Sonically AXPONA 2019 was a 180-degree change from the last trade show I attended, in Denver. Where RMAF was a nearly uniform disaster, AXPONA was a nearly uniform success. Oh, next to nothing sounded spine-tinglingly realistic at the Chicago show,… - 14 hours ago, 19 Apr 19, 1:38pm -
At the end of a major audio show, there’s often a sense of depletion, a let’s-pack-this-stuff-up-and-go-home kind of exhaustion. Not so at 4 p.m. on Sunday at AXPONA 2019. There was, instead, a vibe of slightly giddy accomplishment as the big l… - 2 days ago, 18 Apr 19, 2:43pm -
Riva Arena/Festival $249 (optional Arena battery, $99)/$499 Riva’s two, wireless, multi-room systems in the Wand series offer stunning sound quality from small packages. The compact Arena ($249) and the larger Festival ($499) are both easy to set… - 3 days ago, 17 Apr 19, 1:30pm -
Exploring the themes of unity, inclusiveness, and social justice from a spiritual perspective, Eric Bibb delivers a double-disc masterpiece in Global Griot, an album ideally suited to the temper of progressive times, or “challenging times,” in… - 4 days ago, 16 Apr 19, 12:17pm -
Lansche No.7 $105,000–$113,000 depending on finish With its massless corona-plasma tweeter, the Lansche No.7 brings something different to the upper-end-loudspeaker arena. This driver works by modulating a plasma field surrounding an electrical a… - 5 days ago, 15 Apr 19, 11:40am -
It hit me not long ago: I need more Mac in my life! I promptly purchased the current production version of McIntosh Laboratory's time-honored MC275 tubed amplifier, to mate to the Mac C2300 tubed preamplifier I already owned. The recently reinvigorat… - 17 hours ago, 19 Apr 19, 10:46am -
I keep getting older. By the time you read this, I will be genuinely old. When I was genuinely young, I bellyached, "Wires are the worst part of hi-fi—there's gotta be a way to get rid of them." I first made that statement when audio electronics… - 17 hours ago, 19 Apr 19, 10:37am -
When we launched Stereophile's website at the end of 1997, we decided that we would not reprint the magazine's most popular features, including the biannual "Recommended Components" listings and Michael Fremer's monthly "Analog Corner" column. We wer… - 1 day ago, 18 Apr 19, 4:34pm -
AXPONA 2019 was a good show—I'm tempted to say an important show. It's just an intuition, but I sense renewed vitality. Thu, 04/18/2019 - 2 days ago, 18 Apr 19, 10:17am -
Choices have to be made at every price point of DAC design. The majority of budget DACs have to leave off fancy screens or pair down the casework in order to clear the hurdles necessary to turn a profit for the companies who have invested in the manu… - 17 hours ago, 19 Apr 19, 10:09am -
ATC has really dug out their niche within the pro community. When asked on a recent hi-fi panel I attended at Capital Studios in Los Angeles, two out of the four self-proclaimed audiophile recording engineers confessed to ATC endpoints in their home… - 1 day ago, 18 Apr 19, 6:05pm -
Paul McGowan has been shepherding the good folks at PS Audio for quite a few years now. A long-time audio designer, he takes his role of industry icon pretty seriously. A constant presence on YouTube (and other online sources), his question and answe… - 3 days ago, 17 Apr 19, 9:20am -
There are horror stories of every type that occasionally trickle out in casual conversation at audio shows. A funky room can be difficult to manage for sonics on the fly, whereas a crushed speaker in transit can be deadly. - 4 days ago, 16 Apr 19, 11:49am -
Although I was nearly perpetually engaged in interviews for upcoming AudioStream podcasts for most of the first day, I did manage to poke my head into a few interesting rooms along the 16th and 15th floors of AXPONA’s Renaissance Schaumburg Hote… - 5 days ago, 15 Apr 19, 10:14am -
