What ignited your interest in the high end? Did it come from the music side or the electronics side? Both! Disassembling our old TV, taking out the speaker, and building it into an Adidas shoebox. The first song I listened to was “The Sun Always… - 4 days ago, 16 Aug 18, 8:08am -
In the interests of transparency readers should know that the $2999 Parasound JC 3+ has been my reference phonostage since I reviewed it in Issue 245. I say this not because I’m partial to Parasound products in general, but because I flat out bel… - 5 days ago, 15 Aug 18, 7:12am -
I’ve always been something of a night owl. And perhaps like many of you I enjoy listening to music later in the evenings. Lights low, wine glass in hand, ready to relax into stereo sound. For some reason I’ve also always gotten a kick out of st… - 6 days ago, 14 Aug 18, 9:35am -
The following is a press release issued by dCS. August 13, 2018 - dCS proudly announces its Bartók network DAC and headphone amplifier – a singlebox, state-of-the-art digital-to-analogue converter with full network streaming functionality and Cl… - 7 days ago, 13 Aug 18, 6:21am -
Spring Grove Avenue is a street in Cincinnati, Ohio, that, due to its wide lanes, light traffic, and limited stoplights, makes for a leisurely drive. It’s also a picturesque thoroughfare flanked with large old factories and warehouses, highlighti… - 10 days ago, 10 Aug 18, 8:37am -
Some of my reviewer colleagues would have you believe that negative reviews are the most difficult of all to write, and that positive reviews fairly write themselves. What nonsense!As I write this, my copy deadline is three days away, yet I've succ… - 4 days ago, 16 Aug 18, 10:13am -
Pärt: The SymphoniesTõnu Kaljuste, NFM Wroclaw PhilharmonicECM 2600 (CD). 2018. Manfred Eicher, prod.; Andrzej Sasin, Aleksandra Nagorko, engs. DDD. TT: 79:40Performance *****Sonics *****Arvo Pärt is now so popular that it's no longer necess… - 4 days ago, 16 Aug 18, 10:13am -
EISA is the biggest and, at nearly 40 years, the oldest general consumer-electronics awards association in the world; its members include 50 special-interest magazines in over 23 European countries and, now, the US, Canada, India, and Australia. Thro… - 5 days ago, 14 Aug 18, 3:37pm -
In a series of recent feature articles for Stereophile, Jim Austin has examined how the controversial MQA codec works: "MQA Tested, Part 1," "MQA Tested Part 2: Into the Fold," "MQA Contextualized," "MQA, DRM, and Other Four-Letter Words," and, most… - 6 days ago, 14 Aug 18, 10:06am -
The blowout happened as I climbed the stairs from the basement, where I'd just spent two hours listening to musi on my hi-fi. Standing rigidly in the archway, a wet sheen of hurt trembling in her eyes, my wife shouted: "You love your audio more than… - 6 days ago, 14 Aug 18, 10:05am -
When a company as serious about music reproduction as the UK’s dCS (data Conversion Systems) sets out to replace one of their most popular and long-lasting DACs there is no room for error. - 2 days ago, 17 Aug 18, 3:47pm -
Musicality, resolution and realistic timbre to instruments seems to be the overarching focus of the engineering behind the proprietary FPGA-based digital decoding (with no digital filtering) and the discrete R2R ladder DAC design the newly-upgraded S… - 16 days ago, 3 Aug 18, 5:39pm -
Due to a number of recent unauthorized solicitations to high-fidelity manufacturers, distributors and media-relations personnel for review equipment, we feel it necessary to post this policy reminder. - 19 days ago, 1 Aug 18, 9:05am -
Where the best winter music celebrates solitude, summer selections should be generously inclusive: Like nachos, cold beer, and BBQs, this music is meant for sharing. - 20 days ago, 31 Jul 18, 3:04pm -
The Kii THREE’s are the first loudspeakers to come into my room where I did not feel the need to apply external Digital Signal Processing (DSP) to smooth the frequency response. As some of you know, I am big into DSP. The frequency and… - 3 days ago, 17 Aug 18, 9:00am -
