- A Visit to the DALI Factory22 August 2019, 6:49 pm
DALI's loudspeaker factory in Nørager, Denmark. (Photo: DALI.) Seen from the air, Denmark is a vista of farms and wind turbines. But once your plane touches down, it is a land of loudspeakers. Perhaps this is because audio has a long history in Denmark—it was a Dane, Valdemar Poulsen, who developed a magnetic wire recorder in 1898—but there are more loudspeaker manufacturers per person than any other country. According to Wikipedia, Denmark is home to 5.75 million people, compa...
- DALI Callisto 6 C wireless loudspeaker22 August 2019, 6:25 pm
PS Audio's Paul McGowan has been sending out a daily newsletter by email since 2011. In his May 29, 2019 epistle he asked, "What would our world of high-end audio look like if there were only active wireless loudspeakers? If even the half-a-million-dollar mega-beasts were internally amplified and connected via wireless and controlled from an iPad? No more boxes. No more wires and cables. Only speakers. Thu, 08/22/2019... - Dragonfire Acoustics Mini Dragon DFA 2.1 desktop playback system22 August 2019, 6:24 pm
Ever go on a blind date? If you've been on more than one, you know what it's like to encounter an entirely new product at an audio show: Sometimes it's love at first listen, your only question being, "When can we get together again?" Other times, you can't wait to say goodbye. My blind date with the Dragonfire Acoustics Mini Dragon DFA 2.1 nearfield monitor system ($10,000), accessorized with its Kimber Kable Axios Goliath cable upgrade ($1500), took place during its coming-out reception at the... - TechDAS Air Force V turntable20 August 2019, 6:51 pm
Unless a truly budget-priced Air Force model is in the works, the TechDAS turntable lineup now seems complete: The recently introduced Air Force Zero ($450,000) is at the top, and the "affordable" Air Force V ($19,500) is at the bottom. The Air Force One, Two, and III turntables, all available in both standard and Premium versions, sit in the costly middle. There's no Air Force IV because in East Asia that number is considered bad luck—which also explains why Japanese golfers shout "Six!" ... - Listening #201: the Buddha Bearing20 August 2019, 6:31 pm
This is a story about a $1375 commercial turntable accessory and a free tweak—the latter discovered while installing the former, although the two things exist quite independently of one another. Here's how it all went down: Earlier this year, I was sent a review sample of a perfectionist-quality platter bearing called the Buddha Bearing, intended for Garrard 301 and 401 turntables. I was happy to receive such an interesting product but slow in trying it, partly because my record player sou...
- Frank Zappa: Zappa in New York: 40th Anniversary Deluxe22 August 2019, 7:29 pm
Housed in a circular tin shaped like a NYC manhole cover, the expanded edition of Zappa in New York commemorates the 40th (technically 41st) anniversary of the original live double album released in March 1978 on Zappa’s DiscReet label. This deluxe 5-CD boxed set (and 3-LP 180-gram vinyl set) documents four sold-out shows held at The Palladium between Christmas and New Year’s of 1976. The 15-month gap between the live recordings and the album release had to do with Warner’s fea... - MartinLogan Announces the New Look of Proven Performance21 August 2019, 10:13 pm
The following is a press release issued by MartinLogan. Lawrence, Kansas, United States | August 21, 2019 – MartinLogan is pleased to announce seven new Motion® Series loudspeakers for music or home cinemas. Since its introduction, the Motion Series has garnered acclaim for its performance and value. When it came time to introduce a new generation of the Motion Series, MartinLogan decided not to mess with a good thing. The new line of modern, multi-application speakers utilizes the sam... - Basis Audio A.J. Conti Transcendence Turntable and SuperArm 12.5 Tonearm21 August 2019, 7:51 pm
In September of 2016, Basis Audio founder and turntable designer extraordinaire, A.J. Conti, called to tell me, with genuine enthusiasm, about a new turntable he had just finished designing and was about to put into production. This new turntable wasn’t simply a better version of the designs he’d been building for the past 30 years, but rather a sui generis creation that represented the culmination of his life’s work. This new turntable started life as a one-off platform for A.... - Listening Event at Command Performance AV20 August 2019, 8:04 pm
The following announcement is based on press information supplied to TAS. On Saturday, August 24th, Command Performance AV will be hosting an open house event in collaboration with MoFi Distribution. Also in attendance will be IsoTek's "headmaster" Keith Martin, visiting from the U.K. Featured brands will be TAD—including the award-winning TAD ME-1 loudspeaker (pictured below) and various TAD electronics—Koetsu, SolidSteel, and of course, IsoTek. Music will be from Mobile Fidelity So... - Evosound20 August 2019, 6:14 pm
Since its first release in 2004, the Evosound music label has experienced considerable success in the Asian market, but it hasn’t had as much of an impact elsewhere. That should change, however. An effort by the Hong Kong-based record company to gain a wider audience will bear fruit due to its commitment to making excellent-sounding recordings in genres that appeal to audiophiles—or so my introduction to the label leads me to suspect. As the Music Editor of TAS, I receive a lot of mu...
- TBT Review: Reference 3A Reflector Stand Mounted Monitor22 August 2019, 3:25 am
Don't bother skipping to the conclusion of this review, as I'll tell you right now: The Reference 3A Reflector is a great speaker. If one has been searching for a stand-mounted speaker anywhere near its asking price of $12,000, these are the speakers to get. Not only do they do everything that one would expect of for a speaker of its size and price, but much, much more.---> Read More ... - Is Mastering Music An Endangered Audio Job?21 August 2019, 1:37 pm
Mastering engineers are some of my favorite people in the music business and many of the best are friends that I speak with frequently. One subject that's been coming up more and more in conversation is how much that business has changed, and that work is getting much harder to find.---> Read More ... - iBasso DX160 Hi-Res Portable Audio / Video Player21 August 2019, 11:14 am
iBasso's new DX160 ($470) high fidelity Bluetooth 5.0 music player is based on the Android 8.1 system and includes DSD decoder. Every manufacturer has a different approach when it comes to new releases, and iBasso was due for a new DAP release. iBasso's middle-of-their-range DX160 unit features a dual CS43198 DAC implementation, Android Oreo, and a 5" 1080 x 1920 resolution screen. It come with latest Bluetooth 5.0, with their CS43198 being capable of DSD over PCM (DSD DoP) up to DSD256 and PCM ... - The Classic FM Family Music Box Book20 August 2019, 10:31 am
Produced in collaboration with Classic FM, The Classic FM Music Box ($25) is an entertaining book that includes a comprehensive overview of classical music accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations and eight concealed buttons that play short bursts of iconic pieces of music. The Classic FM Family Music Box is a perfect introduction to the world of classical music. Featuring beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and eight sound-chip buttons that play short bursts of iconic pieces of music, this unique... - RMAF 2019 Show September 6th Through 9th, 201919 August 2019, 8:23 am
Featuring a luxury destination at the brand-new Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Enjoy the Music.com's Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest (RMAF) 2019 show report celebrates our sweet 16 years of covering this highly popular high-end audiophile event. Take in the friendly atmosphere at RMAF where all are welcome and questions are encouraged. You will experience in one location many major household audio brands...---> See our RMAF 2019 show report. ...
