- In My Room12 August 2020, 4:12 pm
Listening rooms are real, imperfect places. Their character arises from their defects. I like real, imperfect things (footnote 1). Not that there's such a thing as a perfect listening room. Every domestic listening room shares the same basic problem: Its most fundamental nature—its size and shape, the amount of space it carves out—results in resonances that can profoundly alter the sound of reproduced music, especially in the bass.Wed, 08/12/2020...
- Analog Corner #298: Reed Muse 1C turntable and 5T tonearm11 August 2020, 5:43 pm
At the 2017 Hong Kong High End Audio/Video Show, I found myself sitting next to a turntable manufacturer who shall remain anonymous. A Reed Muse 3C turntable ($20,000) with 3P tonearm sat on a display table across from us.Mon, 06/01/2020... - "What's Going On"10 August 2020, 7:14 pm
Mother, mother There's too many of you crying Brother, brother, brother There's far too many of you dying I watched the TV with horror. George Floyd, an African-American man in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was being killed in front of the camera. I retreated to the listening room. In what couldn't have been a coincidence, the Roon app's "Discover" function had recommended I play What's Going On, Marvin Gaye's groundbreaking album, released in 1971 by Motown subsidiary Tamla. Mon, 08/10/2020... - Stereophile's Products of 19977 August 2020, 4:27 pm
For the sixth consecutive year, Stereophile has named a select few components as "Products of the Year." By doing so, we intend to give recognition to those components that have proved capable of giving musical pleasure beyond the formal review period. Mon, 12/01/1997... - Mark Levinson No.36 D/A converter6 August 2020, 4:46 pm
To echo Audio Cheapskate Sam Tellig, who was in turn paraphrasing Thomas R. Marshall, what the world needs is a great $299 CD player. Certainly there's no shortage of expensive units vying for your attention—most of them consisting of separate transports and D/A converters. Wed, 11/01/1995...
- Gordon Lightfoot’s Solo12 August 2020, 9:43 pm
Gordon Lightfoot is a songwriter’s songwriter. No less a wordsmith than Bob Dylan has sung his praises, saying, “Every time I hear a song of his, I wish it would last forever.” And there is a timelessness to Lightfoot’s folksy material that is heard throughout Solo (Rhino), a new album of previously unreleased acoustic demos recorded between 1996 and 2000, all of them solo. The session marked a crucial turning point in Lightfoot’s life and career. “Just as I w... - NAD Launches T 758 V3i Surround Sound Receiver12 August 2020, 9:39 pm
The following is a press release issued by NAD Electronics. PICKERING, ONTARIO, CANADA | AUGUST 12, 2020 – NAD Electronics, a leading manufacturer of premium home audio and video products, announced the launch of the T 758 V3i, a performance update to the award-winning T 758 A/V Surround Sound Receiver. The affordable surround sound receiver will now come ready with Dolby Atmos, DTS Master Audio, BluOS® high-res multi-room audio, Dirac Live®, 4K UHD Video and Apple AirPlay 2® a... - Esprit Audio Lumina Interconnects and Loudspeaker Cable11 August 2020, 4:17 pm
For a surprising number of high-end enthusiasts audio cables are basically just wires—a means to an end, a conduit for the audio signal, best heard but not seen, a necessary evil. I could go on, but you get my drift. I’ve even had some respected colleagues admit that the prospect of launching into a cable review was about as entertaining as cleaning out a rain gutter. And yes, I understand where all these opinions are coming from. Wire is wire right? And then you come across a cable ... - Audio Solutions Introduces Overture MK310 August 2020, 2:39 pm
The following is a press release issued by Audio Solutions. August 10, 2020 - Audio Solutions is proud to introduce the Overture MK3, our third-generation entry level speaker system. All Overture models are completely redesigned with new cabinets, drivers and crossovers The Overture MK3 features our Sectional-Box-in-a-Box cabinet system. Perfected in our award-winning Virtuoso speakers, it is not only remarkably stiff; but, also has excellent dampening properties. The cabinet consists of two int... - Introducing the Hana Umami Red8 August 2020, 5:39 pm
The following is a press release issued by Hana. August 8, 2020 - The HANA-Umami Red hand-built MC cartridge embodies Umami, officially coined in 1908 by Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda-san as a very pleasing or delicious flavor on the palette, a synergistic effect resulting in higher taste intensity. Hana’s Master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san applies this concept as he combines brilliant materials and classic Japanese techniques with modern audio engineering in creating his HANA-Umam...
- Join EnjoyTheMusic.com's Fun On Facebook12 August 2020, 3:47 pm
Follow EnjoyTheMusic.com on Facebook and join in on the fun! Let us know your thoughs on hi-fi, music and more! We have Chad Kassem's Blues Masters concert video too! We look forward to seeing you on Facebook.---> Join us on EnjoyTheMusic.com's Facebook page. ... - Celebrate! National Vinyl Record Day Is Today!12 August 2020, 11:34 am
National Vinyl Record Day is your chance to go old school. Spin music lovers all around the world have disagreements on a number of things, but one thing we think everyone can agree on is that vinyl LP records are here to stay. For those who value the quality of sound, owning physical copies of your favorite albums, or simply the nostalgia factor, it's probably safe to assume you've got your own collection of vinyl records stashed away somewhere.---> More about National Vinyl Record Day. ... - audioXpress' September Issue Is Now Available11 August 2020, 11:16 am
audioXpress' September 2020 issue features Altec Lansing's Voice of the Theatre Speakers, Loudspeaker Measurements at Home, Fast and Reliable End-of-Line, and How Virtual Product Development Improves the Quality of Consumer and Pro Audio Products. Also within this issue are The Magnepan LRS, The APR-17 Aperiodic Loudspeaker (Part 2), and The RSX Large / Modern DIY Speaker. Columns within this issue include Sound Control: From Acoustics to Electroacoustics and Audio Scope: How Do We Generate Meas... - Alliance For IP Media Solutions Open Standards11 August 2020, 11:15 am
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) is an industry consortium led by broadcast and ProAV engineers, technologists, visionaries, vendors and business executives dedicated to an open-standards approach that moves broadcast and media companies quickly from legacy systems to a virtualized, IP-based environment. AIMS' efforts build upon those of leading standards bodies such as the Video Services Forum (VSF), the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), the European Broadcas... - First Watt F8 Stereo Solid-State Amplifier By Nelson Pass10 August 2020, 8:07 pm
The new First Watt F8 power amplifier ($4000) by Nelson Pass has been created as an updated version of the earlier J2 amplifier, as first introduced in 2009. Like all First Watt designs, it is a relatively low power output, which with the F8 is rated at 25 Watts per channel stereo into 8 Ohms. It employs a simple Class A circuit designed with an unusually low parts count. The company says "It is the 21st product from First Watt, since its founding in 1998 as Nelson Pass' 'personal laboratory'."-...
