- 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...
- Alan Licht: Havens5 July 2025, 1:24 pm
Esteemed guitarist Alan Licht returns to the VDSQ label almost […] The post Alan Licht: Havens appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - 2025 Solid-State Amplifier of the Year: Vitus SM-103 Mk.II5 July 2025, 1:12 pm
$75,000/pair Since JV has liked the sound of several select […] The post 2025 Solid-State Amplifier of the Year: Vitus SM-103 Mk.II appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle Loudspeaker Review5 July 2025, 12:55 pm
This speaker really surprised me; I don’t know if it […] The post SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle Loudspeaker Review appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - AURALiC ALTAIR G2.2 streaming DAC preamplifier3 July 2025, 3:29 am
Since its foundation in 2009, AURALiC has steadily built a […] The post AURALiC ALTAIR G2.2 streaming DAC preamplifier appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - Hana SL MK II Phono Cartridge1 July 2025, 6:18 pm
The original Hana SL has been a capable mc phono […] The post Hana SL MK II Phono Cartridge appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
- Hi-Fi+ July 2025 High-End Audio Magazine7 July 2025, 11:23 am
Editorial: Making High-End Audio Gear Bigger Clearaudio Performance DC, TT5 And Stradivari V2 Soulution Audio 331 Integrated Stereo Amplifier Doshi Audio Evolution Stereo Line Preamplifier Acoustic Energy AE3092 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Euphony Summus 2c And 4c Music Server Piega Premium 301 Gen2 Stand-Mount Loudspeaker PMC prophecy7 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Karan Acoustics Master Collection POWERb MONO Chord Electronics Alto Integrated Headphone Amp McIntosh DS200 Network Streamer ...
- Music Lovers: Want Your Ears to Explode (In a Good Way)?6 July 2025, 10:27 am
Drop everything and join EnjoyTheMusic.com’s music lover / audiophile Facebook page right now—your ears will thank you! Discover jaw-dropping gear, insider tweaks, and secret sound hacks you won’t find anywhere else. See advanced sneak peeks at mind-blowing new releases hitting the market before anyone else. Hit “Like” and "Follow", and step into a world where every note, beat, and whisper is dialed up to perfection—your ultimate sonic adventure sta... - Chesky Audio LC1 Bookshelf Monitor Loudspeaker Review5 July 2025, 9:35 am
You know, I heard it through the grapevine. Chesky Audio's LC1 Bookshelf Monitor loudspeaker was mentioned in show reports I found online. Many critics remarked how great these inexpensive $996 bookshelf speakers performed. At the same time, I received a shout-out from my friend and colleague Rick Becker at EnjoyTheMusic.com, and he thought the LC1 would be perfect to audition in my smallish 12' by 19' foot ear cave listening room. Initially, that seemed to make a lot of sense. The old audio ad... - July 4th Made In USA Celebration: McIntosh MC611 Quad Balanced Solid-State Monoblock Amplifier Review4 July 2025, 2:43 pm
Yes, the McIntosh MC611 reviewed here is the same pair of power amplifiers of which EnjoyTheMusic.com's Creative Director Steven R. Rochlin wrote a fun-filled review of McIntosh's MC611 in April. No, the MC611s I'm writing about here aren't the same review pair as Mr. Rochlin reviewed, because he purchased his sight unseen, and so they are in his home to stay. The purchase and subsequent review of these amplifiers was a surprise to me, and since I'd already agreed to review the same model of Mc... - What Is Essential To Audiophiles4 July 2025, 11:37 am
The concept of 'Audio Essentials' is at once controversial and ever-changing. It's controversial because there remains a contingent of audio enthusiasts who dismiss everything in the pages of this issue as nonsense on stilts. And it's ever changing because we keep finding more aspects of the audio chain that can benefit from a spot of care and attention. Care and attention goes beyond simply spending your way out of bad sound; it's about getting the basics right and then seeing what lies beyond...