- REVIEW: Avatar Audio HOLOPHONY NUMBER 2 BAMBOO | floor-standing loudspeakers | POLAND1 August 2019, 10:00 pm
⌈ AVATAR AUDIO – a company run by CEZARIUSZ ANDREJCZUK, offers mostly loudspeakers. Their design concept differs from widely used today, even though – from the technical standpoint – there is nothing unusual about it. These are concepts from 1950s and 1960s although in an extreme form. We are reviewing the second model from the top, Number 2, with Bamboo cabinets with a changed crossover. ⌋ he aforementioned concepts are an iconic feature of the Avatar Audio bra... - REVIEW: Lumïn X1 | network player | HONG KONG1 August 2019, 10:00 pm
⌈ AUDIO FILES PLAYER, also known as: „streamer”, „network player”, „bridge”, „music server” and so on, is a component used to play audio files (decoding) and converting them into analogue form (conversion). Based in Hong Kong, LUMÏN is one of the most well-known and respected manufacturers of this type of products. It was the first company whose players decoded DSD files. We're testing its latest and most expensive player, the X1. &rfloo... - REVIEW: Dynaudio CONFIDENCE 20 | stand-mount loudspeakers | DENMARK1 August 2019, 10:00 pm
⌈ DYNAUDIO is a Danish company established in 1977 in Skandenborg, specializing in development and production of loudspeakers. In 1978 they presented the Model 100, featuring company’s own drivers and a number of proprietary technical solutions that it uses still today. This time we received for the review the CONFIDENCE 20 bookshelf speakers. ⌋ he process of Asian - primarily Chinese and Korean, but more and more often Indian - companies purchasing prestigious audio brand... - REVIEW: Kinki Studio EX-P7 + EX-B7 | preamplifier + power amplifier (monoblock) | CHINA1 August 2019, 10:00 pm
uite recently, in my review of the excellent Line Magnetic tube integrated amplifier I wrote that it is high time to stop treating products from Chine as not worth the attention of the "true audiophiles". More and more often, they are well designed by talented engineers, and also perfectly made and finished, while, at least some of them, are still reasonably priced. Many of such brands are present on our market, especially in the segment of tube amplifiers, but there are some that we still can f... - REVIEW | LIFESTYLE AUDIO: Ruark Audio R5 | a-in-one system | UNITED KINGDOM1 August 2019, 10:00 pm
⌈ RUARK AUDIO is a British company that was set up in 1986 and used to specialize in loudspeaker design, while since 2006 it has been very successful in the field of all-in-one systems and Bluetooth speakers. It offers both small MRX speakers and the fantastic floorstanding R7 Radiogram system. The R5 is the latest company device, based on the top-of-the-range R7 model. ⌋ And it all began with a Wife… | Something for people cannot really recall when it was exactly,...
- Thom Mackris: exaSound DACs22 August 2019, 8:56 pm
This guest article is by Thom Mackris, head honcho at Galibier Design. PF Senior Associate Editor Lynn Olson shared it with me right after Thom published his comments on a very recent three-hour listening session that he had with Lynn. They were doing some listening comparisons with exaSound DACs; the comments below summarize Thom's take on... Read More » The post Thom Mackris: exaSound DACs appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Nola To Feature the World Premiere of Its Concert Grand Reference Gold 2 Loudspeaker at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 201922 August 2019, 6:02 pm
HOLBROOK, New York, August 21, 2019 -- At Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) 2019 Nola Speakers will be featuring the world premiere of its Concert Grand Reference Gold 2 loudspeaker system, an ultra-high-end $250,000 open baffle line source array design created to deliver remarkable musical realism. The Nola Concert Grand Reference Gold 2 will be demonstrated at... Read More » The post Nola To Feature the World Premiere of Its Concert Grand Reference Gold 2 Loudspeaker at Rocky Mo... - SONORE invites RMAF 2019 attendees to visit their room21 August 2019, 9:13 pm
SONORE, a Simple Design company, welcomes you to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. Stop by suite 9117 and discover our World of Fiber Optic Audio. Listen to our amazing SONORE Signature Rendu SE, reference streamer now with our SystemOptique technology and share with us your comments. We are confident you will be pleasantly surprised. We... Read More » The post SONORE invites RMAF 2019 attendees to visit their room appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Impressions: Final Thoughts on the Merrill Audio Element 11821 August 2019, 9:09 pm
David W. Robinson: a portrait by John Robinson The Merrill Audio Element 118. Why that name? Simple, says Merrill Wettasinghe, the designer: "Element 118 is named after the newest element in the periodic table called Oganesson, which completes the 7th row of the periodic table. The name Element 118 reflects the newest in technologies in... Read More » The post Impressions: Final Thoughts on the Merrill Audio Element 118 appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Ketil Vestrum Einarsen: An Alchemical Wedding21 August 2019, 5:57 pm
Ketil Vestrum Einarsen - Photo by Dag Thrane (Used with permission) Ketil Vestrum Einarsen was born on the north-western edge of Norway. Known primarily for playing flute with a long list of bands, including White Willow, The Opium Cartel, Jaga Jazzist, Wobbler, Pixie Ninja, and more recent collaborations in Kaukasus and Galasphere 347, he stepped... Read More » The post Ketil Vestrum Einarsen: An Alchemical Wedding appeared first on Positive Feedback....
- Issue 9718 August 2019, 1:26 am
Features Old School: Jeff Dorgay continues the roll with Pioneer and bags an RT-701 Reel to reel deck 1095: Michael Laurance samples the Bowers&Wilkins 607 speakers Journeyman Audiophile: We put the Linn Selekt DSM through its paces with multiple power amplifiers The Audiophile Apartment: McIntosh’s new MTI100 is a killer combination Shanon Says: Shanon breaks [...]... - The dCS Bartok DAC14 August 2019, 6:49 pm
Listening to the delicacy of Allison Miller’s drumming in Boom Tic Boom, in my living room system, it’s easy to see how this DAC can be the end of your digital journey. Like every other dCS DAC I’ve owned or reviewed, they always manage to hit a perfect tonal balance, combined with wide dynamic range and [...]... - What the hell is “high end audio” anyway?4 August 2019, 6:15 pm
After 40 years of being an audio enthusiast, consumer (and someone covering this world for the last 17 of those years) I think we have a fundamental confusion in what we’re talking about. To me, “high end audio” means something condescending, something unapproachable, something you can’t have. It means the secret handshake, the elite club. I’d [...]... - The TUK speakers from Kanto Audio1 August 2019, 7:23 pm
My apologies for the title. To be absolutely correct, the TUKs are all you need if you don’t want to listen to records. Music lovers sourcing their tunes digitally, have everything they need inside the small (but well packed) box that the TUKs arrive in. And for $799 a pair, these speakers offer an incredible amount [...]... - The Paradigm Premier 700F Speakers17 July 2019, 8:30 pm
Rickie Lee Jones’ version of “Bad Company,” from her latest album puts the Paradigm Premier 700F speakers in perspective immediately. These speakers create a massive, immersive soundfield on this ethereal track. Combine this with a level of resolution rarely available in a $1,598 pair of speakers along with major low-frequency capability, and we’ve got a [...]...
- EISA’s Best Product 2019-2020 Awards14 August 2019, 11:00 pm
Welcome to our announcement of the Best Product 2019-2020 awards, selected by the Expert Imaging and Sound Association. EISA originated in 1982, when five European photography magazines got together to agree on one make and model of camera as their choice for Best Product for that year. Since then, EISA’s reach has expanded far beyond photography -- it is now an international group of more than 60 print and online publications that variously cover photography, hi-fi, home theater, mobile e... - KEF R11 Loudspeakers5 August 2019, 4:00 am
Note: Measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link. I first heard KEF’s R Series R11 speakers, however briefly, when reporting on the Montréal Audio Fest for SoundStage! Access. Show demos being inconsistent at best, I wasn’t sure what to make of the R11s, which sounded a bit bright. Then again, the exhibitor was playing them way too loud -- I wondered what they’d sound like in my own listening room. ... - Revel PerformaBe M126Be Loudspeakers1 August 2019, 4:00 am
Note: Measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link. Nearly four years ago, I reviewed Revel’s Performa3 M106 minimonitor ($2000 USD per pair). I was impressed by its nicely balanced, well-controlled, squeaky-clean sound -- traits it shared with every other Revel speaker I’ve heard. More recently, someone at Revel had the idea of putting this model and its bigger brother, the floorstanding Performa3 F208, on steroids.... - Recommended Reference Component: Dutch & Dutch 8c Active Loudspeakers1 August 2019, 4:00 am
In a passive multiway loudspeaker -- that is, a passive speaker with more than a single drive-unit, and thus requiring a crossover to distribute the audio signal among its various drivers -- the electronic components of the analog crossover appear in the circuit after the signal has been received from the power amplifier, and before the signal is sent to the speakers’ drivers. In an active multiway loudspeaker, the audio signal is sent to the crossover first, before being sent on to the mu... - Amazing Values: Audiolab 6000A Integrated Amplifier-DAC and 6000CDT CD Transport1 August 2019, 4:00 am
Last March, when I mentioned to some colleagues that the market in integrated amplifiers costing less than $1000 is “owned by a few companies,” I was aware that fewer manufacturers these days focus on low-priced integrateds, and of those that do, only a handful come up among our reviewing team. In our minds, Audiolab wasn’t one of those brands. It should have been. ...
