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High-Performance
Audio Gear Reviews,
Music News, Show Reports, Articles & More!
30 Years Of Service To Music
Lovers.
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North America Premiere Review!
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 Floorstanding Loudspeaker
Review
The truth, and nothing else but the truth.
Review By Ron Nagle
Like the ravens at the White
Tower, I cannot think of a more iconic audiophile symbol of England than Bowers
and Wilkins. That's of course if you happen to look at the world through audiophile
eyes. John Bowers and Roy Wilkins met during World War II while both of them
were serving in the Royal Signal Corps. They began business as a radio and
electronics retail shop located in the town of Worthing England. Bowers &
Wilkins was founded in 1966 in Worthing, West Sussex, England. John Bowers
started the business we now know as Bowers & Wilkins. At that time he was no
longer involved with the retail shop. The first speaker production line was
established in the retail shop's backyard. In 1970 Bowers decided to develop a loudspeaker wholly built
in-house. The sizeable DM70 from 1970 combined electrostatics mid-and-high range
drivers on top of a traditional bass unit. The distinct shape of the loudspeaker
won a British Industrial Design Award. Good press reviews allowed the company to
prosper.
--->
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.
World Premiere Review!
Finalé Audio F-6 Hommage EF86 Edition Vacuum
Tube Integrated Amplifier Review
How low can you go?
Review By Paul Schumann
Sometime
in the mid-1990s, I was in a music store and noticed an audio magazine on the
rack I had never seen before. It was Issue 12 of Sound Practices. I
flipped through it and was fascinated by its retro take on audio, so I made the
purchase. I read every article, but Herb Reichert's Causal Reactions
column struck me to the core. This was back during a time when Herb Reichert was
an arts school teacher and his vacuum tube efforts were dedicated towards DIY. His basic
argument was this: the best way to evaluate an audio system is how it allows you
to feel the emotions in your music. All other criteria are secondary. I know I've reduced a beautifully written article
into a simple statement. But this statement leads the reader to the next
question: What kind of system allows you to do this?
--->
Finalé Audio F-6 Hommage EF86 Edition Review.
December's Holiday Soundtrack:
Ultimate Gift Guides, Exclusive Reviews & Toronto + CAF 2025 Show Reports
Give better sounding gifts this holiday
season thanks to our curated guides.
Enjoy the Music.com's December Holiday issue continues our 30th anniversary celebration with a curated mix of seasonal features,
in-depth equipment reviews, and comprehensive show coverage from Toronto Audiofest and Capital Audiofest 2025. This issue combines expert holiday gift guides, thoughtful essays on the emotional and physical benefits of music, and historical retrospectives that invite readers to revisit
top-rated gear and landmark articles from decades of high-end audio journalism. Featured reviews and buying advice include a
world-premiere evaluation of the sculptural MC Audiotech TL-8 floorstanding loudspeakers, the compact Nirvana Audio Chronos Optimizer, and the
value-focused Hegel H150 streaming amplifier, each tested for design, sonic signature, and
real-world listening performance. With our Great Audiophile Gift guides, this December issue is both a definitive reference for serious audiophiles and a seasonal resource for holiday gift shoppers for their music lover. As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the
music!
---> December's Holiday Soundtrack: Ultimate Gift Guides, Exclusive Reviews & Toronto + CAF 2025 Show Reports!
Inside CAF 2025 Luxury Hi-Fi Show Part 2 — Capital
Audiofest's Large Exhibit Rooms And Lobby Displays
Fresh trends, the hottest audio equipment, and rooms
everyone's talking about.
Capital Audiofest 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker
Step
into the exciting Capital Audiofest 2025, where not-to-be-missed large exhibit
rooms and lobby-level displays are featured within Part 2. Rick Becker's extensive CAF
2025 report showcases where sound becomes spectacle and every corner hums with
possibility. This year's event brought together the world's most daring
designers, boutique builders, and legacy brands under one roof, each booth a
promise of sonic revelation. Read about how jaw-dropping stereo systems reveal
the best in music, as Enjoy the Music.com's first-listen debuts are
features too! Across the exhibit halls, we deliver to you our curated listening
room reports that read like a map of audio obsession—ultra-high-end separates,
room treatments that transform acoustics, and immersive setups that blur the
line between live performance and playback. Here at Capital Audiofest 2025, leading electronic engineers and
designers are on hand to help walk Enjoy the Music.com through signal
chains, loudspeaker voicing, and the tiny tweaks that unlock massive
improvements.
---> Inside CAF 2025 Luxury Hi-Fi Show Part 2 — Capital Audiofest's Large Exhibit Rooms And Lobby
Displays.
