- Toronto Audiofest 2018 Starts Today19 October 2018, 5:10 pm
Once upon a time—October, 2011, to be exact—there was a show called TAVES (Toronto Audio Video Entertainment Show). Reading my report on the show, and looking at the photo accompanying the first installment of the report fills me with a certain sadness. The photo shows Suave Kajko, Simon Au, Sarah Tremblay (left above), and Michel Plante (right above), whom I described as "a winning team," and, indeed, that show could not be described as anything but a complete success. For several yea... - Tidal Audio Akira loudspeaker18 October 2018, 10:40 pm
Doug White, of Philadelphia-area retailer The Voice That Is, has been a fixture at US audio shows the past few years, where he always gets great sound using loudspeakers from Tidal Audio. (There is no connection between the German audio manufacturer and the music-streaming service owned by Jay Z and Sprint.) In early 2017, Herb Reichert, Jana Dagdagan, and I visited White and spent a delightful afternoon listening to Tidal's then-new Akira loudspeakers. I promised myself to review the Akira, whi... - Coppertone by Black Cat Cable Sweepstakes18 October 2018, 7:38 pm
Register to win a 1M pair of Coppertone RCA interconnects, a 1M Coppertone USB digital cable, and a 2.5M pair of Coppertone speaker cables (Total value $649.84) we are giving away. According to the company: "Coppertone by Black Cat Cable distills a tremendous amount of high performance attributes into an affordable series of cables that punch far above their weight! As with all of our cables, Coppertone are part of Black Cat Cable's collection of cables that are manufactured in our Cumming, G... - Recording of November 2018: Bernstein: <I>Arias and Barcarolles</I>18 October 2018, 7:35 pm
Bernstein: Arias and Barcarolles Isabel Leonard, mezzo-soprano; Ryan McKinny, bass-baritone; San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas SFS Media SFS-0073 (24/96 download). 2018. Jack Vad, broadcast & mastering eng., postprod.; Jason O'Connell, post-prod. DDD. TT: 32:54 Performance ****½ Sonics **** Why name this short digital download or streaming–only release of a live San Francisco Symphony performance from 2017—its native 24/96 PCM broadcast sound is a notch lower th... - Jared Sacks to Talk in Manhattan Saturday Afternoon18 October 2018, 12:06 pm
Saturday October 20, 1–6pm, Jared Sacks, Channel Classics Records' founder, producer, and engineer as well as NativeDSD Music's co-founder & CEO, will give a DSD Listening Demo in collaboration with Mytek at Innovative Audio Video Showroom (150 E 58th Street, New York, NY 10155). Sacks will walk listeners through some of his multi–award-winning Channel Classics DSD recordings as well as some of the most popular and noteworthy DSD tracks from other labels. From Analog Tape Transfer...
- Devialet Unveils Phantom Reactor19 October 2018, 7:16 pm
The following is a press release issued by Devialet. PARIS | October 19, 2018 - Devialet, the pioneering French technology brand, today unveils Phantom REACTOR, an ultra-compact speaker that delivers unprecedented power, fidelity and volume and marks a new pinnacle in audio engineering. Like its predecessors, Phantom REACTOR embodies the brand’s progressive vision of making the emotional power of sound accessible to as many people as possible through ground-breaking technology. Phantom REA...
- Listening Event at Paragon Sight & Sound19 October 2018, 7:16 am
The following announcement is based on press information provided by Paragon Sight & Sound. Join the team at Paragon Sight & Sound in Ann Arbor, MI, along with special guests from Clearaudio, Rogers High Fidelity, and Doshi Audio for a night dedicated to analog music on Thursday, October 25thfrom 6–10 p.m. Featuring the incomparable Clearaudio Statement V2 turntable, the evening’s program will also include additional Clearaudio turntables, tube electronics by Rogers High Fide... - RMAF 2018 – Analog18 October 2018, 7:38 pm
The analog renaissance appears to be stronger than ever with a number of new analog products making their worldwide or U.S. debuts at RMAF. While the sheer number of new offerings didn’t compare with the Munich Show (nothing does), there were still plenty of mouth-watering turntables, tonearms, cartridges, tape decks, and phonostages helping to produce some of the best sounds at the show. Better yet, several manufacturers and distributors were offering complete turntable packages with inte... - Bel Canto Design Launches the new e.One Stream Network Bridge17 October 2018, 5:46 pm
The following is a press release issued by Bel Canto Design. October 17, 2018 - Bel Canto Design, a Minnesota based manufacturer of high-performance audio electronics for over 25 years, an established leader in DAC/Controller and Amplification systems, announces the release of a new high performance network bridge component in the award-winning e.One line. The e.One Stream is designed in the compact heavy gauge steel chassis and durable black powder coat paint with an optional silver or black an... - FM Acoustics Resolution Series: FM 155-MKIIR Preamp, FM 122-MKII Phono Linearizer, FM 108-MKII Mono Amp17 October 2018, 4:37 pm
With the recent critical and commercial successes of relatively youthful Swiss high-end-audio companies like Soulution, CH Precision, Dartzeel, and others, electronics from the heart of Europe have never been held in higher esteem. The trouble is that their (well-deserved) success has pushed other companies, with longer but no less distinguished pedigrees, a bit into the shadows. I’m thinking particularly of the Zurich-based firm FM Acoustics, which was founded in the early 1970s when comp...
- 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. ...