- MUSIC ⸜ Our albums series: ROSTROPOVICH, ALEXANDER DEDYUKHIN, Brahms, Popper, Debussy, Scriabin, EMI Records, Master CD-R ⸜ 1959/2017 (2007) » UK4 July 2025, 12:00 am
... - FEATURE ⸜ award: STATEMENT in High Fidelity | German Edition 2025 » GERMANY4 July 2025, 12:00 am
... - MUSIC ⸜ Our albums series: SCHOLA BENEDYKTYNÓW W TYŃCU, Gemma Caelestis • Chorał Gregoriański, Tyniec Wydawnictwo Benedyktynów, CD | LP ⸜ 2019 » POLAND4 July 2025, 12:00 am
... - REVIEW: AKG N9 Hybrid ⸜ wireless headphones » USA4 July 2025, 12:00 am
Reviewtext WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Ewa Muszczynko images “High Fidelity”No 254 July 1, 2025⌈ AKG Acoustics was founded in 1947 by RUDOLF GÖRLACH and ERNEST PLÖTZ in Vienna. It is one of the companies whose core business is related to the professional market, but whose headphones have also been targeted at music lovers. In 1947 it set out to produce headphones, and in 1953 it launched the first dynamic microphone, which gained popularity a... - REVIEW: THUNDER MELODY Atto Speakers Black Edition ⸜ loudspeaker cables » POLAND4 July 2025, 12:00 am
ReviewText by WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Marek Dyba images by „High Fidelity”, Thunder MelodyNo 254 July 1, 2025˻ PREMIERE ˼⌈ THUNDER MELODY is a Polish audio brand, established in 2020. It was founded by Messrs. KONRAD RAS and RAFAŁ HŁADZIAK and specializes in products for vibration damping, noise reduction and power supply conditioning. We are testing its top-of-the-line Atto Speakers cable in Black, the highest version. This i...
- 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 […]...
- Torn Between Component Types—A New Twist on the Integrated-versus-Separates Debate1 July 2025, 4:00 am
I’ve been thinking a lot about Natalie Imbruglia lately—not about her music, but about the sentiment behind her best-known hit, “Torn,” from 1997. The word captures how I’ve been feeling as I reassess what I really want from my hi-fi system. No, I haven’t been feeling emotionally wrecked, lying naked on the floor as the singer laments in the chorus; but I am torn, more than ever before, as I suspect many audiophiles are these days, pulled between two very diff... - Dynaudio Confidence 20A Active Loudspeaker System1 July 2025, 4:00 am
Most audiophiles want to assemble their systems themselves, to match components in the hope of maximizing performance. Since a system built around passive loudspeakers requires an amplifier, hi-fi enthusiasts have traditionally favored passive loudspeakers over active models, which have built-in amplifiers. ... - 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... - 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... - 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....
- 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...
- From Single Mic Stereo to Multi Mic Immersive - Some Nice New Recordings7 July 2025, 1:25 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Good music is good music, no matter how it’s recorded or reproduced in our homes. There isn’t a single technique, format, or technology that is the best, in and of itself. The magic is in the people, who understand the tools and techniques, and the musicians creating beautiful music. Looking at this from a visual perspective may also... - Kiwi Ears HBB Punch Review2 July 2025, 5:43 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. The past few years have seen a spate of collaborations between reviewers and audio companies, especially when it comes to IEMs. I have mixed feelings about the trend. Sure, it would be nice to help design and tune a product. But I’m not sure what to think about a reviewer collaborating with a company whose products they might review later.* Beyond the murky ethics,... - Adventures In Impedance27 June 2025, 3:47 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. We’re all at the mercy of the “circle of confusion.” Floyd Toole coined the phrase to describe the problems that arise from the fact that “if consumers are to hear what the artists, musicians and recording engineers created, they should have similar loudspeakers and rooms. If not, they will be hearing something different.” ... - Listening Through Mytek's Empire GanFET Amplifier25 June 2025, 2:12 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Everything is temporary, if given enough time. Like every aspect of our lives, things change in audio reproduction. The changes range from innovative and sonically superior, to predatory and sonically subpar. This continuum is wide, with most changes falling toward the middle and seen as incremental by all but the most immersed listeners. Some c... - 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...
