sure it can sound decent and […] The post The World’s Best Audiophile Linear Power Supplies appeared first on Audio Bacon....
  • AudioWise Inc. Announces the Launch of PGGB.IO13 July 2021, 1:37 am
    AudioWise Inc. announces the launch of PGGB.IO – PGGB PCM Remastering (https://pggb.io), a cloud version of Remastero PGGB for those who want to audition PGGB technology but don’t have the available computer resources to run the full PGGB product. PGGB.IO’s simplified web-interface allows upload of music tracks, remastered according to the settings for the selected […] The post AudioWise Inc. Announces the Launch of PGGB.IO appeared first on Audio Bacon....
  • Linear Tube Audio Z40 Integrated Amplifier Review | Sonic Purity30 May 2021, 7:59 pm
    Undoubtedly, your amplifier could be a major decider of the sound of your entire system. Being placed only before your speakers and cables, it has the power to dramatically alter what you hear. I’ve heard amplifiers that would completely “override” the benefits of having better source equipment. Resulting in the stereo sounding the same no […] The post Linear Tube Audio Z40 Integrated Amplifier Review | Sonic Purity appeared first on Audio Bacon....
audioFI.net
  • Marantz backs the disc with CD 60 player23 May 2022, 1:07 am
    NEWS: Long live the CD! And Marantz continues to champion the medium with a new player, the CD 60....
  • Immersive sonic treat from B&W’s Panorama 320 May 2022, 1:42 am
    NEWS: Looking to reduce your home theatre footprint? Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 soundbar offers a solution....
  • EarMen Colibri DAC/headamp – an amazing device19 May 2022, 1:29 am
    REVIEW: Pamper your senses on the move with the compact Colibri DAC/headamp from EarMen....
  • McIntosh has a new player/DAC, the MCD1200012 May 2022, 2:03 am
    NEWS: An optical disc player with a DAC section done for modern needs, that's the McIntosh MCD12000....
  • Chord Electronics unveils the Ultima Pre 35 May 2022, 1:12 am
    NEWS: The new Ultima Pre 3 preamp from Chord Electronics looks like a mean piece of business... and it's loaded with a new circuit design....
Audio Appraisal
  • Technics RS-B665 Direct Drive Cassette Deck Service20 May 2022, 2:06 pm
    The Technics RS-B665 is a direct-drive cassette deck and roughly the middle of its model range from 1989 to 1991. It's a good performer and a fuss-free, maintenance-free cassette player. The post Technics RS-B665 Direct Drive Cassette Deck Service appeared first on Audio Appraisal....
  • Toshiba PC-G10 Cassette Deck Repair18 May 2022, 1:06 pm
    The Toshiba PC-G10 cassette deck was sold in 1983 as part of a Toshiba ‘Rack system’. These are fine decks and well worth the little they cost to pick up on the second-hand market. The post Toshiba PC-G10 Cassette Deck Repair appeared first on Audio Appraisal....
  • Sony CFD-G50L Boombox Repair16 May 2022, 10:31 am
    the culmination of the so-called ‘ghettoblaster’ in its best form after decades of refinement. This particular example had a few faults. The CD player didn’t read discs, the tape deck warbled hopelessly off key and FM radio reception wasn’t as good as I thought it should be. The post Sony CFD-G50L Boombox Repair appeared first on Audio Appraisal....
  • Sony CFS-W318 Cassette Radio Repair Fail21 April 2022, 9:52 am
    A Sony CFS-W318 radio cassette boombox from the turn of the millennium. Scrapped due to brittle plastic in the tape mechanisms, but an interesting electronic design and a useful source of parts including a nice tuner module. The post Sony CFS-W318 Cassette Radio Repair Fail appeared first on Audio Appraisal....
  • Philips MC-151/12 Micro System Repair Fail7 April 2022, 10:05 am
    You can't save 'em all. This is a Philips MC-151 micro 'hi-fi' system, a far cry from the once-great audio division of Philips who produced the first cassette recorders, a myriad of portable and hi-fi turntables, one of the first consumer CD players and even owned Marantz for a time. The post Philips MC-151/12 Micro System Repair Fail appeared first on Audio Appraisal....
StereoNET
  • Inside Track: Elementi Audio Home Cinema Loudspeaker System24 May 2022, 12:23 am
    Tony O'Brien takes a close-up look at this interesting range of home theatre speakers…...
    New!