- REVIEW: Avcon NORTES Mk3 | loudspeakers / floor-standing | POLAND1 October 2018, 10:00 pm
POLISH AUDIO CLASTER vcon, a company founded and led by Przemysław Nieprzecki, came out of the DIY world. In 2008, it was a bold move, because Europe was in the midst of one of the biggest financial crises after the World War II. As it turned out - diligence and stubbornness paid off, and today, twenty-one years later, Avcon is one of the most important Polish loudspeakers manufacturers. Actually they make not only loudspeakers but also acoustic panels that significantly contributed to c... - CONVERSATION: TOMASZ ROGULA ※ Zeta Zero | owner, main engineer | POLAND1 October 2018, 10:00 pm
think that you do not need to present ZETA ZERO to anyone. Every year presentations during the Audio Video Show attract hundreds, if not thousands, of people who want to see and listen to some of the most original columns(loudspeakers) available on the market today. And I do not mean by any means only our domestic market, but also global. Zeta Zero Orbital 360 belong to a group of interesting constructions - these are all-directional (omnipolar) speakers. Probably you immediately thought abou... - REVIEW: Audiomica Laboratory ULTRA REFERENCE SERIES EUROPA + GENIMEDES + CALLISTO | interconnect + speaker cable + power cable AC | POLAND1 October 2018, 10:00 pm
POLISH AUDIO CLASTER ltra Reference Series by AUDIOMICA LABORATORY is one of the six series in its lineup, the second one from the top. On the very top there is the Consequence Series, and below Excellence and three named after colors: Red, Gray and Black. Each of them includes a full range of cables, from classic analog interconnects to digital USB, AES / EBU and Ethernet ones. The catalog claims there are several dozen models altogether. In addition to the fact that the company offers c... - REVIEW: hORNS by Auto-Tech ATMOSPHERE | loudspeakers / stand-mounted | POLAND1 October 2018, 10:00 pm
POLISH AUDIO CLASTER hen you hear: horn loudspeakers, most likely you're thinking about some huge speakers because first that come to mind come from Avantgarde Acoustic, Acapella Audio Arts, Blumenhoffer Acoustics and others. The horn loudspeakers are clearly divided into two types: with classic cabinets with wooden horns that are "hidden" inside the cabinets, and other ones with horns outside, most often made of epoxy resins. The problem with these speakers is what is also their main adv... - REVIEW: Shape of Sound T-2 + WT-10 | WT-12 | turntable + tonearm | POLAND1 October 2018, 10:00 pm
POLISH AUDIO CLASTER n response to a question sent from the user, the on-line language counseling of the Polish Language Dictionary gave the differences between three, often used interchangeably, terms - gramofon, adapter and patefon: Gramofon is a device used to play sound from vinyl records, it has the widest range of meaning from the given three. Adapter in everyday language, refers to an electric turntable used to play shellac or vinyl records (also called "black"). This word also has...
- MAG - LEV Audio ML1 Levitating Turntable: U.S. Premiere Review [UPDATED]19 October 2018, 10:04 pm
Disruptor! The MAG - LEV Audio ML1 Levitating Turntable is a disruptor! Are you surprised? I own one of six Paravicini magnetic drive turntables in America. It does not levitate, but it is quiet and astonishingly open and life-like. ML1 as delivered: Signal to noise ratio -73dB! Way better than your turntable? Why? It has no motor!... Read More » The post MAG - LEV Audio ML1 Levitating Turntable: U.S. Premiere Review [UPDATED] appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Innovative Audio in Manhattan19 October 2018, 8:03 pm
Hear Stereo and Surround DSD recordings from NativeDSD.com and Channels Classics played through Mytek DSD/MQA DACs at the Innovative Audio in Manhattan, this Saturday Oct 20, from 1 pm to 6pm Dear Music Fan Mytek, Innovative Audio A/V Showrooms and NativeDSD.com invite you for a Saturday afternoon of beautiful sounding stereo and surround DSD music (up to DSD256) played on the highest... Read More » The post Innovative Audio in Manhattan appeared fir... - RMAF 2018 Photo Essay Part 518 October 2018, 11:22 pm
Continuing on with our coverage... In this report, all photos by Dave Clark, words by Carol Clark, except those in parentheses, which are by Dave Clark who will do his best to be nice. Pangea Audio Octet. Pangea Audio won a PF Writer's Choice Award in 2017 for their Vulcan rack. They also showed speaker... Read More » The post RMAF 2018 Photo Essay Part 5 appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - RMAF 2018 Photo Essay Part 418 October 2018, 9:28 pm
Continuing on with our coverage... In this report, all photos by Dave Clark, words by Carol Clark, except those in parentheses, which are by Dave Clark who will do his best to be nice. Wavelength Audio, Vaughn Loudspeakers. Vaughn, plasma tweeter loudspeakers. Also in the Wavelength Audio and Vaughn room. On Saturday, Dave moderated a... Read More » The post RMAF 2018 Photo Essay Part 4 appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - THE MOON 390 NETWORK PLAYER - THE GATEWAY TO GREAT SOUND18 October 2018, 9:07 pm
Simaudio’s new MOON 390 all-in-one network player offers a complete high-end listening solution. Featuring a DAC, preamplifier, headphone amplifier, phono stage and network streaming capability the MOON 390 is a truly flexible music system. Simply connect it to a power amplifier or active loudspeakers to hear an exceptional audio performance. Simaudio has built upon its... Read More » The post THE MOON 390 NETWORK PLAYER - THE GATEWAY TO GREAT SOUND appeared first on Positive Feedbac...
- New from Luxman, Premium Cables…18 October 2018, 5:12 pm
Luxman has just announced a new line of premium audio cables, the Flagship 15000 series. There are three cables in the series, the JPR-15000 unbalanced, featuring RCA termination, the JPC-15000 balanced, with XLR termination, and the JPS-15000 speaker cable. The interconnect cables feature 7-nines copper and high quality connectors, with the speaker cables featuring a [...]... - Anthem’s STR Integrated Amplifier5 October 2018, 1:16 am
It’s tough to get everything, but it’s a great feeling when you do. Over the last few years, high performance integrated amplifiers keep increasing in popularity – and for good reason. Space is at a premium, and many music lovers just don’t want to buy a rack full of gear. As a master of justification, [...]... - White Lightning Speaker Cable by Nordost4 October 2018, 3:32 am
Let’s just assume for a minute, you are of the mindset that premium cable makes a significant difference in how your system can sound. For today, if you aren’t with us, just move on. Your day will go easier, and no need to raise your blood pressure over this subject. Still with me? It can [...]... - Nordost Purple Flare USB4 October 2018, 3:23 am
I’m an implementation junkie. I confess loving products that are well executed. With so many garage builders entering the cable industry, with shoddily produced goods packaged like they came from a scout troop bake sale or estate sale, Nordost produces cable that feels great in your hands. And thanks to their extensive dealer network, they [...]... - The Cardas Clear Beyond XL Power Cable3 October 2018, 11:50 pm
Never resting on their laurels, the Cardas team in Bandon, Oregon continues their quest to build the perfect power cord. The effort has resulted in their new flagship, the Clear Beyond XL. After many years using Running Springs Audio Mongoose power cords – a Cardas-modified version of the Golden Reference – as my go-to power [...]...
