- Dealer Event in Texas Saturday23 January 2019, 1:57 pm
Saturday, January 26, 5–9pm, The Audio Guy (1590 E. Business 121, Building 2, Suite 500, Lewisville, TX 75056) is having an open house with VPI Industries president Mat Weisfeld, who be giving a sneak peek at the new limited-edition HW40 turntable. Michael Vamos will be on hand to demo the GamuT RS5i speakers and other vendor reps will also demonstrate some of their latest offerings. And singer/songwriter Robynn Shayne will be performing some of her latest music!Wed, 01/23/2019...
- Revel Performa F228Be loudspeaker22 January 2019, 7:36 pm
I had a moment of revelation in 2000, when I first set up a pair of Revel's original Ultima Studio loudspeakers in my living room. It wasn't just my awareness that Revel's next-to-top-of-the-line loudspeaker was outstandingly good—it seemed to perfectly match my space and my ears. From the first day, I knew these would be keepers and I purchased the review samples. Revel's Ultima Studio2 arrived in 2008, and though it performed even better than the original, the impression it made on me wa... - Blind Listening at Harman International22 January 2019, 7:33 pm
Revel began demonstrating prototypes of the Performa F228Be, reviewed elsewhere in this issue, at the Consumer Electronics Show and other audio events in 2015, though they had yet to settle on the model name. The most salient feature that distinguished the F228Be-to-be from the established Performa3 F208 was the new beryllium tweeter, and while it sounded more than okay under show conditions, I always heard a bit of brightness and harshness. I knew it was still a work in progress, but I wasn't v... - First Watt SIT-3 power amplifier22 January 2019, 7:22 pm
I am obliged to begin this review of First Watt's new stereo power amplifier, the SIT-3, with an explanation of how I believe a power amplifier should be reviewed. Why? Because the 18Wpc SIT-3 is a unique and historically important design that can't be wired up to just any loudspeaker and then critiqued on the basis of its bass power, treble brightness, or midrange acuity.Tue, 01/22/2019... - Groundbreaking Symphonies from Florence Beatrice Price21 January 2019, 2:44 pm
To celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the recent Women's March, we turn the spotlight on Symphonies Nos.1 & 4 of Florence Beatrice Price (1887–1953), the first African American woman to have her music performed by a major American orchestra. In doing so, I extend a big thank you to Naxos, whose invaluable American Classics series continues to record works by American composers both famous and relatively unknown.Mon, 01/21/2019...
- Duck Times Three22 January 2019, 9:54 pm
Listening to Duck Baker’s jaunty, insightful interpretations of Thelonious Monk compositions on Duck Baker Plays Monk, my mind immediately conjured Bach. Meaning the way that hearing, say, a well-loved piece for solo violin transcribed to the mandolin in the hands of a Chris Thile causes us to pause and rethink music that we believe we know so well—fresh, with ears ablaze, a knowing smile on one’s face. That’s how good he is. Though quietly so. Duck Baker Plays Monk is bu... - Mytek Digital Manhattan II DAC21 January 2019, 8:25 pm
Mytek was originally a pro-audio equipment manufacturer when it opened its doors in 1991. Its first flagship DAC for both consumers and pros was the Manhattan. Rather than abandon and replace this model when it was time refresh its product line, Mytek chose to update. So, now we have the Manhattan II. And the good news for owners of the original Manhattan DACs is that Mytek can update them to the newest version for a relatively small fee. As an audiophile who has lived with and enjoyed Mytek&rsq... - CES 2019 Report19 January 2019, 1:27 pm
I arrived without any expectation. It’s hardly headline news that high-end audio at CES has been running on fumes in recent years. Would this be the year that showing up would be a waste of time? Turns out, what I found was a show relegated to a shadow of its former self but not quite down for the count. My curiosity was soundly rewarded. I was reminded of the closing line from the classic Western film The Wild Bunch: “It ain’t like it used to be, but it’ll do.&rdquo... - Next Level HiFi to Host Speaker Launch Event18 January 2019, 7:56 am
Join Next Level HiFi as it opens its showroom for a special event on Saturday, January 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to celebrate the launch of the new Børresen line of loudspeakers. Michael Børresen and Lars Kristensen—also the minds behind Aavik Acoustics and Ansuz Acoustics—will be on hand to share the innovative engineering and beauty of their new loudspeakers through lively demos and discussions. Three models from the Børresen loudspeaker line will be presented&... - John Williams at the Movies16 January 2019, 6:17 pm
Those listeners not totally convinced by the change in sonority from a full symphony orchestra including a substantial string section and a wind band should give this spectacular recording a serious audition. The principal reason for the recording’s success is that Williams composed so effectively for brass and percussion. The sonority here is frequently very different from the original orchestrations, but in most cases it works very well. Much of this is predictable. For example, the Olym...
- World Premiere Review! Chord Electronics Symphonic MC Phono Preamp28 December 2018, 3:16 pm
The first thing one might notice in regard to Chord's Symphonic Moving Coil (MC) phono preamplifier is its eye-catching appearance. At least that's the first thing that I noticed, even though by now I should be accustomed to this: I've never seen a Chord component that uses a rectangular 17" wide cabinet.---> Read More ... - Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium Portable Power Station28 December 2018, 3:15 pm
I've always been a proponent of some sort of power conditioning for one's high-end audio system. This is because no matter how "good" the power coming from your wall receptacle might be, unless your locale power company has set up a transformer in your yard, you are not only sharing power with many others, the power that you are using has traveled quite a distance before it finally arrives at your home.---> Read More ... - World Premiere Review! MarkAudio-SOTA Viotti Tower28 December 2018, 3:13 pm
Back in June 2016 I reviewed the MarkAudio-SOTA Viotti One, this was the launch speaker produced by the company. Mark Fenlon – the chief designer – has been creating loudspeaker drivers for years and is now a big part of the MarkAudio-SOTA which is a collaboration between Steve Chen's SOTA Acoustics and MarkAudio Loudspeakers. I was most impressed with the Viotti One, the initial flagship product.---> Read More ... - Schiit Jotunheim HeadAmp & Lyr 3 DAC/Phono28 December 2018, 3:12 pm
The names Mike Moffat (Theta Digital) and Jason Stoddard (Sumo) are legendary in high-end audio circles. Both have been determined engineers seeking the highest musical fidelity from their circuit designs and playback efforts, utilizing both analog and digital components; near-on over 38 years now. But you may have missed their combining forces, nearly 10 years ago (in 2010) in the form of a new company featuring plenty of Schiit: A name chosen not for its apparent resemblance to a similar sound... - See More High-End Audio Reviews...12 December 2018, 12:10 pm
EnjoyTheMusic.com has many more high-end audiophile articles and reviews available this month. Click here to see them all. ...
