- Sonatas as Mozart Might Have Heard Them20 November 2018, 5:26 pm
How to encompass the myriad delights in Mozart's multiple Sonatas for Violin and Fortepiano? Judging from the three chosen by baroque violinist Isabelle Faust and period instrument/modern music keyboard specialist Alexander Melnikov for their November 23 release, Mozart Sonatas for Violin and Fortepiano, Vol.1 (Harmonia Mundi 902360), we will be fortunate enough to struggle with that question for some time to come.Tue, 11/20/2018...
- Recording of December 2018: <I>Where the River Goes</I>19 November 2018, 5:47 pm
Wolfgang Muthspiel: Where the River Goes Wolfgang Muthspiel, electric & acoustic guitars; Ambrose Akinmusire, trumpet; Brad Mehldau, piano; Larry Grenadier, bass; Eric Harland, drums ECM 2610 (CD). 2018. Manfred Eicher, prod.; Gérard de Haro, Nicolas Baillard, engs. DDD. TT: 48:15 Performance ****½ Sonics ****½ Wolfgang Muthspiel of Austria has been active and respected on the European scene for 30 years. But like so many of the best European jazz musicians, he began to... - Nothing Is What I Want19 November 2018, 5:44 pm
I recently experienced an alarming audiophile episode. John Atkinson wanted to send me BorderPatrol's Digital to Analogue Converter SE, so that I could write the Follow-Up published in the November issue. But he wouldn't tell me anything about Herb Reichert's original review of the product, which had not yet been published. Instead, he said, cryptically, "If this is a 'great' DAC, I'll have to hang up my measurements." I took this to mean Herb liked it, but JA's test rig did not. Sure, why not?... - Recording of December 1963: <I>Music of Edgar Varèse, Vol.2</I>19 November 2018, 5:42 pm
Music of Edgar Varèse, Vol.2Arcana, Déserts, Offrandes, Chanson De Là-Haut (Song From High) Dona Precht, soprano, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Robert Craft, conductor. Columbia Masterworks MS-6362 (LP). John McClure, Thomas Frost, prods. TT: 24:45. In electronic music, the sounds of musical instruments, natural noise-makers and electronic signal generators are recorded on tape, modified by running them at higher- or lower-than-normal speeds and manipulating their tonal cont... - Musicians as Audiophiles: John Escreet18 November 2018, 2:10 pm
Even newbie audiophiles can be smitten with the vintage hi-fi bug. Keyboardist and composer John Escreet was once a streaming kind of guy. Then he heard the Fisher 500-C/Falcon LS3/5a-endowed system of bassist Matt Brewer, partner of former Stereophile editorial coordinator Jana Dagdagan.Sun, 11/18/2018...
- KEF Announces Spotify Connect and Roon Integration With LSX20 November 2018, 8:17 pm
The following is a press release issued by KEF. Marlboro, NJ | November 19th, 2018 – KEF proudly announces the addition of Spotify Connect and Roon to LSX, the mighty two-speaker, all-wireless music system that puts the high-end sound KEF is known for in an affordable system easily integrated into virtually any listening room or lifestyle. LSX is fully wireless – stream from a multitude of sources and listen to true stereo with KEF’s proprietary between-speaker wireless connect... - Buddy Guy: The Blues Is Alive and Well20 November 2018, 1:56 pm
Chicago blues guitarist and vocalist Buddy Guy honed his chops during the 1960s as house guitarist for the legendary Chess Records. The electric blue pioneer’s blistering chops have influenced everyone from Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix to Jonny Lang and John Mayer. His legend has only grown since his 1991 Grammy-winning comeback Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues. Guy’s new album features special guests James Bay, Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards (if only the Rolling Ston... - Q&A with Irv Gross of Constellation Audio20 November 2018, 1:27 pm
How did you get into this business? My first musical influences were The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Music has always been a soundtrack to my life from adolescence onward. In high school, I worked on a radio show, and at a radio station in college. While teaching and finishing my master’s degree in Philosophy at the University of Colorado, I took a part-time job in a stereo store in Boulder 40 years ago. Since the market for salesmen remains stronger than the market for p... - A Roon Primer19 November 2018, 6:55 pm
What Is Roon? Roon is a music playback and management software suite for digital audio components. There are many such products on the market, including iTunes and JRiver’s Media Center, but what makes Roon special is the unmatched comprehensiveness of its user interface and, believe it or not, its sound. This primer will cover some of the more salient features of Roon’s UI, as well as how to implement Roon in your system. I’ll also describe why and in what ways Roon affects a ... - Audio Research VT80SE Power Amplifier19 November 2018, 6:50 pm
Audio Research Corporation, the company that almost single-handedly created high-end audio electronics, not to mention preserved the vacuum tube as an amplification device, recently revised its basic line. As it has become the foundation for ARC’s more expensive gear, it is appropriately named the Foundation Series and comprises the LS28 linestage (a 2017 Golden Ear Award recipient), DAC9 DAC, PH9 phono preamp, and VT80SE power amplifier. Each of the first three pieces of Foundation Series...
- RMAF 2018 Show Report9 October 2018, 5:00 am
Featuring a glorious and tasteful renovated venue, our Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest (RMAF) 2018 show report celebrates 15 years of reporting on the highly popular event. With continued and steady growth, RMAF has become the leading high-end audio fall event in Western America. Once again we have the Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest teaming up with Head-Fi's CanJam event! Audio gear from large reference speakers to the smallest in-ear monitors could be experienced at the show. S... - Merrill Audio Element 118 Solid-State Monoblock Amplifiers9 October 2018, 4:59 am
Regarding the Element 118, the layout they employ with the internal printed circuit boards (PCBs) in this amplifier has reduced the parasitic capacitance and inductance to near zero, and allow close to zero overshoot and ring, and therefore zero deadtime. The term "deadtime" might be the most important consideration here, and so it is worth explaining a bit further. The transistors in even some recent designs of some otherwise quite decent sounding Class D amps could not switch fast enough, thus... - Audioengine A5+ Wireless Speakers9 October 2018, 4:57 am
Simply calling the Audioengine A5+ a "wireless speaker" is not nearly enough information to properly describe these speakers. Of course, the raison d'être of the A5+ wireless speaker is its "high-fidelity advanced Bluetooth with aptX HD with a 24-bit upsampling DAC (AKM AK4396)". This type happens to be the older generation of Bluetooth connectivity. Although, to be honest, when I heard the term "wireless" in the name of the speaker I assumed that the A5+ would either have no wires connect... - FiiO M3K Portable Hi-Res Audio Player And BTR3 Bluetooth Amplifier9 October 2018, 4:57 am
Being an old timer in battery powered portable audio, including everything from a brand new 1970 Panasonic transistor radio to the world's first portable CD player (Sony D5 in 1985) and toyed with Diamond Rio mp3 player (1999), I am truly impressed at these two under $100 offerings. While there's bragging rights with the latest and greatest (and overly heavy imho) 'reference devices' that are big, overly bulky, and frankly hard to justify at lofty $3000(!) pricing for some, FiiO's M3K portable H... - See More High-End Audio Reviews...30 August 2018, 11:30 am
EnjoyTheMusic.com has many more high-end audiophile articles and reviews available this month. Click here to see them all. ...
