- 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...
- Rhythm Distribution Acquires REVRB, Expands Sales Leadership Team23 June 2025, 3:46 pm
June 17, 2025 – Rhythm Distribution, a leading force in […] The post Rhythm Distribution Acquires REVRB, Expands Sales Leadership Team appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
- STAX Unveils the SR-007S Electrostatic Earspeaker23 June 2025, 3:27 pm
Tokyo, Japan – June 20, 2025 – STAX Ltd., Japanese […] The post STAX Unveils the SR-007S Electrostatic Earspeaker appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - Best Headphones Series: DALI I-08 wireless headphones21 June 2025, 11:38 am
Newcomer Matt Coykendall reviews the DALI I-08 headphones with their […] The post Best Headphones Series: DALI I-08 wireless headphones appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - American Sketches21 June 2025, 11:23 am
This album is a love letter to American music from […] The post American Sketches appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - 2025 Solid State Integrated Amplifier of the Year: Gryphon Diablo 33321 June 2025, 11:18 am
$24,900 (Optional DAC card, $7600; optional phono card, $6000) The […] The post 2025 Solid State Integrated Amplifier of the Year: Gryphon Diablo 333 appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
- Capital Audiofest 2025 Audiophile Show Expands23 June 2025, 4:58 am
Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2025 is set to take place from November 14th to 16th at the Hilton Rockville in Maryland, continuing its legacy as the East Coast's largest and most beloved high-end audio show. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, offering three full days of immersive listening experiences, gear demos, and community engagement. Founded in 2010 by Gary Gill, CAF has grown from a grassroots gathering into a cornerstone of the ... - Hi-Fi: 10 Questions Featuring Norbert Lindemann Of Lindemann Audio21 June 2025, 11:34 am
EnjoyTheMusic.com's very special 30th Anniversary is once again showcaseing our asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Norbert Lindemann of Lindemann Audio. The development of their products fall back on a wealth of experience gathered in 25 years of building loudspeakers, amplifiers and digital sources. At Lindemann Audio, new products are created by means of the most advanced design tools and me... - Hi-Fi: 10 Questions Featuring Peter Qvortrup Of Audio Note UK21 June 2025, 11:31 am
During EnjoyTheMusic.com's very special 25th Anniversary, now our 30th Anniversary in 2025, we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Peter Qvortrup of Audio Note UK. Audio Note UK manufacturers some of the finest domestic audio reproduction equipment money can buy, using the best available technology and the finest components. They are one of the largest European manufacturers of ultra-perform... - AXPONA 2025: Inside the 4th-Floor Sonic Playground20 June 2025, 11:38 am
"From Rick's exceptionally detailed report below, AXPONA's buzzing 4th floor seemed like a self-contained city of high-end audio, where every hallway bend revealed another system vying for 'best-in-show' bragging rights," says EnjoyTheMusic.com's Creative Director Steven R. Rochlin. "From boutique vacuum tube and solid-state amplification to floorstanding and stand-mounted flagship loudspeakers, the rooms here proved that innovation and indulgence can coexist in seriously photogenic style. Let... - This Is The Best Time To Be A Music Enthusiast19 June 2025, 11:22 am
Over 25 years ago when I started EnjoyTheMusic.com there was very little info about high-end audio / audiophiles online. Today, that has all changed as we have thousands of websites from the latest and greatest gear to vintage audio, DIY, headphones, etc. In addition, we now have more manufacturers than in the history of our hobby! It is virtually impossible to keep up with it all, let alone report on every new piece of high-end audio equipment. I'd be slapped silly by not mentioning that true ...
- MUSIC ⸜ review: SAKURAPHON – LEO SIROTA, AUGUSTE de DADWAN ⸜ Compact Disc » JAPAN1 June 2025, 12:00 am
MUSIC ⸜ reviewtext WOJCIECH PACUŁA images “High Fidelity”No 253 June 1, 2025⌈ SAKURAPHON CD – Japanese label making reissues of vintage piano recordings with high fidelity transfer, minimal noise restoration and natural sound of mastering, founded by HISAO NATSUME. See: → www.DISCOGS.com ⌋MUSIC RECORDED ON SHELLAC DISCS has mostly never been later transferred to either vinyl or digital records. While there are collections focus... - REVIEW: AIR TIGHT ATM-1E ⸜ power amplifier • stereo » JAPAN1 June 2025, 12:00 am
Reviewtext by WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Marek Dyba images by „High Fidelity”No 253 June 1, 2025⌈ When, in 1986, Messrs. ATSUSHI MIURA and MASAMI ISHIGURO founded A&M Limited, which owns the Air Tight brand, they never suspected that thirty-nine years later their company would still be producing worldwide award-winning top-of-the-line tube gear. And so it is. We are testing the latest version of the ATM-1 power amplifier in the 2024 Edition, or ATM-1E... - TECHNOLOGY/MUSIC ⸜ digital recorders: DENON • PCM Digital ⸜ part 1 » JAPAN1 June 2025, 12:00 am
TECHNOLOGY/MUSICtext by WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Marek Dyba images by „High Fidelity”No 253 June 1, 2025⌈ DIGITAL SOUND RECORDING - method of preserving sound in which audio signals are transformed into a series of pulses that correspond to patterns of binary digits (i.e., 0’s and 1’s) and are recorded as such on the surface of a magnetic tape or optical disc. „ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA”, → www.BRITANNICA.com, accessed: 0... - KRAKOW SONIC SOCIETY № 151 ⸜ TAIKO AUDIO Olympus Server XDMI + Olympus I/O XDMI » THE NETHERLANDS → POLAND1 June 2025, 12:00 am
KSSintroduction and summary by WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Marek Dyba pictures by Tomasz L. Lechowski, “High Fidelity”No 253 June 1, 2025⌈ KRAKOW SONIC SOCIETY is an informal group of music lovers, audiophiles, and friends, meeting to learn something new about audio products, records, music, etc. The idea for KSS was born in 2005, although its roots go back several years. Below you’ll find a report from its 151st meeting. ⌋IT WAS A SPECIAL... - AUDIO SHOW ⸜ coverage: Goodbye Munich, hello Vienna - HIGH END 2025 ⸜ Munich » GERMANY1 June 2025, 12:00 am
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- The "Dark Horses" versus the (Orchestral) "War Horses," Part 220 April 2025, 2:10 am
John Marks is a multidisciplinary generalist and a lifelong audio hobbyist. He was educated at Brown University and Vanderbilt Law School. He has worked as a music educator, recording engineer, classical-music record producer and label executive, and as a music and audio-equipment journalist. He was a columnist for The Absolute Sound, and also for Stereophile magazine. His consulting... Read More » The post The "Dark Horses" versus the (Orchestral) "War Horses," Part 2 appea... - PS Audio Debuts Its New Top-of-the Line PMG Signature Series Audio Components18 April 2025, 8:16 pm
New PMG Signature Preamplifier, Signature 512 PureStream DAC, Signature Phono Preamplifier and Signature SACD Transport incorporate numerous design advancements to deliver extraordinary soun Boulder, Colorado, April 17, 2025 – In the most significant product introduction in its 50-year history, PS Audio announces its all-new PMG Signature Series of top-of-the-line ultimate-performance audio components. The four models... Read More » The post PS Audio Debuts Its New Top-of-the Line PM... - A Rare Musical Experience with Pianist David Fung17 April 2025, 11:35 pm
David Fung, Evening Conversations. Yarlung Records 2006 2025 (Pure DSD256) HERE Edit Master Sourced I found myself talking recently on the phone with my friend Bob Attiyeh, the creative founder and visionary of Yarlung Records. I'm always intrigued by these occasional calls with Bob. One never knows whence they may wander. That day, Bob... Read More » The post A Rare Musical Experience with Pianist David Fung appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Joni Mitchell's Classic Court and Spark now on Mobile Fidelity Limited Edition UltraDisc One-Step 45 rpm LPs13 April 2025, 4:44 pm
Last year Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab began releasing six of Joni Mitchell's most iconic albums, making them all available not only as hybrid SACDs, but also in MoFi's ne plus ultra analog statement format, their UltraDisc One-Step 180 gram LP set. The series began with Ladies of the Canyon (1970), then moved to Joni's deeply... Read More » The post Joni Mitchell's Classic Court and Spark now on Mobile Fidelity Limited Edition UltraDisc One-Step 45 rpm LPs appeared first on Positive Feedback... - Recent Finds No. 34 New Releases from HDTT11 April 2025, 9:01 pm
Bob Witrak has been busy these past months with additions to the HDTT catalog. The biggest news is that the International Phonograph Jazz recordings are back! See my earlier note about this great news, HERE. Below are some of the new reissues (not IPI) that have caught my ear in recent weeks. Witches Brew, Alexander... Read More » The post Recent Finds No. 34 New Releases from HDTT appeared first on Positive Feedback....
