The following is a press release issued by Bel Canto Design. October 17, 2018 - Bel Canto Design, a Minnesota based manufacturer of high-performance audio electronics for over 25 years, an established leader in DAC/Controller and Amplification syst… - 9 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 10:46am -
With the recent critical and commercial successes of relatively youthful Swiss high-end-audio companies like Soulution, CH Precision, Dartzeel, and others, electronics from the heart of Europe have never been held in higher esteem. The trouble is t… - 10 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 9:37am -
The following is a press release issued by Gryphon Audio Designs. October 16, 2018 - Gryphon Audio Designs are proud to launch their new Zena preamplifier in Manhattan on Thursday 18 Oct. @ 7:00pm. Your hosts will be Joe Cali and Philip O’Hanlon… - 1 day ago, 16 Oct 18, 11:38am -
The following is a press release issued by Arturo Delmoni. October 15, 2018 - 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the recording of Arturo Delmoni’s legendary Water Lily solo-violin recital LP Arturo Delmoni Plays Bach-Kreisler-Ysaÿe (WLA WS-07).… - 2 days ago, 15 Oct 18, 8:21am -
Whenever I crossed paths with my colleague Jonathan Valin at RMAF 2018, he didn’t look happy. Though there were exceptions, he said, mostly the sound was not so great. My experience was different and the reason, I think, is pretty clear: The smal… - 3 days ago, 14 Oct 18, 11:02pm -
When I began writing for Stereophile, I dreaded doing comparisons. They were stressful and tedious—and what if I got them wrong? But I quickly learned: Not only do readers enjoy comparisons, they need them. How else might they imagine the relati… - 1 day ago, 16 Oct 18, 11:35am -
"At what price does a high-end product cease to exist for the 'normal' audiophile?" This question, which I asked in the February 2017 issue, was a follow-up to one I'd asked in our April 2011 issue: "If all someone is offered is a $150,000 pair of sp… - 1 day ago, 16 Oct 18, 11:02am -
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.2 (A London Symphony)Hallé Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli, conductor.Vanguard Everyman, SRV-134-SD (1963 LP). Reissued in 1982 as PRT Collector GSGC 2035 (LP). Recorded by Pye (UK) in 1957.This is undoubtedly the be… - 1 day ago, 16 Oct 18, 11:00am -
On Thursday, October 18, beginning at 7:00pm, Gryphon Audio Designs distributor On A Higher Note and New York retailer Joseph Cali Systems Design will launch Gryphon's new Zena preamplifier at the Gryphon Audio Loft at 857 Broadway, 3rd floor, New Yo… - 1 day ago, 16 Oct 18, 8:41am -
Forty years after he wrote his two-movement Tabula Rasa for violinist Gidon Kremer, Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, 83, is still alive, engaged and composing. Hence it should come as no surprise that when violinist Viktoria Mullova and conductor Paavo… - 3 days ago, 15 Oct 18, 4:49am -
Who hates social media? Answering emails constantly? Web-surfing rabbit holes? Let’s be real, computers are both ruining/creating the world, but the ‘being there’ of life experience seems to be waning. Are they necessary? Yes, the 21st-century… - 6 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 1:15pm -
Ayre Acoustics was showing off some of the newest kit in their lineup at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and the piece of gear that interested me the most was their new EX-8 integrated 'super' amplifier. From their latest 8 Series. - 2 days ago, 15 Oct 18, 1:46pm -
We’ve all lost something that we swore was just there ”a second ago.” You know what I’m talking about, you put down your phone, or a book, a CD or tape… you turn around to take your coat off or just to sit down and poof it’s gone. Vanishe… - 5 days ago, 12 Oct 18, 11:11am -
Some rooms at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest are jammed packed all the time, making demo sessions a pain as trying to really get a sense of what a system is doing can be difficult with 20 hot, sweaty bodies and all their whispering, muttering and jostling… - 7 days ago, 10 Oct 18, 1:50pm -
Rocky Mountain Audio Fest has been a glorious non-linear, stream-of-consciousness tilt-a-whirl of audiophile OCD immersion. And this is only my first post on it, I bet you can’t wait for everything in-between this and my show wrap. But I digress. - 10 days ago, 7 Oct 18, 8:52pm -