- Orange O Turntable7 July 2025, 12:00 am
Orange knows amplifiers, and Orange also knows turntables. The venerable British power merchants (if you will) are once again turning their gear-manufacturing prowess toward analog playback with the introduction of their new — and quite appropriately, succinctly named — O turntable.According to Orange, the UK-built, audiophile-grade O turntable has been, quote, “precision engineered for effortless, high-fidelity vinyl playback for serious vinyl enthusiasts and music fans.&rd... - Robin Trower Looks Back on His Rich Legacy With For Earth Below 50th Anniversary Edition 180g 2LP Set, Then Explores the Present With New Come and Find Me LP3 July 2025, 12:00 am
Rise Up Like the Sun: Robin Trower riffs, rocks, and emotes bigtime during his incendiary live performance at Asbury Hall inside Babeville in Buffalo, New York, on July 2, 2025. Photo by the author.Robin Trower is an unabashed guitar master. After he left British proto-prog rockers Procol Harum in 1971, he quickly established himself as an axeslinger/songwriter to be reckoned with via early albums like March 1973’s template setting Twice Removed From Yesterday, the perennial April 1974... - ZZ Top Continue to Salute Their Legacy With From The Top: 1979–1990 AAA 180g 5LP Box Set on July 42 July 2025, 12:00 am
If I blow my top, will you let it go to your head? Put a pin in your answer for now, please, and let’s instead focus on the, er, explosive related box set announcement at hand. Getting a jump on the holiday weekend, ZZ Top have just confirmed that From The Top: 1979–1990, a limited-edition 5LP collection from Rhino High Fidelity (a.k.a. Rhino Hi-Fi), will be released just two days from now on July 4, 2025.From The Top: 1979–1990 includes five albums from the pivotal mainstr... - Soulution 787 Turntable, B.audio Phono Preamp Module1 July 2025, 12:00 am
Swiss manufacturers of high-end electronics and sources Soulution introduced an unexpected product at High End Munich 2025: their new Soulution 787 turntable, in its late-stage pre-production form.Marking a new category entrant for the brand, the 787 table could be viewed as completing the “final frontier” in some regards, as Soulution now manufactures components across all hi-fi categories apart from speakers. This product release enables the company to offer customers an all-Sou... - Muarah MT3 Turntable30 June 2025, 12:00 am
As I wrote in my Muarah, Ilumnia, and Circle Labs room report from High End Munich 2025 over on our sister site Stereophile, “I’d been in touch with Muarah Audio’s U.S. distributor, Octopus Audio, ahead of the Munich show, as I’m currently reviewing the company’s entry-level MT3 turntable ($2,990) for Analog Planet. But having that deck in-house didn’t prepare me for the striking flagship MT1 EVO ($8,700), or the new Ilumnia loudspeakers. And the room offered...
- Ø Audio Icon 12, Bigger IS Better!30 June 2025, 4:45 pm
... - CAMBRIDGE EX A100, Class AB Sound for the Win!23 June 2025, 4:15 pm
... - Speaker isolation devices, do they WORK?16 June 2025, 4:15 pm
... - PS AUDIO's Heavyweight Champion!9 June 2025, 4:15 pm
... - Reference Preamp Gets A Makeover!2 June 2025, 4:15 pm
...
- AVM Factory Tour | On the Road7 July 2025, 7:00 am
AVM is a German company that has been making audio gear since 1986, mostly amplifiers and electronics, although they do have a new speaker as well. AVM has been self-distributed in Europe for many years and started selling to the US market in the early 2010s. This was also about the time that Udo Besser [...]... - Advance Paris X-i1100 Integrated Amplifier | REVIEW5 July 2025, 7:00 am
I've been intrigued with the French audio brand Advance Paris ever since I first covered High End in Munich back in 2019. Advance Paris always has a showroom at the MOC in a high-visibility section of the second level Atrium, not far from the staircase, with plenty of their strikingly attractive components sitting in window [...]... - JS Audio Open House | On the Road3 July 2025, 7:00 am
Considering the demographics of the DC metropolitan area, we have surprisingly few high-end audio dealers. I’ve visited most of them over the years, and they are indeed of very high caliber and reputation. Few, however, have the longevity and history of JS Audio. Joe Stromick started JS Audio in his family’s basement in the mid-1990s [...]... - An Interview With Vince Bruzzese Of Totem Acoustic1 July 2025, 9:54 am
As we round the final turn on Season 12 of The Occasional Podcast, we are treated to a very immersive visit from the founder of Totem Acoustic, Vince Bruzzese. In our Episode 9 interview Vince joins us to talk about speaker design and his vantage point into some more of the philosophical elements of listening [...]... - IntegrityHifi Tru-Glide Tonearm | REVIEW29 June 2025, 7:00 am
Reviewing the IntegityHifi Tru-Glide tonearm was a reminder that we analog lovers still love to discuss/argue which is the most important part of an analog rig--the turntable itself, the phono cartridge or the tonearm. I've always been in the cartridge camp along with the other audiophiles who believe in garbage in, garbage out, meaning that [...]...