  • Beyerdynamic DT 700/900 Pro X Over-ear Headphones Review23 May 2022, 8:50 am
    Professionally oriented headphones that won't break the bank. Are these two new Beyers too good to be true, asks Matthew Jens?...
  • Yamaha CD-S2100 CD/SACD Player Review23 May 2022, 6:08 am
    Paul Sechi spends some quality time with this new Japanese-designed mid-price CD/SACD player and DAC…...
  • Bowers &amp; Wilkins 802 D4 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review23 May 2022, 4:11 am
    Rafael Todes auditions the latest version of his very own reference floor standing speaker…...
  • Technics Ottava SC-C70MK2 Premium All-in-One Music System Review15 May 2022, 11:47 pm
    This iconic Japanese brand pulls no punches with this technology-packed, all-in-one music player, says Michael Darroch…...
HiFi Trends
  • Best Floorstanding Speakers For Audiophiles On A Budget (2022)24 May 2022, 5:01 am
    Floorstanding or Standmount Speakers? That’s an age-old question for many an audiophile (one which I covered here). In most cases, the size of your listening room will dictate which one to pick. Standard-size rooms will usually get sufficient output from standmount speakers, which provide the added benefit of enhanced image focus. That said, those with continue reading...
    New!
  • Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab & Legacy Recordings Drop Reissues Of The Alan Parsons Project’s “I Robot” And “Eye In The Sky”23 May 2022, 4:53 pm
    Today, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MoFi), in partnership with Legacy Recordings, announced the reissue of Alan Parsons Project‘s albums Eye in the Sky and I Robot for their 40th and 45th anniversaries, respectively. Mobile Fidelity remastered both releases from the original master tapes using their acclaimed mastering process and pressed them at RTI. MoFi is reissuing Eye in the Sky as a numbered-edition 180-gram 45RPM 2LP pac...
  • #New Music Friday May 20th, 2022: 10 Albums You Need To Hear This Weekend! (Feat. Joey Alexander)20 May 2022, 8:03 pm
    Check Out This Week’s Best Sounding New Music Releases! Every #NewMusicFriday, we pick a bunch of the best-sounding new albums so you can get your audiophile music fix!… As usual, it’s a very eclectic mix (Albums are arranged with more traditional audiophile genres like Jazz and Blues at the top and the non-traditional audiophile stuff towards continue reading...
  • Soul Emotion MAX Headphones Review: Great ANC, So-So Sound & Comfort20 May 2022, 6:25 am
    Great noise canceling and a nice mix of features are offset by finicky fit and average sound quality I remember when SOUL Electronics first hit the market as another celebrity-driven headphone brand, a la Beats. That was over ten years ago, and back then, they were known as SOUL by Ludacris, a nod to the continue reading...
  • Ifi Audio’s New GO Bar Ultraportable DAC Features Detachable Cables, Balanced Output, And Full MQA Decoding19 May 2022, 9:05 am
    This weekend, at the High End Audio Show in Munich, Ifi Audio is unveiling its latest DAC/Amp combo, the ultraportable Go Bar. This new compact DAC/Amp will provide much of the functionality of its larger siblings like the iFi hip-dac 2 and xDSD Gryphon while being a fraction of the size (65x22x13mm). It’s said to continue reading...
AudioMatters
  • "No reason to make record-playing any %4#k!@ harder than it has to be.“14 May 2022, 1:37 am
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  • Sounds Grimm?12 May 2022, 9:37 pm
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  • Vladimir Lamm RIP12 May 2022, 1:42 pm
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  • International Jazz Day3 May 2022, 7:24 pm
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  • Improving your $2k speaker the Danny Richie way3 May 2022, 7:12 pm
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Audio Pursuit
  • Peachtree PreDac & GaN400 Amplifier26 January 2022, 2:09 am
     Link to specificationsLet’s face it, early adoption of new technology is fraught with risk. For every reward, there are penalties that can sink the concept, if not the business. It’s not the path for the weak of heart. It sometimes requires an almost obsessive desire to be successful. History is littered with good ideas that never panned out. Yet, sometimes the only way forward is to surf that new wave.About six years ago, the team at Peachtree Audio became aware of a new desig...
  • LSA HP-Diamond Headphones26 November 2021, 1:42 am
    Link to SpecificationsI’ll be honest, for years I saw the LSA ads and never knew until last winter that the initials stood for Living Sounds Audio until I reviewed their sneaky good Statement 10 standmount speakers. Since then, I'd patiently awaited the HP-Diamond headphones. Due to their popularity and COVID, I was limited to just a month with these planar design, Russian-made beauties. No question, the wait was absolutely worthwhile.Up front, I need to say I was a bit concerned about the...
