- 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...
- Ø Audio Makes a Declaration15 May 2025, 8:36 pm
May 15, 2025 – As you know, Harmonia Distribution is […] The post Ø Audio Makes a Declaration appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
- Burmester Audiosysteme presents the new Reference Line and offers an exclusive preview of upcoming highlights15 May 2025, 8:30 pm
Berlin/Munich, May 15, 2025 – Burmester Audiosysteme invites visitors to […] The post Burmester Audiosysteme presents the new Reference Line and offers an exclusive preview of upcoming highlights appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - Qobuz Connect Now Available on Denon & Marantz Devices with HEOS, Expanding Hi-Resolution Streaming Options15 May 2025, 2:00 pm
May 15, 2025 – Denon and Marantz, two of the most […] The post Qobuz Connect Now Available on Denon & Marantz Devices with HEOS, Expanding Hi-Resolution Streaming Options appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - GRYPHON PRESENTS A REVELATION AT MUNICH15 May 2025, 12:00 pm
Munich, Germany, 15 May 2025: Gryphon Audio Designs ApS, designer […] The post GRYPHON PRESENTS A REVELATION AT MUNICH appeared first on The Absolute Sound.... - Ideon Audio Announces Absolute Stream META15 May 2025, 12:27 am
May 14, 2025: Ideon Audio, a global leader in high-end […] The post Ideon Audio Announces Absolute Stream META appeared first on The Absolute Sound....
- Top Wing Suzaku - Red Sparrow MC Phono Cartridge Review15 May 2025, 10:57 am
A few years ago I reviewed the Van Den Hul Crimson Stradivarius phono cartridge. I began that review by expressing my love-hate relationship with phono cartridges. The love stems from my love of music, and the fact that I prefer music reproduced by vinyl, and that the phono cartridge converts vibrational energy from the grooves of the records into an electric signal and then this electrical signal is somehow converted into the music that comes forth from our speakers. The hate arises not from t... - Von Schweikert Audio Endeavor SE Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review15 May 2025, 10:56 am
Ah, describing sound with words. Alas, I am no William Shakespeare. Yes, words matter, but the listening experience matters more. Even for a professional musician and academic, crafting a written narrative that accurately describes an aural impression will, to a fair degree, remain a flawed science. When teaching a masterclass to my percussion students, I always struggle to convey musical truth through words. Ultimately, performance is the final arbiter of musical thought, which I find myself d... - This Weekend: HIGH END 2025 Audiophile Show In Munich14 May 2025, 10:49 am
This weekend, High End Society is set to unveil its much-anticipated HIGH END 2025 audiophile show — a veritable playground for those with an ear for perfection. The event brings together a carefully curated collection of the latest, most refined audio technology, offering an immersive experience that transcends traditional sound systems. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge hi-fi innovations, from bespoke speakers and precision-engineered amplifiers to ne... - Best Of Montreal Audiofest 2025 Blue Note Awards13 May 2025, 12:33 pm
There was something for everyone at this year's Montreal Audiofest, from entry-level to cost-no-concern. The mood was enthusiastic and upbeat. The people in this industry work for the good and benefit of others. Below are my choices for those who earned a special EnjoyTheMusic.com Best Of Montreal Audiofest 2025 Blue Note Award. Music is the social lubricant of humanity. I hope you've enjoyed this chronicle. Have a great summer, and enjoy some live music. I hope to see my Canadian friends again... - Part 8: Honorable Mentions And Promising Products At Montreal Audiofest 202513 May 2025, 12:25 pm
Up until a few years ago, the high-end audio show reports of the few publications were naming a sole (single) Best of Show Award with a few close audiophile manufacturers as competitors. Early on, I broadened my view to award numerous EnjoyTheMusic.com Best Of Show Blue Note Awards at events, acknowledging the playing field of available rooms is never level, and not all systems were designed to achieve the same results. Over the past couple of decades, luxury audiophile shows have grown larger,...
- MUSIC ⸜ Our Albums Series: THE 13th FLOOR ELEVATORS, The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, Charly Records SNAX616 CD, 2 x CD ⸜ 1966/20101 May 2025, 12:00 am
... - REVIEW: AUDIO PHONIQUE Desire Power ⸜ AC power cable » POLAND1 May 2025, 12:00 am
Reviewtext by WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Marek Dyba images by „High Fidelity”, Audio PhoniqueNo 251 May 1, 2025˻ PREMIERE ˼⌈ AUDIO PHONIQUE is a Polish company founded in 2018 by two enthusiasts, MACIEJ LENAR and WOJCIECH MURAWIEC. However, it was not until 2022 that it unveiled its complete range – twelve products at once. We are testing the AC power cable from the DESIRE series and it is its premiere review. ⌋THE AC POWER... - REVIEW: YG ACOUSTICS Vantage 3 ⸜ floor-standing loudspeakers » USA1 May 2025, 12:00 am
Reviewtext by WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Marek Dyba images by “High Fidelity”, HarbethNo 252 May 1, 2025⌈ YG ACOUSTICS is an American company founded in 2002 in Denver (USA) by YOAVA GEVA, then a 24-year-old engineer. The company specializes in the production of loudspeakers with cabinets made of aluminum or, more recently, wood and aluminum. Almost all components are manufactured in its factory, including the drivers (except for the tweeters), crossover c... - MUSIC ⸜ Our Albums Series: AKIRA TANA TRIO, A New Picture I, ShinRec SRCD-8030, Hi-Quality CD ⸜ 20241 May 2025, 12:00 am
... - REVIEW: VERICTUM Flux iLLumi SP ⸜ speaker cable » POLAND1 May 2025, 12:00 am
Reviewtext WOJCIECH PACUŁA translation Ewa Muszczynko images “High Fidelity”, VerictumNo 252 May 1, 2025˻ PREMIERE ˼⌈ VERICTUM is a Polish company specializing in power supply voltage filtration and passive EMI/RFI filters. Since its first product, the X Bulk ground filter, which we tested in 2015, it has been offering refined products that are different from all their competitors. The company's name is made up of two Latin words: VERI + ICTU...
