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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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Flagship
Audio Gear, World Premieres, & Show Coverage — July
High-End Audio Review Magazine
In-depth listening notes, not-to-be-missed
world premiere hi-fi reviews, plus HIGH END Vienna and Southwest Audio Fest 2026.
Great news for music lovers and audiophiles alike as our July
Review Magazine is out and it's loaded with hands-on looks at top-tier amplifier, two interesting loudspeaker designs, world premieres, and more! Think long listening sessions, gear that makes you smile, and plenty of great gear pics for your next system upgrade consideration. If you love discovering what really moves the music, this issue is a treat. What really makes this edition buzz is the
world premiere coverage — first listens and debut reviews of gear you may not have heard about anywhere else. Charney Audio Kit-1 300B tube amp, efficient Maestro XL speakers, the unique PERFECT8
Cube-S with Sub, and Merrill Audio's exciting reference-class Element 116MX
amplifier. There's also show coverage from HIGH END Vienna 2026, with special news as we're once again sponsoring the Southwest Audio
Fest luxury audio event! You'll be seeing our lanyards once again, bringing our joyous orange signature color to Dallas. For the kids and newcomers, there's the
Passport To Sound booklet. If you've not heard about this incredible resource, be sure not to miss this month's
editorial!
---> Flagship Audio Gear, World Premieres, & Show Coverage — July High-End Audio
Review Magazine.
CD Sales Surge Ahead Of Vinyl Says
Luminate's 2026 Midyear Audio Report
Luminate's newly released 2026 Midyear Report reveals a surprising and decisive shift in the physical music market: compact discs (CD) are growing dramatically faster than vinyl LPs, marking one of the most unexpected
consumer behavior pivots in recent years. According to the report, U.S. CD sales jumped 16% to 16.3 million units in the first half of 2026, while vinyl—long considered the dominant physical format of the streaming era—managed only 2.4% growth. The report attributes much of the CD surge to the continued strength of collectible and deluxe editions, particularly from
K-Pop artists whose elaborate packaging, photo books, and bonus content have turned CDs into premium fan merchandise. Even when
K-Pop releases are removed from the equation, CD sales still rose 6.7%, underscoring that the
format's momentum extends beyond any single genre. Vinyl remains culturally influential, but its slowing growth suggests that the market may be stabilizing or saturated after years of
double-digit expansion. Rising manufacturing costs, long production lead times, and higher retail prices have made vinyl a more selective purchase for many
listeners.
---> CD Sales Surge Ahead Of Vinyl Says Luminate's 2026 Midyear Audio Report. 
TIDAL Draws A
Line: Streaming Service Ends Royalty Payments For Fully AI-Generated Music
TIDAL has officially become the first major streaming platform to cut off royalties for fully
AI-generated music, marking a decisive shift in how the industry handles synthetic audio content.
With the elimination of the controversial MQA music format, this may be
another step in the right direction for TIDAL. Announced on June 29th, the policy states that tracks identified as 100%
AI-generated will remain streamable but will no longer earn royalties or qualify for
direct-to-fan sales, with enforcement beginning July 15. The company will also introduce a visible
"AI" badge next to any track deemed wholly machine-made, giving listeners clear insight into how the music was created. TIDAL says this transparency is essential as its catalog has been increasingly flooded with
AI-generated submissions from third-party distributors. The platform's leadership emphasized that the move is not
anti-technology but rather a protection of human creativity and artist
livelihoods. Beyond demonetization, TIDAL is taking a hard stance against fraudulent AI content, including songs that impersonate real artists or mislead listeners.
---> TIDAL Draws A Line: Streaming Service Ends Royalty Payments For Fully AI-Generated Music. 