- 3 more thoughts on the uncomfortable truth about amplifiers7 July 2025, 5:17 pm
Last week, we published a video called “The uncomfortable truth about amplifiers”. It summarised my 18-month investigation into amplifiers, where each model was side-by-side compared with the previous, more affordable unit. Those side-by-side comparisons featured level-matched quick-fire A/B tests that took place within a few hours but also mid-term tests […] The post 3 more thoughts on the uncomfortable truth about amplifiers first appeared on Darko.Audio.--------------------... - The future of entry-level amplifiers: WiiM AMP Ultra review4 July 2025, 3:49 pm
In a recent video, I said that I didn’t see the utility of multi-room streaming for smaller apartments; that if I wanted to hear music while I was upstairs in my 80sqm one-bedroom duplex, I’d simply turn up the volume on whatever was playing downstairs. And yet the arrival of […] The post The future of entry-level amplifiers: WiiM AMP Ultra review first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without per... - FiiO’s $549 K15 is a streaming DAC & powerful headphone amplifier2 July 2025, 5:34 pm
FiiO is taking the entry-level fight to WiiM’s door this week with the introduction of the K15: a desktop streaming DAC that’s also a pre-amplifier and a powerful headphone amplifier. Suffering a case of déjà vu? I know I am. According to the press release, the K15 features trickle-down technology […] The post FiiO’s $549 K15 is a streaming DAC & powerful headphone amplifier first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed t... - ELAC announces Debut ConneX DCB611 July 2025, 2:22 pm
ELAC has announced its second Debut ConneX powered loudspeaker model. The DCB61 expands on the platform established by the DCB41 with a 6.5″ polypropylene mid/bass driver and wave-guided 1.9cm soft dome tweeter that are respectively powered by 60-Watt and 20-Watt Class D amplifiers. That’s one amplifier per driver. Why? Because […] The post ELAC announces Debut ConneX DCB61 first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled... - In Berlin for review: Rotel’s Michi Q5 “CD transport & DAC”30 June 2025, 3:06 pm
My favourite CD transport/player of the last three years? It’s not the Schiti Urd, the Cambridge Audio EVO CD or the TEAC VRDS-701. They each use a slide-out drawer to load and un/load the CD. Long-term use has told me that those drawers are flimsy, as if a falling CD […] The post In Berlin for review: Rotel’s Michi Q5 “CD transport & DAC” first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed wit...