- Hegel Music Systems H590 Integrated Amplifier-DAC15 October 2018, 4:00 am
Note: Measurements can be found through this link. My relationship with Hegel Music Systems has now spanned six years -- almost all of my admittedly brief reviewing career. While the Norwegian company has been around since 1997, its dramatic uptick in popularity seems to have coincided with my own introduction to the brand in 2012, through their H300 integrated amplifier-DAC ($5500 USD, discontinued). Integrated amplifiers with built-in digital-to-analog converters are now commonplace, but... - Pro-Ject Audio Systems Classic SB Turntable1 October 2018, 4:00 am
Pro-Ject Audio Systems, of Vienna, Austria, makes a turntable model for everyone. Their lower-priced models range from the Essential ($299 USD) through the Debut Carbon ($449, the model I bought) to the Esprit ($599) and beyond. The features and bundles vary -- claimed improvements in motors, platters, and cartridges account for the rises in price. Visually, however, many of Pro-Ject’s turntables look similar, with 8.6” tonearms (though of varying materials), and glossy, rectangular ... - Added to that $926.95 System: A $289 Turntable and $359.94 Worth of Speaker Footers?1 October 2018, 4:00 am
In this month’s photos of the system I wrote about last month in “A Feature-Rich, Fully Modern Hi-Fi System You Can Begin, Live, and Grow With -- for $926.95,” keen-eyed readers will notice two additions: a turntable, and footers for the speakers. The turntable shouldn’t be a surprise -- I mentioned last month that I was thinking about adding one -- but as you’ll read below, for this system update the turntable and footers go hand in hand. ... - Baby Boomer Box-Set Bonanza1 October 2018, 4:00 am
After hi-fi became populist in the 1960s, thanks to Japanese imports bringing down the prices of hi-fi separates, an unfortunate “disconnect” manifested itself. It was the creation of a chasm between the two elements of music playback that should never have exhibited anything other than total cooperation. I am referring to the massive gap between the major music labels and the high-end audio community, the latter consisting of both audiophiles and manufacturers. ... - Recommended Reference Component: Muraudio SP1 Loudspeakers1 October 2018, 4:00 am
The Muraudio SP1’s 42”-tall cabinet looks like a cylinder cut in half lengthwise, set atop a 15”-high integral stand bolted to the cabinet’s bottom panel. There are two 6” midrange-woofers at the bottom of the front panel and two more at the top, the two drivers of each pair positioned side by side. Between these pairs is an electrostatic panel about 21”H by 11”W, inset a little and looking like a window with a shallow sill. Most will agree that, even in...
- 2018 CAS Report by Marc Silver, Part 319 October 2018, 7:48 pm
Day Two CAS 2018 See Day One, 2018 CAS (CAS8), Pt 1 and Day One, Pt 2 I have to admit, I slept in this morning. Last night I hung out with Peter Soderberg of MartinLogan and a few other exhibitors from the show, talking about vintage audio gear and commiserating on what has [...] The post 2018 CAS Report by Marc Silver, Part 3 appeared first on Dagogo.... - Hana EH moving-coil cartridge Review13 October 2018, 7:20 pm
I have been using the Hana EH high output moving coil phono cartridge for the past two years, and I had a chance to meet the man responsible for the Hana cartridge distribution, Mr. Masahiro Shibazaki of Sibatech when I was in Japan last year. His company, Sibatech, was originally contracted to do worldwide export [...] The post Hana EH moving-coil cartridge Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - COS Engineering D1 DAC + Pre-Amplifier Review11 October 2018, 6:26 pm
Three Taiwanese connoisseurs of sound decided they need to bring some of their perspectives to the world, so they started COS, which stands for “connoisseur of sound”. Evidently they wish anonymity, considering this is the extent of information given about them on the website: “COS Engineering, founded by three close friends serious about audio entertainment, [...] The post COS Engineering D1 DAC + Pre-Amplifier Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Small Green Computer releases the Sonicorbiter OS V2.79 October 2018, 4:38 pm
Small Green Computer, manufacturer of the sonicTransporter servers and the series of Sonore Rendu players (microRendu, ultraRendu, Signature Rendu SE) has released its latest operating system, the Sonicorbiter OS V2.7 on October 8, 2018: ‘This release brings several amazing features to the SGC sonicTransporter series servers and Sonore Rendu series players. These updates include Tidal [...] The post Small Green Computer releases the Sonicorbiter OS V2.7 appeared first on Dagogo.... - Interview with Slawa Roschkow of SW1X from England5 October 2018, 10:26 pm
Slawa Roschkow/SW1X: Valves/Tubes in the 21st century. Were it not for my restlessness on one of my many excursions to London, England where I found with myself with free time, idle hands being dangerous, coupled with black diamond level curiosity and that could mean only one thing: GOOGLE. So, there I was searching the Greater [...] The post Interview with Slawa Roschkow of SW1X from England appeared first on Dagogo....
- AURALiC ARIES G2 Review19 October 2018, 6:55 pm
Not long ago most manufactures couldn't comprehend why a digital to digital converter would be necessary. Auralic had its finger on the pulse of consumers and jumped in the D to D market very early. The original Aries was one of the most popular products on Computer Audiophile upon its release. Its unique shape, unique internal design, and unique feature set were among the added benefits to its great sound. Realizing the Aries concept was still very valid and that the original design could b... - What’s in a Naim? A Uniti Atom Review16 October 2018, 6:11 pm
When Chris released his video review of the Naim Uniti Atom, I was impressed by his feelings about the product. I did enjoy the video review style vs. a written report. So not long after Chris released the review (link) I decided that the Atom might fit into my musical life rather nicely. Now after a month with the Naim Uniti Atom, I would like to share my thoughts, observations, and feelings. Since I am new here, a little history is in order.... - RMAF 2018 Show Report9 October 2018, 4:30 pm
At Chris’s request, I’ve consolidated my contemporaneous postings about RMAF into this show report. This is my second year attending RMAF at this venue, and like last year, it was very enjoyable. With the benefit of past experience, I was able to organize my time better, so got to see more of the rooms and exhibits than I did last year. Before I get any further, a word about what this report is, and what it isn’t. It IS a highly personal chronicle of my exper... - First Listen And A Visit To dCS For The New Bartok2 October 2018, 9:27 pm
I recently spent a couple days at dCS headquarters in Cambridge, England to get all the details about the new Bartok DAC / Headphone Amp and more importantly to listen to the Bartok on the dCS reference system. The Bartok is quite a component, to say the least! Upon my arrival at dCS on Monday morning I walked past an interesting contraption with clothes hanging inside. John Quick, General Manager of dCS Americas, told me it was a drying rack for the clothes of the guys who bi... - Kevin Schmidt: We Are the Robots Exhibit Review27 September 2018, 5:50 pm
Archimago, myself, and our lovely wives met up at the Vancouver Art Gallery where we viewed and listened to Kevin Schmidt’s: “We Are the Robots” exhibit. The exhibit runs to Oct 28, 2018. It is an incredible audio visual experience! Words and pictures can only convey so much of the experience, so I made three binaural recordings to share the audio experience. Listening to binaural recordings over headphones puts you in the room, listening...
