- 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...
- Genesis Launches top-of-the-line G7 Samba at the Southwest Audio Fest 202519 March 2025, 11:07 pm
Woodinville, WA – Genesis Advanced Technologies launched a new entry-level […] The post Genesis Launches top-of-the-line G7 Samba at the Southwest Audio Fest 2025 appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - March Recordings of the Month from The Absolute Sound Reviewers18 March 2025, 7:17 pm
We wanted to share with you some of the music […] The post March Recordings of the Month from The Absolute Sound Reviewers appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - Diptyque Audio DP 160 Mk II Loudspeaker18 March 2025, 2:49 pm
The brainchild of Gilles Douziech and Eric Poix, French loudspeaker […] The post Diptyque Audio DP 160 Mk II Loudspeaker appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - Bria Skonberg: What It Means18 March 2025, 2:44 pm
Here’s an album that you may play start to finish […] The post Bria Skonberg: What It Means appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - 2024 Golden Ear: MoFi Electronics SourcePoint 10 Loudspeaker18 March 2025, 2:39 pm
$3999 (stands $499) This jumbo-sized stand-mount is the brainchild of […] The post 2024 Golden Ear: MoFi Electronics SourcePoint 10 Loudspeaker appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
- Avantgarde Acoustic Duo XD Hornspeaker Review20 March 2025, 11:30 am
Yes, you have read the measurement results from our lab correctly (in case you checked them): For 94 decibels of sound pressure at a distance of one meter, this speaker needs just 0.07 Watts of power. Seven Watts would be somewhat normal, 0.7 Watts already a sensation – but 0.07 Watts reads like a typo. It is completely true though! This is made possible by the large horn at the top end of the Duo XD, coming from the specialist Avantgarde Acoustic, based in a small town in the Odenwald mo...
- Gryphon Audio Essence Preamplifier And Essence Stereo Power Amplifier Review20 March 2025, 11:30 am
The Gryphon Essence preamplifier and Gryphon Stereo power amplifier are gorgeous looking and beautiful sounding Danish high-end audio components. Those who can afford either or both of these components will not only enjoy stellar sound quality but most likely will also be able to enjoy the fact that they are the epitome of audio equipment that has a look and "feel" of luxury goods. Gryphon founder Flemming E. Rasmussen was responsible for the stunningly beautiful exterior of the rather large (a... - This Weekend: Southwest Audio Fest 2025 High-End Audiophile Show Report19 March 2025, 12:26 pm
Now in their second year, the Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) high-end audio show by the dynamic duo Gary Gill (Capital Audiofest) and Lou Hinkley (Pacific AudioFest / Daedalus Audio) brings magical music to Dallas. SWAF 2025 follows their sensational success with the popular Pacific Audio Fest event. Attendees may listen to many of the world's top manufacturers who create a wide variety of exciting home and portable audio products. Within this expansive Resort environment, bask in luxurious sounds... - Now Available! Kraftwerk Autobahn 50th Anniversary Vinyl LP And Immersive Blu-ray18 March 2025, 7:38 pm
Now Available is Kraftwerk, the legendary German electronic music group, celebrating their 50th anniversary of their album Autobahn. The celebration includes new releases, a USA tour, and appearances at Coachella (both weekends). Specially engineering new releases of Autobahn include a new immersive Dolby Atmos mix of the album on Blu-ray and digitally. Dolby Atmos, 5.1, and stereo mixes are now available digitally. Kraftwerk's 50th Anniversary Autobahn digital release are available on major s... - Steven R. Rochlin's Best Of FIAE 2025 Blue Note Awards18 March 2025, 11:13 am
Before I reveal my personal choices for Best Of FIAE 2025 Blue Note Awards, please allow me to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the Florida International Audio Expo 2025. This event would not have been possible without the incredible passion, dedication, and support of each one of you. To the many exhibitors, EnjoyTheMusic.com thanks you for showcasing your innovative high-end audio products and cutting-edge audiophile technology. Your efforts to share y...
- MUSIC ⸜ Our Albums Series: HAYATO SUMINO, Human Universe, Sony Classical/Sony Music Labels SICC 30898, BSCD2 (2024) » JAPAN1 March 2025, 12:00 am
... - BOOK ⸜ review: TONY HIGGINS, MIKE PEDEN, J Jazz Book - Free and Modern Jazz Albums from Japan 1954 - 1988, Barely Breaking Even Music, London 2024 » GREAT BRITAIN1 March 2025, 12:00 am
BOOK ⸜ reviewtext by WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation by Ewa Muszczynko images by “High Fidelity”No 250 March 1, 2025⌈ J Jazz Book - Free and Modern Jazz Albums is a monographic album dedicated to LP album covers. It focuses on the period of 1954 – 1988, selected by the authors, and a musical style of their choice referred to as “free and modern jazz,” i.e., a trend in modern jazz that originated and developed in the 1960s. ⌋T... - MUSIC ⸜ Our Albums Series: ARMIA, Wojna i pokój, Stage Diving Club DGCD 0125, Compact Disc (2025).1 March 2025, 12:00 am
... - REVIEW: NORMA AUDIO ELECTRONICS Revo DAC-2 ⸜ digital-to-analog converter » ITALY1 March 2025, 12:00 am
Reviewtext by WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation by Marek Dyba images by “High Fidelity”No 250 March 1, 2025⌈ 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 are ... - REVIEW: TAIKO AUDIO Olympus Server XDMI + Olympus I/O XDMI ⸜ audio file server/transport » THE NETHERLANDS1 March 2025, 12:00 am
Reviewtext by WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation by Marek Dyba images by “High Fidelity”No 250 March 1, 2025⌈ TAIKO AUDIO was founded by Emile Bok, who built his first speaker at the age of twelve. In 2008, he designed and manufactured his first audio products. Today, the company primarily offers an audio file server/transport called OLYMPUS. It is one of the most advanced and most expensive products of its kind in the world. ⌋RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS never ...