- 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....
- Java Double Shot LDR Preamplifier9 May 2025, 4:55 am
This is the third product we’ve reviewed from Java HiFi, and we are definitely looking at three for three in terms of sound quality, build quality, and stylish excellence. Matching the casework of their other designs, this solid-state preamplifier’s uniqueness comes from the LDR attenuator. Nearly all other preamplifiers use either a stepped attenuator with […]... - The Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP plays it all5 May 2025, 3:56 pm
Now that it’s official that the CD is making a bit of a comeback, TMR has an incredible selection of slightly used players from OPPO (!!) under a thousand bucks, all the way to some more serious hardware like an EMM Labs player around $12k. If you still have a collection of SACDs and DVD-a […]... - The Focal Sopra no.32 May 2025, 4:23 pm
Here’s your chance to get a huge helping of what the big Focal Utopias deliver at a fraction of the price. With price increases over the last couple years and the tariffs looming, this is your chance to get a gently used pair of Sopra 3’s for a fraction of a new pair. And they […]... - MartinLogan Summit X ESL Speakers28 April 2025, 6:42 pm
For a few years, MartinLogan’s Summit was their flagship speaker, and it received worldwide praise. At the beginning of 2009, MartinLogan combined what they’d learned building the new flagship CLX full-range electrostatic speaker system and the Spire hybrid to arrive at the Summit X. Just like the Summit, it features a pair of powered 10-inch woofers, […]... - The Audeze LCD-X is a great planar headphone27 April 2025, 10:27 pm
About a decade ago, Audeze hit the scene with their original LCD-2 headphones that used planar magnetic technology. It was an instant success. Up till then, the highest performance you could attain in the world of headphones was with electrostatic designs. These were bigger, bulkier, and above all much more costly, because they had to […]...
- Recommended Reference Component: Bryston Bi-200 Integrated Amplifier15 May 2025, 4:00 am
The Bryston Bi-200 integrated amplifier is yet another example of the Canadian company’s enduring commitment to high-end, no-nonsense audio engineering. It builds on the extensive development efforts Bryston invested in its BP-19 preamplifier and 3B3 power amplifier by joining these two components into a single chassis. The design goal of the Bi-200 was ambitious: to provide a convenient integrated solution with the sonic strength of separate components. Philip Beaudette’s review of ... - Ditching the US Dollar as Our Default Review Currency—It’s Going to be Beautiful!1 May 2025, 4:00 am
For nearly 80 years, the US dollar (currency code USD) has been the cornerstone of global finance. After World War II, the USD became the world’s reserve currency and has since served as the standard currency for international trade. It has become the dominant currency for monetary transactions in global capital and commodity markets. Backed by both the size and strength of the US economy, the US dollar has established itself as stable and reliable and has gained near-universal recognition... - Bryston Bi-200 Integrated Amplifier1 May 2025, 4:00 am
Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here. If you’ve followed my work on SoundStage! Network, you probably know that I’ve been using Bryston amplifiers for many years—18 to be exact. My hi-fi journey began in 2002 with a Yamaha home-theater receiver. When I realized I would never use four of its six channels, I replaced it with an NAD integrated amplifier. In 2007 I upgraded to a Bryston B100 SST integrated, and in 201... - Recommended Reference Component: EMM Labs DV2i Streaming DAC-Preamplifier15 April 2025, 4:00 am
In his April 2025 review on SoundStage! Ultra, Phil Gold discusses the EMM Labs DV2i, a high-end streaming DAC-preamplifier priced at $35,000 (all prices in USD). The DV2i, by integrating network streaming capability with advanced digital-to-analog conversion, marks an evolutionary step from its predecessors, the DV2 and the DV2 V2 (Phil’s reference DAC at the time), which lack this capability. ... - SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle Loudspeaker15 April 2025, 4:00 am
Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada’s National Research Council can be found through this link. When I moved from my one-bedroom apartment in Ottawa, Canada, to a detached house in the suburbs of Toronto several years ago, I was excited by the prospect of having a large unfinished basement where I could set up my stereo system. I figured I’d be able to enjoy bigger sound, which I could crank up from time to time without irritating my neighbors. That first part...
- 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... - One Man’s Dream Redux10 April 2025, 4:53 pm
In 2022, Fred Crowder and I travelled to California to hear a cost-no-object system, from which came Fred’s article, “One Man’s Dream”. It was a celebration of one man’s journey through audiophilia toward an incandescent experience of recorded music. Fred’s own journey was similar, even if not involving quite the same cash outlay, and the [...] The post One Man’s Dream Redux appeared first on Dagogo.... - Pass Laboratories XA200.8 10th Anniversary Review1 April 2025, 5:00 pm
Read the 2015 Pass Laboratoriess XA200.8 Review The first quarter of 2025 has proven to be most interesting thus far. Class D amplification has finally come of age with the release of a $2,499 analog class D monoblock amplifier, the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Mono Ultra Premium, which I reviewed last month. There are uber [...] The post Pass Laboratories XA200.8 10th Anniversary Review appeared first on Dagogo....