- Start Streaming With HiFi Rose!20 June 2025, 9:35 pm
If you’ve been looking for a great streaming DAC that’s reasonably priced, look no further than the HiFi Rose RS250. This gently owned piece sounds great, and accommodates Ethernet, USB and optical inputs with HDMI, USB, and SPDIF digital outputs as well. In case you don’t have a DAC, the RS520 does have an onboard […]... - Luxman L-505u – Starter System Perfection18 June 2025, 8:35 pm
The Luxman L-505u is a fantastic anchor for a high quality, no fuss, hifi system. With 100 wpc on tap, multiple inputs (including a single balanced input) tone controls, and an on board MM/MC phono, you’re on your way. Even if you aren’t doing a starter system – add a streamer, a turntable and your […]... - The Rega Aria Mk.318 June 2025, 3:53 pm
There are so many things to like about the Aria Mk.3 from Rega. This small but capable solid-state MM/MC phono preamplifier does it all. At the original MSRP of $1,695, Rega’s Aria Mk.3 is one of the best values going in analog. (As is nearly everything Rega makes) However, this slightly pre-owned example at $1,149 […]... - Vera-Fi Line Noise BlackHole Power Conditioner6 June 2025, 2:26 am
Why the SET amp in the background? Let’s cut to the chase – If you have an SET amplifier you need one of these. If you have a vintage amplifier, you need one. You need one anyway. Because in todays modern world, there’s noise on the power line everywhere and it affects your systems performance […]... - Welcome to Distilled!4 June 2025, 5:12 am
Hello and welcome to Distilled. We are not abandoning our standard reviews, but for those of you that would like a little more than the canned press releases everyone else is posting, but not sure if you want to make the time investment in a full review, we present the distilled column. A quick overview […]...
- Recommended Reference Component: Hegel Music Systems D50 Digital-to-Analog Converter15 June 2025, 4:00 am
Norway’s Hegel Music Systems has taken what some might see as a step back with its D50, eschewing streaming, digital signal processing (DSP), and preamplifier functionality to produce a bare-bones digital-to-analog converter (DAC) of the highest performance. A “racehorse DAC,” company representatives have dubbed it. Earlier this month, George de Sa wrote most favorably about the D50, concluding his review with the assessment that, for some, the Hegel D50 could be an “endg... - Has JBL Reached the Summit? The Ama and Makalu Loudspeakers at High End 20251 June 2025, 4:00 am
During High End 2025 in Munich, Germany, held from May 15 to 18, the renowned American loudspeaker brand JBL unveiled three new additions to its flagship Summit series: Ama, Pumori, and Makalu. The Summit Ama is a two-way standmount speaker, while the other two are three-way floorstanding speakers. The new Summit speakers represent the pinnacle of JBL’s engineering and design, and their names reflect that: Ama Dablam, Pumori, and Makalu are among the most impressive peaks in the Himalayas.... - Hegel Music Systems D50 Digital-to-Analog Converter1 June 2025, 4:00 am
Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here. With its midnight-black plumage, the raven is a bird that evokes a sense of seriousness. It’s been associated with prophecy and mysticism, and the intelligence of real-world ravens is well documented. In Norse mythology, two ravens, Huginn and Muninn, served Odin by traveling the earth and bringing back knowledge and insight. Tying into this mythology, Norway-based Hegel Music Systems has nick... - Recommended Reference Component: Bryston Bi-200 Integrated Amplifier15 May 2025, 4:00 am
The Bryston Bi-200 integrated amplifier is yet another example of the Canadian company’s enduring commitment to high-end, no-nonsense audio engineering. It builds on the extensive development efforts Bryston invested in its BP-19 preamplifier and 3B3 power amplifier by joining these two components into a single chassis. The design goal of the Bi-200 was ambitious: to provide a convenient integrated solution with the sonic strength of separate components. Philip Beaudette’s review of ... - Bryston Bi-200 Integrated Amplifier1 May 2025, 4:00 am
Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here. If you’ve followed my work on SoundStage! Network, you probably know that I’ve been using Bryston amplifiers for many years—18 to be exact. My hi-fi journey began in 2002 with a Yamaha home-theater receiver. When I realized I would never use four of its six channels, I replaced it with an NAD integrated amplifier. In 2007 I upgraded to a Bryston B100 SST integrated, and in 201...
- TEAC VRDS-701 dual monaural USB/DAC CD player/pre-amp/headphone amplifier, CG-10M-X Master Clock Generator, AP-701B stereo power amplifier Review23 June 2025, 11:02 pm
I am watching four needles dance against a Mountain Dew (or is it Mellow Yellow; audiophiles might be divided) hued illuminated background, and I am happy. McIntosh this is not, and that’s a good thing. The blue meters of the venerated company are ubiquitous but, like Harley Davidson, are getting long in the tooth. [...] The post TEAC VRDS-701 dual monaural USB/DAC CD player/pre-amp/headphone amplifier, CG-10M-X Master Clock Generator, AP-701B stereo power amplifier Review appeare... - EMM Labs PRE i stereo preamplifier Review with update on the latest MTRX monoblocks1 June 2025, 2:08 pm
Introduction I recently sent my EMM Labs PRE back to the factory for an update, which involved a complete rebuild to match current specifications. Quite honestly, I really was at a loss to know what to expect. Amadeus, Ed Meitner’s son and production head, rightly recommended the upgrade. If you have seen my recent review [...] The post EMM Labs PRE i stereo preamplifier Review with update on the latest MTRX monoblocks appeared first on Dagogo.... - Colibri Acoustic C2 horn hybrid compact loudspeaker Review12 May 2025, 7:27 pm
The Colibri’s chirp Few people have more interest in the name of this speaker than me. I am a Christian, a Creationist and Intelligent Design proponent, and have written extensively on novel features in nature that are extremely improbable for a material process to make. The Colibri, a type of hummingbird, is a marvelous [...] The post Colibri Acoustic C2 horn hybrid compact loudspeaker Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Altec Lansing exhibit at 2025 AXPONA, April 11-13, 20251 May 2025, 5:47 pm
This will be a short show report, as it consists of one room and one image. I have not written show reports for a few years now. I found that they did not appreciably affect my success in procurement of equipment for review. Further, after several years, they tend to blend – I’m only being [...] The post Altec Lansing exhibit at 2025 AXPONA, April 11-13, 2025 appeared first on Dagogo.... - Beethoven Violin Concerto, Orchester Wiener Akademie, Martin Haselbock, conductor, Benjamin Schmid, soloist, recorded on August 8, 202020 April 2025, 9:14 pm
A unique recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto was made on August 8, 2020, during a live performance at the Musikverein in Vienna. Recorded in 24-bit 96K Hz resolution, the concerto was played by the period instrument ensemble Orchester Wiener Akademie, founded in 1985 by conductor Martin Haselbock. Soloist Benjamain Schmid, in an unconventional move, [...] The post Beethoven Violin Concerto, Orchester Wiener Akademie, Martin Haselbock, conductor, Benjamin Schmid, soloist, recorded on Augus...