- Gwenifer Raymond's "You Never Were Much of a Dancer" Is Finger-Picking Good!18 October 2018, 9:55 pm
In an era where virtuosity is seemingly shunned, here comes 32 year old Welsh-born finger picking Gwenifer Raymond who, listening to this album, you’d swear must have been born on the Appalachian trail somewhere south of the Mason Dixon line.Primary Category: Album ReviewsCategory: Album ReviewsArtist: Gwenifer RaymondAlbum: You Never Were Much of a DancerCred Label: Tompkins Square TSQ 5531 LPCred Prod: N/ACred Eng: David HawkesCred Mix: David Hawke... - "Vinyl Mastering & Cutting Intricacies" Panel at Making Vinyl 201817 October 2018, 12:51 am
On Monday afternoon at Making Vinyl 2018 AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer moderated a vinyl mastering panel featuring some well-known lacquer cutting engineers: Scott Hull—Masterdisk, Clint Holley—Well Made Music, and Jeff Powell—Take Out Vinyl (MIA Mandy Parnell—Black Lagoon Studios, who was forced to remain in the UK so she could finish up a Bjork project). Welcome to 1979's Lori Hines "sat in".... - Analog Corner #9716 October 2018, 2:16 pm
Before I write about Music Hall's MMF-9 turntable (above), in my March 2003 review, I wrote that the SME 30/2 turntable's combination of attributes "might just make it the finest turntable in the world." Earlier in the review, I'd said, "The SME 30/2 is perhaps the most tonally neutral turntable I've ever heard. Only the Rockport System III Sirius, which includes an integral tonearm, is in the same league, and it doesn't stand up to the SME's low-frequency extension and solidity." I wrapped up t... - SAT Pickup Arm Comparison Reveal15 October 2018, 10:03 pm
Here's the "reveal" for the five file SAT pick up arm comparison featuring the Ortofon MC Century. Thanks to all who participated and expressed their opinions.... - "Women In Vinyl" Panel at Making Vinyl 201815 October 2018, 7:25 pm
At Making Vinyl 2018, the "Women in Vinyl" panel produced a wide-ranging discussion that mostly stuck to business and occasionally dealt with being a woman in the business world generally and the music business specifically. The first panelist to speak provoked the audience with a spirited defense of the compact disc (you youngsters look that up) and from there the back and forth generated a well focused perspective on the business of vinyl from a female point of view. And yes 'Women in Vinyl'" ...
- This $33 Bluetooth speaker sounds better than it has any right to - CNET20 October 2018, 1:53 pm
Incredibly enough, the Audiophiliac is smitten with the Tribit XSound Go Bluetooth speaker!... - Mixing John Lennon's Imagine: We meet engineer Rob Stevens - CNET20 October 2018, 11:17 am
It’s a dream job for an engineer. Rob Stevens tells us how he brings out the best in John Lennon's solo work.... - Reimagining John Lennon’s Imagine album - CNET18 October 2018, 8:30 pm
Outdoing last year’s Beatles masterpiece Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band remix, John Lennon’s 1971 Imagine album loads on remixes, outtakes and more.... - These high-end audio devices take sound to another level - CNET15 October 2018, 2:51 pm
The Audiophiliac finds so many high-end audio goodies at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in Denver.... - Focal's Elegia headphone gobsmacks the Audiophiliac - CNET14 October 2018, 7:05 pm
It's Focal's first high-end closed back headphone, and it sounds awfully good!...
- VPI Player Review | The Millennial Audiophile20 October 2018, 1:00 pm
Part-Time Audiophile VPI re-imagines the turntable, and creates a new product category with the Player When I speak about record collecting with the under thirty-five crowd, initially many of them see vinyl as a low-fi medium, much like cassette tapes, and 8-tracks. This impression was created by dusty hand-me-down turntables, and record collections of which most have unkempt and dirty grooves. Along with many of the new records purchased during the “2008 vinyl resurgence” being play... - RMAF 2018: Seeing Stars with Manger, MoFi20 October 2018, 10:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile I always love discovering new gear that is musical. One of the new to me products presented itself in the MoFi Distribution room. Norbert Schmied and Jonathan Derda outdid themselves with a beautiful sounding pair of Manger S1 Active Loudspeakers ($24,995) paired with a debuting Primare Pre35 Prisma ($4,995) Primare R32 phono stage. On analog duty was a Dr. Feickert Volare turntable with Origin Live Silver tonearm ($3,495), a new price point for excellent F... - “X Marks the Spot”: West Coast Debut of Legacy VALOR at Legendary Capitol Studios20 October 2018, 7:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile Legacy Audio is bringing the big guns to Capitol Studios. RSVP below to reserve your seats for the November 2nd event! Join Legacy Audio on Friday evening, November 2, 2018 in Studio A at legendary Capitol Studios in Los Angeles for the West Coast debut of the Legacy VALOR system as part of The Home Entertainment Show’s exclusive event, “X Marks the Spot”. Legacy’s new VALOR flagship system showcases an extraordinary arsenal of new technology. At near... - RMAF 2018: Joseph Audio, Doshi Audio, Cardas and the Rest of Your Life19 October 2018, 10:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile Early on the morning of the first day of RMAF, Scot Hull and I got on the subject of ideal yet practical loudspeakers. Or, as I eventually put it, the speakers we would own if we weren’t so obsessed about high-end audio and just needed something to enjoy for the rest of our lives. Both of us agreed on one speaker, in particular, the Joseph Audio Perspectives. No more than an hour after that discussion, I found myself face to face with the $12,999/pair Perspectives. Lik... - RMAF 2018: Wynn Audio; feat. Thales, Karan, ZenSati, Kalista, Penaudio, Entreq, Kiso Acoustics18 October 2018, 10:00 am
Part-Time Audiophile Wynn Audio is one of North America’s premier high-end audio dealers, and thus has quickly become a mainstay among the audio show circuit for producing ultra-high-end exhibit rooms that truly stimulate the senses. It was no surprise to see them at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest with a multi-room exhibit, featuring two systems of expertly curated audio components, along with the Wynn team achieving a stand-out level of sound quality. The Story Often at audio shows, many of th...