Focal’s Elegia Is a Clear Winner As mentioned in my January review of the Sennheiser HD820 and HD800S, more and more headphone companies these days are attempting to turn their most well-received open-back h… - 2 days ago, 18 Apr 19, 7:50am -
Announced earlier this year and shown to very few people behind closed doors at AXPONA 2019, the Warwick Acoustics Aperio electrostatic headphone system is one for the ages. At roughly $24,000, it should perform at the highest level, and I'll say… - 4 days ago, 16 Apr 19, 9:11am -
AXPONA 2019 was easily the best US audio show in recent memory. I'm not basing this off of any stats, only the feeling I got from walking the show for three days, talking to everyone, and listening to some really great systems. I sta… - 5 days ago, 15 Apr 19, 11:50am -
Is there life beyond the HD800/HD800S? For many headphone users, the venerable Sennheiser HD800 is a dinosaur, long ago surpassed by a slew of better (and more expensive) headphones. But for classical music lovers like myself, this question is… - 10 days ago, 10 Apr 19, 8:40am -
I'm not a fan of writing editorials because this site isn't about me or any ministers of information. It's about the community and everyone who has helped, over the last 11 years, create what this site is today. Perhaps a couple forum posts have… - 11 days ago, 8 Apr 19, 8:29pm -
Quote from: RedStar101 on Yesterday at 03:14 amJust let me know!? (I posted a few times here but not sure if I need to post in other forums)You can post in all Circles, anyone you want. - 1 hour ago, 20 Apr 19, 2:07am -
Quote from: RedStar101 on Yesterday at 03:13 amThis is the same for me. I can’t even read my messages that were already sent.You can read you posted msg at the Circle you posted. - 1 hour ago, 20 Apr 19, 2:05am -
Quote from: Wig on 15 Mar 2019, 02:03 amGuys,I received my modified DS2 last week with Don’s latest Polish made Deulund copy oil caps and 6BY5 rectifier and it sounds amazing! I am hearing more transparency, better s... - 2 hours ago, 20 Apr 19, 1:49am -
I have thinking about a C658 for our living-room system -- after the Dirac software is released. The system is just a TV, DVD player, and Audioengine powered speakers. I'd add the C658 to get streaming, as well as better sound.A big concern is ease o… - 5 hours ago, 19 Apr 19, 10:41pm -
Features Old School: Juan Cavillo restores a very old Pioneer Turntable 995: Jerold O’Brien scopes out the new mini ProJect Integrated Amp Journeyman Audiophile: Chord Qutest DAC By Shanon Swetlishnoff The Audiophile Apartment: Harbeth P3ESR Annive… - 9 days ago, 10 Apr 19, 5:15pm -
Building on the success of their Neo 380D DAC, Simaudio went back to the drawing board, creating the MOON 390 from the ground up, offering a perfect combination of flexibility and sonic performance that we’ve come to expect from this great Canadian… - 9 days ago, 10 Apr 19, 4:42pm -
It’s been a long time since Devialet set the audio world on its axis, creating a product that sounds fantastic, yet looks as it should be on display at MOMA. Or perhaps in this case, the Louvre. Since Devialet, “lifestyle” is no longer an unmen… - 10 days ago, 10 Apr 19, 10:13am -
It’s funny what you remember. My tenure with Krell goes way back, to the demo room I was scared to enter, where an early Krell KSA 150 was matched to a pair of Apogee Stage speakers. Even though I had just purchased a Rotel integrated from the same… - 11 days ago, 9 Apr 19, 9:49am -
Letting the audition of the GamuT Zodiac speakers begin with the Beastie Boys “Groove Holmes” is so much fun, I don’t even need the weed. The massive, all-encompassing, psychedelic picture that these speakers paint is outstanding. Keeping the d… - 11 days ago, 8 Apr 19, 4:16pm -
Part-Time AudiophileCHICAGO (PTA) — If it is true that we were all created in God’s image, some of us inherited more godlike ability than others. In terms of the ability to work miracles in the arena of audio engineering, many would argue that p… - 26 mins ago, 20 Apr 19, 3:00am -