- REVIEW: Musician PEGASUS | digital-to-analog converter | CHINA31 July 2020, 10:00 pm
Review Text: Wojciech Pacuła Images: Wojciech Pacuła Translation: Ewa Hornicka No 195 August 1, 2020 PREMIERE ⌈ The Chinese company MUSICIAN Audio Technology was set up in 2020. Its research and development team consists of a group of enthusiasts with over 20 years of experience in the audio industry. Its main aim are discreet balanced D/A R2R converters, balanced headphone amplifiers, balanced amplifiers, balanced preamplifiers, headphones, passive loudspeakers an... - INTERVIEW: WIKTOR KRZAK, Haiku-Audio | owner, constructor | POLAND/Krakow31 July 2020, 10:00 pm
Interview Text: Wojciech Pacuła Interviewer: Wojciech Pacuła Translation: Ewa Hornicka No 195 August 1, 2020 ⌈ HAIKU-AUDIO is a Polish company with a seat in Zabłocie district (Krakow), specializing in the production of audio amplifiers. It was set up in 2012, on the initiative of WIKTOR KRZAK, a musician and audio aficionado, and given a name after a type of a Talcomp output amplifier circuit. We are talking to its founder.⌋ have already talked and wr... - REVIEW: Xavian Prague CORALLO ESCLUSIVO | loudspeakers / stand-mount | CZECH REPUBLIC31 July 2020, 10:00 pm
PREMIERE ⌈ The founder of XAVIAN, Mr. ROBERTO BARLETTA, was born in Turin, Northern Italy. In 1989, he shocked the school's examination board with his design of a Class A audio amplifier. Still the same year, Roberto started working for one of the Italian companies manufacturing loudspeakers and power amplifiers. In 1994, he decided to move to Prague. After two years of uneasy "acclimatization", he founded Xavian. Its name comes from Greek mythology - "Xavian" is a holy place for muses,... - REVIEW: Aurorasound HEADA | headphone amplifier | JAPAN31 July 2020, 10:00 pm
Review Text: Wojciech Pacuła Images: Piksel Studio | Wojciech Pacuła Translation: Marek Dyba No 195 August 1, 2020 ⌈ AURORASOUND is a Japanese company founded in 2010 by Mr. SHINOBU KARAKI. Brand’s lineup includes preamplifiers, phonostages and amplifiers, but also a headphone amp called HEADA, one that we received for this test. ⌋ ne of my favorite moments is when a new issue of the "Stereo Sound" magazine arrives from Japan. I grab it and sit comfort... - REVIEW: Boulder 866 | integrated amplifier | USA31 July 2020, 10:00 pm
Review Text: Marek Dyba Images: Marek Dyba | Boulder No 195 August 1, 2020 ⌈ BOULDER AMPLIFIERS is an American brand that for over 35 years of making perfectly sounding, made and finished audio devices, mainly solid-state amplifiers, has become a synonym for top-high-end. The only integrated amplifier in the lineup, the 865, was sold successfully for 12 years. However, the time has come for the veteran of the Boulder portfolio to be replaced by a new contender, the 866. ⌋...
- Whats in a Name? The McIntosh Labs C2700 Preamplifier11 August 2020, 7:50 pm
How does one define the word-brand? It's a question I've been working on answering while helping to create a new sustainable women's clothing line with my wife. Is it a catchy name? A slick logo? The overall look and feel of the product(s)? The advertising / marketing message? Yes, in part all these elements bolster... Read More » The post Whats in a Name? The McIntosh Labs C2700 Preamplifier appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Underwood Hifi / LSA Headphones HP-3 NOVA – a New Budget Reference with World-Wide DELIVERED PRICING10 August 2020, 5:55 pm
August 8, 2020 Walter Liederman announces a new program delivering a spectacular Budget Reference in headphone design – The HP-3 NOVA made possible in collaboration with our friends at Kennerton Audio Equipment. The HP-3 is a thoroughly advanced design featuring a hybrid 50mm membrane made of Mylar that is powder coated with Graphene using a... Read More » The post Underwood Hifi / LSA Headphones HP-3 NOVA – a New Budget Reference with World-Wide DELIVERED PRICING appeared... - AudioQuest Dragon Power Cords8 August 2020, 7:14 pm
I am awaiting delivery in today's post of five AudioQuest Dragon power cords with mixed emotions. The unease is not about them; it is because I'm leery of rocking the boat presently anchored in the placid oasis of audio synergy, where all parts are working and everything important to me in playback is present. From... Read More » The post AudioQuest Dragon Power Cords appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Cooking Cables with PTFE - a Tour of Straight Wire, Inc. and an AV Cable Factory8 August 2020, 4:15 pm
Steven Hill, president of Straight Wire, Inc. (photo courtesy of Spencer Burke) "Many of our customers are engineers," says Steven Hill, 63, owner of Straight Wire, Inc., a straight-shooting, cigar-chomping graduate of University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Business School, former CPA, and 37-year veteran in the audio industry. Mr. Hill has no time for nonsense or... Read More » The post Cooking Cables with PTFE - a Tour of Straight Wire, Inc. and an AV Cable Factory appeared first on Positi... - AGD Andante Preamplifier and Vivace Monoblocks7 August 2020, 7:12 pm
AGD's Andante and Vivace will transport you to the musical venue. Review By Rick Becker With this article, Positive Feedback continues its content-sharing relationship with Enjoy the Music. Rick Becker shares his thoughts on the AGD Andante Preamplifier and Vivace Monoblocks. Dr. David W. Robinson, Editor-in-Chief It is always an honor when a manufacturer asks me to review... Read More » The post AGD Andante Preamplifier and Vivace Monoblocks appeared first on Positive Feedb...
- REL Tzero MKIII subwoofer12 August 2020, 6:13 pm
We’ve put a lot of emphasis on REL’s larger sub bass systems lately. Their latest offering is affordable, approachable, and easy to use. The new TZero MKIII is the current iteration of their 6.5″ sub, featuring a 100 watt class-D amplifier, in a cabinet that is only 8.5 x 9.5 x 10.5 inches. The perfect [...]... - McIntosh Labs announces the C22 MK V preamplifier11 August 2020, 4:28 pm
McIntosh first introduced the C22 preamplifier in 1963 and it’s been a top seller ever since. The combination of subtle styling, a plethora of inputs, and high performance, have made the C22 a true definition of the phrase “control preamplifier.” It was ahead of its time with two turntable inputs. Now, with the Mk.V edition, [...]... - New F8 From First Watt11 August 2020, 2:16 am
There’s a new amplifier from the First Watt division of Pass Laboratories, and it looks exactly like all the other First Watt amps. However, every First Watt amplifier has different characteristics and is optimized for a different kind of speaker. If you’ve ever met Nelson Pass, you know that in addition to being a creative [...]... - Nagra’s new Classic Phono Phono Stage9 August 2020, 7:38 pm
Nagra has just announced their new Classic Phono, a step up (pun intended) from their previous VPS phono stage. Priced at $19,750, it features a new, all Class-A phono circuit that has selections for RIAA, TELEDEC, and COLUMBIA eq curves and can also work with their Classic PSU. With two phono inputs along with balanced [...]... - Great CD player from Line Magnetic7 August 2020, 8:19 pm
We’ve had an influx of CD players to review lately. Hmmm…. Though streaming is all the rage, there’s still a lot of fun to be had spinning a physical disc. We’ve always been fans of the Compact Disc, no matter how unpopular it has been. Line Magnetic’s LM-24CD uses the ESS9016 chipset and offers a [...]...