- Recent Finds, No. 31 HDTT from the Desmar Master Tapes and More20 March 2025, 4:03 pm
I don't always manage to include all recent HDTT releases that I've liked in any given article. Sometimes a little catch up is required. Thus the belated reviews of two releases missing from my last discussion, Overtures by Offenbach and Auber and Louis Armstrong meets Oscar Peterson. And a Pure DSD256 Miles Davis reissue plus... Read More » The post Recent Finds, No. 31 HDTT from the Desmar Master Tapes and More appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Genesis Launches top-of-the-line G7 Samba at the Southwest Audio Fest 202520 March 2025, 4:00 pm
Woodinville, WA – Genesis Advanced Technologies launched a new entry-level line-up of three passive floor standing loudspeakers at the Pacific Audio Fest in 2023. Now, after another two years of development, Genesis is proud to announce the top of the line – the servo-active G7 Samba – to be launched at the Southwest Audio Fest... Read More » The post Genesis Launches top-of-the-line G7 Samba at the Southwest Audio Fest 2025 appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Qobuz Unveils Its Average Payout Per Stream Confirmed By A Leading Firm - A first in the music streaming industry20 March 2025, 3:58 pm
Paris, March 20th, 2025 - Qobuz, the platform for high-quality music streaming and downloads, today announced the results of an independent audit, confirming its commitment to fairer compensation for artists. In an industry where lack of transparency is often debated, Qobuz becomes the first streaming platform to have its average payout rate per stream officially validated.... Read More » The post Qobuz Unveils Its Average Payout Per Stream Confirmed By A Leading Firm - A first ... - Recent Finds, No. 30 with Pure DSD256 Albums from Hunnia Records and More19 March 2025, 5:29 pm
Those who have travelled with me through my notes on recent finds know that I have eclectic taste in music. I enjoy almost anything acoustic that is well performed and well recorded. Unfortunately, this also means that you have to scan through the album covers to see if there may be anything that aligns with... Read More » The post Recent Finds, No. 30 with Pure DSD256 Albums from Hunnia Records and More appeared first on Positive Feedback.... - Reflection Headphone SE Now Available!18 March 2025, 10:32 pm
With a few tweaks to the internal geometry of the original Reflection headphone cable, resulting in tighter bass response, and with 3D printed carbon fiber hardware, Clear Reflection SE headphone cable is here! As with the rest of the Reflection Cables, Reflection SE headphone cable uses our patented Matched Propagation Conductors to convey a wide,... Read More » The post Reflection Headphone SE Now Available! appeared first on Positive Feedback....
- The FX-Audio L-07 Integrated Amplifier15 March 2025, 5:52 am
$200 for a 200-watt per channel integrated? That you can hold in the palm of your hand? Really? And it will drive a pair of Magnepans? You bet. I was really excited about the FX-Audio DS-07 DAC/PRE. We’ve just finished up a Distilled “first look,” and I have listened to both of these enough to […]... - Welcome to Distilled!15 March 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 […]... - Hagerman Piccolo ZERO – phono step up15 March 2025, 4:56 am
If you happen to be a moving coil cartridge enthusiast or are thinking about stepping up (pun intended), you’ll need a way to raise that signal to a level that your current MM stage can handle. Inexpensive ($400 and under) cartridges usually sound dreadful, with only a few exceptions. However, there are a handful of […]... - Black Ravioli’s Big Pad Plus14 March 2025, 11:51 pm
We’re huge fans of Black Ravioli products; over the years, they have kept improving their process. The latest Big Pad Plus is more efficient at isolating your components from vibrations in the environment that subtly blur the ultimate resolution of your system. The best thing about a set of these pads is that you don’t […]... - The FX-Audio DS-07 DAC/Preamplifier14 March 2025, 6:05 pm
What we’ve got here is a very cool, very compact DAC and Preamplifier that is only about 5 inches tall, 3 inches wide, and 7 inches deep. (125mm x 80mm x 176mm to be exact) What is so exciting about this mighty little DAC is the performance it delivers for such an approachable cost. Can […]...
- Recommended Reference Component: Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature Loudspeaker15 March 2025, 4:00 am
The latest version of the venerable 801 loudspeaker from Bowers & Wilkins, which debuted in 1979, is the 801 D4 Signature. In his review of the 801 D4 Signature, published on SoundStage! Ultra last December, senior editor Jason Thorpe writes that the original model made a deep impression on him and many others and that it was among a small group of “landmark stereo components that changed the direction of audio.” The 801 was indeed a seminal loudspeaker, one that set the course f... - Radiant Acoustics Clarity 6.2 Loudspeaker15 March 2025, 4:00 am
Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada’s National Research Council can be found through this link. In the realm of vocal performance, good things often do come in small packages. Think Lady Gaga (5′1″), Emilia Clarke (5′2″), Reese Witherspoon (5′3″)—huge talents, diminutive statures. Surprisingly often, this maxim holds in the realm of loudspeakers, too, where the sound performance of some standmount designs—like the voca... - Focal Theva N°2 Loudspeaker1 March 2025, 5:00 am
Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada’s National Research Council can be found through this link. When striving to comprehend and assess abstruse things, we tend to resort to simplifications. Our general view of a company and its products, for instance, is often based on our impression of some representative sample from its offerings: a favorite crossover SUV from a car manufacturer, the flagship cellphone or TV from an electronics manufacturer. Likewise, we often per... - The T+A Elektroakustik R 2500 R Proves Why the Stereo Receiver Might Make a Comeback1 March 2025, 5:00 am
Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here. Most hi-fi enthusiasts agree that the 1970s can be considered the golden age of the stereo receiver, which is essentially an integrated amplifier with a radio-reception capability. Stereo receivers were everywhere back then. By the 1980s, however, as separate components gained popularity, stereo receivers fell out of favor. The prevailing view was—has been—that standalone components (e.g... - The Miracle of the Compact Disc and the Usefulness of the Shanling ET3 Transport1 March 2025, 5:00 am
When the Compact Disc was released to the public in 1982, it seemed unimaginable that music encoded on a disc could one day be transmitted wirelessly, as we experience today. It seemed equally unimaginable that it could be stored on a server thousands of miles away and played back nearly instantaneously in the home, as now happens with streaming services. This was a time when physical media not only dominated the market, but was the only option for high-fidelity playback. ...
- Orchard Audio Starkrimson 800 KHz GaNFET Mono Ultra Premium monoblocks Review15 March 2025, 8:00 pm
The New Jersey-based Orchard Audio has a compact class D monoblock amplifier that outputs 500 watts continuous and 1,000 watts peak into 4 ohms, costs $2,499 each, and it is an analog switching amplifier. The Starkrimson Mono Ultra Premium monoblock, the subject of this review, employs the latest Gallium Nitride field-effect transistors (GaNFET), with [...] The post Orchard Audio Starkrimson 800 KHz GaNFET Mono Ultra Premium monoblocks Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Sound Lab Majestic 945PX electrostatic panel loudspeakers Review27 February 2025, 8:05 pm
A pair of the nine feet tall Sound Lab Majestic 945PX electrostatic panel speaker system costs $60,000, and it is the flagship model in the Majestic series. The ”945” nomenclature denotes the panel being nine feet high in a 45-degrees curving radiating surface. It is essentially a large canvas of mylar diaphragm stretched inside a [...] The post Sound Lab Majestic 945PX electrostatic panel loudspeakers Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Arya Audio Labs Orbius record stabilizer Review3 February 2025, 6:51 pm
A little more than six years ago, I reviewed and subsequently adopted the Pierre Lurne record clamp as my reference after a rather exhaustive search for a clamp/weight that would enhance the sonics of my Rockport Sirius turntable. Initially, I would have said, if asked, that given that the Rockport has a well-designed vacuum [...] The post Arya Audio Labs Orbius record stabilizer Review appeared first on Dagogo.... - Acquisition of McIntosh and Sonus Faber by Bose: A Strategic Move into Automotive Audio10 January 2025, 11:38 pm
If you are anything like me, the acquisition of McIntosh and Sonus Faber by Bose Corporation was a shock. As a long-time audiophile and devout believer in maintaining the quality and standards of the Audio Specialty industry, this move was tantamount to seeing a cherished artisanal craft risk being absorbed into the world of mass [...] The post Acquisition of McIntosh and Sonus Faber by Bose: A Strategic Move into Automotive Audio appeared first on Dagogo.... - PS Audio Stellar Strata Mk2 integrated amplifiers Review, Part 1 of 24 January 2025, 2:00 am
The PS Audio Stellar Strata Mk2 Integrated Amplifier is one of the most important components I have handled, but not for the reason you may think. In the process of reviewing this and one other integrated amplifier, I have reached what many would consider controversial conclusions regarding two channel audiophile system configurations, that is, [...] The post PS Audio Stellar Strata Mk2 integrated amplifiers Review, Part 1 of 2 appeared first on Dagogo....