- NAD’s C 658 houses BluOS, MQA, Dirac Live, MM phono, aptX Bluetooth20 October 2018, 8:52 am
At RMAF 2018, NAD teased their forthcoming C 658 network streamer where company Product Manager Greg Stidsen referred to it as a “[Bluesound] Node 2/i on steroids”. NAD’s press materials are calling it a ‘BluOS DAC’. Price = US$1499. Like its more affordable, cousin the C 658 adopts the BluOS platform […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permissio... - Darko.Audio podcast #11 – RMAF 201818 October 2018, 11:33 am
With RMAF 2018 coverage firmly in the bag, Jeff Dorgay and I discuss our favourite finds of the show – which aren’t all products – whilst springing into tangents on the idea of accuracy (again), why snake oil no longer persists, the scarcity of bad reviews and why we don’t divulge manufacturer […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For p... - Audirvana Plus for Windows review17 October 2018, 3:37 pm
“Roon. Great functionality, metadata2die4, a user interface that trounces others Hulk-style. All for the price of a good interconnect. Or rent it, like your music.”…say some. It’s not the only party in town though. I use it. I know it’s good. It does cost a fair wedge and Roon’s in-house coded […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission... - Wrapping up RMAF 2018 with Angela Cardas (& more)14 October 2018, 9:16 am
As RMAF 2018 drew to a close, I joined Angela Cardas in the Marriott hotel bar for a chat about her role as manager of Cardas Audio and what she thinks of the term ‘WAF’. Guess what! She’s “not a fan”. The way Cardas tells it, the days of audio […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For private use only. Copyright 2010-2018 · Darko.Au... - Eat Schiit, audiophiles!13 October 2018, 4:05 pm
Aegir (“Ae-jjj-ear”?) is the forthcoming stereo (and mono-blockable) amplifier from California’s Schiit Audio and teased at RMAF 2018: a Class A-ish circuit dropped into a Vidar chassis that borrows from the Lyr 3’s Continuity output stage to deliver 20wpc into 8 Ohms, 40wpc into 4 Ohms. It was designed by […] More-------------------------------------------------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. Fo...
- Audio by Van Alstine DVA SET 600 Mono Block Amplifier17 October 2018, 5:05 pm
One day very recently my wife and children were outside in a park socializing with another family. I joined at one point, and the husband told me that my wife had mentioned that I was reviewing some new amplifiers, and that she thought they sounded amazing; she hoped I would keep them. When we came home, I watched as she listened on the couch with our daughters to various pieces of music, and I saw her tapping her foot. I never saw that before, let alone hear her praise a component of my a... - The AVM Ovation CS 8.2 All in One10 October 2018, 5:58 pm
Some forty or more years ago, the average person who set out to buy a stereo system, typically ended up with a stereo receiver. Things were much simpler then; all you needed was a receiver, a turntable and a pair of speakers. As for ‘audio furniture’, milk crates were the order of the day. A pair of included patch cord interconnects and if you were somewhat sophisticated, a run of heavy gauge lamp cord and you were in business. You didn’t have to give any thought to power... - Vinyl you may not know that should be in your collection Vol. 228 September 2018, 4:24 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—RCAs, Lyritas, EMIs, Mercurys, Blue Notes, Argos, Deccas—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... - Shelter 5000 MC Phono Cartridge19 September 2018, 5:09 pm
Recently, I had the very good fortune to review the Shelter 501 III MC Phono Cartridge. No sooner than the review was published, a Shelter 5000 MC Phono Cartridge dropped into my lap. For my review of Canadian startup Pure Fidelity’s Eclipse Turntable, the designer John Stratton suggested he setup his Shelter 5000 as it had been so successful during the turntable’s beta testing. I killed two birds with one stone for that review and jotted down some thoughts about the 5000 once ... - Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 coming in TWO WEEKS—Denver, CO19 September 2018, 5:00 pm
Unless knee deep in a surprise Rocky Mountain snowstorm, Fall is a beautiful time of year to visit Denver, CO, one of the coolest, most progressive cities in the USA. It's a place that reveres craft beer (there's even a museum in the airport dedicated to the subject), has many fine restaurants, and where you can get high. Legally. In addition, the local audiophiles run what has become one of the finest high end audio shows in the world. And my favourite. Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (R...
- 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....
- The HIFIMAN Sundara Headphones Review17 October 2018, 2:00 pm
In just a decade, HIFIMAN have released a broad range of headphones, and then with every new model in multiple price ranges, they have extended the performance of their products making them an even greater value. The post The HIFIMAN Sundara Headphones Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - iFi Audio xDSD Portable DAC/Amp Review15 October 2018, 2:00 pm
If you are searching for a way to make the music from your smartphone/DAP sound better, or if you need to drive some less efficient headphones, iFi Audio submits the xDSD portable DAC/Amp for your consideration. It looks to be an impressive little beast that is barely bigger than a deck of cards. The post iFi Audio xDSD Portable DAC/Amp Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - VIZIO P65-F1 65” Ultra HD Television Review9 October 2018, 2:00 pm
Today, I’ll be checking out my first Dolby Vision-capable display, VIZIO’s P65-F1. It’s a 65” Ultra HD television with HDR10, Dolby Vision, a full-array LED backlight with 100 zones, and an impressive suite of apps to stream content. It should delight videophiles and cord-cutters alike. The post VIZIO P65-F1 65” Ultra HD Television Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - PSB M4U TW1 Earphones Review3 October 2018, 2:00 pm
PSB M4U TW1 Earphones are all-new wireless in-ear monitors with the latest Bluetooth technology. They look strikingly handsome with a sound quality that is engaging and non-fatiguing. They are also very comfortable, secure-fitting, and water-resistant. The post PSB M4U TW1 Earphones Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Sumiko Olympia Oyster Series and Songbird Reference Series Phono Cartridges1 October 2018, 2:00 pm
It may be time to replace your phono cartridge, perhaps even a modest upgrade. Sumiko gives you many options and with the introduction of six new models, it may be time to consider this 40-year-old brand. The post Sumiko Olympia Oyster Series and Songbird Reference Series Phono Cartridges 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......