- Innuos Nazaré Launched in Portugal13 May 2025, 1:47 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. I don’t remember the last time I traveled 4,300 miles with absolutely no idea what I would see when I arrived. I made the decision to go based solely on the reputation of the company and the people involved. That’s what this and every industry is all about. Good people do good things and surprise you in the best ways. WOW, was I surprised in Portugal.&nb... - New Music Servers, Munich 2025, and A Classic From 19598 May 2025, 5:25 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Like most members of this community, I have too much to do and not enough time before heading to the Munich High End show. I can’t complain though. On the way to Munich, I’m stopping somewhere else for the unveiling of a new music server. This server is slated to be better than anything the company has ever made. I’ve purposely not asked questions about... - Diretta Host PC with DPDK Memory Play - Novel Software Remarkable Sound6 May 2025, 4:55 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. Editor's Note: Once in a while I receive really interesting articles through which members of this community want to share their experiences with a product. The following article was submitted by @ajm - Chris My interest in Diretta was first piqued by posts in AS and other online forums praising the sonic refinements to be obtained using ... - Purple Rain - An Immersive Mix For Which I Was Unprepared1 May 2025, 3:53 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. I first heard Purple Rain in the winter of 1984 at my friend Mark’s house. His older brother was playing the cassette through a boombox in the basement. Mark said, “This is a new album from a guy on the North side named Prince.” Growing up on a steady diet of The Who and Led Zeppelin as a kid, I’d neither heard of Prince nor Purple Rain at the tim... - Lifted and Submerged29 April 2025, 4:06 pm
Audio: Listen to this article. The weather here in Minneapolis is finally getting nice and things the audio world are humming along. Axpona a couple weeks ago. Munich a few weeks away. What could be better? I’m glad you asked :~) Let’s start with the submerged part first. In December 2023 I wrote, “My deep question is what is better for my system, two Lōkēs o...
- Steely Dan’s 1976 Masterstroke LP The Royal Scam Puts The Fez On for the Final Entry in the Iconic Band’s Historic Catalog Reissue Series on June 614 May 2025, 12:00 am
“It was the hippest of times, it was the squarest of times — mostly the latter.” Ever cleverly dour, that was how the principal members of Steely Dan (a.k.a. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen) opened the three-paneled liner-notes portion of the folded booklet within the MCA CD reissue of their masterful May 1976 ABC album The Royal Scam. Thankfully, the music found therein was much more hip than square — and, now, after a 40-year wait (!), The Royal Scam is finally seeing p... - Pro-Ject Peanuts Limited Special Edition Turntable13 May 2025, 12:00 am
Good grief! While we’re in the deep throes of our imminent full-court High End Munich 2025 press, I couldn’t let another day go by without our acknowledging a truly special limited-edition piece of analog gear that may (or may not!) be seen at the big show — namely, Pro-Ject’s Peanuts turntable.This ltd-ed table is intended to honor the 75th year of Peanuts, the late, great Charles M. Schulz’s worldwide-loved comic strip about “Good ol’ Charlie Brown,... - Nagaoka MP-700 Cartridge: A High End Munich 2025 Preview12 May 2025, 12:00 am
Can it be we’re just days away from High End Munich 2025? (That was a rhetorical question, mind you.) As we await Munich 2025’s official start later this week, we’ll be previewing some of the new gear that’s launching/debuting at the big show, including the Nagaoka MP-700 cartridge.For starters, to commemorate their 85th anniversary, the respected Japanese company tells us that their new MP-700 cart will be available worldwide starting tomorrow, May 13, 2025, and it w... - Bill Evans Trio’s Masterful Final Studio Recording, 1961’s Explorations, Receives a Most Excellent AAA 180g 1LP Small Batch Treatment9 May 2025, 12:00 am
Explorations, the March 1961 second and final studio release on Riverside by the classic first Bill Evans Trio featuring piano maestro Bill Evans, bassist Scott LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian, is remarkable on many levels. Craft Recordings’ recent, December 2024-released Small Batch AAA 180g 1LP edition of this influential, highly sought after jazz classic — the seventh in the company’s Small Batch series, which has included works by John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Thelonious... - AXPONA 2025 Part 9: Børresen, Aavik, Linn, DS Audio, DeVore, Leben, Well Tempered Lab9 May 2025, 12:00 am
Hello and welcome to Part 9, the final installment of my AXPONA 2025 show report series. One of the more surprising — or maybe the more accurate term is unexpected — items I saw and heard at AXPONA this year was something that Michael Børresen designed, the new flagship Aavik R-880 phono preamp ($70,000) that made its North American debut at the show.Until now, I’d only ever expected to hear playback from digital sources in rooms with Børresen-designed equipm...
- LAB 12 Tube DAC: DIGITAL for ANALOG LOVERS!12 May 2025, 4:15 pm
... - ISABEL Listens To HORN SPEAKERS!5 May 2025, 4:15 pm
... - TAD ME1TX: Here's How Japan Does High-End Speaker Design28 April 2025, 4:15 pm
... - My Favorite Audio Show: AXPONA 202521 April 2025, 4:15 pm
... - Do You Know What Good Sound Sounds Like? Not a Trick Question15 April 2025, 4:15 pm
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- MC Audiotech TL-12 Loudspeakers | REVIEW16 May 2025, 7:00 am
This review of the MC Audiotech TL-12 loudspeakers has been a long time in the making, ever since I reviewed the MC Audiotech Forty-10 loudspeakers a few years ago. That review didn't quite arrive at a proper conclusion since, for the first time in a long time, I had far too much speaker for the [...]... - KT88 vs 300b – Kevin Hayes From VAC on The Occasional Podcast15 May 2025, 4:04 pm
What are the differences between the KT88 Tube and the legendary 300b? Kevin Hayes from VAC joins the show this week to explain, along with a ton of other burning questions about analog vs digital in music playback, class A and more. Kevin Hayes has been in the HiFi industry for over 35 years. He [...]... - Blue Heaven 3 Introduced By Nordost | Announcements14 May 2025, 7:50 pm
Nordost is all set to debut their new Blue Heaven 3 line at the Munich show this weekend. Here's the official press release: Munich, Germany 2025: Nordost is excited to exhibit at the final High End show, May 15-18, and will say ‘goodbye’ to Munich with a system that highlights new products and showcases the [...]... - Focal Diva Utopia Debuts Lacquered Finishes | Announcements14 May 2025, 11:00 am
We've covered the innovative Focal Diva Utopia a few times--our demo at the FLAX 2025 show in Tampa was quite enjoyable. The Focal Diva Utopia is a wireless speaker designed that can act as a complete system, or as Focal described, "All you need is power and the internet." Now Focal has released a new [...]... - Munich Preview–One Last Time | Munich 202513 May 2025, 8:20 pm
The Munich 2025 show is quite bittersweet this time around. First, this will be the last time the High End Show will be at the MOC in Munich. Next year, the show will be located in Vienna, which has sparked mostly positive commentary (someone told me that Munich is the Sacramento of Germany, and Vienna [...]...