- Dire Straits and Isaac Hayes In Atmos and More20 March 2025, 5:58 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Email is great, until it isn’t. Today I received two great emails within minutes of each other, announcing rereleases of Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms on Blu-ray and Isaac Hayes’ The Best of Isaac Hayes in high resolution digital, Dolby Atmos, and vinyl. Here are the details. Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms This is an excl... - Welcome Nuprime Audio To Audiophile Style17 March 2025, 7:08 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Over the last year I’ve heard rumblings about a new product coming from Nuprime Audio, and I saw a prototype at the Munich High End show (link). The company and product fully embraced AoIP, or audio over internet protocol (AES67, Dante, Ravenna, etc…). This is a win-win for everyone. For the most part, AoIP solutions have been limited to the profe... - Invisible Cities Part One - An Amazing Recording From ADS14 March 2025, 3:24 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. There are no right or wrong ways to create an album. It’s art. As a fan of music, I’ve come to appreciate albums made in any number of ways. On one end of the continuum there are albums containing music that never existed in a real space, and were put together entirely in a digital audio workstation. On the other end of the continuum are albums com... - A Basket of Kiwis - IEMs12 March 2025, 2:17 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. I’ve been a fan of Kiwi Ears since I reviewed the Cadenza two years ago as part of a budget IEM roundup. I’ve gifted or recommended the $35 single-driver IEM to dozens of friends and acquaintances, and it’s still my pick for the best IEM under $50. Since then, Kiwi Ears — one of retailer Linsoul’s house brands — ... - Vinnie Rossi 2nd Generation Brama Preamp and Monoblock Amp Review5 March 2025, 1:25 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. I’ve listened to a zillion components over the last twenty years at audio shows, dealer showrooms, private homes, and in my dedicated listening rooms. Listening to the components is one thing, but selecting them for use as a reference in my own system, through which many other components are reviewed, is a completely different animal. First, t...
- Reliable’s UberLight Frame Is Uber Eye-Opening20 March 2025, 12:00 am
How many times do we just “make do” in the moment when it comes to handling some of the finer points and little details as we’re tweaking our LP playback systems? More often than not, I’ve found myself reaching for my rubber-grip Energizer flashlight whenever I’ve been calibrating, fiddling with, and/or tweaking something on or near my PerspeX turntable and its homebase — not to mention whenever I’m checking and rechecking the cables and connections for... - Remembering Jesse Colin Young, a Gifted Singer & Songwriter Who Taught Us All How to Get Together and Overcome Darkness, Darkness18 March 2025, 12:00 am
Lightness, Lightness: Above, giving flowers to Jesse Colin Young, while leaning into his inner sunshine. Photo courtesy JCY.Singer, songwriter, and folk-centric multi-instrumentalist Jesse Colin Young passed away at age 83 at his home in Aiken, South Carolina, on March 16, 2025. Young’s artistic legacy remains quite vibrant and most especially fruitful on vinyl. Jesse had an inherent knack for consistently reaching the masses in a special way when he first began marrying catchy melodies... - Ortofon’s MC 90X Cartridge: A Classic Cart Gets Revisited & Reimagined17 March 2025, 12:00 am
All hail the return of a classic cart! Or, as Ortofon puts it, “A classic, reimagined.” We’re talking about Ortofon’s MC 90X cartridge, which builds upon the legacy of the Danish company’s rightfully acclaimed MC A90 moving coil cartridge that was released 17(ish) years ago in conjunction with the company’s 90th anniversary.The limited-edition MC 90X cart features a stainless-steel structure crafted using the company’s celebrated Selective Laser Melti... - Florida International Audio Expo 2025 Show Report, Part 8: Soulines, Electrocompaniet, and Triangle Embody a Marriage of Sound & Style15 March 2025, 12:00 am
Hello and welcome to Part 8 of my Florida International Audio Expo 2025 show report, which is the final installment in this series. Here, I get to check out a Soulines turntable, Electrocompaniet phono preamp, Triangle speakers, and more.SOULINES / ELECTROCOMPANIET In Room 419, Jason Tavares of New York’s HiFi Loft remarked that the Florida show was a fun one — more laid-back than most. To that end, I enjoyed a relaxed visit in the demo room where he was stationed along with distr... - Short Cuts, Vol. 22, Beaucoup Blues Edition: Four Great 180g 1LP AAA Blues Reissues From John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mississippi John Hurt & Lonnie Johnson With Elmer Snowden14 March 2025, 12:00 am
At risk of sounding like a broken record, original blues vinyl pressings are cousins to jazz and soul LPs in terms of scarcity and availability in super-clean condition. That is why they are often super-expensive propositions in the collector’s marketplace. This makes these four truly outstanding Acoustic Sounds-pedigreed reissues from Verve/UMe and Craft Recordings’ Bluesville series all the more important — in effect, bringing this quartet of classic LP rarities back into mo...