- EISA Best Product Awards 2020-202112 August 2020, 1:44 am
Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA)Annual Product Awards ... - Recommended Reference Component: Focal Utopia Headphones1 August 2020, 4:00 am
When Tyll Hertsens reviewed Focal’s Utopia headphones in August 2016, that former editor of Inner|Fidelity called them the “World’s Best Headphone.” Wanting to hear how, four years later, they’d stack up against his own current favorite headphones, our own Brent Butterworth reviewed the Utopias in June 2020 for SoundStage! Solo. We’re glad he did. He ended that review by asking, then answering, a question: “Are the Utopias the ‘world’s best h... - What Is Your Current Reference System?1 August 2020, 4:00 am
After “Which component should I buy?” the most oft-asked question of reviewers is: “What is your current reference system?” Both are loaded requests because of myriad implications. Most obvious is the suspicious thought related to the first demand: Why did he/she recommend Product X and not Y or Z? As for the second query, your nagging doubt is, How can a schmuck like you afford Product X, Y, or Z? ... - Dr. Feickert Analogue Volare Turntable1 August 2020, 4:00 am
Right now, two turntables sit side by each on my custom double-wide equipment rack. On the right is my VPI Prime Signature, and to the left is a newcomer, Dr. Feickert Analogue’s Volare. Each is illuminated by its own 3000K potlight. They look quite dramatic. ... - Why I Prefer Vinyl1 August 2020, 4:00 am
“You could tell a lot about a man by the books he keeps -- his tastes, his interest, his habits.”-- Walter Benjamin, Illuminations: Essays and Reflections ...
- Commentary: affordable tubes12 August 2020, 10:19 pm
This quarantine has been difficult and although I do play records a lot during the day, I’ve needed some other things to do audio-wise. So, I have been changing things around in my stereo: swapping cartridges, rolling tubes, and even substituting different electronic components. In this article, I am writing about my experiences and the [...] The post Commentary: affordable tubes appeared first on Dagogo.... - New Album Releases Project 2020-8-88 August 2020, 5:21 pm
Jumping right in, once more into the fray. Mulatu Astatke & Black Jesus Experience’s To Know Without Knowing is a bonafide banger. It has just about everything I could want an album. The music is challenging, and the integration/melding of styles and genres just blew me away. Recently I have been on a world music [...] The post New Album Releases Project 2020-8-8 appeared first on Dagogo.... - Linn Majik DSM revamped8 August 2020, 5:17 pm
The following is a press release from Linn UK. Linn Majik DSM: a beloved classic revamped, inside and out Introducing the new high performance all-rounder from Linn, pioneers of the digital streaming revolution Majik digital streamers have been an integral part of Linn’s industry-leading range since their introduction in 2009. N... - Audio-Technica Introduces AT-ART9XI and AT-ART9XA High-Performance Phono Cartridges6 August 2020, 10:34 pm
STOW, OH, August 7th, 2020 — Audio-Technica today announced the introduction of its AT-ART9XI and AT-ART9XA dual moving coil stereo phono cartridges, two high-performance models designed to deliver extraordinary sound quality and performance in the finest turntables. The AT-ART9XI is Audio-Technica’’s new flagship magnetic-core moving coil cartridge, while the AT-ART9XA features a non-magnetic core construction. [...] The post Audio-Technica Introduces AT-ART9XI and AT-ART9XA Hig... - NAD announces Masters M28 seven-channel power amplifier4 August 2020, 7:01 pm
Pickering, Ontario, Canada, August 4, 2020— NAD Electronics, the highly regarded manufacturer of high-performance audio/video components, today unveiled another new and unique Masters Series product. The M28, a seven-channel high performance amplifier that can serve as a powerful engine for a state-of-the-art multi-channel system for music or home theatre. Of note, the reference amplifier is [...] The post NAD announces Masters M28 seven-channel power amplifier appeared first on Dagogo....
- Review | Schiit Audio Jotunheim R11 August 2020, 5:57 pm
In my review of the RAAL-requisite SR1a headphones I opened with the following statement. “The RAAL-requisite SR1a headphones are unequivocally the most sensational audio product I've ever heard. Honestly, no product has ever captured my attention, caused me to listen to more music, or garnered my enthusiasm like the SR1a Earfield headphone monitors.” I still stand by every word in that review and see nothing on the horizon that could change my opini... - Audio Recording Primer Part 5: How to Use Microphones for Best Results7 August 2020, 4:25 pm
Editor's Note: Audiophile Style community member George Graves has kindly allowed us to publish his five part series on high quality audio recording. This series is a primer that many audiophiles will find interesting and educational. It isn't a treatise, textbook, or master class designed to cover every detail in depth. As a music lover and audiophile I want to understand a bit more about recording, but I don't want to become a recording engineer. This series is right in my wheelhouse, and ... - Audio Recording Primer Part 4: Microphones for Quality Recording7 August 2020, 4:20 pm
Editor's Note: Audiophile Style community member George Graves has kindly allowed us to publish his five part series on high quality audio recording. This series is a primer that many audiophiles will find interesting and educational. It isn't a treatise, textbook, or master class designed to cover every detail in depth. As a music lover and audiophile I want to understand a bit more about recording, but I don't want to become a recording engineer. This series is right in my wheelhouse, and ... - Audio Recording Primer Part 3: Microphone Mixers and Pre-amps6 August 2020, 2:23 pm
Editor's Note: Audiophile Style community member George Graves has kindly allowed us to publish his five part series on high quality audio recording. This series is a primer that many audiophiles will find interesting and educational. It isn't a treatise, textbook, or master class designed to cover every detail in depth. As a music lover and audiophile I want to understand a bit more about recording, but I don't want to become a recording engineer. This series is right in my wheelhouse, and ... - McIntosh MC1502 Vacuum Tube Amplifier and C22 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Mk V6 August 2020, 2:02 pm
A couple new gems from McIntosh announced today, that replace limited edition 70th anniversary components. The MC1502 amplifier is the replacement of the limited edition MC2152. The new amp has double the power of the storied MC275 amp but McIntosh managed to improve the signal to noise ratio in this single chassis to 112dB versus 105dB when using two MC275 amps to obtain 150 watts of power. In addition to the new MC1502, McIntosh released the C22 Mk V preamp as a direct replacement for...
- Everything You Know About Skating Is Wrong!11 August 2020, 8:15 pm
Well, that’s a clickbait headline for sure, but unlike most it’s probably true, especially if you’ve taken my word on this. ... - My Physics Teacher Was a New York Record Producer and I Had No Idea7 August 2020, 12:58 am
I grew up and went to school in Hereford in the 1980s and 90s - a small, old, and averagely average rural English cathedral city with a bit of a leftie/peacenik 'muesli belt' that definitely included my family. Since a few biggish musicians or bands have had some connection with the town over the years, maybe also because of its hippy side and its proximity to the legendary Rockfield Studios (just down the road near Monmouth), the Herefordshire of my youth seemed to be full of people with tenuou... - Rhino To Release September 18th Coltrane's <i>Giant Steps</i> 60th Anniversary Deluxe Edition on 2 LPs6 August 2020, 6:44 pm
AnalogPlanet readers need to introduction to this groundbreaking album, Coltrane's first for Atlantic recorded shortly after his participation in Kind of Blue. The packaging and presentation are "first class" and include a booklet with new, never before seen photos and an essay by jazz historian Ashley Kahn. The jacket and label art replicate the original's.... - Direct-to-Disc Vinyl Explosion!5 August 2020, 7:58 pm
(Review Explosion is usually a recurring AnalogPlanet feature covering recent releases for which we either don’t have sufficient time to fully explore, or that are not worthy of it. Normally curated by AnalogPlanet contributing editor Malachi Lui, this particular Review Explosion has been hijacked by AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer and covers in capsule form Direct-to-Disc releases). ... - Hana introduces Umami Red MC Cartridge4 August 2020, 8:14 pm
Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda-san officially coined the term "Umami" in 1908, defining it as a very pleasing or delicious flavor on the palette, a synergistic effect resulting in higher taste intensity. From the Musical Surroundings press release: "When Hana decided to create a high-end cartridge, Master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san applied the concept of Umami combining brilliant materials and classic Japanese techniques with modern audio engineering."...