- COVERAGE | AUDIO COMPANY: NAGRA. Story of a passion | SWISS31 October 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ NAGRA is a company-institution. Both figuratively and literally. As I shall try to show you, it's a unique example of combining the elements of professional and home audio as well as music. The fact that the company was founded by Stefan Kudelski, a man from Poland, only emphasizes its uniqueness in my eyes. Here's the story for today: a few words about today's Nagra, its history, participation in music projects, and a handful of observations regarding the founder of the Montreux Jazz Fe... - REVIEW: GigaWat PC-3 SE EVO+ | power conditioner | POLAND | RED Fingerprint31 October 2018, 11:00 pm
GigaWatt is one of the oldest in Poland, still operating manufacturers focused on power-related products for audio. Importantly, it is still developing, both organizationally – there is new headquarters - and substantively, which is expressed, for example, by manufactured together with Miflex, anti-interference capacitors. Every now and again, though without any rush, they offer new power cables, power strips and conditioners. One of the newest proposals is the PC-3 SE EVO +, which is a sp... - KRAKOW SONIC SOCIETY | Meeting #116: THE CASE OF MUSIC FILES, part. 2: PCM | POLAND/Krakow31 October 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ Files are a topic that is of interest to almost everyone today. This is the most popular way of distributing music. But is it the best? Are record labels and producers able to offer more demanding listeners a high-end sound? We will try to answer these questions in the second KTS meeting dedicated to music files. This time will deal with PCM. ⌋ CM, i.e. Pulse Code Modulation, is a way of recording digital signal used in audio on CD, HDCD, DVD and BD discs. And also in music fil... - REVIEW: TechDAS AIR FORCE III PREMIUM | turntable | JAPAN | RED Fingerprint31 October 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ A turntable is an area of engineering art balancing on the border between mechanics and electronics. This time, we will take a closer look at the product unique even among the best turntables - AIR FORCE III PREMIUM. Heavy, massive, compact, with a platter moving around on a thin film of air, with a vacuum holding down a record on the surface of the platter, a motor that by itself measures the belt tension, is a great example of engineering and Japanese precision of the highest order. &r... - REVIEW: Luna Cables LUNA ORANGE | interconnect RCA + speaker cable | CANADA31 October 2018, 11:00 pm
⌈ Luna Cables is a micro-firm from French-speaking Quebec, run by Mr. Danny Labrecque. Cables are made in the nineteenth-century, beautifully renovated and adapted barn surrounded by nature. You can find out how he works, how his production differs from mass production and - finally - how his cables "sound" like, by continuing reading. ⌋ t the beginning of the audio industry history, the devices, loudspeakers, etc. were designed by engineers, often clustered in the largest resea...
- The 15th Annual Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards for 201820 November 2018, 4:40 pm
Beginning at the end of 2003, PF established its first annual awards for fine audio. The Brutus Award was established for the best that David Robinson and Dave Clark (and Carol Clark) had heard in their own listening rooms during that year. You can think of it as our equivalent of an "Editors' Choice" award. The Gizmo... Read More » The post The 15th Annual Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards for 2018 appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - R+C+L, Part 2: Roger Skoff Writes More About Cables and What Really Matters20 November 2018, 1:03 am
Roger Skoff at the LA Audio Show, 2017: a portrait by David W. Robinson In Part 1 of this two-part article, I pointed out that we audiophiles are the only fan group I know of who argue, not just about which stuff is better, but about whether, for some products, there's any difference at all!... Read More » The post R+C+L, Part 2: Roger Skoff Writes More About Cables and What Really Matters appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - RMAF 2018 - Why We Listen: Music Changes Lives20 November 2018, 12:20 am
At Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018, I was asked to participate in a panel titled Why We Listen: Music Changes Lives. I didn't realize what they meant is that they wanted me to moderate the panel. To ease the stress of moderating my first audio show panel, I was given the opportunity to choose the... Read More » The post RMAF 2018 - Why We Listen: Music Changes Lives appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Second Report: The MAG-LEV ML1 Levitating Turntable19 November 2018, 7:44 pm
It's time for an update on the MAG-LEV ML1 levitating turntable. You'll find my world premiere review HERE. After four months in heavy use and with my modifications on board, I am pleased to report that the ML1, for all its novelty and glamour, is also a high performing, exceptionally musical turntable, even for the... Read More » The post Second Report: The MAG-LEV ML1 Levitating Turntable appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Audio Gangsters: I’m With The Mob17 November 2018, 4:41 pm
It seems like such a long time ago since I last dropped in and shared my audio adventures with you guys. Well, I got a good one for ya in this episode of Wayne's World. I don't quite remember how it all got started, but more than likely I was bragging to David Robinson about... Read More » The post Audio Gangsters: I’m With The Mob appeared first on Positive Feedback....
- 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 [...]... - Paradigm’s Newest Atom…19 November 2018, 5:05 am
I often get criticized for only being interested in the mega gear, but nothing could be more wrong. As much fun as the big bucks stuff is, no one starts there, and for me, hifi is a journey. One of the most exciting parts of the journey is the beginning – what got you excited [...]... - Amphion Helium 510 Speakers19 November 2018, 3:22 am
Listening to Eric Clapton float between these quietly elegant, white speakers from Amphion, it’s easy to see why they named this speaker range “helium.” The slight waveguide machined into the front panel of the cabinet, adds dispersion to the dome tweeter, giving these small Finnish monitors an ease that is rarely included at their $1,130/pair [...]... - Rega’s New Planar 1 Plus Turntable18 November 2018, 4:59 am
Many first time turntable buyers have a bit of difficulty with sorting the hardware aspect, agonizing over cartridge, turntable and phono preamplifier can be slightly challenging to those just joining our party. And we won’t even talk about cables! Rega turntables have always combined fantastic performance with ease of setup. I can’t think of an [...]... - PONTOS 9 Speakers17 November 2018, 4:42 am
For many post-Iron Curtain years, whispers swirled in audio circles of a lively audiophile crowd and a quietly dedicated manufacturing community in Eastern Europe. As capitalism grew so has the community. The Warsaw Audio Show has a strong buzz. I myself am a several year owner of the Hungarian built Vista Audio tube amplifier. For [...]...