- ZU METHOD: Does It Compare With KEF LS50 META?17 March 2025, 4:15 pm
... - FIRST WATT SIT-5, Double Your Pleasure!10 March 2025, 4:15 pm
... - The BEST SOUNDING speaker you never heard of -- AXXESS L1!28 February 2025, 5:30 pm
... - Meet Ryan, his passions for MUSIC and TECH run deep!21 February 2025, 5:15 pm
... - CAMBRIDGE AUDIO's Direct-Drive Turntable is a KNOCK OUT!17 February 2025, 5:30 pm
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- Wolf von Langa SERENDIPITY+ Loudspeakers | REVIEW21 March 2025, 7:00 am
Occasionally, while describing the sound of a particular high-end audio component, I'll mention the word mystique. I'm not sure when I first used the word in this context, but it was undoubtedly around the same time I really started to explore Japanese high-end audio in general, and Koetsu cartridges in particular. The word mystique was [...]... - G7 Samba from Genesis to Debut at SWAF | Announcements20 March 2025, 6:44 pm
Right after reviewing the spectacular Genesis G7 Minuets, Gary Koh is expanding the line upward with the new G7 Samba. Here's the press release from Genesis: Genesis Launches top-of-the-line G7 Samba at the Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Woodinville, WA – Genesis Advanced Technologies launched a new entry-level line-up of three passive floor standing loudspeakers at the [...]... - LTA MZ Pre 3 Debuts at SWAF | Announcements20 March 2025, 6:20 pm
One of our favorite amplifier manufacturers, Linear Tube Audio, is set to debut their latest preamplifier at the Southwest Audiofest this weekend--the LTA MZ Pre 3. Here's the official press release on the LTA MZ Pre 3: Linear Tube Audio is proud to introduce MicroZOTL Preamplifier the Third Our Level 3 preamplifier represents a generational shift [...]... - Win Golden Pass Tickets To AXPONA 2025!19 March 2025, 11:36 am
You can win a Golden Pass Ticket to AXPONA this year. The biggest audio show in the US, Chicago-based AXPONA has partnered with pt.AUDIO to give away one pair of Golden Pass tickets to two lucky PTA readers. That is, we will be giving away a pair of tickets worth ~$400 to two different readers! [...]... - Bathys Deep Black Headphones by Focal | Announcements18 March 2025, 4:17 pm
March 18, 2025 - In October 2022, Focal made a brilliant entry into the Bluetooth® hi-fi Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) headphones with Bathys. This success continues with new finishes revealed by the French leader in acoustics: Dune, in 2023, and Deep Black today, a black shade synonymous with elegance and timelessness. Featuring exclusive speaker drivers, outstanding [...]...
- How to add tubes to any DAC, streamer or CD player for €49921 March 2025, 8:46 am
Musical Fidelity, now under the stewardship of Pro-Ject’s Heinz Lichtenegger, is bringing back the tube buffer. The cylindrical X-Tube is designed to sit between a source component – a DAC, a CD player, a streaming DAC or a phono stage – and an amplifier to deliver 1) the tonal characteristics […] The post How to add tubes to any DAC, streamer or CD player for €499 first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycl... - WiiM’s Vibelink integrated amplifier is a little perplexing18 March 2025, 3:31 pm
I will admit to being a little confounded by WiiM’s latest product announcement. Teased at the Bristol Hifi Show last month, the Vibelink comes with: an unconventional name; the press release cliché double-whammy of “room filling sound” and “studio quality sound”; 100wpc of TI’s TPA3255 Class D power into 8 […] The post WiiM’s Vibelink integrated amplifier is a little perplexing first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part o... - Podcast: the Auralic Aquila X3 in more detail17 March 2025, 10:02 am
Xuanqian Wang. AURALIC’s CEO. At least, he was until the beginning of 2025. Wang has stepped down to work on other ventures and race sports cars whilst still maintaining his ownership stake in the company. Before he falls into the background, I wanted to talk to Wang about his final […] The post Podcast: the Auralic Aquila X3 in more detail first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without permission. For ... - In Berlin: Technics SU-R1000 review (Part 1)14 March 2025, 3:17 pm
The ‘Ess you are one thousand’ – or SU-R1000 (€8499/US$9999) – has been Technics’ flagship integrated amplifier for the past five years. Its vital statistics are as follows: two sets of loudspeaker binding posts, 150wpc into 8 Ohms; 300wpc into 4 Ohms; six digital inputs (two each of USB, coaxial […] The post In Berlin: Technics SU-R1000 review (Part 1) first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycl... - Rotel readies DX-3 DAC, pre & headphone amplifier13 March 2025, 12:18 pm
A Rotel for deskhounds? The DX-3 is the Japanese company’s new DAC, headphone amplifier and pre-amplifier. From a compact chassis, it offers 6.4mm and balanced 4.4mm headphone outputs (on the front panel) and single-ended RCA and balanced XLR for connecting to a pair of powered loudspeakers (on the back). The […] The post Rotel readies DX-3 DAC, pre & headphone amplifier first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or r...
- Electrocompaniet ECI 6 MKII Integrated Amplifier1 March 2025, 11:32 am
Suppose you live much of your life as an audiophile on social media. In that case, you’d be forgiven for believing the only high-end integrated amplifiers out of Norway are by Hegel. While Hegel makes a fine product (we have reviewed their products, and they were an advertiser at one time), Electrocompaniet from Tau, Norway, just across the bridge from Stavanger on the east coast of southern Norway, is also a maker of very highly regarded high-end audio gear. All Electrocompaniet component... - IKEDA Sound Labs 9mono MC Phono Cartridge1 March 2025, 11:31 am
For the past five years, I’ve lived with an excellent “true” mono cartridge (a single coil with sufficient vertical compliance to play both “modern” mono reissues and pre-1967 mono originals)—the hand-made Miyajima Labs Infinity Monaural MC Phono Cartridge (USD 3375). It performed its unique duties extremely well until the diamond stylus fell off the cantilever somewhere along the way. The Miyajima Labs’ US importer quoted me USD 2220 to retip (66% of th... - Audio Physic Step Loudspeaker1 March 2025, 11:31 am
All photography by Max Geiger.Audio Physic, hailing from the small town of Brilon, Germany, is a storied manufacturer of loudspeakers that has been on my radar for a long time. The brand has undergone some North American distribution changes in the last couple of years. It is now working with Colorado-based Monarch Systems, which also imports SME turntables and Siltech cables, among other high-end brands. I connected with Monarch Founder Rich Maez, who facilitated the demo for this review—... - CROSBY, STILLS & NASH - CSN (1977) Analogue Productions / Atlantic 75 45rpm Reissue, (2025)23 February 2025, 4:19 pm
I remember distinctly the day this record arrived in the shops. It was 1977, and I worked at a record store in the local mall. I was still in high school and had been fully immersed in Crosby Stills & Nash’s debut album and its follow-up Deja Vu. My first recollection of hearing “The Boat Album” was in that store, and my best friend and I marvelled at how much better it sounded than either of its predecessors. It had been almost seven years since the release of Deja Vu, and... - Audiophilia Dream List ©20 February 2025, 10:44 pm
UPDATED FEB 20, 2025.This list will be updated regularly. The latest additions appear at the top. When the latest update appears, the previous update selections will be placed in genre sections for easier viewing. Welcome to the Audiophilia Dream List. A list of original (OG) or reissued vinyl of all genres. I’ll post the list at the top of the review page and link it across our social media any time it’s significantly updated. As vinyl has become prohibitively expensive, you’l...