Part-Time Audiophile“Wow…how much do those weigh?” the show attendee asked, and I thought that was a rather odd first question. This was the McGary Audio and Salk Sound room at AXPONA 2019, and the relatively simple system on exhibit was excep… - 19 hours ago, 19 Apr 19, 8:00am -
Part-Time AudiophileCHICAGO (PTA) — Mark Sossa of Well Pleased Audio Vida once again demonstrated a stellar stable of components and show-stopping sound. Rethm loudspeakers continue to dominate my personal point-source category, Qualiton, Aqua, a… - 21 hours ago, 19 Apr 19, 6:00am -
Part-Time AudiophileCHICAGO (PTA) — European Audio Team (E.A.T.) unveil a new ultra-high performance platter and tonearm, Audio Physic and Okki Nokki were also making a strong showing in the exhibit system. The Story VANA, Ltd. announced the arriv… - 1 day ago, 19 Apr 19, 3:00am -
Part-Time AudiophileCHICAGO (PTA) — Great new products once again top the list of what is happening in the Ayon Audio room at AXPONA 2019. Starting with the source, the new Ayon CD-35 SACD/DAC Preamplifier Steamer with DSD, along with the new Ayon… - 2 days ago, 18 Apr 19, 9:00am -
Two years ago I reviewed the Grado Labs Statement v2 Cartridge ($3500), at that time the highest priced Grado cartridge—the top of their Statement Series. Reviewed using my VPI Industries Prime Turntable, I was so impressed, it has remained as m… - 3 days ago, 17 Apr 19, 9:19am -
As soon as most vinylphiles see a trapezoidal nugget in wood, stone or metal with some delicate Japanese Kanji, our moving coil hearts skip a beat. I’m a Phasemation guy—Japanese made, but no Kanji. Just a beautiful hunk of Duralumin. How many… - 6 days ago, 14 Apr 19, 10:22am -
For the past two or three years, German classical music label Deutsche Grammophon has been quietly releasing some rather deluxe vinyl box sets of their catalog cornerstones. One of which; Herbert Von Karajan’s recording of Brahms’ Four Symphon… - 6 days ago, 14 Apr 19, 10:22am -
Quality phono stages are all the rage. Records are now so popular with audiophiles, vinyl returners and the general population, a quality phono stage is aspirational in any fine analog set up. Dealers and vinylphiles have been shouting this from t… - 15 days ago, 5 Apr 19, 9:37am -
John Stratton is the hardworking owner/designer of Vancouver High End analogue start up, Pure Fidelity (PF). He made a splash last year with his very well received initial opus, the Eclipse Turntable. It takes guts to dive into audiophile waters a… - 23 days ago, 28 Mar 19, 11:19am -
M2Tech is well-known for its digital-to-analog converters, but this doesn't mean that vinyl is not important for them as their new MM/MC Nash Phono Preamplifier was just announced (€1545). Nash is for those who desire enjoying their beloved vinyl r… - 22 hours ago, 19 Apr 19, 5:02am -
Unlike the Montreal show a month prior, the trip from Rochester to Chicago was uneventful. I simply got up in the morning and drove to Chicago, cutting through Ontario, Canada, to save some miles and tolls. Detouring through downtown Chicago in hopes… - 2 days ago, 18 Apr 19, 7:25am -
This year marks the 24th annual Zagreb AV Show, which in 2019 gathered at the Sheraton Zagreb Hotel. There were 24 exhibitors from Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia and Croatia showcasing more than 60 brands of the high-end audio industry's latest hi-fi and… - 2 days ago, 18 Apr 19, 6:18am -
A Dream Of Audio PerfectionStereo: Three dimensional sound.The biggest contribution to music since Barnum & Bailey Throughout the years, even from the very beginning, there was audio gear... and critics soon thereafter. Audio gear evolved, just as a… - 2 days ago, 18 Apr 19, 6:17am -
EnjoyTheMusic.com has posted over 200 photos spanning more than 15 pages from AXPONA 2019. Photo-phreaks seeking visual delights will be very pleased. We've only just begun so check back daily for more!---> See our AXPONA 2019 show coverage at this l… - 3 days ago, 17 Apr 19, 10:41am -
