- ModWright20 November 2023, 12:00 am
Dan Wright of ModWright Instruments Inc., partnered with Cardas Audio, Acora Acoustics, and Woodsong Audio to bring his new compact, affordable 9-series products, which are "based on our Reference Designs," Wright told me in a preshow email.The ModWright room featured a SOTA Cosmos Eclipse turntable ($10,500) with an SME V tonearm ($5500) and an Ortofon Winfeld Ti MC cartridge ($5999) as well as a prototype ModWright step-up transformer ($2000), ModWright Analog Bridge ($3900), ModWright PH... - TAD + PAD20 November 2023, 12:00 am
Japan’s Technical Audio Devices Laboratories, Inc. (TAD) brought several products to CAF, including the US debut of the TAD Grand Evolution One (GE1) floor-standing speakers ($65,000/pair) and new TAD C1000 preamplifier ($24,950). Also in Room 651—hosted by Professional Audio Design (PAD)—were the TAD TAD-D1000MK2 disc player ($21,000), TAD-DA1000TX DAC ($15,900), and, driving the GE-1s, a pair of TAD TAD-M700 monoblocks. Synergistic Research supplied cables, including SR30 Sp... - VK Music20 November 2023, 12:00 am
It was hard to find focus in Victor Kong's room. Between the nearly invisible AER BD3B/650mm full-range open-baffle speakers ($9800/pair) and the various amps on static display—Sun Valley SV-1616D 300B integrated amp ($2450), or the Elekit TU-8900 ($3050) or Elekit TU-8850 ($1850) power amps—my palms felt sweaty, my head, dizzy. Is this SET-amp lover’s heaven?Victor’s active setup included a VPI 40th Anniversary HW-40 Direct turntable ($22,000) with the fantastic Hana ... - Voxativ20 November 2023, 12:00 am
Voxativ's Ines Adler and Christopher Cunningham brought the full Voxativ experience from Berlin to Rockville, including the new and revised Voxativ Ampeggio back-loaded horn with AC-1.9 full-range driver loudspeaker ($12,900/pair).Back in 2011 Art Dudley named the original Ampeggio a Stereophile Product of the Year, so this room held special meaning for industry folk and civilians who cherished Art's unique writing, big ears, and generous humanity of spirit.The original Ampeggio awarded by A... - Nexxus Audio Technologies17 November 2023, 12:00 am
Nexus Audio Technologies' Walter Schofield presented a rig consisting of the VPI Avenger Direct turntable with Fatboy tonearm ($36,000), VPI Shyla cartridge ($2500), and Primare R35 MM/MC phono preamp ($2000); the 432 EVO Master Music Server with Roon core endpoint ($18,000); the Primare PRE35 Prisma DM36 streaming preamplifier featuring the new DM36 advanced DAC module with MQA processing ($5250); and two Primare A35.2 stereo amplifiers ($3900 each) bridged to mono. Walter also presented the S...
- Adés: Dante11 May 2024, 5:10 am
The British composer Thomas Adés, now in his mid-50s, can […] The post Adés: Dante appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - In Memoriam: Anthony H. Cordesman11 May 2024, 5:06 am
In this month of tribulations, it is my sad duty […] The post In Memoriam: Anthony H. Cordesman appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - DS Audio DS-W3 Optical Cartridge10 May 2024, 4:28 pm
If it seems as if I’ve been reviewing a lot […] The post DS Audio DS-W3 Optical Cartridge appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - 2023 Golden Ear: Harbeth C7ES-3 XD Loudspeaker10 May 2024, 4:14 pm
$4490 Over the past three years, Alan Shaw has completed […] The post 2023 Golden Ear: Harbeth C7ES-3 XD Loudspeaker appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - Tannoy Unveils 70th Anniversary Autograph 12 Loudspeaker at High End Munich 202410 May 2024, 4:03 pm
May 2024 – We are excited to announce Tannoy has […] The post Tannoy Unveils 70th Anniversary Autograph 12 Loudspeaker at High End Munich 2024 appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
- Sphere Entertainment Buys HOLOPLOT Immersive Technology14 May 2024, 11:21 am
Sphere Entertainment Co., live entertainment and media company, has purchased HOLOPLOT, a pro audio company enabling the next generation of audio experiences and how society engages with sound. HOLOPLOT enables Hi-Res Audio sound quality for all, with integrated immersive capabilities for increased creative freedom. This acquisition will increase Sphere Entertainment's ability to innovate with an eye on the future. HOLOPLOT GmbH enables high-quality, fully scaleable (small to large venues) 3D a... - Oligarch-Grade Products Will Continue13 May 2024, 12:43 pm
Anniversary issues are always a time to look back, but it's also a good time to look forward and try to predict what the next few years will look like. Such predictions are prone to a lot of guesswork, and there are no spoilers, no giving away secrets, and no Tarot cards were harmed in the making of these dimly lit gazes into the near future. In the high-end, the trend for oligarch-grade products looks set to continue. Whenever we think audio has reached its price ceiling, someone builds a long... - Stereo Gear Reviews, Photos, And More! Join Our Discussion11 May 2024, 12:48 pm
For fans of high-fidelity audio gear and MUSIC lovers, you can now have your voice heard. COme see incredible gear photos each day from the best high-performance audio equipment of today to highly-loved vintage... and DIY too! Don't miss out, join the chat on our Facebook and Instagram pages. As always... enjoiy the music!... - TBT: Schiit Mani MM / MC Phono Stage Review9 May 2024, 12:03 pm
To witness, the soundstage of the Mani (as well as most solid state gear) is foreshortened. The width is as good as it gets with my speakers aligned on the long wall—which is to say excellent. But with the tight bass and higher energy in the treble replacing the rolled off focus in those areas in my tube phono stage, plus the holographic nature of tube gear in general, the Mani presents a wide, very well defined, evenly lighted soundstage that is shallower in depth than my reference. The ... - TBT: Chord Mojo 2 Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier Review9 May 2024, 12:02 pm
If you are a member of the Head-Fi community, Chord has been part of your life for the past decade with its award-winning, and often groundbreaking products. While many of the British manufacturers' products are very expensive, there are a growing number below $1,000 that merit serious attention from both headphone enthusiasts and music listeners looking to assemble a first-class system for either the home or desktop. Products like the Chord Mojo 2 offer a level of technical sophistication you ...
- REVIEW: Cyrus CDi-XR ⸜ Compact Disc player » GREAT BRITAIN1 May 2024, 12:00 am
Reviewtext WOJCIECH PACUŁA images Cyrus, „High Fidelity”No 240 May 1, 2024⌈ CYRUS is an English company that began its operations in 1983 as a separate brand of MISSION, and its first products were called MISSION CYRUS. Since 1984 it has been operating independently as CYRUS, and it was in 1984 that it launched the ONE and TWO amplifiers, which set the form of its devices for the following years. The special feature of its products is their shape - they ar... - INTERVIEW: ENRICO ROSSI ⸜ Norma Audio Electronics • designer » ITALY1 May 2024, 12:00 am
INTERVIEWText by WOJCIECH PACUŁA Images by „High Fidelity”, Marek MichalczykNo 240 May 1, 2024⌈ Norma Audio Electronics is an Italian company founded in 1987. Initially specializing in amplifiers, with its first product being the NS 123 integrated amplifier, it was bought by Opal Electronics in 1991. It took nearly seven years of research and development to come up with an entirely new series of devices, many of which are still offered today. We speak with M... - REVIEW: S.M.S.L PL200 ⸜ Compact Disc player (MQA-CD) » CHINA1 May 2024, 12:00 am
ReviewText by WOJCIECH PACUŁA images by „High Fidelity”No 240 May 1, 2024⌈ Founded in 2009, Foshan ShuangMuSanLin Electronics (S.M.S.L) is a manufacturer based in the industrial part of China's Schenzen province. It offers nicely made products for audiophile market, such as D/A converters, headphone amplifiers and power amplifiers. We are testing its PL200 Compact Disc player. ⌋TWO, MAYBE THREE YEARS AGO, when writing about a Compact Disc player... - REVIEW: Ayre EX-8 2/0 ⸜ integrated amplifier » USA1 May 2024, 12:00 am
Reviewtext by WOJCIECH PACUŁA Photos by „High Fidelity”No 240 May 1, 2024⌈ AYRE ACOUSTICS was founded in 1993 by: CHARLES HANSEN, KATIE LEHR and PETER BOHACEK. Leading it in the ensuing years, Hansen was previously a speaker designer and founder of a major American brand, Avalon Acoustics. Its first product was the V-3 power amplifier. Charles passed away in 2017, and Ariel Brown became his successor. AYRE’s products are made in Boulder, Colorado, and... - REVIEW: Audio Reveal HERCULES ⸜ digital-to-analog converter » POLAND1 May 2024, 12:00 am
ReviewText by MAREK DYBA Images by Marek Dyba, Audio RevealNo 240 May 1, 2024˻ WORLD PREMIERE ˼⌈ AUDIO REVEAL is a Polish brand specializing in the design and manufacture of single-ended tube amplifiers. However, the latest product of this company, that premieres herewith, belongs to a different category, although familiar elements are still there. It is the latest product in the lineup, the Hercules DAC, which belongs to the rare genre of tube DACs. What's mor...