- Burson Audio Conductor Virtuoso 2+ headphone DAC preamp17 October 2018, 12:51 pm
This is not our first rodeo with Burson Audio. If they even have rodeos in Melbourne, Australia, where Burson Audio is based. We looked at the HA160 headphone amp in Issue 79, and the original Conductor – complete with matching Timekeeper amps in Issue 105. Of these products, the Conductor was perhaps the most impressive in performance terms, so when the time came to look at it’s latest guise – the tricked-out, Conductor Virtuoso 2+ (‘V2+’) – we jumped at the ... - Trilogy Audio 903 preamp and 993 power amp17 October 2018, 12:26 pm
Trilogy Audio specialises in making valve amplifiers for people who don’t want to look at valves. At least that’s the way it seems when you consider the latest amplifiers in the range. The 903 preamplifier is a very modern looking piece of perfectly finished kit that does nothing to suggest that there’s a thermionic triode lurking within its carefully machined casework. The display and variety of features backs this up even further and makes you wonder why Trilogy’s found... - Vicoustic Multifuser DC2 room treatment panels17 October 2018, 12:17 pm
About a year and a half ago I moved to a new, downsized home that had a listening space whose acoustic characteristics I did not fully understand. The room is a second storey space and is roughly rectangular, with enclosed walls on one end and at the other end, balcony walls opening on to the vaulted ceiling of a living room (or lounge) space below. My thinking had been that the rectangular shape of the room would make for good hi-fi sound, with the loudspeakers placed at the enclosed-wall end o... - Naim Audio Super Lumina interconnects and loudspeaker cables9 October 2018, 7:42 pm
OK, I’ll get this out of the way first. I hate the way the ‘Super Lumina’ logo looks. I get why Naim Audio did this (it’s meant to show superluminal motion in action, itself an abstraction of an abstract concept) but it just looks like someone had a progressively broken space bar when writing that name – ‘S U P E R’. I’m staying distinctly Newtonian here. Many of Naim Audio’s core buyers have an ‘interesting’ relationship with cab... - Bluewave Get portable headphone amp/DAC9 October 2018, 7:32 pm
Taking in the afternoon sun for a spot of al fresco coffee action, I discovered the one big flaw to the Bluewave Get Bluetooth headphone amplifier from Canada. With a dark-coloured headphone cable blending into the table, I was asked several times by people if they could borrow my lighter. From 10 feet away, the Bluewave Get looks like a good quality Ronson. That’s about it though; being mistaken for a smoker is the biggest downside to owning a Bluewave Get! With Apple removing the 3.5mm T...
- 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... - Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE Stage 2 Preamplifier10 May 2018, 3:47 pm
The Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE line stage preamplifier was originally introduced in 2009 and has been gradually updated and improved over the years. This latest, top of the line model includes many parts and technology that we find in cost-no-object preamplifiers from some of the most respected and expensive brands. There are three variants of the STP-SE preamplifier. All are available in basic black or silver and include over 164,000 uF of capacitance, more than many power amplifiers. The STP-SE, $19...
- Review: The Stunning Xavian Perla Esclusiva Loudspeakers19 October 2018, 1:15 am
Review By Noam Bronstein Some gear comes in and out of our lives casually. It’s different with speakers sometimes. When a speaker gets under your skin, it triggers a more emotional attachment. Some call it “speaker fixation” – the notion that you build your entire system around the speakers you love. And if done right, I think this can be a 100% valid approach: mate the right speakers to the right room, and you’ve nailed the biggest system interaction, or variable. ... - Updates On Upcoming Reviews (Busy, Busy!)12 October 2018, 8:43 pm
Here’s a brief rundown (maybe not so brief) on what’s in the Wall Of Sound pipeline. Steve’s Tetra Phono project is well underway. Knowing Steve, most of this should “happen” in October. Noam is wrapping up his review of the Xavian Perla Esclusiva speakers, a most exotic Czech/Italian standmount. Edit: DONE. Noam, or one of us, with a little luck, will drop by the Toronto Audiofest next week, and share a report on the show. Noam is reviewing an amazing biography on ... - DIY Phono Project Part 2, Chassis Prep & Ordering of Remaining Parts10 October 2018, 8:56 pm
DIY All Tube Phono Preamp Project Part 2, Chassis Prep & Ordering of Remaining Parts By Steve Graham Bits and pieces galore, but don’t worry, I’m a man with a plan A quick note before we start. As I write this, on September 28, 2018 my local hospital has today taken delivery of its new CAT scan machine for the diagnostic imaging department. They were literally rolling it in the door today. My sincere thanks to those who have contributed by purchasing my WoS projects. ... - DIY All-Tube Phono Preamp Project: It’s on!8 October 2018, 1:32 am
Update: DIY All-Tube Phono Preamp Project / Part 1 By Steve Graham Prototype shown above, the one I’m building for our kind patron will be similar but somewhat prettier Thunderbirds are GO! Hopefully International Rescue won’t need to be called. (link) I was a bit old for it when the Thunderbirds TV series arrived in the mid 1960s, but my two younger brothers enjoyed it. Now I find them charming, in that endearingly hokey way the Brits sometimes do things. They always brin... - My Audio Life: Part 9, Headphone Amp Obsession20 September 2018, 2:57 am
By Steve Graham Tubular Obsession Confession Time Have you ever had an audio obsession? Never happened to me, not much! I became preoccupied with headphone listening for a while. I still do it occasionally, but I really became obsessed with headphone amps. The line of Earmax HPA’s from Germany became a particular fixation after reading a Ken Kessler review in HiFi News and Record Review many years ago. I actually saw one in a display case at a stereo store so...