- Maya Delilah’s The Long Way Round on Blue Note Records20 June 2025, 4:14 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. I listen to a lot of music. All day, every day, and even while going to bed. I’m fueled by finding new gems that I can enjoy and gems I can share with everyone else to increase their enjoyment of this wonderful hobby. Today’s gem has been playing in my main system, through my headphones, and in my car for the last three weeks. I can’t get eno... - Kiwi Ears Aether Review18 June 2025, 2:14 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Back in 2023, I was blown away by the price-to-performance ratio of the $35 Kiwi Cadenza IEM. I teach at a school full of students working in fields like audio production and video game design, and the Cadenza has become my go-to budget IEM recommendation. Just last week, I gave one of my favorite seniors the Cadenza, a DAC/amp dongle, and a book on the history of jazz a... - An Instant Classic - Brittany Davis - Black Thunder13 June 2025, 1:16 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Music means and does different things for different people. To some it’s background noise, the soundtrack of summer, or even played for five seconds while walking up to home plate before a batting appearance in Major League Baseball. To others, myself included, music can transport us to another time and place, extricate us from regular life for three min... - Pearl Jam’s Binaural in TrueHD Dolby Atmos11 June 2025, 4:59 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Released on May 16, 2000, Pearl Jam’s sixth studio album Binaural has been a distant record for me. Distant in that much of the music didn’t reach out and grab me at the time of its release. This distance is also related to where I was in life. Two years out of college, trying to find my path in the world, and dedicating most of my waking hours to w... - ZMF Atrium Closed Review9 June 2025, 1:48 am
Audio: Listen to this article. It’s hard to believe that it’s been over two years since I reviewed the open-back ZMF Atrium headphones. At the time, the Atrium’s stablemate — the open-back ZMF Vérité — consumed approximately two-thirds of my headphone listening hours, with the Vérité Closed, Rosson RAD-0, Audio-Technica ATH-ADX5000, ...
- High End Vienna Changes Show Dates to June 4-7, 202623 June 2025, 12:00 am
Vienna waits for you — or, in this case, we are the ones who will all just have to wait a little bit longer to attend and cover High End Vienna 2026, as the High End Society had to move the transplanted audio trade show ahead one week for a very important reason. (The annual show had, of course, been taking place in Munich prior to this locale shift.)In an official press statement, High End Society told us, quote, “Due to a major event taking place in Austria, the international au... - Ortofon MC X Series Cartridges20 June 2025, 12:00 am
Ortofon introduced a new lineup of four moving-coil cartridges as part of their MC X Series at High End Munich 2025 — the aptly named foursome consisting of the MC X10 (€299), MC X20 (€499), MC X30 (€699), and MC X40 (€999). Presentations and brief demos were given at intervals in Room F131. There, I caught a good portion of Peter Hjordt’s presentation, during which he would occasionally pause to play part of a track or two. (More on that in a bit.)The room&r... - Short Cuts, Vol 29: Rare Vinyl Reissues From the Candid Records Archive Include Vital LPs by Unsung Jazz Vocalist Nancy Harrow, Noted Jazz Pianist Jaki Byard, and Legendary Bluesman Memphis Slim20 June 2025, 12:00 am
Candid Records was a short-lived (1961-63) but respected label out of New York City owned by producer, arranger, and musician Archie Bleyer. It was a subsidiary of the somewhat iconic Cadence Records, original home to no less than The Everly Brothers. Candid was helmed by legendary jazz critic (and civil rights activist) Nat Hentoff, and the label issued a brief but powerful run of albums that have been happily re-seeing the light of day in recent years from the likes of Charles Mingus and Max ... - Elvis Presley Takes Us on a Vinyl Ride Down Sunset Boulevard With New 2LP Set Loaded With ’70s Rarities on August 118 June 2025, 12:00 am
It’s a hunka hunka heap of great burning Elvis tracks a-coming on wax! Or, to be more specific, RCA/Legacy is set to release Elvis Presley’s Sunset Boulevard as a 2LP set on August 1, 2025, a collection that will feature a number of rarities that’s also intended to put a spotlight on Elvis’ oft-overlooked 1970s recorded output.In effect, Sunset Boulevard gives us some clear, instructive perspective on Elvis’ 1970s recorded output. This 2LP release — whic... - Chord Electronics Ultima Phonostage Phono Preamp, Bauer Audio dps 3 Turntable17 June 2025, 12:00 am
Chord Electronics introduced their new flagship Ultima Phonostage phono preamp at High End Munich 2025, where it amplified the signal from a Bauer Audio dps 3 turntable (€9,300) fitted with an Ortofon MC Cadenza cartridge that was attached to the table’s unipivot tonearm (as shown below). Made in Bavaria, the Bauer Audio dps 3 table features a multi-later plinth, an inverted ruby ball bearing, a high-torque synchronous motor, and a three-phase power supply.As for the Chord Ultima...
- CAMBRIDGE EX A100, Class AB Sound for the Win!23 June 2025, 4:15 pm
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- Bob’s Devices Interconnect Cables | REVIEW22 June 2025, 7:00 am
Bob Sattin of Bob's Devices contacted me recently about a review for his new interconnect cables. They're not really new since I received a pair of them when I reviewed the Bob's Devices Sky-20S step-up transformer last year, but at the time I wasn't sure if this courtesy was extended to anyone who bought one [...]... - Konus Audio Integrale 2000 Integrated Amplifier | REVIEW20 June 2025, 7:00 am
After a busy and complicated 2024, I suddenly crave simplicity in my high-end audio gear for 2025. I want something where you plug it in, and it works flawlessly while also sounding appropriately fantastic. I want something where you look at the back panel and say yup, I have all the cables I need for [...]... - 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition from Bowers and Wilkins | Announcements19 June 2025, 4:45 pm
Here's the official press release for the Bowers and Wilkins on the 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition loudspeakers: Bowers & Wilkins and Abbey Road Studios announce the 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition – a fitting celebration of one of the most enduring and influential collaborations in British recording history. Offered in an exclusive production run [...]... - SVS SB-5000 R|Evolution Subwoofer | REVIEW15 June 2025, 7:00 am
The crew at pt.AUDIO have been bantering about adding subwoofers to systems and what the benefits are, regardless if you have "full range" speakers already. SVS has been making a big splash in the subwoofer world as of late, and when I had the chance to review the new SVS SB-5000 R|Evolution series I immediately [...]... - Mytek Brooklyn Bridge II Roon Core | REVIEW13 June 2025, 7:00 am
My time with the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge II started off with the usual quest for a DAC, possibly the one lone component that I need to purchase in order to have a complete system that isn't built on review pieces. (This is, by the way, how I tend to start every DAC review. Sorry.) Over [...]...
