- Two Recent FollowUp Reviews19 April 2021, 7:14 pm
Stereophile has reviewed two somewhat controversial products in recent issues. The Italian Grandinote Shinai integrated amplifier, which Robert Schryer wrote about in November 2020 is a solid-state design but with an output stage that resembles that of a typical push-pull tube amplifier. Falcon's "Gold Badge" edition of the BBC-designed LS3/5a minimonitor, which Herb Reichert reviewed in April 2021, is a re-engineered version of a design that will soon be celebrating its 50th birthday.Sat, 05/01...
- Doshi Audio Evolution Monoblock power amplifier16 April 2021, 5:22 pm
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help your filaments?" asked the audiophile judge of the tube. "Since I am the truth," respondeth the tube, "I have nothing to say that is not already declared by my sound." "But I must have the truth, and without bias!" proclaimeth the audiophile. "What good is a tube without bias?" answereth the tube.Fri, 04/16/2021... - Roon 1.815 April 2021, 4:17 pm
I bought my first streaming DAC in 2016, even though I wasn't yet convinced about streaming. Streaming audio was a great idea, but how would I get the music data from wherever it lives to my DAC's Ethernet port?Thu, 04/15/2021... - Book Review: <I>Audio Research: Making the Music Glow</I>14 April 2021, 4:43 pm
Book Review: Audio Research: Making the Music Glow Written by Ken Kessler, designed by Henry Nolan. 220pp. $150. Available at Audio Research dealers and online at audioresearch.com. I never met Audio Research Corporation founder William Zane Johnson, who died in 2011. But when he founded his now-legendary company in 1970, I and my ragged troupe of Dynaco modifiers were in the trenches, fighting the sand-warrior hordes during the first transistor onslaught. Wed, 04/14/2021... - Re-Tales #8: A Lyrical Denouement13 April 2021, 5:36 pm
New York's Lyric Hi-Fi & Video is one of high-end audio's longest-standing and most legendary institutions. In a recent telephone conversation, Leonard Bellezza, Lyric's owner and president, confirmed what many in this industry have long heard rumored: Lyric is closing.Tue, 04/13/2021...
- A Long Time Coming: A Sneak Preview of Magico’s Magnificent M919 April 2021, 7:22 pm
As this magazine has reported in issue after issue, for […] The post A Long Time Coming: A Sneak Preview of Magico’s Magnificent M9 appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - Qobuz Launches High-Resolution Streaming and Download Platform in Australia, New Zealand, and Northern Europe16 April 2021, 1:26 pm
The following is a press release issued by Qobuz. Paris, […] The post Qobuz Launches High-Resolution Streaming and Download Platform in Australia, New Zealand, and Northern Europe appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - John Coltrane: Lush Life16 April 2021, 12:47 pm
As with MoFi’s outstanding One-Step series, Craft Recordings’ one-step lacquer […] The post John Coltrane: Lush Life appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - Further Thoughts: Aesthetix Mimas Integrated Amplifier15 April 2021, 6:23 pm
The Aesthetix Mimas is one of the finest integrated amps […] The post Further Thoughts: Aesthetix Mimas Integrated Amplifier appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - Q&A with Joel Sietsema of Marantz and Classé Audio14 April 2021, 5:33 pm
What spurred your interest in high-end audio? Did it come […] The post Q&A with Joel Sietsema of Marantz and Classé Audio appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
- HiFi Media April 2021 Luxury Home A/V Magazine19 April 2021, 11:53 am
HiFi Media's April 2021 issue features a memoriam of Tim de Paravicini while Alfred Vassilkov of Estelon talks about sound from the north. Reviews within this issue include the Grado Gold3 & Opus3 phono cartridge, Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO turntable, Pass Labs HPA-1 headphone amplifier, SMSL SU-9 Bluetooth DAC, PMC twenty5.21i loudspeaker, and Erzetich Thalia portable on-ear headphones. Other gear assessments include the AudioQuest Niagara 1200 power conditioner & Monsoon power cable, Bo... - Pacific Audio Fest Show Delayed Until 202219 April 2021, 11:52 am
This just in from the Pacific Audio Fest: To all our friends in the hifi community... With much heartache, Gary and I have decided to postpone the inaugural Pacific Audio Fest until 2022. This Wed morning we woke up to hear that Gov. Inslee had to roll back the reopening status for three counties in Washington state. This was a wake up call to the increasingly uncertain trajectory of finding our way out of the pandemic. Up until very recently, it looked promising that we would be able to have th... - Sound Practices Magazine: Not Your Father's Dyna...18 April 2021, 11:30 am
Dumpster diving Dyna fans take note! How did I end up with a single-ended Dyna stereo 70? A little background will help to understand. As a kid I grew up with vacuum tubes — Knight Kit regenerative and superhet shortwave radios, 12W mono amplifiers, and later a Citation 30W integrated amp kit. There were solid state kits too, including an 80W stereo amp. I did a lot of tinkering in those early years, mostly making solid state radios, science projects, and the like. A couple of years ago ov... - Listener Magazine: The Intro By Art Dudley18 April 2021, 11:29 am
Until eight or nine months ago, Listener Magazine rented office space U on the second floor of what used to be the Oddfellows Hall in Oneonta, New York. Our two rooms were toward the back of the building, right next to a spacious and well-equipped kitchen. judging from what we found in the building, hot meals were a key part of every Oddfellows meeting, along with a thoroughly bizarre ceremony involving elderly men dressed like David and Goliath and a skeleton in a black cardboard coffin. (And t... - Nordost Odin 2 Tonearm Cable + For Turntables16 April 2021, 8:04 am
Nordost has just launched their new Odin 2 Tonearm Cable + (1.25 meter length is $12,999, custom lengths available). The Odin 2 Tonearm Cable + consists of four silver-plated solid core 99.999999% OFC conductors wrapped within a patented dual mono-filament suspension. This innovative and proprietary design by Nordost is said to "dramatically increases signal speed and reduces insulation contact by 85%". The conductors are individually shielded using Nordost's unique Total Signal Control (TSC) te...
- REVIEW: Bladelius LOKE ⸜ Power amplifier / monaural | SWEDEN1 April 2021, 12:00 am
REVIEW Text: WOJCIECH PACUŁA Images: Wojciech Pacuła | PikselStudio Translation: Marek Dyba No 203 April 1, 2021 PREMIERE ⌈ The BLADELIUS company was founded in 1997 in Alingsås, Sweden and belongs to the Bladelius Design Group. Its founder is Mike Bladelius, one of the most famous designers in the audio world. We are testing his latest product, the LOKE monaural power amplifiers. ⌋ RITING IN APRIL 2019 ABOUT THE INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER Oden by Blade... - TECHNOLOGY: ALESIS ADAT. 30 years of digital recorder that revolutionized the music industry- Part 2: RECORDINGS | UNITED STATES of AMERICA1 April 2021, 12:00 am
TECHNOLOGY Tekst: WOJCIECH PACUŁA Zdjęcia: mat. prasowe | Wojciech Pacuła No 203 April 1, 2021 ⌈ DIGITAL SOUND RECORDING – an audio preservation method in which the audio signals are converted into a series of pulses, corresponding to a binary code (i.e. '0' and '1') and recorded as such on the surface of a magnetic tape or optical disk. „ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA” | www.BRITANNICA.com; accessed: 07.01.2021 ⌋ HE FIRST EXPERIMENTS ... - REVIEW: Next Level Tech WATER ⸜ Analogue interconnect / RCA | POLAND1 April 2021, 12:00 am
REVIEW Text: WOJCIECH PACUŁA Images: Next Level Tech | Wojciech Pacuła Translation: Marek Dyba No 203 April 1, 2021 PREMIERE ⌈ NEXT LEVEL TECH is one of the youngest Polish audio companies. It was founded at the beginning of this year by Mr. ROBERT SŁOWIŃSKI and specializes in audio cables. We are testing the WATER interconnect and it is a PREMIERE review. ⌋ T HAPPENS EVERY NOW AND THEN, ALTHOUGH QUITE RARELY. This is how such co... - REVIEW: Avatar Audio HOLOPHONY NUMBER 3 BAMBOO Mk II ⸜ Loudspeakers / floor-standing | POLAND1 April 2021, 12:00 am
REVIEW Text: WOJCIECH PACUŁA Images: Wojciech Pacuła Translation: Marek Dyba No 203 April 1, 2021 ⌈ AVATAR AUDIO - a company run by CEZARIUSZ ANDREJCZUK, whose core offer are loudspeakers. Their design differs from the ones commonly used today, although - from the technical point of view - there is nothing unusual about them. These are ideas from the 1950s-70s. but taken to the extreme. We are testing the Number 3 in a Bamboo enclosure, in the latest version - the Mk... - REVIEW: Audio Reveal SECOND SINGATURE ⸜ Integrated amplifier / tube | POLAND1 April 2021, 12:00 am
REVIEW Text: MAREK DYBA Images: Marek Dyba No 203 April 1, 2021 PREMIERE ⌈ AUDIO REVEAL AUDIO is a Polish brand specializing in the designing and production of Single-Ended tube amplifiers. We are testing a special, new version of the already well-known model, the SECOND, this time it’s a SIGNATURE version featuring a hot (literally and figuratively) novelty, the KT170 tube. ⌋ HE FIRST TUBE FROM THE TODAY FAMOUS BEAM TETRODE KT FAMILY, which became popular, ...