- Tekton Design Perfect SET 15 Loudspeakers9 May 2024, 6:47 pm
This review has had probably the longest gestation period of any review I've ever done. I've had the Tekton Perfect SET 15 loudspeakers in my possession for three years already. In fact, I already gave them a Writer's Choice award in 2021. Why the long wait? As explained in previous articles, much of the first... Read More » The post Tekton Design Perfect SET 15 Loudspeakers appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Vertere Acoustics introduces the new CALON high-end Phono Preamplifier9 May 2024, 4:47 pm
Vertere Acoustics Munich Motorworld - Walter Rohrl Suite. 09 May 2024. Today, Touraj Moghaddam, founder and chief executive of Vertere, held a press conference to launch CALON, the first Vertere high-end dual-mono phono preamplifier. CALON will be available in July and sell for £15500; €18998; $19995.CALON is available in either silver or black. CALON has been designed... Read More » The post Vertere Acoustics introduces the new CALON high-end Phono Preamplifier appear... - Focal Unveils Two New Sets of Open- and Closed-back Headphones Hadenys and Azurys8 May 2024, 4:54 pm
May 7, 2024 - Focal introduces Hadenys (ah den ees) and Azurys (ah zur ees), open- and closed-back headphones, making the purity of high-fidelity sound accessible to as many people as possible. Born from the French brand’s distinctive expertise in sound and made in France, these passive headphones combine patented speaker driver technologies, comfort and sophisticated aesthetics to deliver... Read More » The post Focal Unveils Two New Sets of Open- and Closed-back... - The new Audiovector Trapeze Reimagined offers a new angle on audio perfection.8 May 2024, 4:25 pm
Audiovector, Copenhagen, Denmark April 2024 – Audiovector is excited to announce the release of the new Trapeze Reimagined. Inspired by the original 1979 Trapez, the very first Audiovector loudspeaker, this iconic update features the very latest, most innovative technology available. The Trapeze Reimagined will be officially launched at HIGH END Munich 2024, the world’s leading... Read More » The post The new Audiovector Trapeze Reimagined offers a new angle on audio perf... - Munich, Germany 2024: Nordost is excited to announce the launch of their Leif 3 Cables.8 May 2024, 4:21 pm
Leif 3 is the new evolution of Nordost's entry-level lines, which have served as a benchmark in the hifi industry for over three decades. Leif 3 cables embody the culmination of years of technological breakthroughs and advancements in craftsmanship, meticulously refined to meet the modern demands of mid-fi and hi-fi sound systems. They leverage optimal... Read More » The post Munich, Germany 2024: Nordost is excited to announce the launch of their Leif 3 Cables. appeared first on Positive ...
- Voodoo For You…8 May 2024, 7:10 pm
Oddly enough, this product is backed up by quite a bit of science, but I love the name. I’ve known Jan Geschke for a while now, and between our love for Porsche automobiles and fine audio, I agreed to give these a try. Yep, cable elevators. As you may or may not know, we’ve covered […]... - We Visit The Music Room18 April 2024, 5:31 am
We spent some time with The Music Room and saw how much they’ve grown since our last visit! The best place to buy and sell used gear with total confidence. And a super helpful crew too! Please click here to watch the video.... - REL Tzero MKIII Subwoofer17 April 2024, 12:42 am
All REL! We’ve put a lot of emphasis on REL’s larger sub bass systems, but their smallest offering is affordable, approachable, and easy to use. The new TZero MKIII is the current iteration of their 6.5″ sub, featuring a 100 watt class-D amplifier, in a cabinet that is only 8.5 x 9.5 x 10.5 inches. […]... - The Wireworld Stratus™ and Electra™Shielded Mini Power Conditioning cords10 April 2024, 6:41 am
You Can’t Unhear em! Wireworld founder David Salz makes some of the world’s finest cables, used by audiophiles and endorsed by recording engineers the world over. He’s a big thinker, and this time he’s solved a problem that a lot of us didn’t know we had – mini power cords. Applying their Fluxfield™ technology, he’s […]... - Our YouTube Channel is Live!10 April 2024, 5:23 am
Better late than never, eh? We’re finally broadcasting on YouTube, so if you’d like to stop by, just CLICK HERE:...
- GoldenEar T66 Loudspeaker1 May 2024, 4:00 am
Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link. Some brands are so distinctive they become synonymous with a specific product or feature in the minds of consumers. Subaru designs all-wheel-drive vehicles, Nike makes Air Jordans, and Nintendo has Mario and Luigi. Audio is no different. McIntosh Laboratory brings blue VU meters and glowing green tubes to mind. Vivid Audio conjures thoughts of graceful, highly sculpted speaker ... - Subwoofers, Speakers, and the Sonus Faber Suprema1 May 2024, 4:00 am
Show me the cattle “All hat and no cattle,” they say in Texas, I’m told, of those who are all talk but no action or those who have the appearance but not the substance. That saying came to mind during the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas early in January when Sonus Faber introduced its new Suprema loudspeaker system to the press. I didn’t attend that show—it’s been a decade since CES has mattered at all for hi-fi—but, like many, I watched f... - Recommended Reference Component: Hegel Music Systems H30A Stereo/Mono Amplifier15 April 2024, 4:00 am
Hegel Music Systems is best known for its highly regarded integrated amplifiers. The company’s flagship model in this category, the H600, was the subject of a review on this site by Philip Beaudette in September, 2023, which earned it a Reviewers’ Choice award and Recommended Reference Component honors. Five months before the H600 review—in fact, exactly one year ago today—Jason Thorpe reviewed Hegel’s H30A stereo/mono power amplifier, also on this site, declaring i... - Estelon Aura Loudspeaker1 April 2024, 4:00 am
Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link. When I received a pair of Estelon Aura loudspeakers for review in the middle of last year, I proceeded to cover them in my “System One” column confident it would be sufficient for all I’d need to say. That writeup, which was published last November, earned the Aura a 2023 Product of the Year award for Aesthetics and Sound. After the article was published and t... - From Aura to Extreme—Experiencing Estonia’s Estelon1 April 2024, 4:00 am
My travel dynamics—frequency and range After 25 years of almost monthly travel to interview audio designers and to shoot images and videos, I am almost certain I’ve visited more hi-fi companies than anyone else on the planet. To me, frequent travel is a key part of the job that, time-consuming as it is, feels quite natural; but it seems to baffle some of my peers. ...
- Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back – In Concert, May 2, 20243 May 2024, 5:40 pm
“Today will be a day long remembered. It has seen the death of Kenobi, and will soon see the end of the Rebellion.” – Darth Vader, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, 1977. It was on this pretext that the story of the second movie in the original Star Wars trilogy, Star [...] The post Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back – In Concert, May 2, 2024 appeared first on Dagogo.... - PureAudioProject Quintet15 with Voxativ AC-X field-coil open-baffle loudspeaker system Review27 April 2024, 3:30 pm
The hierarchy of large loudspeakers in my experience begins at the top with the Sound Lab Prostat 922 at the Kimber Kable Exhibit at 2008 RMAF, Acapella Audio Arts Excalibur Triolon with its plasma tweeter, colossal midrange horn and a complete woofers column, followed by the Destination Audio Vista horn, the Dynaudio Evidence Master, the [...] The post PureAudioProject Quintet15 with Voxativ AC-X field-coil open-baffle loudspeaker system Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Technics SU-R1000 reference stereo integrated amplifier Review5 April 2024, 5:43 pm
A few short years back, some large Japanese global conglomerate poured its vast engineering resources into creating three components; the first, a D/A converter that would be the envy of all, one that decodes all known codecs, and performs at equivalent level as others’ flagship designs. Then it turned its attention to the creation of [...] The post Technics SU-R1000 reference stereo integrated amplifier Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Computer Audio Design GC 1.1 & GC3.1 Ground Control external grounding systems Review26 March 2024, 4:06 pm
Several months ago a local dealer, Timbre Audio, hosted an open house featuring the principals of the company Computer Audio Design: Isabel Whitley and Scott Berry. CAD designs and manufactures passive external grounding boxes, among other products. Although I had heard of the company and had even read one or two reviews, I was [...] The post Computer Audio Design GC 1.1 & GC3.1 Ground Control external grounding systems Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Andy Grove of Audio Note UK on IO LTD13 March 2024, 3:54 pm
Read: Audio Note UK IO Ltd field-coil cartridge system Review I group audio engineering kung-fu into 3 main categories: Concepts which have a solid theoretical basis. Concepts which have a plausible, but tenuous or inadequately researched theoretical basis. Pure Magic, based on intuition and experimentation! What we are talking about here, the sound of [...] The post Andy Grove of Audio Note UK on IO LTD appeared first on Dagogo....
- Munich High End 2024 - The Greatest Show On Earth - Part 112 May 2024, 10:21 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Wow, what a show. Munich High End 2024 was truly the greatest show on Earth. Sure, there were some very unfortunate exhibitors who couldn’t tame their rooms enough to get good sound, but you won’t hear about any of those from me. There were so many good rooms and so much positive energy at the show, that I could wear out my keyboard writing it all ... - Axpona 2024 Lasting Impressions8 May 2024, 2:23 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. And now for something completely different……….. I have been attending audio shows since the mid 1990’s when I attended my first event, the Stereophile show at the Weston Saint Francis Hotel in San Francisco. I have attended quite a few since including CES, shows in New York, California, Washington... - I Bet You’ve Never Heard This … #32 May 2024, 3:33 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Welcome to the third installment of I Bet You’ve Never Heard This, where I recommend albums you actually may have heard, but you get the gist of what I’m saying. These “Never Heard” albums should be in all of our libraries, but for one reason or another we missed them upon original or rerelease. The first two articles in ... - Improve Your Audio System - Tonight!30 April 2024, 3:09 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. I was inspired to use the title of this article, Improve Your Audio System - Tonight!, by a grocery store tabloid I saw many years ago. It was so preposterous that I never forgot it. The big headline on the tabloid was, “Lose Ten Pounds - Tonight!” However, the title to my article is 100% true. The vast majority of audiophiles can improve their aud... - Axpona 2024 Best of Show and Wrap Up25 April 2024, 3:40 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Audio Expo North America 2024 is in the books, and I look forward to 2025. The best part of this year’s show was seeing and talking with Audiophile Style contributors Rajiv Arora @austinpop , Bob Fairbairn @bobfa , and Joe Whip @JoeWhip ! When we get together to chat, you’d think we all attended different audio shows because our tastes are dif...
- Luphonic R2 Turntable13 May 2024, 12:00 am
High End Munich 2024 is officially in the books, but our coverage continues onward. We will be posting on-site video reports and multi-part show reports in the days to come — but today, we take a look at Luphonic’s R2 turntable. The R2 is the German manufacturer’s just-introduced, more affordable alternative to their top-tier R3 model.Luphonic Labs was founded in Linden in central Hesse, Germany at the beginning of 2020. At High End Munich, they were located in Hall 3, Stand... - Pearl Jam’s New Studio LP Dark Matter Is a FIne Collection of Undeniably Great Songs, But Does the Vinyl Edition Meet Our Audiophile Standards?10 May 2024, 12:00 am
The prospect of experiencing — and reviewing — a new Pearl Jam album is both exciting and daunting. The group came onto the scene as the height of the so-called grunge movement at the outset of the 1990s. issuing a quartet of now-classic hard-rock albums. And, as is the case for so many artists of the rock era, living up to that kind of early-established legacy — and trying to top those early releases — is easier said than done.Just consider the initial albums of arti... - Technics SL-1200M7B Special Edition Lamborghini Turntable9 May 2024, 12:00 am
High End Munich 2024 is in full swing, and we’re all over it. Today, we’re taking a look at a stunningly cool collaboration between Technics and Lamborghini that’s resulted in the SL-1200M7B limited edition turntable.The SL-1200M7B is based on the SL-1200MK7 and SL-1210MK7 DJ models from the Technics SL1200 turntable series. Technics confirms that more than 3.5 million units from this series have been sold to date.Technics also notes that this historical collaboration w... - Gryphon Apollo Turntable & Siren Phono Preamp8 May 2024, 12:00 am
High End Munich 2024 is officially getting underway across the Pond in just a few hours, but we have some more cool new products to look at before the doors open on the show. Today, we’re going to look at a pair of upcoming products from Gryphon — namely, their Apollo turntable and Siren phono preamp.According to Gryphon — founded by Flemming E. Rasmussen in 1985, and currently distributed in more than 40 countries worldwide — both the Apollo table and Siren phono prea... - Is the Rekkord M600 Turntable a Modern Marvel of German Craftsmanship?6 May 2024, 12:00 am
Drawing inspiration from the legendary MPS Records, a 1970s German powerhouse that produced memorable records by Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, and countless others, Rekkord Audio carries the torch of meticulous German craftsmanship. Nestled in the heart of the Black Forest, each Rekkord turntable, we’re told, is “meticulously” assembled by local artisans, ensuring a level of quality and heritage worthy of the music it plays.Rekkord is owned by Heinz Lichtenegger, the affable CEO...
- I Dig VERUM 2 Headphones!9 May 2024, 5:00 pm
... - PURE AUDIO PROJECT Trio10 Heil AMT, WOWSA!6 May 2024, 6:30 pm
... - The BEST CLASS D Amplifier I've Heard!30 April 2024, 4:15 pm
... - Remembering my friend Andy Singer23 April 2024, 5:45 pm
... - AUDIOPHILIAC and HERB REICHERT, the SECRET LIVES of AUDIOPHILES21 April 2024, 5:15 pm
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- Sunday at the Munich Show | Munich 202413 May 2024, 7:33 am
On Sunday, the last day for High End 2024, I spent my time doing business–arranging for reviews, mostly, and connecting with prospective industry partners. One particularly gratifying moment involved introducing Doug White of The Voice [...]... - Saturday at the Munich Show | Munich 202412 May 2024, 10:14 pm
After the heady excesses from Friday at the 2024 Munich Show, the Saturday highlights focus less on the incredible and more on simply incredible sound. There was a point, after lunch on Saturday, where I [...]... - Friday at the Munich Show | Munich 202411 May 2024, 5:58 am
Friday at High End 2024 in Munich was a day spent listening to big, big systems that take up a lot of real estate–not to mention a lot of money. While the ESD Acoustic room [...]... - Press Day Highlights | Munich 202410 May 2024, 8:00 am
This is my first Press Day in my four years of attending the High End show in Munich. I always miscalculate my itinerary and wind up needing to sleep through the first day of the [...]... - Focal Hadenys and Azurys Headphones Debut | Announcements7 May 2024, 11:00 am
May 7, 2024 – Focal/Naim introduces Focal Hadenys (ah den ees) and Focal Azurys (ah zur ees), open- and closed-back headphones, making the purity of high-fidelity sound accessible to as many people as possible. Born [...]...