  • Aperion Audio MKII Planar Magnetic Super Tweeters19 October 2021, 3:39 am
    Link to Specifications  Everybody who's been a part of the audio hobby for over ten years has been there. You have a piece of gear you love, but one thing is missing that keeps it from being perfect. Several years back it was the Adcom GFT-350. Everything was so good at its price point, EXCEPT the tuner bleed-thru into other inputs. It was a painful, yet necessary parting. But sometimes an add-on component comes forward to place the favored piece in the "love it" category. I&rsquo...
  • Totem Acoustic Arro Speakers4 September 2021, 10:04 pm
     Link to specifications“Well, those are a nice size.” stated my wife who loves mini-towers, the smaller the better. That alone made part of this review much easier, as she has little tolerance for review equipment anyplace beyond my man cave. The acquisition of the Arro’s for this review was not standard, as they didn’t come from Totem HQ outside of Montreal, but instead from a private sale. I admit to regularly surfing for used gear from certain brands. One morning ...
  • Parasound P628 June 2021, 5:52 pm
    Link to Specifications:Background: I haven’t been involved with audio separates for 15 years, as integrateds held my fancy. Before that, I had a beautiful set of champagne-finished Harman/Kardon separates that I grabbed on a ridiculous closeout deal that survived both wife and son’s handling for 17 years. But as I actively re-entered the audio hobby and began reviewing in 2006, I shifted into integrated units. That led ultimately to owning both a Vista Audio tube unit, and a SimAudio...
Hifi-Advice.com
  • Munich High End 2022 Show Report – Highlights23 May 2022, 10:06 am
    Show Highlights...
  • Munich High End 2022 Show Report – Day 523 May 2022, 6:50 am
    Day 5 - Second Public Day, 22-05-2022, covering the Hifi Deluxe show at the Marriott Hotel...
  • Munich High End 2022 Show Report – Day 421 May 2022, 7:33 pm
    Day 4 - First Public Day, 21-05-2022...
  • Munich High End 2022 Show Report – Day 320 May 2022, 2:30 pm
    Day 3 - Second Business Day, 20-05-2022...
  • Munich High End 2022 Show Report – Day 1 and 218 May 2022, 2:09 pm
    This edition of the HFA Munich High End Show Report will be different than in the past years. As HFA cannot attend in person, this edition will feature photos, comments, and other content supplied by friends in the industry. The article will continually be updated as new coverage is received....
Audiosolace
  • Audeze LCD-5 Review21 May 2022, 9:31 pm
    Audeze have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with in the world…...
  • How To Test Speaker Polarity – Does It Matter?16 May 2022, 8:18 pm
    What tends to happen if you install your speakers in reverse? Reversing speaker wires might…...
  • 6 Best Bluetooth Ceiling Speakers15 May 2022, 9:38 pm
    High quality ceiling-mounted audio systems are a sure way to impress your guests with an…...
  • FLAC Vs WAV – Differences Explained13 May 2022, 7:48 pm
    Even if you have a rudimentary understanding of sound formats, knowing the technical differences between…...
  • 2 Way Vs 3 Way Speakers9 May 2022, 8:36 pm
    There are many distinct kinds of speakers, each with its own set of benefits and…...
Resistor Mag
  • Review: The Denon Aluminum Body Cap6 May 2022, 1:16 am
    Giant killer. Punches above its weight class. Hi-fi’s greatest bargain… these are a small sample of accolades the venerable Denon DL-103 moving-coil has garnered in the six decades since its introduction as a broadcast cartridge in Japan. Audiophile rhetoric or deserved praise? And does a $68 upgrade in the Denon Aluminum Body Cap make it a better cartridge? The post Review: The Denon Aluminum Body Cap appeared first on Resistor Magazine |....
  • Gondwana Records: A Curated Selection on CD27 April 2022, 3:37 am
    An independent label birthed in 2008 by composer, jazz musician and producer Matthew Halsall, Manchester-based Gondwana Records was started as an outlet for Halsall and saxophonist Nat Birchall. The label now sports a deep stable of artists from around the globe. The post Gondwana Records: A Curated Selection on CD appeared first on Resistor Magazine |....