- The Most Interesting Audiophile in the World:}11 August 2020, 12:00 pm
... - REVIEW: The Class AB Vista Spark Integrated Amplifier9 August 2020, 12:00 pm
... - When your speaker, amp, DAC, or system craps out who you gonna call?7 August 2020, 12:00 pm
... - Does your system have the summertime blahs!5 August 2020, 12:00 pm
... - Do you (or will you) buy Chinese audiophile products?3 August 2020, 12:00 pm
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- MAGNIUS, The New Beast from Schiit Audio11 August 2020, 4:16 pm
VALENCIA, CA — A new little beast from Schiit Audio arrives today in the form of a headphone amplifier/preamplifer. And it shall be called MAGNIUS! Jason Stoddard of Schiit Audio was so kind to provide us with some detailed insight on the new technologies implemented within the new Magnius. JASON: “The Magnius introduces our all-new ZZZ Technology™, with our exclusive Super-Nested-Opamp-Recombinant-Electronics topology (SNORE™). Because composite amplifiers have been arou... - Underwood HiFi Launches Worldwide LSA HP-3 NOVA11 August 2020, 4:45 am
CYBERSPACE, USA — Walter Liederman of Underwood HiFi announced today a program designed to deliver a new spectacular budget reference in headphone design dubbed the HP-3 NOVA. Developed with the collaboration with Kennerton Audio Equipment. Check out the photos and details enclosed below. HP-3 NOVA – A NEW BUDGET REFERENCE World-Wide Delivered Pricing Walter Liederman announces a new program delivering a spectacular budget reference in headphone design – The HP-3 NOVA made poss... - REL Acoustics Introduces T/zero MKIII Subwoofer9 August 2020, 4:01 am
BERKELEY, CA (PTA) — REL Acoustics recently launched their updated T/zero MKIII ($449 USD) subwoofer, which receives a new woofer, and redesigned class-D amplifier section. The T/zero currently occupies the only spot in the Serie T line of subwoofers, which still bear a family resemblance to the larger Serie T/i models. The T/zero is designed for small speaker applications, or for a room with extension speakers such as in-ceiling speakers that may need a bit more help on the low end. The T... - Reference Recordings ANNUAL SUMMER SALE!8 August 2020, 8:00 pm
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Marcia Martin, the Executive Director at Reference Recordings, delivered us some great news today. It’s the beginning of the “ANNUAL SUMMER SALE!” Yes, that deserves to be in all caps, because that’s how big of a deal it is, and how big of a sale it is as well. Classical, Jazz, and Blues lovers rejoice! More details enclosed below. RR’s ANNUAL SUMMER SALE! Today through August 16th, save 20% storewide — including our new Hi-Res Downlo... - BorderPatrol SE-i DAC | Review8 August 2020, 9:00 am
Whenever the talk of my distaste for digital audio comes up among audiophile friends, there are usually two things mentioned. First, I’m asked “What DAC are you using?” The second thing commonly said is “You should hear that BorderPatrol DAC.” Well lucky me, I finally got to spend some time with a BorderPatrol SE-i. I hear music in digital form just about every dang day while I’m working in the studio. I’ve gotten used to it. It’s almost an oc...
- Starting points: Drop + THX’s AAA 789 Linear Amplifier12 August 2020, 9:45 am
In this series of ‘Starting points’ posts, we’re looking at more affordable headphone amplifiers. We’ve already given the Pro-Ject Head Box S2 (US$149) and Schiit Asgard 3 (US$199) the once over. Today we step up our spend by another hundred bucks to take in the Drop + THX AAA 789 […] More---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copyright 2010-2020 · Darko.Audio &middo... - Schiit announces Magnius: a $199 balanced headphone amp11 August 2020, 2:13 pm
Balanced in and out headphone action in Schiitsville used to cost us four hundred bills. From today, it goes for half of that, stepping on the toes of the Asgard 3. Schiit Audio’s all-new Magnius headphone amplifier – that offers balanced and single-ended pre-amplifier outputs – puts us in possession […] More---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copyright 2010-2020 · Dark... - Starting points: Schiit’s Asgard 311 August 2020, 10:55 am
This is the second in a series of four posts about entry-level(ish) headphone amplifiers. Last time we looked at the Pro-Ject Head Box S2 (US$149). Today, we’re looking at the Schiit Asgard 3 (US$199). Schiit Audio has been around for 10 years by now and I’ll assume most readers are […] More---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copyright 2010-2020 · Darko.Audio · All Rig... - Starting points: Pro-Ject’s Head Box S211 August 2020, 10:14 am
Headphone amplifiers – there are hundreds to choose from, all with varying prices, topologies, feature sets, headphone suitability and performance levels. Where on earth does one begin? We must first consider why a headphone amplifier is even necessary. Just as loudspeakers benefit from higher quality amplification – and sometimes more […] More---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Cop... - KIH #78 – Rack ’em up!9 August 2020, 3:52 pm
Upwardly mobile. What should I do next? It’s how some audiophiles work. They play their hobby not just on the music level which, if you stream content, is cheap these days. They also are constantly busy on the gear level which hardly ever comes cheap. Whilst some hardware buys might […] More---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copyright 2010-2020 · Darko.Audio · All Rights Re...
- Allnic Audio Amber MC Cartridge24 July 2020, 11:50 am
The star products from South Korea’s Allnic Audio continue to arrive on the island for review. Usually, the delivery guy/gal is cussing me under his/her breath wrangling the massive boxes in which the Allnic tube amps and preamps arrive. This time, no grumbling. A tiny cartridge. The new Allnic Audio Amber Moving Coil Cartridge, in fact, the more expensive sister to the equally new Rose MC Cartridge ($2900—now in Karl Sigman’s hands—review up late August). The MSRP ... - Bernard Haitink conducts Bruckner’s Seventh on Direct-to-disc vinyl24 July 2020, 11:38 am
In late 2016, the analog community was shocked when the Berlin Philharmonic announced that for the first time in the orchestra’s history, they would be releasing an all-analog ‘Direct to Disc’ (D2D) recording. The subsequent limited box set of all four of Johannes Brahms’ Symphonies featuring Sir Simon Rattle at the podium, recorded by a team from nearby Emil Berliner Studios, sold out quickly, and was proof that modern world-class orchestras are willing to cater to... - Allnic Audio A-2000 25th Anniversary Power Amplifier10 July 2020, 1:00 pm
This is the 25th Anniversary edition of Allnic Audio’s A-2000 stereo power amplifier. The 25th is both a 100 watt (pentode) and 50 watt (triode) push-pull design that retails for $9,900. The pentode/triode feature is switchable ‘on-the-fly’. Changes from the original A-2000 include upgraded output transformers, a modified chassis with a newer, swept look and a power tube swap from KT88s to KT150s. Designer Kang Su Park also made some circuitry changes for greater stabili... - Streaming the Classics: Berlioz—Roméo et Juliette10 July 2020, 12:59 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... - SONOS Arc3 July 2020, 1:00 pm
Driving with cabriolet top down on a particularly sunny Spring day last month, I heard the CEO of Sonos, Patrick Spence, being interviewed by Nilay Patel of The Vergecast. Spence was particularly smooth and spoke mostly in corporate talk but did take responsibility for the debacle last year where some bright spark at Sonos decided to brick older products when new software updates were applied. Even with a healthy discount, my older purchased review units were expensive and not ready for th...
