Blog draft

Affordable Audio has published its February issue. The following component and accessory reviews are included: Paradigm Monitor 7 v.6 floorstanding speakers ($750) Homegrown Audio Silver Lace ($280/pair) and DNA interconnects ($525/pair) SVSound SBS-01 bookshelf speakers ($225) Audioengine AW-2 wireless iPod transmitter/receiver ($169) Acoustic Revive Quartz insulators, resonators, and cancelers ($125-625) Download the entire issue (10 MB PDF) by going to the Affordable Audio web site and clicking the February 2009 issue link in the left

The Hi-Fi Reader, perhaps the most underground of all the audiophile ‘zines, has published a new issue (#8). Included are the following reviews: Ohm Micro Walsh Tall floorstanding speakers Sony PS1 CD player and game system Pete Riggle Rega tonearm mods: VTAF tonearm VTA adjuster and CCM counterweight upgrade The new issue also includes coverage of last years Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, as well as a story on Austin band Ghostland Observatory. Check out subscription

The Absolute Sound (TAS) has published its March issue, dubbed the “Analog Issue.” Included are reviews of the following: Music Hall MMF2.2 turntable Pro-Ject XPression III turntable Rega P3-24 turntable Nottingham Interspace Jr. turntable Ginko Audio Cloud 14 turntable isolation platform PS Audio GCPH phonostage Benz Glider SM phono cartridge Well Tempered Labs Amadeus turntable Clearaudio Nano phonostage Phonomena II phonostage Graham Slee Era Gold phonostage Grado Reference Platinum cartridge Tri-Planar VII U II tonearm

Stereo Times has posted a review of the TIDAL Contriva floorstanding loudspeakers ($60,900). Reviewer Mike Wright was infatuated with their appearance (photo). He notes: The craftsmanship was beautiful, and in fact, was first class in every respect. I have not encountered a better made speaker… On the sound, he concludes: Keeping in mind that I have not heard every loudspeaker in existence, still, I’d be hard pressed to imagine that there is a loudspeaker significantly

DAGOGO has posted its February issue. It includes reviews of the following: Abbingdon Music Research CD-77 CD player ($9,995) Blue Circle Audio SB100S power amp ($3,195) Plinius 9200 solid-state integrated amp ($4,835) The new issue also includes reviews of accessories, including carbon fiber CD mats, LP mats, and LP weights. It also has a review the newest room treatment sensation: tiny carbon steel bowls. Gotta love this hobby!

Audiogon, the online marketplace for high-end used equipment, has posted 15 videos taken at CES 2009: Maxxhorn speakers and Ayon tube amplifiers Totem Acoustic in-wall speakers Evolution + darTZeel + Playback Designs YG Acoustics: Best Loudspeaker on Earth? Virtue Audio: cheap audiophile computer USB  amplifier The Disc Doctor record cleaning products ART Loudspeakers Cary to EXCITE computer audio Von Gaylord Audio Rives Audio EgglestonWorks + Grand Prix + Ayre MBL high-end audio from Germany Kiso

SoundStageV.com, the video arm of the SoundStage! Network, has posted three highlight videos from CES 2009 that focus on introductions of new audiophile products: SimAudio i-3.3 integrated amplifier ($3,300) and CD-3.3 CD player ($3,000) Tangent Ampster AMP-30 20Wpc integrated amplifier ($299) Amphion Argon3 floorstanding speakers ($4,000/pair) More video reviews and factory tours are available on SoundStageV. I like their no-nonsense approach to editing these clips. As with all videos about sound equipment, I’m not sure

SoundStage! Network has posted a new set of high end component reviews. Among them: Luxman L-509u integrated amp ($10,000) HeadRoom bi-amped audiophile desktop system ($5,860) Stello DA100 Signature DAC ($995) and CDT100 transport ($895) Audience Au24e interconnects ($797-1,250) and speaker cables ($1,554) Shunyata Research Dark Field cable elevators ($295 for 12) Wadia 170iTransport digital iPod dock ($379) Thiel Audio CS2.4SE floorstanding speakers ($8,000/pair) Rotel RA-1062 integrated amp ($699) Also check out their new galleries section

Enjoy the Music.com has posted a whole bunch of new content. Among the new reviews are: TubeMagic M23SE tube monoblocks (CAD 6,799) and P23SE preamp (CAD 3,900) A.O.S. Systems CD-One CD player (CAD $799) Coincident Frankenstein Mk II tube monoblocks ($11,198/pair) Podium Sound 0.5 floorstanding speakers ($5,995/pair) Rogue Audio M-150 tube monoblocks ($4,495/pair) HeadRoom DAC ($333) and Micro headphone amplifier ($333) Sonos Multi-Room Music System ($349, plus $399 remote) Telos Golden Reference Cables ($875-1,435) XTZ

Hi-Fi World has published its March issue in both print and electronic versions. Included are reviews and articles on the following components: EAR 868PL tube preamp and 890 power amp Avid Acutus turntable Onkyo TZ-NR906 receiver Pioneer PD-D9 CD player Roksan K2 CD player B&W 683 floorstanding speakers KEF iQ70 floorstanding speakers Mordaunt Short Mezzo 6 floorstanding speakers Neat Ultimatum MFS bookshelf speakers Spendor SA-6 floorstanding speakers Myryad Mi system Olde Worlde: Aiwa LP3000 turntable