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The Absolute Sound (TAS) has published its December issue, complete with nearly a dozen high-end component reviews (plus 38 stocking stuffers!): PS Audio Soloist power conditioner outlet ($199) NuForce Reference 9 V2 SE monoblock power amps ($5,000/pair) Vienna Acoustics Mahler V1.5 floorstanding speakers ($12,800/pair) Vincent Audio SA-T8 tube preamp ($2,500) and SP-T800 hybrid monoblock power amps ($4,500/pair) Unison Research Unico 200 hybrid integrated amp ($7,850) Emerald Physics CS2 floorstanding speakers ($2,995/pair) Lamm Industries M1.2 Reference

TNT-Audio has posted its review of the DIY Paradise Monica3 DAC ($400). This is a non-oversampling (NOS) design in a wooden box with “SPDIF in, and twin RCA sockets for analogue output. There is also a (switched) DC power input socket.” Reviewer Nick Whetstone compared it to his tweaked version of the Monica2 and was quite impressed with what he heard: Suffice to say that Monica3 is a very fine DAC, a big improvement on

6moons has posted a whole bunch of new reviews, including the following: Emillé Labs KM-300SE tube integrated amp (GBP 5,990) Wadia Digital 170 iTransport digital iPod dock ($379) Triode Corporation (Tri) TRV-CD4SE cd player (EUR 2,195), TRV-A300SE integrated amp (EUR 2,199), and TRV-M300SE monoblocks (EUR 4,299/pair) ASI Tango floorstanding speakers (EUR 13,500-25,000/pair) LessLoss Dynamic Filtering Power Cable ($749) Musical Laboratory Paeonia preamp (EUR 1,895) and Bosanghwa monos (EUR 3,800/pair) If you’re interested in the Wadia

Affordable$$Audio, a magazine focused on the low-end (with some high-end thrown in too), has published its November issue. Included are reviews of the following: Acoustic Revive Acoustic Conditioner RWL-III panels ($995 each) Elemental Designs A6-6T6 monitor speakers ($365/pair) Audio Space Reference 3.1 tube integrated amp ($3,390) Manley Labs Stingray tube integrated amp ($2,250) Stager Silver Solids interconnect cables ($129/1 meter pair) Blue Circle power line products ($180-280) Yamamoto Sound Craft audio bases ($12-410) Download the

Australian Hi-Fi, a 39-year-old magazine now part of the AVHub umbrella, has published its November/December issue. In addition to a wide variety of articles and stories, the new issue contains reviews of the following gear: Duntech DSM-15 loudspeakers Mordaunt Short Avant 916i floorstanding speakers Styleaudio Carat HD1V TCXO Hi-Fi USB DAC Yamaha A-S2000 integrated amplifier (AUD 2,999) Too bad the magazine doesn’t post more content on its web site. You can, however, subscribe to the

Stereophile has posted its review of the Cary Audio Design CD 306 SACD Professional Version SACD/CD player ($8,000). This unit (photo) has “wireless IR remote control, HDCD decoding, and switchable upsampling frequency.” Also included are three (!) digital inputs: AES/EBU via XLR, S/PDIF via RCA, and TosLink. Despite an initial dud review sample and some operational issues on the replacement, Reviewer John Atkinson liked what he heard. Compared to his reference, the Ayre C-5xe, John

Positive Feedback Online has posted a review of the Zu Audio Presence loudspeaker ($8,000/pair). This is a full-range “direct radiating, controlled dispersion, infinite baffle (sealed) 60 degree triangular floor-standing loudspeaker with internally powered, forward firing, two 10″ low frequency drivers with simple user bypass ability.” Reviewer John Zurek was struck by the fit and finish of these interesting looking floorstanders (photo), but he had trouble getting them to sound right in his room. I struggled

Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity has posted a review of the JL Audio Fathom f212 Subwoofer ($6,000). This is a sealed enclosure design with two 12″ drivers and 3,000 watts of short-term power. Reviewer John E. Johnson, Jr. had to hire two guys to carry his this 220 lb monster (photo) into his room. After listening, he said: Now, I listened to a lot of SACDs and watched a bunch of movies using

What Hi-Fi?, another of the British “hi-fi” glossies, has posted their review of the Chord Electronics QBD76 DAC (GBP 3,000), which they awarded a five star rating. This is a distinctively styled design (photo) that accepts both USB and Bluetooth, in addition to optical and coaxial. The unnamed reviewers liked the naturalness and fluidity of the sound, as well as the excellent bass. They remarked: Chord claims the resolution to be as good as CD

Stereophile has posted its review of the Ayre KX-R line preamp ($18,500). This is a solid-state design with a variety of technical and design innovations, including a chassis milled from a single block of aluminum (photo). Reviewer Wes Phillips liked the unit’s silent background and broad soundstage. He compared it to the solid-state Parasound Halo JC 2 ($4000) and the tubed Conrad-Johnson ACT2 Series 2 ($16,500), after which he concluded: I could live with any