- MartinLogan Announces Seven new Motion Series loudspeakers22 August 2019, 1:33 am
Available October 2019, the Motion Series features seven new models, including two floorstanding, two bookshelf, and two center channel speakers. Lawrence, Kansas, United States – August 20, 2019 – MartinLogan is pleased to announce seven new Motion® Series loudspeakers for music or home cinemas. Since its introduction, the Motion Series has garnered acclaim for its [...] The post MartinLogan Announces Seven new Motion Series loudspeakers appeared first on Dagogo.... - Audio Blast: SONORE SystemOptique with Signature Rendu SE21 August 2019, 8:56 pm
For Dagogo readers still spinning discs or streaming audio through a Mac Mini or similar, this article is for you. It is also for those who have tried various power conditioning devices and found them lacking. If you find it hard to believe that an Ethernet cable can confer a particular sound to an audio [...] The post Audio Blast: SONORE SystemOptique with Signature Rendu SE appeared first on Dagogo.... - Amplifier Technology20 August 2019, 5:41 pm
Personal Bias I firmly believe everyone connected to the audio business or who is a HiFi hobbyist has personal biases as they relate to amps, speakers, DACs, turntables or cartridge design. I most assuredly am not immune to these biases. Although my current primary amplifier is a 200W per channel Arcam Sliding Bias Class “A” [...] The post Amplifier Technology appeared first on Dagogo.... - Dynamic Women of Early Jazz and Classic Blues, Part 1 of 216 August 2019, 6:29 pm
Concealed in the shadows of Jazz, Swing and Blues history are dynamic women who nurtured, guided and developed the music. In this column, several of the most talented and accomplished are profiled: Blanche Calloway — who was the first woman to lead an all-male jazz band — “Empress of the Blues” Bessie Smith; and Ina [...] The post Dynamic Women of Early Jazz and Classic Blues, Part 1 of 2 appeared first on Dagogo.... - Grover’s Travels: A Swiftian Hi-Fi Experience15 August 2019, 11:35 pm
Grover Neville: Early 20’s, graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Professional Musician and Recording Engineer, and, most importantly, an aspiring audiophile. David Blumenstein, Dagogo’s International Correspondent, requested that I author a piece detailing, exploring and examining my experiences in the audio industry. I admit to being simultaneously excited and just a wee bit trepidatious. I [...] The post Grover’s Travels: A Swiftian Hi-Fi Experience appeared first on Da...
- Scott Hamilton Favorites20 August 2019, 1:15 pm
After the piano and the upright bass, my favorite tool in the jazz tool belt is the tenor sax. As much as I enjoy a great drummer and the rhythm that a drum kit adds to a trio, there is just something about the big warm sound of a great tenor player backed by a piano and bass that really appeals to me. When it comes to the tenor sax, I fall into the camp that there is no school like the old school. Players like The Prez, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Dexter Gordon, Zoot Simms or my personal... - Woodstock & McIntosh An Iconic Duo13 August 2019, 6:39 pm
The 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair is the most influential, transcendent, historic, and iconic concert in modern history. Countless artists were influenced by the artists that not only played Woodstock but the artists' Woodstock performances. How many times have we seen an electric guitar version of the USA National anthem? Sure Jimi Hendrix probably wasn't the absolute first one to do it and the song would no doubt be performed on electric guitar by others in the years since 1969 whether... - My Journey With The Mytek Brooklyn AMP9 August 2019, 2:40 pm
Always Start With Coffee I've switched to drinking cold brew coffee. I used to be an Aeropress guy, but the cold brew process is a revelation to me. Bitter acidity and aftertaste are banished like so much jitter. Plus, I prefer iced coffee anyway. If you really want to get to know the flavor of your coffee beans, cold brew is the way to go. Water + coarse grind beans + steep time. This simplicity allows you to enjoy your coffee beans in their purest, most unadulterated form. I... - The Best Version Of… Crosby, Stills & Nash Self-Titled Debut6 August 2019, 3:15 pm
In the summer of 1969, Crosby, Stills, and Nash made their music synonymous with the so-called Woodstock generation. Following its release at the end of May, CSN’s self-titled debut steadily climbed the charts, sitting at number seven on the Billboard album charts when the band (with a decidedly reluctant Neil Young in tow) played a career-defining 3 a.m. set on the final day of the aforementioned festival. Now, fifty years later, Crosby, Stills, and Nas... - Aurender A30 Full Review31 July 2019, 5:15 pm
Aurender has been well known for its digital music servers for over a decade. It's recently upgraded flagship W20SE Special Edition digital server will likely continue its reign as a leader in this market segment. In 2016 Aurender released its first music server with a built-in DAC, named the A10. I liked the A10 and saw it as the right product for many music aficionados. In 2019 Aurender took the next logical step in its quest to build the best music servers and streamers by releasing the f...
- David Bowie VH1 Storytellers Limited Edition 2 LP Set Drops October 11th21 August 2019, 7:37 pm
David Bowie's 1999 VH1 Storytellers appearance before invited guests in an intimate setting and recorded August 23, 1999 at The Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom was first issued on CD/DVD and as a download 10 years later. Now, 20 years later Parlophone will release the most complete version will be released on a limited edition 2-LP set October 11th.... - <i>Abbey Road</i> 50th Anniversary Edition Heard on a Real Stereo System!21 August 2019, 4:17 am
The misaligned stars leading to yesterday's Dolby screening room software malfunction (you know the story), aligned today. I was on 58th and 3rd at Innovative Audio to spin vinyl and Guy Hayden was just finishing up today's three Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Edition demos (which went off without a glitch). Hayden emailed asking if there was a chance I could return to the screening room on 58th and 6th Avenue for a proper stereo mix listen. He didn't know I was right down the block! Unfortunately ... - <i>Abbey Road</i> 50th Anniversary Edition First Listen!19 August 2019, 9:28 pm
This morning at mid-town Manhattan's Dolby Theater (1350 6th Avenue) I got a chance to hear excerpts from Giles Martin's new 50th Anniversary Abbey Road remix in the small, 24 seat screening room filled with invited press, SiriusXM Beatles channel people, others, and members of Ringo Starr's band who were in New York, having played there the previous evening. ... - Mind-Pop Revolution's Presslift Record Stabilizer/Tonearm Lifter18 August 2019, 4:45 pm
Mind-Pop Revolution's Presslift is a complex, approximately 1.6 pound machined brass record stabilizer that is also designed to act as an end of side tone arm lift.... - AnalogPlanet in Switzerland Visits HiFiction (Thales TTs, arms, EMT cartridges)17 August 2019, 3:06 pm
Turbenthal, Switzerland based HiFiction precision-manufactures Thales tangential tracking pivoted pick up arms, battery powered turntables and most recently acquired and now manufactures in-house EMT phono cartridges and a new MC step up transformer. This was designer Micha Huber's original tangential pivoted arm design, Fremer described in his review as looking like "a tonearm balanced on the end of a seal's nose. (Photo: Michael Fremer) ...
- Smart speakers ain't that bright22 August 2019, 12:00 pm
... - Upcoming reviews from Dali, KLH, Mytek, Pure Audio Project and more20 August 2019, 12:00 pm
... - If you want the most accurate sound, ditch your speakers19 August 2019, 12:00 pm
... - Andrew Jones 'Measurements won't tell us if we'll like the sound of the music'18 August 2019, 12:00 pm
... - Nelson Pass on his favorite amps, playing with distortion, and his 21 inch subwoofer17 August 2019, 12:00 pm
...