- The QUAD 3 is a vintage-styled integrated with 21st-Century smarts20 June 2025, 12:40 pm
Did you know that QUAD stands for “Quality Unit Amplifier Domestic”? I didn’t until a few days ago when the (IAG-owned) British hi-fi company pulled the covers off a new amplifier. The QUAD 3 is a vintage-styled integrated that promises 65wpc into 8 Ohms of Class A/B power from a […] The post The QUAD 3 is a vintage-styled integrated with 21st-Century smarts first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-pur... - Marantz Model 10 video review20 June 2025, 7:59 am
🎥 Camera: John Darko / Olaf von Voss 🎬 Editor: John Darko 🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss 🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko 💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan 🎵 Song IDs? Playlists of all music heard in this video – and other videos – can be found on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/johndarko Further […] The post Marantz Model 10 video review first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycle... - Pro-Ject’s Uni Box S3 integrates WiiM OS and I have questions…18 June 2025, 12:34 pm
If you like the look of the WiiM Amp (or Amp Pro) but don’t like its digitised analogue inputs or that it’s Made in China, you’ll want to pay attention here: because Pro-Ject’s Uni Box S3 streaming amplifier is Made in the EU and doesn’t digitise the two line-level inputs […] The post Pro-Ject’s Uni Box S3 integrates WiiM OS and I have questions… first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recyc... - Podcast #62 – Pixies & R.E.M. in Dolby Atmos, 3D-printed speakers & more16 June 2025, 3:42 pm
🎥 Camera 1: John Darko 🎥 Camera 2: Srajan Ebaen 🎬 Editor: John Darko 🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko 💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan Two podcasts in a week — Srajan and I are on a roll. In this episode, we look at speaker grilles from Zu Audio, the ‘gotchas’ […] The post Podcast #62 – Pixies & R.E.M. in Dolby Atmos, 3D-printed speakers & more first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed ... - Cayin’s RU9 is a portable DAC with tubes!13 June 2025, 6:16 am
Cayin’s German distributor has this week announced the RU9, a portable DAC and headphone amplifier designed for smartphones, tablets and laptops. Inputs number two: USB-C (UAC 1.0/2.0) and LDAC/aptXHD Bluetooth. Outputs also number two: 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm, where a switchable ‘DC mode’ (read: external power) promises up to 1 […] The post Cayin’s RU9 is a portable DAC with tubes! first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to b...
- The Compact Disc is back!19 June 2025, 3:46 pm
And I mean fully back with a vengeance. Everybody loves a comeback story, and in the CD’s return, we have a good one. For some music lovers and audiophiles, the CD remains a staple. However, many consigned their CD players to the bottom rack and the software to boxes in the darkest corner of their music room’s closet. The perch of the once shiny, sexy CD player taken over by even sexier turntables, DACs and the nail in the CD’s coffin, or, so we thought, the Network Streamer.As... - Perpetuum Ebner PE 6060 Turntable1 June 2025, 9:39 am
Perptuum Ebner is not a name familiar to many audiophiles. Indeed, I was not aware of the brand until the offer to review this turntable came from the publisher of Audiophilia, Anthony Kershaw. Yet as I started my research, I realized the name has a rich legacy and played an important role in the history of turntable design, a role that goes back over a century.Perpetuum was started by Joseph Steidinger in 1911, in the small town of St Georgen, in the Black Forest area of Germany. After World Wa... - TEAC VRDS-701 CD Player1 June 2025, 9:39 am
I grew up on CDs. As a kid in the ‘90s, I was certainly aware of vinyl records and their mystique, but music meant CDs to me. I loved building a collection and flipping through the tiny booklets with liner notes in minuscule font. As my musical horizons expanded, I made countless mixes, copied library albums and burned live concert recordings from The Internet Archive to disc, so CD-Rs became as big a part of my collection as commercial releases. In college, I finally took the plunge into ... - Galion TS Voyager TL Speaker1 June 2025, 9:39 am
Speakers are the most salient component of your audio chain. The reason wasn’t clear to me when I started the audiophile path. Speakers mostly define your setup. My editor, the always humble and turntable-cart whisperer (as I call him), Anthony Kershaw, made this observation over six years ago when we met. I was nervous to ask him why; it seemed obvious that you need speakers to have sound. I remember he was very nice and interested in helping me with my setup. He tried seve... - Billie Holiday—All Or Nothing At All/Acoustic Sounds Verve Series Vinyl (2025)28 May 2025, 3:12 pm
It’s no secret to viewers of my YouTube channel “The Pressing Matters” that I am a big Billie Holiday fan. In particular, the Verve years. The group of albums released during this period moved me in a way that earlier ones did not quite match. Records like Body And Soul and Songs For Distingué Lovers are among my top picks, and All Or Nothing At All fits right into this group.Recorded in separate sessions between 1956 and 1957, the album was released in 1958. The m...
- Magico S5 (2024 edition)10 June 2025, 2:11 pm
Magico’s latest version of its outstanding S5 floorstander is so impressive and natural sounding that no one reviewer was enough. Alan Sircom and Jimmy Hughes take on this big hitter! The post Magico S5 (2024 edition) appeared first on hi-fi+.... - The new AE320² completes the new 300 Series10 June 2025, 1:05 pm
10 June 2025: Acoustic Energy is proud to announce the […] The post The new AE320² completes the new 300 Series appeared first on hi-fi+.... - HiFi Rose RA28010 June 2025, 12:59 pm
Much more than simply matching HiFi Rose’s outstanding line of streamers and servers, the company's amplifiers combine classic style with innovative, great sound. Ed Selley tries the ‘trad’ looking RA280. The post HiFi Rose RA280 appeared first on hi-fi+.... - Music Interview: Fairground Attraction10 June 2025, 12:37 pm
In 1988, Fairground Attraction were the darlings of the Brit Awards but split soon after. Sean Hannam speaks to Eddi Reader and Mark Nevin on their reunion after 36 years. The post Music Interview: Fairground Attraction appeared first on hi-fi+.... - T+A PSD 3100 HV10 June 2025, 12:14 pm
Struggling to lift a preamplifier or DAC is unusual, but the mighty T+A PSD 3100 HV tips the scales at 26kg, and every kilogramme sounds great, according to Ed Selley. The post T+A PSD 3100 HV appeared first on hi-fi+....
- Eversolo DMP-A10 Streamer/DAC/preamp6 June 2025, 12:00 am
Eversolo’s DMP-A8 [HFN May ’24] was an indication of the Chinese brand’s ambition to progress beyond affordable but very capable DACs and streamers into ‘real’ hi-fi territory. The DMP-A10, which ratchets up both features and finish, is the next step. It’s also Eversolo’s first full-sized component, alongside a new AMP-F10 power amplifier that’s clearly been designed to be a perfect visual match.While the £1890 price tag of the DMP-A8 help... - Pioneer PD-Z72T CD player6 June 2025, 12:00 am
Once CD players had become established it did not take long for hi-fi manufacturers to come up with new features and facilities to offer. Of these, the ability to play more than one disc at a time was perhaps the most intriguing and visually obvious. Toshiba was the first to produce a practical machine with the XR-V22 [HFN Jun ’24]. This could take two discs, but it was fellow Japanese brand Pioneer which led the field, coming up shortly afterwards with a six-disc cartridge player. This &... - Hegel D50 ‘The Raven’ USB DAC5 June 2025, 12:00 am
Hegel is fond of its idiosyncratic product names. In 2023 the Norwegian brand felt confident in christening its new CD player the ‘Viking’, ignoring a model number altogether [HFN Sep ’23]. In the same year it also launched the P30A preamp and H30A power amp [HFN Jun ’23] – separates also known as the Conductor and the Orchestra, respectively. 2024 saw the arrival of the H400 integrated amplifier [HFN Oct ’24], aka the Streamliner due to its networking featur... - Transrotor Massimo Nero turntable4 June 2025, 12:00 am
Transrotor might be a new name to many, but the company has a long and illustrious history [see boxout]. However, this is the first time that its range of turntables has been officially available on UK shores – and what a range it is! The £4400 Massimo Nero TMD is eight steps up the ladder of an 18-strong selection that starts with the £3000 Max and culminates in the magnificent Metropolis FMD, which will set you back a not inconsiderable £180,000.The German brand also ... - Hi-Res Downloads, May 20254 June 2025, 12:00 am
Paul Motian Conception Vessel (96kHz/24-bit, WAV)www.ecmrecords.com; ECM 1028 Percussionist Motian’s debut as a leader, released in 1973 after years with Keith Jarrett and before that Bill Evans, is what we see retrospectively as a bit of a ‘supersession’. Guests included Jarrett on piano and flute and Sam Brown on guitar on two tracks each, plus spots for Leroy Jenkins on violin and Becky Friend on flute on ‘Inspiration From A Vietnamese Lullaby’, with the legenda...