- Pacific Audio Fest show postponed until 202217 April 2021, 11:14 pm
To all our friends in the hifi community, With much heartache, Gary Gill and I have decided to postpone the inaugural Pacific Audio Fest until 2022. This Wed morning we woke up to hear that Gov. Inslee had to roll back the reopening status for three counties in Washington state. This was a wake up... Read More » The post Pacific Audio Fest show postponed until 2022 appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Qobuz Launches High-Resolution Streaming in New Countries15 April 2021, 8:22 pm
Paris, April 15, 2021 - Qobuz, the French platform for streaming and downloading high-quality music, confirms its international ambitions and announces that it will be opening in six new countries: Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. Now, millions more music fans and audiophiles will have access to Qobuz’s unique offerings: unparalleled sound quality... Read More » The post Qobuz Launches High-Resolution Streaming in New Countries appeared first on Positive ... - Ahhh zaZen! The zaZen II Isolation Platform12 April 2021, 9:39 pm
ZaZen is a Zen Buddhist practice for individuals to achieve some peace, however temporary. I am familiar enough with Zen practices to know that I have little to say that is true of it, but allow me to say that the peace does not come easily, and certainly not automatically. One of the results practitioners... Read More » The post Ahhh zaZen! The zaZen II Isolation Platform appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Xavian Ambra Esclusiva Loudspeakers12 April 2021, 8:40 pm
"Hello beautiful" is what I found myself thinking, as I unpacked the Xavian Ambra Esclusiva speakers from their carton. I am a fan of immaculately crafted furniture, and if any loudspeaker can claim to have cabinets that qualify as finely crafted furniture, the Ambra Esclusivas surely can. After having reviewed hundreds of speakers with cabinets... Read More » The post Xavian Ambra Esclusiva Loudspeakers appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Monarch Systems/Alluxity9 April 2021, 7:50 pm
9 April 2021;Englewood, CO – Monarch Systems Ltd. is happy to announce the immediate release and availability of a production upgrade to the Int One integrated amplifier from Alluxity. The Int One Mk. II has aUS MSRP of $9,500. The Int One has been Alluxity’s best-selling product in North America. The revised Mk. II edition... Read More » The post Monarch Systems/Alluxity appeared first on Positive Feedback....
- ROTEL RA1592 MKII19 April 2021, 4:06 pm
Rotel has been gaining a lot of attention, with their statement Michi products at the top of their range, and the Tribute products at the entry level. They’ve just done an overhaul the RA1592 integrated amplifier, now in MKII class – long an anchor of their range.Raising the price slightly from $2,995 to $3,195 the [...]... - First look/listen: The new T/x Serie from REL13 April 2021, 11:59 pm
As with so many top audio manufacturers, it’s easy to get caught up in the products at the very top of their range, both in terms of performance and cost. REL Acoustics is an excellent example of how we can get lost in their no.25 subwoofer, or even the six pack of them that I use [...]... - Something new from REL Acoustics12 April 2021, 11:50 pm
Tomorrow, REL Acoustics will announce a major upgrade to their best selling line of subwoofers. Ahhhh, we’re under NDA, so we can’t tell you till then – but you can probably guess. But we have had the privilege to listen to these for the last few weeks, and we can tell you that in addition [...]... - The BAT REX Preamplifier5 April 2021, 9:36 pm
We’re almost done with our full review of Balanced Audio Technology’s new REX tube preamplifier. At $30,000, it’s crazy money, but it’s crazy good. This two box design with a power supply that eclipses most power amplifiers reinforces the school of thought that power is everything. It weighs 40 pounds, to the actual “control module’s” [...]... - New Moving Coil Step-Up Transformer From Quadratic Audio26 March 2021, 4:50 am
Quadratic Audio’s first product, a moving coil step up transformer, is a simple, yet perfectly executed product. You may know the man behind the design, Jam Somasundram, from Pass Labs (Creator of the HPA-1 Headphone amp circuit) and before that as director of engineering for Cary Audio. He’s a great engineer, and all around super [...]...
- Karan Acoustics Master Collection LINEb Preamplifier15 April 2021, 4:00 am
Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click this link. Each of the websites that currently comprise the SoundStage! Network is devoted to a specific type of audio gear. SoundStage! Access covers home-theater and affordable two-channel hi-fi products, while SoundStage! Ultra is exclusive to two-channel hi-fi products, usually the esoteric and often the expensive; SoundStage! Simplifi focuses on convenience and lifestyle audio products of any price, ... - Remembering the Cassette and Its Inventor, Lou Ottens1 April 2021, 4:00 am
With the way the Grim Reaper has been harvesting of late, there is nothing coincidental, ironic, or remarkable about two of audio’s most inventive individuals leaving us these past few months, so closely together. It is simply a sad sign of the times. I am starting to get the tiniest whiff of what it must have been like during the Great Plague of 1665 and have stopped counting friends and acquaintances lost this year, let alone the litany of recently deceased celebrities who made the news.... - Recommended Reference Component: NAD C 298 Stereo/Mono Amplifier1 April 2021, 4:00 am
Only a few years ago it was difficult, if not impossible, to find a stereo amplifier with extremely low distortion and low noise and with enough power to drive most loudspeakers and not have it cost several thousand dollars. With NAD’s recent introduction of the C 298 amplifier, which can be used as a stereo amp to deliver over 185Wpc or as a monoblock to output more than 620W (both into 8 ohms), the price for such an amp has dropped to just $1999 (all prices in USD). Evan McCosham re... - Bowers & Wilkins 705 Signature Loudspeakers1 April 2021, 4:00 am
Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link. I have many fond memories of listening to loudspeakers from Bowers & Wilkins, and over the years have owned several pairs of B&W speakers—including the very first product I reviewed for the SoundStage! Network, the 705 S2 two-way standmount ($2999.99/pair, all prices USD), B&W’s smallest tweeter-on-top model. ... - The Four Surprising Reasons Why Some Reviewers Rail Against Measurements1 April 2021, 4:00 am
The SoundStage! Network began publishing in 1995. By 1999, we had started expanding, adding more sites to the network, and we inked a deal with Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) to measure speakers in their anechoic chamber and publish the results. The NRC’s anechoic chamber and associated lab facilities were world-famous then—and still are today—because that’s where Dr. Floyd Toole initially conducted his groundbreaking loudspeaker research (in the 1970s and...