- Pablo Ziegler Chamber Quartet, Radiotango | The Vinyl Anachronist22 August 2019, 9:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile Just a couple of days ago I talked about the some of the current tango trends, and how everyone is using this Argentine musical genre as a foundation for something new. Now, the Pablo Ziegler Chamber Quartet turns in this modest little masterpiece, Radiotango, a purist performance in every sense. Picture a tango in your mind, a couple gliding along the dance floor, and then pay attention to the music that’s playing. That’s this music, just four masters of the tan... - Pablo Lanouguere Quintet, Eclectico | The Vinyl Anachronist20 August 2019, 9:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile I’ve been talking about the Great Tango Revival of 2019, and the Pablo Lanouguere Quintet and their new album Eclectico is certainly part of that. But here’s the thing. The Tango Revival seems to be marked by constant innovation, a need to expand this genre both stylistically and geographically–something that’s not found as much as in, say, the Big Band Jazz Revival that’s been going on for the last few years. Eclectico lives and breathes by thi... - Lyn Stanley, The Challenge LP | The Vinyl Anachronist18 August 2019, 9:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile The Challenge LP from Lyn Stanley is, as far as I can tell, the concluding chapter to this Julie London project–although I have noticed that Lyn’s been shooting a video with performances of these songs. Maybe she’ll do a few more, who knows. I don’t think you can possibly do too much in the service of Julie London advocacy, and it’s been a fun ride evaluating all these CDs and LPs over the last few months. Heck, I even got to meet the singer and... - Summer 2019 Now Available | The Occasional Magazine17 August 2019, 9:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile The 2019 Summer Issue of The Occasional Magazine from Part-Time Audiophile is now available! The Occasional Magazine is about more than just audio reviews and music—just like it says on the cover, “not another audiophile magazine, but a magazine for audiophiles and the things they love.” And in this issue, we’ve got lots of cool stuff. This is what you’ll find in the 2019 Summer Issue of The Occasional Magazine: EgglestonWorks Emm... - Oslo Kammerkor, Veneliti | The Vinyl Anachronist14 August 2019, 9:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile In terms of choral performances, the Oslo Kammerkor (Chamber Choir) and their performance of Orjan Matre‘s Veneliti is very different than the last 2L Recording I reviewed, Himmelborgen. In that recording, the Uranienborg Vokalemsemble chose works that re-define and build on traditional hymns, while Veneliti comes from the opposite direction, a re-working of folk music. The music from Matre, of course, takes a dream-like approach to the sound of a choral in the prerequ...
- Audeze’s LCD-i3 arrive fully loaded for the future21 August 2019, 2:05 pm
“Have you see this?” – the WhatsApp messenger was Andreas (nd_) Baumecker, Berghain DJ and Audeze enthusiast. He was linking yours truly to a new planar-magnetic earphone model from his favourite (Californian) headphone company. So quick off the mark was Baumecker that he beat the press release by a full […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For privat... - Global feedback: Is your room acoustically treated?21 August 2019, 9:50 am
Is your listening room acoustically treated? We asked this question last December but the WordPress plug-in that collated those results contained some questionable code and had to be removed. In light of this week’s long film about room acoustics, we posed the question again, this time via the poll functionality […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private us... - dCS’ Network Bridge is ‘affordable’ excellence20 August 2019, 11:05 am
Aston Martin, purveyor of upmarket automobiles; a brand that is synonymous with consumer desire, with James Bond glamour and with excellence. We pay a pretty penny but the best things in life don’t come for free (well, mostly). This British car manufacturer once offered a small car, the Cygnet, for […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copyri... - Meridian announces 210 network streamer19 August 2019, 11:40 am
Meridian has a formidable reputation in CD player design – it made one of the world’s first models – so when the UK company announces a new network streamer, the announcement deserves more than a cursory glance. The 210 is both dual-band WiFi and Ethernet capable with network onboarding, UPnP/DLNA […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use o... - A long film about room acoustics19 August 2019, 10:01 am
What is the most critical component in any loudspeaker system? It isn’t the loudspeakers. And it isn’t the electronics that feed them. It’s the room in which it all sits. Largely determined by a room’s dimensions, specific frequencies are boosted in some listening positions and sucked out in others. A […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For pri...
- Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest 2019–coming in two weeks. September 6–822 August 2019, 4:52 pm
For tickets, please click here. Show goers, please note the date. A month earlier this year due to the move to the new location. I’m assured it’s back in October for 2020. Earlier, our friends at RMAF sent this: This year we are thrilled to be expanding with you into the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center, which will be our new RMAF "home on the range" starting with the 16th Annual RMAF, September 5-8, 2019. The Gaylord Rockies opened on schedule and to great fanfare... - Streaming the Classics 5/Elgar: Symphony No. 18 August 2019, 6:12 pm
Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening. These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article. A few criteria: 1. Recording must be on either Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi. 2. It does not have t... - Streaming the Classics/4—Brahms: The 4 Symphonies—Box Sets1 August 2019, 4:18 pm
Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening. These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article. A few criteria: 1. Recording must be on Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi. 2. It does not have to be Hi... - Allnic Audio Mu-7R RCA Cable26 July 2019, 3:42 pm
The key technology Allnic Audio’s owner/designer Kang Su Park calls ‘Zero Loss’ is used in all his cables and power cords including the previously reviewed ZL-5000 Power Cable and the subject of this review, the Mu-7R RCA Cable. Cables can be difficult to nail down in review, specifically their ‘sound’ and the effect on the overall sonic picture. Much like the ZL-5000, which totally exceeded my expectations, I treat cables as a component, nothing less.... - Streaming the Classics—3/Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique19 July 2019, 1:46 pm
Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening. These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article. A few criteria: 1. Recording must be on both Qobuz and Tidal HiFi. 2. It does not have to be ...
- Roon Server on ODroid H210 July 2019, 10:22 am
John Reekie tests out the ODroid H2 SBC (single board computer) as a Roon Server. "Ever since I discovered how easy it is to set up a DLNA music server on a Raspberry Pi or an ODroid HC1, I’ve been reluctant to dedicate a 'proper' computer as a music server," he writes, to explain the appeal of this inexpensive x86 computer. After walking through the install, he runs some UI tests.... - How to stream Qobuz to almost anything4 July 2019, 2:55 pm
John Reekie decides it's time to branch out from the Raspberry Pi and start streaming to a greater variety of devices. He summarizes the architecture that enables Qobuz to stream to "almost anything" and how to set it up. As a bonus, he provides installation instructions to turn any Linux SBC into a compatible audio player.... - Spatial Audio M3 Triode Master + interview with designer Clayton Shaw15 March 2019, 4:01 am
Oliver Masciarotte spends time with the Spatial Audio M3 Triode Master open baffle speaker, and quizzes designer Clayton Shaw about his design choices. Oliver concludes: "The M3 Triode Master is a outstanding example of OB design; exacting imaging combined with broad uncolored off-axis coverage and an airy, expansive soundstage. It... lends itself nicely to rooms large and small."... - RME ADI-2 Pro : Modes and Audio Routing6 January 2019, 11:58 am
John Reekie takes a deep dive into the "modes" of the RME ADI-2 Pro. "The modes can be considered as a sort of shorthand that gets you close to a solution, which you can then tailor by adjusting parameters away from the default or automatic selections." He provides diagrams that illustrate the signal routing through the ADI-2 Pro in each mode, and also discusses clocking.... - Syncing a music library to a Droidisk (or PiDisk)14 December 2018, 6:26 pm
John Reekie goes all GUI to sync up his droidisk server with music files on a Mac or PC. Well, apart from installation on the ODroid or Raspberry Pi. Compared to his previous rsync-based method, this is "a better solution that is cross-platform, easier to set up, and more flexible."...
- BenQ CinePrime HT5550 Ultra HD DLP Projector Review3 June 2019, 2:00 pm
BenQ isn’t just about compact value-oriented DLPs; witness the CinePrime HT5550 Ultra HD DLP Projector. It offers premium clarity from a single-chip light engine, 1800 ANSI lumens, HDR, DCI-P3 color, and generous lens shift at the very reasonable price of $2499. I’m checking it out today. The post BenQ CinePrime HT5550 Ultra HD DLP Projector Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Audio Research LS28 Triode Stereo Preamplifier Review29 May 2019, 2:00 pm
Audio Research as a company is half a century old, founded in 1970 by William Johnson. They are one of the pioneers in hi-fi equipment design. The post Audio Research LS28 Triode Stereo Preamplifier Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Powered Speaker Review28 May 2019, 2:00 pm
Vanatoo engineers Gary Gesellchen and Rick Kernen have recently updated their award-winning desktop speakers with a new powered model, the Transparent One Encore. It aims to be an affordable, high quality audiophile system that meets the needs of music enthusiasts with portability, a small footprint, big sound, and deep bass; combined with the ability to stream music from a computer or phone. Six years after the original Transparent Ones, the powered Vanatoo Transparent One Encore improves upon ... - VAVA 4K Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector Review22 May 2019, 2:00 pm
Today, I’ll be checking out VAVA’s 4K Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector. It projects an image up to 150 inches diagonal while sitting only 16.7 inches from the wall. It sports Ultra HD resolution courtesy of a pixel-shifted DLP chip with support for HDR. The post VAVA 4K Ultra Short Throw Laser Projector Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Starke Sound Halo Elite 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System Review20 May 2019, 3:00 pm
Looking for a home theater speaker system that makes a statement in both the visual and aural sense? Then the fine folks at Starke Sound have an impressive looking system to tempt both your eyes and ears! The post Starke Sound Halo Elite 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com....