- Q Acoustics teases Continuous Curved Cone-loaded 3000c series14 May 2024, 6:14 am
Q Acoustics has announced the latest iteration of its entry-level loudspeaker series: the 3000c range comprises three standmounts – the 3010c, 3020c and 3030c – plus the 3050c floorstander and the 3090c centre channel (for Dolby Atmos system builders). The ‘c’ refers to the UK company’s Continuous Curved Cone technology […] The post Q Acoustics teases Continuous Curved Cone-loaded 3000c series first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of th... - Arcam’s SA45 is a Class G streaming behemoth w/ Dirac Live13 May 2024, 5:57 am
One of the highlights of the Munich High-End Show 2024 was a new streaming powerhouse from Arcam. The SA45 is a super-integrated whose streaming technology has been pulled from the new ST25 streaming DAC (€1799) to sit at the top of the British company’s yellow-accented Radia series. Your choice of […] The post Arcam’s SA45 is a Class G streaming behemoth w/ Dirac Live first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled... - The Music-First Audiophile Manifesto12 May 2024, 6:01 am
1. The Music-First Audiophile knows that music and sound quality are important but that music will always be the most important. 2. The Music-First Audiophile has many thousands of albums in his library and will choose audio hardware that elevates the sound quality of those albums. 3. The Music-First Audiophile knows that […] The post The Music-First Audiophile Manifesto first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or r... - HiFi Rose RA280 review6 May 2024, 4:44 pm
In 1955 Alex Reeves invented the first so-called class D amplifier. Sinclair Radionics released their related X-10 kit in 1964. Its 2.5wpc rating implied ‘f’ for flea power though today would probably read ‘flee’. John Ulrick of Spectron showed Infinity’s first full-range switching amplifier at the 1974 CES. Sony had […] The post HiFi Rose RA280 review first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or ... - Dynaudio teases four new loudspeaker models but there’s a gotcha…4 May 2024, 8:52 am
Dynaudio will be showing off four new products next week at Munich High-End. First out of the gate is a new member of the Heritage Series that effectively turns the Heritage Special standmount loudspeaker into a floorstander. The new Contour Legacy is a 2.5-way design featuring a 2.8cm Esotar soft-dome […] The post Dynaudio teases four new loudspeaker models but there’s a gotcha… first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, r...
- Hampton Hawes: For Real!—Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds Series (Vinyl)8 May 2024, 11:21 am
When the latest PR from Craft Recordings hit my inbox earlier in the year announcing the latest releases of its Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds Series, I was impressed with the 12 LP lineup, but two, in particular, caught my eye. I was unfamiliar with both artists, but they had been receiving some exciting press in the last few years. The first was tenor saxophonist Harold Land, a mighty virtuoso who should be spoken about in the same breath as Coltrane, and shame on me for not knowing abou... - Beethoven: Sinfonie Nr. 6 "Pastorale“–Karl Böhm & Wiener Philharmoniker/DG The Original Source vinyl reissue6 May 2024, 3:14 pm
Karl Böhm and the Vienna Philharmonic give a beautiful performance of Beethoven’s most genial symphony on this DG The Original Source LP released this week. The Symphony Nr. 6 "Pastorale“ has fared particularly well on record with marvellous performances of great variety from Reiner, Dorati, Barenboim, Klemperer, Ashkenazy and others. Although many famous performances have good sonics to match, if an audiophile or vinylphile wanted a 6th with a great performance in great sonics,... - Emil Gilels—Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 25, 26 (« Les Adieux ») & 27/DG The Original Source vinyl reissue3 May 2024, 4:32 pm
Emil Gilels (1916 – 1985) was a titan of the piano, directly in line with the three Russian piano gods, so sayeth the great Rachmaninoff, from Anton Rubinstein (1829–1894) to Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) to Gilels. Gilels was born in Odessa, Russia (now Ukraine) and blossomed as a piano virtuoso at a young age. His tutelage was monitored carefully—Gilels’ teacher said early on, with care, he possesses the abilities of one who is born solely for the purpose of becom... - E.A.R. MC4 Step-Up Transformer1 May 2024, 11:31 am
I’m new to SUTs, better known as Step-Up Transformers, small passive boxes that enable your moving coil (MC) cartridge and phono stage to work to their fullest potential. Many MC cartridges have very low output, much lower than a moving magnet cartridge; as such, they need more gain from a phono stage to be played at normal listening levels. While many fine phono stages have a section specific for moving coils, the technology used, FETs or tubes, often adds noise to the system. A well-desi... - Muarah Audio MT-3 Turntable1 May 2024, 11:31 am
Disclosure: Muarah components are distributed by Octopus Tree Audio which began operations last year and is run by our long-time writer Max Geiger. Rarely has this conflicting situation occurred, but I found the look and reasonable price of the MT-3 intriguing and I wanted to bring it to the attention of our readers. Here is my honest assessment. I have not discussed the review or shown Max a copy of the text before publication. Muarah Audio is a company based in Warsaw, Poland (founded in 2015...
- The Lilac Time: Dance Till All The Stars Come Down7 May 2024, 1:09 pm
Stephen Duffy of The Lilac Time thinks that Dance Till All The Stars Come Down is the best album they've ever made. Sean Hannam believes he might just be right! The post The Lilac Time: Dance Till All The Stars Come Down appeared first on hi-fi+.... - REL Classic 987 May 2024, 12:43 pm
The REL Classic 98 subwoofer harks back to the legendary 1990s subwoofers of REL founder Richard E Lord but is brought bang up to date where needed. Alan Sircom investigates. The post REL Classic 98 appeared first on hi-fi+.... - Balanced Audio Technology VK80i7 May 2024, 12:18 pm
According to Chris Frankland, Balanced Audio Technology’s excellent VK80i ‘all the tubes, but no feedback’ integrated amplifier offers balanced and single-ended inputs, intelligent auto-biasing, and a deceptively powerful 55W output. The post Balanced Audio Technology VK80i appeared first on hi-fi+.... - Audiovector Trapeze Reimagined7 May 2024, 11:49 am
In 1979, Audiovector’s first big hit was the Trapez. Forty-five years later, the Trapeze Reimagined is just as much a game-changer as the original loudspeaker. Alan Sircom takes a listen. The post Audiovector Trapeze Reimagined appeared first on hi-fi+.... - MOON TO DEMONSTRATE NEW PRODUCTS AT HIGH END MUNICH SHOW2 May 2024, 2:49 pm
May 2, 2024 (Montreal, Canada) – MOON will be demonstrating […] The post MOON TO DEMONSTRATE NEW PRODUCTS AT HIGH END MUNICH SHOW appeared first on hi-fi+....
- Lumin D3 Network-Attached DAC13 May 2024, 12:00 am
Building on the earlier D2 platform, Lumin's equally compact D3 model features a new processor, new DAC, LeedH volume control and support for increased file sample ratesIt's not only loudspeaker brands playing the trickle-down technology game. Lumin's D3, its new entry-level streaming DAC, borrows liberally from the Hong Kong manufacturer's costlier network hardware, utilising elements both inside and out to effect a comprehensive upgrade on the previous D2 [HFN Jul '20]. Its maker says the D3... - Reed Muse 1C/3P Turntable9 May 2024, 12:00 am
Artisanship and innovation meet in this precision-engineered turntable/arm combo that brings 21st century know-how to bear on a pre-Millennium turntable technologyMaybe you can teach an old dog new tricks. After decades of being dismissive of idler- or rim-drive turntables, if not downright hostile towards them, I have had my ears opened by Reed's Muse 1C. A previous owner of a Thorens TD 124 [HFN Jun '59] and a Garrard 401 [HFN Dec '65], I never considered them to be as rumble-free nor as qui... - Black Grape: It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah7 May 2024, 12:00 am
Ex-Happy Mondays stars Shaun Ryder and Bez returned to the top of the UK charts with this rockin', rollin' and rappin' LP. Steve Sutherland applauds its return on 180gPinch yourself. You're not dreaming, although it might get a bit Alice In Wonderland a little later on. We are dining al fresco on a terrace overlooking vineyards near Nice in the South of France. At the head of the table is our host, Michael Hutchence, who we have popped over from London to interview.There are other guests, t... - HiFi Rose RA280 Integrated Amplifier6 May 2024, 12:00 am
More sober than the 'steampunk' styled RA180, and more powerful too, the new RA280 takes HiFi Rose's GaN FET-based Class D architecture into the audiophile zoneHiFi Rose delighted, and in some cases flabbergasted, hi-fi enthusiasts with its RA180 [HFN Jul '22], an amplifier that looked like it had just escaped from the pages of Gibson-Sterling's steampunk classic The Difference Engine. Boasting lots of knobs and dials on the outside, and novel GaN FETs in its Class D power amp on the inside, i... - Bruckner Symphony No 73 May 2024, 12:00 am
The ideal gateway symphony to Bruckner – or an elusive work of secrets and memories? Peter Quantrill slaughters a herd of sacred cows in his survey of the Seventh on recordLet's brush aside the old (but stubborn) complaint that Bruckner composed the same symphony nine times over. For one thing, he wrote 11 symphonies, only the first of which was intended purely as an exercise, and brought the last (numbered as the Ninth) tantalisingly close to completion. For another, each has its own pe...