- REVIEW: Acoustic Revive RTP-4EU ABSOLUTE | power strip AC | JAPAN31 December 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ A power strip is simply a "splitter" of the power supply – it goes in with a single cable, and it goes out via several outputs/sockets. Acoustic Revive in Europe offers one model, featuring four sockets. We would like to present you the latest version called the ABSOLUTE. This is the first part of a two-part test. Later we will present also the ABSOLUTE POWER cable and an entire ABSOLUTE system with the power strip, power cable and two filters. ⌋ o filter or not to fil... - MUSIC | TECHNOLOGY: RCA Red Seal HIGH PERFORMACE SERIES, i.e. the USA strikes back! | USA31 December 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ We have got used to the fact that Japanese companies are the driving force in the field of Compact Disc/Super Audio CD remastering and production. However, we cannot forget that manufacturers from the West, mainly from the USA, have also been contributing to these areas. The HDCD format, Mobile Fidelity remasters, Analog Productions and others are just a few examples. One of the most interesting initiatives was the one from the year 1999, when the RCA Red Seal record label decided to re... - REVIEW: Divine Acoustics KEPLER | anti-vibration feet | POLAND31 December 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ Anti-vibration feet belong to the basic equipment of every device, loudspeaker and even devices used for power supply. Historically, they were treated as the so-called "accessories", today they are often an equivalent element of a system, because they model the sound of audio products placed on them. The best are able to upgrade the sound of a given product to a higher class. We test the first ever anti-vibration feet in the history of Divine Acoustics called KEPLER. ⌋ ivine... - MUSIC | RECORD LABEL: TRPTK | HOLLAND31 December 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ Record labels usually focuses on promoting the music itself, forgetting that it is closely related to sound. Every now and then, companies are created that try to do something about it. One of the newest is the Dutch company TRPTK, which is the following text is about. ⌋ et's be honest: there are many record labels and new ones are coming almost every day. This, of course, involves an incredible egalitarianisation of recordings - today you can arrange a home recording studio fo... - REVIEW: Acoustic Signature DOUBLE X + TA-1000 | turntable + turntable arm | GERMANY31 December 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ The DOUBLE X is a turntable manufactured by the German company Acoustic Signature. Tested here with the TA-1000 arm produced by the same company, it is one of the manufacturer’s most inexpensive products, although it is not cheap at all. However, it is an entry into high-end and such a “ticket” always costs a lot. For less than 23,000 PLN, we get a great, excellently made, easy to use system to be used for years. ⌋ hen I tested the ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE Triple X ...
- Qobuz Announces Roon Integration22 January 2019, 10:18 pm
These days there are many ways to get music – streaming services, digital download stores, internet radio stations – and Roon supports them all. Today, Qobuz, the world’s first certified Hi-Res streaming and download service, announced that they’ve partnered with Roon version 1.6 to integrate their acclaimed Hi-Res streaming directly in Roon. Now, users can... Read More » The post Qobuz Announces Roon Integration appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Tri-Planar U12 Tonearm22 January 2019, 10:13 pm
If you are reading this article, it means you are at least interested in vinyl playback. Be prepared for an amazing rabbit-hole that will lead you to the holy grail if you are prepared to spend some money. I say that to keep the discussion honest, a proper vinyl playback rig can get costly. Is... Read More » The post Tri-Planar U12 Tonearm appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Roon 1.6 Update22 January 2019, 4:57 pm
What better way to kick off the new year than with our biggest update yet? Version 1.6 brings the brand new Roon Radio, integration with the Qobuz music service, and an improved user experience across several areas of the application. The update will be available to all users at 12pm EST on January 22nd, 2019.... Read More » The post Roon 1.6 Update appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - High Fidelity: Is HiFi System Voicing a Matter of Taste? Part 120 January 2019, 8:29 pm
When I say “HiFi system voicing” you might wonder what I’m referring to. Basically, I’m referring to what any given hifi system sounds like in terms of its particular blend of musicality and audiophile-style sonics, or its overall sound quality. The post High Fidelity: Is HiFi System Voicing a Matter of Taste? Part 1 appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Get Real Audio: The Artist Perspective - Preparing to do a Direct-To-Disc Record, Part 219 January 2019, 11:01 pm
Lyn Stanley (photograph by Evelina Pentcheva) Synopsis: Preparation for the making a Direct-To-Disc recording is more complicated than a typical album. In this follow-up article to Lyn Stanley's Direct-To-Disc discussion elsewhere in Issue 101 of Positive Feedback, she outlines what are her key considerations and process needed to produce a challenging live format directly to a lacquer with... Read More » The post Get Real Audio: The Artist Perspective - Preparing to d...
- Issue 9415 January 2019, 7:21 am
Features Old School: Jeff Dorgay uncovers an ARC DAC 1 995: Will return next issue Journeyman Audiophile: The Quad Z4 Speakers By Rob Johnson Mine: It Should Be Yours Lego Cars Louis Vuitton Duffle Peter Gabriel Live Super Snacks and more…. Music Playlists: We share our readers choices from around the world Future Tense VPI [...]... - Issue 9320 December 2018, 9:35 pm
Features Old School: Jeff Dorgay revisits the Nakamichi 400 Stack 995: The Puffin DSP Phonostage By Rob Johnson Journeyman Audiophile: McIntosh MA252 By Shanon Swetlishnoff Mine: It Should Be Yours Grinch Slippers Shinola Clock Oreo Turntable BMW Bicycle and more…. Music Playlists: We share our readers choices from around the world In Praise of the [...]... - Paradigm’s Persona B7 December 2018, 5:47 pm
Listening to the intricate fretboard work of Bill Frisell on his Good Dog, Happy Man album, I’m reminded of three things: Frisell’s remarkable performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival a few years ago, how much the Persona B captures the essence of their top Persona 9H, and how incredible these little speakers are. Every Paradigm [...]... - ARC’s top effort yet – The REF160M Monoblocks3 December 2018, 2:14 am
Some products you have a casual, cursory exposure with, and others you have a relationship with. Audio Research is a brand I’ve had a long relationship with. They are one of about six brands that I go back decades with, having owned nearly 20 of their products before I even started reviewing hifi gear. And like [...]... - Issue 9219 November 2018, 5:35 am
Features Old School: Jeff Dorgay revisits the KEF C60s 995: Kanto YU6 Powered Speakers By Jerold O’Brien Journeyman Audiophile: Totem’s Sky Towers By Rob Johnson Mine: It Should Be Yours Peanuts Watch Plaid Flannel Jammies Blue Wine Segway’s Go Kart and more…. Music Playlists: We share our readers choices from around the world Can’t Get [...]...
- T+A Elektroakustik MP 8 Multi Source Player15 January 2019, 5:00 am
T+A Elektroakustik has applied scientific rigor to its formulation of audio equipment since the company was founded in 1978, in Herford, Germany. The 40-year-old, family-owned business designs and manufactures all of their equipment locally and ships worldwide. T+A’s product lines span nearly all aspects of the audio reproduction chain, from wall outlet to the listener’s ears. Their Series 8 range includes the MP 8 Multi Source Player ($4750 USD), the DAC 8 DSD digital-to-a... - My Final CES1 January 2019, 5:00 am
As I write this, the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show is only three weeks away -- or a week after this goes online. I look forward to it not with dread, as I did last year’s, but with sadness. Clichés spring to mind: “How the mighty are fallen!” “Pride comes before a fall!” and “You can’t argue with stupid!” The demise of the high end at CES is nigh, and it is a scandal. And it is self-inflicted. ... - EMM Labs MTRX2 Mono Amplifiers1 January 2019, 5:00 am
First, the elephant in the room: EMM Labs’ MTRX2 mono amplifier sells for $85,000 USD per pair. What’s more, it’s the baby elephant of the two power amps EMM makes -- the MTRX Reference costs $130,000/pair. Those prices are so high that, for the vast majority of audiophiles, including me, these amps are impossible to buy new. ... - Hands Down . . . or Up? The Q Acoustics 3020i and 3050i Loudspeakers1 January 2019, 5:00 am
“Those are really nice speakers -- can we keep them there?” Those are words seldom uttered by my wife when new speakers enter our home. But that’s what she said when she laid eyes on the pair of Q Acoustics 3020i minimonitors ($299.99 USD/pair) that had replaced the Paradigm Monitor SE Atoms ($298/pair) on the shelving unit in our living room that holds my “System One” components. ... - Recommended Reference Component: Campfire Audio Solaris Earphones1 January 2019, 5:00 am
Does it set a bad precedent to give a product a perfect score? Some might think so -- what if something better comes along? But that didn’t stop Brent Butterworth from rewarding Campfire Audio’s Solaris earphones with a perfect 10 for Sound in his December 10 review on SoundStage! Solo. So far, they’re the best-sounding earphones he’s heard -- though they’re also, as he confessed, “complex, bulky, and expensive ($1499 USD).” ...