- Music Interview: Dana Gillespie20 March 2025, 10:35 am
Singer-songwriter, actress, ‘close friend’ and muse of David Bowie... Dana Gillespie is back with a new album. With 60 years of performing under her belt, Sean Hannam interviews a legend. The post Music Interview: Dana Gillespie appeared first on hi-fi+.... - Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Signature20 March 2025, 10:15 am
Hot on the heels of the standard 702 S3, how does the new Signature version of Bowers & Wilkins popular floorstanding loudspeaker compare next to the original? Ed Selley investigates. The post Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Signature appeared first on hi-fi+.... - HSE Masterline 720 March 2025, 9:19 am
Phono preamplifiers don’t come more high-end than the Swiss-made HSE Masterline 7. But does this classic from the ex-Studer legend Robert Huber live up to the hype, asks Alan Sircom. The post HSE Masterline 7 appeared first on hi-fi+.... - Sigberg Audio Unveils Saranna: An Active Full-Range Floorstanding Speaker12 March 2025, 2:05 pm
Oslo, Norway – March, 2025 – Sigberg Audio is proud […] The post Sigberg Audio Unveils Saranna: An Active Full-Range Floorstanding Speaker appeared first on hi-fi+.... - Bernard Butler: Good Grief11 March 2025, 3:37 pm
Good Grief is the latest album from singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer and former Suede member, Bernard Butler. This honest and reflective collection of songs is his best yet, says Sean Hannam. The post Bernard Butler: Good Grief appeared first on hi-fi+....
- Black Sabbath Paranoid15 March 2025, 12:00 am
Snapping at the heels of the band’s 1970 debut album, the follow-up – released in the same year – continued to lay down the foundations of heavy metal with its molten-iron riffs and dark lyrical content. Just don’t ask about the cover art...There are plenty of contenders for 'most influential heavy metal album of all time', but Black Sabbath's second LP, Paranoid, is surely in the leading pack. The horror rock sound they invented had partly been blueprinted by the trud... - Audiophile: Digital, January 202514 March 2025, 12:00 am
Ron Legault Quintet Charlie Brown Goes To The NutcrackerOctave Records OCT-0044If you’re familiar with the myriad Charlie Brown soundtracks issued over the years, whenever the much-loved Peanuts character makes it to the screen, you’ll know that light jazz is the order of the day. The late Vince Guaraldi, having recorded a number of audiophile-grade classics, is the inspiration for this terrific release: half the compositions of this musical suite – ‘performed at the Ho... - Jazz, January 202514 March 2025, 12:00 am
Samara Joy Portrait Verve 6801316; LP: 6801316 After a year of touring with her scintillating octet, the singer took the band into the van Gelder studio to record numbers honed on the road – and we hear brilliant playing in adventurous arrangements from trumpet, trombone and two saxes. Samara soars as an interpreter, as on an early favourite, ‘Day By Day,’ and an invigorating ‘Chega de Saudade’, and is dazzling when she adds lyrics to jazz themes and solos of yore.... - Rock, January 202514 March 2025, 12:00 am
Rosalie Cunningham To Shoot Another Day Esoteric Antenna EANTCD1111; LP: MEP002 (Limited Edition) Singer and multi-instrumentalist Cunningham has been likened to Kate Bush and The Beatles, but there’s even more. On her third solo album, her rich melodies are matched by the adventurousness of the arrangements, which seamlessly incorporate elements of progressive rock, psychedelia, hard rock, and a little folk, with a filmic sense of drama – particularly on the title track, surely a p... - Classical, January 202514 March 2025, 12:00 am
Luiza Borac Bach: Goldberg Variations, etc; Chick Corea: Children’s Songs Profil PH24018 (two discs) From the gentle, considered touch of the Aria, it’s clear that this will be a rewardingly ‘central’ and unfussy Goldbergs. Borac’s long experience in playing the music of her countryman Enescu tells in the unerring clarity of her voice-leading, up there with classic accounts by Rosen and Yudina. Wild flights of fancy and tempo extremes are left to the likes of Olafss...
- Sennheiser’s HD 550 Open-back Headphones are Lightweight for Gamers21 March 2025, 7:36 am
Gaming is driving the headphone market and Sennheiser's new HD 550 might be a fantastic option below $300 for audiophiles and gamers.... - Need a Big TV for March Madness? How About a 98-Inch 4K TCL TV for $1498?20 March 2025, 4:36 pm
Spring time is here and with it the opportunity to bring home a giant TV at a great price to enjoy all the basketball action.... - JBL Synthesis SMA-4750 and SMA-8300 Amplifiers are Now Available in North America20 March 2025, 8:02 am
Lots of power, bridgeable configuration options, and rack-compatible sizes add flexibility to any custom home theater setup.... - Kaleidescape Strato V Media Player Review – A Movie Lover’s Dream19 March 2025, 5:05 pm
The Quality of Physical Media, The Convenience of Digital Download.... - Rega’s Brio MK7 Integrated Amplifier Delivers Almost Everything You Might Need For Around $1,10019 March 2025, 8:00 am
Rega's forthcoming Brio MK7 Integrated Amplifier will be available this month and is creating a stir with its internal DAC for only $1095....
- WiiM Ultra and Pro Plus Streamers Review19 March 2025, 12:00 pm
WiiM wants to provide audiophile-quality streaming to everyone at affordable prices. With the Pro Plus and Ultra preamp streaming devices... The post WiiM Ultra and Pro Plus Streamers Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - DALI Epikore 3 Bookshelf Speaker Review17 March 2025, 12:00 pm
DALI’s Epikore 3 Bookshelf Speaker combines technology from its Kore and Epicon series to create a unique blend of driver types in a... The post DALI Epikore 3 Bookshelf Speaker Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Focal Azurys and Hadenys Headphones: A Video Review12 March 2025, 12:00 pm
Focal sent over two of their newest headphones. The new Focal The Azurys and Hadenys. Both of them share similar traits but do have... The post Focal Azurys and Hadenys Headphones: A Video Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Epson QB1000 4K 3LCD Laser Projector Review10 March 2025, 12:00 pm
Epson’s new QB1000 4K 3LCD Laser Projector is a high-brightness home theater display with Ultra HD resolution, HDR10+, and 3,300 lumens... The post Epson QB1000 4K 3LCD Laser Projector Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Amphion Krypton3X Floor-Standing Loudspeaker Review3 March 2025, 12:00 pm
Some very intelligent design results in a fine-sounding pair of loudspeakers, courtesy of our friends in Finland. The post Amphion Krypton3X Floor-Standing Loudspeaker 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 aren’t the first things I read, and you likely don’t either. I’ll try to be as concise as possible. A quick summary, for you instant gratification types Expensive? Yes Good? Very https://www.cardas.com/clear Before we proceed Rating cables is a lot like ranking vacuum... - 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 (Canadian). As tested the price is $7145 configured with the optional MM/MC phono stage. Up to $1100 needs to be added for DAC options. Verdict: Very simply I am conservatively rating this component as the best solid state integrated amplifier I have ever auditioned. In that respect it is something of a world wonder.... - 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 some audio gear for a friend while he is on an extended winter escape. With permission, I got a chance to listen to his FiiO K11 R2R. Audio friends, just what a reviewer on a strict budget needs. R2R? There’s a bit of a to-do, of late, about R2R ladder DACs. I’m stretching a bit to explain thi... - 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. True Confessions Up to this point, I haven’t taken the Bluesound Nodes seriously. I mean, no thick aluminum front panel? Come on! No full width chassis? Get real! Audio snobbery at its worst? Guilty as charged. Don’t get me wrong, my NAD Masters... - 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 less than a grand Canadian do duty as a serious audiophile component? Enter the new Mission 778X, an amplifier with mid-range magic to spare and an ‘oh so smooth’ character that lights our fuse. Mission (via IAG) has revisited its 80’s era past (when it manufactured more than just speake...