- Rockport Technologies Announces LYNX Loudspeaker: High End Munich 202414 May 2024, 10:00 am
At $78,000/pair, Rockport LYNX implements trickle down technology from the company's flagship LYRA loudspeaker for about half the price.... - Check Out the TCL Q85H Premium Soundbar: 7.1.4 Channels of Dolby Atmos/DTS:X Goodness14 May 2024, 4:07 am
TCL is finally stepping up their sound game with a premium soundbar that can immerse you in a dome of sound... - FiiO FT5 Open-back Planar Magnetic Headphones: Review13 May 2024, 10:02 pm
At $449, find out how the FiiO FT5 open-back planar magnetic headphones compare to Audeze MM-100, Sennheiser HD660s and Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro.... - TCL’s New 2024 QD MiniLED TVs Get Bigger and Better at Attractive Prices13 May 2024, 2:03 pm
Sized from 32 inches to 115 inches, and with video quality that rivals the top performers, TCL's 2024 TV lineup offers something for everyone.... - Stories You Might Have Missed: PRX, Irene Cara & The Last Days of Kishka? [Updated]13 May 2024, 10:10 am
The loss of a recluse pop icon and the dying days of kishka on this week's installment....
- B&W 606 Bookshelf Speaker Review13 May 2024, 12:00 pm
My favorite bookshelf speaker has been the B&W 685 S1. It has been my favorite speaker because it sounds great with everything I connect... The post B&W 606 Bookshelf Speaker Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - NHT MS Tower and MS Center Speaker Review8 May 2024, 12:00 pm
The MS Tower and MS Center speakers reviewed here are members of the NHT’s Dolby-licensed Media Series. The Media Series speakers are... The post NHT MS Tower and MS Center Speaker Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Rotel RB-1582 MkII Stereo Amplifier6 May 2024, 12:00 pm
Originally introduced in 2008, the Rotel RB-1582 is a 200-watt per channel class A/B stereo amplifier with Rotel’s understated industrial... The post Rotel RB-1582 MkII Stereo Amplifier appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - The DALI OPTICON 8 MK2 Loudspeaker Review1 May 2024, 12:00 pm
I was interested in the considerable chatter about DALI speakers and was pleased when this speaker was offered to me for review. The... The post The DALI OPTICON 8 MK2 Loudspeaker Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL Phono Stage29 April 2024, 12:00 pm
The UK has always had an affinity for consuming and producing outstanding HiFi products, and London-based Musical Fidelity has been... The post Musical Fidelity MX-VYNL Phono Stage appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com....
- My Sonic Lab Signature Platinum Moving Coil Phono Cartridge – MINI REVIEW21 April 2024, 3:55 pm
This is a Mini Review: short term audition, impressions below, no rating. A broken-in My Sonic Labs Signature Platinum moving coil phono cartridge recently visited my listening room for a couple of weeks. In that time, there were opportunities to audition the cartridge on both an Acoustic Signature TA-7000 Neo tonearm and an Origin Live […]... - Audience frontRow USB Cable22 February 2024, 7:16 pm
There has been a lot of discussion about digital cables, centering on the fact that digital data simply contains 1 and 0. The 1 is 5 Volts, and the 0 is zero Volts. Either “on” or “off”. What could go wrong? This is the heart of the controversy, since some folks seem to be convinced […]... - Hana Umami Red Phono Cartridge and Musical Surroundings Phonomena III Phono Preamplifier9 December 2023, 11:10 pm
A proper Japanese translation of the word umami is the “essence of deliciousness”. Still another suggests the literal translation to be a “pleasant, savory taste”. These definitions apply to the Hana Umami Red moving coil phono cartridge, which is not only a real treat to hear, but is also a treat for your wallet at […]... - KEF LS50 Meta Loudspeakers31 October 2023, 9:17 pm
There have been many reviews of this modern high-tech loudspeaker, so the purpose today is to add another data point of opinion about this popular speaker. The observations below focus on reference level comparisons, not considering the speaker’s price against similarly priced competition. The $1,599 LS50 Meta is available in four colors: Carbon Black, Titanium […]... - Clearaudio Ovation Turntable and Universal Tonearm11 September 2023, 3:22 pm
Clearaudio is a well-respected manufacturer of turntables, tonearms, phono cartridges, phono preamplifiers, and accessories. Their home base is in Germany. The Clearaudio Ovation turntable has been in production for several years. The Ovation turntable features a rectangular footprint, belt drive, electronic speed control and Clearaudio’s patented CMB – Ceramic Magnetic Bearing. The CMB obliterates the […]...
- Book Review: Deep Inside the Blues by Margo Cooper17 April 2024, 7:18 pm
Deep Inside the Blues by Margo Cooper Book Review by Andrew Matthews When Noam asked me if I was interested in reviewing this book, I was both excited and nervous. Excited, because I love music, books, writing and photography; nervous, because I do not consider myself to be much more than a novice when it comes to this essentially limitless genre of American music. Further, the blues is so inextricably linked to the culture from which it emanates that I had serious doubts as to wheth... - Review: Schiit Audio Aegir Stereo Power Amplifier4 April 2024, 7:30 pm
The Schiit Audio Aegir Stereo Power Amplifier: Soon to be a CHE? By Steve Graham I’m ba-ack. Sort of. After one of history’s shortest retirements, I’ve discovered there is still a lot to share with you lovely audiophiles. Recently, I revealed that my hearing had deteriorated. When it comes to parsing the fine details of an audio component’s performance, I don’t, for the most part, feel confident passing judgement. However, ... - Wall Of Sound Is 10 Years Old1 March 2024, 7:59 pm
Sometime in February 2014, I decided to start this website, for fun and perhaps a bit of income. Predictably the income part didn’t work out, but it has been fun – I’ve met some great people, some have become close friends, and I’ve had a chance to lead and be part of a very capable team, that’s reviewed a pretty nice spread of interesting and desirable gear, and music. I think we’ve succeeded in focusing, to a large extent, on our local {Canadian} audio scene... - Spendor Classic 3/1 Vs Graham/Chartwell LS6: A British Battle Royale25 January 2024, 12:14 am
Big Battle of the Brit Two-Ways: Spendor Audio Classic 3/1 Vs Graham Audio/Chartwell LS6 by David Neice Spendor Audio Classic 3/1: MSRP $5600 (Canadian). This speaker’s dedicated stand (not reviewed) retails for $1625 Canadian per pair Graham Audio/Chartwell LS6: MSRP $5600 (approximate) Canadian, Factory Stands: $1500 (USD), Artesania Decoupling Footers: $750 (USD) Verdict: There is a sweet spot in two-way stand mounts, my favourite speaker design. That sweet spot embraces ne... - Why The Vinyl Renaissance Is (Mostly) Not For Me6 January 2024, 11:06 pm
Why the Vinyl Renaissance is (Mostly) Not for Me By Steve Graham Spoiler alert: If you love vinyl, what comes next might not be to your taste. The intention of this report is not to dis vinyl lovers or change anybody’s mind. My take on the vinyl resurgence, and why it leaves me (mostly) flat, is just an opinion. If that opinion does not coincide with yours, I think we can be adult enough to agree to disagree. If you favour music as reproduced by the vinyl medium, I’m happy for...