- WTF is HEOS & Should Sonos be Worried?23 June 2025, 4:14 am
Just like Sonos, HEOS enables multiroom music streaming, but with higher quality audio and more device choices. Here's what it is and how to get up and running with HEOS.... - Mal/2 & Eastern Sounds OJC Reissue Reviews: Craft Recordings Resurrects Two Jazz Staples for the Vinyl Faithful22 June 2025, 6:52 pm
Mal Waldron’s Mal/2 and Yusef Lateef’s Eastern Sounds OJC reissues deliver pristine 180g vinyl and showcase bold jazz innovation. Essential for serious fans.... - Samsung Expands Onyx Cinema LED Screens Across Europe—Because Projectors Are So Last Century22 June 2025, 10:00 am
Samsung expands Onyx Cinema LED screens in Europe with upgraded 4K HDR, 120Hz support, and brightness up to 300 nits, challenging traditional projectors for the ultimate movie experience.... - Our 100th Podcast: 4 Years of Shifting Trends in Hi-Fi and Streaming21 June 2025, 4:53 am
In celebration of our 100th podcast episode, get caught up with the eCoustics team discussing the biggest trends in hi-fi, home theater, headphones and more.... - Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 Soundbar Review: Too Much But Not Quite Enough?20 June 2025, 6:42 pm
At a more affordable entry point than the company's current BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 and 9 soundbars, this new option is a hybrid of discrete and virtual surround. Does it offer enough bang for the buck?...
- NAD Masters M66 BluOS Streaming DAC-Preamplifier Review23 June 2025, 12:00 pm
In the arms race of high-end home theater, dozens of channels and support for multiple subwoofer outputs have become the norm. The post NAD Masters M66 BluOS Streaming DAC-Preamplifier Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Noble FoKus Apollo Hybrid True Wireless Headphone Review18 June 2025, 12:00 pm
Noble Audio is an award-winning company known for its innovation in the world of IEMs (in-ear monitors), and they make some of the finest... The post Noble FoKus Apollo Hybrid True Wireless Headphone Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - DALI Opticon 6 MkII Home Theater System: A Video Review16 June 2025, 12:00 pm
DALI sends us a moderately sized and smartly designed home theater speaker package for real-world spaces. The post DALI Opticon 6 MkII Home Theater System: A Video Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - PSB Alpha iQ – Streaming Powered Speakers with BluOS Review11 June 2025, 12:00 pm
The PSB Alpha iQ-Streaming Powered Speakers with BluOS is a bookshelf speaker, loaded with features not seen in loudspeakers just a few... The post PSB Alpha iQ – Streaming Powered Speakers with BluOS Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - BenQ Home Cinema W2720i 4K Projector Review9 June 2025, 12:00 pm
BenQ adds the Home Cinema W2720i to its stable of AI-enhanced projectors. It’s a 4K DLP with wide-gamut color, HDR10+, and advanced... The post BenQ Home Cinema W2720i 4K Projector Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com....
- Mobile Fidelity Master Phono Preamplifier28 October 2024, 7:17 pm
The Mobile Fidelity Master Phono preamplifier has been available for a number of years with reviews available. This review is posted to give you another data point to factor in if you are considering acquiring this component. Executive summary: Consider it! Read on to grok that advice. The Master Phono, $5,995, has a number of […]... - Atma-Sphere Class D Amplifiers – MINI-REVIEW30 July 2024, 8:00 pm
Please see Important Notes on the Reviews page. This is a Mini-Review with no formal rating because after about a week of listening to this product, its strengths and weaknesses were apparent. A longer listening interval, which would be normal for a full review, was not required to draw the following conclusions. The reference system […]... - 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 […]...
- Review: Cardas Clear AES/EBU Digital Data Cable15 March 2025, 7:24 pm
Review: Cardas Clear AES/EBU Digital Data Cable Steve Graham tackles the sonic differences of digital cables. I know, I know Cable reviews, yawn. They […]... - Moonriver 404 Reference: A Gold Star Integrated From Sweden11 March 2025, 11:13 pm
Moonriver 404 Reference Amplifier Review – A World Wonder! An ‘In the House’ Review by David Neice MSRP: Base price without any options is $6400 […]... - Review: FiiO K11 R2R DAC/Headphone Amp4 February 2025, 4:20 pm
Review: FiiO K11 R2R DAC/Headphone Amp Steve Graham wonders if a $230 resistor ladder DAC can improve a $400 streamer Audio Friends I’m storing […]... - Review: Bluesound NODE Nano Streaming DAC27 November 2024, 12:26 am
Hello Bluesound Node Nano! Goodbye Raspberry Pi? Steve Graham ponders the possibility of a Node Nano sending his music-playing Raspberry Pi into early retirement. […]... - Review: Mission 778x Integrated Amplifier23 November 2024, 1:23 am
The Mission 778X Integrated Amplifier – Mid-Range Magic on a Budget. MSRP: $999 Canadian. Review by David Neice Verdict: Can an amplifier costing just […]...
- LETSHUOER DX1 Review23 June 2025, 10:02 am
In this feature, Kurt reviews the LETSHUOER DX1, a single self-developed 11mm dynamic driver universal IEM with a built-in 5 kHz notch filter. It is currently priced at $159. 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 LETSHUOER for their support. Click here to read more about LETSHUOER products previously tested on Headfonics. This article follows our latest scoring guidelines, wh... - FiiO SNOWSKY Anytime Review21 June 2025, 11:19 am
Today, Meldrick reviews the FiiO SNOWSKY Anytime, an affordable set of on-ear Bluetooth 5.4 noise-canceling headphones with up to 58 hours of battery life. Depending on the retailer, it is currently priced between $30 and $40. Disclaimer: I received this sample in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank FiiO and SNOWSKY for their support. You can click here to learn more about the FiiO SNOWSKY a... - Topping Centaurus Review20 June 2025, 11:17 am
In this feature, Louis reviews the Topping Centaurus, a high-end, fully balanced desktop R2R DAC capable of up to DSD512 and Bluetooth LDAC support. It is currently priced at $849.15 with an SRP of $999. Disclaimer: This sample unit was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. We thank the team at Topping for supporting us. Click here to read more about the Topping products we have […] Topping Centaurus Re... - FiiO SA1 Review18 June 2025, 10:50 am
Today, Lynn reviews the FiiO SA1, a new Class D desktop active speaker set with aluminum-magnesium alloy tweeters and BT LDAC support. They are currently priced at $179.99 by Amazon USA and around $200 for other markets. Disclaimer: I received this sample in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank FiiO for their support. You can click here to learn more about the FiiO audio products we have previously […] FiiO SA1 ... - MOONDROP RAYS Review16 June 2025, 7:45 am
In this feature, Kurt reviews the MOONDROP RAYS, a new hybrid dynamic and planar driver IEM optimized for the gaming audiophile. It is currently priced at $99.99. 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 MOONDROP and Shenzhen Audio for their support. Click here to read more about MOONDROP products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics. This article follows our current scorin...