- Gryphon Antileon EVO solid-state dual-mono amplifier Review8 April 2021, 4:04 pm
Too bad I wasn’t born into a rich family or became wealthy by age 35 like a young software entrepreneur. If that had been the case, I would probably have assembled a true high-end audio system before turning 60. Even then it took a few additional years to really get there. First came some pretty [...] The post Gryphon Antileon EVO solid-state dual-mono amplifier Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Reference Recordings Beethoven Symphony No. 9 SACD Review28 March 2021, 2:27 am
Tracks: I Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso (14:32) II Molto vivace (13:12) III Adagio molto e cantabile (12:34) IV. Finale (22:30) Christina Landshamer, soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano Werner Güra, tenor Shenyang, bass-baritone Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh (Matthew Mehaffey, music director) Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Manfred Honeck (conductor) The Beethoven Symphony No. 9 [...] The post Reference Recordings Beethoven Symphony No. 9 SACD Review appeared firs... - Iconoclast by Belden Speaker and Interconnect Cables and BAV Power Cords Review26 March 2021, 8:13 pm
It is, we think, one of the hallmarks of cable voodoo that its methods and notions are always obscure —proprietary terms of uncertain meanings on the technical side, and vague promises framed in the most poetic and inspirational terms on the subjective side. We don’t aspire to rewrite the laws of physics, or to craft [...] The post Iconoclast by Belden Speaker and Interconnect Cables and BAV Power Cords Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Exogal Pulsar IR Unit Review24 March 2021, 8:20 pm
Exogal was formed by several principals of the former Wadia who felt that the company’s PowerDAC idea still had potential. These seasoned audio and business veterans proceeded to make what has been a well-received DAC featuring its own algorithm that converts all incoming signals. I reviewed the Comet DAC in 2015, followed by another product [...] The post Exogal Pulsar IR Unit Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - New Album Releases Project 2021-3-2222 March 2021, 6:05 pm
And then there were … Liner Notes Yes, it has been a while. I’ve had to take some time off to clear my head and my ears. It also has become apparent that in these special times of ours the volume of album releases has slowed down a bit, not yet to a trickle, and [...] The post New Album Releases Project 2021-3-22 appeared first on Dagogo....
- Audiophile Style Podcast: Episode 15 | McIntosh Group Co-CEO Jeff Poggi Interview19 April 2021, 1:41 pm
Episode 15 is up and being delivered to all the podcast platforms right now. We are happy to announce the Audiophile Style podcast is one of very few podcast now available via the Samsung Free app on many Samsung devices. In this episode I interview McIntosh Group Co-CEO Jeff Poggi about growing up in a small town in Massachusetts, getting his MBA at Duke, working for Harmon and Bose before joining McIntosh. We talk extensively about the new McIntosh Group ... - Cloud Music Library Backup16 April 2021, 2:17 pm
Editor's Note: While researching cloud music backup solutions I checked the Bliss music library management blog from Bliss creator Dan Gravell. I found that Dan had recently written a similar article, so I asked him to create something similar for Audiophile Style. Fortunately, Dan agreed to write the following article about backing up music libraries to the cloud. Dan is a great resource in this area and I encourage people to ask follow up questions and check out his app Bliss, th... - Audiophile Style Podcast: Episode 14 | Pt. 2 Grammy Winner Bill Schnee Interview12 April 2021, 1:32 pm
Episode 14 is up and being delivered to all the podcast platforms right now. We are happy to announce the Audiophile Style podcast is one of very few podcast now available via the Samsung Free app on many Samsung devices. In this episode I conclude my interview with Grammy winning engineer, producer, and audiophile Bill Schnee about his new book Chairman at the Board and his 50 years of experience working with Mark Knopfler, Box Scaggs, Steely Da... - Realism vs Accuracy For Audiophiles | Part 2: The Real Sounds Of Live Music9 April 2021, 1:25 pm
REALISM VS ACCURACY FOR AUDIOPHILES PART 2: THE REAL SOUNDS OF LIVE MUSIC In the first of this series of articles (link), we discussed the overall sonic impressions music can make. We explored some of the basic elements of a musical performance, including a little about how and why it sounds as it does to the listener how it interacts with and is shaped by the environment in which it was created how it interacts with the systems through whi... - Audiophile Style Podcast: Episode 13 | Pt. 1 Grammy Winner Bill Schnee Interview5 April 2021, 1:35 pm
Episode 13 is up and being delivered to all the podcast platforms right now. We are happy to announce the Audiophile Style podcast is one of very few podcast now available via the Samsung Free app on many Samsung devices. In this episode I interview Grammy winning engineer, producer, and audiophile Bill Schnee about his new book Chairman at the Board and his 50 years of experience working with Steely Dan, Whitney Houston, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Bar...
- "Super Deluxe Edition" Is Edited By a Clown Who Censors Objective Criticism19 April 2021, 4:45 pm
I was alerted to a breathless, ineptly written, factually challenged article about the "so-called" vinyl revival published on the website Super Deluxe Edition. I read the story, joined the site so I could comment, and wrote a long, detailed critique that later "disappeared". I went back today and again began posting comments and they too disappeared.... - Fremer & Kassem 1/4: Founder's Circle16 April 2021, 6:04 pm
Filmmaker Ben Williams is posting on YouTube a series of videos he's shot at the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society (LAOCAS) December Galas over the past few years. This short one was filmed the day before AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer received the Society's Founder's Award. BTW: below the short video is my roast of Chad Kassem when he got the award December 7th 2014. If you haven't watched it, you should!(Photo: Chad and Michael visit Thai Plastics outside of Bangkok, Thailand)... - 68 Weird and Unusual Records In My Collection13 April 2021, 11:43 pm
The first AnalogPlanet video in months is an hour plus worth of weird and unusual records in the editor's large collection. What makes an album "weird" or "unusual"? A wide variety of possibilities as you'll see in this amusing and entertaining video in which the website's editor literally lets his hair down. At least I think there's humor here!... - QHW Audio’s Surprising “The Vinyl” MM/MC Phono Preamp12 April 2021, 10:33 pm
What’s “surprising” about QHW Audio’s “The Vinyl” phono preamplifier? More than a few things, starting with its Made In Spain origin. Perhaps I’m just ignorant but other than the highest tech WADAX brand of digital electronics, an older piece of which I reviewed for Stereophile, I’m not aware of a burgeoning Spanish audio manufacturing scene. Perhaps I’m mistaken. If so, I’d be happy to stand corrected.... - Hagerman Audio’s “Tubey” But Quiet Trumpet MC Phono Preamplifier10 April 2021, 9:26 pm
Hagerman Audio Lab’s 3rd generation fully balanced from input to output 3 pound Trumpet MC combines a differential JFET input front-end with a more conventional 6 dual-triode vacuum tube (4X 12AX7, 2X 12AU7) gain/ phase-splitter/driver/output (if I misread the schematic, which is possible, Hagerman will correct me!). Each tube came fitted with a damping ring....
- Meet Frank, he's an audiophile, massive music lover, and a phenomenal chef!18 April 2021, 11:00 am
... - FIRST REVIEW: Paradigm Founder Series 40B speakers16 April 2021, 11:00 am
... - Are you streaming more music, but enjoying it less?14 April 2021, 11:00 am
... - SVS Prime Bookshelf, they also make subwoofers!12 April 2021, 11:00 am
... - The KLIPSCH Cornwall IV is even better than I thought!10 April 2021, 11:00 am
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- Wilson Audio SabrinaX Loudspeakers | REVIEW18 April 2021, 9:00 am
Most audiophiles know of the unwavering commitment to accuracy and groundbreaking industrial design baked into the DNA of every Wilson Audio product (website), and the new Wilson Audio SabrinaX loudspeakers are no exception. This was first evident in Dave Wilson’s original assault on the state of the art with his WAMM design circa 1981, and other loudspeaker systems followed over the years. Along with advancements in materials science and simple but visually striking industrial design aest... - Decware Zen Triode SE84UFO2 Power Amplifier | REVIEW16 April 2021, 9:00 am
First, a disclaimer. I own this Decware Zen Triode amp and bought it for myself, so it’s not a typical “loaner” that we reviewers normally get to evaluate. Steve Deckert, Decware’s head guy, normally doesn’t believe in supplying reviewers with samples. If I want to review the product, his policy is that I buy it, at full price, just like any other customer. That’s exactly what I did. I let Steve know I was a reviewer, but didn’t ask for any accommodation... - Michael Whalen, Future Shock | The Vinyl Anachronist14 April 2021, 7:58 pm
Future Shock, the new album by keyboardist/composer Michael Whalen, comes at you from so many directions that you’ll wonder what it is, other than good and snappy and vibrant. It’s closer to ’70s prog rock than fusion, and while it has the same jazz underpinnings as Steely Dan, you might hear a shade of Daft Punk here and there. The energy is consistent, though, even though each of these ten original compositions lives in its own distinct aural neighborhood. The common thread i... - Matty Stecks & Persiflage, Night Cravings | The Vinyl Anachronist13 April 2021, 5:51 pm
Jazz isn’t meant to be precise or carefully thought out, which seems like an obvious statement. When you hear something like Matty Stecks & Persiflage’s new album, Night Cravings, you immediately start to appreciate the truer essences of jazz, the wild abandon, the sheer inspiration and intuition, that feeling like you can play anything you want to and then you do just that. Matty Stecks is a composer, saxophone player and flautist who also manages to be one of the mainstays of t... - ZYX Ultimate Airy X Cartridge | REVIEW11 April 2021, 9:00 am
The first time I listened to the ZYX Ultimate Airy X cartridge it instantly reminded me of Scot Hull’s wife, Julia. I know that sounds strange, and even Scot’s probably thinking “WTF, Marc?” right about now, but hold on and let me finish. This won’t be creepy at all. When Scot Hull was ordained last year, Colleen and I traveled down to Frederick, MD to attend. Toward the beginning of the ceremony and services, Julia went to the front of a church and began to sing a ...