- Cayin C9ii Review19 March 2025, 12:18 pm
Today, Marcus reviews the Cayin C9ii, a dual solid-state and Gen 5 Nutube circuit portable headphone amplifier with up to 4.1W output power. It is priced at $2399. Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links. I thank Cayin for their support. You can click here to learn more about Cayin products I have previously reviewed on Headfonics. This article follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can ... - PLUSSOUND VOLTA Review17 March 2025, 12:45 pm
Today’s article is Thomas’s review of the PLUSSOUND VOLTA, a high-end tribrid dual dynamic, BA, and EST driver in-ear monitor priced at $2499. Disclaimer: I received this sample 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. Click here to read more about PLUSSOUND products previously featured on Headfonics. This article follows our current scoring guide... - SMSL RAWPro-DAC1 Review15 March 2025, 1:04 pm
In today’s feature, Lynn reviews the SMSL RAWPro-DAC1, a PCM 32bit/768kHz capable ES9039MSPRO desktop DAC with wireless LDAC Bluetooth 5.1 decoding. It is priced at $699.99 Disclaimer: I received this sample in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or partnerships. I thank Shenzhen Audio and SMSL for their support. Click here to learn more about SMSL products we have previously reviewed on Headfonic... - Unique Melody Maven II Crescent Review14 March 2025, 10:07 am
Today, Marcus reviews the Unique Melody Maven II Crescent, a $3299 titanium-designed hybrid dual dynamic, BA, and EST driver custom monitor. Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or partnerships. I thank the team at Unique Melody and Musicteck for their support. Click here to read more about the Unique Melody products previously reviewed on Headfonics. This assessment follows our current&n... - FiiO K17 Review12 March 2025, 11:33 am
Today, James reviews the FiiO K17, a new retro-inspired desktop dual DAC and balanced 4000mW capable headphone amplifier with Bluetooth support. It is priced at $899. 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 previously reviewed on Headfonics. This post follows our current scoring ...
- Win A VIP Experience to AXPONA 202520 March 2025, 6:15 pm
The big Chicago audio show is coming up quick, and pt.AUDIO and AXPONA 2025 have teamed up to give away The post Win A VIP Experience to AXPONA 2025 appeared first on AudioHead.... - The Current State Of Physical Media In HiFi18 March 2025, 5:38 pm
What is the current state of physical media? CD players all but vanished a few years ago. Vinyl had a The post The Current State Of Physical Media In HiFi appeared first on AudioHead.... - Is The Term “Yacht Rock” Offensive? A Derogatory Term?13 March 2025, 12:30 am
Is the term “Yacht Rock” offensive to the musical genre? I didn’t think so, but watching HBO’s Yacht Rock: A The post Is The Term “Yacht Rock” Offensive? A Derogatory Term? appeared first on AudioHead.... - Highlights From The Florida Audio Expo 202527 February 2025, 7:56 pm
Big sounds, big speakers and big crocodiles in the parking lot. The Florida Audio Expo 2025 (or FLAX) really had The post Highlights From The Florida Audio Expo 2025 appeared first on AudioHead.... - The Stereophile Interviews: Michael Trei12 February 2025, 4:28 pm
Michael Trei is much more than the title of this post may elude to. In addition to being a Stereophile The post The Stereophile Interviews: Michael Trei appeared first on AudioHead....
- Bathys, The Must-Have Wireless Hi-Fi Headphones from Focal, Get a New Finish: Deep Black18 March 2025, 5:16 pm
March 18, 2025 – In October 2022, Focal made a brilliant entry into the Bluetooth® hi-fi Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) headphones The post Bathys, The Must-Have Wireless Hi-Fi Headphones from Focal, Get a New Finish: Deep Black appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - CanJam NYC 2025 – Coverage Sponsored By HIFIMAN Part 210 March 2025, 6:00 am
Welcome back to my coverage of CanJam NYC 2025, my first CanJam NYC. Again I would personally like to thank The post CanJam NYC 2025 – Coverage Sponsored By HIFIMAN Part 2 appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - CanJam NYC 2025 – Coverage Sponsored By HIFIMAN Part 14 March 2025, 6:00 am
CanJam NYC 2025 was my first CanJam NYC and I have to say it was spectacular, and I would personally The post CanJam NYC 2025 – Coverage Sponsored By HIFIMAN Part 1 appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - AXPONA 2025 WELCOMES 40+ NEW EXHIBITORS AND STAND-OUT RETURNING EXHIBITORS SHOWCASING THE VERY BEST IN HIGH-END AUDIO GEAR APRIL 11-1320 February 2025, 7:09 pm
(Schaumburg, IL, February 19, 2025) – – Now in its 16th year, AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) will return April 11-13 to theSchaumburg Convention Center offering three jam-packed The post AXPONA 2025 WELCOMES 40+ NEW EXHIBITORS AND STAND-OUT RETURNING EXHIBITORS SHOWCASING THE VERY BEST IN HIGH-END AUDIO GEAR APRIL 11-13 appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - Introducing POET – A new era of compact, high-performance planar-magnetic headphones20 February 2025, 12:00 pm
Meze Audio, the acclaimed Romanian manufacturer of high-end headphones, proudly announces the release of POET, its newest planar-magnetic headphones. POET The post Introducing POET – A new era of compact, high-performance planar-magnetic headphones appeared first on Headphone Guru....
- Will you buying vinyl at this year's Record Store Day?20 March 2025, 12:00 am
... - April 2025 issue now on sale20 March 2025, 12:00 am
Welcome to the April 2025 issue! Does it matter who makes your hi-fi? Of course it does, for so many reasons and in so many ways that we’ve created Company Confidential, a new feature series where we discover the achievements and goals of the many brands whose products grace our pages month after month.Do they make all their own components or do they partner with other reputable brands to bring their kit to market? How did they get started in the first place and where do they see their ... - Kudos Cardea C1028 February 2025, 12:00 am
Where some companies have a schedule for model changes so that a product will enter the market with a fixed lifespan (and its replacement likely already being sketched out from the moment it launches), others work on the more relaxed philosophy of keeping a product in the range until they have the scope to make something meaningfully better.Kudos Audio is a keen adherent of the latter theory and has been making the Cardea C10 and the partnering floorstanding C20 since the company was founded... - Furutech GT2 NCF27 February 2025, 12:00 am
It is now recognised that it is essential to have a good-quality mains supply to allow any audio system to perform at its best. The Powergrip YG-2 6-way power conditioner contains several different types of filters that effectively isolate the connected devices, preventing their undesirable influence on each other, as well as helping avoid interference produced by the network. The filters ensure minimum harmonic distortion and are able to handle large current impulses, unlike traditional power ... - Black Rhodium Overture XLR26 February 2025, 12:00 am
Joining Black Rhodium’s new range of premium interconnects, the Overture XLR takes many of the design principles of its sibling Chorale XLR interconnect, but simplifies the design with fewer components.Internally, it uses the same cryogenically processed conductor wires as the RCA version and is also damped along its length to minimise vibration-induced distortion. The cable is screened with several layers of braided metal shielding to protect the signal from external interference.Th...