- Audiophilia Dream List ©2 July 2025, 9:44 pm
UPDATED JULY 3, 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... - Mussorgsky arr: Ravel: Pictures At An Exhibition/Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/Ansermet—Esoteric Mastering vinyl reissue [2025]2 July 2025, 7:41 pm
One of the joys of the vinyl Renaissance, especially during the past ten years, when it heated up to a fever pitch, is getting to know hitherto unknown conductors and performers from the Golden Age of Recording, especially those of Decca, EMI, Mercury, and RCA Living Stereo.As an orchestral player and conductor, I’ve always had favourites that I was passionate about, so recordings by Reiner, Previn, et al., stood pride of place in my collection. More often than not, their recordings were t... - Chopin: Polonaises—Maurizio Pollini, piano/DG The Original Source 2 LP 45 RPM vinyl reissue [2025]2 July 2025, 3:24 pm
I believe this is the first DG Original source reissue cut at 45 RPM. I could be wrong, but no matter, I found out the hard way. All the DG OS reissues I’ve reviewed have been remastered and cut by the Emil Berliner Studios’ dynamic duo of Rainer Maillard and Sidney Meyer at 33 RPM. I don’t know the Chopin Polonaises except for the famous Polonaise in A major, Op. 40, No. 1 (nicknamed the “Military Polonaise”). Side 1 contains the unknown to me Polonaise No. 1 in C-... - Pure Fidelity Savant Ti 12 inch Tonearm1 July 2025, 9:36 am
I first heard the Pure Fidelity Savant Ti 12” Tonearm (USD 8000) at the 2024 Pacific Audio Fest in Seattle. It sounded like a great match for John Stratton's new Symphony Turntable. At 12”, it was sized perfectly for the substantial plinth and looked impressive with an IKEDA Kai MC Phono Cartridge. After the show, the whole kit and caboodle came to my place for an extended stay and review. You can watch an interview I did with Stratton and the Symphony/Savant Ti setup here. After a f... - Audiovector QR1 SE Loudspeakers1 July 2025, 9:36 am
It’s a bit of a cliché in the audiophile scene to say that Denmark has the highest concentration of HiFi brands per capita. While I can't confirm the stats, Denmark's contribution to the industry is massive relative to its size. Audiovector is one of the classic names in the Danish HiFi landscape, and their high-end R series speakers have been well covered by the audio media in the US. It’s become my modus operandi to explore high-end speaker brands by getting acquainted with ...
- 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+....
- Audiolab 9000Q/9000P preamp/DAC & power amp2 July 2025, 12:00 am
Since its debut in 2022, and with models introduced on a piecemeal basis, Audiolab’s 9000 series has sought to offer improved performance and specification above the company’s already popular 6000 and 8000 ranges. And now, with the launch of the 9000Q preamplifier/DAC and 9000P power amplifier, the family is truly complete.Topping off the flagship range with these final two models is a wise move by the IAG-owned, Huntingdon-based manufacturer, as the 9000 series now caters to a wid... - Q Acoustics 3050c loudspeaker2 July 2025, 12:00 am
Employing a deal of trickle-down technology from its costlier models, the 3050c is the only floorstander in Q Acoustics’ new 3000c range. Following on from its popular 3000i series, the basics remain the same – slim speakers that look and sound good, with price tags that won’t break the bank. The 3050c tower tested here differs from the 3010c, 3020c and 3030c standmount models not only in size, but also with its dual 142mm woofer/mid units, promising bigger bass and more thril... - Roon Nucleus Titan Music library/server2 July 2025, 12:00 am
At the UK Hi-Fi Show Live in Sept ’24, during a chat with an industry colleague, our discussion moved on to Roon. His opinion was, ‘you either love it, or you haven’t used it yet’. Such is the passion for this music management system among those who have invested in it. And now Roon is offering the ultimate investment, in the shape of its £3899 Nucleus Titan server.Like the previous Nucleus and Nucleus+ models [HFN May ’18], which debuted some seven years ag... - Ortofon MC 90X MC cartridge1 July 2025, 12:00 am
Is there a more outrageous-looking cartridge than Ortofon’s radical MC 90X? By now we should be used to the shape since the MC 90X’s form was first introduced 15 years ago in Ortofon’s MC A90. This revised version, in a cool blue hue, still has that look of a Bizarro horseshoe from the side. Forgive the Superman reference, but this cartridge turned out to be something of a hero.No longer surprising, too, is a price tag of £3999, which isn’t even a quarter of the p... - Nagra HD Phono phono preamp30 June 2025, 12:00 am
With the HD Phono, Nagra has joined a rather select group. By my estimation, there are but a half-dozen manufacturers of phono stages costing above £50,000. At a heady £68,500, the all-valve Nagra HD Phono is about as expensive and exclusive as it gets, and for that amount of money you expect to get everything. And you do.This beautifully engineered two-chassis affair consists of the phono section and a separate power supply, the latter being a feature of each component in the HD s...