IntroductionThree live concerts: Dead & Company, Yes, and Radiohead. From somewhere in the front 10 rows and back of the venue.The Grateful Dead, in 1974, introduced the famous "Wall of Sound" to bring a better amplification system… - 11 days ago, 9 Aug 18, 7:15am -
Aurender is widely known for pioneering high end music servers and continuing to launch industry leading audiophile products. The company also offers a category of products under the heading Premium Audio. These premium products are a bit less kn… - 17 days ago, 3 Aug 18, 11:05am -
Chalk this one up in the "where have I been" category. I just stumbled upon the American Routes radio show when listening to the local Minneapolis public radio Jazz station Jazz 88 (KBEM). The American Routes show has been on the air since 1998.… - 24 days ago, 26 Jul 18, 6:44pm -
When CA started in 2007 audiophiles had a handful of choices for playback and library management applications. Some popular apps were iTunes, JRiver Media Center, Foobar2000 and MediaMonkey. Over the years many apps have come and gone, some haven… - 26 days ago, 25 Jul 18, 1:20pm -
The performance of DAC chips (ESS 9018, 9028, 9038) only account for a barely noticeable difference in performance with all else equal. For the Evo DAC, we have to rethink everything else outside the DAC chip. That's why OPPO DAC with ESS9038 doe… - 3 hours ago, 20 Aug 18, 12:41am -
I happen to have a pair of Ulysses speakers in my room right now. And I own a pair of GR Research Super Vs which have four 12" OB servo subs in them and they are very fast. I've been playing around with using just the subs with the Ulysses and th… - 3 hours ago, 20 Aug 18, 12:24am -
here are two things i really hate:1. when someone says "this is all i have $$"2. when someone posts on my for sale thread "this is selling elsewhere for $$". instead of pm'ing me to let me know. - 4 hours ago, 19 Aug 18, 11:59pm -
After an impressive showing at this year’s Munich High End show, the tiny Jern 14EH monitors are indeed impressive at first listen. Combining high quality ScanSpeak drivers, a 6db/octave crossover network and a cast iron enclosure that redefines th… - 7 days ago, 13 Aug 18, 12:36am -
dCS has just announced the official release of their new Bartok DAC. John Quick and Jesse Luna were kind enough to show me the final prototype at this year’s Munich show, but I promised to keep it under wraps. At $13,500, the Bartok effectively rep… - 10 days ago, 10 Aug 18, 11:45am -
There’s just something synergistic and entirely analog about vacuum tubes and vinyl. Part romance, part legend, who knows? Placebo or not, vinyl just takes on a different vibe when played through an all tube front end. And EAT’s top of the line E… - 11 days ago, 9 Aug 18, 11:49am -
-Photos courtesy of PS Audio What’s a power conditioner review doing in discussion about analog? Considering how faint the signal coming from your phono cartridge is, anything you can do to keep that precious signal intact is a good thing. Many ana… - 12 days ago, 8 Aug 18, 1:53pm -
We’ve just received the new “Atmosphere” speakers from hORNS in Poland. You can read more on their website, at horns.pl. This two-way speaker has an additional, rear firing woofer than can be switched in and out as room placement demands, no do… - 13 days ago, 7 Aug 18, 2:31am -
Part-Time Audiophileby Kerry Malone “Never leave a friend behind. Friends are all we have to get through this life — and they are the only things from this world that we could hope to see in the next.” — Dean Koontz First, John wanted… - 2 days ago, 18 Aug 18, 3:00am -
Part-Time AudiophileJuly slipped by rather quickly and here we are with a new edition of Monthly Spins for August 2018. A rather light month compared to those recently. Still, a great deal of lovely music for you to check out. Enjoy. Chancha Via Cir… - 8 days ago, 12 Aug 18, 3:00am -