- Totem Acoustic Sky Tower Loudspeakers15 November 2018, 5:00 am
Note: Measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link. Vince Bruzzese founded Totem Acoustic in 1987, in Montreal, Quebec. Last year, to celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary, Totem released the Signature One, successor to Totem’s very first speaker, the Model One. Jason Thorpe reviewed the Signature One on this site in April 2018. ... - Studio Electric M4 Loudspeakers1 November 2018, 4:00 am
Note: Measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link. Although Studio Electric LLC was established in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2006, founder David MacPherson can trace his career as a speaker designer back 20 years before that. In 1985, he began making speakers for the professional market under the brand name MacPherson, Inc., which he remained involved with until 2005. ... - Recommended Reference Component: Hegel Music Systems H590 Integrated Amplifier-DAC1 November 2018, 4:00 am
Hegel Music Systems’ new H590 is, by far, their most costly integrated amplifier-DAC to date, at $11,000 USD. Their next-most-expensive model is their previous flagship integrated-DAC, the H360, at little more than half that price: $6000. But at 17”W x 6.8”H x 17.6”D and almost 50 pounds, and specified to deliver at least 301Wpc into 8 ohms, the H590 is larger, heavier, better built, more powerful, and has more features. And according to Hans Wetzel’s review of the ... - Negan's Bat1 November 2018, 4:00 am
If you believe, as I do, that trends at street level are more important than those manufactured by the press, then the latest Tonbridge Audiojumble was an education. As ever, it was also good for a number of surprises, which is why I’m reporting on it again. There is a subtle change in the atmosphere -- nothing sinister, just a sign of evolution. ... - The Best of Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 201831 October 2018, 11:32 pm
In 2013, Jeff Fritz and I reported on the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, held annually in Denver, Colorado. We’d made flight and hotel reservations so that we could attend all three days of the show, but found it so lacking in new and interesting products that we left halfway through Day 2 to see Captain Phillips at a nearby movie theater. We returned on Day 3 but wound up aimlessly walking the halls, finding little worth our while. We’d watched attendance at RMAF dwindle before 2013, bu...
- Digital Audio & Audiophiles: Convenient and Inconvenient Truths21 November 2018, 9:00 am
Digital Audio, streaming and digital downloads, is more convenient than Analog Audio, turntables and records. There’s a reason why I own two Denon DP-300F fully automatic turntables and am proud of it. They are my drunk turntables for when I am too far gone, tired or lazy to fully respect my VPI Prime Scout and [...] The post Digital Audio & Audiophiles: Convenient and Inconvenient Truths appeared first on Dagogo.... - Ortofon MC1 Turbo moving coil cartridge Review19 November 2018, 5:19 pm
I recently retired after spending the past forty years as a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Constantine Soo suggested that I try something both new and different, such as writing about audiophile gear for his Dagogo webzine. Since I do not own or have access to the super expensive gear that most reviewers have, I decided [...] The post Ortofon MC1 Turbo moving coil cartridge Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Interview: Mike Sanders of Quicksilver Audio16 November 2018, 7:39 pm
Mike Sanders, founder/chief engineer of Quicksilver Audio, has been in the audio industry since the 1981. Quicksilver Audio participated in the recent California Audio Show, partnering with the Sierra Nevada Audio Society, Bernhagen-Porter speakers, Syncopation (dealer, Stockton) and Genesis Advanced Technologies. Known for his reclusiveness, Mike’s public appearance was anticipated by many of his loyal [...] The post Interview: Mike Sanders of Quicksilver Audio appeared first on Dagogo.... - Audio Note Fifth Force / Fifth Element DAC14 November 2018, 5:49 pm
One of its most ambitious projects, Audio Note UK’s Fifth Element/Fifth Force DAC retails for 153,753 USD. We extracted the following passages from its very extensive owner’s manual for your reading pleasure: ‘Ever since its introduction, we at Audio Note have been highly critical of digital music reproduction. This dissatisfaction was the instigating force in [...] The post Audio Note Fifth Force / Fifth Element DAC appeared first on Dagogo.... - Capital Audio Fest 2018: Room 323 – In Through the Out Door10 November 2018, 3:50 am
Hi-Fi Shows are by their nature about the many and not the few, but this year’s Capital Audio Fest (CAF 2018) managed to do the unthinkable. One of its rooms managed to encapsulate the ethos of Hi-Fi as both a hobby and as an industry, and in the process managed to a shine a light, [...] The post Capital Audio Fest 2018: Room 323 – In Through the Out Door appeared first on Dagogo....
- McIntosh MS500 Music Streamer Review15 November 2018, 10:10 pm
I've never hidden my love of McIntosh products. I proudly display my MC275 amplifier in the front right corner of my listening room when it isn't in use. The MC275 is also one of the first items I show everyone who visits this room. My friends aren't impressed by $20,000 DACs, $40,000 speakers and certainly not impressed by $10,000 cables in a positive way. The McIntosh MC275 on the other hand easily impresses everyone. I love this amp so much that I'll ... - A New Listening Room Part One9 November 2018, 5:54 pm
A dedicated listening room is not a luxury for me, it's a necessity. I realize this is a luxurious necessity, but nonetheless it's a requirement for my job. Fortunately I have an understanding wife who has always encouraged me to improve my listening room given that I spend so much time in this room. We moved into our house in April 2008, about six months after Computer Audiophile launched. My original listening room in the basement of this house evolved over the years through... - The Best Version Of… Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow1 November 2018, 6:11 pm
UPDATED November 12, 2018 With the sad passing of Marty Balin and the release of Jorma Kaukonen’s autobiography, Jefferson Airplane has probably made more headlines in the past few weeks than in the preceding few decades. So it seemed appropriate to focus the first installment of “The Best Version Of…” (TBVO), my new Computer Audiophile column dedicated to finding the best digital editions of classic albums, on one of the Airplane’s albums. ... - My Quest for a New DAC, Part 4 - iFi Pro iDSD (and friends)26 October 2018, 2:15 pm
Introduction to the Series Part 1: Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ with Uptone JS-2 Power Supply Part 2: Ayre QX-8 Part 3: Denafrips Terminator Next up in my series is the very intriguing iFi Pro iDSD DAC (US MSRP $2499). I’ve had my eye on this puppy for the almost 2 years it’s been teased about and hinted at by iFi, and when concrete details finally started to emerge this spring, I knew this had to be on my audition list. On the face of it, ... - Google Home Hub for HiFi?23 October 2018, 8:44 pm
Gigantic corporations don't always have consumer's interests in mind when pushing new technologies. They frequently have their own interests in mind when trying to persuade everyone else that their interests should align. Fear of missing out plays a huge role on the consumer side as does technological change for the sake of commerce on the hardware manufacturers' side. Anyone seen all the publications jumping to video and vacating written articles over the last few ...