- Virtualizing Roon ROCK5 December 2019, 7:00 am
John Reekie continues his virtualization experiments with Roon, this time virtualizing the ROCK software appliance. Performance seems to be about the same as the virtualized Roon Server. He writes "I’m ambivalent about whether I prefer ROCK or Roon Server in a virtualized setting... instructions are here for anyone who would like to try it."... - Virtualizing Roon Server – Part 22 December 2019, 10:51 am
John Reekie continues his article on virtualizing Roon Server with more load measurements. He discovers that the virtualized Roon Server is difficult to break. "I'm impressed by how well it handled the loads I threw at it. I declare the experiment a success!"... - Virtualizing Roon Server1 December 2019, 8:54 am
"In my last article on running Roon Server on the ODroid H2, I initially spent some time worrying about whether this little computer would be powerful enough for Roon," writes John Reekie in the introduction to this article on running Roon Server in a virtualized environment. He walks through the installation procedure and runs a set of experiments on it.... - 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....
- Purist Audio Design Diamond Revision HDMI cable12 August 2020, 8:45 am
The audio world is a conservative one. We tend to be dismissive of the new and those products we think unconnected to audio. As a result, HDMI gets a bad press from audio enthusiasts, as it’s a ‘video’ cable and writing about HDMI brings the taint of video to an audio magazine! Nothing could be further from the truth. As the name suggests, Purist Audio Design is not a company that’s known for video cables, and yet the company has been making high-performance HDMI for year... - Beethoven, Piano sonatas (complete), Paul Badura-Skoda – period pianos12 August 2020, 8:39 am
I recall buying Beethoven’s late sonatas with Paul Badura Skoda on vinyl way back in 1980/81.The recordings were made between 1978 and 1989, Alas, the original Astree LPs/CDs were always hard to find, and never around for very long; blink and you’d missed them! But let me digress... In 1976/7, Maurizio Pollini recorded Beethoven’s late sonatas for Deutsche Grammophon – a release that set fresh standards, both musically and sonically. Pollini offered Olympian interpretatio... - WIN! One of four fantastic Synergistic Research cables worth up to $699!10 August 2020, 5:51 am
We have partnered with our friends from Synergistic Research to bring you an exciting competition and a chance to win one of four cables worth up to $699. Alan Sircom reviewed the Synergistic Research Foundation series cables in issue #185 (page 59). He wrote, “Synergistic Research’s Foundation Series cables uses 6N purity pure silver conductors using Synergistic’s own handmade Air String geometry with the company’s UEF (Uniform Energy Field) Matrix shielding. This last i... - Linn's new Majik DSM: a classic revamped, inside and out6 August 2020, 5:14 pm
Majik digital streamers have been an integral part of Linn’s industry-leading range since their introduction in 2009. Now, Linn’s best-selling streaming product of the last decade has been completely reimagined to deliver a stunning new look, an all-new feature set and, most importantly, an impressive boost in performance. Gilad Tiefenbrun, Linn Managing Director said, ‘Recent years have seen the rapid expansion of Linn’s product portfolio, both in terms of category and t... - Exclusive: Linn's new Majik DSM – First Impressions6 August 2020, 5:02 pm
I’ve been fortunate in being the only person not working for Linn who got an exclusive pre-release listen to the new £2,950 Majik DSM. OK, to bring myself into line I had to change my name from ‘Sircom’ to ‘Sirkom’ for the duration, but that’s a small price to pay for the privilege. And listening to the Linn Majik DSM in advance was a bit of a privilege. Let’s be honest. Hi-Fi has got a bit po-faced. We’ve gone down a snobby route that can wo...
- Eurythmics: <I>Touch</I>11 August 2020, 8:02 pm
Released in November 1983, the band's third album for RCA Records went to No 1 in the UK, No 10 in the States' Billboard chart and was later certified platinum. Not bad for an LP recorded and mixed in part of a North London church in just three weeks... In the post-punk era of the late '70s many new wave groups chose a name beginning with 'the' to differentiate themselves from what had gone years before. And often their choices were deliberately low key, which gave us names like The Trainspotte... - Vinnie Rossi L2i-SE Integrated Amp/DAC10 August 2020, 10:16 pm
Can't choose between tubes and transistors? Vinnie Rossi may have the answer with the L2i-SE integrated amplifier, which deals with that conundrum in a unique manner So overwhelming is the matter of choice when putting together a system that it can cause as much anguish as pose a fun challenge. What type of speakers? MM or MC pick-up? Integrated or separates? These usually sort themselves out due to space or budget, but 'tubes versus transistors' almost calls for a leap of faith – unlike... - Seiji Ozawa: Conductor7 August 2020, 3:08 pm
One of the few Japanese musicians to have made a long career in the West, with a Boston tenure of 29 years. Christopher Breunig looks at his life and wide discography Atough game of rugby football put an end to the hopes that a young Japanese boy would become a concert pianist. Seiji Ozawa, then 15, was mad about the game but severely damaged his hand in a scrum. When his piano teacher suggested he might think of conducting instead, he had never even seen a symphony orchestra, live or on televi... - Lumin D2 Music Server/DAC6 August 2020, 5:57 pm
This is not quite the most affordable of Lumin's network-attached players, but the D2 looks good, is sensibly priced and – thanks to a super-slick app – is a delight to use too As the model number suggests, the £1845 Lumin D2 is the latest version of the company's affordable network audio player, the entry point for a range that started with the A1 back in 2012. And while the range has expanded, and some things have changed, much still seems the same: the D2 is compact, at jus... - Edgar Winter Group: <I>They Only Come Out At Night</I>5 August 2020, 10:09 pm
Take one pale Texan and a band of top talent and you have an LP ready to rock the charts. Steve Sutherland assesses a 1972 album destined for reissue on 180g vinyl Say what you like about Quentin Tarantino, but one thing's for sure: the man's got great taste in movies. Listed among his favourites are the obvious (Apocalypse Now, Fight Club), the not so well known but fantastic (Takashi Miike's Audition, Bong Joon-ho's The Host) and one that especially concerns us here, Richard Linklater's Daze...
- Best gaming TVs 2020: 4K gaming TVs for PS5, Xbox Series X and all current consoles12 August 2020, 6:47 pm
The best gaming TVs for current and next-gen consoles.... - iPhone 12: price, design, release date, leaks and news12 August 2020, 3:36 pm
The iPhone 12 is expected to launch in a matter of weeks, so naturally lots of rumours have surfaced about what we can expect from the next iPhone...... - Xiaomi unveils ludicrous transparent OLED TV – and it's actually going on sale12 August 2020, 3:30 pm
The Chinese electronics firm is marking its 10th anniversary with a fully transparent OLED TV.... - How to watch HDR on Sky Q: what do you need? What HDR shows are available?12 August 2020, 3:22 pm
Sky Q customer? Want to watch in the very best picture quality? Here's how to watch High Dynamic Range content on Sky Q...... - iPhone 12 OLED display revealed in leaked image12 August 2020, 3:17 pm
Although the noted leaker has since deleted the image, it appeared to show the inside view of an OLED screen, on a disassembled 5.4in 'iPhone 12'....
- 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....