- A Return To Chicago With Zach Mehrbach of ZMF Headphones18 June 2025, 9:29 pm
Zach is a pretty fun guy to make videos with. In a sea of engineers (who would probably rather be The post A Return To Chicago With Zach Mehrbach of ZMF Headphones appeared first on AudioHead.... - An Interview With Peter Comeau Of Wharfedale, Quad and Mission17 June 2025, 3:05 pm
Hot on the heels of our review of the new Wharfedale Super Linton, we have the interview with the acoustic The post An Interview With Peter Comeau Of Wharfedale, Quad and Mission appeared first on AudioHead.... - Schiit Announces Asgard X, New Mesh DAC Card12 June 2025, 4:29 pm
Schiit Audio’s latest headphone amp/DAC receives some trickle down tech from its flagship Mjolnir. The new Asgard X fits within The post Schiit Announces Asgard X, New Mesh DAC Card appeared first on AudioHead.... - Noble Adds The Amadeus To The FoKus Line11 June 2025, 7:00 pm
Noble Audio’s line of TrueWireless IEMs is about to get a new entry-level update. The long-time IEM developer has seen The post Noble Adds The Amadeus To The FoKus Line appeared first on AudioHead.... - MoFi Electronics Unveils A New Fender x MoFi Turntable10 June 2025, 3:16 pm
Perhaps it is just because we are partial to the first Fender colab (or maybe its the latent guitar collector The post MoFi Electronics Unveils A New Fender x MoFi Turntable appeared first on AudioHead....
- T.H.E. Show SoCal 202518 June 2025, 6:00 am
Once again, it was time for The Home Entertainment Show or T.H.E. Show SoCal 2025. Unfortunately we don’t have a The post T.H.E. Show SoCal 2025 appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - FX-AUDIO- R07PLUS Headphone Amplifier– Micro Giant3 June 2025, 6:00 am
I was sent the FX-AUDIO- R07PLUS Headphone Amplifier just before AXPONA, so it has had a good bit of time The post FX-AUDIO- R07PLUS Headphone Amplifier– Micro Giant appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - Danacable Lazuli™ Voilà II Headphone Cable – A Step Up30 May 2025, 6:00 am
A little over a year ago, I reviewed the Danacable Lazuli™ Voilà Headphone Cable, a unique cable designed to enhance The post Danacable Lazuli™ Voilà II Headphone Cable – A Step Up appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - AXPONA 2025 – Coverage Sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio – Conclusion23 May 2025, 6:00 am
Welcome back to my coverage of AXPONA 2025. I want to send out special thanks to our friends at Vera-Fi The post AXPONA 2025 – Coverage Sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio – Conclusion appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - AXPONA 2025 – Coverage Sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio – Part – 516 May 2025, 6:00 am
Welcome back to my coverage of AXPONA 2025. I want to send out special thanks to our friends at Vera-Fi The post AXPONA 2025 – Coverage Sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio – Part – 5 appeared first on Headphone Guru....
- When you buy CDs do you buy brand new or secondhand?12 June 2025, 12:00 am
... - July 2025 issue of Hi-Fi Choice now on sale12 June 2025, 12:00 am
Welcome to the July 2025 issue! One of the most enjoyable things about working on HFC is perusing all the Considering all of the current uncertainty around imports, exports and tariffs, you’d be well within your rights to assume that the hi-fi industry might be a bit skittish right now. But thankfully – and somewhat amazingly – if the recent High End show in Munich is anything to go by, completely the opposite is true. In the five-or-so years I’ve been editing HFC, I can... - Balanced Power Balanced Mains Power Supply BMU-250011 June 2025, 12:00 am
Powering your hi-fi from a Balanced Mains Unit (BMU) can result in a number of benefits, which is why they are often used in recording studios and high-end installations. The BMU-2500 is one such unit and can improve your system’s sound quality by lowering the noise floor, reducing mains interference, removing any DC component in the incoming mains and reducing radiated fields from the audio equipment mains leads. BMUs are also able to eliminate earth loops as they are effective isolation... - iFi Audio ZEN Blue 34 June 2025, 12:00 am
There are lots of DACs available that can also act as a Bluetooth receiver for a set of wired speakers or other hi-fi equipment, including iFi’s own GO Blu (HFC 483) and Zen Blue V2. However, the new ZEN Blue 3 casts its net much wider, with the company claiming it is the first DAC to act as both Bluetooth receiver (RX) and transmitter (TX) with support for lossless audio as well as a conventional wired DAC for hi-res. It’s more expensive than its predecessor – with the Blue V... - Canvas HiFi Canvas3 June 2025, 12:00 am
With the soundbar market dominated by affordable models designed primarily for TV audio, this offering from new Danish brand Canvas HiFi sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb. And not only because of its hefty price and weight.Canvas bills its soundbar as: “hi-fi reinvented” and intends it to serve as both a premium partner for a TV, for which HDMI eARC connectivity is provided, and as a music system. Connections include Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Con...
- Klipsch Unveils Jurassic Limited Edition Sevens for Sweepstakes12 June 2025, 9:49 pm
KLIPSCH UNVEILS LIMITED-EDITION JURASSIC WORLD SPEAKERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT’S JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH Collector Alert: Limited Edition Klipsch The Sevens Are Rare SpecimensJurassic World Rebirth arrives in theaters July 2, 2025 Enter here! https://www.klipsch.com/jurassic-world-rebirth#enter-to-win June 5, 2025 (Indianapolis, IN) — Klipsch, a globally renowned American audio brand, has created a limited-edition […] The post Klipsch Un... - AXPONA 2025 – Show Report & Awards1 May 2025, 1:54 am
Every year, I’ve made it a point to visit every room at the show – lugging a DSLR and gimbal through hundreds of setups. But heading into my mid-40s, that pace no longer makes sense (especially with this new dad bod). This time, I came with a single goal: to find the most romantic, warm-sounding […] The post AXPONA 2025 – Show Report & Awards appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Treating Small and Medium-Sized Rooms for Better Sound4 March 2025, 11:50 pm
I’ve been going down the rabbit hole of figuring out how best to treat a difficult listening room. It’s a pretty small room, about 12′ x 13′ with plenty of windows. I’ll get into what worked for me at a later time but I felt like a quick guide on room acoustics wouldn’t be a […] The post Treating Small and Medium-Sized Rooms for Better Sound appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - Bowers & Wilkins Unveils New Finishes for PX7 S2e & PX8 Headphones18 September 2024, 7:00 am
18th September, Worthing, UK: Renowned British audio brand, Bowers & Wilkins, has introduced two new premium finishes to its portfolio of high performance, multi-award-winning over-ear headphones, Px7 S2e and Px8. The new Px7 S2e Ruby Red and Px8 Dark Forest finishes expand on the already extensive range of colors available – the widest choice of colors […] The post Bowers & Wilkins Unveils New Finishes for PX7 S2e & PX8 Headphones appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - XACT unveils revolutionary XACT S1 EVO Music Server and PHANTOM Cables5 September 2024, 6:44 pm
XACT is proud to announce the launch of two groundbreaking products that set new benchmarks in high-fidelity audio performance: the XACT S1 EVO Music Server and the XACT PHANTOM™ USB and LAN Cables. These new offerings cater to the most discerning audiophiles, delivering exceptional sound quality through advanced engineering, meticulous craftsmanship, and innovative design. XACT […] The post XACT unveils revolutionary XACT S1 EVO Music Server and PHANTOM Cables appeared first on Aud...