When Chris released his video review of the Naim Unity Atom, I was impressed by his feelings about the product. I did enjoy the video review style vs. a written report. So not long after Chris released the review (link) I decided that the Ato… - 1 day ago, 16 Oct 18, 11:11am -
At Chris’s request, I’ve consolidated my contemporaneous postings about RMAF into this show report. This is my second year attending RMAF at this venue, and like last year, it was very enjoyable. With the benefit of past experience, I was abl… - 8 days ago, 9 Oct 18, 9:30am -
I recently spent a couple days at dCS headquarters in Cambridge, England to get all the details about the new Bartok DAC / Headphone Amp and more importantly to listen to the Bartok on the dCS reference system. The Bartok is quite a component, to… - 15 days ago, 2 Oct 18, 2:27pm -
Archimago, myself, and our lovely wives met up at the Vancouver Art Gallery where we viewed and listened to Kevin Schmidt’s: “We Are the Robots” exhibit. The exhibit runs to Oct 28, 2018. It is an incredible audio visual experience! … - 20 days ago, 27 Sep 18, 10:50am -
Linn has long been a pioneer in the world of HiFi. Its products featured an Ethernet input back in 2007! Many manufacturers today are still thinking about implementing network based audio, while Linn has over a decade of experience perfecting the… - 27 days ago, 20 Sep 18, 10:37am -
I have for sale a pair of excellent condition MG Audio Design Planus II 8 foot speaker cables. These were my back-ups, but I haven't needed them for awhile.These cables won the Stereo Mojo Maximum Mogo award.http://www.stereomojo.com/MGAU... - 4 mins ago, 17 Oct 18, 7:22pm -
Tube preamps? Look at Mapletree Audio line stage or Elekit TU-8500 new. Great bang for the buck. Audio Electronics AE-3 in the used market. I own all 3 of them and have owned all flavors of the AE-3 in the past. You can't go wrong with Cary… - 29 mins ago, 17 Oct 18, 6:57pm -
It's not pointless. I put nice carts on average vintage direct drives all the time. It's all about the tonearm/cartridge matching. - 43 mins ago, 17 Oct 18, 6:43pm -
It’s tough to get everything, but it’s a great feeling when you do. Over the last few years, high performance integrated amplifiers keep increasing in popularity – and for good reason. Space is at a premium, and many music lovers just don’t w… - 13 days ago, 4 Oct 18, 6:16pm -
Let’s just assume for a minute, you are of the mindset that premium cable makes a significant difference in how your system can sound. For today, if you aren’t with us, just move on. Your day will go easier, and no need to raise your blood pressu… - 14 days ago, 3 Oct 18, 8:32pm -
I’m an implementation junkie. I confess loving products that are well executed. With so many garage builders entering the cable industry, with shoddily produced goods packaged like they came from a scout troop bake sale or estate sale, Nordost prod… - 14 days ago, 3 Oct 18, 8:23pm -
Never resting on their laurels, the Cardas team in Bandon, Oregon continues their quest to build the perfect power cord. The effort has resulted in their new flagship, the Clear Beyond XL. After many years using Running Springs Audio Mongoose power c… - 14 days ago, 3 Oct 18, 4:50pm -
Features Old School: Jeff Dorgay looks back at the PrimaLuna ProLogue One, the component that launched his career! 995: A Pioneer $295 Integrated!! By Jerold O’Brien Journeyman Audiophile: The MOON by Simaudio 600iV2 By Eric Neff Mine: It Should Be… - 17 days ago, 30 Sep 18, 9:05pm -
Part-Time AudiophileFast on the heels of a successful AXPONA show which saw Audio Research introduce the Ref 160 monoblock amplifiers with Wilson Alexia 2 speakers, the team showed up again with the 160s but this time the towering Sonus Faber Aida 2… - 16 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 3:00am -
Part-Time AudiophileI haven’t written a show report in nearly eight years, so it makes sense to start it off with a room at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest that has a definite story behind it, a deep meaning, particularly for me. I didn’t know if… - 2 days ago, 16 Oct 18, 3:00am -