- Feliks Audio Echo Vibe Review: A Polish Tube Amp That Means Business with High-Impedance Headphones7 July 2025, 10:00 pm
The Feliks Audio Echo Vibe is a $1,095 OTL tube headphone amp from Poland that runs hot, sounds lush, and proves you don’t need 2 watts to melt your face off.... - Cambridge Audio’s MXW70 is So Compact It Might Just Start a Class D Rebellion in Your Sock Drawer: The Cabin Audiophiler7 July 2025, 5:50 pm
The MXW70 shoves 70-watts of Class D power into a half-width amplifier. No screen, no ego, just clean sound for folks who know gear isn’t the story, the music is.... - LG Launches Wireless OLED evo M5 Series: Cutting the Cord on Premium 4K TVs7 July 2025, 4:09 pm
Top-of-the-line LG OLED picture technology in a 77-inch screen size with zero cable clutter for a sleek home theater or gaming setup.... - Orange Amplifiers Launches the “O” Turntable: Because What the World Really Needed Was Another Minimalist Record Player7 July 2025, 6:50 am
With a $699 tag, the O Turntable is belt-driven and comes with a pre-installed MM cartridge and a built-in phono preamp for easy connection with almost any amp or receiver... - ZVOX Audio Prime Day 2025 Deals: Save Big on Clear Dialogue Soundbars7 July 2025, 12:26 am
Amazon's Prime Day runs from July 8 - 11, but ZVOX soundbars are on sale early....
- Vienna Acoustics Mozart Infinity Active Speakers Review7 July 2025, 12:00 pm
Vienna Acoustics spent five years developing what they thought would be the best streaming speakers available. I believe they have succeeded... The post Vienna Acoustics Mozart Infinity Active Speakers Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - GOOVIS G3 Max 3D Head Mounted Display Review2 July 2025, 12:00 pm
If you’ve been curious about head-mounted displays, GOOVIS aims to satisfy that interest with its G3 Max. It’s a 3D-capable wearable OLED TV. The post GOOVIS G3 Max 3D Head Mounted Display Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Sonus faber Concertino G4 Bookshelf Speaker Review30 June 2025, 12:00 pm
The Sonus faber Concertino G4 speakers are an amalgam of artistic craftsmanship and sonic bliss in a compact, stylish package. When paired... The post Sonus faber Concertino G4 Bookshelf Speaker Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Viture Pro XR Glasses Review25 June 2025, 12:00 pm
Did you ever want to take your Home Theater with you? Watch your movies on a big screen without needing a big screen? Over the years... The post Viture Pro XR Glasses Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - 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....
- 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 […]...
- ZiiGaat Lush Review7 July 2025, 9:49 am
In this feature, Kurt reviews the ZiiGaat Lush, a single 10mm dynamic and quad BA driver hybrid universal IEM designed for studio professionals. It is currently priced at $179. Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in return for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank the team at Linsoul and ZiiGaat for giving me this opportunity. Click here to read more about ZiiGaat products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics. […] Zii... - Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2 Review5 July 2025, 1:01 pm
Today’s feature is James’s review of the Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2, a high-end desktop integrated dual ES9038Q2M DAC and Roon-Ready Streamer. It is currently priced at $859. 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 Eversolo for their support. Click here to read more about streaming products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics. This article follows our latest scoring gui... - Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO Review4 July 2025, 12:02 pm
Today, Marcus reviews the Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO, the latest open-back AMTS-equipped planar magnetic headphones in the company’s AEON Series. They are priced at $1299.99. Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for our honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank Dan Clark Audio for their support. Click here to read more about Dan Clark Audio products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics. This article follows our latest ... - Effect Audio Ares II x Cadmus II AxC Review3 July 2025, 11:48 am
In this feature, Nihal reviews the Effect Audio Ares II x Cadmus II AxC, a new blended aftermarket audio cable consisting of 4 wires from Ares II and 4 from Cadmus II. Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank Effect Audio for their support. Click here to read more about the Effect Audio products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics. This article follows our... - HIFIMAN & CanJam Shanghai 2025 Show Report2 July 2025, 10:39 am
The last time I headed into China was in 2017. A lot has happened since then, not least in the personal audiophile market, which has seen an explosion of brand names and products in the last 8 years. The stalwarts are still there. HIFIMAN, FiiO, and Cayin, to name but a few, all arguably look over the domestic scene from a historical step or two above. And it is HIFIMAN in particular that we will focus on in this show […] HIFIMAN & CanJam Shanghai 2025 Show Report...