Item: Anthem 225 Integrated Location: Epping (Sydney) Price: $1,000 Item Condition: Very good 9/10 Reason for selling: To many Amps Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, Paypal, COD Only Extra Info: I am the original owner, bought it new about… - 2 hours ago, 20 Apr 19, 1:47am -
Item: BENZ micro ace SL MC cartridge Location: sydney blue mtns Price: 490 Item Condition: excellent Reason for selling: no longer required. Payment Method: Cash, Paypal + 4% , transfer Extra Info: 230 hrs only . an excellent cart rep… - 2 hours ago, 20 Apr 19, 1:31am -
Item: Various Items Clearance Location: VIC 3030 Price: Rack $150, Stands $50, Cable $70 or Take all three at $250 Item Condition: Very Good Reason for selling: NLR Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, Paypal, COD Only Extra Info: Ite… - 3 hours ago, 20 Apr 19, 12:25am -
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 -
Dateline: April, 2019 Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center. Schaumburg, Illinois Welcome back my Friends, to the show that (hopefully) never ends! (Apologies ELP.) I arrived at the 10th annual AXPONA on Thursday afternoon. The Renai… - 13 hours ago, 19 Apr 19, 2:38pm -
AXPONA is a big show. Big as in massive. Big as in I don't know how someone can cover almost 200 rooms in three days. I'm sure one could find many places online that offer in-depth reviews of individual rooms, but you won't find that here, for the mo… - 15 hours ago, 19 Apr 19, 11:58am -
Digital Audio Converters (DAC), which take the carefully crafted digital signal and convert it to analog, mostly matured between five and ten years ago. Companies like DCS, Playback Designs, Theta, and more, pushed the chip manufacturers to develop e… - 2 days ago, 17 Apr 19, 5:44pm -
Bottom line. AXPONA 2019 was a blast! I have not seen any numbers just yet, but I feel like AXPONA 2019 was very well attended and will be considered another big success story. I was only able to participate on Friday and Saturday, but many friends a… - 3 days ago, 17 Apr 19, 12:18pm -
Wojtek Karolak & Adam Czerwiński, In a Sentimental Mood. The album In a Sentimental Mood by leading jazzmen Wojtek Karolak and Adam Czerwiński, is one of the best vinyl records of recent years—both when it comes to music and sound. The text be… - 3 days ago, 17 Apr 19, 7:57am -
JETpacked. The latest loudspeaker to designs to spill from ELAC Americas are the 2-way Carina BS243.4 standmount and the 2.5-way 241.4 floorstander, both of which take strong cues from ELAC Germany‘s speaker designs to feature the company’s JET… - 2 hours ago, 20 Apr 19, 1:11am -
Kallax-Fi? We’ve covered electronics. What about loudspeakers? Many standmounts will make good on their bookshelf promise to fit comfortably inside an IKEA Kallax unit’s 33cm x 33cm shelf hole. The compromise is the cavity will act as a bi-dire… - 3 days ago, 17 Apr 19, 7:40am -
We know Italy’s Gold Note best for their IS-1000 super-integrated amplifier: a DAC and MM/MC phono stage that feeds a Class A/B loudspeaker amplification stage. Phil Wright reviewed it here. I previewed it a few months prior; at Munich High-End 20… - 4 days ago, 16 Apr 19, 1:13am -
A network streamer for less than five hundred British pounds? With Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity? Plus: analogue and digital outputs? The obvious (if dated) choice is the Sonos Connect whose breadth of streaming service integration is unsurpassed… - 5 days ago, 15 Apr 19, 11:27am -
Mark M. writes in about AXPONA 2019… Hey John and company, I read your AXPONA post before attending and you were spot on, not great for critical listening but fantastic for seeing and hearing new equipment normally only seen on screen. This was my… - 5 days ago, 15 Apr 19, 1:31am -