- Podcast: Jonathan Novick (Audio Precision, AES, CTA) on measuring audio gear19 April 2021, 2:20 pm
Darko.Audio podcast · Jonathan Novick (Audio Precision, AES, CTA) on measuring audio gear Producer: Nick McCorriston Music: Ben Pit Further information: RMAF ’15: What The Specs Don’t Tell You… And Why Upcoming Meeting: AES SGS Research Colloquium #5: Listening Tests vs. Measurements Audio Precision Audio Engineering Society Consumer Technology Association […] The post Podcast: Jonathan Novick (Audio Precision, AES, CTA) on measuring audio gear first appeared on ... - Future-Fi Now! Rotel MKII ‘super-integrateds’19 April 2021, 2:08 pm
Further information: Rotel Rotel Electronics – a Zhuhai factory tour (2015) Can I stream audio to my Rotel preamp using the Network connection? JBL’s 4309 are smaller pieces of retro audio furniture Zu Audio introduces the Soul 6 loudspeaker What is ‘Roon Ready’ and how does it differ from ‘Roon […] The post Future-Fi Now! Rotel MKII ‘super-integrateds’ first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced,... - Letters to the editor – Week #14 and #15, 202117 April 2021, 12:55 pm
Mitch writes… Hi John. I was just watching your vid on Sonos Five vs. KEF LSX. It brought up a thought I have often when watching hi-fi reviews or just considering my own setup. With the prevalence of technology like Sonos, I wonder why two-channel audio still seems to be […] The post Letters to the editor – Week #14 and #15, 2021 first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For pri... - Qobuz heads up north & down under15 April 2021, 5:49 pm
Attention all Aussies, Kiwis and Scandinavians: put down the VPN because Qobuz has announced that it is expanding its service reach to include six new countries. That’s right, the French are headed down under to Australia and New Zealand and up north to Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. The audiophile-focussed […] The post Qobuz heads up north & down under first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed w... - ‘My First Subwoofer’: the Elac SUB303014 April 2021, 7:10 am
Living in a modest house I prefer less-than-gargantuan speakers. However, with high walls and an apex ceiling, my lounge (listening room) can handle a surprisingly big sound. Spendor’s Classic 1/2 were lovely but visually they dominated; think Great Dane in a small cottage. I did, however, appreciate their 30Hz (in-room) […] The post ‘My First Subwoofer’: the Elac SUB3030 first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recy...
- Franco Serblin Accordo Loudspeakers9 April 2021, 1:00 pm
The Accordo Loudspeakers were the last Franco Serblin voiced before he died in 2013. Serblin was founder of Italy’s Sonus faber (1983), maker of exquisite speakers with a reputation for the finest cabinetry in high end audio. Sonus faber practically invented artisanal cabinet making. Serblin left Sonus faber in 2006 and continued the high standard of art and design with his eponymous company. I can report to you that the build quality of the Serblin Accordo is as good or even better... - Denafrips PONTUS II DAC9 April 2021, 12:30 pm
Over the past six months, many digital audio components have graced my listening room, from the humble Denafrips Ares II, to high end DACs and Transports from Metronome. However, I am always keen to hear components that occupy the most competitive price bracket (1-3K) as this is where manufacturers really have to work against fierce competition. When Alvin at Vinshine Audio contacted me about the new Denafrips Pontus II DAC ($1700), my eyes lit up as this is a price category in huge de... - Audiophilia v67 April 2021, 8:07 pm
We began Audiophilia almost twenty six years ago with a Frames layout and using Windows 95. This new version is v6. Planning and implementing a new version of a popular website is at times exciting, other times, frustrating. Basically, it’s hard work. We hope you enjoy the new look. The hard work for v6 was cut exponentially by our choice of Squarespace, a content management system company and our web development team. Thank you to Trudy Maresch, our developer extraordinaire, for her ... - Denafrips IRIS USB Digital To Digital Converter26 March 2021, 12:20 pm
Many HiFi enthusiasts firmly in the digital camp will decry the hassle of vinyl and analog. For myself, vinyl seems relatively simple compared to the plethora of digital options out there. Sure, things used to be as simple as a good CD player and perhaps an outboard DAC, but those days are long gone. Today, we have infinite ways to get digital music from files, streaming, multiple disc formats, and a seemingly infinite number of devices to sit between those songs and our preamp. One of tho... - HIFIMAN Sundara Headphones26 March 2021, 12:09 pm
I’ll start this review with a story. Since last year, I’ve experienced the following routine almost every morning. I wake up at five, and after the habitual espresso, I go straight to my audio setup and say hello to my turntable, CD player, speakers, and amp (like I imagine everyone does). Everything needed for me to begin my listening session, turn up my amp, speakers and enjoy. But, it’s too early. So, I compromise, I go for my phone and get the wireless headphones read...
- Vertere Tempo motor drive14 April 2021, 2:15 pm
From the Vertere press release Vertere Acoustics London. 14 April 2021. Touraj Moghaddam Vertere's founder and chief designer announced that the new Tempo motor drive had commenced shipping. Tempo is a new generation' digital' motor drive, unlike its sibling, the analogue SG motor drive. Sitting a little above the well-established SG at £2850, $3995 and €3598, Vertere expects that sales will quite quickly overtake the SG after customers enjoy a comparative demonstration. Initially, Ve... - JBL 4309 Studio Monitor bookshelf loudspeaker14 April 2021, 2:09 pm
From the Harman UK press release NORTHRIDGE, California —JBL proves great things come in small sizes with the launch of its new JBL 4309 Studio Monitor compact bookshelf loudspeakers from HARMAN’s Luxury Audio Group. Modelled on the award-winning JBL 4349, the JBL 4309 loudspeakers are equipped with a 2410H-2 1-inch compression driver mated to the latest High-Definition Imaging (HDI™) horn and feature a 6.5-inch, cast frame pure-pulp cone woofer. The combination of JBL’s ... - Music Interview: Matt James of Gene14 April 2021, 10:54 am
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of their 1995 debut album, Olympian, anthemic ‘90s indie-Britrock band Gene have had their back catalogue reissued by Demon Music Group. The Deluxe Edition vinyl box set, Gene: The Albums, which retails for £139.99, includes all four of the group’s studio albums – Olympian, Drawn To The Deep End (1997), Revelations (1999) and Libertine (2001), as well as the B-sides, live tracks and radio sessions compilation, To See The Lights (1996). Th... - Canor AI 1.20 integrated amplifier14 April 2021, 10:46 am
A few years back I visited Canor in Slovakia, their facility in Prešov is pretty impressive, modern and well organised, and as we looked round it became clear that a number of well know British companies were equally impressed because they were using Canor as an OEM supplier. Equally remarkable was the digital tube testing equipment that they had developed. Then, as now, Canor build some of its electronics using vacuum tubes, and measuring these devices for pair-matching and grading purpo... - Gryphon Audio Designs Essence preamp and power amplifier14 April 2021, 10:19 am
By most normal standards, the Essence pre/power amplifier combination would represent the uppermost tier of product performance, size, weight and price. In Gryphon Audio Design’s world, Essence is the starting place in its pre/power line. There is a long way to the top of the Gryphon tree. Essence is the new preamplifier and power amplifier line from the Danish brand. It joins the Scorpio S CD player, the Diablo 120 and 300 integrated amplifiers and possibly Mojo S loudspeaker at the start...