- JBL adds three new models to its Summit Series16 May 2025, 6:15 am
From the floor of Munich High-End 2025, JBL has added three new high-end loudspeaker models to its Summit Series. The two floorstanders and standmount are named after some of the world’s most well-known peaks to sit next to the existing Everest and K2. Let’s break it down… As a large […] The post JBL adds three new models to its Summit Series first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purposed without p... - Lyngdorf teases ‘Goldilocks’ TDAI-221015 May 2025, 6:46 am
True Digital Amplifier Integrated (TDAI) — that’s Lyngdorf speak for a digital (integrated) amplifier where the audio signal travels through the amplifier’s internals entirely in the digital domain and is only converted to PWM to switch the output stage at the last possible moment. No DAC required. We’ve seen the […] The post Lyngdorf teases ‘Goldilocks’ TDAI-2210 first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reprod... - MQA returns in hardware form as NAD announces M33 V2, M23 V215 May 2025, 5:37 am
MQA is back — and this time it’s hardware. The second version of NAD’s Masters M33 BluOS streaming amplifier has MQA tech on its analogue inputs and MQA tech in its D/A converter. The ADC that greets all analogue signals utilises something called MQA FOQUS and the DAC that converts […] The post MQA returns in hardware form as NAD announces M33 V2, M23 V2 first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-purpose... - Say hello to the WiiM AMP Ultra, Sound & Sub Pro14 May 2025, 9:22 am
First came the WiiM AMP. Then the AMP Pro. Today brings news of the AMP Ultra. The most visually obvious addition is a 3.5″ glass-covered touchscreen that can be used for basic settings adjustment, playback control, a clock screen saver, custom wallpapers, now playing information and VU meters — just […] The post Say hello to the WiiM AMP Ultra, Sound & Sub Pro first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS feed to be reproduced, recycled or re-pu... - The art of the tease: Eversolo’s T8 streaming transport & Z10 DAC13 May 2025, 2:03 pm
Many new products debuting at this weekend’s Munich High-End hi-fi show won’t be retail-ready until later this year. Despite their presence on the show floor, the finishing touches have yet to be added and crucially for any would-be buyer, the street price decided upon. One example is Eversolo’s T8 streaming […] The post The art of the tease: Eversolo’s T8 streaming transport & Z10 DAC first appeared on Darko.Audio.---------------------- No part of this RSS fee...
- Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 "Winter Dreams“–Michael Tilson Thomas & Boston Symphony/DG The Original Source vinyl reissue [2025]6 May 2025, 3:23 pm
This classic DG Boston recording was one of the first classical LPs I purchased with my “pocket money” from the famous “The Coop” in Harvard Square during one of my many visits to family in Boston. It was released in 1971, and I listened to it incessantly concurrent with my love affair with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, especially its fabulous flute section—I had begun playing the flute a year earlier. I was already set on becoming a professional player, god willin... - Patricia Barber—Modern Cool [Impex Double 33RPM Vinyl Reissue 2025]5 May 2025, 3:33 pm
Patricia Barber's music is no secret to audiophiles or jazz lovers. The multi-talented Barber is a songwriter, composer, pianist, and jazz singer, whose second album, Cafe Blue (1994, Premonition), won accolades from the jazz press and within audio circles. Known for a unique blend of jazz, pop, and classical influences, her music is characterized by intricate songwriting, poetic lyrics, and a distinctive vocal style that seamlessly merges storytelling with musical sophistication. Barber’s... - SCHUBERT Arpeggione Sonata, etc. ROSTROPOVICH/ESOTERIC SACD [2025]2 May 2025, 3:23 pm
Schubert Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in A minor, D. 821Schumann Fünf Stücke im Volkston, Op. 102Debussy Sonata for Violoncello and Piano in D minorMstislav Rostropovich, VioloncelloBenjamin Britten, PianoProduct ID: ESSD-90303This very famous Decca was recorded by Ken Wilkinson and Gordon Parry in The Maltings, Snape, UK, in 1968 and released on Decca and London in October 1970. The Decca vinyl originals go for over $2000, the Londons less, but still over two hundred bucks. It's ra... - Infigo Audio Method 4 High End Digital to Analog Converter1 May 2025, 10:17 am
Having recently reviewed the superb Infigo Audio Method IS-1 Cryogen Streamer, I continue onward here with a review of their high-end Method 4 Digital to Analog Converter (DAC), USD 35,000, which I had used, along with other DACs, in the Streamer review. Hans Looman (CEO/Founder of Infigo Audio) kindly sent this expensive DAC for review, along with the Streamer. It arrived inside a special three-level packing box for shipping a Method 4, well wrapped in a silk cloth. It paired flawlessly wi... - PS Audio Stellar Strata Integrated Amplifier MK21 May 2025, 10:17 am
It feels like a milestone that I have been writing for Audiophilia long enough to review the second generation of a product I covered after its launch. Here we are with the PS Audio Stellar Strata Mk2 (USD 3499), the recently updated integrated amplifier in PS Audio’s middle-range Stellar series of electronics. An established player in the high end audio scene, PS Audio is about five years into an era of using a direct sales business model and they seem to be stronger for it. Design, ...