- Audio Video Show 2018 Warsaw Poland Day 221 November 2018, 12:39 am
Walk through the Campanile Golden Tulip and Radisson Sobieski Hotel exhibits at Audio Video Show 2018 Warsaw with AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer.... - Audio Video Show 2018 Warsaw Poland Day 117 November 2018, 1:02 pm
Warsaw, Poland's Audio Video Show has grown almost exponentially over the past 20 or so years. Today it's Europe's second biggest show (after Munich) and this year it expects to attract over 15,000 visitors in three venues: the Radisson Sobieski, the Golden Tulip and the skyboxes at the enormous Stadion Narodowy.... - Analog Corner #10112 November 2018, 1:57 pm
Like the LP itself, the dream of a turntable that could read grooves with a laser beam would not die. The Finial Technology laser turntable has been resurrected as the ELP Laser Turntable by the ELP Corporation of Japan. ELP is headed by Sanju Chiba, an analog true believer and ELP, which has been building and selling the Laser Turntable since 1997, recently announced three LT models with improved sonic performance and user interfaces, including CD-like programmability and remote control.... - Bob Dylan 3-Way Not a Devil's Triangle11 November 2018, 9:18 pm
A New Zealand-based reader recently emailed asking if Mobile Fidelity's double 45rpm monophonic Bob Dylan reissues were "worth the money". He added that he was a big Bob Dylan fan.... - At Making Vinyl 2018 "The New Business Model Filling The Vinyl Pipeline"11 November 2018, 7:40 pm
Hosted by AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer and featuring Chad Kassem (Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions/Quality Record Pressing), Josh Bizar (Music Direct/Mobile Fidelity), Cameron Schaefer (Vinyl Me, Please) and Jay Millar (Sundazed), this lively panel discussion features vinyl industry pioneers specializing in high quality all-analog reissues, a newcomer who built a successful subscription service and a spokesperson for an eclectic label that began reissuing on vinyl at a time when the ...
- Buchardt’s $1,200 a pair speakers are a steal - CNET17 November 2018, 6:17 pm
The Buchardt S300 MKII SE isn’t by any stretch a budget speaker, but it sounds a lot more expensive than it is.... - High-end audio kicks it up a notch at this New York show - CNET17 November 2018, 5:17 pm
Turntables spinning vinyl, amplifiers with glowing tubes and a dazzling array of speakers woo audiophiles at the New York Audio Show.... - Parasound’s feature-packed high-end amplifier is a knockout - CNET10 November 2018, 5:47 pm
We put Parasound’s HINT 6, a powerful and seriously versatile stereo amplifier, through its paces.... - Back to the future with JBL’s iconic L100 Classic speaker - CNET10 November 2018, 4:47 pm
The L100 was JBL’s ultimate 1970s rock speaker, and now it’s back and sounding better than ever.... - Onkyo aims high with its new low price amplifier - CNET3 November 2018, 10:31 pm
The no-frills Onkyo A-9110 puts the emphasis on sound, not features, says the Audiophiliac....
- CAF 2018: Old Forge Audio, Wand, Pure Audio, Acapella; An addiction you don’t want to beat21 November 2018, 11:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile Old Forge Audio learns us about coming home, Wand shows us its magic powers, EMT lets loose the juice, Pure Audio shows us how to “push”, and Acapella Audio Arts sings like a church choir. The Story David Cope of Old Forge Audio has tried stepping away from two-channel audio. Maybe he thought it would be easy? At this moment in the story, feel free to take a few minutes and laugh at that thought. Okay, maybe after David retired from Audio Note UK in 2016, the dec... - CAF 2018: TriangleArt, Muraudio; The Ecstasy of Gold20 November 2018, 5:00 pm
Part-Time Audiophile TriangleArt exhibits a gold standard in Tube and Class-A solid state electronics, and Muraudio redefines the D’Appolito array. The Story Collaborating with TriangleArt, Muraudio Electrostatic Loudspeakers brought their lively sounding SP1 Point Source Electrostatic loudspeakers which are available in semi-gloss veneers and solid colors. However here at CAF 2018, they were on display in Muraudio’s signature SP1 Steller White High Gloss finish which is an additiona... - CAF 2018: GamuT, Pear Audio; The vibe of Audio Skies and Dr. Vinyl20 November 2018, 11:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile GamuT offers us a new reference for vibes, Pear Audio Blue offers a fruitful experience, Top Wing takes us flying with Blue Dragons, and Bob’s Devices give us a step-up both sonically and in mood. The Story The story here should be the sound, or maybe even the vibe. Laid back, welcoming, and riddled with brightness. Brightness not in sound, but in actual light. The room is dynamically hard to photograph for the background is overblown when the gear is exposed for, and ... - CAF 2018: DeVore, Doshi, J. Sikora; Sound to the nines19 November 2018, 5:00 pm
Part-Time Audiophile Devore Fidelity is still monkeying around, Doshi Audio goes hybrid, and J. Sikora sets a new Standard. The Story Doshi Audio has grown into its commercial and critical success, achieving recent prominence in the high-end electronics community. Here at Capital Audiofest, Doshi Audio was showing off their current Tape Stage Preamplifier — universally considered the finest Tape Stage Preamplifier ever produced — in concert with their (Hybrid) Stereo Amplifier. This ... - CAF 2018: The Lives of The Party19 November 2018, 11:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile A photographic narrative that parallels the typical show going experience, or in all likelihood is indistinguishable from it. There is no unequivocal way to gauge the probability of a social symmetry. Conversation There will always be members of the community or industry (which is sometimes both) who revel in tearing down the meaning of the things we: do, lust for, and react to. I am one of them, and I am not alone. Many times at audio shows there are great opportunities to ...
- A short film about the Chord Qutest20 November 2018, 8:47 am
Value for money isn’t the preserve of inexpensive products — it can exist at any price point. Chord Electronics’ Hugo 2 is a DAC that edges out similarly-priced rivals on detail retrieval and spatial cues to take up residence in a many a two-channel enthusiast’s hi-fi system, seemingly flying in the […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For ... - Roon and Spotify Connect come to the KEF LSX19 November 2018, 3:43 pm
Well, that didn’t take long. Three weeks ago, British loudspeaker manufacturer KEF announced their latest system-in-a-box / active loudspeaker, the LSX. Catch up here. Today, KEF has announced the availability of a firmware upgrade that will add support for native Roon streaming (‘Roon Tested‘) and Spotify Connect. No more Google […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed witho... - On pragmatism and positivity15 November 2018, 12:27 pm
Ten thousand dollars. In the nineties, it would have bought us 500 new release CDs. Twenty years down the line, that same $10K would buy us 1000 CDs or 500 new release LPs. That’s generously assuming a $20 unit price for new release vinyl and $10 for silver discs. Used […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copyright 2010-2018 · Darko.A... - A short film about the ALLO DigiOne Signature for Raspberry Pi13 November 2018, 10:48 am
If bits were just bits, high-end streamer manufacturers would be snake oil peddlers and their (many thousands) of customers deaf dopes. Experience tells us otherwise: that not only do digital sources sound different but there exists a substantial audible delta between the very best-sounding digital audio sources – like the Innuos’ Zenith […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-pu... - PS Audio announces Snowmass update for DirectStream12 November 2018, 8:10 pm
PS Audio’s DirectStream DAC is like no other DAC. We might best think of it as an audio computer where between its suite of digital inputs – that includes an optional Roon/Spotify enabled streaming board – and its discrete DSD-decoding output stage sits not an off-the-shelf D/A chip but an FPGA that […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For p...