- Audio News: A video tutorial – sonicTransporter and ultraRendu21 January 2019, 11:40 pm
Small Green Computer compiled a video tutorial on using its sonicTransporter ($795) music server and ultraRendu ($875) music player in conjunction with your own DAC to attain high-resolution audio. The main points of the video are: 1) The sonicTransporter i5 music server replaces your PC / Mac. 2) A few of many reasons to replace your pc/mac [...] The post Audio News: A video tutorial – sonicTransporter and ultraRendu appeared first on Dagogo.... - Gold Note PA-1175 MkII solid-state stereo amplifier Review20 January 2019, 8:47 pm
I love both of the new amps by Gold Note, the PA-1175 MkII and the PA-1175 MkII. Both are solid state, 200 watts per channel. Both are bridgeable to 520 watts per channel and even have the same styling. These two amps inhabit the same chassis, but they are distinct. One switch makes them both [...] The post Gold Note PA-1175 MkII solid-state stereo amplifier Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Destination Audio System Review17 January 2019, 7:55 pm
Destination Audio is the realization of company founder Sam Wisniewski’s dream of the sound of the directly heated 45 tube in triode mode. From the creation of the two-chassis 417A tube phono stage to the two-chassis 76 tube-based preamplifier, the 45 tube-based monoblock amplifiers and the Vista horn, the creative objective of all of Sam’s [...] The post Destination Audio System Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Speaker Tech Terms17 January 2019, 1:17 am
How Well Do You Know Speaker Tech Terms? I was thinking that some of my readers might like to test their knowledge of speaker design and terminology. I decided to put a little test together for your enjoyment. Back in 1972 I was working for a company called California HiFi Warehouse, which was a major [...] The post Speaker Tech Terms appeared first on Dagogo.... - A Story of the EVGA Nu Audio Card engineered by Audio Note UK12 January 2019, 2:43 pm
Publisher’s note: Audio Note UK has graciously provided the following article detailing the conceptualization and design of the EVGA Nu Audio Card in collaboration with EVGA. The article is authored by Andy Grove of Audio Note UK. (The EVGA Nu Audio Card is scheduled for launch on January 16, 2019. Price is $249. See the [...] The post A Story of the EVGA Nu Audio Card engineered by Audio Note UK appeared first on Dagogo....
- Audiophile 5: Roon 1.6 in 5 Minutes22 January 2019, 8:23 pm
Now that Qobuz is officially supported within Roon, it's time for a video run-through of this integration as well as the new features and changes in Roon 1.6. In addition to what's new, I demonstrate how to send lyrics to a Google Home Hub for display. Audiophile 5 is a series about you, not us, where we cover products and topics that interest you. And, we do it all in 5 minutes. We hate long videos as much as the next guy because time is the most valuable thing have. We... - Roon 1.6 With Qobuz Integration and More22 January 2019, 3:16 am
Roon 1.6 is a major update to the software, but the most anticipated part is without a doubt its integration with Qobuz. Countless music aficionados, tired of Tidal, have been waiting for this integration for several months. Now that Qobuz is available in the US (beta) and Roon will combine Qobuz content with a user's local content, I have a feeling thousands of people will dump Tidal in favor of Qobuz. Other updates implemented in version 1.6 include a new Roon Radio, n... - The Best Version Of… Steely Dan’s Aja16 January 2019, 3:45 pm
When Walter Becker passed away in September 2017, it marked the end of one of the most quixotic music partnerships in modern American popular music. The only constant members of Steely Dan, Becker and co-conspirator Donald Fagen created some of the most lyrical intelligent, musically intricate, and sonically impeccable albums of the past 40 years. For both record buyers and audiophiles, none looms larger than 1977’s Aja, the subject of the third installment of &ldq... - Audiophile 5: Sonore opticalRendu in 5 Minutes10 January 2019, 9:30 pm
Episode 2 of our new video series called Audiophile 5 is now available. In this episode we cover the new and highly anticipated Sonore opticalRendu. A full written review will follow this video shorty, we just need to put more time in listening to music and using the device. From the manufacturer: "The opticalRendu utilizes an SFP fiber optic transceiver at its input to provide 100% galvanic isolation from the network and US... - Qobuz Announces Opening of US Beta8 January 2019, 7:43 pm
I don't have much more, but I don't think much more needs to be said. Qobuz is now open in beta of everyone in the US! Remember, here is a how-to about moving all your favorites and playlists from Tidal. Press Release: Qobuz Announces Opening of US Beta Qobuz, the European-based certified Hi-Res streaming and download service whose launch in the US has been highly anticipated in the audiophile ...
- Analog Corner #10721 January 2019, 12:35 pm
reviewed in this column: Clearaudio’s Emotion turntable and Satisfy tonearm. A friend of one of my wife's high school friends e-mailed recently asking for help in setting up his turntable. The guy, in his early 40s, is not a hardcore audiophile and doesn't read the magazines. He just got it into his head one day not long ago that he'd like to start collecting vinyl. So he went to eBay, got himself a Thorens TD-165 for $150, and started buying LPs online. Now he's hooked.... - Cambridge Audio's "Duo" Phono Preamp/Headphone Amplifier Outperforms Its Low Price14 January 2019, 8:03 pm
Cambridge Audio's Duo is a compact, attractive, lightweight (2.1 Lbs) low priced phono preamplifier that will surprise you with its solid sonic performance as well as its low price. It certainly surprised me! It also features a headphone amplifier so it makes for a great desktop or dorm room accessory.... - At CES 2019 Technics Introduces Elegant SL-1500C Coreless Direct Drive Turntable9 January 2019, 4:40 pm
At CES 2019 Technics expanded its turntable line with the introduction of the SL-1500C "complete" turntable with built-in MM phono preamplifier as well as a new SL-1200MK7—the company's first new standard DJ turntable in approximately 9 years. ... - Watch John Atkinson Give Michael Fremer the Founder's Award at the L.A. & Orange Co. Audio Society's 25th Annual GALA!8 January 2019, 11:03 pm
Here's the first in a series of videos Ben Williams produced and edited over the weekend's festivities last November 30th through December 2nd as the L.A. & Orange County Audio Society celebrated its 25th anniversary and presented its Founder's Award to AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer.... - Analog Corner #1068 January 2019, 1:13 pm
Sonus Faber's graceful-looking factory. "Do you want to see how they build Pro-Ject turntables?" It was Sumiko's John Hunter, phoning me out of the blue. "Sure!" I've reviewed a few Pro-Ject designs over the years, along with the Music Hall 'tables, which are built in the same factory, and I've long wondered how one small company in the Czech Republic can manufacture such a wide array of products while making almost every part in-house. When Hunter added that the visit to Pro-Ject would be bra...