- Ideon Audio Announces Absolute Stream META15 May 2025, 12:10 am
14 May 2025: Ideon Audio, a global leader in high-end […] The post Ideon Audio Announces Absolute Stream META appeared first on hi-fi+.... - Peter Bruntnell: Houdini and the Sucker Punch13 May 2025, 1:58 pm
After a stint of pandemic-era sparseness, UK Americana singer-songwriter Peter Bruntnell joins forces with a select band of friends and returns to form with this alt-country masterpiece, argues Sean Hannam. The post Peter Bruntnell: Houdini and the Sucker Punch appeared first on hi-fi+.... - Franco Serblin Accordo Goldberg13 May 2025, 12:59 pm
Take the popular and elegant Franco Serblin Accordo stand-mount loudspeaker, add new technology, make it smaller and just as great sounding. What’s not to like about Goldberg, asks Alan Sircom. The post Franco Serblin Accordo Goldberg appeared first on hi-fi+.... - Benchmark DAC3 B13 May 2025, 12:37 pm
If you aren’t just chasing the latest high-resolution files and just want a damn good, no-frills digital converter, you can’t go wrong with a Benchmark DAC 3B, argues Alan Sircom. The post Benchmark DAC3 B appeared first on hi-fi+.... - Trilogy 914 preamp and 994 mono power amplifiers12 May 2025, 1:10 am
Trilogy’s latest mono power amplifiers are the perfect partner for its flexible one-box line preamplifier. Both use Trilogy’s classic hybrid design and the results are outstanding, according to Alan Sircom. The post Trilogy 914 preamp and 994 mono power amplifiers appeared first on hi-fi+....
- Canton Reference 3 loudspeaker5 May 2025, 12:00 am
First seen at High End Munich in 2023, Canton’s Reference range brought a major renewal to the flagship offering of Germany’s largest loudspeaker brand. Introducing a new design aesthetic, with a rounded lute-shape cabinet profile made popular by Sonus faber many years ago, and integrating new drivers, it heralded a major course change from the previous Reference K generation [HFN May & Aug ’22]. Yet Canton’s penchant for sprawling ranges has not changed, so the Refer... - DS Audio TB-100 Energiser/Equaliser3 May 2025, 12:00 am
This just may be the most self-fulfilling review I’ve ever written. DS Audio has unleashed a valve energiser and equaliser, the TB-100, for its optical cartridges. Up to this point, every one of its cartridges has been launched with a matching solid-state energiser of relative or comparable price, but the TB-100 has been released on its own. Because every DS Audio cartridge will work with any of the energisers regardless of price, this time it’s all about the tubes.At £17,50... - Audiophile: Digital, April 20252 May 2025, 12:00 am
John Cale Ship Of Fools – The Island Albums Esoteric ECLEC32881 (three discs)Easily the most talented musician from what I consider an overrated band – Velvet Underground – Cale has delivered around 25 solo albums, of which this box set contains three of the best. Following two each for Columbia and Reprise, his trio of releases for Island – Fear (1974), Slow Dazzle and Helen Of Troy (both 1975) – were issued in just over a year, attesting to insane productivity... - Jazz, April 20252 May 2025, 12:00 am
Misha Mullov-Abbado Effra Ubuntu Music UBU0185; LP: UBU0185LPDespite lots of other work – from the duo with his violinist mother Viktoria to the Patchwork Orchestra big band – Misha’s main project for many years now has been his enduring London sextet. Trumpeter Davison, saxophonists Herd and Rapley, pianist Dunachie and drummer Chapman have been playing Mullov-Abbado’s compositions since 2017. Here his themes range from the boisterous, gospelly blues of ‘Effra ... - Classical, April 20252 May 2025, 12:00 am
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Thomas Kaufmann, Camerata Bern ‘Exile’ – Panufnik, Schnittke, Wyschnegradsky, Ysaÿe, etc. Alpha ALPHA1110 (downloads to 96kHz/24-bit resolution) Concept albums from PK and her Swiss partners never make for a comfortable listen. Schnittke’s First Cello Sonata, in neo-Baroque dress, trades in Mahlerian violence but keeps heavy irony at bay – unlike the Schubert dances used for one of the interludes. PK bends and twists the ferocious ...
- Audio-Technica AT-LPA2: New $2,000 King of the Crate Diggers or Just Another Spin?15 May 2025, 6:38 pm
Audio-Technica's new $2,000 AT-LPA2 turntable proves vinyl isn’t just back—it's sipping single-origin pour-over and judging your cartridge alignment.... - Mark Levinson 600 Series Unleashed at HIGH END Munich 2025: All-American, All-Attitude, and Proudly Overkill15 May 2025, 4:48 pm
The Mark Levinson 600 Series redefines American high-end audio with flagship power amplifiers and preamp engineered for purity.... - Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones – The New High Bar?15 May 2025, 4:00 pm
3 years in the making, the WH-1000XM6 replaces the XM5. Was it worth the wait?... - Qobuz Connect is Finally Here (And There Was Much Rejoicing)15 May 2025, 1:01 pm
Three years in the making, Qobuz Connect is here and it's available on more devices than you might think.... - Qobuz Connect Comes to HEOS: Denon and Marantz Users Get a Real Hi-Res Streaming Option15 May 2025, 1:00 pm
Qobuz Connect launches this week, bringing seamless high-res audio streaming to HEOS and a wide range of devices, outshining TIDAL with smoother integration....