- Shanling UA4 Review13 May 2024, 9:23 am
Today, Louis reviews the Shanling UA4, which is a new ESS ES9069Q-equipped dongle DAC for both IEM and headphone users with up to 227mW of balanced output power. It is priced at $99. Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank Shanling for their support. To learn more about Shanling products we previously assessed on Headfonics click here. Note, that this article […] Shanling UA4... - FiiO M23 Review11 May 2024, 10:12 am
In this article, James reviews the FiiO M23, which is a new Android 10-equipped mid-range DAP capable of up to 1W of output power from its balanced THX AAA 78+ amplifier. It is priced at $699.99. Disclaimer: This was sent to me as a sample in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank FiiO for its support. You can click here to learn more about the FiiO audio products […] FiiO M23 Review... - ZMF Headphones Caldera Closed Review10 May 2024, 9:03 am
Today, Marcus reviews the ZMF Headphones Caldera Closed, which is a recently launched set of flagship closed-back 80m planar magnetic driver headphones. It is priced at $3499. Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank ZMF Headphones for this opportunity. You can click here to learn more about the ZMF Headphones products I have previously covered on Headfonics. Note, that this article ... - PLUSSOUND Copper XL Review8 May 2024, 9:23 am
In this feature, Lynn reviews the PLUSSOUND Copper XL, which is a new aftermarket 18AWG UP-OCC pure copper aftermarket cable design for IEM users. It is priced from $749.99. Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links. I thank the team at PLUSSOUND for giving me this opportunity. To read more about PLUSSOUND products previously featured on Headfonics click here. Note, that this article follows our [&helli... - FiiO KA11 Review6 May 2024, 9:03 am
In this feature, Kurt reviews the FiiO KA11, which is an affordable entry-level DSD256-capable dongle DAC with up to 245mW of output power. It is priced at $29.99. Disclaimer: This was sent to me as a sample in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank FiiO for its support. You can click here to learn more about the FiiO audio products we have previously assessed on Headfonics. Note, that […] FiiO KA11 Review...
- Focal Adds The Hadenys and Azurys Headphones To The Lineup7 May 2024, 11:05 pm
Just in time for the big audio show in Munich, Focal announces two new headphones to their wide array of The post Focal Adds The Hadenys and Azurys Headphones To The Lineup appeared first on AudioHead.... - An Interview With Andrew Jones – Measurements, The Harman Curve and the new 8882 May 2024, 7:38 pm
Andrew Jones is at it again, this time at the big Chicago show AXPONA he brought along a new flagship The post An Interview With Andrew Jones – Measurements, The Harman Curve and the new 888 appeared first on AudioHead.... - Event Highlights And Best Of Show – AXPONA 202425 April 2024, 3:58 pm
Another AXPONA show is behind us and this year’s was definitely one of the biggest ever on US soil. The The post Event Highlights And Best Of Show – AXPONA 2024 appeared first on AudioHead.... - Auralic Introduces A New S1 Steamer, V10 Software23 April 2024, 6:22 pm
On the eve of the big European Munich Audio show, Auralic has announced a new entry-level audio streamer called the The post Auralic Introduces A New S1 Steamer, V10 Software appeared first on AudioHead.... - AXPONA In 25 Videos – AXPONA 202423 April 2024, 1:11 am
The big HiFi show in Chicago gets bigger every year. Attendees topped 10k this year and listening rooms were up The post AXPONA In 25 Videos – AXPONA 2024 appeared first on AudioHead....
- AXPONA 2024 coverage sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio Part 79 May 2024, 6:00 am
Welcome back to our coverage of AXPONA 2024, I would like to especially thank Vera-Fi Audio, manufacturer of fine loudspeakers The post AXPONA 2024 coverage sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio Part 7 appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - Focal Unveils Two New Sets of Open- and Closed-back Headphones Hadenys and Azurys7 May 2024, 10:00 am
May 7, 2024 – Focal introduces Hadenys (ah den ees) and Azurys (ah zur ees), open- and closed-back headphones, making the purity of high-fidelity The post Focal Unveils Two New Sets of Open- and Closed-back Headphones Hadenys and Azurys appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - AXPONA 2024 coverage sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio Part 67 May 2024, 6:00 am
Welcome back to our coverage of AXPONA 2024, I would like to especially thank Vera-Fi Audio, manufacturer of fine loudspeakers The post AXPONA 2024 coverage sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio Part 6 appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - AXPONA 2024 coverage sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio Part 53 May 2024, 6:00 am
Welcome back to our coverage of AXPONA 2024, I would like to especially thank Vera-Fi Audio, manufacturer of fine loudspeakers The post AXPONA 2024 coverage sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio Part 5 appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - NAD Electronics Introduces the C 379 HybridDigital DAC Amplifier2 May 2024, 4:18 pm
The new addition to the Classic Series combines innovation and value to deliver refined performance and sound quality. MAY 2, The post NAD Electronics Introduces the C 379 HybridDigital DAC Amplifier appeared first on Headphone Guru....
- Apogee unveils Groove Anniversary Edition portable DAC/headphone amp14 May 2024, 12:00 am
American company Apogee has announced the release of its Groove Anniversary Edition portable DAC and headphone amplifier, which delivers a claimed 32-bit resolution, improved dynamic range and frequency response, plus access to hi-res lossless audio.According to the firm: “With an improved signal-to-noise ratio and reduced total harmonic distortion, users will experience incredible clarity and fidelity. From the new iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPad Pro with USB-C, Groove Anniversary Edition... - Majority introduces Moto Bluetooth Turntable14 May 2024, 12:00 am
Cambridge-based audio company Majority has released its Moto Bluetooth Turntable. With 5.3 Bluetooth connectivity, 2.0 stereo sound, USB recording, a precision-engineered dampening platter and an Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge, the Moto plays vinyl at 33, 45 and 78rpm, measures 451 x 201 x 418mm (WxHxD) and weighs 3kg. It’s available to buy via Amazon.In addition to this new release, Majority has teamed up with Ecologi, a platform for collective climate action by planting trees. As of ... - Orange introduces Valve Tester MKII13 May 2024, 12:00 am
Orange Amplification has unveiled its Orange Valve Tester MKII, which supersedes the company’s VT1000. Made and designed in the UK, it boasts a microprocessor-controlled testing system carrying out a series of inter-electrode switching and measurement exercises.The company claims no prior knowledge of valve theory is needed to use the MKII: “the user simply inserts a valve into the correct socket, selects the valve type from the list and presses the ‘OK’ button. The st... - T+A Solitaire P-SE13 May 2024, 12:00 am
Launched last year, T+A’s Solitaire P headphone weighs in at a hefty £5,000. As well as being exceptionally good, it does mean even ‘trickle-down’ models have the scope to be rather high-end in their own right. The Solitaire P-SE is the second model to join the range and is closely related. It is an open-back, planar magnetic that very closely matches the design of the original. To make the significant saving over the P, the biggest difference is the driver itself. The TP... - Exposure unveils 3510 CD player and 360 turntable10 May 2024, 12:00 am
Exposure has announced the launch of its 3510 CD player and 360 turntable (pictured). The 3510 has the flexibility of operating as a standalone CD player, while also being designed as a CD transport to connect with either the company’s 3510 or 5010 preamplifiers or the 3510 integrated amplifier, fitted with the optional DAC board. It sports the brand’s bespoke top-loading mechanism with sliding lid and magnetic clamp and key features include a dual mono PCM1704 24-bit DAC, fully disc...