- Sunshine Kiwami Cable Review19 October 2018, 12:03 pm
Tonality8.4Build Quality8.6Comfort & Handling8.6Matchability8.5 8.5Score$199SunshineDisclaimer: The Sunshine Kiwami cable was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion in this review. Many thanks to Sunshine for giving us this opportunity and to Miss Akiyo for acting as a translator during the process. Sunshine came out of nowhere to land in my inbox about 2 […] The post Sunshine Kiwami Cable Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - iBasso IT04 Review17 October 2018, 12:06 pm
Tonality8.7Build Quality8.5Comfort & Fit8.9Matchability8.7 8.7Score$499iBassoDisclaimer: The iBasso IT04 was sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion. Thank you to iBasso for giving us this opportunity. Whilst not as prolific as some of their counterparts, iBasso have been slowly building an impressive portfolio of in-ear monitors over the last few years. The IT03 triple-hybrid […] The post iBasso IT04 Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - FiiO M3K Review14 October 2018, 12:05 pm
8.3ScoreFiiO has been inside the market for portable music players for some time now. Ceaselessly expanding their prowess in the DAP field of tomorrow with new entries for our ears to enjoy. Today, we will be looking at their ultra budget M3K, which is a $69USD model that might be one that redefines the best […] The post FiiO M3K Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - Earsonics Birdy Review12 October 2018, 12:22 pm
Tonality8.5Build Quality8.4Matchability8Functionality8 8.2Score$290EarsonicsDisclaimer: The Earsonics Birdy was sent to us a sample in exchange for our honest opinion and does not have to be returned. We thank Earsonics for this opportunity. Bluetooth wireless streaming. Love it or loathe it is here to stay. Thankfully developers such as Sony and Qualcomm have taken notice of the […] The post Earsonics Birdy Review appeared first on Headfonics.... - Effect Audio Leonidas II Review10 October 2018, 12:02 pm
Tonality9Build Quality9Comfort & Handling9.1Matchability9 9Score$888Effect AudioMusicteck USADisclaimer: The Effect Audio Leonidas II was sent to us in advance of retail release to allow us to complete this review. Many thanks to Effect Audio for giving us this opportunity. Some time ago I asked Eric Chong, the Marketing Manager, what was Effect Audio’s most critical products […] The post Effect Audio Leonidas II Review appeared first on Headfonics....
- RMAF 2018: Campfire Audio19 October 2018, 8:08 pm
I’ve always enjoyed Campfire Audio’s relaxed and casual company culture – my experiences with them have always been from one personal audio enthusiast to another, never corporate or stiff. ... - RMAF 2018: HIFIMAN Electronics Arya headphone and R2R2000 streaming player18 October 2018, 6:23 pm
I have had numerous emails and a lengthy Q&A with Dr. Fang Bian of HIFIMAN regarding the company and several of its products, but despite all this electronic back-and-forth, I was not prepared for the huge smile that greeted me from him as I came up to the HIFIMAN booth at CANJAM in the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest.... - RMAF 2018: Chord Electronics17 October 2018, 9:48 pm
The Chord table at CANJAM inside the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest was filled with variations of their popular Hugo and Dave DAC/Amp combos. I tried out the Hugo TT 2 and M Scaler combo with a Pair of Ether 2 headphones and this was easily another Best of Show sound for me.... - RMAF 2018: Astell & Kern rollout new players, firmware upgrades imminent16 October 2018, 10:37 pm
Astell & Kern seem like a company hell bent on introducing new models that are feature-packed based on feedback from both existing customers and those they are courting to embrace the brand.... - RMAF 2018: iFi xDSD and Pro iDSD impress at both ends of price spectrum15 October 2018, 9:38 pm
I always make a point to stop by the iFi booth as the folks who work there are super friendly and I enjoy their products. ...
- Electric Adolescence: The Jazz Mix20 October 2018, 4:49 pm
When the term ‘jazz’ first emerged it was regarded as so profane that it wasn’t to be used in the company of the women once considered so delicate. ... - RMAF 2018: Tone Imports digital and analog delights18 October 2018, 9:52 pm
Wood, polished alloy, rich-hued dark grey and burnt-orange paint, glowing tubes and the exquisite sound of pure timbre and tone reeled me in from the hall like I was a fish on a line that had taken the bait.... - RMAF 2018: Aurender wants to kill your computer (more) with the new ACS10, A100S17 October 2018, 8:15 pm
Who hates social media? Answering emails constantly? Web-surfing rabbit holes? Let’s be real, computers are both ruining/creating the world, but the ‘being there’ of life experience seems to be waning. Are they necessary? Yes, the 21st-century world is as deeply intertwined with silicon as it is carbon, but to be honest, and largely unbeknownst to the general audiophile populace, your PC is probably diminishing your audio experience far more than you realize.... - RMAF 2018: Ayre Acoustics EX-8 streaming integrated amplifier15 October 2018, 8:46 pm
Ayre Acoustics was showing off some of the newest kit in their lineup at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and the piece of gear that interested me the most was their new EX-8 integrated 'super' amplifier. From their latest 8 Series.... - RMAF 2018: DeVore Fidelity Orangutan Reference loudspeaker system12 October 2018, 6:11 pm
We’ve all lost something that we swore was just there ”a second ago.” You know what I’m talking about, you put down your phone, or a book, a CD or tape… you turn around to take your coat off or just to sit down and poof it’s gone. Vanished into thin air....
- HiFiMAN Arya, R2R200, HE5se and Jade II – RMAF 201820 October 2018, 4:09 pm
Yes, that is a total of four new products on the way from HiFiMAN. The planar-loving personal audio company now... - Schiit Audio Teases An Amplifier Named Aegir – RMAF 201817 October 2018, 11:31 pm
Like other some other audio show appearances, Schiit Audio pulled up residence in both the headphone area and in a... - Ryan Speakers and Pass Labs – RMAF 201816 October 2018, 8:46 pm
While Ryan Speakers certainly has a flushed out line of floor standers to standmounts, its the new S610 that has... - The Voice That Is!, VIMBERG, TIDAL Audio and Antipodes – RMAF 201816 October 2018, 7:13 am
by Eric Shook First-things-first at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018, find Doug White of The Voice That Is! This is... - Wyred 4 Sound – RMAF 201815 October 2018, 7:01 pm
EJ Sarmento had a trick up his sleeve for the Rocky Mountain Audiofest this year. Known primarily for his highly...
- Echobox Nomad IEMs – The Game is Afoot!16 October 2018, 5:00 am
The post Echobox Nomad IEMs – The Game is Afoot! appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 – Coverage sponsored by Kimber Kable PT215 October 2018, 5:00 am
The post CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 – Coverage sponsored by Kimber Kable PT2 appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 – Coverage sponsored by Kimber Kable PT112 October 2018, 5:00 am
The post CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2018 – Coverage sponsored by Kimber Kable PT1 appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - Introducing Elegia: the First High-End Closed-Back Headphones from Focal5 October 2018, 3:00 pm
The post Introducing Elegia: the First High-End Closed-Back Headphones from Focal appeared first on HeadPhone.guru.... - PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC – A New Era5 October 2018, 5:00 am
The post PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell DAC – A New Era appeared first on HeadPhone.guru....