- ZYX UNIverse Optimum Phono Cartridge4 August 2019, 9:41 pm
Another ceiling has been shattered, another mountain conquered, and another superlative surpassed. The new ZYX UNIverse Optimum moving coil phonograph cartridge has raised above the very high pinnacle of performance set by the ZYX UNIverse Premium, reviewed here on 10 Audio. I encourage you to read the Premium review, as this review will only attempt to detail the differences between the $14,995 Premium and the $16,995 Optimum. The cartridge is labeled with the distributor’s name bec... - Valvet E2 SE Stereo Power Amplifier29 June 2019, 8:12 pm
The new Valvet E2 SE single-ended Class A solid-state amplifier is a revelation. Coming to market about a year after my review of the Valvet E2, the SE version exceeds the E2's audible performance in every parameter. Please see the older review for context. The special edition SE version takes all the E2's excellent performance and offers improvements in every area. The review system has changed since the E2 review, and provides the potential for higher resolution. The significant changes are a ... - Revel Performa M126Be Loudspeakers18 May 2019, 9:45 pm
The new Performa Be series of loudspeakers offers an upgrade from the well-received Performa3 series from Revel. The Be speakers feature the Revel’s latest beryllium tweeter that was first introduced more than a decade ago in the Ultima2 series. Revel is a member of the Harman International family of brands which includes Mark Levinson, JBL, Arcam, and Infinity. The Performa M126Be is a ported 2-way stand mount, AKA bookshelf speaker weighing a back-friendly 22 pounds, not including ... - Wyred 4 Sound ST-750LE Stereo Power Amplifier31 March 2019, 9:06 pm
The new Wyred 4 Sound ST-750LE stereo power amplifier sounds far above it's price class. The technology includes Wyred 4 Sound's proprietary input circuit that is similar to the one implemented in their '10 LP'-rated STP-SE Stage 2 preamplifier. This is followed by the latest IcePower amplifier module. The base price of the amplifier is $1599.00. The review sample is also equipped with the WBT speaker binding posts and Kimber TCX wire upgrade, a $250 option. From the Wyred 4 Sound Web site:"For ... - Ayre Acoustics VX-5 Twenty Stereo Power Amplifier17 February 2019, 9:00 pm
The Ayre VX-5 Twenty stereo power amplifier has been in production for about 5 years and followed the well-received V-5xe amplifier. The “Twenty” designation celebrates the Boulder, Colorado company’s 20 years in business. The excellent build quality and beautiful casework belies the amplifier’s recommended list price of $8950. The amplifier is fully-discrete, fully-balanced, and features a zero-feedback design. Other components on hand during the audition include a...
- Marantz PM-KI Ruby integrated amplifier19 August 2019, 2:20 pm
Editor’s Note: This review was commissioned and originally published before Ken Ishiwata’s recent departure from Marantz! I thought I was doing well to get 30 years under my belt in this business but Ken Ishiwata is way ahead of me, as the precious gem in this amplifier’s name suggests he has been with Marantz for 40 years. And then he was with Pioneer for 10 years before that. Clearly, this is not a young man’s game anymore. The PM-KI Ruby looks and functions as an integ... - ATC SCM100SE floorstanding speaker19 August 2019, 2:10 pm
Acoustic Transducer Company (ATC) has been making drive units and loudspeakers since 1974 and building a fan base in the hi-fi market for the performance quality of its systems for over two decades. Modelled on the company’s Tower series of heavyweight floorstanders, the SE versions bring fancier cabinetwork and electronics to the equation. You pay over 50% more for the impressive finish, inlaid metalwork and all-discrete electronics, but you do get a pretty swanky loudspeaker for your mon... - Stirling Broadcast LS3/5a V3 stand-mount loudspeaker14 August 2019, 10:50 am
There can be few more iconic loudspeakers than the LS3/5a. Designed by the BBC in the early seventies for use as a outside broadcast monitor it has been licenced by all manner of companies over the years and of late there’s been a resurgence in its popularity. There are various approaches to making an LS3/5a, Falcon Acoustics, for instance, has gone to the nthdegree to recreate a letter of the licence version by making replica Bextrene cones, others have gone the other way and sought to im... - NAD D3045 hybrid digital DAC/integrated amplifier14 August 2019, 10:37 am
Back in the 1970’s, NAD created what turned out to be a modest-looking, sensibly priced, wildly overachieving, and downright unlikely high-end giant killer in the form of its legendary 3020 integrated amplifier. The little amp wasn’t terribly powerful (at least not on paper), it didn’t have many flashy technical ‘bells and whistles’, and its muted charcoal grey finish gave it a humble and unassuming appearance. But it did possess an astonishingly fine phono section ... - Audeze LCD-4z planar magnetic headphone14 August 2019, 9:54 am
A few years ago, I got a call from the late Arnie Nudell, perhaps the best designer of high-performance loudspeakers in history. He raved about how good the Audeze LCD-4 planar magnetic headphone was and encouraged me to buy a pair. Indeed, the LCD-4 garnered many rave reviews, most notably for its clarity, deep bass extension, and exceptional midrange performance. However, with its high impedance 200ohm voice coil, the LCD-4 requires a powerful headphone amplifier, essentially ruling it out for...
- Farewell10 August 2019, 12:20 am
Due to personal and professional reasons, Twittering Machines will close its virtual doors next month [footnote 1]. I am, in effect, retiring from hifi. I hope you’ve enjoyed our 1-year journey as much as we’ve [...]... - Listening6 August 2019, 1:38 pm
Here’s what I’ve been doing of late: listening. I am in the process of listening to a number of products, using them in different system configurations to get an idea of what aspects of performance [...]... - HiFi Bargains: AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt4 August 2019, 12:02 pm
In the beginning, there was Black. Then Black v1.5, followed by Red. Well, there’s a new sheriff in town and his name is Cobalt. DragonFly Cobalt. A DragonFly is a flash drive-sized digital-to-analog-converter (DAC) and [...]... - Why I Hate Measurements (I don’t)1 August 2019, 11:00 am
I don’t hate measurements but some people think I do because I am often critical of how people interpret them. These are two very different things. Measurements, when properly performed, can tell us about aspects [...]... - Review: Linear Tube Audio MZ330 July 2019, 12:00 pm
I just dropped the Linear Tube Audio (LTA) MZ3 at our local UPS store. It’s hot (112, says The Weather Channel), so I rushed back home to the shady, cool listening space that is my [...]...