- Volumio Rivo Plus Streamer Review14 May 2025, 12:00 pm
There are lots of options when it comes to music streamers, but the Volumio Rivo Plus has a lot going for it. Reliable, no subscription... The post Volumio Rivo Plus Streamer Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - EMM Labs MA3i Digital-to-Analog Converter Review12 May 2025, 12:00 pm
EMM Labs manufactures some of the highest-end DACs on the planet. But not everyone can afford their $35,000 DA2i DAC, so they offer a range... The post EMM Labs MA3i Digital-to-Analog Converter Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - T+A Talis R 330 Stand-mount Speakers Review7 May 2025, 12:00 pm
T+A is a German hi-fi manufacturer of great renown. They began manufacturing 47 years ago and have made quite a name for themselves, offering... The post T+A Talis R 330 Stand-mount Speakers Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Technics SC-CX700 Wireless Speaker System Review5 May 2025, 12:00 pm
A pair of monitor speakers may not be what first comes to mind when you think about Technics. After all, their legacy of turntables and... The post Technics SC-CX700 Wireless Speaker System Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.... - Canton Reference 7 Floor-Standing Speakers Review30 April 2025, 12:00 pm
The Canton Reference 7 speakers offer high-fidelity sonic performance in a sleek and stylish curved-baffle design. The Reference series... The post Canton Reference 7 Floor-Standing Speakers 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 […]...
- Fosi Audio i5 Review14 May 2025, 10:59 am
In this feature, James reviews the Fosi Audio i5, a new set of open-back circumaural 97mm planar magnetic driver headphones with a current retail price of $549.99. Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links. I thank Fosi Audio for their support. You can click here to learn more about Fosi Audio products previously reviewed on Headfonics. This article follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can read [&helli... - TempoTec March V-M5 Review12 May 2025, 10:43 am
In this feature, Meldrick reviews the TempoTec March V-M5, a compact desktop dual-DAC and Class A headphone amplifier with optional BT. It is currently priced at $178.00. Disclaimer: I received this sample in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links. I thank TempoTec for their support. Click here to learn more about TempoTec products previously reviewed on Headfonics. This article follows our latest scoring guidelines,... - FiiO RR11 Review10 May 2025, 11:47 am
Today, Lynn reviews the FiiO RR11, the company’s debut portable FM Radio player with added dongle functionality and 17.5 hours of battery life. It is currently priced at $59.99. 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 gui... - Nostalgia Audio Durandal Review9 May 2025, 11:34 am
Today, Marcus reviews the Nostalgia Audio Durandal, a new high-end tribrid universal IEM with a 9.2mm dynamic, 2 bone conduction, and 4 BA driver configuration. It is currently priced at $2419. 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 the team at Nostalgia Audio for their support. Click here to read more about Nostalgia Audio products we have previously reviewed on Hea... - Kiwi Ears Aether Review7 May 2025, 10:44 am
Today’s feature is Kurt’s review of the Kiwi Ears Aether, a new 15.3mm single planar driver universal in-ear monitor currently priced at $169.99. Disclaimer: This sample was sent in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank Linsoul and Kiwi Ears for their support. Click here to read up on Kiwi Ears gear previously reviewed on Headfonics. This article follows our latest scoring guidelines, which you can read in m...
- Dan Clark Audio Unveils The NOIRE XO Open-Back Headphones13 May 2025, 10:05 pm
The latest headphone from Dan Clark Audio is an open-back version of their NOIRE X, appropriately called the NOIRE XO. The post Dan Clark Audio Unveils The NOIRE XO Open-Back Headphones appeared first on AudioHead.... - Andrew Jones And The New MoFi Sourcepoint V107 May 2025, 3:19 pm
The MoFi Sourcepoint V10 is the latest creation from the mind of Andrew Jones, a speaker designer with a resume The post Andrew Jones And The New MoFi Sourcepoint V10 appeared first on AudioHead.... - The Long-Awaited Schiit Audio Valhalla 3 Is Finally Here2 May 2025, 6:06 pm
New updates on the Schiit Audio Valhalla 3 tube headphone amplifier for under $500. Headphone tube amplifiers under $500 aren’t The post The Long-Awaited Schiit Audio Valhalla 3 Is Finally Here appeared first on AudioHead.... - SVS Outfits T.H.E. Film Festival at Lone Star Audio Fest1 May 2025, 5:15 pm
No manufacturer who frequents audio shows does it quite like SVS. Known for their big bass subs and new Ultra The post SVS Outfits T.H.E. Film Festival at Lone Star Audio Fest appeared first on AudioHead.... - Review: Wharfedale Super Linton29 April 2025, 5:47 pm
Our in-depth review of the Wharfedale Super Linton loudspeaker I will be the first to admit, it has taken me The post Review: Wharfedale Super Linton appeared first on AudioHead....
- AXPONA 2025 – Coverage Sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio – Part – 516 May 2025, 6:00 am
Welcome back to my coverage of AXPONA 2025. I want to send out special thanks to our friends at Vera-Fi The post AXPONA 2025 – Coverage Sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio – Part – 5 appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - Focal introduces three lacquered finishes for Diva Utopia wireless loudspeaker14 May 2025, 11:00 am
May 14, 2025 – Focal, the prestigious French audio brand recognized worldwide for its acoustic excellence, is proud to unveil three The post Focal introduces three lacquered finishes for Diva Utopia wireless loudspeaker appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphone9 May 2025, 7:15 pm
Dan Clark Audio’s first fully in-house headphone was the MrSpeakers ETHER Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphone, and a more appropriately The post Dan Clark Audio NOIRE XO Open Back Planar Magnetic Headphone appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - AXPONA 2025 – Coverage Sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio – Part 47 May 2025, 6:00 am
Welcome back to my coverage of AXPONA 2025. I want to send out special thanks to our friends at Vera-Fi The post AXPONA 2025 – Coverage Sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio – Part 4 appeared first on Headphone Guru.... - AXPONA 2025 – Coverage Sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio – Part 32 May 2025, 6:00 am
Welcome back to my coverage of AXPONA 2025. I want to send out special thanks to our friends at Vera-Fi The post AXPONA 2025 – Coverage Sponsored by Vera-Fi Audio – Part 3 appeared first on Headphone Guru....