- Floorstanding Gold Star Bargain: The DALI Oberon 5 Speakers29 July 2020, 1:22 am
‘In The House’, with David Neice Review Article: DALI Oberon 5 Speakers MSRP: $1399 (Canadian) Verdict: Taking up much less floor space than a stand mount speaker (when on a stand), the diminutive DALI Oberon 5 floor-standing speakers deliver on so many sonic fronts that it is hard to know where to begin. Always terrific fun to listen to and highly balanced, these condo-friendly floorstanders break the mold for what can be achieved on a budget. DALI is to be commend... - Lindemann Limetree Network Streamer and DAC17 June 2020, 10:25 pm
As I unboxed this diminutive offering from the renowned German firm Lindemann, the words of Clara Peller echoed, thus, in my trivia-soaked mind: ‘where’s the beef?’ I should have remembered that other firms like Canada’s Resonessence Labs offer world-class products in pint-sized casings. I own one such product–their Herus DAC/headphone amp. Right off the bat, even as I profess my continuing love for my portable Herus/iPhone combination, I’ll say that the Limet... - Review: MastersounD’s Dueundici Integrated Amplifier10 June 2020, 7:22 pm
In The House, with David Neice Mastersound Dueundici – An Affordable Italian Class A Amp Verdict: The Mastersound Dueundici is an entry level integrated tube amp that provides a ‘taste of tubes’ in an affordable package. However, this amp is just so very musical as to be able to delight any dedicated listener. Although I did some tube swapping (see details below), my verdict is based on the factory stock configuration and reflects the best sound available from the unit d... - An Interview With Frank Ng Of Finale Audio / Triode Lab27 May 2020, 8:25 pm
A conversation with Frank Ng, head of Canada’s Triode Lab and Finale Audio. Thanks for doing this, Frank. First of all, is every one in good health, and how are you managing through the pandemic at this stage? Thanks for asking, Noam. Like most Canadians, the family is sheltering at home, and family, friends and colleagues are all in good health. That said, as with many small business owners, we have noticed a sharp decrease in orders. We have also been challenged with supply... - Review: iFi Zen Blue, A Budget Bluetooth Streaming DAC14 May 2020, 5:44 pm
Review by Noam Bronstein Continuing my Bluetooth / aptX journey begun a few weeks ago, here is the first of a series of mini-reviews of audio gear that tries to make the most of these technologies. iFi Audio’s Zen Blue is a wireless DAC – specifically, it’s billed as a high-resolution Bluetooth streamer. This is a dedicated Bluetooth unit: it has a range of output options, but the only way it can receive a signal is from a Bluetooth device (smartphone, tabl...
- Swan Song Audio Mini DAC Review12 August 2020, 12:06 pm
The Swan Song Audio Mini DAC is a compact high-end portable amp/DAC using a TI Burr-Brown and Analog Devices implementation. It is priced at $950. Disclaimer: The Swan Song Audio Mini DAC is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at Swan Song Audio for giving us this opportunity. To read […]... - Shozy Form 1.4 Review9 August 2020, 12:00 pm
The Shozy Form 1.4 is a universal hybrid 5 driver IEM featuring a single 9.2mm beryllium-coated dynamic driver and 4 BA drivers. It is priced at $200. Disclaimer: The Shozy Form 1.4 sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion in this review. We thank the team at Shozy for giving us […]... - Flare Audio Calmer Review8 August 2020, 12:14 pm
The Flare Audio Calmer is a uniquely developed hearing device that fits in your ear to reduce stress and enhance your listening experience. It is priced at £19.99. Disclaimer: The Flare Audio Calmer sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion in this review. We thank Flare Audio for this opportunity. To […]... - Kinera Freya Review7 August 2020, 10:38 am
The Kinera Freya is a 4 driver hybrid universal IEM featuring a single dynamic driver and 4 balanced armature drivers. It is priced at $249. Disclaimer: The Kinera Freya was sent to us a sample in exchange for our honest opinion in this review. We thank the team at Kinera and HifiGo for giving us this opportunity. […]... - HELM Audio DB12 AAAMP Review5 August 2020, 11:13 am
The Helm Audio DB12 AAAMP is a THX-certified mobile in-line headphone amplifier with up to 110mW of power and 8 hours battery life. It is priced at $199.99. Disclaimer: The Helm Audio DB12 AAAMP was sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion in this review. We thank the team at […]...
- Nelson Pass’ First Watt Introduces The F8 Power Amp12 August 2020, 5:51 pm
Nelson Pass' "other" company (Pass Labs being the first) First Watt announced a new power amplifier this week. The First Watt F8 Power amp is considered to be the spiritual successor to the popular J2 amp from the same company. The post Nelson Pass’ First Watt Introduces The F8 Power Amp appeared first on AudioHead.... - The Schiit Magnius – A New $200 Balanced Headphone Amplifier Made In The US11 August 2020, 4:38 pm
Schiit Audio unveils a new $200 balanced headphone amplifier to match the recently released Modius DAC. The post The Schiit Magnius – A New $200 Balanced Headphone Amplifier Made In The US appeared first on AudioHead.... - An Interview With MBL High End Loudspeakers and Electronics5 August 2020, 5:49 pm
The Occasional Podcast Interviews Jeremy Bryan from MBL - a maker of unique, high-end 360-degree-throw loudspeakers. The post An Interview With MBL High End Loudspeakers and Electronics appeared first on AudioHead.... - What’s Going On With Audiostream & InnerFidelity?3 August 2020, 5:58 pm
What's Going On With InnerFidelty and Audiostream? The post What’s Going On With Audiostream & InnerFidelity? appeared first on AudioHead.... - Review: Pass Labs INT-25021 July 2020, 12:07 pm
Review of the Pass Labs INT-250 Integrated Amplifier. This 250w per channel integrated from Pass Labs get put through the paces on Audio-Head.com. The post Review: Pass Labs INT-250 appeared first on AudioHead....
- NAD Launches T 758 V3i Surround Sound Receiver12 August 2020, 5:34 pm
NAD Launches T 758 V3i Surround Sound Receiver NAD Combines Best-In-Class Sound Quality with Their Simple is Better Design Philosophy The post NAD Launches T 758 V3i Surround Sound Receiver appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - Jason Miles – Pretty World Video Release12 August 2020, 4:55 pm
Here is the official release of the Video of Jason Miles and Friends upcoming track “Pretty World” The song comes The post Jason Miles – Pretty World Video Release appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - LSA Launches New LSA HP-3 NOVA Budget Audiophile Headphone10 August 2020, 5:51 pm
HP-3 NOVA – a New Budget Reference with World-Wide DELIVERED PRICING Walter Liederman announces a new program delivering a spectacular The post LSA Launches New LSA HP-3 NOVA Budget Audiophile Headphone appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - LSA HP-2 Headphone Giveaway Winner Announcement10 August 2020, 5:00 am
Thank you to all the people who entered our LSA-HP2 headphone giveaway contest last month. We are happy to announce The post LSA HP-2 Headphone Giveaway Winner Announcement appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - JAZZ RE:FRESHED TEAMS UP WITH MQA & BLUESOUND TO BRING ANNUAL FESTIVAL ONLINE7 August 2020, 5:49 pm
Some of the most exciting emerging and established artists are due to perform via YouTube and in hi-res audio to The post JAZZ RE:FRESHED TEAMS UP WITH MQA & BLUESOUND TO BRING ANNUAL FESTIVAL ONLINE appeared first on Headphone Guru....
- September issue on sale tomorrow12 August 2020, 8:34 am
Inside this month's issue: six step-up turntables battle it out in our Group Test, NAD's superb Masters M33 network music system, Duevel's Venus omni-directional floorstander, Magnepan's supreme affordable LRS flat speaker, a visit to a Southend record store and much more... ... - Auralic Altair G111 August 2020, 9:16 am
Compared with Auralic’s more specialist models the Altair G1 is a workhorse, but it’s still a pure thoroughbred... - Norma Audio Revo IPA-70B10 August 2020, 12:09 pm
If this integrated amplifier is anything to go by, you can expect to hear a lot more from Norma Audio... - ATC SIA2-100 and CD27 August 2020, 8:56 am
ATC has expanded its range of electronics with a new amplifier and CD player, HFC puts them through their paces... - What's your favourite way to listen to music?6 August 2020, 9:58 am
The fact you like listening to music is a given, but what's your chosen type of transducer? What's your favourite way to listen to music? Choices Floorstanding loudspeakers Headphones In-ear headphones Desktop monitors Standmount loudspeakers Leave this field blank Show Promo ImageHi-Fi ChoiceCategory: TechnologyPrimary Category: Technology...