- How to make your audio system sound better for free - CNET19 January 2019, 4:47 pm
Move your speakers into the middle of the room, and listen to them from 4 or 5 feet away.... - Euro style and high-end sound in an apartment-friendly speaker - CNET19 January 2019, 3:00 pm
Trenner & Friedl's Osiris speakers produce amazing sound without taking over the room.... - PSB’s iconic affordable Alpha Series speakers come in for a makeover - CNET12 January 2019, 11:47 pm
PSB Speakers’ popular Alpha Series remained unchanged for 19 years, so with fingers crossed we checked out the all new Alpha P5 bookshelf speaker.... - Monoprice's two desktop headphone amps are spectacular - CNET12 January 2019, 5:14 pm
Monoprice’s Monolith Liquid Spark makes budget headphones sound better than ever, while the Monolith Liquid Platinum takes high-end headphones to the next level.... - Listening test: NAD's feature-packed D 3045 amplifier - CNET6 January 2019, 2:32 pm
The Audiophiliac checks out NAD's latest integrated amp....
- CES 2019: Tape and Digital | Nagra elevates our listening experience23 January 2019, 2:45 pm
Part-Time Audiophile Nagra‘s rooms are always on, and dialed to 11. They sneak up on you, and deliver a different something special each time. A must visit room at any audio show, Nagra always brings together three elements: a great system, fantastic music, and René Laflamme. René has a double role as Sales and Marketing Manager for Nagra America in addition to being a recording and mastering engineer at 2xHD. René always treats us to something special that he mastered... - Roon 1.6 arrives with Qobuz support and tasty updates22 January 2019, 2:50 pm
Part-Time Audiophile The train never stops over at Roon and today’s release of Roon 1.6 brings a host of welcome updates and a fresh look. Most notability official support for Qobuz. At CES 2019 Qobuz US Beta went live, so if you are a Qobuz beta tester, you can add your account to ROON and access all of your Qobuz content seamlessly. Official support for Qobuz arrives with Roon 1.6 software update. From the Roon Press release: Now you can access the entire Qobuz catalog ... - Naim Uniti Atom All-In-One Audio System | Review20 January 2019, 11:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile Introducing the Naim Uniti Atom “All in one, and one for all!” Wait, what? Ha! You’ve just been introduced to my new tagline for Naim Audio’s nifty combined audio system, the Uniti Atom. It’s an all-in-one audio system, as in high-end meets lifestyle. As in “I want this thing, and so should everyone else.” So let me explain… I’ve dealt with combined audio systems before. I suppose I’m a bit biased against them, but... - The Haruomi Hosono Archival Series | The Deep End18 January 2019, 11:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile “You’ve never heard of Haruomi Hosono?” With every music review I write, I try to learn something new. It can be anything–something about the artist, something that happened in history during the recording or even the sound of a musical instrument I’ve never heard until that moment. I learned something quite spectacular while tackling these five remastered releases from Japanese pop/rock/electronica pioneer Haruomi “Harry” Hosono. Th... - CES 2019 Highlights15 January 2019, 9:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile Recap and highlights from Las Vegas CES 2019. An audiophile perspective on the changing landscape of the Consumer Electronics Show from Nevada. All the high end and headphone news from the event including new DACs, streamers and the state of “True Wireless”. SCHIITdotCOM – Audio components made in the USA, starting at $49. The post CES 2019 Highlights appeared first on Part-Time Audiophile....
- ‘Engineered by Audio Note’: EVGA’s Nu Audio sound card23 January 2019, 1:02 pm
EVGA — among audio circles they barely rate a mention but for those building PCs the Californian motherboards and graphics card manufacturer is much bigger news. For their latest product, EVGA teamed up with Audio Note UK for a most unlikely collaboration. What gives? EVGA CEO Andrew Han is a die-hard audiophile […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For ... - Global feedback: PS Audio-powered needledrops (Part 1 *results*)22 January 2019, 11:05 am
Readers were last week invited to download and listen to a pair of 24bit/96kHz needledrops (created by yours truly) and then vote for their preference. The results were as follows: Time to identify the source material. Both needledrops were created with a Rega Planar 2 turntable factory-fitted with a Rega Carbon […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use... - Roon + Qobuz, Tidal = Pandora for lossless lovers21 January 2019, 11:01 pm
Roon Radio? Not a browsable index of broadcast radio streams from around the world but a feature that plays similar music from your library after pressing its blue button from any song, album or genre. Roon Radio can also pick up where the ‘now playing’ playlist leaves off. Whichever way it […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Cop... - Letters to the editor: Konto, Lindemann, Dynaudio & more17 January 2019, 10:58 am
A new year brings a fresh batch of ‘givers’ to the yard. A firm thank you goes out to all who choose to share their findings with us. Ryan K. writes: Just wanted to say thank you for your approach to reviewing, as you’ve become my first in line, go-to guy […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copyright 2010-2018 · Dark... - Chord DAVE vs. PS Audio DirectStream?16 January 2019, 5:04 pm
PS AudioDirect Stream vs Chord DAVE? The thirst for comparative data no doubt stems from both DACs’ use of an internal FPGA instead of an off-the-shelf DAC chip to handle data marshalling and upsampling as well as decode preparation and execution. But it’s the software that matters most. In the […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copy...
- Bryston 28B³ Monoblock Power Amplifiers16 January 2019, 5:25 pm
According to its website, Bryston has been in business for 35 years, has 150 dealers in North America and is in 60 countries worldwide. That is very impressive for an audio company. Bryston headquarters is located in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, which is approximately a 2 hour drive from my hometown, Toronto. Even though I have known about Bryston for decades, I have not reviewed any of their products nor have I heard any of their products for an extended period of time. I have heard th... - Rocky Mountain Audio Fest hotel update (Sept 5 - 8, 2019) Denver, CO10 January 2019, 6:07 pm
The latest from our friends at RMAF: 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 on December 18. A few of our team spent the opening night there exploring, testing, tasting and...WOW! This $800 million facility has 2 million square feet of upscale accommod... - Allnic Audio H-1202 Phono Stage4 January 2019, 5:26 pm
It’s interesting to note that a $3750 phono stage is now considered, among some audiophiles, as entry level for delivering vinyl sound as it’s meant to be heard. Sure, there are relatively inexpensive examples that do a fine job—the excellent Rega Aria is priced at $1500—and some expensive models that don’t, but in my experience, higher priced analogue gear sounds better. You gotta pay to play. My reference Sutherland Engineering DUO monoblock Phono Preamplifi... - PS Audio DirectStream (DS) DAC: Snowmass Upgrade11 December 2018, 1:13 pm
Over four years ago, in May 2014, I reviewed the PS Audio DirectStream (DS) DAC. I ended up purchasing it and I still use it as my reference. Many times over these last four years I have been approached by other audiophiles asking why I have a DAC as my reference that is not ‘new’ and ‘up-to-date’ as compared to other DACs that have the newest DAC chip. ‘Oh no’, I say, ‘you are wrong’, ‘my DAC is only at most months old, it is your... - Brahms: The Four Symphonies—DG Limited Edition 180g vinyl reissue4 December 2018, 6:39 pm
I usually write music reviews, especially classical, with my classically-trained hat on, commenting on performance, interpretation, comparables, etc. My audiophile nature kicks in at times and posts commentary in each review, for sure, but the main event is always the music. For this review, it’ll be primarily about the sound. What is the lover of classical music, Brahms, von Karajan, the Berliner Philharmoniker, and especially of reissue vinyl, getting from yet another version of ...