- 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... - Zeitgeist Germany Launches with Extraordinary IEMs11 July 2024, 9:01 pm
THE ART OF NOISE: INTRODUCING ZEITGEIST GERMANY AND ITS MISSION TO HANDCRAFT UNIQUE EARPHONES FROM EXTRAORDINARY MATERIALS Featuring freshly emptied whisky barrels, Fabergé-Egg-worthy Karelian birch, and rare timber – you haven’t seen, heard or felt earphones like this before. Zeitgeist Germany is on a mission to bring art and soul to the mundane world of […] The post Zeitgeist Germany Launches with Extraordinary IEMs appeared first on Audio Bacon.... - JCAT Unveils USB Card XE EVO: The Next Generation of USB Audio Performance 11 July 2024, 2:27 am
JCAT, a leader in high-performance streaming-specific products, is proud to announce the release of the USB Card XE EVO, an enhanced version of the highly acclaimed USB Card XE. This new model brings significant improvements and innovations, setting a new standard for USB audio performance. Building on Excellence The USB Card XE EVO is designed […] The post JCAT Unveils USB Card XE EVO: The Next Generation of USB Audio Performance appeared first o...
- 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....
- 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.... - Acoustic Research Drawings Archive18 October 2024, 8:49 pm
These drawings were released by Acoustic Research into the public domain in 1990. An index of the archive was made available on the Classic speaker Pages website in an Adobe flash format. The demise of flash meant the archive was impossible to access and though some work was done to index the drawings in a… Continue reading Acoustic Research Drawings Archive... - Aiyima A08 PRO Bluetooth Amplifier Reviewed3 June 2024, 6:22 pm
a cracking little desktop amp with high-res bluetooth for about £120. It has plenty of power to drive sensible loudspeakers and appears to be well built. Some of its internal components are running close to their ratings, especially with a 48V power supply.... - Aiyima A07 MAX Amplifier Reviewed3 June 2024, 6:13 pm
Aiyima’s A07 Max is a fantastic budget (around £100) amp if you want to assemble a tiny system with plenty of power. The flexibility to use it as a stereo amplifier or to pair them up as monoblocks in stereo, bi-amped or even tri-amped configurations is a tremendous advantage for the money.... - Magnat Signature Edelstein Loudspeakers Reviewed20 May 2024, 10:40 am
wonderful loudspeakers that deserve to be front and centre of a two-channel system. These are mini speakers with a massive sound and which represent something unusual in audio - genuine value for money....
- Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphone Review18 March 2025, 11:00 pm
This new mid-price earbud strikes a smart balance between fine sound, effective ANC and comfort, says Cheryl Tan…... - Schiit Saga 2 Preamplifier Review13 March 2025, 11:30 am
John Pickford auditions a highly capable little passive/active preamp…... - LG 65-inch C5 OLED TV Review12 March 2025, 9:47 pm
LG has given its best-selling C-Series OLED an AI upgrade, says Steve May…... - Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 Noise Cancelling Over-ear Headphones Review11 March 2025, 10:35 pm
Matthew Jens auditions this long-awaited new noise-cancelling headphone…... - Sky Glass Gen 2 4K TV Review8 March 2025, 5:30 pm
Steve May takes a close look at Sky's new and upgraded 4K smart TV proposition…...
- Audiolab 6000A MkII: The Classic Integrated Amp Gets an Upgrade20 March 2025, 10:45 pm
Audiolab has released an upgraded version of its well-respected 6000A integrated amplifier, the 6000A MkII. The original 6000A, launched in 2018, was popular for its features and sound quality (we loved it during our review). The 6000A MkII incorporates technology from Audiolab’s upstream 7000A and 9000A amplifiers. Design and Upgrades The 6000A MkII retains the […] The post Audiolab 6000A MkII: The Classic Integrated Amp Gets an Upgrade appeared first on HIFI Trends.... - Bluesound Node Nano Review: The Ultimate Budget Streamer?19 March 2025, 11:08 pm
Bluesound Node Nano Review: TL;DR The Bluesound NODE NANO ($349) is a compact yet refined streaming solution that provides a premium BluOS audiophile experience at a lower price. However, there are other options available that sound nearly as good and offer similar (or even more) features for less money. Intro Bluesound, a brand recognized for […] The post Bluesound Node Nano Review: The Ultimate Budget Streamer? appeared first on HIFI Trends.... - WiiM Introduces Vibelink Amp: New Compact 100W Amplifier with Advanced Heat Dissipation18 March 2025, 2:07 pm
WiiM, a company that specializes in value-packed audio technology for whole-home setups, has officially launched its new Vibelink Power Amp. This standalone amplifier is designed for seamless integration into the WiiM ecosystem and connects with multiple WiiM streamers, including the WiiM Ultra, Pro Plus, Pro, and Mini, to enable multi-room audio. The amplifier matches the […] The post WiiM Introduces Vibelink Amp: New Compact 100W Amplifier with Advanced Heat Dissipation appeared first o... - Rotel Introduces DX-3 Headphone Amplifier: Premium Audio in a Compact Design14 March 2025, 5:02 pm
Rotel has unveiled the DX-3, a new high-performance headphone amplifier, pre-amplifier, and DAC priced at $2,249 in the U.S. The DX-3 is designed for music lovers who desire high-quality audio but have limited space. The Rotel DX-3 is a compact unit that integrates multiple audio functions into one device. It measures 215 mm x 76 […] The post Rotel Introduces DX-3 Headphone Amplifier: Premium Audio in a Compact Design appeared first on HIFI Trends.... - High-Fidelity, High-Mobility: The 5 Best Portable DAC/AMP Combos of 202512 March 2025, 9:18 pm
Mobility is no longer just a luxury for modern audiophiles; it’s necessary. Gone are the days when enjoying high-fidelity audio meant being tethered to a fixed location. The evolution of portable digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and headphone amplifiers is revolutionizing how we experience sound, providing outstanding audio quality in sleek and travel-friendly designs. In this article, […] The post High-Fidelity, High-Mobility: The 5 Best Portable DAC/AMP Combos of 2025 appeared ...