- Do you use a dedicated stand for your loudspeaker?15 May 2025, 12:00 am
... - June 2025 issue now on sale15 May 2025, 12:00 am
Welcome to the June 2025 issue! One of the most enjoyable things about working on HFC is perusing all the many letters and emails we receive every month. While they give our writers the opportunity to offer advice and show off their expertise, the missives I personally relish are the ones that critique the magazine as a whole.A splendid example arrived from David Mayer who has plenty to say about the content we currently offer, his observations so forensic that we tackle them in detail in Let... - SVS Ultra Evolution Nano14 May 2025, 12:00 am
In a mythical university dedicated entirely to hi-fi studies, my guess is that every student would be required to deliver a thesis on how to design a world-beating £1,000 standmount speaker. Get that one right, I reckon, and the big brands will be queueing round the block come graduation day.Thing is, there are so many great, over-achieving sub-£500 budget boxes on the market, questioning the need to spend more isn’t just understandable but mandatory. In order to generate re... - Apple AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation12 May 2025, 12:00 am
Apple’s recent revamp of its AirPods range was something of a mixed bag. The flagship AirPods Max (HFC 500) merely gained a USB-C port for charging, while the mid-range Pro (HFC 490)mutated into a hearing aid. However, the entry-level AirPods received a major update that actually introduced two new models – the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation, with the latter introducing the isolation technology to the entry-level AirPods for the first time. There was a welcom... - Monitor Audio Studio 899 May 2025, 12:00 am
As anyone who tried to buy tickets for Oasis’ 2025 reunion tour will have discovered, nostalgia is big business. The hi-fi industry knows it too, and in recent years has been scouring the Seventies for speaker and amplifier designs to either leverage into new updates or directly resurrect. Monitor Audio, however, has now jumped a decade ahead, launching a new speaker “inspired by the Eighties”. Seeing as Hollywood has been tapping into that decade with revisits to the Beverly ...
- 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... - 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....
- 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....
- 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.... - 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....
- EXCLUSIVE: Eversolo Play Streaming Amplifier First Look14 May 2025, 5:02 pm
Eric Teh shares his initial impressions of this value-packed mini music system…... - BenQ GP520 Projector Review7 May 2025, 2:42 am
Tony O’Brien tries out a classy new lifestyle projector that’s supremely easy to use…... - Nordost Leif 3 Red Dawn XLR Interconnect Review6 May 2025, 2:02 am
Mark Gusew auditions the latest balanced audio cable from this prestigious manufacturer…... - Audiovector R 10 Arreté First Listen1 May 2025, 10:03 am
Audiovector unveiled its new flagship loudspeaker, the R 10 Arreté, to a select group in Denmark ahead of its official reveal at High End Munich 2025 and Jay Garrett was there...... - Acoustic Energy AE300² speaker review1 May 2025, 8:25 am
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- 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.... - ACT Music Joins Qobuz for High-Resolution Streaming Collaboration18 April 2025, 6:23 pm
Qobuz, the French platform for high-quality streaming and downloading (1-month free trial here), announced a new international partnership with ACT Music, the legendary German jazz label. The two companies announced the partnership on April 17, 2025. ACT Music is an independent label founded by Siggi Loch in 1992. The collaboration will provide an enhanced musical […] The post ACT Music Joins Qobuz for High-Resolution Streaming Collaboration appeared first on HIFI Trends.... - Is a Cheap Music Streamer Good Enough? What You Need to Know Before You Buy8 April 2025, 2:16 am
The allure of high-fidelity audio streaming has never been stronger. With vast music libraries available at our fingertips, the days of physical media dominating our listening habits are firmly in the rearview mirror. Yet, as we embrace this digital sonic landscape, a crucial question arises, particularly for those mindful of their budgets: Is a cheap […] The post Is a Cheap Music Streamer Good Enough? What You Need to Know Before You Buy appeared first on HIFI Trends....
- Vista Audio Phono-2 MK II8 May 2025, 3:41 am
Click Here To Watch The YouTube VideoNineteen years ago I reignited my enthusiasm for home audio with the e-publication Affordable$$Audio. My goal was to find truly high value, low cost gear. So many of the worthy units were from small “boutique” manufacturers. Of all of them, one has stood ... - Denafrips IRIS DDC3 May 2025, 6:18 pm
Click Here to Watch the YouTube ReviewI can remember when people scoffed at the idea of a separate deck converter box. Audio fans would point out the fact that there was already a digital to audio converter chip inside the CD player. But what many didn’t understand is that by having a separate box for the conversion, the ability to extract more detail by peeling away some of the haze would improve the sound.Well, now the next step has been taken by several companies. The idea of... - Audio Craftsmen Laval Speakers: Written and YouTube Review4 February 2025, 4:28 am
Link to the YouTube reviewA great lament over so many audio, reviewers, and true audio fans, is that seemingly the great technology in speakers went to the development of the drivers while the crossover was somewhat ignored. Most likely because it was hidden inside the cabinet, it was seen as a great area to cut cost rather than an opportunity to deliver absolute first rate sound.While, as a teacher economics to my high school students, I fully understand cost in price point is critical in... - Buchardt S400 MKii Stand Mount Speaker: Written & YouTube Review30 December 2024, 4:58 am
Watch the YouTube Review2024 has been a great year to review Stand mount speakers,. From the surprising and engaging Verify Audio Scouts, to the airy KEF R3 Meta and now a direct competitor, the Buchardt S 400 MK2. In the past few years wave guide technology has come to the forefront of speaker design with regards to the tweeter, the S400s are the most obvious example of this technology. The .76in dome tweeter, surrounded by substantial aluminum cone (for lack of better word) is the g... - 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...