  • Archetype: Altec Voice of The Theatre19 April 2022, 5:26 pm
    A holistic loudspeaker system mating 15-inch woofers with high-frequency compression drivers and sectoral horns enabled Altec Voice of The Theatre (VOTT) designs to scale effortlessly in demanding cinema applications, making them the de facto choice for replacing long-running Western Electric loudspeaker theatre installs beginning in the 1940s. The post Archetype: Altec Voice of The Theatre appeared first on Resistor Magazine |....
  • Clean Records Cheap: The Spindle Spinner4 April 2022, 5:22 pm
    Vacuum-assisted record cleaning machines are a godsend in turning dirty, unplayable LPs into pristine, quiet black slabs from which music may be pulled unmolested, but their cost may cause pause: Enter the budget alternative Spindle Spinner. The post Clean Records Cheap: The Spindle Spinner appeared first on Resistor Magazine |....
  • Listening Space: Tyler Davis – Texas, USA25 March 2022, 12:37 am
    The very definition of a listening space should be self-evident. A place where one may relax and have the opportunity to unwind from the pressures generated by the daily grind unique to everyone’s lives. The post Listening Space: Tyler Davis – Texas, USA appeared first on Resistor Magazine |....
Twittering Machines
  • Review: Kinki Studio EX-M1 Integrated Amplifier24 May 2022, 9:00 am
    You can’t argue with the numbers. Or so the saying goes. The Kinki Studio EX-M1 Integrated Amplifier is a 215 Watt (8Ω) Class A/B integrated amplifier that offers, according the manufacturer’s spec sheet, greater than 103dB signal to noise ratio, total harmonic distortion and noise [...]...
    New!
  • dCS Goes Direct Sales with the Headphone-Focused Lina System24 May 2022, 8:00 am
    UK’s dCS, makers of some of the finest digital gear I’ve had the pleasure to hear, have shifted sales model gears with their new Lina System, aimed squarely at the headphone Buy It Now crowd. The Lina System is broken down in typical dCS fashion [...]...
    New!
  • The iFi GO bar USB DAC/headphone amp: Portable Yet Powerful23 May 2022, 10:23 am
    If you want power in your pocket, if you need power in your pocket, iFi’s new GO bar portable USB DAC/headphone amp may be your lucky charm. Pictured is iFi’s 10th Anniversary Limited Edition GO bar that brings along the bling. In addition to a [...]...
  • #NewMusicFriday: May 20, 202220 May 2022, 12:00 pm
    Each Friday, Stephen Mejias, AudioQuest’s Director of Communications and former Stereophile and Audiostream columnist, will browse through the many exciting albums released that day and select 15 worth a closer listen. Berliner Philharmoniker, Gustavo Dudamel: Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (Berlin Phil Media) Waterslide, Diving Board, [...]...
  • Album of the Week: Mary Halvorson | Belladonna & Amaryllis20 May 2022, 10:00 am
    Belladonna is composer and guitarist Mary Halvorson and The Mivos Quartet performing five Halvorson compositions, her first for string quartet. The Mivos Quartet parts are through-composed while Halvorson improvises along. Seeing as both parts are born from her fertile mind, the line between composition and improvisation [...]...
Headfonia
  • dCS Lina – Preview24 May 2022, 8:54 am
    In this article we preview the new dCS Lina headphone setup and we give you our first impressions.   Disclaimer: The dCS Lina was... The post dCS Lina – Preview appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/...
    New!
  • FiiO KA1 Review21 May 2022, 10:37 pm
    In this article, we review the FiiO KA1, a new entry-level DAC/AMP dongle, available for just €/$49,99 Euro/USD.   Disclaimer: The FiiO KA1 was... The post FiiO KA1 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/...
  • Shanling M7 Review18 May 2022, 10:01 pm
    In this article, we review the new Shanling M7 DAP which costs $1,249.   Disclaimer: The Shanling M7 was sent to us directly from... The post Shanling M7 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/...
  • Shanling UA5 Review16 May 2022, 9:14 pm
    Today we in this two page article, review the $235 USD Shanling UA5 portable USB DAC/AMP dongle.   Disclaimer: We were sent the UA5... The post Shanling UA5 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/...
  • Hifiman HE-R9 Review14 May 2022, 9:39 pm
    In this two page article, we review the $599 USD Hifiman HE-R9 closed back headphones. It sells for $749 USD with the Bluemini R2R... The post Hifiman HE-R9 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/...
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