Inside
UMG's Superfan Takeover: New Flagship Shops In N.Y. And London
Universal Music Group (UMG) is rapidly expanding its global network of brick-and-mortar UMusic Shop locations aimed at superfans, opening new permanent stores in New York and London and building on earlier launches in Tokyo and Madrid. UMG has been steadily growing a global portfolio of physical retail spaces designed specifically for superfans, turning music merchandising into immersive, local destinations rather than just online storefronts. The concept began with a flagship in
Tokyo's Harajuku district and continued with a UMusic Shop inside the UMusic Hotel in Madrid, and now the program is scaling with additional high-profile openings to broaden
UMG's real-world footprint. The most recent expansion brings two major new hubs to Western markets: UMusic Shop NY (New York) at 2 Penn Plaza in Manhattan and a UMusic Shop in Camden Market, London, placing stores in two of the
world's most visited music and culture neighborhoods and positioning them near venues and tourist flows that amplify foot traffic and discovery.
---> Inside UMG's Superfan Takeover: New Flagship Shops In N.Y. And London. 
audioXpress'
January 2026 Issue
Editorial: You Had One Job
Marenius A2B To MADI Converter
DECT NR+: A Wireless Solution For Real-Time Audio?
The AP-805 Accelerometer Amplifier And Analog Signal Processor
The Forgotten Pioneers
Speaker Innovation
Thin-Ply Carbon Diaphragm Tweeter Domes
Adaptive Nonlinear Loudspeaker Control
Guitar Amps Vs. HiFi Amps In the Early 1960s
And Much More!
---> audioXpress January 2026
Issue.
Spinal Tap Movie
Director Marty Di Bregi Passes
Marty Di Bergi, the wry, inquisitive documentarian who brought the world the rockumentary
This Is Spinal Tap, has died — leaving behind a legacy of deadpan curiosity, comic restraint, and a film that reshaped how we look at music and myth. Marty Di Bergi was, by design, an observer first and a now-legendary storyteller second. In fact, without Marty's deep kindness, many of us here at
Enjoy the Music.com might never have come to know of Spinal Tap's life-changing music. Marty preferred to let his subjects reveal themselves naturally, lingering on small gestures, those precious awkward silences, and the private rituals that make performers of musical art truly human. In interviews, such as detailing the band's various drummers, and behind-the-scenes moments, Marty was kindly patient, gently skeptical, and always ready with a clarifying question that exposed more truth than any staged confrontation. On the road with the rock band Spinal Tap, Di
Bergi's camera became a mirror for the band's contradictions: bravado and insecurity, spectacle and banality.
---> Spinal Tap Movie Director Marty Di Bregi Passes. 
Gene Simmons Urges
U.S. Congress On Radio Royalties
KISS frontman Gene Simmons urged the U.S. Congress to pass the American Music Fairness Act, calling for AM/FM radio stations to pay recording artists for airplay for the first time and describing the current system as an injustice to performers. Gene Simmons took his case to Capitol Hill this week, appearing before lawmakers to press for legislation that would require broadcast radio stations to pay royalties to recording artists and producers when their recordings are played on AM and FM airwaves. Simmons framed the issue as a long-standing loophole in U.S. copyright law that leaves performers uncompensated while radio companies profit from their work, a point he emphasized in prepared remarks to lawmakers and in media appearances ahead of the
hearing. In testimony and interviews, Simmons argued that artists have historically received no performance royalties from terrestrial radio, even as songwriters and publishers are paid for compositions; he invoked iconic names to underline the scale of the perceived unfairness and said the status quo amounts to
"robbery."
---> Gene Simmons Urges U.S. Congress On Radio Royalties. 
Inside Capital Audiofest 2025: Exclusive Show Report & Latest Gear
New high-end audio trends, top hi-fi gear, plus audiophile insights and
cutting-edge innovations.
Welcome to
Enjoy the Music.com's comprehensive Capital Audiofest 2025 show report. Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2025
took place from November 14th to 16th at the Hilton Rockville in Maryland, continuing its legacy as the East Coast's largest and most beloved high-end audio show. The event
was open for all music lovers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, offering three full days of immersive listening experiences, gear demos, and community engagement. Founded in 2010 by Gary Gill, CAF
continues to grow from a grassroots gathering into a cornerstone of the North American audiophile calendar, drawing enthusiasts, engineers, and manufacturers from across the
globe. Our Capital Audiofest 2025 show reports are now online and being
updated through December. Be sure to read our exciting, exclusive,
and expanded coverage of CAF 2025!
---> Inside Capital Audiofest 2025: Exclusive Show Report & Latest
Gear.
Musick Hath Charms....
Why you really need your home audio sound system.