- 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."... - Audioengine A5+ Wireless Speakers9 December 2018, 3:24 pm
Patrick Dillon enjoys a change of pace with the Audioengine A5+ wireless speakers, trying them out both with bluetooth and wired via computer and external DAC. His conclusion? "I could envisage a pair of these serving as an almost one-stop audiophile rig, paired with whatever digital device you have. Throw in some stands and you could be rockin’ the joint and having personal late night sounds for comparative chump change in the audiophile universe."... - RME ADI-2 Pro : a Technical Overview29 July 2018, 4:00 pm
"I recently found myself intrigued by an interface from the pro-sound world, the RME ADI-2 Pro," writes John Reekie. This line-level convertor and audio interface is billed as RME's "reference" A/D and D/A convertor, but also has a solid complement of onboard processing, two powerful headphone amps, and technical performance good enough for use as a measurement front end.... - Droidisk – Playing music28 July 2018, 1:01 pm
John Reekie wraps up his articles on inexpensive SBC-based music servers, with instructions on how to install music-related services on the ODroid HC1. This time, he's also using an Android tablet as the renderer....
- KLH Kendall 5.2 Speaker System Review21 January 2019, 2:00 pm
The iconic speaker brand KLH just recently made a comeback under the leadership of David Kelley, an audio industry veteran who was a longtime Klipsch and VOXX executive. At CEDIA Expo 2018, KLH announced the launch of a full speaker line consisting of floorstanding, bookshelf, center-channel, surrounds, and subwoofers to fulfill pretty much every need. How good are these speakers? This review describes in detail the performance as well as the values brought to the table by these speakers. The po... - VIZIO SB36512-F6 Soundbar Review16 January 2019, 3:00 pm
Atmos for everyone! That’s the main guise behind VIZIO’s new Atmos-capable soundbars. For just $499.99, the VIZIO SB36512-F6 soundbar System offers a full-blown 5.1.2-channel home theater experience in a relatively compact and easy to use package. It also includes a wireless subwoofer and dedicated surround speakers, which are rare at this price. The post VIZIO SB36512-F6 Soundbar Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - E.A.T. C-Major Turntable, E.A.T. E-Glo Petit Phono Preamplifier, and E.A.T. Jo No 5 Phono Cartridge Review8 January 2019, 2:00 pm
E.A.T. (European Audio Team) is an Austrian firm, located in Wilfersdorf, with manufacturing facilities in Eastern Europe. The CEO is Jozefína Lichtenegger. The post E.A.T. C-Major Turntable, E.A.T. E-Glo Petit Phono Preamplifier, and E.A.T. Jo No 5 Phono Cartridge Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Q Acoustics 3050i Floorstanding Speaker Review2 January 2019, 2:00 pm
The Q Acoustics 3050i have come to party. They are a beautifully finished, amazing sounding floor-standing speaker with a healthy dose of trickle... The post Q Acoustics 3050i Floorstanding Speaker Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - McIntosh MCD600 SACD/CD Player Review31 December 2018, 2:00 pm
Built with the same quality that all McIntosh products are known for, and the ubiquitous chrome, glass, and green and blue lights that are distinctive features of their products, the McIntosh MCD600 SACD/CD Player is like no other disc player in the consumer market today. The post McIntosh MCD600 SACD/CD Player Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com....
- Darwin Cable Company Truth II Interconnect and Power Cables22 March 2017, 8:45 pm
There is one thing that all high end audio components require to function as a system, and that is signal and power cables. No getting around it. Of course, there is no market segment more controversial than audiophile cabling. This is partially due to questionable scientific claims and pricing that would make even true believers raise an eyebrow. The great Read more...... - Audioengine HD3 Powered Speakers & DAC Review7 February 2017, 4:02 am
Multi-function powered speakers are all the rage in 2017, and no other company has been more at the forefront than Audioengine. They have been making affordable, great sounding, and versatile powered monitors since 2005, along with DACs, headphone amps, and accessories. There are a number of things I find refreshing about Audioengine. First, their pricing makes Read more...... - Burson Cable+ Active RCA Cable Review24 January 2017, 5:10 pm
A lot of excellent HiFi products are designed and produced in Australia, and none more than Burson Audio belong in the upper tier of offerings from Down Under. Not only do Burson’s products sound excellent, but they also do not make cookie cutter gear, and inject original thinking into the process. I reviewed and loved Burson’s superb Read more...... - Bryston BCD-3 CD Player Review10 January 2017, 9:17 pm
Canadian heavy hitters Bryston surprised everyone a few years ago with their introduction of a speaker line, which now, after wide acceptance and a slew of positive reviews, are considered class leaders in many circles. In fact, the Mini T three-way monitor is my current reference. Possibly more surprising is Bryston’s introduction of the BCD-3 CD Player, with Read more...... - Okki Nokki RCM-II Record Cleaning Machine5 December 2016, 6:37 pm
At the beginning of the year, a good friend called me over to his garage and surprised me with a gift of around 500 vintage vinyl records he had little patience to deal with. I gladly took them off his hands. When I got home and started sifting through the albums, I realized there were hundreds of original pressings of Read more......
- PMC cor integrated amplifier23 January 2019, 1:35 pm
When PMC announced the cor amplifier at the 2017 Munich show, you could have knocked me down with a ball peen hammer. Why on earth would a loudspeaker company that distributes two ranges of electronics want to go to the trouble of making an amplifier? The cor reflects the ambition of PMC to enter the marketplace and make an instant impact in the sector. Being purists PMC’s designers didn’t want to make another amplifier just for the sake of having one to sell; they wanted to make som... - Grand Prix Audio Parabolica turntable23 January 2019, 1:22 pm
If you have watched a Formula 1 race anytime recently, you’ll have witnessed the strange phenomenon of the safety car in action, the undignified spectacle of one of the world’s most desirable sports cars – the Mercedes GT – looking decidedly plump and wallowy as it scrambles to stay ahead of a field of low, lithe, dartingly agile F1 cars, desperately trying to go slowly enough to stay behind it while the chorus of driver complaints rises and rises in volume. Comparing the... - Exogal Comet DAC and Ion stereo power amplifier16 January 2019, 12:53 pm
It’s refreshing to come across a deeply engineered and well-made product that doesn’t arrive with swathes of sales guff to seduce prospective buyers. Exogal is that rare thing; an audio company that is more interested in the product than the spiel. This is probably not a great approach from a commercial perspective but makes a seasoned audio enthusiast all the more interested. Exogal was set up by industry veterans Larry Jacoby, Jeff Haagenstaad, and Jim Kinne. Jim was a digital audi... - NEW GERMAN PHYSIKS WEB SITE LAUNCHED9 January 2019, 12:30 pm
A brand new German Physiks web site has been launched at www.german-physiks.com. It features a much more attractive graphic design and easier navigation. The texts for the loudspeaker range have been updated, including high quality pictures showing the products in a range of real-life settings. Details of our new Emperor high-end electronics range have also been added. These will be shown at Axpona 2019. We will shortly add details of our new PION range of cables. 10 years ago we marketed cables... - Interview: Wes Berwise of WBSSmedia8 January 2019, 1:08 pm
Wes Berwise is a clever man. He has been passionate about his music for as long as he can remember, and was an avid collector from his school days. His love of music in all its guises (but especially soul and R’n’B) led him to an illustrious career as a DJ at Colourful Radio and then Jazz FM (at which point he had three shows per week; two on Jazz FM and one on Colourful Radio), adept at moving across the genres for all the right reasons. Gradually, radio changed and became more abou...