- Review: Schiit Kara F Pre, Gungnir 2 DAC & The Rest Of The Gigastack7 July 2025, 2:55 pm
This our full review of the Schiit Kara F preamplifier, Schiit Gungir DAC and Wotan Stereo Power Amplifier in the The post Review: Schiit Kara F Pre, Gungnir 2 DAC & The Rest Of The Gigastack appeared first on AudioHead.... - An Interview With Totem Acoustic2 July 2025, 1:07 pm
This week on pt.AUDIO’s The Occasional Podcast, host Brian Hunter interviews Vince Bruzzese of Totem Acoustic. Totem Acoustic is a The post An Interview With Totem Acoustic appeared first on AudioHead.... - The Ramones Can Now Be Heard In An Official Dolby Atmos Mix27 June 2025, 6:08 pm
We were lucky enough to get a live demo setup of Rhino Records Quad Audio Releases back in 2023, but The post The Ramones Can Now Be Heard In An Official Dolby Atmos Mix appeared first on AudioHead.... - Rhino Records Announces Van Halen’s Balance – Expanded Remaster25 June 2025, 6:34 pm
It is a little hard to believe that the album Balance by Van Halen has been out for 30 years The post Rhino Records Announces Van Halen’s Balance – Expanded Remaster appeared first on AudioHead.... - 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....
- Schiit Audio Gungnir 2 Balanced Multiform™ DAC – Balanced Perfection7 July 2025, 6:00 am
This is part two in my Schiit review of the products I received a while ago, hence the Schiit Audio The post Schiit Audio Gungnir 2 Balanced Multiform™ DAC – Balanced Perfection appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - 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....
- Q Acoustics 3020c7 July 2025, 12:00 am
In recent years, Q Acoustics has been systematically fleshing out its range so that it now stretches evenly into the thousands of pounds bracket, but it has now returned to the segment that it built its reputation on. The 3000C models replace the 3000i range; the company has decided against changing the number again, presumably to maintain the gap to the 5000 models.The 3020c is the middle of three standmounts and represents a £100 price jump over the outgoing 3020i (HFC 441). The basic... - Acoustic Solid Vintage Full Exclusive4 July 2025, 12:00 am
It’s likely that there are more turntables on sale now than there were when vinyl was the UK’s best-selling music format, way back in 1975. When Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells topped the LP charts most people bought ‘record decks’ that cost the equivalent of a couple of hundred pounds in today’s money, or less. Now, though, analogue addicts seem to be chasing a wider range of kit…The Acoustic Solid Vintage Full Exclusive – which has a name almost... - Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition2 July 2025, 12:00 am
Bowers & Wilkins first Zeppelin speaker was actually designed for use with the Apple iPod, back in the pre-smartphone days of 2007, but later models abandoned wired inputs and adopted Bluetooth, wi-fi and AirPlay streaming technology. The Zeppelin was last updated in 2021 and the new Zeppelin Pro looks virtually identical – although it’s now available in new shades of Space Grey and Solar Gold, and there’s a multi-colour LED light in the base.Like previous Zeppelins, the... - Titan Audio Eros V21 July 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... - When you buy CDs do you buy brand new or secondhand?12 June 2025, 12:00 am
...
- 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....
- HiFi Rose RD160 DAC Review4 July 2025, 1:30 am
David Price auditions a highly impressive new South Korean digital convertor…... - Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4 Signature Loudspeaker Review27 June 2025, 1:45 am
David Price auditions a specially tuned version of the smallest standmounter in B&W’s prestigious 800 Series range…... - 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…...
- 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....
- Eversolo Play30 June 2025, 3:14 pm
Link to YouTube ReviewAs we all know, the home stereo market has changed, split, shifted, whatever you wanna call it quite a bit in the past decade or two, starting with the rise of the iPod and headphone listening, then to streaming. It’s been a strange, and yet exciting time in the industry. For a while the old guard manufacturers were caught off balance, and new players emerged. Then the market seemed to stabilize as everybody discovered that variety was still out there.Of the new... - 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...