- Treehaus Audiolab Brings “The A/Machines” New 300B Amplifier22 March 2024, 6:49 am
Treehaus often avoids calling a product “The Best.” The world of audio is far too subjective to ever use such a term seriously. That said, the A/Machines are confidently one of the top five 300B Single-Ended Triode (SET) amplifiers ever produced. It is the culmination of over a decade of research, development, and testing of […] The post Treehaus Audiolab Brings “The A/Machines” New 300B Amplifier appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Meze Audio Liric 2nd Generation Headphones7 March 2024, 9:53 pm
Next-generation headphone developed with community feedback to deliver an even better listen and a stunning new striped ebony finish. Meze Audio is delighted to introduce LIRIC 2nd Generation, a major evolution of its acclaimed LIRIC closed-back headphones with performance enhancements, a stunning new striped ebony wood finish and more modularity for easier upgrades and a […] The post Meze Audio Liric 2nd Generation Headphones appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - TIDAL Audio Welcomes Audio Ultra to Its Dealer Network27 February 2024, 9:13 pm
TIDAL Audio, the world renowned manufacturer of luxury high-end audio speakers and electronics, is delighted to announce the addition of a prestigious new dealer to its family. The newest member of the TIDAL Audio dealer network, Audio Ultra, located at the West Coast, now joins the esteemed ranks of Artisan Fidelity as an Authorized Partner […] The post TIDAL Audio Welcomes Audio Ultra to Its Dealer Network appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Treehaus Audiolab introduces new “Texture Black Metallic” finish 10 February 2024, 10:38 pm
Treehaus Audiolab introduces new “Texture Black Metallic” finish at the Florida International Audio Expo 2024 with Geshelli Labs February 10, 2024 Treehaus Audiolab will make its debut appearance at FLAX, supplying speakers to Geshelli Labs for a special listening room. Audiophiles can experience Treehaus Audiolab speakers on superb solid-state equipment in Florida for the first […] The post Treehaus Audiolab introduces new “Texture Black Me... - Review: PGGB – Your Personal Music Upscaler8 February 2024, 4:14 am
As an audiophile constantly in pursuit of the pinnacle of sound quality, I’ve had the opportunity to explore various tools and technologies designed to enhance digital audio. One such tool that has caught my attention is PGGB, a sophisticated piece of software that aims to elevate the hobby through advanced up-sampling techniques. Developed with a […] The post Review: PGGB – Your Personal Music Upscaler appeared first on Audio Bacon....
- Dali unveils the Rubikore series10 May 2024, 2:45 am
NEWS: Dali adds to its already extensive range of stereo and home theatre speakers with the spanking new Rubikore series.... - R2 is Luphonic Labs’ new vinyl spinner8 May 2024, 2:11 am
NEWS: There's always hope for vinyl, as long as new players keep the flag flying, as does German manufacturer Luphonic Labs.... - CH Precision launches first 10 Series DAC, the C106 May 2024, 2:30 am
NEWS: If a high-end DAC is on your shopping list, the CH Precision C10 could be a tempting prospect... if the price doesn't knock you flat first.... - Enter the Acutus Dark Iron turntable from AVID2 May 2024, 2:25 am
NEWS: British turntable manufacturer AVID has its first new vinyl player out in six years.... - Focal Bathys — among the best ANC headphones23 April 2024, 1:40 am
REVIEW: Focal's Bathys has much going for it, especially if you have audiophile sensibilities, but there's serious competition...
- WiiM Pro Plus Streamer Review13 February 2024, 11:07 am
the best combination of hardware and software I’ve seen in the hi-fi streaming sector to date, and represents the kind of value for money that is never given the recognition it deserves by the industry, especially the press. If you want to stream audio to a hi-fi, this is the little box you should buy.... - Spartan 30 Headphone / Line Preamplifier By Michael Fidler Reviewed7 February 2024, 12:30 pm
A small desktop headphone amp with line preamplifier, ideal for miniaturised systems with active speakers. What it lacks in modern conveniences it makes up for in linearity, power and low distortion.... - Acoustic Research AR48S Restoration Part 119 December 2023, 11:55 am
Dodgy drivers thwart my attempt to restore these classic Acoustic Research AR48S speakers, for now.... - Technics RS-B11W Cassette Deck Thoughts & Repairs14 December 2023, 11:22 am
Technics proved that doubling the decks didn’t mean halving the performance and the results speak for themselves. Probably one of the best bargains in cassette decks at the moment.... - Sony TC-WR645S Cassette Deck Repairs13 December 2023, 11:57 am
A well-featured machine even if it wasn’t Sony’s finest in terms of its construction quality. These make decent recordings, and are fine playback decks especially if you want the convenience of autoreverse. I’d probably still go for the more modern TC-WE475 or TC-WE675 for its simpler mechanics and better build quality...
- DALI IO-12 Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones Review8 May 2024, 4:27 am
Matthew Jens goes jet-setting with this exotic pair of high-end, noise-cancelling headphones…... - Ascendo The16 SUB Active Sealed Subwoofer Review23 April 2024, 1:13 am
Tony O'Brien shakes the foundations of his movie room with this serious sealed box sub…... - AURALiC Aries S1 Streaming Processor Review23 April 2024, 12:52 am
David Price samples this intriguing new purpose-designed network music player and comes away highly impressed…... - Tannoy Stirling III LZ Special Edition Loudspeaker Review20 April 2024, 12:57 am
Chris Frankland gets into the groove with this cleverly engineered, exciting-sounding floorstander…... - Roksan Attessa CD Transport & Integrated Amp Review18 April 2024, 1:12 am
James Michael Hughes auditions an attractive new silver disc spinner and amplifier combination…...
- SoundMAGIC E80D Review: Are These the Best Value Earphones You Can Buy?13 May 2024, 11:36 pm
SoundMAGIC E80D Review: Forget wireless. These USB-C earphones deliver pure, uninterrupted audio without breaking the bank. Read our full evaluation. The SoundMAGIC E80D wired earphones are the latest iteration of the company’s popular flagship E80 series. These earphones offer a significant upgrade with a USB-C connection and a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that supports high-resolution […] The post SoundMAGIC E80D Review: Are These the Best Value Earphones You Can Buy... - Final Audio Reveals New D7000 Planar-Magnetic Headphones with Enhanced Technology9 May 2024, 8:16 pm
Final Audio, a well-respected Japanese manufacturer of audiophile gear, has launched its newest flagship planar-magnetic headphones, the D7000. Building upon the success of their D8000 series, the D7000 incorporates refined Air Film Damping System (AFDS) technology and a newly developed “Pinna-Aligned Diffuser” for an exceptional audio experience. Innovations in Driver Design The D7000 addresses challenges […] The post Final Audio Reveals New D7000 Planar-Magnetic Headphones w... - Q Acoustics Unveils the Next Generation of Affordable High-Performance Loudspeakers: The 3000c Series9 May 2024, 4:34 pm
Q Acoustics, a renowned British audio brand, has officially unveiled the 3000c Series, the latest iteration of their highly regarded and budget-friendly 3000 loudspeaker series. The last edition of the 3000 series, the 3000i, was released back in 2018, and we loved it. Now, this new generation promises to deliver exceptional sonic performance and high-quality […] The post Q Acoustics Unveils the Next Generation of Affordable High-Performance Loudspeakers: The 3000c Series appeared first o... - Meet the New WiiM Ultra and WiiM Amp Pro: Elevate Your Budget Audio Setup9 May 2024, 2:34 pm
WiiM, a popular smart home audio solutions provider, has unveiled two big new products: the WiiM Ultra and the WiiM Amp Pro. Unveiled at the High-End Munich Show, these upgraded devices build on the success of WiiM’s earlier audiophile-grade streamers and amplifiers, now presented in their most advanced forms. WiiM Ultra: The Ultimate Audio Hub […] The post Meet the New WiiM Ultra and WiiM Amp Pro: Elevate Your Budget Audio Setup appeared first on HIFI Trends.... - Focal Unveils New Hadenys and Azurys Audiophile Headphones7 May 2024, 5:03 pm
May 7, 2024 – Focal, the renowned French audio brand, has launched two new headphones – the Hadenys (open-back) and the Azurys (closed-back). These new models expand Focal’s high-fidelity headphone offerings, emphasizing sound quality, comfort, and sophisticated design. Hadenys: Open Design for Home Listening The Hadenys (pronounced ah den ees) headphones feature an open-back design […] The post Focal Unveils New Hadenys and Azurys Audiophile Headphones appeared first on...