- Ferrum Hypsos Programmable DC PSU16 April 2021, 7:02 pm
A novel technical exercise looking for a solution or an innovation that's in the vanguard of an entirely new breed of hi-fi accessory? We test the sophisticated Hypsos DC supply Of all the true 'hi-fi accessories' power filters, conditioners and regenerators are arguably the most popular. (I do not count cables in this category because they are 'necessories' and your system will not function without them.) Cleaning-up your AC mains power has long proven its benefits, but what of the low voltage... - Philips CD10 portable15 April 2021, 9:18 pm
It was the Dutch company's first ever portable CD player and one of the first players from Philips to use a 16-bit chip. But how does this milestone machine sound today? While Philips' dominance of the market for full-sized CD players in the early days of the format has been well documented in these pages, little mention has been made of its activities in the field of CD portables. Despite an obvious flair for innovation and creativity, the company is not especially known for producing miniatu... - Hegel V10 Phono Preamplifier13 April 2021, 8:16 pm
For a brand that once suggested it was never going to produce a phono stage, the vinyl revival has proved an irresistible force. So is Hegel's V10 firing on all cylinders? It's always welcome when individuals or companies offer up their future plans. If not, we'd never have known that Sean Connery was to abandon James Bond after 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, that Ferrari would not be launching an SUV and that Norwegian hi-fi manufacturer Hegel had no intention of ever making a phono stage. Of ... - Guns N' Roses: <I>Greatest Hits</I>12 April 2021, 6:30 pm
Steve Sutherland recalls a riotous night at the Tacoma Dome, resolved into a thrilling musical event, as the group's 1984 compilation album makes its vinyl debut The cop to our left is on his radio, talking to back-up: 'I thought Vietnam was bad – you should see the casualty room. They're piled up in there. Piled up man!'... - JBL 4349 Loudspeaker9 April 2021, 6:04 pm
Styled after its classic 1970s studio monitors, but equipped with patented 21st century horn and compression driver technology, the 4349 is a not-so-compact fun factory American loudspeaker company JBL has a 75-year history – and the work of founder James Bullough Lansing dates back even further. For HFN readers, who are in the know, it might seem odd that the brand is now more popular on the UK high street for its extensive range of affordable Bluetooth speakers and wireless headphones....
- Apple AirPods Max19 April 2021, 9:21 pm
Can the AirPods Max, Apple’s first noise-cancelling over-ear headphones, justify their huge price tag?... - Apple AirPods Pro19 April 2021, 8:52 pm
There's lots to love about Apple's noise-cancelling true-wireless earbuds.... - World Snooker Championship live stream 2021: how to watch every match for free19 April 2021, 5:21 pm
World Snooker Championship live stream 2021: see every pot live from Sheffield's Crucible theatre as Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump fight pot their way to success...... - Best music streaming services 2021: free streams to hi-res audio19 April 2021, 4:16 pm
The best streaming services offer slick interfaces, high-quality audio and access to millions of tracks.... - IFA 2021 will go ahead as normal this September19 April 2021, 3:52 pm
IFA 2021 is set to be a "full-scale, real-life event from 3-7 September" – it's full steam ahead for the European tech show....
- HiFi Rose RS150 Network Streamer Review19 April 2021, 1:00 pm
The HiFi Rose RS150 Network Streamer is a truly versatile component. Not only can it stream audio from every imaginable network source... The post HiFi Rose RS150 Network Streamer Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Bamberg Series 3 TMW Active Loudspeaker Review14 April 2021, 12:00 pm
So, I’ve sampled active speakers from some long-established companies recently and have come away rather impressed. Well, what happens... The post Bamberg Series 3 TMW Active Loudspeaker Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer Review12 April 2021, 12:00 pm
The SB-1000 Pro subwoofer is part of the newly released 1000 series subwoofers from SVS, a company that has garnered a solid reputation in... The post SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Naim Uniti Atom Review7 April 2021, 1:00 pm
So, what’s a Naim Uniti Atom? It’s not exactly a streamer, not exactly a receiver. Devices like the Naim Uniti Atom point to the future of... The post Naim Uniti Atom Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - NAD Masters M28 Seven Channel Power Amplifier Review5 April 2021, 1:00 pm
NAD’s Masters M28 Seven-Channel Power Amplifier is an amazing component that delivers a continuous 200 watts per channel into seven... The post NAD Masters M28 Seven Channel Power Amplifier Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com....
- NAD C298 Stereo Power Amplifier25 March 2021, 4:03 pm
The NAD C298 stereo power amplifier features the new Class D ‘Eigentakt’ amplifier technology. Eigentakt is the latest thinking from Bruno Putzey who developed the popular and widely used NCore and UcD amplifier modules for Hypex. Mr. Putzey is joined by Lars Risbo and Peter Lyngdorf in the Danish company Purifi. The Eigentakt amplifier module is rated at 425 Watts @ 1% THD into 4 Ohms, with a dynamic range of 131 dB(A) and THD of 0.00017% (-116dB) @ 100 Watts. It can be challenging... - Esoteric E-02 Phono Preamplifier24 January 2021, 4:10 pm
The Esoteric E-02 Balanced Phonostage Preamplifier continues Esoteric’s leadership in audio component design and performance. The $9,000 E-02 replaced the E-03 model about 3 years ago, continuing Esoteric’s tradition of exemplary build quality and top-tier performance. The E-02 has some significant features. The two machined front panel knobs have the feel of a luxury component, requiring just the right amount of force to smoothly rotate. The left knob selects the input: RCA 1, RCA 2... - Marantz SA-10 CD/SACD Player & DAC21 November 2020, 9:39 pm
Just like Rodney Dangerfield, the Marantz SA-10 CD/SACD Player and DAC gets no respect. This is a shame as the SA-10 could well be the best sounding, best built player/DAC anywhere close to its $6990 list price. At the top of the Marantz line of digital products, the SA-10 could easily maintain that preeminent position for years to come. There have been a ‘boatload’ of mergers and acquisitions of audio companies over the last few years. Marantz is owned by Sound United, LLC, a Califo... - Minus K Technology CT-2 Bench Top Vibration Isolation Platform12 October 2020, 10:41 pm
The Minus K Technology CT-2 Bench Top Vibration Isolation Platform was originally developed for scientific and research applications such as spacecraft design, nanotechnology, and medical research. The patented technology is called “Negative-stiffness”, where the isolating platform seems to float with no resistance. From the manufacturer’s Web site (link below): “Dr. David L. Platus is President and Founder and is the principal inventor of the technology. He earned a B.S.... - Origin Live Gravity One Record Clamp24 August 2020, 3:02 pm
Several readers let me know that they appreciate the short format of the reviews offered here on 10 Audio. The word “pithy” has been noticed a few times in the feedback. Pithy means “concise and forcefully expressive” and “having substance and point” and “short and sweet”. This review definitely supports those definitions. The new Origin Live Gravity One record clamp works differently than the usual “record clamp”. Almost every clamp av...
- Revisiting A Classic: The Spendor BC1 Loudspeakers12 April 2021, 2:15 am
Audio History Refurbished & Revisited: The Spendor BC1 Loudspeakers ‘In the House’ by David Neice The Setting I bought a brand new pair of Spendor BC1s in and around 1975 – voila, the original sales slip. This makes my pair 46 years old, but thanks to a refurbishing I did two years ago they are still going strong. Over the decades many, many components, including speakers, have come and gone from my system, but I can never muster the courage to sell the BC1s. Th... - DALI, Tangent, And The Return Of The Mini System15 March 2021, 8:13 pm
From Denmark With Love – A Mini System for 2021 ‘In the House’ Review by David Neice List Prices (MSRP) Dali Spektor 1 speakers $399 CAD Tangent Ampster BT II $349 CAD Tangent CD II $349 CAD Tangent Tuner II $349 CAD Verdict: Are you young and just getting into hi-fi? Do you need a second system for the office, your bedroom, cottage, or wherever? Are you downsizing to a smaller house or condo? This review might be an answer to your prayers. The DALI Spektor 1... - Part 5: The Last Piece of Pi – The Allo Boss I2S DAC3 January 2021, 9:46 pm
Raspberry Pi with Allo Boss I2S DAC v1.2 (The Last Piece of Pi, I promise) By Steve Graham In the previous Raspberry Pi installment Raspberry Pi Postscript: S/PDIF Vs. USB Sound Comparison, I pitted a Pi with S/PDIF-out HAT board against another Pi employing USB out. The short version of the tale was that I came away underwhelmed by the USB connection. My plan had been to employ an underutilized, USB-connected, Meridian Explorer 2 DAC in my workshop music system. With tha... - Review: Audiolab M-DAC+ Digital-to-Analog Convertor22 December 2020, 3:30 am
Audiolab MDAC+ – Exceptional Build Quality and Sound. MSRP: $1599 Canadian. Review series ‘In the House’ by David Neice Verdict The Audiolab MDAC+ is built as solidly as any military-specification gear and offers a top notch sound field that will not disappoint potential buyers. This DAC will handle virtually all PCM and DSD files, thus making playback of hi-res file downloads an easy affair. An array of flexible inputs and outputs and onboard sound shaping filters and other me... - Raspberry Pi Postscript: S/PDIF Vs. USB Sound Comparison16 December 2020, 6:50 pm
Pi versus Pi By Steve Graham Raspberry Pi 4B with S/PDIF Out versus Raspberry Pi 4B with USB Out Confession time. In responding to those kind enough to comment on part 3 of my Raspberry Pi series, I mentioned that I didn’t have a decent USB DAC for comparison. WRONG. It completely slipped my mind that my PS Audio DAC has a USB input. A cream pie in the face for me. To satisfy my own curiosity and maybe mend a few fences with readers, I’ve run ...