Part-Time AudiophileAudio Advice celebrates forty years in business by pulling out all the stops during their annual Music Matters event. Music Matters, is an annual celebration of music listening. However this year is an extra special event as Audi… - 3 days ago, 15 Oct 18, 3:00am -
Part-Time AudiophileIt is almost impossible to visit every room at an audio show. To do so would require running shoes, twenty-something knees, and a stopwatch for limiting your listening window to only two minutes. Now with my excuses firmly in pla… - 4 days ago, 14 Oct 18, 6:00am -
Part-Time AudiophileAyon Audio and USA Tube Audio brought to Rocky Mountain Audio Fest one of the more popular rooms at the show. Not only for bringing great sound, and a stunning product, but for consistently playing great pop and r&b music. If you… - 4 days ago, 14 Oct 18, 3:00am -
One day very recently my wife and children were outside in a park socializing with another family. I joined at one point, and the husband told me that my wife had mentioned that I was reviewing some new amplifiers, and that she thought they sounde… - 9 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 10:05am -
Some forty or more years ago, the average person who set out to buy a stereo system, typically ended up with a stereo receiver. Things were much simpler then; all you needed was a receiver, a turntable and a pair of speakers. As for ‘audio furni… - 7 days ago, 10 Oct 18, 10:58am -
If you visit the top vinyl sales websites such as Elusive Disc and Acoustic Sounds among others, the quality vinyl lists are fairly similar. All the familiar suspects—RCAs, Lyritas, EMIs, Mercurys, Blue Notes, Argos, Deccas—populate the must h… - 19 days ago, 28 Sep 18, 9:24am -
Recently, I had the very good fortune to review the Shelter 501 III MC Phono Cartridge. No sooner than the review was published, a Shelter 5000 MC Phono Cartridge dropped into my lap. For my review of Canadian startup Pure Fidelity’s Eclipse Tur… - 28 days ago, 19 Sep 18, 10:09am -
Unless knee deep in a surprise Rocky Mountain snowstorm, Fall is a beautiful time of year to visit Denver, CO, one of the coolest, most progressive cities in the USA. It's a place that reveres craft beer (there's even a museum in the airport dedic… - 28 days ago, 19 Sep 18, 10:00am -
I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy and satisfaction listening to the mids with Cayin's HA-300 stereo headphone amplifier. Like my heart was fuller every time I listened. It's a rare and special feeling I only get when the midrange… - 13 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 6:26am -
Amadeus have announced they are now shipping the new Philharmonia Mini passive two-way loudspeakers (€36,000 including VAT), co-designed specifically for the hi-fi market by world-renowned architect Jean Nouvel. Amadeus' new Philharmonia Mini speak… - 15 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 4:42am -
Black Cat Cable's new Coppertone Interconnect ($199.95 @ 1-meter pair, add $50 per additional 0.5-meter) is an air-dielectric coaxial design employing a helically-disposed shield around a thin-walled Teflon tube. Inside the tube is Black Cat Cable's… - 2 days ago, 15 Oct 18, 9:02pm -
This is the first Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest (RMAF) I've had the opportunity to attend since the remodel to the Denver Marriott Tech Center two years ago (2016). My last, which was also my first by the way, was in 2015. That had been won… - 2 days ago, 15 Oct 18, 11:32am -
Item: Orpheus Silex Turntable. Location: Balwyn, Melbourne. Price: 100.00 Item Condition: For parts or restoration. Reason for selling: Moving to a small unit. No space for planned projects. Payment M… - 3 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 4:21pm -
Item: Fidelity Research FRT-3 Step Up Transformer Location: Wollongong Price: $145 - ish, plus postage $10 Item Condition: Between pristine and whatever the opposite of pristine is. Reason for selling: No longer required Payment Method: Pic… - 14 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 5:35am -
Item: 1 x Audio-Technica AT-OC9 and 1 x Ortofon MC-30 Super Location: Wollongong Price: AT-OC9 $100 / MC-30 Super $100 or both for $179, plus postage $10 each Item Condition: Both of them have put in considerable hours over the years but are in… - 14 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 5:24am -