- Review: Schiit Bifrost Multibit DAC23 January 2019, 1:00 pm
Is it possible to write a review of a product from Schiit Audio without making one Schiit pun? I aim to but let me just say—people love Schiit. And for good reason. Schiit makes good [...]... - This Is Going To Get Expensive: The New Roon Radio22 January 2019, 3:06 pm
In just the first few hours of playing with the new Roon, I’ve saved more than 10 albums to my Library from Tidal. How’d I learn about all of this great, new (to me) music? [...]... - News: Roon 1.6 is here with new Roon Radio, Qobuz, and much more22 January 2019, 10:27 am
You gotta love the guys at Roon for delivering continued improvements on what many (myself included) consider to be the finest interface to your digital music. Roon 1.6 is here today and brings a bunch [...]... - News: GigaFOILv4-INLINE Ethernet Filter Launches!22 January 2019, 8:12 am
Readers of Twittering Machines with an eye for detail or old-time readers of AudioStream may be familiar with the DJM Electronics GigaFOILv4–INLINE Ethernet filter. I reviewed a prototype version back in March 2018 and I [...]... - In Barn: Bluesound PULSE 2i Wireless Streaming Speaker21 January 2019, 1:00 pm
Bluesound PULSE 2i ($799). Specifications AUDIO Supported File Formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, ALAC, OPUS | Hi-Res formats – FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF Native Sampling Rates: 32 – 192 kHz Bit Depths: 16 – [...]...
- Xavian Perla Esclusiva Loudspeakers11 November 2018, 10:00 pm
Xavian, a loudspeaker manufacturer in Prague, Czech Republic, contacted 10 Audio in June of this year inquiring about a review of their very new Perla Esclusiva two-way speaker. The Perla, the smallest model in the Natura product line, had recently been upgraded to the new Perla Esclusiva version. So here we are today, taking the first look – and listen – to a speaker from a company that should be on everyone’s radar. The name of the company comes from the Greek mythology. &ldq... - Balanced Audio Technology VK-43SE Preamplifier16 October 2018, 2:46 pm
Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) is a decades old company specializing in, you guessed it, balanced audio components. They have produced a long line of vacuum tube and solid-state preamplifiers and amplifiers, phono preamplifiers and, more lately, digital converters. The BAT VK-300xSE integrated amplifier was reviewed here in 2004, and the VK-31SE tube preamp was reviewed here in 2005. BAT has received numerous “best of” awards over the years for their excellent sounding and innovativ... - Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2v2SE 10th Anniversary Limited Edition DAC16 September 2018, 1:45 am
State of the art precision. State of the art focus. State of the art harmony. The Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2v2SE 10th Anniversary Limited Edition digital-to-analog converter does not sound like a digital component. It much more closely performs as an excellent analog source. When you compare a good CD with this DAC in your system to the sound of your analog rig, you could very well have the same reaction that this listener experienced: a big smile! The musicality and level of enjoyment that Wyred 4 Sou... - B.M.C. MCCI Signature ULN Phono Preamplifier29 July 2018, 10:42 pm
The original B.M.C. Audio MCCI phono preamplifier earned very positive reviews when it was introduced in 2013. Carlos Candeias used his designs for the $1400 Aqvox Phono 2Ci, reviewed here on 10 Audio, and introduced a much-upgraded model as the MCCI under his own brand, B.M.C. Audio. The MCCI ($3890) was replaced with the MCCI Signature ($4298) in 2016. The model under review today is the MCCI Signature ULN ($4690) which hit the market in March, 2018. B.M.C. Audio builds large numbers of each m... - GoldenEar Triton Seven Loudspeakers24 June 2018, 9:01 pm
GoldenEar Technology was started in 2010 by Sandy Gross and Don Givogue. Mr. Gross might be familiar to audiophiles from his association with Polk and Definitive Technology, both of which he co-founded. Mr. Givogue also co-founded Definitive Technology and holds a patent for multi-driver bi-polar speaker arrays. The GoldenEar Triton Seven was born not from some tinkerer’s basement, but from people with extensive knowledge and experience in speaker design, manufacturing and marketing. There...
- DIY All-Tube Phono Project Wrapup: Feedback from our patron Adrian19 January 2019, 7:24 pm
By Steve Graham The Tubecad Tetra DIY phono stage finds a home. Steve, Just a quick update. I’m really pleased with the phono stage! It has exceeded my expectations. I have had the chance to listen to it for a few days. Tonality and dynamics are excellent with the detail I like. Soundstage is wide and deep. In a word, the sound is ‘big’. It certainly has the tube ‘naturalness’ I love. It is the best phono stage I have had... - Digital Music Player Reviews: Part 2, The Lumin D1, Plus….Umm, Bonus Content!9 January 2019, 9:47 pm
Digital Music Player Reviews: Part 2, plus…. Another installment in the C/H/E series, a My Audio Life special and my wife gets her first stereo system in over forty years. The Lumin D1 As already mentioned in my Holiday gift guide, the Lumin D1 digital music player is not a current product. So why review it, you ask? Well…..this isn’t a review, exactly. Stay with me and I’ll get to it in due course. My Audio Life: Season Finale &ls... - Digital Music Player Reviews: Part 1, The NAD 50.2 Digital Music Player20 December 2018, 7:14 pm
Digital Music Player Review: Part 1 The NAD 50.2 I’ve been having fun, well, cheap thrills actually, playing with the web radio capabilities of the NAD 50.2. It comes with the TuneIn app preloaded, and music by region, country, genre, and on occasion even sexual orientation can be selected. The thing that amazes me the most is the prevalence of English language pop music. In many countries where English is not the first language, announcers speak in their native to... - Hi-fi Holiday Gift Guide 2018 Edition (Part 2)29 November 2018, 12:42 am
Noam’s Picks for the Season What follows is an eclectic mix of mostly unrelated stuff that either interests me, and/or that I think would interest WoS readers. Most of my suggestions this year fall well below the $200 mark. So break out your wallet, and make some audiophile loved one happy this holiday season. (I’m just kidding, audiophiles are never happy) Vincent Bélanger – Audio Note Music CD’s and LP’s. $20 – $60 CAD. By now the gifted cellis... - Hi-Fi Holiday Gift Guide 2018 Edition (Part 1)19 November 2018, 5:47 pm
Holiday Gift Guide, 2018 – Hi-Fi Stocking Stuffers and Gifts, Part 1: Steve’s Picks By Steve Graham Beteran KZ ATE Dynamic Balanced Armature IEM. $23 CDN Hey Miss K, put those cheap and cheerful IEM’s in the box. I already gave you a pair. Santa Steve knows who’s been naughty. These are super-fun earphones and so much better than anything that comes standard with most portable electronics. I’ve already given seven pairs to friends and family...