- Empire Ears Bravado MKII Review18 April 2021, 11:03 am
The Empire Ears Bravado MKII is a hybrid quad-driver tribrid IEM featuring a single Weapon IX+, 1 BA driver, and a dual electrostatic driver design. It is priced at $799. Disclaimer: The Empire Ears Bravado MKII was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion in this review. Many thanks to Empire Ears for giving us […] Empire Ears Bravado MKII Review... - Moondrop Sparks Review17 April 2021, 11:31 am
Moondrop Sparks is a debut TWS featuring a 6mm beryllium-coated dynamic driver, aptX, and dual transmission TWS+. It is priced around $89.99. Disclaimer: The Moondrop Sparks sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion in this review. We thank the team at Moondrop and Yaoyaotiger HIFI for giving us this opportunity. […] Moondrop Sparks Review... - Khadas Tone2 Pro Review16 April 2021, 11:01 am
The Khadas Tone2 Pro is a USB-powered DAC/Amplifier featuring bitperfect decoding up to DSD512, MQA, and balanced output capability. It is priced at $199.90. Disclaimer: The Khadas Tone2 sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at HiFiGo and Khadas for giving us this opportunity. To read more about […] Khadas Tone2 Pro Review... - Hidizs DH80 Review14 April 2021, 11:10 am
The Hidizs DH80 is a portable balanced DAC & amp uniquely designed to cradle the company’s AP80 DAP as a direct source. It is priced at $139 but is currently at a pre-sale price of $109 until April 20th, 2021. Disclaimer: The Hidizs DH80 sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest […] Hidizs DH80 Review... - Empire Ears ESR MKII Review11 April 2021, 11:09 am
The Empire Ears ESR MKII is a second-generation hybrid 5 driver IEM featuring a dual electrostatic and triple BA driver design. It is priced at $1099. Disclaimer: The Empire Ears ESR MKII was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion in this review. Many thanks to Empire Ears for giving us this opportunity. You can […] Empire Ears ESR MKII Review...
- Rotel Updates Three Of Their Integrated Amplifiers To MKII Status19 April 2021, 4:38 pm
Rotel announced updates to three of their integrated amplifiers this week. The A14MKII, RA-1572MKII and RA-1592MKII now all feature improvements The post Rotel Updates Three Of Their Integrated Amplifiers To MKII Status appeared first on AudioHead.... - Zack Snyder’s Justice League Score Coming To Vinyl In 7 LP Box Set14 April 2021, 12:13 am
There is a niche for almost anything in music. If musical scores on vinyl are your thing, then look no The post Zack Snyder’s Justice League Score Coming To Vinyl In 7 LP Box Set appeared first on AudioHead.... - THX Enters The USB-C DAC Dongle Market With The Onyx8 April 2021, 5:17 pm
The THX Onyx USB-C DAC is hot. It has been a steamy month for mobile fidelity (the market, not the The post THX Enters The USB-C DAC Dongle Market With The Onyx appeared first on AudioHead.... - How To: Subwoofer Setup and Two-Channel – Integration & Optimization6 April 2021, 3:51 pm
Subwoofer setup is a precious part of any home theater, but what about their integration into two channel stereo rigs? The post How To: Subwoofer Setup and Two-Channel – Integration & Optimization appeared first on AudioHead.... - Frank Zappa Records Go High Res For The First Time With Qobuz5 April 2021, 5:32 pm
High resolution streaming service Qobuz is launching a 29 album release of Frank Zappa albums this month. Of that catalog, The post Frank Zappa Records Go High Res For The First Time With Qobuz appeared first on AudioHead....
- Popular SiriusXM Service Arrives to BluOS Users in US and Canada15 April 2021, 11:42 pm
BluOS continues to expand number of natively-integrated music services, now with over 20 platforms from around the world PICKERING, ONTARIO, The post Popular SiriusXM Service Arrives to BluOS Users in US and Canada appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL AND BMG SET TO RELEASE BRAND-NEW NINA SIMONE AND ETTA JAMES LIVE ALBUMS AS PART OF “THE MONTREUX YEARS” SERIES15 April 2021, 11:04 pm
‘NINA SIMONE: THE MONTREUX YEARS’ AND ‘ETTA JAMES: THE MONTREUX YEARS’ UNCOVER RARE AND PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED PERFORMANCES BY THE MUSICAL The post MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL AND BMG SET TO RELEASE BRAND-NEW NINA SIMONE AND ETTA JAMES LIVE ALBUMS AS PART OF “THE MONTREUX YEARS” SERIES appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - INTRODUCING THE ODIN 2 TONEARM CABLE +15 April 2021, 10:40 pm
APRIL 2021: Nordost perfects the vinyl experience with the introduction of the Odin 2 Tonearm Cable +. The tonearm cable The post INTRODUCING THE ODIN 2 TONEARM CABLE + appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - Audience adeptResponse aR6-T4 Passive Power Conditioner With Audience’s frontRow powerChord Review – REVIEW BY ENJOY THE MUSIC.COM12 April 2021, 6:00 am
April 2021 Audience adeptResponse aR6-T4 Passive Power Conditioner With Audience’s frontRow powerChord Review Reacquaint yourself with the art of deep The post Audience adeptResponse aR6-T4 Passive Power Conditioner With Audience’s frontRow powerChord Review – REVIEW BY ENJOY THE MUSIC.COM appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - BluOS Expands Music Streaming Services and Becomes the First to Bring MQA Content to Internet Radio6 April 2021, 6:50 pm
BluOS 3.14 Brings Exclusive Access to Radio Paradise MQA Audio Streams and Adds New Consumer and Business Streaming Services PICKERING, The post BluOS Expands Music Streaming Services and Becomes the First to Bring MQA Content to Internet Radio appeared first on Headphone Guru....
- iFi Audio Zen Blue19 April 2021, 8:46 am
This ambitious wireless DAC re-evaluates exactly what Bluetooth is capable of... - Degritter Automatic RCM16 April 2021, 9:31 am
This ultrasonic wonder rejuvenates old and new vinyl... - PrimaLuna EvoLution 100 Tube Digital AnaLogue Converter15 April 2021, 9:30 am
PrimaLuna has hit on something special with this usual approach to the traditional valve DAC... - iFi Audio unveils ZEN masters14 April 2021, 9:33 am
iFi launches upgrades and asks for your help.... - Chord Electronics leather cases for Hugo 2 and 2go13 April 2021, 9:37 am
Chord is on the case......