- Marantz launches the 10 Series Collection2 September 2024, 2:06 am
NEWS: Marantz pitches for the big league with its newest range of high-end products... starting off with the Model 10 Reference integrated amplifier.... - Auris Audio’s MYSTiK is a plug-n-play turntable28 August 2024, 2:17 am
NEWS: Auris Audio's MYSTiK turntable makes for a hassle-free entry into the world of vinyl.... - Cambridge Audio Evo One… all-in-one entertainer13 August 2024, 2:28 am
NEWS: The Evo One is Cambridge Audio's commendable push to capture a slice of the lifestyle hi-fi market... - Ruark Audio R410 – beyond the box sonically29 July 2024, 1:46 am
REVIEW: One box that does it all? The well-endowed Ruark Audio R410 certainly fits the bill when it comes to a lifestyle audio system with sonic chops... - McIntosh updates its Bluetooth transceiver with the MB2518 June 2024, 3:11 am
NEWS: The MB25 Bluetooth transceiver brings streaming options to systems that have yet to get in with the trend....
- Spartan 20 Phono Stage By Michael Fidler Reviewed21 May 2025, 9:05 am
Fidler's first combined unit, bucking audio industry trends and providing real performance for modest money. Upholds Michael's unsurpassed record for offering objectively the finest, and subjectively the most uncoloured, phono stages you can buy at the moment.... - QlearSoul SoulBox S1 All-In-One Turntable System Reviewed20 May 2025, 10:27 am
a stylish package that’s well-built and offers a lot of performance for the price. It’s a great first step into vinyl and a good choice for those who want an integrated system to fit a smaller space.... - FiiO SR11 Streamer Reviewed28 March 2025, 10:41 am
If FiiO developed the software to the standard of a WiiM Mini, but kept to the streaming transport format (I.E a simple bridging device with no DAC of its own) they’d have the kind of streaming transport that many are looking for at a far more sensible price than the current streaming bridges on the market. At the moment, it's held back by its limitations.... - QlearSoul One-Q All-In-One Turntable Reviewed26 March 2025, 3:59 pm
the One-Q is an excellent Bluetooth speaker and a perfectly acceptable turntable for occasional playback, and is easy to recommend over any of the typical alternatives currently on the market.... - Cambridge Audio Azur 350A Amplifier Repair And Review21 October 2024, 8:40 am
A 2010s amplifier that is normally very reliable, providing a dealer’s incompetent technician doesn’t carry out unnecessary ‘service’ work. Fortunately an easy fix had this one making music again. Fantastic amplifiers from an era where they were simple, analogue and well built....
- Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 Headphone Review18 June 2025, 6:59 am
A slimmer PX7 steps up, but does B&W lose its signature luxury feel in the process? Matthew Jens decides…... - Harbeth Compact 7ES-3 XD2 Loudspeaker Review14 June 2025, 12:20 am
Paul Sechi auditions a large British standmounter with classic BBC provenance…... - Krix OWX-50/55 Loudspeaker Review10 June 2025, 7:00 am
Michael Darroch reckons this is how real on-wall home cinema speakers are done…... - Ortofon MC X40 Cartridge Review8 June 2025, 4:06 pm
David Price auditions a new affordable audiophile moving coil from the company that invented the breed…... - Richter Audio Merlin S6plus Bookshelf Loudspeakers Review26 May 2025, 4:37 am
David Price auditions a big-hearted small standmounter from this popular Australian brand......
- Audiolab 9000N Among the First to Gain Qobuz Connect Streaming21 May 2025, 6:16 pm
Audiolab has announced the integration of Qobuz Connect into its 9000N network audio streamer ($3,699). This new feature was announced at the HIGH END show in Munich on May 15, 2025, and the 9000N is amongst the first to incorporate it. This new feature lets users stream music directly from the Qobuz streaming service. Control […] The post Audiolab 9000N Among the First to Gain Qobuz Connect Streaming appeared first on HIFI Trends.... - EVO 5: Wharfedale’s Next-Gen Speakers Aim to Redefine Mid-Tier Audio16 May 2025, 7:22 pm
Wharfedale has launched its new EVO 5 Series loudspeakers, succeeding the popular EVO 4 range (which we loved on the site). The new series features upgrades to drive units, cabinets, and crossovers, aiming to deliver enhanced sound performance. According to the company, the EVO 5 Series maintains accessible price points while incorporating design and engineering […] The post EVO 5: Wharfedale’s Next-Gen Speakers Aim to Redefine Mid-Tier Audio appeared first on HIFI Trends.... - WiiM Introduces Remarkable New Audio Products for Later This Year: WiiM Amp Ultra, WiiM Sound, and WiiM Sub Pro14 May 2025, 10:00 am
WiiM, the global technology company known for its high-value audio gear, is announcing the release of several new audio products: the WiiM Amp Ultra, the WiiM Sound, and the WiiM Sub Pro. These products expand the WiiM ecosystem and aim to provide high-fidelity audio, seamless integration, and whole-home control. WiiM Amp Ultra The WiiM Amp […] The post WiiM Introduces Remarkable New Audio Products for Later This Year: WiiM Amp Ultra, WiiM Sound, and WiiM Sub Pro appeared first on HIFI Tr... - Final DX6000: Magnesium Driver Innovation Redefines Open-Back Listening29 April 2025, 3:54 am
Final Audio has announced the release of the DX6000, the first model in their new DX Series of headphones. A brand new design from the ground up, Final states that the DX6000 utilizes advanced driver technology to deliver a transparent and expressive listening experience. Driver Technology The DX6000 features a newly developed large-diameter dynamic driver […] The post Final DX6000: Magnesium Driver Innovation Redefines Open-Back Listening appeared first on HIFI Trends.... - Andover Audio Releases SpinBase MAX 2: Enhanced Audio for Turntables25 April 2025, 6:40 pm
Andover Audio has launched the SpinBase MAX 2, an upgraded version of its midrange turntable speaker system. This new model features an improved acoustic suspension enclosure design that is said to significantly enhance sound quality compared to the original. Like the SpinBase 2, the MAX 2 utilizes Andover’s IsoGroove™ technology to minimize feedback, allowing any […] The post Andover Audio Releases SpinBase MAX 2: Enhanced Audio for Turntables appeared first on HIFI Trends....
- Buchardt P300 MKII5 June 2025, 3:59 pm
Watch the YouTube ReviewIf you went to college in the 1980’s to about 2000 and you lived in a dorm, you experienced the stereo wars, whereby each male dorm room that had a system would blast out music. The purely loudest usually went to the guy with Cerwin Vega’s, as they were quite efficient and designed to play LOUD. In later years, with the rise of rap and hip-hop, bass wars reigned. While today most music listening is done via ear buds or headphones, except when drivin... - Vista Audio Phono-2 MK II8 May 2025, 3:41 am
Click Here To Watch The YouTube VideoNineteen years ago I reignited my enthusiasm for home audio with the e-publication Affordable$$Audio. My goal was to find truly high value, low cost gear. So many of the worthy units were from small “boutique” manufacturers. Of all of them, one has stood ... - Denafrips IRIS DDC3 May 2025, 6:18 pm
Click Here to Watch the YouTube ReviewI can remember when people scoffed at the idea of a separate deck converter box. Audio fans would point out the fact that there was already a digital to audio converter chip inside the CD player. But what many didn’t understand is that by having a separate box for the conversion, the ability to extract more detail by peeling away some of the haze would improve the sound.Well, now the next step has been taken by several companies. The idea of... - Audio Craftsmen Laval Speakers: Written and YouTube Review4 February 2025, 4:28 am
Link to the YouTube reviewA great lament over so many audio, reviewers, and true audio fans, is that seemingly the great technology in speakers went to the development of the drivers while the crossover was somewhat ignored. Most likely because it was hidden inside the cabinet, it was seen as a great area to cut cost rather than an opportunity to deliver absolute first rate sound.While, as a teacher economics to my high school students, I fully understand cost in price point is critical in... - Buchardt S400 MKii Stand Mount Speaker: Written & YouTube Review30 December 2024, 4:58 am
Watch the YouTube Review2024 has been a great year to review Stand mount speakers,. From the surprising and engaging Verify Audio Scouts, to the airy KEF R3 Meta and now a direct competitor, the Buchardt S 400 MK2. In the past few years wave guide technology has come to the forefront of speaker design with regards to the tweeter, the S400s are the most obvious example of this technology. The .76in dome tweeter, surrounded by substantial aluminum cone (for lack of better word) is the g...