- Last Call to Bid On Steve Graham’s Latest SUT/All-Tube Phono Stage For A Great Cause9 August 2019, 2:17 am
Edit: Bidding has now ended Steve’s “NFP” or Not-For-Profit Phono is a great opportunity to own a high end phono stage at a reasonable price – with all the proceeds going to charity. The catch is that Steve only built one, and when it’s gone….it’s gone. All the details can be found here: https://wallofsound.ca/audioreviews/analog/nfp-not-for-profit-tube-mm-mc-phono-stage-built-tested-reviewed-and-it-can-be-yours/ Thanks for your sup... - NFP (Not-For-Profit) Tube MM/MC Phono Stage – Built, Tested, Reviewed. And It Can Be Yours14 July 2019, 11:29 pm
Not-For-Profit MM/MC Phono Stage The DIY bug has bitten Steve Graham, again. And he gets in a bit deeper than he bargained for, again. Warning: This will get a bit wordy. Vinylphiles and/or tubephiles probably won’t mind. Digiphiles won’t likely be reading this, but they are most welcome to. Have you ever noticed the almost carnal look on the face of a tube-loving audiophile when he, it’s always a he, first claps eyes on an attractive tube... - Review: Tortuga Audio’s LDR3.V25 Passive Preamp And TPB.V1 Tube Preamp Buffer7 June 2019, 10:51 pm
Review by Noam Bronstein Transparency – if there ever was an overused word in home hi-fi circles, this one might take top prize. But I’ve noticed a decline in its usage over the years, too. As electronics (and speakers) have improved over time, transparency has become a basic expectation: the days of euphonic and unresolving components is largely a thing of the past. In high-end circles, harmonic distortions today tend to be more a facet of room interactions, poor recordings, and oth... - Two Upcoming Tube Fest Articles4 May 2019, 7:31 pm
Two Upcoming Tube Fests by Steve Graham Tube Fest No. 1 A friend and I decided to sell off the majority of our collections of vintage and classic European tubes. Part of the process was educating our customers about the intertwined and labyrinthian nature of tube production in this golden age of tube making. It occurred to me that a primer on a pair of the most popular small-signal tubes would be of use. A soon to be posted article will be an introduction to the minutia of the ... - C.L.E.A.R. 834L: The Rejuvenation of an Esoteric Audio Research classic (Part 2)14 April 2019, 3:15 am
C.L.E.A.R. 834L: The Rejuvenation of an Esoteric Audio Research classic Part 2, by Steve Graham Modifying or rebuilding anything, be it a piece of classic stereo equipment or, perhaps, a classic car, will involve many value judgements and personal decisions. Some subtle, some not. No two audiophiles, or classic car buffs, departing from the same point, will finish in the same place. Be that as it may, this is my take on a cost-effective rejuvenation. I think I might have s...
- Meridian 210 Network Streamer Launched21 August 2019, 5:28 pm
In what has become a crowded digital network-streamer marketplace, a new product launch can struggle for recognition as it can be difficult to break through the signal-to-noise ratio. Less so if you’re Meridian Audio, whose award-winning and pioneering CD, DAC and DSP engineering designs are the stuff of legend in the audiophile world and were in no small part integral to the digital infrastructure that we find ourselves enmeshed in now.... - Audiophiles I know: Zach Cowie Part Two16 August 2019, 4:03 pm
This is the second half of a two-part interview with Zach Cowie, the Emmy-nominated music supervisor, former record label man and band manager, DJ, slow-music entrepreneur and audiophile with bonafides. I traveled to Los Angeles in June for work and was able to connect with Cowie in person to not only meet in a shady hotel room to record a podcast with him and Brian Hunter (included below), but also to spend an afternoon at his loft in downtown LA and check out his Shindo-based hi-fi rig.... - Naim Launch Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation13 August 2019, 5:27 pm
I’m into science fiction in a big way, so that means that by default I’m a Trekkie – a Star Trek fan for those sci-fi challenged out there – which means that when I first saw Naim’s Mu-so Qb design a few years ago I instantly associated it with the Borg Collective’s ships from Star Trek: The Next Generation.... - Audiophiles I know: Zach Cowie Part One9 August 2019, 4:25 pm
When I meet someone new and conversation inevitably turns to what it is both of us pursue for a living, people look at me in one of two ways when I tell them what I do: They either nod and give me a polite smile, having no real interest or their gaze intensifies, they lean in and they give me a knowing look because they love music too.... - Vinnie Rossi discusses new L2i-SE and L2i Amplifiers optional DAC 2.0 Module7 August 2019, 9:10 pm
Options. They’re essential in life, so why wouldn’t they be in high fidelity?...
- Chord Poly Review21 August 2019, 11:37 am
The Chord Poly is a wireless-capable ROON ready streaming add-on module for the company’s compact portable DAC/Amp, the Mojo. It is priced at £499.00. Disclaimer: The Chord Electronics Poly sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at Chord Electronics for giving us this opportunity. You can read […] The post Chord Poly Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - Campfire Audio Polaris 2 Review18 August 2019, 11:58 am
The Campfire Audio Polaris 2 is a revised launch of the original 2 driver hybrid monitor from 2017 with a tweaked tuning for a stronger low-end response and cleaner highs. SRP is priced at $599. Disclaimer: The Campfire Audio Polaris 2 sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank […] The post Campfire Audio Polaris 2 Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - Astrotec Lyra Nature – First Contact17 August 2019, 12:11 pm
The Astrotec Lyra Nature is the companies latest series of earbuds with a 16mm dynamic driver and detachable MMCX connectors. It is priced at $169. Disclaimer: The Astrotec Lyra Nature sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at Astrotec for giving us this opportunity. To read […] The post Astrotec Lyra Nature – First Contact appeared first on Headfonics.... - HiBy R5 – First Contact16 August 2019, 11:37 am
The HiBy R5 is the company’s new mid-range digital audio player featuring a dual CS43198 DAC implementation, Android Oreo, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor. It is priced at a competitive $399. Disclaimer: The HiBy R5 was sent to us a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank HiBy Music for this opportunity. To […] The post HiBy R5 – First Contact appeared first on Headfonics.... - Lime Ears Aether R Review14 August 2019, 11:47 am
The Lime Ears Aether R is a revised edition of their widely acclaimed original Aether custom monitor replete with a refined bass switch system. It retails from €1,200. Disclaimer: The Lime Ears Aether R sent to us is a custom sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at Lime Ears for giving us this […] The post Lime Ears Aether R Review appeared first on Headfonics....
- Audeze LCD-i3 Launched as iSINE 20 Replacement21 August 2019, 3:51 pm
With a nod to the influence of magnesium on improved resolution and resonance rejection, Audeze’s new LCD-i3 planar-magnetic IEM adopts the housing and grille design of its big brother the $2,495 USD LCD-i4 and with a nod to the present/future it also packs a Bluetooth wireless module in – all for just $899 USD.... - Measurements Alone Cannot Tell the Whole Story17 August 2019, 4:48 pm
I recently attended Summer NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) in Nashville, Tennessee. NAMM may be an unfamiliar name to you – it's a professional audio and music equipment convention, not consumer. And while the music industry has its own issues, if you want to see more diverse crowds, go to the pro-audio world. What you’ll also find in the pro-audio world is a lot of discussion about music, gear and audio that is friendly and open, even when people are disagreeing. ... - Campfire Audio Andromeda Special Edition: Gold – An IEM with no Crossover14 August 2019, 12:29 am
Crossover. No, not the car designation, rather, that piece of (usually) passive circuitry which helps determine how transducers react to the frequency of incoming analog signals via excursion, etc. ... - Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL MZ2 Review10 August 2019, 3:02 pm
Many of you will likely have heard passing reference to the MicroZOTL from a few years back when a number of hand-made semi-DIY kits got some buzz in the community. ... - HifiMan Arya Review4 August 2019, 4:32 pm
When I was just starting in the hobby one of the early headphones I aspired to own was the HiifiMan HE-400. I never did own one, but I recall being enchanted with it. ...
- Martin Logan Updates Their Folded-Tweeter “Motion” Series22 August 2019, 1:23 am
Martin Logan may be known for their giant electrostatic loudspeakers (I tend to see the statement Neolith at audio shows The post Martin Logan Updates Their Folded-Tweeter “Motion” Series appeared first on AudioHead.... - Audeze Quietly Introduces The LCD-i3, Phases Out The iSine 2020 August 2019, 6:19 pm
Although the outreach wasn’t paraded around with too much fanfare, a quick Facebook post this week let fans of the The post Audeze Quietly Introduces The LCD-i3, Phases Out The iSine 20 appeared first on AudioHead.... - A Schiit Shootout – 5 Turntable Cartridges Compared!14 August 2019, 2:00 pm
It was another warm Thursday afternoon where I found myself heading up to Newhall, CA to test out another round The post A Schiit Shootout – 5 Turntable Cartridges Compared! appeared first on AudioHead.... - Black Is The New Black – The Campfire Andromeda Gets A Special Limited Edition Run9 August 2019, 5:22 pm
It should come with no surprise that the Andromeda from Campfire Audio is still one of my favorite universal fit The post Black Is The New Black – The Campfire Andromeda Gets A Special Limited Edition Run appeared first on AudioHead.... - Are Large Number, Multi-BA Driver IEMs Dead? AK and Jerry Harvey Say “NAY!”8 August 2019, 4:01 pm
In the world of high end in-ears hybrid designs are all the rage. 6-9mm dynamic drivers coupled with balanced armature The post Are Large Number, Multi-BA Driver IEMs Dead? AK and Jerry Harvey Say “NAY!” appeared first on AudioHead....