- HDPLEX 300W Linear Power Supply – Quick Look10 April 2021, 5:56 pm
I have an older HDPlex 400W power supply and thought it sounded pretty good. So I purchased HDPLEX’s 300W power supply a few weeks ago. Came out to $585 for a quad-rail power supply – which isn’t bad considering others are charging more than double for a single rail. I have linear power supplies for […] The post HDPLEX 300W Linear Power Supply – Quick Look appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - THX Launches DAC/Amplifier THX Onyx™ to Empower Crystal Clear Audio for Consumers Around the Globe8 April 2021, 5:46 am
SAN FRANCISCO, April 7, 2021 — THX Ltd., a world-class audio and video certification and technology company, today announced the global launch of its first consumer electronics device, THX Onyx™. Staying true to its mission to empower high fidelity for entertainment, the company unveiled THX Onyx with improvements over traditional DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) amplifiers by including […] The post THX Launches DAC/Amplifier THX Onyx™ to Empower Crystal Clear Audi... - Video: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 vs. Original for Sound Quality6 April 2021, 7:40 pm
I’ll be comparing the original Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless to their latest release – the Momentum True Wireless 2. There seems to be a lot of mixed opinions on these two so I’m here to set the record straight. I’ll go over the best settings to get the most out of the MTW2 and do […] The post Video: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 vs. Original for Sound Quality appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Periodic Audio’s Rhodium—a Pint-Sized DAC31 March 2021, 8:49 pm
A precision DAC that delivers category-leading performance and value March 2021—Ventura, CA—Periodic Audio proudly announces the Rhodium, an ultra-compact high-resolution DAC that offers the music lover incredible performance, value ($49), and versatility. “The Rhodium is a no-brainer for anyone looking to seriously boost their digital music’s sound quality,” said Periodic Audio co-founder Dan Wiggins. “Its simple […] The post Periodic Audio’... - The Story Behind Foo Fighters Everlong30 March 2021, 12:02 am
I’ve used the acoustic track for many of my comparative reviews. It’s a very emotional and romantic piece. This song was allegedly inspired by musician Louise Post. It’s interesting to hear how this went from a demo to arguably one of Foo Fighters’ most revered recordings. “That song’s about a girl that I’d fallen in […] The post The Story Behind Foo Fighters Everlong appeared first on Audio Bacon....
- Ruark’s special R5 coming in June19 April 2021, 1:11 am
NEWS: Ruark is set to release a special version of its popular R5 streaming speaker... cooler finish, better sound, we're told.... - Audio Pro C10 speaker goes to MkII with expanded streaming functions16 April 2021, 2:17 am
NEWS: Audio Pro upgrades one of its popular wireless speakers... it's now the C10 MkII.... - Lyngdorf TDAI-1120 amp – thumbs up for Danish digits14 April 2021, 2:10 am
REVIEW: Simple in style, yet with great sonic potential... Lyngdorf's TDAI-1120 has our reviewer in two minds, but in a good way.... - Bluesound’s Pulse Soundbar+ is all the entertainment you’ll need8 April 2021, 1:33 am
NEWS: There's a new soundbar in town from Bluesound that claims to take the game to the next level.... - Naim’s Mu-so gets a wood finish5 April 2021, 2:52 am
NEWS: A wooden enclosure lends the Naim Mu-so a cosier and more organic look than previously....
- Musical Fidelity M6x Vinyl Phono Stage Reviewed9 March 2021, 10:37 am
a fun, enthralling experience in much the same vein as the M6, but with improvements in every area. The post Musical Fidelity M6x Vinyl Phono Stage Reviewed appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Airpulse A80 Active Speakers Reviewed9 February 2021, 2:51 pm
Designed as an entry to serious hi-fi listening, targeted toward a younger audience with a strong focus towards digital listening in lifestyle systems. The post Airpulse A80 Active Speakers Reviewed appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo Turntable Reviewed3 December 2020, 10:09 am
It may have its foibles but so does every audiophile-inspired manual belt drive turntable regardless of cost. A solid turntable capable of great performance. The post Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo Turntable Reviewed appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Nearly 70 Pro-Ject turntables stolen in UK transit27 November 2020, 10:19 am
Nearly 70 Pro-Ject turntables stolen in UK transit The post Nearly 70 Pro-Ject turntables stolen in UK transit appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - WesionTEK Khadas Tone Board DAC Reviewed17 November 2020, 10:52 am
A clean, clear, neutral DAC and a marvellous little board for all kinds of usage scenarios. The post WesionTEK Khadas Tone Board DAC Reviewed appeared first on Audio Appraisal....
- Cyrus Audio Phono Signature Phono Stage Review9 April 2021, 6:25 am
James Michael Hughes is seriously impressed by this versatile new MM/MC phono preamplifier…... - Samsung The Premiere LSP9T Ultra Short-Throw 4K Projector Review7 April 2021, 6:49 am
John Archer samples a hugely impressive new ultra short-throw projector…... - Acoustic Energy AE1 Active Loudspeakers Review7 April 2021, 5:26 am
Michael Evans thinks this old school active mini monitor offers timeless value for money…... - Tellurium Q Ultra Blue II Loudspeaker Cable Review7 April 2021, 3:54 am
Jay Garrett has flare-flapping fun listening to this fine new affordable speaker wire…... - Triangle Borea BR03 Bookshelf Speaker Review18 March 2021, 4:00 am
Can Triangle bring its signature sound to the budget standmount speaker sector? The new Borea BR03 is “le coup de foudre" for Jay Garrett…...
- Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M Review: This Affordable Dac Amp Is Breathtaking!17 April 2021, 5:23 am
Summary Cambridge Audio’s DacMagic DACs have long provided solid functionality and impressive performance for the money. Their latest DacMagic product, the DacMagic 200M, is their most admirable effort yet. The 200M supports the highest bit rates ever decoded in a DacMagic DAC (32-bit/768kHz), handles DSD and MQA, plus has built-in aptX Bluetooth (previous models needed continue reading... - #NewMusicFriday April 16th: New Music Releases You Need To Hear!16 April 2021, 10:30 pm
Check Out This Week’s Best Sounding New Music Releases! Every #NewMusicFriday, I 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... - The Best Speaker, Headphone, And Electronics Sales We’ve Found This Week: Klipsch, ELAC, Technics & More!16 April 2021, 1:32 am
Check Out Our List for the Best Buys in Audio & Hi-Fi! Looking for the best values in Audio and Hi-Fi? Then look no further. We’ve rounded up the best audio and hi-fi from around the internet! There are great buys on excellent speakers, amps, and turntables, along with some amazing specials on headphones! Don’t continue reading... - Montreux Jazz Fest And BMG Unveil Special New Music Releases By Nina Simone and Etta James14 April 2021, 8:42 pm
Montreux Jazz Fest, in collaboration with BMG, is prepared to release brand new live albums from Nina Simone and Etta James. The two albums, ‘Nina Simone: The Montreux Years’ and ‘Etta James: The Montreux Years’, will include rare, unreleased, material by these legendary artists. Both projects will be available on Friday, May 28th, in several continue reading... - Best Buys: The Best Planar Magnetic Headphones Under $500! (2021)12 April 2021, 4:43 am
Planar Magnetic headphones (read how they work here) are hot right now. That’s because compared to headphones with traditional dynamic drivers, headphones with planar magnetic transducers often sound crisper, more controlled, and have better extension for the trailing edges of sounds. It’s those trailing edges that give instruments and other sounds realism, so it’s no continue reading...
- Gauntlet thrown....Synergistic invites Audioholics to walk the talk13 April 2021, 2:54 am
... - Vinyl sales revenue up but streaming remains king13 March 2021, 6:26 pm
... - New Oberon 9 from DALI hits a sweet spot3 March 2021, 10:54 pm
... - Bryston: meet the new boss....same as the old boss23 February 2021, 12:31 am
... - Herb Reichert gives tour of his rig2 February 2021, 1:19 am
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- KEF Q950 Floorstanding Speakers26 February 2021, 9:32 pm
Link to SpecificationsAs a history teacher I enjoy reading the background of audio companies and their fascinating rise. British-based KEF is no exception. In 1961 BBC electrical engineer Kenneth Cooke founded KEF speakers. From the beginning Cooke focused on science and advanced materials to improve speaker performance. This passion led KEF in the 1960’s to use Mylar film in tweeters, Neoprene for the rubber surrounds in drivers, and Bextrene for the diaphragms. In 1977, KEF came out with... - LSA-10 Signature Speakers28 November 2020, 6:15 pm
Speakers have a character. They can be precise, enveloping, dynamic, punchy, demanding, and sparkly, just to name a few. I admit, I’ve owned or reviewed seemingly every type described, and then some. Each has their charms and musical genres where they shine. For 90% of owners the key is owning the one set of speakers that best meets their overall personal taste. Thankfully, the last ten years have brought speaker performance up a full level across all price points making the reward all the... - Magna Riser Slim Line 24 October 2020, 10:00 pm
Less than a year ago I managed to find online a used pair of Magnepan .7's for $800 on the used market. A few days after the panels arrived I decided to experiment by placing blocks of wood under the back end of the angled L-bracket metal legs, thus tilting them to a true vertical position. The sonic differences I stored away in my memory until such time as I could consider potential stand replacements. Magnepan's own oval upgrade model held zero interest for a variety of reasons, so my options ... - Audioengine B-Fi Wireless Streamer22 September 2020, 3:14 pm
Link to specificationsOk, I admit it, the wife and I have been relying on Alexa to stream music in the kitchen and living room. I have my man cave in the basement, so the upstairs is her music domain and she wants it simple. But she loves the playlist I created for her on Tidal to use on her phone when she is walking or gardening. Over the months I endured many a complaint about finding a solution. Not for the first time, the gang at Audioengine have come to the rescue. This past late spri... - Totem Acoustics Signature ONE Speakers5 September 2020, 9:47 pm
Link to SpecificationsHow does one improve on a legend? That was the question facing Vince Bruzzese and the team at Totem Acoustics approximately 5 years ago. The Model 1, a diminutive stand mounted speaker had launched Totem as a major player in the industry 30+ years ago. In the decades that followed, the Model 1 would receive tweeks that owners could spot. However, that has all changed.The Signature One is all new, only the “spirit” as Totem refers to the legacy that the Model 1 p...