- RMAF 2018 – Day 3 Video Highlights & Impressions – Part Deux19 October 2018, 5:35 pm
The post RMAF 2018 – Day 3 Video Highlights & Impressions – Part Deux appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Adventures at CanJam RMAF 2018 – Abyss, Sennheiser, ZMF, MrSpeakers, and More17 October 2018, 10:12 pm
We tend to cover more stereo components at RMAF but enjoy spending a bit of time at CanJam RMAF. These booths were always busy. We didn’t cover as much as we’d like but were able to hit up a few of the debuts at the show. We’ll go into more depth at the next CanJam.... Read More The post Adventures at CanJam RMAF 2018 – Abyss, Sennheiser, ZMF, MrSpeakers, and More appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - This Just In – Chord Electronics Hugo TT 2 DAC, Preamp, & Headphone Amplifier15 October 2018, 9:55 pm
Feast your eyes on the new Chord Electronics Hugo TT 2 in sexy black. I can’t wait to try out some headphones (and speakers) on this beast. Will it sound like how I described it here? Check out our unboxing video! The post This Just In – Chord Electronics Hugo TT 2 DAC, Preamp, & Headphone Amplifier appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - RMAF 2018 – Day Three – Nagra, Kanto Audio, Nola, and More12 October 2018, 8:19 pm
For the first part of our third-day video tour, we heard great stuff from Kanto Audio, Borresen Audio, Nagra, Nola, and Audio Solutions at the High End by OZ room. Commentary by our seasoned reviewer, Siao Jer. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, Facebook, and Instagram! The post RMAF 2018 – Day Three – Nagra, Kanto Audio, Nola, and More appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - ATC SCM7 v.3 Bookshelf Speakers – Love at First Listen11 October 2018, 10:42 pm
ATC (Acoustic Transducer Co.) had its beginnings in the professional sound industry in 1974. It was founded by Bill Woodman – who is also a pianist and studied engineering in Australia before moving to the UK. He was an employee of one of the first BBC LS3/5A monitors licensees – Goodmans Loudspeaker. After immersing himself... Read More The post ATC SCM7 v.3 Bookshelf Speakers – Love at First Listen appeared first on Audio Bacon....
- New McIntosh MC312 power amp gets upgraded features18 October 2018, 10:50 pm
NEWS: McIntosh Labs toils hard to bring improvements to its already well-acclaimed products, and the new MC312 is an example of continued development...... - Linn’s cup of coffee – the game-changing Selekt DSM15 October 2018, 12:56 pm
NEWS: The Selekt DSM isn't like the other Linn digital music streamers, not in design and structure... but like all things Linn, audio quality marches ahead.... - Devialet’s explosive new Phantom… Reactor12 October 2018, 1:30 am
NEWS: Devialet is hell-bent on proving that size doesn't matter... its latest compact wireless speaker, the Phantom Reactor, delivers a whole lot of wallop from an even smaller egg than previously.... - Chord Qutest DAC – engaging sonic spectacle7 October 2018, 2:03 pm
REVIEW: Built like a brick, sporting cutting-edge conversion technology and taking up very little space on your desk, Chord's Qutest DAC yet has quite a bit going for it.... - Vitus Audio SS-103 stereo power amplifier – resistance is futile30 September 2018, 12:23 pm
REVIEW: How does a whole lot of amplifier muscle - in weight and watts - sound when refined the Scandinavian way? The Vitus Audio SS-103 Signature answers this question for us......
- 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.... - Five 1980’s Singles You Thought You’d Forgotten26 July 2018, 5:09 pm
But here, to make you either cringe or smile from ear to ear are five corker ear-worms of 1980's singles you thought you had forgotten. The post Five 1980’s Singles You Thought You’d Forgotten appeared first on Audio Appraisal.... - Vinyl Record Cleaning fluids Compared, Pro-Ject & Vinyl Shelter6 July 2018, 2:45 pm
Vinyl Shelter offer an excellent cleaning product, perfectly suited to the cleaning of vinyl records. While we only tested two fluids here, the results did not conclusively prove that one fluid was vastly superior to the other. The post Vinyl Record Cleaning fluids Compared, Pro-Ject & Vinyl Shelter 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
...
- REVIEW: VINCENT AUDIO KHV-1 HYBRID HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER1 October 2018, 7:26 am
Germany's Vincent Audio has a reputation for delivering value for money Hi-Fi products, so as a headphone enthusiast it's KHV-1 amplifier piqued my interest. We take a closer look at its Hybrid Headphone Amplifier.... - REVIEW: SENNHEISER HD 820 FLAGSHIP CLOSED-BACK HEADPHONES7 September 2018, 10:45 pm
When it comes to high-end closed-back headphones, the choices are surprisingly slim. Do Sennheiser's new HD 820 and its first foray into the high-end, audiophile level closed-back headphones have what it takes?... - BLU-RAY REVIEW: DEADPOOL 2, PLUS WIN A BLU-RAY7 September 2018, 1:53 am
Deadpool 2 is undoubtedly bigger than the original and for the most part just as entertaining. To conicide with the Blu-ray review, StereoNET has five copies to give away thanks to Klipsch. Read on ...... - REVIEW: ELAC MIRACORD 70 TURNTABLE29 August 2018, 1:36 am
The more affordable little brother to Elac's Miracord 70, it reflects important milestone's for Elac's rich heritage. So how does this sub-$2000 turntable perform? Read on.... - REVIEW: NAD ELECTRONICS HP70 NOISE CANCELLING BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES21 August 2018, 1:39 am
What better way to test noise-cancelling, Bluetooth over-ear headphones than on a flight? Read on for this real-world test of NAD's HP70 headphones....
- Meet Melissa, she’s the Audiophiliac for a Day20 October 2018, 9:28 am
... - Two of the bravest people I ever met, they review cables19 October 2018, 9:45 am
... - There’s something happening here, the Audiophiliac likes a dirt cheap Bluetooth speaker18 October 2018, 8:49 am
... - Was Frank Sinatra an audiophile?17 October 2018, 10:08 am
... - Were you born analog, or were you born digital? + music review16 October 2018, 10:39 am
...
- 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 […]...