There is one thing that all high end audio components require to function as a system, and that is signal and power cables. No getting around it. Of course, there is no market segment more controversial than audiophile cabling. This is partially due… - 22 Mar 17, 1:45pm -
Multi-function powered speakers are all the rage in 2017, and no other company has been more at the forefront than Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-loudspeakers/bookshelf-monitor-loudspeakers/audioengine-hd3-powered-speakers-dac-review… - 6 Feb 17, 8:02pm -
A lot of excellent HiFi products are designed and produced in Australia, and none more than Conductor DAC/Preamp and Timekeeper power amp combo (home-theater-power-amplifiers/stereo-amplifiers/the-burson-conductor-timekeeper-review.html) sometime ago… - 24 Jan 17, 9:10am -
Sony has detailed the latest additions to its EXTRA BASS Wireless Speaker Series. The new models include the SRS-XB40, SRS-XB30, SRS-XB20, and SRS-XB10.Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/speaker-systems-news/sony-details-new-extr… - 24 Jan 17, 9:02am -
Hulu and Magnolia Pictures have announced a new output licensing agreement. As part of the deal, Hulu will receive the pay one window streaming rights to films released by the distributor.Read more... (http://www.avrev.com/home-theater-news/indust… - 24 Jan 17, 8:58am -
Continuing on with our coverage... In this report, all photos by Dave Clark, words by Carol Clark, except those in parentheses, which are by Dave Clark who will do his best to be nice. Auralic with YG Acoustic loudspeakers. (Loved the sound here.) Au… - 6 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 1:54pm -
Sunny War, With the Sun. ORG Music ORGM-1041, LP $15.89 at Amazon.com. I have this really bad habit of judging albums by their covers. Something gets sent to me in the mail, I glance at it, maybe open it up and look at the liner notes and then I pl… - 6 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 1:31pm -
Continuing on with our coverage... In this report, all photos by Dave Clark, words by Carol Clark, except those in parentheses, which are by Dave Clark who will do his best to be nice. Nordost, CH Precision, YG Acoustics, VPI Industries, and dCS. Ph… - 7 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 12:21pm -
The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest celebrated its fifteenth year this October in Denver! At the press and exhibitor mixer on Thursday night, Marjorie Baumert announced that next year the show is moving. The new location, The Gaylord Rockies, is closer to… - 8 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 11:16am -
I remember my first high-end digital player, a California Audio Labs DX-1. Looking forward to perfect sound forever, I tried to sell myself on the virtues of that CD player. Listening through my (then) Martin Logan Aerius speakers and Classe amp, I c… - 2 days ago, 15 Oct 18, 10:21am -
“Roon. Great functionality, metadata2die4, a user interface that trounces others Hulk-style. All for the price of a good interconnect. Or rent it, like your music.”…say some. It’s not the only party in town though. I use it. I know it’s go… - 11 hours ago, 17 Oct 18, 8:37am -
As RMAF 2018 drew to a close, I joined Angela Cardas in the Marriott hotel bar for a chat about her role as manager of Cardas Audio and what she thinks of the term ‘WAF’. Guess what! She’s “not a fan”. The way Cardas tells it, the days of a… - 4 days ago, 14 Oct 18, 2:16am -
Aegir (“Ae-jjj-ear”?) is the forthcoming stereo (and mono-blockable) amplifier from California’s Schiit Audio and teased at RMAF 2018: a Class A-ish circuit dropped into a Vidar chassis that borrows from the Lyr 3’s Continuity output stage to… - 4 days ago, 13 Oct 18, 9:05am -
The USB stick, handed to me early Saturday morning by Wavelength Audio’s Gordon Rankin, detailed the five new models being shown at RMAF 2018: the Duetto v5 8w 300B amplifier, the (flagship) Crimson HS3x ES9038 USB DAC, the Cosecant HS3x ES9038 USB… - 5 days ago, 12 Oct 18, 12:39pm -
Numerous high-end loudspeaker manufacturers show at RMAF but none are quite like Utah’s Zu Audio. They are the only exhibitor to constantly play interesting music all weekend, to consistently throw a kick-ass party with their main system on the sho… - 6 days ago, 11 Oct 18, 8:20am -