- Phono Cartridge Stylus Shapes14 April 2021, 10:45 am
Want to know all there is to know about phono cartridge stylus shapes? Look no further as this article has all the essential information all in one place. It dives into the similarities, differences and overlap, explains the aspect of Contact Area and the differences between Bonded and Nude diamonds, between a Round Shank and a Square Shank, and covers stylus longevity.... - Aequo Audio Stilla Active8 April 2021, 10:10 am
After having reviewed the Hybrid (partially-active) Aequo Stilla, the model under review here concerns the fully active version. Whereas the hybrid Stilla still requires the use of an external amplifier, the fully-active Stilla contains internal amplifiers for all of its drivers, thus eliminating the cost and worry of using an external amplifier while freeing up extra space in the listening environment. ... - CAT (Convergent Audio Technology) JL5 Black Path31 March 2021, 9:26 am
The CAT JL5 promises the benefits of pure Triode Mode, combined with very large power reserves and the capability to drive pretty much any loudspeaker, including electrostatics.... - Vermeer Audio TWO28 March 2021, 6:36 pm
Vermeer Audio is a relatively new French company that was started by a group of technicians and passionate investors that have roots in another famous French company, Audio Aero. In its curvy enclosure, the TWO houses a streaming endpoint, a DAC, and an analog tube preamp, all of superb quality.... - Audiocorner Company Visit27 March 2021, 5:45 am
Audiocorner is a HiFi shop in Lutjebroek, the Netherlands, that specializes in Ayon audio equipment. I paid an afternoon visit to have a nice chat with owner Eric-Jan Horstman and listen to the all-Ayon showroom system....
- Windows Sonic vs Dolby Atmos: Which Is Right for You?14 April 2021, 9:12 pm
Anyone who’s looking for an upgrade to their usual sound experience whether it’s for games…... - Shanling M8 Review10 April 2021, 6:40 pm
For over 30 years, Shanling have continually pushed the boundaries of innovation with a series…... - 6 Best Double DIN Head Units of 20217 April 2021, 9:11 pm
Who wouldn’t love some good background music from Spotify or Pandora as they drive to…... - Campfire Audio Solaris Limited Edition Review4 April 2021, 8:04 pm
Over the course of Campfire Audio’s Solaris product history, there have been 4 iterations with…... - Surround Sound vs Stereo: What’s the Difference?1 April 2021, 8:21 pm
Capturing the most out of audio output can be a mission in and of itself.…...
- The Human Touch: Curated Record Clubs are Here16 April 2021, 6:03 am
The new look of record clubs in 2021 is all about human experience, taste and curation, and Los Angeles slow-music club In Sheep’s Clothing is the first to put a face on it. A modern, organic twist on traditional record clubs of the ‘70s and ‘80s, the ISC Record Club offers hand-picked LP deliveries to your door every month. The post The Human Touch: Curated Record Clubs are Here appeared first on Resistor Magazine |.... - Archetype: The Ortofon SPU – A Moving Coil Origin Story10 April 2021, 4:46 am
Since its introduction in 1959, the Ortofon SPU (stereo pick up) has remained largely unscathed from the ‘newer is better’ mantra that permeates much of society. Robert Gudmandsen’s 62-year-old design is still considered one of the most influential cartridges in high fidelity. The post Archetype: The Ortofon SPU – A Moving Coil Origin Story appeared first on Resistor Magazine |.... - Heavy Rotation: Paul Simon – Self Titled3 April 2021, 4:18 am
By Christmas 1969, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were tired. Tired of touring, tired of filming a TV special, tired of the grind that recording Bridge Over Troubled Water had become, but mostly, they were tired of each other. Simon felt the partnership was over. So, he did what anyone does after a breakup; he took time out to reassess. The post Heavy Rotation: Paul Simon – Self Titled appeared first on Resistor Magazine |.... - Record Magazine: Sharing the Culture of Vinyl29 March 2021, 11:13 pm
Record Culture Magazine takes readers into the homes and studios of the musicians who are featured on the albums, the people who are running the record labels that produce the albums, and those who are buying and playing the albums, all within an intersection of art and culture. The post Record Magazine: Sharing the Culture of Vinyl appeared first on Resistor Magazine |.... - Soundtrack: The Shining – Stanley Kubrick27 March 2021, 3:21 pm
Certain movies in cinematic history stand as cultural sentinels, containing scenes which telegraph love, hope, humour, sadness… or unbridled horror and incomprehensible primordial fear as Stanley Kubrick’s film, The Shining, did upon release in the spring of 1980. The fact this dance macabre is orchestrated to one of the creepiest and haunting – yet temporally ambiguous – soundtracks in modern film history only bolsters its place in the pantheon of greatest movies of all...
- In Barn for Review: Denafrips IRIS USB Digital To Digital Converter19 April 2021, 3:24 pm
Digital To Digital Converter? Why convert digital to digital? For robots with hifis? There’s 1,000 words worth of explanation. The Denafrips IRIS USB Digital To Digital Converter takes a USB input and converts it to a number of USB output including I2S over HDMI (LVDS Standard) [...]... - The New totaldac d100 Speakers Have Arrived19 April 2021, 12:50 pm
The d100 are a 2.5 way design, housing a pair of 12″ bass/midrange drivers paired with a 1 inch compression driver which kicks in above 3.5kHz. Designed to be an easy load to drive, the d100 offers amplifiers a friendly 98db efficiency (@ 1m @ [...]... - #NewMusicFriday: April 16, 202116 April 2021, 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. epic Ten by Sharon Van Etten Sharon Van Etten: epic Ten (Ba Da Bing [...]... - Album of the Week: Andy Stott: Never The Right Time16 April 2021, 11:00 am
Imagine one of those competition TV shows, but instead of dancing or singing with a costume, contestants have to make music with all manner of things that aren’t normally used to make music. If such a show existed, and Andy Stott played, he would be [...]... - In Barn for The Big Speaker System: Parasound Halo JC 5 Stereo Amplifier15 April 2021, 4:28 pm
Effortlessness. With power, comes effortlessness. The Parasound JC 5 is latest piece of The Big Speaker System to arrive in Barn. The Parasound Halo JC 5 Stereo Amplifier’s full name adds “by John Curl” at the end because John Curl designed it. Patreon subscribers already [...]...
- PS Audio Stellar Strata Integrated Amplifier Review19 April 2021, 11:26 am
The PS Audio Stellar Strata stumbles slightly with a wonky app but there is no question that it delivers a "Stellar" musical performance.... - Ryan R610 Speakers: The Audiophile System Builder19 April 2021, 11:25 am
Do you remember your first pair of loudspeakers? The Ryan R610 speakers were not my first but I would be okay with them being the last pair I ever own. I remember lugging a pair of Celestion Ditton 33 MK II loudspeakers upstairs from our living room in 1983 and feeling the burn in my […]... - Rotel A14MKII Integrated Amplifier Review19 April 2021, 4:00 am
Music listeners are living in the golden age of Hi-Fi. The $1,595 Rotel A14MKII Integrated Amplifier is proof positive of that reality.... - New Rotel Integrated Amplifier Series Unveiled19 April 2021, 4:00 am
The new Rotel MKII Integrated Amplifier range features 3 upgraded models including the phenomenal A14MKII integrated amplifier that is a must-audition.... - COVID-19 Postpones Pacific Audio Fest 2021 to 202218 April 2021, 10:19 pm
COVID-19 has derailed yet another Hi-Fi Show. Pacific Audio Fest 2021 has been postponed to 2022 and we're starting to question the viability of any shows....