- Classical Vinyl Box Sets you may not know that should be in your collection14 November 2018, 6:36 pm
If you visit the top vinyl sales websites such as Elusive Disc and Acoustic Sounds among others, the quality vinyl lists are fairly similar. All the familiar suspects—RCA, Lyrita, EMI, Mercury, Blue Note, Argo, Decca—populate the must haves. And many fabulous reissues also are cross referenced (Testament, Speakers Corner, Classic Records, etc). I’ve been reviewing lots of cartridges and phono stages lately and have been deep diving into my vinyl collection to add a ... - Xavian Perla Esclusiva Loudspeakers10 November 2018, 1:25 pm
I was contacted by the marketing manager of Xavian Loudspeakers (Italian design/manufactured in the Czech Republic) requesting an Audiophilia review of the ‘Perla Esclusiva’, a stand mounted monitor from Xavian’s Natura range of loudspeakers and the recent successor to the original Perla. We lost contact for some months after the initial request. Later, I was contacted informing me the newest iteration of the Perla was ready for review. The pair was shipped from the Czech... - Master & Dynamic MW07 True Wireless Earphones9 November 2018, 6:45 pm
New York City based Master & Dynamic is a unique company. While not aiming for the highest ‘audiophile’ quality in the universe—together with the very high prices that go along with that—they, instead, produce superb sounding audio products displaying a savvy mix of fashion, art and modern culture. They even partner with legendary companies such as Leica Camera and make a special series of headphones in honour of legendary musicians such as Michael Jackson. The ... - Periodic Audio Nickel Amplifier26 October 2018, 5:27 pm
Much smaller (30x50x15mm) than a smart phone! About the same weight (20.9g) as many USB stick drives! Can easily power (250 mW into 32 Ohms) headphones (not just earbuds) without a sweat! It’s the Periodic Audio Nickel, a super-compact $299 headphone amplifier that can be used on the run. It is essentially the size of a small box of matches. It is made in the USA. I gave it a quick try at the recent RMAF in Denver in early October 2018, was impressed, and the ever so friendly Periodi... - VPI 40th Anniversary & Turntable Launch Party22 October 2018, 9:27 pm
In January of 2018, VPI Industries held a wonderful homey event (party) for high-end audio lovers as an alternative to the annual Computer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Now, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the company, VPI created a 40th anniversary turntable, and better yet organized (for October 21, 2018) a smaller event (party) to launch it at the now fully completed VPI Listening House in New Jersey, close by to the factory. Here we would not only be able to experience the ...
- 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.... - Music In The Mountains20 February 2018, 7:49 am
"In year’s past, the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) has been hampered by an aging, rather stale venue, and backward looking management. This year, things were looking up with the hosting hotel being newly refreshed and the exhibitors better able to cope with the remodeled rooms." Oliver Masciarotte provides his retrospective of the 2017 show.... - Droidisk – An inexpensive compact music server11 February 2018, 12:49 pm
John Reekie revisits his Raspberry Pi based music server with a new offering: the ODroid HC1 ("home compute server"). "The HC1 has the distinguishing feature of a SATA port, so that it connects to a hard drive without going through USB. It also has a Gigabit Ethernet port and a much faster processor than the Pi." Get ready to sharpen your command line skills!... - JWM Acoustics Alyson AML II24 December 2017, 12:20 pm
JWM Acoustics aims to deliver custom-designed products to meet the needs of individual audiophiles who purchase for the long haul. Patrick Dillon spends time with their standmount Alyson AML speakers and finds them capable of performance that marries unique style to exceptional musical resolution....
- MartinLogan Outdoor Living Series Review19 November 2018, 2:00 pm
MartinLogan is really stepping up their outdoor audio game with a new lineup of outdoor speakers they are calling the Outdoor Living Series. The post MartinLogan Outdoor Living Series Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - JBL Stage A180 Loudspeaker Review14 November 2018, 2:00 pm
The JBL Stage A180 loudspeakers bring back the fun that JBLs have always been famous for. Tight and powerful bass, clear and articulate treble, and a presence range that “puts the singer in the room with you” are all classic JBL traits that are on display in the JBL Stage A180 speakers. Other speakers may offer more subdued frequency response and/or more polite dynamics, but they lack the fun factor of the A180. If you’re looking for a durable, well-made, and high-value speaker... - Sony VPL-GTZ270 4K SXRD Laser Projector Review12 November 2018, 2:00 pm
With reference post-production quality HD and stunning UltraHD 4K performance, the Sony VPL-GTZ270 4K SXRD Laser Projector is for the most serious and well-funded home theater entertainers. The post Sony VPL-GTZ270 4K SXRD Laser Projector Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Pro-Ject RPM 9 Carbon Turntable, Tube Box DS2 Phono Preamp, Sumiko Starling Cartridge Review7 November 2018, 2:00 pm
Pro-Ject is a manufacturer of turntable, amplifiers, speakers, and accessories, located in Mistelbach, Austria, with manufacturing plants in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. They range in price from a few hundred dollars up to several thousand. The post Pro-Ject RPM 9 Carbon Turntable, Tube Box DS2 Phono Preamp, Sumiko Starling Cartridge Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - AURALiC ARIES G1 Wireless Streaming Transporter Review5 November 2018, 2:00 pm
Not too long ago, I wrote a very favorable review of the ARIES G2, which represents AURALiC’s update to its wildly popular ARIES wireless streaming device series. The ARIES G2, which was seemingly designed with a cost-no-object mentality, is excellent in every respect but it carries a rather steep price tag of $3,899. Earlier this year, AURALiC released the ARIES G1, which is positioned at a more affordable price point of $2,199. Although the functionalities of the two products are the sam...
- 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......