- Gingko Audio Summer Isolation Giveaway17 July 2020, 5:41 pm
Do well by your audio system while doing good: Donate to one of the listed charities, which are helping in the fight against COVID-10, and get Gingko Audio’s award-winning, patented ARCH products for free. Word Central Kitchen (https://wck.org/) Feeding America (https://www.feedingamerica.org/) Doctors Without Borders (https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/) Our “Summer Isolation Giveaway” offer applies to the following ARCH models: […] The post Gingko Audio Summer ... - AXPONA – The Lost Tapes for 202012 July 2020, 1:10 am
All high-end hi-fi shows have been canceled for 2020…and perhaps for 2021. Hardcore audiophiles are starting to forget how it feels like to be at one of these shows. This motivated me to push out some footage I’ve kept in the archives. Aside from being the best footage from a show, I hope it’s enough […] The post AXPONA – The Lost Tapes for 2020 appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Underwood Hifi and Core Power Tech A/V Introduces the USBe Perfect19 June 2020, 2:36 am
Walter Liederman, owner of Underwood Hifi and Core Power Tech A/V had these comments when asked about the USBe Perfect: The USBe Perfect is designed to yield the best results when using USB (Type 2 or Type 3) in your audio system. Now that USB has become the transmission medium of choice, we saw a […] The post Underwood Hifi and Core Power Tech A/V Introduces the USBe Perfect appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Sound United to Acquire Bowers & Wilkins12 June 2020, 11:45 pm
Sound United Enters into a Preliminary Agreement to Acquire Bowers & Wilkins Vista, Calif (June 12, 2020) — Sound United LLC, parent company to Denon, Polk Audio, Marantz, Definitive Technology, HEOS, Classé, and Boston Acoustics, today announced it entered into a preliminary letter of intent to acquire Bowers & Wilkins, a leading designer and manufacturer […] The post Sound United to Acquire Bowers & Wilkins appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Audio Art Cable Statement e SC Cryo Speaker Cable3 June 2020, 11:59 pm
Real, hardcore audiophiles pay attention to all sounds in the natural world. As I’m writing this, and for the last five hours, I’ve been listening to helicopters, explosives, protestors, and police sirens. And also an ice cream truck. #LARiots2020 As a result, the next time Snoop Dogg puts out an album, I could evaluate audio […] The post Audio Art Cable Statement e SC Cryo Speaker Cable appeared first on Audio Bacon....
- Nagra’s new Classic Phono coming in September11 August 2020, 11:00 pm
NEWS: Nagra's upcoming Classic Phono promises to take your vinyl experience to a higher ground.... - McIntosh flexes tube muscle with C22 Mk V / MC1502 pre-power pair10 August 2020, 2:10 am
NEWS: McIntosh Labs offers a new all-tube pre-power combination to disciples of the iconic brand - the C22 Mk V and MC1502.... - Samsung HW-Q950T, HW-Q900T… sleeker, more stylish premium soundbars8 August 2020, 12:14 am
NEWS: Samsung's latest premium soundbars raise the home theatre audio stakes further.... - Sony WH-1000XM4 in stores, with special gifts until Aug 316 August 2020, 10:35 pm
NEWS: Sony's latest wireless noise-cancelling cans, the WH-1000XM4, have landed!... - Arylic S50 Pro, S10 – fuss-free streaming on a budget6 August 2020, 6:29 am
REVIEW: Looking to add streaming capabilities to your staid wired set-up, without hurting your wallet? These Arylic units are calling......
- Arylic Up2Stream A30 Miniature Streaming Amplifier Reviewed29 July 2020, 10:04 am
A tiny, generously specced miniature amplifier with integrated streaming, an excellent app and great sound. The post Arylic Up2Stream A30 Miniature Streaming Amplifier Reviewed appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Arylic’s Up2Stream Streaming Platform & The 4Stream App16 June 2020, 9:31 am
A great alternative to the usual streaming suspects, equally suited to first-timers and those looking for a more modular, integrated streaming solution without the hassle of deploying custom software and hardware. The post Arylic’s Up2Stream Streaming Platform & The 4Stream App appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Audio-Technica AT-LP5X Turntable Full Teardown3 June 2020, 12:11 pm
A simple yet effective turntable design of perfectly acceptable quality and very well executed given the asking price. The post Audio-Technica AT-LP5X Turntable Full Teardown appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Analogue Innovation In Sole Elastomer Isolators Reviewed1 June 2020, 9:48 am
Analogue Innovation's elastomer isolator kit brings considerable sonic advantages while removing most of the frustration inherent with the ownership of a suspended turntable. The post Analogue Innovation In Sole Elastomer Isolators Reviewed appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - A Fix For the Pro-Ject VC-E Exhaust Vent Moisture Issue24 April 2020, 7:48 pm
A fix for the Pro-Ject VC-E record cleaning machine, whereby moisture can be blown onto the record underside via the exhaust vent. The post A Fix For the Pro-Ject VC-E Exhaust Vent Moisture Issue appeared first on Audio Appraisal....
- Audiophile Review!McGary Audio SA-2 Tube Amplifier“Delivers More Power, Finesse”26 June 2020, 5:24 pm
... - Audiophile/Videophile Review!Essence For Hi Res AudioEVOLVE II-4K HDMI InterfaceMultichannel DAC/De-Embedder!26 March 2020, 6:49 pm
... - EAN Audio Show Spotlight!Florida Audio Expo 2020 Part II:The South's Up And Coming Hi-Fi Show!12 March 2020, 7:14 pm
... - EAN Audio Show Spotlight!The Florida Audio Expo 2020:The South's Up And Coming Hi-Fi Show!2 March 2020, 11:02 pm
... - 2019 Capital Audiofest!Electronics, Live MusicEmbody Best Show In The East!31 December 2019, 8:29 pm
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- Sonos Arc Soundbar Review12 August 2020, 1:02 am
Californian streaming specialist Sonos is stepping up its game with a new soundbar, architecture and app, says Stephen Dawson…... - Yamaha A-S3200 Integrated Amplifier Review31 July 2020, 1:31 am
David Price samples a big bruiser of an amplifier, from an illustrious Japanese company famous for its musical instruments…... - Luxman D-03X Compact Disc Player Review23 July 2020, 6:33 am
Rafael Todes samples a Japanese silver disc spinner that’s high end in every way, except its price...... - Ayre Acoustics EX-8 Integrated Amplifier Review23 July 2020, 5:22 am
Mark Gusew samples this versatile and powerful modular integrated amplifier…... - Lumagen Radiance Pro Video Processor Review15 July 2020, 2:07 am
Tony O'Brien is dazzled by the brilliance of this new high-end video processor…...