- qdc Anole V6 Review23 January 2019, 11:37 am
Tonality9.4Build Quality9.3Comfort & Fit9.3Matchability9 9.3Score$1320.00qdcDisclaimer: The qdc Anole V6 sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the teams at qdc and Soundwave Audio Visual for giving us this opportunity. To read more about qdc products we reviewed on Headfonics click here. I am actually pretty ‘stoked’ to bring […] The post qdc Anole V6 Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - FiiO M6 Review20 January 2019, 12:41 pm
8.3Score$149.99FiiODisclaimer: The FiiO M6 sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at FiiO for giving us this opportunity. To read more about FiiO products reviewed on Headfonics click here. M6, the latest consumer market approach by Fiio has caught huge attention since its launch. Packing in […] The post FiiO M6 Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - HiBy Music R6 Pro – First Contact18 January 2019, 12:04 pm
$799HiBy MusicDisclaimer: This HiBy Music R6 Pro sample is the first Internation Firmware Edition sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at HiBy Music for giving us this opportunity. To read more about HiBy Music products we reviewed on Headfonics click here. Note, the sample here is the first […] The post HiBy Music R6 Pro – First Contact appeared first on Headfonics.... - PLUSSOUND Tri-Silver X8 Series Cable Review16 January 2019, 12:31 pm
Tonality9.2Build Quality9.4Comfort & Handling9Matchability9 9.2Score$1599.99PlussoundDisclaimer: The PLUSSOUND Tri-Silver cable sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at PLUSSOUND for giving us this opportunity. To read more about PLUSSOUND products reviewed on Headfonics click here. We reviewed the PLUSSOUND Tri-Copper Exo Series back in May 2018 and […] The post PLUSSOUND Tri-Silver X8 Series Cable Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - Campfire Audio Solaris Review13 January 2019, 11:58 am
Tonality9.3Build Quality9.3Comfort & Fit8.9Matchability9.2 9.2Score$1499Campfire AudioDisclaimer: The Campfire Audio Solaris sent to us is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank the team at Campfire Audio for giving us this opportunity. To read more about Campfire Audio products we reviewed on Headfonics click here. At around 7pm on day 2 of the […] The post Campfire Audio Solaris Review appeared first on Headfonics....
- Roon Debuts Version 1.6 With Qobuz Support and a Whole Lot More22 January 2019, 5:10 pm
Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Play apps both listen very carefully to what we’re all saying and while Roon does something altogether different than voice-activated access to data of all types, it seems Roon Labs are listening just as intently to their (audiophile) audience.... - Cambridge Audio DUO MC/MM Phono Headphone Preamplifier Review16 January 2019, 10:46 pm
This is a more than capable phono/headphone preamplifier at $600 USD, at $299 USD it is an out-and-out bargain and why I named it to my InnerFidelity Editor’s Choice 2018 – Under $500 list. Dynamic, punchy, nuanced when it needs to be, this simply makes listening to LPs a fun, engaging and educational experience as it revealed a lot of detail in its resolution-abilities that had me relaxing and enjoying albums that I hadn’t hauled down from the shelves for years.... - CES 2019 Highlights12 January 2019, 7:43 pm
The trek out to CES in Las Vegas isn’t usually as bad as actually getting around at the show. The event is absolutely massive in comparison to the usual audiophile circuit, and most of the new headphone tech is housed in the very populated South Hall of the LV Convention Center. The South Hall at CES 2019 (and the direction of headphones in general) can be summed up in two words for 2019 – “True Wireless.” ... - Audeze release Bluetooth iSINE headphones and CIPHER Bluetooth Module8 January 2019, 6:05 pm
Bluetooth continues to muscle in on high-end headphone audio as a viable high-resolution alternative to getting tangled up in cables and Audeze is wasting no time capitalizing on the success of it’s Mobius wireless gaming headset’s cutting-edge Bluetooth implementation by spreading that wireless love to the both popular and critically-acclaimed iSINE series of micro planar-magnetic IEMs.... - Sonarworks Releases iOS and Android App for Calibrating Nearly 300 Headphone Models7 January 2019, 7:13 pm
You asked for it and they listened. CES in Las Vegas saw audio calibration software company Sonarworks officially announce the launch of their Tru-Fi mobile application which will be available for $3.99 USD per month or a lifetime license agreement of $99 USD from the App Store and Google Play....
- Roon 1.6 Launches With Major Upgrades and Qobuz Support22 January 2019, 4:40 pm
Today’s computer-based software has become the modern version of the stylus/cartridge to the record player we call DAC/Streamers. And there is nothing out there quite like Roon audio-playback software; it has, in many ways, made itself the de facto audiophile playback application of choice in the last few years.... - Totaldac D1-Direct DAC Review19 January 2019, 1:45 am
Expectations can be a tricky thing. Some people say they are essential, others are of the “don’t get your expectations up” camp. I usually fall somewhere in the middle, but when it was time to write the review of the totaldac d1-direct which sprang forth from the mind of French high-fidelity electronics guru Vincent Brient, I must say I had some serious expectations.... - CES 2019 Highlights14 January 2019, 6:43 pm
The Venetian wasn’t “dead,” so to speak. Before I set out to commit to CES 2019 I wanted to make sure there would still be something to cover. But as the weeks before the giant Las Vegas electronics show drew to a close, it become slowly apparent that my schedule was filling up… over filling perhaps. ... - Qobuz announce US Beta Launch at CES10 January 2019, 6:18 pm
French high-resolution streaming and download service Qobuz used this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) as a launch pad to announce that their US version is now in beta and “available for registration to US customers…” ... - McIntosh C2600 Tubed Preamplifier Review9 January 2019, 7:31 pm
Struggle. We all have at least a couple in one form or another as we live our lives, be they verb or noun. My father taught me that while struggle in life was inevitable, it was about how we dealt with it that mattered the most. Regardless, there is struggle and it is real for many for us… and at many different budget levels. What struggle am I referring to you ask? The struggle for an end-game preamplifier of course....
- New Digital From NAD & Nagra – CES 201922 January 2019, 8:31 pm
Two of the digital highlights from CES this year came in the form of the all-in-one M10 NAD streamer ($2,499) The post New Digital From NAD & Nagra – CES 2019 appeared first on AudioHead.... - 5 Options For Multi-Room Systems20 January 2019, 9:27 pm
The following is a paid advertorial or what some sites call “Sponsored Content”. Over the past decade, we’ve seen wireless The post 5 Options For Multi-Room Systems appeared first on AudioHead.... - Astell & Kern’s New Player Is Gold, Because…Why Not?18 January 2019, 9:04 pm
High Res player-maker Astell and Kern has dabbled with all sorts of materials in the construction of their DAPs over The post Astell & Kern’s New Player Is Gold, Because…Why Not? appeared first on AudioHead.... - SVS, The Prime Pinnacle & A New 13 – CES 201917 January 2019, 3:09 am
A New Floorstander It’s always a thunderous stop at the SVS room. Focusing on both monster subwoofers and audiophile 2-channel The post SVS, The Prime Pinnacle & A New 13 – CES 2019 appeared first on AudioHead.... - Technics New SL-1200MK7 & SL-1500C Turntables – CES 201915 January 2019, 9:39 pm
There was quite a bit of buzz all week at CES about the new Technics SL-1200MK7 turntable. The proposition perhaps The post Technics New SL-1200MK7 & SL-1500C Turntables – CES 2019 appeared first on AudioHead....
- 1More Triple Driver Bluetooth Review21 January 2019, 6:00 am
The post 1More Triple Driver Bluetooth Review appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - CanJam NYC 2019 to feature over 100 of the world’s most innovative headphone and personal/portable audio brands17 January 2019, 7:44 pm
The post CanJam NYC 2019 to feature over 100 of the world’s most innovative headphone and personal/portable audio brands appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - The Legend: Paul Barton and The History of PSB Speakers14 January 2019, 11:38 am
The post The Legend: Paul Barton and The History of PSB Speakers appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - FiiO M3K Portable Music Player – Mighty Mite8 January 2019, 6:00 am
The post FiiO M3K Portable Music Player – Mighty Mite appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - Moon Audio Silver Dragon V2, Black DragonV2, Bronze Dragon Review7 January 2019, 6:00 am
The post Moon Audio Silver Dragon V2, Black DragonV2, Bronze Dragon Review appeared first on HeadPhone.guru....