- Munich High End 2025 Show Report – Day 216 May 2025, 9:32 am
HFA is not attending the show this year, but that does not mean there will be no report. Over the course of the next days, this page will be continually updated using photos sent by friends in the industry.... - Munich High End 2025 Show Report – Day 115 May 2025, 12:02 pm
HFA is not attending the show this year, but that does not mean there will be no report. Over the course of the next days, this page will be continually updated using photos sent by friends in the industry.... - Artesania Audio to introduce new products at Munich High End 20259 May 2025, 1:22 pm
Artesania Audio, the high-end rack company, will introduce new products at Munich High End 2025. The brand will have a dedicated room and lots of collaborative exposure.... - WestminsterLab Quest preamp and Rei mono power amps6 May 2025, 6:11 am
WestminsterLab's company motto is "Experience music as it is". The company is all about not choosing any single aspect and instead allowing the whole to reveal itself.... - XACT Launches the N1 Reference Network Switch5 May 2025, 2:46 pm
XACT Audio, a brand known for uncompromising digital audio engineering, is proud to announce the release of the XACT N1, a groundbreaking audiophile network switch developed entirely from scratch to meet the demands of the most discerning listeners....
- 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...
- HIGH END Munich 2025: Welcome, Qobuz Connect!16 May 2025, 6:41 am
Here’s some big news from the big show—Qobuz Connect is here! And now. Related press releases are rolling just after the embargo lifted from companies who make hardware that is now Qobuz Connect(ed). As of right now that’s 50+ brands including Auralic, Denon, Lumin, Luxman, [...]... - Album of the Week: Japanese Breakfast | For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)16 May 2025, 4:43 am
As someone looking into the rear view at middle age*, enjoying Michelle Zauner’s latest treat feels nearly naughty. Harp, guitars, and other strings help buoy Zauner’s lofty vocals, with the entire affair feeling cloud-like, a dream of a dream on her latest, For Melancholy Brunettes [...]... - HIGH END Munich 2025: VTL to Launch Their Flagship Lohengri Amplifier15 May 2025, 7:00 am
It’s not every day that VTL releases a new product, something I appreciate and even admire. Their new Lohengri amplifier takes up where the company’s Siegfried amplifier left off, utilizing its higher-powered driver stages and power supply combined with a 400 watt eight-tube output stage. [...]... - HIGH END Munich 2025: Octave to Unveil the Jubilee Class A Mono Amplifier12 May 2025, 11:45 am
Want to know a secret? The Octave Jubilee Preamplifier & Jubilee Mono ULTIMATE Monoblock Amplifiers are, together with the YG Sonja 3.3, making seriously stunning music in Barn. Stunning, and the Octave Jubilee are making me re-think some of my thoughts about the YGs in [...]... - #NewMusicFriday: May 9, 20259 May 2025, 1:00 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. Kali Uchis: Sincerely, (UMG) Berliner Philharmoniker, Seiji Ozawa: Haydn: Symphony No. 60 in C [...]...
- xDuoo X5 Review14 May 2025, 9:30 pm
In this article we take a look at the xDuoo X5, the brand’s latest DAP selling for just $209 USD. Disclaimer: Shenzhen Audio... The post xDuoo X5 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - JDS Labs Element IV Review12 May 2025, 9:30 pm
Today we’re looking at the JDS Labs Element IV DAC & AMP. It’s selling for $549 USD. Don’t forget to enter our FiiO K11... The post JDS Labs Element IV Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - FiiO K11 R2R Giveaway11 May 2025, 9:30 pm
We together with our partner FiiO, continue our series of gear giveaways with the FiiO K11 R2R DAC. Just keep reading and enter the... The post FiiO K11 R2R Giveaway appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - Fosi Audio i5 Review10 May 2025, 9:30 pm
This time, we review Fosi Audio’s debut headphones, the Fosie Audio i5. They can be bought for as little as $386 USD by backing... The post Fosi Audio i5 Review appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/... - Blog: High End Munich 2025 Preview – Munich First9 May 2025, 9:30 pm
In this High End Munich 2025 Preview Munich First article, we take a look at a series of new products that will be... The post Blog: High End Munich 2025 Preview – Munich First appeared first on https://www.headfonia.com/...
- Happy Birthday Bob Dylan—May 24th14 May 2025, 1:00 pm
a selection of veteran music journalist Harvey Kubernik's interviewees help us celebrate Bob Dylan's 84th birthday... - From Jersey to Paris: The Life, Legacy, and Last Grooves of George “Funky” Brown13 May 2025, 10:00 pm
Celebrating George Brown’s Journey from Kool & the Gang to Jazz in Paris... - Off to Munich High End 2025—the Final Munich Show!13 May 2025, 6:48 pm
next year it moves to Vienna... - See How Strata-East's New Reissue Series Records Are Plated, Pressed and Packaged13 May 2025, 2:07 pm
this video prepared for new vinyl fans following Strata-East by everyone will enjoy... - London Calling New York New York: Two Songs, Two Cities13 May 2025, 1:16 pm
Late Journalist Peter Silverton's book binds Sinatra and The Clash...