- Bluesound Powernode 2i Streaming Music Amp/PSB Alpha S10 Sub/Alpha P3 Bookshelf Speaker Review: A Thrilling Combo!12 August 2020, 1:43 pm
I can’t believe I’m just getting around to reviewing the Bluesound Powernode 2i. Released as an upgrade to the 2nd generation Powernode back in 2018, this all in one audio system picked up some useful features that allow it to stand up to the competition even almost two years after it’s release. About everyone who continue reading... - #NewMusicFriday…New Record Releases You Need To Hear feat. Jaga Jazzist +12 Other Artists!9 August 2020, 2:51 am
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 the bottom). Here are my picks for this continue reading... - Don’t Miss Out On This Virtual Music Fest Brought To You By Bluesound And MQA!9 August 2020, 1:48 am
JAZZ RE:FRESHED, in association with Bluesound and MQA, is bringing its annual music festival, JAZZ RE:FEST, online to help support UK Jazz artists. JAZZ RE:FEST 2020 will take place between 5-9pm BST (12-4p EDT in the U.S.) on Sunday 23rd August. The virtual showcase, held in a studio behind closed doors, will be streamed on the Jazz re:freshed YouTube channel. But continue reading... - The Best Hi-Fi And Audio Deals This Week: Headphones, Speakers, Electronics!1 August 2020, 3:59 am
Hifitrends.com has always been about pointing out the best values in Hi-Fi, so it’s only right that we point out the best deals on Hi-Fi every week. There’s a lot of stuff on sale out there, but we only point out the things worth buying. To determine that, we put a premium on sound quality, followed continue reading... - #NewMusicFriday…New Record Releases You Need To Hear feat. Charley Crockett +11 Other Artists!1 August 2020, 2:46 am
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 the bottom). Here are my picks for this continue reading...
- That USBe Perfect from Core Power Technologies12 August 2020, 3:38 pm
... - SDSU receives great jazz collection as a donation23 July 2020, 9:49 pm
... - Underwood/CorePower release USBe Perfect19 June 2020, 6:25 pm
... - 25th anniversary of Rory G's death15 June 2020, 10:07 pm
... - Octave Records aims to support the artists13 June 2020, 10:10 pm
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- Cherry DAC DAC 2 HS11 August 2020, 1:16 am
Link to Specifications Fourteen years ago when I started reviewing gear the digital analog convertor (DAC) was a rare piece of gear. Few models existed and for most audiophiles, fanatics, and hobbyists it was technology to watch rather than pursue. Fourteen years later and DAC’s are an indispensable part of our hobby. The quality and capability have risen dramatically, while the price/performance has dropped even more so. The ability of DAC’s to pull out details i... - Core Power Technologies A/V USBe Perfect10 August 2020, 8:24 pm
Tweaks. It’s the bastion of audiophiles in the pursuit of wringing the last ounce of audio gold out of the music. It’s also the point where derision from those who don’t relate to our hobby like to inject verbal venom. Granted, over the years there’s been some rather “out there” tweaks, such as the infamous magic marker on cd’s. At the same time audiophiles were the first to hear a weird phenomena, later identified as jitter.Let’s be clear, a wonde... - Peachtree Audio amp50026 March 2020, 11:43 pm
High power amplifier. Those are three words difficult-to-drive speaker owners want to hear. Especially when one is a reviewer. The desire to hear even more of what a pair of panel speakers can do gets the heart racing. When Jim Spainhour of Peachtree Audio contacted me with an offer to review their new top-line amp500, no way was I going to turn down the opportunity. In less than two weeks the piano black oval-cased beauty was at my front door.The amp500 resides in the standard Peachtree cabinet... - Cherry Amplifier Maraschino Desktop Mono Amplifiers20 March 2020, 1:40 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 ... - Chord Mojo Portable DAC10 October 2019, 8:22 pm
Link to SpecificationsRecently, I’ve been searching for a DAC that would go effortlessly with my vintage Adcom system. I desired something simple, and if possible, with a very small footprint. I had tried various USB stick DAC’s. While they were nice and the perfect size, I always felt they were a bit compromised sound-wise. When the opportunity came to review the Chord Mojo I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity.I will admit that in my mind I wrongfully expected the Mojo ...
- Jorma Design AES/EBU Digital Cable11 August 2020, 10:43 am
The Jorma AES/EBU cable, quite simply, the very best digital cable that I have heard.... - R.T.F.S. SiRRAH – Part 14 August 2020, 7:15 am
The smartly designed SiRRAH units have a twofold function, combining the advantages of a diffuser with those of a bass/midrange absorber. The panels are easy to fix to the wall and the improvements are substantial.... - Graham Audio LS3/5 and LS3/5A with SUB3 – Part 1/227 July 2020, 8:12 am
The LS3/5A a world-famous mini-monitor that is loved by many. But what not many may know is that this was not actually the first incarnation of the model. In this article, I will describe the audible differences between the LS3/5's and LS3/5A's. In addition, I will listen to the SUB3 stereo subwoofer system that is designed by Derek Hughes specifically to work with these speakers.... - Graham Audio LS3/5 and LS3/5A with SUB3 – Part 2/227 July 2020, 8:12 am
Part 2 of the LS3/5 and LS3/5A + SUB3 review, describing the audible differences between the two models.... - Qln Sonora – Part 1/223 July 2020, 11:39 am
The Qln Sonora loudspeaker is equipped with a highly efficient, crossover-less, full-range driver (with a Whizzer/tweeter-cone) and a tweeter that mainly adds resolution at higher frequencies above 10kHz....
- Fiio M3 Pro Review12 August 2020, 8:05 pm
The M3 series of DAPs by FiiO have always held a special amount of reverence… The post Fiio M3 Pro Review appeared first on Audiosolace.... - HiFiMAN Deva Review5 August 2020, 7:46 pm
There is no doubt that wireless technology has picked up lately owing to the advent… The post HiFiMAN Deva Review appeared first on Audiosolace.... - Cayin N3Pro DAP Announced2 August 2020, 5:40 pm
Cayin have announced another surprise release – in the form of the N3Pro Digital Audio… The post Cayin N3Pro DAP Announced appeared first on Audiosolace.... - 5 Headphone Driver Types Explained In Depth26 July 2020, 12:14 am
Searching for the perfect headphones may seem like an overwhelming task. This guide aims to… The post 5 Headphone Driver Types Explained In Depth appeared first on Audiosolace.... - Campfire Audio Ara Review20 July 2020, 6:52 pm
From humble origins, Campfire Audio have become a tour de force in the world of… The post Campfire Audio Ara Review appeared first on Audiosolace....
- Favorite Artists: Albert Pinkham Ryder12 August 2020, 7:56 pm
Albert Pinkham Ryder introduced my young mind to dark wonder with his painting titled “The Race Track (Death on a Pale Horse).” This work planted a seed, even though I saw it in reproduction, that [...]... - HiFi Bargains: Rega P3 (2000) w/RB300 tonearm9 August 2020, 3:11 pm
The Rega P3/RB300 combo (also called the ‘P3 2000’) is about as classic a HiFi Bargain as they come. So says Captain Obvious. I bought my P3 back in 2006 (the P3 2000 was manufactured [...]... - Music Resources: 50 Miles of Elbow Room8 August 2020, 2:19 pm
Where we buy our music determines the music we buy. Even when buying from that giant retailer in the sky, the selection is limited. There’s simply no such thing as a place where you can [...]... - Album of the Week: Fontaines D.C.7 August 2020, 12:23 pm
I flipped over Fontaines D.C. debut release, Dogrel, released back in April of 2019. Their sophomore album, A Hero’s Death has arrived and while it’s different from Dogrel, why would it be the same?, it’s [...]... - Happy Bandcamp Friday!7 August 2020, 11:39 am
Standing in stark and lovely contrast to Spotify, Bandcamp continues to give back to the music community. Today, as they’ve done in the past, Bandcamp is waiving their revenue share so the artists get more [...]...
- 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 […]...