- Simaudio Moon 600I V2 Evolution Series integrated amplifier15 November 2018, 9:14 am
Many moons ago (yeah, I know), I was given the opportunity to review a compact little integrated amplifier from the Canadian manufacturer SimAudio. It was called the Moon i-3. Outwardly it was a completely no-frills design, beautifully constructed, with a large volume control and a very reasonable price tag. As ever, competition at its price point was fierce. I fired it up... and thought it sounded rather thin and lightweight. Discussing this with the then-editor we came to the decision that it ... - Monitor Audio Studio stand-mount loudspeaker15 November 2018, 9:03 am
Studio, by Monitor Audio, is a one-off design by the company, one of the last to spring from the pen (well, the pen on the tablet of the CAD/CAM computer) of Dean Hartley, who stood down as technical grand fromage of the company earlier this year. The Studio is not intended to be a part of a range, nor is it intended to replace any of the company’s Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum models; it’s a purely standalone project, although one that has more than a little bit of flagship PL50... - Critical Mass Systems Center Stage2 anti-vibration feet15 November 2018, 8:49 am
Critical Mass Systems is well known for making some of the finest (and largest) high-end audio equipment support systems money can buy. So, it might come as something of a shock to discover that CMS maven Joe Lavrencik’s best-ever product might just be an inconspicuous vibration-control foot called the Center Stage2. Joe is being perhaps understandably reticent about discussing the inner workings of the Center Stage2. According to the company’s white paper, Center Stage2is made by &l... - Dutch & Dutch 8c stand-mount loudspeaker15 November 2018, 8:40 am
DSP in active speakers is not a new thing, but arguably until recently, it is not a technology that has realised its full potential. This was proved convincingly by the Kii Three that I wrote about in issue 162: a compact active digital design that combats room problems with a clever bass-cancellation system. So when I heard about Dutch & Dutch’s similarly DSP-driven design the 8c I was certainly interested, a lot more perhaps that would have been the case BK (Before Kii). And that&rsq... - Vivid Audio Kaya 45 floorstanding loudspeaker6 November 2018, 4:59 pm
While some markets like shiny white or yellow loudspeakers, the majority of the hi‑fi market appears to prefer rectilinear boxes with a wood veneer. It has ever been thus and only slowly will it change, but we are finally seeing greater acceptance of paint finishes, especially the less challenging (although determinedly 1980s) gloss black. And I for one could happily make space for white curvy speakers such as those in Vivid Audio’s Giya range. But I am in a minority on the taste fro...
- In Barn: Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature Preamplifier & L2 Signature Monoblocks15 November 2018, 4:43 pm
Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature Preamplifier (starts at $14,995), L2 Signature Monoblocks ($14,995). The review unit L2 Signature Preamplier includes the optional DAC (+$3,495) and Phonostage (+$3,495). L2 Signature Preamplifier Specifications Frequency Response (with stock EH300B tubes): 2Hz – 500kHz (+/- 0.5dB) 0.5Hz – 950kHz (+/- 3dB) Output Impedance (SE and BAL): < 100 ohms Input […]... - Review: HoloAudio Azure Headphone Amplifier13 November 2018, 3:42 pm
What kind of idea are you? The Analyst? Are you the detail hound looking to plumb the depths of your favorite recordings? Or maybe the Sensualist? You’re looking for a dynamic, captivating and more physical listening experience? While no one is any one thing and we all likely look for a balance of talents, I […]... - NY Audio Show 2018: The Wrap13 November 2018, 3:31 pm
There are things I like about the NY Audio Show and there are things I do not like about the NY Audio Show. Let’s start with the bad. I find the hotel dingy and cramped (and kinda stinky). Some rooms are so small, 3 people make it a crowd. Claustrophobics need not apply. There’s also […]... - NY Audio Show 2018: The Rooms (Part 2)13 November 2018, 3:18 pm
I’m presenting my NY Audio Show coverage in the order I moved around the show—namely, I started at the top, Floor 9, and worked my way down. See Part 1 for the beginning. Enjoy! Luxman makes some tasty gear to my ears and ears. Covetous. While an LP was spinning when I was in-room, I […]... - NY Audio Show 2018: The Rooms (Part 1)12 November 2018, 5:21 pm
I’m going to present my NY Audio Show coverage in the order I moved around the show—namely, I started at the top, Floor 9, and worked my way down. Enjoy! NY Audio dealer Sound By Singer has been around (seemingly) forever and they put together a lovely-sounding simple-ish system. I’m a fan of Spendor speakers […]...
- 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...
- 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... - DIY Tube Phono Project Part 5: Circuit Board – Chassis Integration16 November 2018, 2:49 am
DIY All-Tube Phono Preamp Project Part 5, Circuit Board–Chassis Integration The Finish Line By Steve Graham This is it. We wrap it all up here. I hope I’ve enticed a few people to give this project a try. Yes, there have been many long attachments detailing the build procedure, but it’s the pictures that take up a lot of space. If you tackle this project, just take it step by step. Scrolling down to the attachment links below will get you to the finish line. Commonly available ... - There’s Something Special in The Beatles (White Album) 50th Anniversary Reissues12 November 2018, 11:26 pm
As the albums in The Beatles’ catalog reach their 50th anniversaries, we’re seeing some interesting ‘deluxe edition’ reissue packages rolling out from the vaults of EMI’s Abbey Road Studio. The latest is The Beatles (‘White Album’), which came out around this time in 1968. This double LP came barely a year after Sgt.Pepper, and the work on it started right on the heels of the lads’ trip to India to study meditation with their guru, the Maharishi Ma... - Review: Finale Audio F-7591 Power Amplifier11 November 2018, 2:52 am
Review: Finale Audio’s F-7591 Power Amplifier by Steve Graham I didn’t get to spend as much time with this amplifier as I’d have liked to. I simultaneously had in-house the Spendor D7’s, the Shindo Aurièges and the Finale F-7591 you see here. I was so entranced by the first two, that the poor Finale was somewhat neglected. I know, me of all people, neglecting a tube amp! In my defence, the kind person loaning this gear wanted a f... - Review: The Spendor D7 Loudspeakers4 November 2018, 10:29 pm
Review: Spendor D7 Loudspeakers “Slim Fast” by Steve Graham Loudspeakers are sometimes tough to wrap your ears around. Switching from one speaker to another often requires a re-orienting, or more precisely, a re-tuning of one’s audio sensibilities. The traits of one speaker versus another are often immediate and jarring. Changing amps or source components can, unless something is seriously amiss, require concentration to perceive differences. So it was with th...