- Comment on Monolith by Monoprice: Liquid Spark by Alex Cavalli Review by Bowei Zhao26 June 2019, 12:51 am
No problem. Glad I could help.... - Comment on Monolith by Monoprice: Liquid Spark by Alex Cavalli Review by The Audio File22 May 2019, 3:23 pm
Wonderful review... Thanks so much Bowie TAF... - Comment on HEADPHONE.GURU’S 2018 PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR AND WRITERS’ CHOICE AWARDS by PSB M4U 8 Wins Product of the Year Award - PSB Speakers10 May 2019, 7:42 pm
[…] praise, including being named the best Wireless and Noise-Cancelling Headphone of the Year by both Headphone Guru and Sound Image, […]... - Comment on AXPONA 2019 Coverage Sponsored By Underwood HiFi Pt 1 by The Audio File22 April 2019, 9:30 pm
Well done - very nice report and the photography is superb.... - Comment on Underwood Hifi at Room 478 Rolls Out New Offerings and Unparalleled Value! by Frank Iacone10 April 2019, 11:21 pm
Looking forward to seeing Walter this week at Axpona...
- 27 Best Audiophile Power Cables18 August 2019, 3:35 am
In case you don’t know, I have an obsession with audiophile cables. Once I’ve realized how a single cable could make or break a HiFi system – I went down the rabbit hole. It made the difference between enjoying a system – and being annoyed with it. I’ve spent the past five years auditioning and […] The post 27 Best Audiophile Power Cables appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Sony WF-1000XM3 Noise-Canceling Truly Wireless Earbuds Review10 August 2019, 3:00 pm
Look what just arrived at my desk! The new Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earphone. This is basically the baby version of the Sony WH-1000XM3 I reviewed last year. I’ll admit, I’ve been on a true wireless binge lately. Mostly because I’ve been traveling more. I’ve grown tired of unwinding wires, dust on ear […] The post Sony WF-1000XM3 Noise-Canceling Truly Wireless Earbuds Review appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - HIFIMAN TWS600 True Wireless Earphone Review7 August 2019, 3:33 am
The TWS600 is HIFIMAN’s latest single driver, true wireless stereo (TWS) earphone. With many cellphones dropping the 3.5mm port, consumers are looking for convenient ways to make calls, watch their video streams, and listen to music. The most notable TWS earphones are the Apple AirPods. But what if you’re looking for a more HiFi alternative? […] The post HIFIMAN TWS600 True Wireless Earphone Review appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Music in Movies: Linda Ronstadt – The Sound of My Voice1 August 2019, 6:49 pm
In total, she has released over 30 studio albums and 15 compilation or greatest hits albums. Ronstadt charted 38 Billboard Hot 100 singles, with 21 reaching the top 40, 10 in the top 10, three at number 2, and “You’re No Good” at number 1. This success did not translate to the UK, with only her single “Blue Bayou” reaching the UK […] The post Music in Movies: Linda Ronstadt – The Sound of My Voice appeared first on Aud... - Chord Company Launches New Epic USB Cable31 July 2019, 3:49 pm
New Epic USB is engineered for today’s increasingly sophisticated DACs, streamers, and digital sources 31st July 2019, Wiltshire: Chord Company has launched the new Epic USB (£400), a hand-built high-performance cable engineered to provide an increasingly sophisticated range of USB DACs, music streamers and digital source components with an unadulterated signal. The Wiltshire A/V cable […] The post Chord Company Launches New Epic USB Cable appeared first on Audio B...
- Sony DMP-Z1 – the ultimate DAP and a conundrum19 August 2019, 3:16 am
NEWS: Sony pulls out all the stops on its lovely DMP-Z1 player, although we have to ask - who's the target?... - Tube-driven C2700 is McIntosh’s newest preamp15 August 2019, 11:42 pm
NEWS: And yet another new piece of hi-fi gear from McIntosh Labs... this is the C2700 valve preamp.... - ProAc Tablette Ten speakers – a pill for your space ills13 August 2019, 1:47 am
REVIEW: Small spaces require small objects to provide satisfying sonic pleasures... as the ProAc Tablette Tens do with ease.... - Naim’s Mu-so Qb 2nd Generation comes with major updates9 August 2019, 3:00 am
NEWS: Naim continues to bring its popular products up to date... this time, the cute Mu-so Qb gets the 2nd Generation treatment.... - PS Audio’s new Stellar phono preamp a ‘giant killer’6 August 2019, 11:14 pm
NEWS: PS Audio doesn't do things without grand ambitions; its new Stellar MM/MC phono preamp aims very high....
- Musical Fidelity M2scd CD player Review25 July 2019, 10:23 am
The Musical Fidelity M2sCD partners high-quality CD mechanics with one of the best CD servo systems on the market, adds a fine DAC and well-designed power supply and wraps the lot in a smart, solid enclosure. The post Musical Fidelity M2scd CD player Review appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Musical Fidelity M2si Integrated Amplifier Review25 July 2019, 10:14 am
The M2si is a fine demonstration of what a reformed brand can produce from the get-go. The post Musical Fidelity M2si Integrated Amplifier Review appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Will An Audio-Technica AT-LP60 Turntable Damage Your Records?1 July 2019, 11:00 am
The Audio-Technica AT-LP60 is without doubt one of the best-selling budget turntables to date. But will it cause undue damage to your records? The post Will An Audio-Technica AT-LP60 Turntable Damage Your Records? appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Repairing an Audio-Technica AT-LP60 With a Failed Motor1 July 2019, 10:59 am
A couple of years ago I tested a GPO Stylo which was at the time one of the cheapest turntables available on the market. It was suggested that I repeat the test with an Audio-Technica AT-Lp60, arguably one of the best-selling budget turntables. The post Repairing an Audio-Technica AT-LP60 With a Failed Motor appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Yamaha HS-8 8″ Active Studio Monitor Speakers Reviewed25 June 2019, 11:47 am
If you can accommodate them, you’ll achieve excellent mixes which translate well to consumer devices and pro audio alike. The post Yamaha HS-8 8″ Active Studio Monitor Speakers Reviewed appeared first on Audio Appraisal....
- Home Recording Studio Review!The Mojave Audio MA-50Transformerless Microphone:“Entry Level Condenser Is QuiteA Transparency Over Achiever!"14 June 2019, 9:28 pm
... - EAN Audiophile Review!The KLH Kendall Tower3-Way Loudspeaker“Making Mr. Kloss Proud"24 March 2019, 8:52 pm
... - Home Theater Review!Paradigm Defiance X12 Subwoofer“15-inch Driver PerformanceFrom A 12-inch Subwoofer”4 March 2019, 2:24 pm
... - Audiophile Review!McGary Audio SA 1Stereo Tube Amplifier"The Little Tube Amp That Can"14 December 2018, 11:52 pm
... - Audiophile Review!Benchmark HPA4Headphone Amplifier/Line-Stage Preamplifier:"Precision Volume, Pure Transparency"31 July 2018, 5:28 pm
...
- REVIEW: OAD ULTRAFIDELITY UP1 PHONO PREAMPLIFIER15 August 2019, 12:32 am
If you want the very best from your vinyl playback and analog hi-fi system, then you're going to want to check out the Australian designed and manufactured UP1 Phono Stage from Open Audio Designs.... - REVIEW: BEYERDYNAMIC LAGOON ANC HEADPHONES31 July 2019, 5:04 am
The active noise-cancelling headphones market just had a new contender arrive in the form of Beyerdynamic, and its Lagoon ANC is worthy of the crown. Read on for the detailed review.... - REVIEW: DENON AVC-X6500H 11.2 CHANNEL AV SURROUND AMPLIFIER12 July 2019, 4:07 am
We loved Denon's AVC-X8500H AV Amplifier so much when we reviewed it last year, so we just had to get the X6500H smaller sibling in to see just how it compared to the behemoth.... - REVIEW: RUIPRO TRUE 4K FIBRE HDMI CABLE9 July 2019, 5:24 am
The increased popularity of 4K content has presented problems for many with HDMI cables, particularly over extended runs between a source and display device. RuiPro delivers an affordable HDMI cable solution.... - REVIEW: MEDIALIGHT BIAS LIGHTING9 July 2019, 2:58 am
A bias light is simply a light placed behind your television to reduce eye-strain and improve your TV's perceived contrast ratio. From as little as $99 it could be the most affordable upgrade you can make to your TV....