- LAiV Harmony GaNM7 June 2025, 7:03 pm
As the name implies, the LAiV Harmony GaNM amplifiers have GaN (Gallium Nitride) Technology at their core, which, combined with a proprietary ultra-low-noise switched power supply, provide 200 Watts of pure, clean, and highly transparent power into 8 Ohms per mono block.... - Main System 17 – June 202531 May 2025, 7:41 am
A summary of the Main System and its operational components in May 2025.... - LAiV Harmony uDDC25 May 2025, 1:35 pm
The Harmony µDDC is an ultra-compact, high-performance digital-to-digital converter with jitter reduction and multiple outputs in a beautifully sculpted seamless enclosure milled-from solid aluminum.... - LAiV Harmony uDAC18 May 2025, 7:16 pm
The Harmony µDAC is an ultra-compact, high-performance DAC that fits the LAiV Harmony R-2R Ladder Network Architecture and a discrete Class A output buffer in a beautifully sculpted seamless unibody enclosure milled-from solid aluminum.... - Qobuz Connect is here!18 May 2025, 11:51 am
Qobuz Connect establishes a direct link between Qobuz and your paired audio device. Unlike headphones, Bluetooth, and AirPlay, the music no longer passes through the smartphone or other control device....
- A New Way to Evaluate Audio Systems22 October 2024, 7:16 pm
Dedicated music lovers would like to identify and use the best quality audio equipment. That way they could, potentially, have a richer musical experience. Yet, as Norwitz and Qvortrup identify in Are You On The Road To... Audio Hell?,” none of the methods frequently used to evaluate systems, measurements and specifications, blind tests, double-blind tests, boogie factors, or comparisons to real music, have been definitive. The post A New Way to Evaluate Audio Systems appeared first on Res... - A Visit to Audio Note UK8 October 2024, 7:49 pm
I was being hosted for two weeks at the Audio Note factory and was charged with a variety of tasks from documenting the hub of the company, situated in the picturesque country hamlet of Hove, to interviewing the proprietors of several small studios and mastering companies namely Gearbox Records and The Electric Recording Co. The post A Visit to Audio Note UK appeared first on Resistor Magazine |.... - The Stooges Fun House an Electric Recording Co. Release27 September 2024, 6:32 pm
Fun House is the second studio album released by The Stooges and continued the band’s growl-heavy, proto-punk sonic assault introduced on their first LP, 1969’’s The Stooges and continued on their subsequent 1973 outing Raw Power. The post The Stooges Fun House an Electric Recording Co. Release appeared first on Resistor Magazine |.... - Tour of Gearbox Records23 September 2024, 5:57 pm
Gearbox Records opened in 2009 and has locations in King’s Cross London and Tokyo. The company focuses mainly on jazz, electronic and folk releases and got its start as a means for Sheinman to produce records the way he wanted to. The post Tour of Gearbox Records appeared first on Resistor Magazine |.... - The Troubadour in the Age of Musical Superstars15 September 2024, 8:01 pm
The troubadour sharing musical messages in small and intimate settings seems an anathema to blockbuster songs by superstars. They have so many views, and so many fans, that the number only makes wildly abstract sense, how many stadiums filled with people could such a number even be? Like popping a young boy’s soap bubbles, it is perhaps too easy to point out that many songs that garner huge interest are superficial, shallow, sham show tunes. The post The Troubadour in the Age of Musical Su...
- MBL News22 June 2025, 5:23 pm
I’ve not been shy about my enjoyment of every MBL system I’ve had the distinct pleasure of experiencing at many hifi shows over many years. Here’s a bit of what I said back in 2019: The MBL room at Axpona 2019 ranked among my favorites—”All [...]... - In Barn for Review: Audio Note Meishu Phono 300B Konzertmeister Integrated Amplifier21 June 2025, 10:00 am
The first Audio Note Meishu hit the market back in 1994. You read that right–over 30 years ago. Of course the Meishu has evolved over the decades and the Konzertmeister that arrived in Barn a few days ago is one of 3 current Meishu models [...]... - #NewMusicFriday: June 20, 202520 June 2025, 12:00 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. Scratch It by U.S. Girls U.S. Girls: Scratch It (4AD) Fairyland Codex by TFS [...]... - Album of the Week: Alan Sparhawk | With Trampled by Turtles20 June 2025, 10:00 am
Artists can be burdened by their own history. Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker were Low, a band as well as a family with some hauntingly beautiful history. Parker passed from cancer in 2022. From the liner notes to With Trampled by Turtles : No one can [...]... - HiFi Thoughts: On Logistics19 June 2025, 9:00 am
As I type, there’s over 2100 pounds of gear in Barn for review. And that’s not shipping weight which pushes the total well over 3000. Pounds. But coordinating review gear is more involved than moving heavy things in and out of the Barn because real [...]...
- Kiwi Ears Astral Review23 June 2025, 9:30 pm
Today, we are taking a look at the $299 USD Kiwi Ears Astral Hybrid In-Ear Monitors. Disclaimer: Linsoul sent us the Astral for... The post Kiwi Ears Astral Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - 2025 Reader voted Best Gear polls – Update 1!21 June 2025, 9:56 pm
In this article we give you a first status update on the 2025 Reader voted best gear polls. It’s already been 6... The post 2025 Reader voted Best Gear polls – Update 1! appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - FiiO SA1 Review21 June 2025, 6:40 am
In this article we review the FiiO SA1, the brand’s latest desktop active speaker selling for $199 USD. Disclaimer: FiiO sent us the... The post FiiO SA1 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - 1MORE Sonoflow Pro HQ51 Review19 June 2025, 6:30 am
Today, we review the latest wireless noise-cancelling headphone from 1MORE: the Sonoflow Pro HQ51, priced at just $89 USD. Disclaimer: The 1MORE Sonoflow... The post 1MORE Sonoflow Pro HQ51 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - Lotoo PAW D3 Review16 June 2025, 9:30 pm
In this review we check out the all-new Lotoo PAW D3 DAC/DDC selling for $420 USD. Disclaimer: Lotoo provided the PAW D3 for... The post Lotoo PAW D3 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/...
- Resolution A/V Hosts a DeVORE Fidelity-Nagra Listening Event23 June 2025, 2:08 pm
our Malachi Lui attended and reports what he saw and heard... - Curtis Prints Set the Scene For This Eclectic Jazz Set Featuring Cheek, Bill Frisell, Tony Scherr and Rudy Royston19 June 2025, 7:00 pm
recorded to tape by James Farber at Power Station NYC... - Battle of the Sonic Blockbusters - The Original Source Goes Nuclear19 June 2025, 1:00 pm
Prokofiev with Abbado vs. Reiner Living Stereo vs. Dorati Mercury Living Presence… Who wins?... - No, Not The Movie: The Grateful Dead Sling 6-LP “The Music Never Stopped” Compilation18 June 2025, 4:39 pm
One of the least likely people to “get on the bus” buys a ticket, in the form of Rhino’s 6-LP “highlights” compilation.... - David Murray Soars with the Birds18 June 2025, 2:19 pm
The great tenor saxman nabs his first major label in 50 years...