Part-Time Audiophile[Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the spring/summer edition of The Occasional, Part-Time Audiophile’s free, downloadable print/web magazine. You can read previous columns and other exclusive stories in that issu… - 9 days ago, 11 Aug 18, 3:00am -
Part-Time AudiophilePure Fidelity Eclipse Turntable Review: Total Eclipse of the Art, as originally seen in The Occasional Magazine.The post Pure Fidelity Eclipse Turntable Review appeared first on Part-Time Audiophile. - 10 days ago, 10 Aug 18, 3:00am -
Part-Time AudiophileBy Steve Folberg Memory Lane Long before the Luxman L-550AXII ever graced my door, there was a stereo system. I bought my first real system just out of graduate school in 1985: a Systemdek turntable (with a glass platter and the… - 16 days ago, 4 Aug 18, 3:00am -
Several years ago, I experienced Mike Levy’s original loudspeaker design, the FRM-1s, at a well attended CES. The sound was wonderful but the design was hamstrung somewhat, needing four channels of amplification and DEQX room calibration. Sco… - 19 days ago, 1 Aug 18, 8:22am -
When Pass Labs comes out with a new piece of gear the audio industry takes notice. Well known for the quality of its products, the longevity of its designs and the seriousness to which it addresses the ever evolving science and art of sound reprod… - 24 days ago, 27 Jul 18, 5:17am -
I began this review period disliking much of what I heard from the first, casual run through of this new set of Brahms Symphonies by Daniel Barenboim and his Staatskapelle Berlin. My ears were perked, but the style was not what I was used to. … - 26 days ago, 25 Jul 18, 10:59am -
This July 2018 release is the third of Andris Nelsons' DG Shostakovich Symphony cycle and contains live performances of the 4th [1936, but withdrawn 'till 1961] and 11th [1957] Symphonies. Nelsons is performing his Shostakovich cycle with the Bos… - 27 days ago, 24 Jul 18, 11:11am -
Five years ago I began using a music server and DAC in lieu of a compact disc player, thus starting my journey into digital audio streaming. Keeping in mind that music servers are in fact computers, my main motivation came from discovering Mojo Au… - 32 days ago, 19 Jul 18, 11:16am -
EnjoyTheMusic.com and EnjoyTheMusic.TV presents to you our tour of the Acoustic Sounds offices. We join owner Chad Kassem as he takes us through their impressive offices, including their historic turntable room and incredible vinyl vault! Creative Di… - 24 hours ago, 19 Aug 18, 3:41am -
EnjoyTheMusic.com and EnjoyTheMusic.TV presents to you our tour of the Quality Record Pressings (Acoustic Sounds) vinyl LP pressing plant. We join plant manager Gary and owner Chad Kassem as they take us on a step-by-step journey through how a vinyl… - 3 days ago, 17 Aug 18, 7:12am -
Just announced! "What a lineup! Those who have waited on our announcement of performers for our 21st Annual Blues Masters at the Crossroads, wait no longer. With our co-sponsor for this year's event — Kansas State University — we're bringing you… - 3 days ago, 17 Aug 18, 4:24am -
Back in 2014, U.K.-based Chord Electronics caught the personal audio industry a bit off-guard with the original Hugo. It was a somewhat novel approach to a portable DAC/Headphone Amp design, with its quirky, space-age metallic chassis and its color-c… - 4 days ago, 16 Aug 18, 4:47am -
According to a recent press release by www.futuresource-consulting.com , "The global home audio market continues to climb, with hardware shipments increasing by 23% in 2017, according to a comprehensive new report from Futuresource Consulting. The ne… - 4 days ago, 16 Aug 18, 4:46am -
Item: Whatmough Model C06 central speaker Location: Melbourne, 3148 Price: $400 ono Item Condition: Excellent Reason for selling: No longer used Payment Method: PayPal if paid as friend (3% otherwise) - preferred, COD Extra Info: See Below Picture… - 42 mins ago, 20 Aug 18, 2:55am -