- CES 2019 – The Finale21 January 2019, 10:32 pm
Truth is – high-end audio guys are priced out of CES. With some suites starting at $50,000 and hotel room starting at $500 per night – it’s tough to stomach. It is what it is – and we have more than enough high-end shows in the US, anyway. On a personal note, I’ve been bedridden […] The post CES 2019 – The Finale appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - CES 2019 – True Wireless, SVS, and MQA in a Fancy Car18 January 2019, 10:09 pm
The post CES 2019 – True Wireless, SVS, and MQA in a Fancy Car appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - First Listen – NAD Masters M10 Streaming Amplifier10 January 2019, 1:55 pm
One of the more nifty products at CES 2019 – the NAD Masters M10 BluOS streaming amplifier. The NAD M10 is probably the cleanest looking one-box-solution I’ve ever seen. From the solid brushed aluminum to the large glossy touch screen, there’s an undeniable appeal to having 160 watts of power in such an elegant – […] The post First Listen – NAD Masters M10 Streaming Amplifier appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Mad Scientist Audio – Black Magic USB Cable9 January 2019, 12:55 am
Who is Mad Scientist Audio? Mad Scientist Audio is based in New Zealand. It’s run by Bob & Kay Prangnell with a posse of Mad Scientists. Mad Scientist Audio designs and manufactures unique audio products. Bob the Chief Mad Scientist. Bob also runs a software company, and is a decent photographer. He’s been tinkering with audio gear for the past 40 years […] The post Mad Scientist Audio – Black Magic USB Cable appeared first on Audio... - Audio Bacon’s Best of 20187 January 2019, 11:46 pm
In 2018, I’ve had the pleasure of listening to over a hundred systems and the privilege to audition many of them in my own listening rooms. After reflecting back on 2018 – there was some gear that just stuck with me. Either from shows or in private. I’ve listed them in this section. I’m also […] The post Audio Bacon’s Best of 2018 appeared first on Audio Bacon....
- Sony MDR-Z7M2 headphones – seventh heaven once again21 January 2019, 12:27 am
REVIEW: Sony does most things right again with the latest iteration of its Z7 headphones; the Z7M2s fare pretty well even against some tough competition, and in numerous settings.... - Denafrips Ares DAC – a worthy competitor15 January 2019, 11:02 am
REVIEW: A lovely DAC from a rather oddly-named company that's not taking the well-trodden path; Denafrips Ares may be 'entry-level' in price but certainly not in sound.... - Sony does a Bluetooth turntable – the PS-LX310BT10 January 2019, 3:08 am
NEWS: Vinyl goes Bluetooth in a convenient package; Sony's new analogue machine, the PS-LX310BT turntable, makes that perfect transition to the digital realm, sans wires.... - Audio engineer claims his Null Tester settles the debate on wires9 January 2019, 1:54 pm
NEWS: Science or snake oil? Do all wires sound the same or do they make a difference? What do you believe? Well, we believe you need to watch these videos and decide for yourselves...... - Monitor Audio ups the Gold Series3 January 2019, 3:24 am
NEWS: Always a good bet for great sound at reasonable prices, Monitor Audio's updated Gold Series reaches for the next level in sonic performance....
- AirPulse A300 Active Speakers Review3 January 2019, 9:44 am
Their price and size places them in a segment of the market where there is a great deal of competition, but they compare very favourably to models far beyond their price. The post AirPulse A300 Active Speakers Review appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Reloop HiFi Turn 5 Direct Drive Turntable Review13 November 2018, 10:27 am
The Reloop HiFi Turn 5 is a well built, well specified and keenly priced alternative to the norm. The post Reloop HiFi Turn 5 Direct Drive Turntable Review appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Vinyl Styl Audio Cassette Head Cleaner And Demagnetiser24 October 2018, 1:37 pm
Cassettes may be making a comeback, but as yet the machines to play them aren’t. As such it is necessary to keep old machines in good health with regular maintenance and TLC. The Vinyl Styl cleaning and demagnetising tape does just that. The post Vinyl Styl Audio Cassette Head Cleaner And Demagnetiser appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Edifier S350DB Review13 September 2018, 1:40 pm
If you’re after plenty of inputs, smart aesthetics and convenience features with better sonics than the average one box solution, these are worth a look. For no compromise audio performance, look elsewhere. The post Edifier S350DB Review appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Clear Groove Vinyl Record Cleaner28 August 2018, 2:08 pm
Herein we feature the products of Clear Groove, a family run business specialising in the design and supply of products for vinyl and CD care and cleaning The post Clear Groove Vinyl Record Cleaner appeared first on Audio Appraisal....
- Audiophile Review!McGary Audio SA 1Stereo Tube Amplifier"The Little Tube Amp That Can"14 December 2018, 11:52 pm
... - Audiophile Review!Benchmark HPA4Headphone Amplifier/Line-Stage Preamplifier:"Precision Volume, Pure Transparency"31 July 2018, 5:28 pm
... - Audiophile Review!Essence HDACC II 4KHeadphone Amp/DAC/Preamp“Low Cost, Versatile HDACCGets Major Performance Boost”27 June 2018, 8:00 pm
... - Home Recording Studio Review!PreSonus Studio 192 Command Center24-Bit Audio Recording Interface17 May 2018, 5:16 pm
... - Digital Converter Review!Benchmark DAC3-DX Dual-Buss Output DAC:More Output Options,Incredible S/N Performance!23 January 2018, 6:54 pm
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- REVIEW: SOLIDSTEEL S5-3 HI-FI RACK15 January 2019, 2:23 am
We were first introduced to the Italian brand Solidsteel by way of their impressive SS6 speaker stands. A few weeks ago we took delivery of their S5-3 hi-fi rack to see how the upper level of their introductory range performs.... - REVIEW: BOWERS & WILKINS 607 BOOKSHELF LOUDSPEAKERS14 January 2019, 3:43 am
When B&W announced its new 600 Series, one model emerged as a potentially great package at a very affordable price. The stellar performer we’re gushing about is the entry level 607 stand mount speaker that’s nicely built and nicely priced at just $949.... - REVIEW: PIONEER UDP-LX800 UNIVERSAL DISC PLAYER14 January 2019, 1:32 am
Pioneer's UDP-LX800 Universal Disc Player's announcement was timed almost precisely after Oppo announced its exit from the Blu-ray player market. We put the flagship offering from Pioneer, the UDP-LX800 through its paces.... - REVIEW: DS AUDIO DS-002 OPTICAL PHONO CARTRIDGE11 January 2019, 2:12 am
For a medium that was created in the 19th century, vinyl has continued to defy the odds as a playback source. There's been a number of changes over the decades since, but the introduction of optical phono cartridges could be a game-changer.... - BLU-RAY REVIEW: SICARIO - DAY OF THE SOLDADO (4K ULTRA HD)10 January 2019, 1:04 am
Sicario Day of the Soldado, directed by Stefano Sollima, may follow closely regarding story and style; however, it just can’t reach the same heights as Sicario....
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- 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 […]...