Article
By Roger Skoff
Did you ever hear a quotation like "Music has power to charm
the savage beast"? Although practically everybody has, and practically
everybody guesses it to be by William Shakespeare, the real quote is actually "Musick hath charms to soothe a savage breast" and it was written
(originally as "Musick has Charms to soothe a savage Breast, To soften
Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.") by William Congreve as part of his tragic
play The Mourning Bride, first performed in 1697. Although most people seem to get just about everything about
the quotation (date, source, words) wrong, the fact is that it's far truer
than many may think, and music may actually have real benefits for us as
audiophiles. Besides just its hobby value, listening to music has actual
physical benefits. Scientific research increasingly supports the idea that music
has measurable healing effects—physically, emotionally, and neurologically.
---> Musick Hath Charms.... Why you really need your home audio sound
system.
Music And Mindfulness For Stress Reduction
Mindfulness is very real and it provides a powerful change in perspective.
Article By Gideon Waxman Of Drum Helper
Mindfulness
is an incredibly liberating practice; one that has exploded as a recent
phenomenon in the western world. Interestingly, us moderns are the last people
on the planet to uncover the wealth of treasures it has to offer. Music and
mindfulness are indeed complementary practices. Music and sounds
make a wonderful object of focus for the mind, with mindful listening proven to
boost our overall well-being and reduce stress significantly. Whilst mindfulness is still finding its way into mainstream
culture, music is universal and plays a prominent role in everyday life for most
people. Humans are surrounded by music. It is undeniable that it affects people's moods and emotions, as it engages broad neural networks in the brain.
Playing a musical instrument or listening to music whilst encompassing mindful
values can transform the experience....
--->
Music And Mindfulness For Stress Reduction.
World Premiere Review!
Stunning Design And Mind-Blowing Bass: MC Audiotech TL-8 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review
This sculptural speaker is a must-hear conversation starter for true music lovers.
Review By Bob Grossman
I have had the MC Audiotech TL-8 floorstanding loudspeakers within my home for the
past two months, allowing me to experience them thoroughly, given my experience
with many recordings in a variety of genres, as well as comparisons between CD
and LP sources. As I sat in my living room writing for Enjoy the Music.com,
I felt like I was out on the lawn enjoying a concert under the stars in Saratoga
Springs, the Mann Music Center, or Bravo Vail outdoor theaters. Few people look
for speakers that capture the unique sound of an outdoor performance. But my
brother Michael pointed out that the Grateful Dead hated studio recording and
rarely did it, instead preferring that fans enjoy live outdoor performances. Then Michael was captivated by the sound of the TL-8s speakers
and said he felt transported back to San Francisco in the 1970s.
--->
MC Audiotech TL-8 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.
Nirvana Audio Chronos Optimizer Review: Big Sound In A Small Package
If you value sensational sound, the Chronos delivers delightful audio.
Review By Rick Becker
One
of the reasons I like to visit every room at audio shows is the possibility of
discovering a truly outstanding new product. That's exactly what happened when
I ventured into the Nirvana Audio room on the 5th Floor at AXPONA
2025 this year.
Here is what I wrote in Part 7 of my show
report: The name Nirvana struck a chord because of the American rock
band, but I couldn't picture any audio components with that brand name. When I
entered the room and saw some familiar gear hosted by a pair of Asian gentlemen,
I still could not connect the dots. As I took a seat during my show report for Enjoy
the Music.com, among the others in the room, it became apparent that the
room was dedicated to a comparison listening test. But what? Eventually, I realized the little dark item on the counter at
the right edge of the photo was the Chronos Optimizer pictured on the scrim in front of
the window.
--->
Nirvana Audio Chronos Optimizer Review.
Luxury Sound That Won't Break the Bank: Hegel H150 Streaming Amplifier Review
A great value for audiophiles and a smart buy for music lovers.
Review By Paul Schumann
Last
year, I was lucky enough to review the Hegel H400 Streamliner, an integrated
amplifier with a built-in streamer. It was a well-designed piece of equipment
that sounded great. When I was offered to review its smaller sibling, it was an
easy yes for me. The H150 Streaming Amplifier is Hegel's newest integrated
amplifier on loan here at Enjoy the Music.com. The very clever engineers
nicknamed it "The Prodigy" because, while being an entry-level product, it is
loaded with features normally found on more expensive units. Hegel's H150 Streaming Amplifier is quite a
bit smaller than their H400, with a footprint of only 17" x 13.8" and weighing in
at 21.4 lbs. This meant it easily fit within my stereo cabinet, and I didn't have to
bust a gut to get it there. An added plus! It has the same elegant design as the H400, and the
fit and finish are superb.
--->
Hegel H150 Streaming Amplifier Review.
Discover more hi-fi reviews and expert articles within our Review Magazine.
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