Rotel A12MKII Integrated Amplifier Review
The night the lights went out in Long
Branch,
Is the Rotel A12MKII the ideal amplifier to build a $3000 stereo system around with 2 great sources? I would say
you're foolish not to try it.
Review By Ian White
Have you ever been listening to your system and the lights go out?
It's not a good feeling because there is always the risk that when the power comes back on that something will be amiss.
I've used power line conditioners for almost 20 years but our experience with Hurricane Sandy here on the Shore was not a good
one. My wife thinks that I missed my calling as a Weather Channel talking head because
I'd scare the living crap out of everyone with my forecasts, but I had a bad feeling about Sandy with our home only blocks from the ocean and so many trees surrounding our
property. We didn't tell anyone that we were expecting our third child (Jewish custom is to wait
three months) at the time so it was on me to get the house ready and get anything of value out the way and on really high shelving in our
garage.
---> Rotel A12MKII Integrated Amplifier
Review.
Ten Misconceptions About Loudspeaker Spikes
Clearing up misunderstandings regarding loudspeaker
feet.
Article By Norman Varney
I have been working
professionally in both the sound and vibration, and consumer electronics
industries for decades. As an acoustical engineer and manufacturer of mechanical
vibration isolation products, I feel compelled to address the misconceptions of
incorporating spikes (or any rigid materials) with loudspeakers and/or other
audio equipment. These misconceptions do not exist in the sound and vibration
industries, and are very rare in the pro audio world, however they are very
prevalent in the audiophile world. There are many physical, acoustical, and perceptual
disciplines involved here- we are only going to address the primary ones, and in
only a general way, meaning we won't discuss the secondary or additional
attributes that may come into play. There are some key concepts of physics to be
applied.
---> Ten Misconceptions About Loudspeaker
Spikes.
March
Audiophile Review Magazine, FIAE, And SWAF Show Reports
As Enjoy the
Music.com continues celebrating our outstanding 30 years of devoted
dedication to music enthusiasts globally, our March 2025 Review Magazine
proposes intriguing ideas for both the high-end audio industry and music
lovers alike. Roger Skoff's editorial continues the industry's ideas for
reaching more enthusiasts. Resonating with Roger, Steven R. Rochlin asks if
the high-end audio sector is being properly represented. We welcome your
thoughts. With more fantastic Florida International Audio Expo 2025 show
coverage being posted virtually daily, we're also preparing for the Southwest
Audio Fest (SWAF) 2025 late this month in Texas. As always, in the end what really matters is that
you... enjoy the music!
---> March Audiophile Review
Magazine, FIAE, And SWAF Show
Reports.
audioXpress' April 2025 Issue
Editorial: Are We Going Too Far, Too Fast?
Acoustical Engineering Via Various Expansion Techniques
Built-In Guitar Effects
Low-Frequency Hybrid Crossover Filter
A Primer On Class-D Amplifiers Part 1 — A Theoretical Review
AI, Sensors, And Next Steps In Personal Wireless
Innovative Wi-Fi Streaming For High-End Headphones
A Personal Journey Building Speaker Systems
Silvertone Instrument Amplifiers
And Much More!
---> audioXpress April 2025
Issue.
Greg Weaver's Best Of FIAE 2025
Blue Note Awards
The very best stereo systems at the
FIAE 2025 high-end audiophile show.
Florida International Audio Expo 2025 Show Coverage By Greg Weaver
While many of the rooms detailed above may have been considered for a top
five spot for my Enjoy the Music.com Best Of FIAE 2025 Blue Note Award,
here are the ones that unquestionably earned their place on that list. While
they all accomplished remarkably exceptional performances deserving of their
inclusion on this list, the order in which they are presented is entirely
random. Let's have a look....
---> Greg Weaver's Best Of FIAE 2025 Blue Note
Awards.
Montreal Audiofest 2025
Audiophile Show Info & Report
The Salon Audio Montreal Audiofest
2025 takes place from March 28th through 30th with more than 5000 visitors
expected who desired listening, seeing, and touching over 300 brands of high-end
audiophile products
all under one roof. As the largest show in Canada, attendees will experienced
the very best high-end audio and video/videophile industry distributors, manufacturers, and retailers in Canada.
Within each listening room, exhibitors are overjoyed to share their passion for music with you by demonstrating some of the world's best sound systems from
$5000 to $500,000. Montréal Audiofest is celebrating its 36th edition
in 2025 and remains the must-attend event for audiophiles, high-end audio gear
enthusiasts, and music lovers. This long-standing
event has become a tradition in showcasing the very latest advances in high-technology,
high-fidelity audio equipment in Canada.
---> Montreal Audiofest 2025 Audiophile Show
Info & Report.