- iBasso DX120 Review18 November 2018, 12:20 pm
Tonality8.9Build Quality8.8Functionality8.6Software8.5Matchability9 8.8Score$299iBassoDisclaimer: The iBasso DX120 was sent to us a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank iBasso for this opportunity. To learn more about iBasso product reviews on Headfonics you can click here. The DX120 is the 7th DAP in as many years to be launched by iBasso going all the […] The post iBasso DX120 Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - UBSOUND Dreamer Black & Gold Review17 November 2018, 11:52 am
Tonality7Build Quality7Comfort & Fit7.5Matchability8 7.4Score$49UBSOUNDDisclaimer: The UBSOUND Dreamer Black & Gold was sent to us a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. We thank UBSOUND for this opportunity. To learn more about UBSOUND products on Headfonics you can click here. We have covered UBSOUND gear before, most notably the Magister in-ear monitor early this […] The post UBSOUND Dreamer Black & Gold Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - Shanling M5s – First Contact16 November 2018, 11:55 am
Disclaimer: The Shanling M5s was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion contained in this First Contact feature and subsequent review. Many thanks to Shanling for giving us this opportunity. For further reading on our Shanling products referenced on Headfonics please click here. Not too long ago, I took a look at the Shanling […] The post Shanling M5s – First Contact appeared first on Headfonics.... - Empire Ears Phantom Review14 November 2018, 12:10 pm
Tonality9.1Build Quality9.1Comfort & Fit9.3Matchability9.2 9.2ScoreFrom $1799Empire EarsDisclaimer: The Empire Ears Phantom was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion in this review. Many thanks to Empire Ears for giving us this opportunity. You can read about previous Empire Ears products reviewed on Headfonics here. Empire Ears has been covered a few times on […] The post Empire Ears Phantom Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - Campfire Audio Solaris – First Contact11 November 2018, 12:00 pm
Disclaimer: The Campfire Audio Solaris was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion contained in this First Contact feature and subsequent review. Many thanks to Campfire Audio for giving us this opportunity. For further reading on our Campfire Audio reviews please click here. You have to be living under an ‘audiophile earphone rock’ […] The post Campfire Audio Solaris – First Contact appeared first on Headfonics....
- Black Friday Deals20 November 2018, 5:23 pm
Like the spectral terror of dead mariners wading ashore from an ocean mist as it engulfs a small Californian coastal town in John Carpenter’s 1980 horror film The Fog, so too does Black Friday creep up on us to lay waste to our savings accounts and credit card balances.... - RME ADI-2 DAC/headphone amplifier review19 November 2018, 10:12 pm
I've always found the divide between the "Audiophile" and "Pro Audio" scenes fascinating. While both theoretically aim to recreate music as accurately as possible, there's a huge difference in terms of their approach. Pro gear tends to be no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point in terms of design ethos, while the same can't always be said for audiophile-oriented devices. ... - InnerFidelity Podcast No. 4 with Audeze's Sankar Thiagasamudra17 November 2018, 2:29 am
Episode No. 4: From the original LCD-1 driver to a full lineup of planar-magnetic headphones, Audeze’s meteoric rise as one of personal audio’s premium headphone makers has been undeniably impressive in the crowded space of the market. ... - Sennheiser HD820 preview13 November 2018, 11:36 pm
In early 2009 German über headphone giant Sennheiser came out with its long-awaited flagship design the HD800 – an open-back, dynamic-driver model featuring “ring radiator” technology – Fast-forward to 2018 and this summer Sennheiser has come out with their latest take on the 800-series – the HD820.... - Shinola launch Campfire Audio collaboration with Canfield Bluetooth IEMs9 November 2018, 8:37 pm
Shinola brought jobs to Detroit and now they’re teaming up with the Pacific Northwest’s highly respected, handmade, headphone design and manufacturer Campfire Audio out of Portland, Oregon to launch a Bluetooth IEM collaboration in the guise of the budget-friendly ($250 USD) Canfield In-Ear Monitors which is available in either silver stainless steel or black....
- Black Friday, the unicorn of made-up sales, is coming20 November 2018, 7:40 pm
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of those completely made-up events – the unicorns of shopping discounts if you will – for online or bricks-and-mortar sales to whip the populace into a consumer buying frenzy a good month before Christmas blitzing really hits your pocketbook.... - Allo DigiOne Signature Review19 November 2018, 7:32 pm
As I would expect with my usual luck, Allo’s upgrade to the DigiOne Player, the DigiOne Signature Player, became available for sale shortly after I purchased the original and wrote a review for it. Allo is rolling out new and as best as I can tell, high-quality products on an aggressive timeline, so I’d recommend keeping tabs on them if you want to stay ahead of the curve.... - Herd Reichert: Ancient Audio – Golden Eras of Hi-Fi16 November 2018, 8:38 pm
Fifty years ago, all audiophiles were older than me. Forty years ago, all audiophiles were the same age as me. So were all the audio manufacturers, dealers, and engineers. Thirty years ago, they were still my age. Likewise twenty years ago. But now, finally, I am a little older than the big-speakerbox two-channel guys, and considerably older than the average headphone aficionado. Praise be to progress – even if it is (as always) slow in coming.... - PS Audio Snowmass OS update now available15 November 2018, 7:10 pm
Upgrade-ability. In the digital realm, unlike the analog kingdom, upgrading a component has turned into a vastly simpler, quicker and in most cases free proposition to drastically improve the sonic performance of a high-fidelity source component. ... - Chord Electronics launch ULTIMA flagship amplifier and preamplifier13 November 2018, 6:21 pm
At roughly $40,000 USD (based on current exchange rates), for each bespoke, 190-pound Chord ULTIMA mono bloc and the matching ULTIMA reference preamplifier, this system will set you back $120,000 USD. ...
- Command Performance AV; Focal, Naim, EAT – CAF 201820 November 2018, 8:28 pm
This was by far my favourite budget system of Capital Audiofest 2018. If you consider it’s a complete system which The post Command Performance AV; Focal, Naim, EAT – CAF 2018 appeared first on AudioHead.... - Tenacious Sound, A Tale of Two Cities and Two Systems – CAF 201819 November 2018, 6:59 pm
Shane Tenace isn’t just the ringmaster of this multi-room circus of audio, he’s also the founder and proprietor of Tenacious The post Tenacious Sound, A Tale of Two Cities and Two Systems – CAF 2018 appeared first on AudioHead.... - The Audiophile Black Friday and Cyber Monday Guide 201816 November 2018, 11:19 pm
Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales for Audiophiles Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales for audio are here again. We’ve The post The Audiophile Black Friday and Cyber Monday Guide 2018 appeared first on AudioHead.... - IMC Audio, Pass Labs and Audience – CAF 201816 November 2018, 4:24 pm
I often harass showgoers for their opinions. It was Saturday afternoon, nearing the close of the show and I petitioned The post IMC Audio, Pass Labs and Audience – CAF 2018 appeared first on AudioHead.... - D’Agostino Relentless Listening at Alma Audio15 November 2018, 11:06 pm
It is just a quick day trip down to San Diego via the Pacific Surfliner Rail Car from Los Angeles. The post D’Agostino Relentless Listening at Alma Audio appeared first on AudioHead....