Pacific Audio Fest 2027: Music-Focused Premium Audio Experience
Pacific Audio Fest (PAF) will return January 15th through 17th, staging a music-first premium audio weekend at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington in
Seattle's Southport. The three-day event promises live performances, immersive listening sessions, and a broad marketplace of premium audio brands, designers, and dealers. Organizers say the move to a new waterfront venue and a renewed emphasis on music aim to reconnect listeners with the emotional power of great recordings. The festival is being shaped as a music-focused audio experience for listeners at every level, from curious beginners to seasoned audiophiles. Attendees can expect demonstrations spanning vinyl playback, loudspeakers, headphones, streaming systems, amplifiers, and complete listening rooms. Exhibits will showcase both budget-friendly starter setups and high-end systems, giving visitors hands-on opportunities to hear how different gear changes the way songs and records come to life. PAF organizers highlight the convenience of moving from listening rooms to evening entertainment and social spaces without leaving the property, making the festival both immersive and easy to
navigate.
---> Pacific Audio Fest 2027: Music-Focused Premium Audio Experience.
This
Weekend: Southwest Audio Fest 2026 Show Report
Reference-level hi-fi audio
gear, seminars, & marketplace for audiophiles and music lovers.
Southwest Audio Fest 2026 returns to Dallas from July 23rd through 25th with a sharpened
three-day schedule designed to maximize energy, attendance, and high-end listening opportunities. Organizers have officially dropped the traditional Sunday session in favor of a
Thu-to-Sat format, responding to
longstanding industry feedback about slow final day traffic. The new structure opens Thursday from 2
pm to 8 pm, followed by full days Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, creating a more focused and efficient show experience for exhibitors and attendees alike. Hosted at the Sheraton Convention Center in downtown Dallas, the 2026 edition offers expansive demo rooms, proximity to the Arts and Historic Districts, and easy access to restaurants, museums, and cultural attractions. Exhibitors will include major manufacturers, boutique builders, dealers, and independent designers presenting everything from floorstanding loudspeakers and reference turntables to
cutting-edge DACs, streamers, and room treatment solutions.
---> Southwest Audio Fest 2026
Show Report. 
Metronome Audio Le DAC 2 Review
The Spice must flow.
Review By Paul Schumann
It's no
secret that Hollywood has become the land of the sequel. Nine of the top ten
grossing movies from 2022 were sequels. I excluded The Batman because it
technically wasn't a sequel, but it was a reboot, for goodness' sake. Now I'm
not going to bash sequels out of hand. I watch a bunch of them myself. My big
complaint is when a sequel is done by a different set of writers and a new
director and is so different from its predecessor in tone and theme that about
halfway through I throw up my hands and ask, "Why am I watching this?". One sequel I'm looking forward to watching is Dune: Part 2.
While they call it a sequel, it's more of a continuation of the first movie with
Denis Villeneuve and his team completing the task. Even though I've only seen
2.5 minutes of it in a trailer, I am incredibly hopeful that this crew will
bring the ship safely into the harbor. Yes, I could be wrong, but like Fremen, I
believe.
---> Metronome Audio Le DAC 2
Review.
Pass Labs X260.8 Monoblock Amplifier Review
Prestigious power, glorious grace, and terrific transparency.
Review By
Dwayne Carter
Pass Laboratories, Inc., is a name that most audiophiles
utter, after describing a product that comes close to perfection. "XXX
amplifier almost sounds as good as the Pass Labs XXX model". We've
all done it. Fortunately, "as good as" will have to wait. Thanks to the good
people at Pass Laboratories; I get the real thing. As the world was on pause, my
listening room entertained a pair of Pass Labs X260.8 monoblock amplifiers. In full disclosure, I would like to admit that I have been a
fan of Pass Labs products for many years. I've never owned or reviewed any of
their products, so I was looking forward to this delivery.... The Pass Labs X260.8 monoblock amplifiers require two people to
move. I know most amplifier manufacturers recommend this, but this is the first
time I heeded their recommendation. Luckily, my good friend Michael was able to
help me wrestle these beasts into place.
--->
Pass Labs X260.8 Monoblock Amplifier Review.