- Sad news from Mosaic21 April 2024, 7:05 pm
... - A new (to me) local company -- Introducing Austin AudioWorks26 March 2024, 8:11 pm
... - Times must be getting tight at Blue Note!3 February 2024, 7:33 pm
... - Hey boomer....New music?26 January 2024, 2:58 pm
... - Jim Winey of Magnepan, RIP16 January 2024, 12:05 am
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- Peachtree Audio Carina GaN Integrated Amplifier: Full Review and YouTube video3 April 2024, 3:55 pm
Watch the YouTube videoA little over a year ago, Peachtree Audio cleared their deck, and introduced the Carina Integrated Amplifier. From the front panel to the internals, much of the design was new. I was fortunate to have one of the first review models and it was both intriguing and sonically stunning. Led by the inclusion of a pair of ESS 9068 DAC chips, with menu controls that allowed for personal preference in how the output sounded. This onboard DAC design was a showstopper.For 2024,... - HiFi Rose RS520 Integrated Streaming Amplifier15 March 2024, 2:02 am
Click to watch the YouTube VideoStunning and loaded with features, the HiFi Rose RS520 is one of the few standard-bearers of streaming integrated amplifiers on the market. From the tablet approach to controls, to the GaNFET amplification, and the built-in software for multiple streaming services, the RS520 is a true one-piece hub home audio system.www.dailyaudiophile.com... - The WiiM Amp: A Game Changer In Streaming Audio Amplifiers2 March 2024, 6:08 pm
Watch The YouTube Review What does it take to hit a grand slam in home audio? Start with a clean, simple exterior design. Pack in enough features to satisfy virtually everybody with a specific want. Make sure it can stream from an endless number of platforms/services. Include a robust, tested software app package. Provide enough power for all but the most demanding of speakers. Finally, put it at a price point that leaves the audio community slack-jawed. The WiiM Amp is all that!www.d... - The Groove Tickler: Stylus Replacement Expert27 February 2024, 3:47 am
Click Here For The YouTube ReviewA broken stylus is not the end of your cartridge, especially if it is out of production. JosephLong, aka The Groove Tickler can get you back to listening to your vinyl collection in a few short weeks.www.dailyaudiophile.com... - Vera-Fi Audio VBH-1 Isolation Feet: YouTube & Mini-Review4 February 2024, 2:13 am
Click here for videoMini-Review. Watch the video for the full review. Vibration is the enemy. While all of us are aware of sounds that tell us that something isn't tightly screwed, clamped, nailed, or leveled. A Braun electric toothbrush will prove that real quick. Between the type of spikes on the bottom of speaker bases or stands, to the various creative cones or feet on the bottom of higher end audio gear, isolating vibration is a known quest in audio world.After market isolation bases though...
- Artesania Audio at Munich High End & HifiDeluxe 20249 May 2024, 6:36 am
Artesania Audio, the high end rack company, will be at Munich High End and HifiDeluxe, with two dedicated rooms and lots of collaborative exposure.... - Thorens TD1600 Turntable with TP 160 Tonearm8 May 2024, 8:26 am
Recently, Thorens issued a new tonearm, the TP 160, which is now fitted as standard to the TD 1600 and TD 1601 turntables instead of the TP 92 arm. In this review, I will assess how these two arms compare using Thorens TAS 1600 and TAS 1500 MC cartridges.... - Chord Ultima Integrated29 April 2024, 7:33 am
Chord products have always appealed to me, and I love the bold industrial aesthetic. Yet, somehow, a review never materialized. Until now!... - Halcro Eclipse Stereo Power Amplifier4 April 2024, 8:59 am
Honestly, I did not think the moment would come that another transistor amplifier would put up serious competition for my treasured CH A1.5, but here we are. Read all about it in the review.... - Main System 12 – March 202425 March 2024, 2:46 pm
This is a quick summary of the Main System as it was in March 2024....
- Westone MACH 70 Review28 January 2024, 10:10 am
Westone Laboratories, Inc. was established in 1959 by Ron Morgan in Colorado, USA. With a background in…... - Schiit Yggdrasil + OG DAC Review26 November 2023, 4:45 pm
Schiit are a company well-versed in high-end personal audio with a focus for value and…... - Sineaptic SE-1 Review22 November 2023, 6:41 pm
Gary Liu, together with his colleague Rocky from the tech world, founded Sineaptic. With a…... - Westone AM Pro X1022 October 2023, 10:26 am
Westone Laboratories, Inc. was established in 1959. In the 1980s, they developed balanced armature drivers in custom-made…... - Fiio FF1 Review17 September 2023, 6:41 pm
Fiio was established in 2007 in Guangzhou, China. The company markets high-resolution digital audio players,…...
Resistor Mag
- High End Munich 2024: The Post12 May 2024, 3:10 pm
My favorite room at High End Munich 2024 was not exactly part of High End Munich 2024. Pictured are the new Aeonor horn speakers (about $70k all in including amplification) from Berlin’s Martion Audiosysteme that took up residence across the street from the MOC in [...]... - #NewMusicFriday: May 10, 202410 May 2024, 9:56 pm
Each Friday, Stephen Mejias, AudioQuest’s Director of Communications and former Stereophile and Audiostream columnist, will browse through the many exciting albums released that day and select 15 worth a closer listen. Chick Corea, Béla Fleck: Remembrance (Thirty Tigers) Three by Four Tet Four Tet: Three [...]... - Album of the Week: Slowdive | everything is alive10 May 2024, 8:12 am
I missed slowdive’s Part 1 which began over 30 years and 4 albums ago, another gap in my anything but gapless musical experience. everything is alive, released on Dead Oceans in September of last year, comes along 6 years after their last record and it [...]... - Rockport Rocks the New LYNX Loudspeakers at High End Munich 20248 May 2024, 7:12 am
The new LYNX loudspeaker slots into Rockport Technologies’ speaker lineup offering trickle down tech from the flagship LYRA in a smaller form factor. And that smaller form factor was made possible by the use of an all-new DAMSTIF3™ enclosure which is formed from a single, [...]... - Grimm Audio Celebrates 20 Years at High End Munich 2024 with 2 New Products6 May 2024, 2:51 pm
That’s a lot of 2s! Grimm Audio will be showcasing their new flagship LS1c Active Loudspeaker along with the new PW1 Phono Stage in celebration of 20 years in business at High End Munich 2024. You read that last bit right—a solid state phono stage [...]...
- Oriveti OD200 Review13 May 2024, 9:22 pm
Today, we’re looking at the new $199 USD OD200 IEMs from Oriveti. Disclaimer: Oriveti supplied us with the OD200 for this review. As... The post Oriveti OD200 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - PlusSound SPC XL & Copper XL Review12 May 2024, 6:02 am
Today we review the PlusSound SPC XL and Copper XL cables, which cost around 999$ and 749$ respectively. Disclaimer: PlusSound provided the SPC... The post PlusSound SPC XL & Copper XL Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - Shanling H2 Review8 May 2024, 8:59 pm
In this article we take a look at the whole new Shanling H2. A compact DAC/Amp selling for just $169 USD. Disclaimer: Shanling... The post Shanling H2 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - Dan Clark Audio – DCA E3 Review7 May 2024, 5:30 am
In this article we look at the DCA E3 closed back headphone, selling for $1,999 USD. Disclaimer: The DCA E3 was sent to... The post Dan Clark Audio – DCA E3 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - Blog: High End Munich 2024 Preview – Part 3 – Munich First6 May 2024, 1:55 pm
In this High End Munich 2024 Preview 3 article, we take a look at a series of new products that will be launched... The post Blog: High End Munich 2024 Preview – Part 3 – Munich First appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/...
- EBS Reissues BBB AAA14 May 2024, 5:00 am
The Original Source titles released this month are yielding quality performances and quality remasterings... - Pro-Ject T2 Turntable Launched at High End Munich 202413 May 2024, 11:00 am
a significant update to Project's low end turntable... - The Doors Turn Out The Lights in Stockholm12 May 2024, 1:00 pm
The Swedish broadcast finally released for Record Store Day... - Sonny Rollins "A Night At The Village Vanguard"— First Time Release Cut From the Original Master Tapes10 May 2024, 6:08 am
Tone Poet 3 LP Set Is One Of The Great Jazz Reissues... - Analog2Fidelity At Munich High End 2024 Introduces Worldwide Koetsu Rebuilding Service10 May 2024, 5:00 am
for all Koetsu cartridges...