- Bryston Bi-200 Integrated Amplifier4 July 2025, 10:28 am
Bryston is not a company to brag about its products; rather, it is the inverse. They are very modest and "simply" build the best products they can. When this company claims that its integrated amplifiers give no ground to their separate counterparts, you can take that at face value.... - 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....
- 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...
- #NewMusicFriday: July 4, 20254 July 2025, 2:05 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. Dancing Shoes by Nilufer Yanya Nilufer Yanya: Dancing Shoes (Ninja Tune) Kae Tempest: Self [...]... - Album of the Week: Caspar Brötzmann Massaker | It’s a Love Song4 July 2025, 1:21 pm
It’s not really a love song. It’s a Love Song is the new album from Caspar Brötzmann Massaker, the first since the band’s 1999 release Mute Massaker, a record I enjoyed did not fully embrace. Perhaps my expectations for the son of Peter got in [...]... - In Barn for Review: Ø Audio Verdande Loudspeakers2 July 2025, 2:06 pm
You’re looking at (and into) the 2-way Verdande Loudspeakers from Norway’s Ø Audio. For a sense of scale, that woofer/midrange measures 15″ while the tweeter sits inside the abyss-like Quad Vertex SoundField Horn about a foot from its mouth. By the numbers—94dB sensitivity, 26hz-20khz frequency [...]... - In Barn for Review: DeVore Fidelity O/Bronze Loudspeakers29 June 2025, 7:07 pm
Regular readers know I own a pair of DeVore Fidelity O/96 loudspeakers which I’ve used as my reference for years. The reason being the O/96 check all of my wish list items in terms of what I want from a loudspeaker. You can read my [...]... - #NewMusicFriday: June 27, 202527 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. Bruce Springsteen: Tracks II: The Lost Albums (Columbia Records) Die In Love by Greet [...]...
- Noble FoKus Amadeus Review7 July 2025, 9:30 pm
Today, we review the Noble Audio FoKus Amadeus TWS In-Ear Monitor. It’s selling for $320 USD. Disclaimer: We were supplied with the Noble... The post Noble FoKus Amadeus Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - Aune S17 Pro EVO Review5 July 2025, 9:30 pm
In this review, I’m taking a look at Aune’s flagship solid-state headphone amp, the Aune S17 Pro EVO. It’s selling for $799 USD. ... The post Aune S17 Pro EVO Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - FiiO S15 Review2 July 2025, 9:30 pm
Today, we review the FiiO S15, an all-in-one network player from FiiO, selling for $999 USD. FiiO FiiO is a brand that needs... The post FiiO S15 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - Audeze CRBN2 Review30 June 2025, 9:30 pm
In this article we look at the high-end Audeze CRBN2 Electrostatic headphone. It is selling for $5,995 USD. Disclaimer: The Audeze CRBN2 was... The post Audeze CRBN2 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - SMSL M20 Review28 June 2025, 9:32 pm
In this review, we’re taking a look at the SMSL M20 USB DAC & AMP, which costs $129 USD. Disclaimer: SMSL sent us... The post SMSL M20 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/...
- You Should Be Having This Much Fun at 101 (Though Mainly Recorded When Allen Was 99)!7 July 2025, 5:00 pm
for the adventurous listener Space and Philly Are the Place... - Oasis’ Cardiff Comeback: Miracles Can Happen For Cash5 July 2025, 9:15 pm
Biblical... but in what sense?... - A Fresh Re-mastering of Elliott Smith’s ‘Figure 8’ Rights the Ship After a Lackluster ‘XO’3 July 2025, 7:36 pm
THIS RE-MASTER OF ‘FIGURE 8’ OPENS UP NEW VISTAS IN THE MUSIC — UNLIKE THE LAST EDITION OF ITS PREDECESSOR, ‘XO’... - Four New OJCs from Craft30 June 2025, 4:25 pm
an eclectic quartet!... - Death and Resurrection - The Original Source Offers a Glimpse of Heaven28 June 2025, 6:00 pm
Mahler’s Epic Second Symphony Finds New Sonic Illumination...