Item: Ortofon Quintet Black moving coil cartridge. Location: Rowville, Vic. Price: $495.00. Item Condition: Very good. Reason for selling: Have moved further up market. Payment Method: Pickup or can post. Cash or bank transfer. Extra Info… - 44 mins ago, 20 Aug 18, 2:53am -
Item: Sistrum SP1 speaker stands Location:Haymarket, Sydney Price: $500 Item Condition: Very Good Reason for selling:NLR Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, Paypal, COD Only Extra Info: Star Sound Technologies, LLC consumer and professiona… - 1 hour ago, 20 Aug 18, 2:36am -
Item: Accuphase E302B Amplifier Location: Brisbane Price: $1950 with FREE postage within Australia Item Condition: Very good Reason for selling: NLR Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, or Bank transfer Extra Info: Accuphase E302 Integrated Amp… - 1 hour ago, 20 Aug 18, 2:27am -
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 -
Radio Free Chip The French have a phrase for it. The bastards have a phrase for everything and they are always right. To say goodbye is to die a little. Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye It’s always too damn soon to say goodbye. I have always be… - 3 days ago, 17 Aug 18, 3:01pm -
Light in the Attic Records LITA169, colored LP $22, LP $20, CD $12, available at lightintheattic.net "Lee Hazlewood wasn't a cowboy, but he sure played the part. He never took LSD but made some far-out, psychedelic records, and he sure as shit didn't… - 3 days ago, 17 Aug 18, 2:37pm -
If you read Part 1 of this Soundsmith review series in Positive Feedback Issue 98 (HERE), where I wrote about the new Carmen Mk II phonograph cartridge, you know that I found the Carmen Mk II to be one of the most musically enjoyable phonograph cartr… - 3 days ago, 17 Aug 18, 2:29pm -
Ye Olde Editor, Happy Valley, Oregon, 2018. Portrait by John Robinson. Playback Designs has returned again…with a vengeance! Their Dream Series of digital audio designs debut here at PF River City with their MPS-8. Part one of my impressions is her… - 5 days ago, 14 Aug 18, 8:22pm -
Ah, Montreal We finally made it! An excursion to Kronos Audio in Montreal had been planned last year, but, due to one thing or another, it never happened. Lynn and I were again vacationing nearby, attending the Ottawa Chamberfest (13 years and counti… - 5 days ago, 14 Aug 18, 3:37pm -
The Raspberry Pi (Raspi) deployed as an audio device can often sound weak to audiophile ears. Its digital (USB) output is electrically noisy and the onboard D/A conversion puts the Raspi’s 3.5mm analogue output on par with the average smartphone. N… - 2 days ago, 18 Aug 18, 4:18am -
Are you a giver or a taker? In the wake of articles going up on these pages comes a slew of reader emails (that were once comments – RIP). The majority of emails request opinions on hardware not included in – and so implicitly beyond the scope of… - 3 days ago, 17 Aug 18, 12:15am -
EISA. The European Image and Sound Association is a conglomerate of (some of) the world’s finest tech journalists who annually bestow awards on the best in in-car electronics, mobiles devices, home theatre, photography and hi-fi equipment. Winning… - 4 days ago, 15 Aug 18, 10:46pm -
Using a standard Mac or PC as a network streamer – WiFi/Ethernet in, USB out – will only get you so far on sound quality. So too will patching the Mac or PC’s electrically noisy USB output with filters and/or USB re-clockers. Adding a linear po… - 6 days ago, 14 Aug 18, 6:16am -
Vinyl sales are on the up and up. Audiophiles already know that. But cassettes are coming back too. UK cassette sales were up 90% on the same period last year. Moreover, almost all new releases still get pressed to CD. And yet that DSD-loaded future… - 8 days ago, 12 Aug 18, 4:39am -