- Deal: Tripowin TP10 Five Balanced Armature in Ear Earphone-$20 Off with Coupon!22 August 2019, 12:50 pm
I just did a review of these and I had to share this awesome deal…right now on Amazon, you can get these earphones with 5 drivers per side (10 total) for $20 off the regular price of $68.99 bringing them down to $48.99! I’m not sure how long this deal will last, so I suggest continue reading... - Album Of The Week: Bryony Jarman-Pinto – “Cage and Aviary”22 August 2019, 11:21 am
This week’s album of the week is from another “new-to-me” artist named Bryony Jarman-Pinto. She’s a London based vocalist whose Music crosses so many genres it’s hard to say where she fits! Is it Neo-soul? Jazz? Folk? Her new album “Cage and Aviary” is probably a little bit of each, but not really any of continue reading... - Simgot’s Flagship EK3 Three Balanced Armature IEM In The House-First Impressions And Unboxing Pics!20 August 2019, 7:12 pm
The first time I saw pics of SIMGOT’s new flagship IEM, the $360 EK3, I was in love. The shiny transparent resin shell, the honeycomb imprinting, the splendid gold/silver braided cable, I was hooked. The only thing left to wonder was, “Does it sound as good as it looks?” Well, fortunately, thanks to SIMGOT, I continue reading... - #MusicMonday: New Music Playlist Feat. Snoh Aalegra+ 16 Other Artists You Need To Hear!19 August 2019, 11:46 pm
Here’s a #MusicMonday audiophile playlist of great-sounding music you need to hear, including new music from POP/R&B Songstress Snoh Aalegra plus 16 other songs! (TIDAL Music Stream below) BUY HERE: AMAZON- Ugh, those feels again [Explicit]- Snoh Aalegra... - Deal: HIFIMAN TWS600 True Wireless Hifi Earbuds (w/ Possible Bonus Earphones) $70 OFF!19 August 2019, 1:48 pm
HIFIMAN is well known for its well-developed and great bang for the buck wired headphones, but now they have brought their audiophile design expertise over to a pair a True Wireless Earbuds. The TWS600 just hit the market with great fanfare, and now you have a chance to grab them at $70 off the regular continue reading...
- KL Audio cleaners meet the end of the road....17 August 2019, 3:40 pm
... - Rory Gallagher lives on..29 June 2019, 9:28 pm
... - Been a while...27 June 2019, 6:40 pm
... - Core Power Tech under new ownership - Underwood HiFi purchases assets18 February 2019, 11:43 pm
... - Crutchfield offer remote listening test option17 February 2019, 3:07 am
...
- Audioengine 512 Portable Bluetooth Speaker10 July 2019, 4:36 pm
Link to SpecificationsLet's face it, there are times when one's big audio system just doesn't work for the situation at hand. The small barbecue gathering on the deck/patio, the picnic in the park, laundry day, the list is endless. Enter the value of bluetooth speakers and their easy portability and instant sound. But, being honest, most small bluetooth speakers sound little better than the transistor radios of the 1970's.While Audioengine has been making bluetooth speakers for several... - Klipsch Forte III Speakers22 May 2019, 4:23 am
Link to Specifications My first experience with attempting to fill a large space with sound from home speakers, was my neighbor’s rec room built in the mid-seventies. The room was approximately 30 x 30 with 18ft ceiling. The first time I entered the space Elton John’s anthem “Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” was on the turntable. But no matter how far we pushed the volume, the room swallowed the sound. If only the Klipsch Forte III’s had been in t... - Pathos Classic One mk. III18 April 2019, 3:15 am
SpecificationsThe Pathos Classic One mk. III was one of those pieces that I always thought it would be amazing to have. I first heard Pathos audio at a friend’s house and it was honestly the first time I thought I could live without separates! The Pathos piece I heard was the Logos, it sounded amazing but I’m not crazy about that whole giant stereo amp thing. It is a very cool looking piece, as almost all of the Pathos gear is. About a year after that encounter I w... - Peachtree Audio nova15018 April 2019, 3:15 am
SpecificationsTypically, I firmly believe in the mantra "If it works great, don't screw with it". When I first heard that Peachtree Audio went all version 2.0 on the audio community I took pause. Their nova125 and 220SE integrated amplifiers impressed me to no end with a top notch pairing of build quality and musical performance. Other than at the end of the 220SE review that I wrote for TONEAudio wistfully asking for a phonostage , I thought Peachtree had created a holy grail. After spending so... - Cherry Amplifier Maraschino Desktop Mono Amplifiers18 April 2019, 2:22 am
SpecificationsIn the audio industry there are a handful hyper-driven designers/engineers that are truly advancing the industry. One of them is Tommy O'Brien, founder of Digital Amplifier Company. Along with Andrew Jones for speakers and Nelson Pass with solid-state amplification, O'Brien is the resident leader in class D amplification. Since 1996, he has been designing digital amplification topology from scratch. I first heard of the Cherry lineup of amplifiers a decade ago thru one of my ...
- Vinyl Review: John Coltrane – Coltrane’s Sound (ORG Music, 180g, 45RPM)11 June 2018, 1:25 am
Sound: 7.2 Pressing/packaging: 9.2 Value: 8.4 ORG Music reissue released in 2014. 180g vinyl, 45RPM, 2LP, limited edition, numbered. Catalog Number: ORGM-1091. Mastered by Bernie Grundman. Pressed by Pallas in Germany. UPC: 711574708413. MSRP: $49. Buy on Amazon.com Introduction This LP was originally released by Atlantic Records in 1964. It consists of tracks recorded in […]... - Vinyl Review: Chopin – Polonaises Nos. 1-7, Maurizio Pollini (Deutsche Grammophon 180g)3 June 2018, 7:08 pm
Sound: 7.6 Pressing: 7.4 Value: 5.0 Deutsche Grammophon reissue released in 2016. 180g vinyl. Catalog Number: 479 6653. UPC: 028947966531. MSRP: $23. Buy on Amazon.com Introduction I’ve been on a Chopin rampage lately (if such a thing could ever exist). As far as solo piano works go, I spin Chopin more than any other composer. […]... - Vinyl Review: Sibelius – Violin Concerto, Oistrakh, Ormandy, Philadelphia Orch (Speakers Corner 180g)2 April 2018, 2:35 am
Sound: 8.8 Pressing: 8.4 Value: 9.0 Speakers Corner reissue released in 2017. 180g vinyl. Catalog Number: Columbia MS 6157. UPC: 4260019715333. MSRP: $35. Buy on Amazon.com Introduction Speakers Corner is mining the Columbia vaults for early stereo gems, of which this title is one. There are some legendary titles and performances from that era, but […]... - Vinyl Review: Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come (ORG Music, 180g, 45RPM)15 March 2018, 2:45 am
Sound: 9.8 Pressing: 3.5 Value: 8.5 ORG Music reissue released in 2013. 180g vinyl, 45RPM, 2LP. Catalog Number: ORGM-1081. Mastered by Bernie Grundman. Pressed by Pallas in Germany. UPC: 711574707218. MSRP: $49. Buy on Amazon.com Introduction Much has been said about this, Ornette Coleman’s shot across the bow of jazz as it was known in […]... - Vinyl Review: Stravinsky – The Firebird, Dorati, LSO (Speakers Corner 180g)4 March 2018, 3:15 am
Sound: 9.2 Pressing/Packaging: 9.4 Value: 9.7 Speakers Corner reissue released in 2008. 180g vinyl. Catalog Number: Mercury SR90226. UPC: 4260019714978. MSRP: $35. Buy on Amazon.com Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete). London Symphony Orchestra. Antal Dorati, conductor. Introduction As per our review philosophy, we focus reviews here exclusively on sound quality. Lots of analysis out there […]...