- MrSpeakers ETHER2 Open Back Orthodynamic Headphones – How High is Up20 November 2018, 6:00 am
The post MrSpeakers ETHER2 Open Back Orthodynamic Headphones – How High is Up appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - Sonarworks True-Fi Review15 November 2018, 6:00 am
The post Sonarworks True-Fi Review appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - Questyle Audio SHB2 MASTER Super Source & CMA Twelve MASTER Current Mode DAC/Preamp/Headphone Amplifier/Wireless Receiver – Look Ma, No Wires12 November 2018, 6:00 am
The post Questyle Audio SHB2 MASTER Super Source & CMA Twelve MASTER Current Mode DAC/Preamp/Headphone Amplifier/Wireless Receiver – Look Ma, No Wires appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - NAD HP70 Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones – Audiophile Sound On the Go!6 November 2018, 6:00 am
The post NAD HP70 Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones – Audiophile Sound On the Go! appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 – Coverage sponsored by Kimber Kable PT55 November 2018, 6:00 am
The post CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 – Coverage sponsored by Kimber Kable PT5 appeared first on HeadPhone.guru....
- CSS Model P215 Bookshelf Speaker Kit – High-End Sound for Under $1,0008 November 2018, 2:00 pm
Out of Southeast Michigan, we have Creative Sound Solutions (CSS). I met these guys at AXPONA 2018 and gravitated towards a gorgeous finished pair of their Model P215. The philosophy behind their products aims to strike the perfect balance on the price and performance scale – with a minimum requirement of high-quality components at the... Read More The post CSS Model P215 Bookshelf Speaker Kit – High-End Sound for Under $1,000 appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - The Wilson Audio Sasha DAW Debut Report at Audio Element6 November 2018, 7:55 pm
Audio Bacon was on hand this weekend at the 5th Anniversary Open House for Audio Element. It was a fun event with food, drinks, and a ton of people. The big headline for the event was the debut of Wilson Audio’s Sasha DAW (David Andrew Wilson). If you’ve been following us for a while, you... Read More The post The Wilson Audio Sasha DAW Debut Report at Audio Element appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - RMAF 2018 – The Awards6 November 2018, 12:27 am
There were plenty of standout rooms at this year’s RMAF 2018. The decision for Best of Show was unanimous but many of the best sounding rooms came incredibly close. In case you missed it, we’ve gone over quite a few of them in our video coverage: Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 – Part 1... Read More The post RMAF 2018 – The Awards appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - SOtM sNH-10G – The Audiophile Ethernet Switch is Here!1 November 2018, 7:18 pm
The audiophile-grade network switch, SOtM sNH-10G, is now available. The sNH-10G can prove what the ultimate sound should be in your network system. How many audiophiles would have been satisfied with sound in their system? Especially with a network audio system, you may know from your own experience that it’s not easy to overcome and... Read More The post SOtM sNH-10G – The Audiophile Ethernet Switch is Here! appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - JPLAY FEMTO: The New Benchmark1 November 2018, 7:13 am
The all-new JPLAY FEMTO is a complete network music software player for the most demanding audiophile. It combines unrivaled digital playback algorithms with a convenience that has not been available before. Now featuring our femtoServer, ultra-light, and ultra-optimized UPnP media server, digital files are reproduced with higher transparency and precision than ever before, giving you... Read More The post JPLAY FEMTO: The New Benchmark appeared first on Audio Bacon....
- Dali Oberon 3 – engaging all-round speakers15 November 2018, 2:44 am
REVIEW: Dali delivers another winner in its new Oberon 3 speakers, which punch above their price class and ensure you are fully entertained...... - A van den Hul special… the Colibri XGW Signature Stradivarius13 November 2018, 2:31 am
NEWS: Here's something special from the veteran designer and founder of van den Hul... a cartridge that strives to capture the essence of a legendary musical instrument.... - FiiO M3K DAP – a steal for the price8 November 2018, 2:35 am
REVIEW: You can't really go wrong with the FiiO M3K digital audio player, given its ridiculously affordable price...... - A Neat trick with the compact IOTA Alpha speakers2 November 2018, 1:07 am
REVIEW: If you want a pair of speakers that sound right but disappear from your sight, these IOTA Alpha compact speakers are truly, er, Neat...... - DS Audio shines a light on vinyl28 October 2018, 5:33 am
FEATURE: Don't let the term "optical" mislead you into thinking that DS Audio cartridges are digital devices... analogue is the game, just done very differently....
- 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.... - SweetVinyl SugarCube SC-1 Vinyl Click & Pop Remover Review21 August 2018, 1:26 pm
The SugarCube enhances the listening experience with vinyl old and new, and for that it earns a thoroughly deserved recommendation. The post SweetVinyl SugarCube SC-1 Vinyl Click & Pop Remover Review appeared first on Audio Appraisal....
- 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
... - EAN Bench Test!Doing The Numbers OnThe Benchmark DAC3-DX DAC18 January 2018, 12:42 am
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- REVIEW: BOWERS & WILKINS 603 FLOOR STANDING LOUDSPEAKERS20 November 2018, 10:27 am
The largest speaker in Bowers & Wilkins' latest version of its 600 Series range, we take a closer look at the 603 Floor Standing Loudspeakers.... - REVIEW: KEF LSX WIRELESS STEREO SPEAKERS31 October 2018, 11:31 pm
KEF continues to build on the success of its LS50 Wireless speakers that launched in 2017 with its latest release, the LSX Stereo Wireless Music System. Read our exclusive, first Australian review here.... - BLU-RAY REVIEW: ANNABELLE - CREATION30 October 2018, 1:17 am
Anabelle Creation is a tense, taught horror that digs its claws in right from the start, and doesn’t let go until the credits are rolling.... - REVIEW: TIVOLI AUDIO ANDIAMO PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER29 October 2018, 12:16 am
Tivoli Audio has enjoyed immense success since its inception as a radio manufacturer in the year 2000. Nearly twenty years later, Tivoli has demonstrated it can adapt to market trends and ever-changing technology with the introduction of its Go range.... - REVIEW: ROTEL RMB 1585 5-CHANNEL POWER AMPLIFIER24 October 2018, 9:53 pm
If you've been relying on your AV Receiver's multiple amplifier channels to power your surround sound speakers, perhaps it's time to consider a multi-channel power amplifier? We take a closer look at Rotel's RMB 1585 5-Channel Power Amplifier....
- The absolute best way to learn about audio...21 November 2018, 10:23 am
... - LPs should sound awful, but they sound great20 November 2018, 10:32 am
... - How to set a budget for your audio system19 November 2018, 10:58 am
... - Do musicians and audiophiles hear music differently?18 November 2018, 11:17 am
... - For better sound try nearfield listening17 November 2018, 11:12 am
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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 […]...