Genesis G7 Samba Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review
You're drawn into the music by its amazing, lifelike sound.
Review By Senior Editor Tom Lyle
I first became aware of Genesis speakers
when I was a young man, shortly after they were first introduced in 1991 via the
audiophile press. It was tough to ignore the fact that anyone who discussed this
brand of speakers never failed to mention their chief designer, the late Arnie
Nudell, and his passion for research and development, as well as the use of
premium materials, their impeccable design, and, by all reliable accounts, their
outstanding sound quality. Genesis introduced their more affordable G7 Series in
2005, beginning with the G7c, also known as the Convertible, a bookshelf speaker
designed by Genesis' Arnie Nudell, who sadly passed away in 2017. The G7c speakers were soon followed by other models created by Mr. Nudell's successor, Gary L. Koh, who is now Genesis' Chief Designer and the CEO of Genesis Advanced Technologies. These newer models included the G7p (Petite) and the G7f, a floor-standing model with an active side-firing woofer. Although the G7 Series was discontinued in 2018, it has now been
reintroduced.
--->
Genesis G7 Samba Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.
July 2026 High-End Audio Review Magazine — Celebrating Music, Community & The Gear That Brings Us Together
A passionate editorial for music lovers, audiophiles, and our global hi-fi Family.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
This issue of Enjoy
the Music.com's high-end-audio Review Magazine arrives at a moment
when the global audiophile community feels more connected—and more
energized—than ever! Over the past 30+ years, our publication has served music
lovers with high-performance audio reviews, show reports, industry news, and
heartfelt editorials that celebrate the musical art of listening. This month, we
continue that tradition with renewed purpose: to honor the people, the gear, and
the shared passion that make high-fidelity audio not just a hobby, but a
lifelong pursuit of beauty, discovery, and both human and emotional connection.
As the Old Guard is now retired, and we thank them for their decades of service,
it is time for fresh faces to take charge as new ideas within the world of
modern hi-fi audio move us forward. This issue is written by music lovers
for music lovers. Our well-respected musician contributors are not distant observers of music—they
play it. We are
honored to have musicians as part of the same global family of listeners who
obsess over authenticity, realism, tone, texture, timing, and truth. Like you,
we stay up
late into the evening, sometimes into the early morning, (re)discovering
favorite albums; debating the merits of solid-state, vacuum tubes, hornspeakers,
planars, cone drivers, digital formats, phono cartridges, tweaks....
--->
July 2026 High-End Audio Review Magazine — Celebrating Music, Community & The Gear That Brings Us
Together.
World Premiere Review!
Merrill Audio Element 116MX Review: High-End Monoblock Power Amplifiers With Exceptional Clarity & Dynamics
Our exclusive In-depth listening tests reveals the 116MX's exceptionally low noise floor, expansive immersive soundscape, and reference-level transparency.
Review By Tom Lyle
In this review, I will describe and sonically examine Merrill
Audio's Element 116MX monoblock power amplifiers. Given the number of Merrill
Audio reviews I have written over the past decade, I suppose some may accuse me
of favoritism. I'm often chosen to review their components simply because I
live close to their factory. As a bonus, they can deliver their products
personally and then help me set them up, rather than simply shipping them to me.
The Element 116MX is Merrill Audio's newest component, and the most powerful
and most pricey amplifier I've reviewed from them. It is a significant upgrade
over their earlier
Element 116 (sans MX), which Dr. Michael Bump reviewed in the summer of 2019
in Enjoy the Music.com. In this very positive review, he remarked that the Element
116 "delivers some of the best amplification anywhere." Merrill Audio claims that the Element 116MX "offers greater
clarity, detail, and dynamic range."
--->
Merrill Audio Element 116MX Review: High-End Monoblock Power Amplifiers With Exceptional Clarity &
Dynamics.
Discover more hi-fi reviews and expert articles within our Review Magazine.
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