Southwest Audio Fest 2025
Show Report & Information
Now
in their second year, the Southwest Audio Fest
(SWAF) high-end audio show by the dynamic duo Gary Gill (Capital Audiofest) and Lou Hinkley (Pacific
AudioFest / Daedalus Audio) brings magical music to Dallas. SWAF 2025 follows
their sensational success with the popular Pacific Audio Fest event. Attendees
may listen to many of the world's top manufacturers who create a wide variety
of exciting home and portable audio products. Within this expansive Resort
environment, bask in luxurious sounds that caress your ears and bring newfound
meaning to many of the songs you've heard many times in the past. All this and
more within a curated experience filled with fine art and acres of event
space. The show promoters worked very hard to secure this amazing event venue, which is extremely safe, family fun friendly, and features great weather during March too! The Anatole Hilton in Dallas will host the Southwest Audio Fest audiophile show that is slated for March 21st through 23rd, 2025.
---> Enjoy
the Music.com's Exclusive Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Show Report.
Florida International Audio Expo
2025 Show Report (Updated 03/12)
The
Florida International Audio Expo 2025 took place from February 21st through
23rd at the Sheraton Tampa Brandon, the event's new, and larger, venue. The Florida International Audio Expo
showcased many floors
filled with exhibit spaces featuring the latest in home and portable audio gear.
You could enjoy an abundance of great sound from mono to stereo and immersive, plus various
exhibit rooms featured never before seen new products! Show attendees were the
world's first to experience many of the best new high-performance, hi-resolution
modern audio products!
With many floors and large conference rooms of demonstrations to explore, attendees
experienced
luxurious immersive premium audio electronics, loudspeakers, turntables, and high-end
audio headphones produced by manufacturers from all around the world.
---> Florida International Audio Expo 2025
(FIAE 2025) Show Report.
YG Acoustics Hailey 2.2 Floorstanding
Loudspeaker Review
The middleweight contender....
Review By Phil Gold
Cards on the
table. I've owned the YG Carmel and the YG Carmel
2, each of which I've reviewed in these pages in January 2012 and July 2015
respectively. You can read them here and weep. I'm addicted to
the ultra-high resolution, low distortion, lightning reflexes, dynamic range and
the holographic imaging of the Carmel speakers. They are not for everyone.
Due to the particular way they are constructed from billets of aircraft grade
aluminum, they cost a lot of money, and due to their relatively small size, they
don't reach down all that deep. The sealed box design does provide a superbly
fast accurate bass, but while the quality is high, the quantity is limited. Today I'm going to look at the latest version of
the Carmel's bigger brother, the Hailey 2.2.
--->
YG Acoustics Hailey 2.2 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.
Dan D'Agostino MAS
Momentum Lifestyle Integrated Amplifier w/DAC & Audio Streaming Review
Only for music lovers, because that is the MLife's raison d'être – to enable the listener to revel in
one's love of music.
Review By
Tom Lyle
Many
audiophiles are familiar with the name Dan D'Agostino, by virtue of him being
the founder, CEO, and chief engineer at Krell which he founded in 1980. The
products made by Krell, which included everything from power amplifiers to SACD
players and speakers, were some of the best high-end components available. In
2009 he was ousted by investors that he invited into the company because
they thought the company should change direction. Almost immediately after
leaving Krell, he formed Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems. On a personal note, when I first became
interested in audio in the 1970s the common wisdom at that time, and for quite a
while after that, was that all power amplifiers that measure the same, sound the
same.
--->
Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems Momentum Lifestyle Integrated Amplifier w/DAC & Audio Streaming
Review.
Aavik Acoustics I-180 Integrated Amplifier, D-180 DAC, And S-180
Streamer / Network Player Review
A symbiotic sonic relationship... for
your listening pleasures.
Review By Tom Lyle
The Danish
high-end audio manufacturer Aavik was nice enough to send me three components
from their entry level-line. I call this gear "entry-level" not because it is a
system priced for those new to the exciting world of high-end audio but because
they are the least expensive components in Aavik Acoustics' 180 / 280 / 580
line. I did not know the price of these three components when they
arrived at my home for review. On looks alone, I assumed that they would cost
much more. About halfway through the review period, I peeked inside the cabinet
of this integrated amplifier. Its innards looked as if they were constructed by
an engineer but also by a visual artist. Its complex yet very neatly arranged
interior was impressive. During my audition of all three components, I determined that
their display and intelligent functionality belied their relatively low price.
--->
Aavik Acoustics I-180 Integrated Amplifier, D-180 DAC, And S-180 Streamer / Network Player
Review.
More reviews & articles within our Review Magazine.
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