- 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... - Galion Audio TS A75 Amplifier: YouTube & Written Review26 December 2024, 3:44 pm
Watch the YouTube Video ReviewFor all my fandom over the latest generation of class D amplification, I’ve been searching for a true solid state AB amplifier. While I enjoyed my quite neutral Parasound A-23 amplifier, designed by John Curl, I still desired something with greater auditory and emotional impact. Well, I found it in a new product from long time Canadian audio retailer, and YouTube HOME audio promoter, Thomas Tan. Working with amplifier designers Tan has come up with a pro... - Vera-Fi Audio Snubway & Mainstream Power Conditioners: Witten & YouTube Review26 December 2024, 6:02 am
Watch the YouTube VideoHave you ever sat down to listen to a favorite album or video, and somewhere in the house someone turns on a blender, hairdryer, vacuum, even simple power supplies? While you may not hear the appliance, but depending on the item, you definitely notice a difference. Noise in the audio and video signal acts as a haze that limits our ability to enjoy the full experience of the artists. Much like smog restricts the natural saturation of a blue sky. Audiophiles at th... - Best of 2024 Awards: Written & YouTube Review26 December 2024, 6:01 am
Watch the YouTube VideoLet’s begin with the “Bang for the Buck Award” This recognition is for the product that punches above its price class and does the basics of home audio exceptionally well. There was one new product that pushed other pieces out of my reference system and totally captivated me. The mini-stand mount Vera-Fi Audio Scouts just flat-out stole my audio heart. The midrange is absolutely beguiling for just $299, while the bass frequencies avoid the slop...
- Network Acoustics introduce the muon2 Balanced Digital Cable and expands eno2 Range with new Balanced Digital & USB Cable8 March 2025, 3:27 pm
muon2 Balanced Digital Cable Restless innovators Network Acoustics are excited to introduce the reference muon2 Balanced Digital Cable, the ultimate version of their award-winning muon cable. Engineered with a host of proprietary innovations, every detail has been painstakingly refined through relentless research and development. From materials to manufacturing, every element has been obsessively tested and […]... - Main System 16 – February 202518 February 2025, 11:44 am
A summary of the Main System and its operational components in February 2025.... - Technics Grand Class SL-1200GR2, SL-1300G, and SL-1200G18 February 2025, 10:24 am
When several reviewers raved about the Technics Grand Glass models, I was intrigued. Would they really be so different from the classic SL-1210MkII I know so well? And how would the various models compare? So, I set out to compare the SL-1200G, SL-1200GR2, and SL-1300G with the SL-1210MkII.... - Laiv Harmony HP2A and Harmony LExt IN230 January 2025, 9:14 pm
When I reviewed the Laiv Harmony DAC in September last year, a complete range of other Harmony products was on the horizon. Three of those anticipated products are now available. In this review, I will cover the HP2A and the LExt IN2.... - Riviera Audio Labs Event at Audio Expert Castle30 January 2025, 5:35 pm
Listening show at AudioExpert Caste with Riviera Audio Labs and Estelon, Saturday, 15 February 2025, 11:00-17:00....
- 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...
- Review: MC Audiotech TL-12 Loudspeakers20 March 2025, 10:00 am
Describing sound is tricky business. Think about how you would describe silence, not the Cage 4’ 33” piece, to someone who’s never heard it. Tricky, right? Reviewing loudspeakers is even more complicated because writing about how they sound, by necessity, means describing how the music [...]... - Meet WiiM’s New $299 100W Class-D Vibelink Integrated Amp/DAC18 March 2025, 1:36 pm
Three bucks a Watt. The WiiM Vibelink Amp is a simple—1 pair RCA inputs, Coax and Toslink in for the DAC, and a set of banana-only speaker terminals—integrated amp + DAC offering 100 Watts of power into 8 Ohms and 200W into 4 from its [...]... - Jana Loves HiFi! A YouTube Channel You Want to Follow17 March 2025, 5:05 pm
In the world of you YouTube videos devoted to hifi, I rank Jana’s in the top 5 when it comes to quality. For the past decade or so, Jana Dagdagan has been making videos for hifi manufacturers including MoFi Electronics and Ortofon as well as [...]... - #NewMusicFriday: March 14, 202514 March 2025, 2:56 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. Halo On The Inside by Circuit des Yeux Circuit Des Yeux: Halo On The [...]... - Album of the Week: Ichiko Aoba | Luminescent Creatures14 March 2025, 10:00 am
When life serves you a sh*t sandwich, you know it’s time to fast. For the most part, I like to keep my personal life personal. And I’m not going to break with that tradition other than to say the past few weeks have been a [...]...
- Sendy Audio Aiva 2 Review19 March 2025, 10:30 pm
Today, we review the Sendy Audio Aiva 2 planar magnetic headphone, which costs $599 USD. Disclaimer: Sendy Audiowas so nice to send us the... The post Sendy Audio Aiva 2 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - Blog: WOH Heidelberg 2025 Show Report18 March 2025, 10:30 pm
As communicated a few weeks ago, we will be covering all of the World Of Headphones shows this year. The High End Munich show... The post Blog: WOH Heidelberg 2025 Show Report appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - iBasso Nunchaku Review17 March 2025, 10:30 pm
Today, we are looking at the iBasso Nunchaku Portable DAC/AMP Dongle, selling for $299 USD. Disclaimer: iBasso sent us the Nunchaku for this... The post iBasso Nunchaku Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - Lotoo PAW Gold Touch 2 Review15 March 2025, 10:30 pm
In this review we check out the all-new Lotoo PAW Gold Touch 2. The latest flagship DAP from Lotoo selling for $3,200 USD! ... The post Lotoo PAW Gold Touch 2 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - FiiO CP13 Review13 March 2025, 5:00 am
In this article we review the FiiO CP13, the brand’s first portable cassette player, priced at just $129 USD. Disclaimer: The FiiO CP13... The post FiiO CP13 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/...
- Deutsche Grammophon Announces a Treasure Trove of Releases in Batch #8 of the Original Source Vinyl Reissue Series20 March 2025, 9:00 pm
Brilliance, Virtuosity and Eclecticism Rule the Day in This Outstanding Selection of Titles, all mastered and cut AAA directly from 4 and 8-track masters... - The Unreleased 1977 Neil Young Album We are Lucky to Have Today20 March 2025, 12:20 pm
should have been released between "American Stars and Bars" and "Comes a Time"... - The Lost Recordings Unveils Alicia de Larrocha’s Studio Recordings, Berlin 1968 & 1970 Released For First Time!19 March 2025, 3:56 pm
(Based on her Vox/Turnabout and London releases, i put down the $)... - The New Stan Getz Quartet’s ‘Getz Au Go Go’: A Confection That Goes Down Easier Than Ever19 March 2025, 2:36 pm
SHORT OF ONE PROHIBITIVELY RARE, EXPENSIVE PRESSING, THIS IS THE WAY TO HEAR IT... - Ward & Johnson Talk Ravel—Prelude to Upcoming Ozawa Ravel Box Set18 March 2025, 8:01 pm
prepping for DGG OSS Ozawa Ravel Box set...