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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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World Premiere Review!
Volti Audio Lucera Hybrid Horn / Bass-Reflex Loudspeaker Review
Taking a deep dive into the aural matrix.
Review By Paul Schumann
What
do I really want out of this hobby? I'm sure all of us have asked that question. We
start by listening to music we love on a system we possess. Then we hear that
music on a better system and notice things we'd never heard before. That lights
a fire in our belly. How can I hear that at home? We talk to other people,
listen to other systems, and realize that not everyone hears the same things as
we do. Then, we have that aha moment when we hear a system that touches our
inner child. That happened to me when Dr. Day plopped me down in front of his
homebrew SET system driving a pair of Altec A7s. From then on, I knew exactly
what I wanted. The next question became, how am I going to get
there? Dr. Day spent years listening and soldering to get what tickled his
fancy. My sensei David is on a similar journey. The late Sakuma built different
systems to listen to various kinds of music. For all three of these seekers, the
cornerstone of their quest was high efficiency-speakers.
--->
Volti Audio Lucera Hybrid Horn / Bass-Reflex Loudspeaker Review.
World Premiere Review!
Raven Audio Osprey MK3.1 Integrated Amplifier
And Corvus Reference Monitors Review
Classic designs refined.
Review By Paul Schumann
I grew up
listening to music through my dad's Dynaco ST70. My Dad was a DIY guy; it was
the best kit available in 1960. I inherited it and the matching PAS preamp my
sophomore year of college. I then bought a pair of ADS L620 speakers to go with
them. That kept me happy for 20 years. I eventually replaced my ailing Dynaco
gear with a Jolida JD202 integrated. The Dynaco and Jolida were very similar,
using EL34 pentodes in an ultra-linear configuration. A little later, the ADS
speakers made way for the Thiel CS1.5s. These were both two-way bass-reflex
speakers. In the last few years, my interest in lower-power amps and
high-efficiency speakers has led me away from the pairings I had so long, but I
will always have warm memories of listening to music with them. While attending the inaugural Southwest Audio Fest, I took
an interest in the Raptor horn speakers I heard in the Raven Audio room. About
one week after the show, I reached out to Dave Thompson of Raven to make
arrangements for a review. Dave put me in touch with James Connell.
--->
Raven Audio Osprey MK3.1 Integrated Amplifier And Corvus Reference Monitors
Review.
Enjoy
the Music.com's August Issue — Expert Reviews & Gear Analysis + SWAF
2026 Show Report
In-depth high-fidelity audio reviews, exclusive articles, and the latest
high-end audio gear featured at SWAF 2026.
Our August Review Magazine presents reviews and a focused, professional roundup of the
month's most notable high-end audio gear showcased at Southwest Audio Fest 2026. This issue features authoritative component reviews and
hands-on listening impressions alongside editorial contributions from leading audiophile publications. Whether you are evaluating amplifiers, cables, or loudspeakers, the August issue offers rigorous testing and practical recommendations to inform confident purchase
decisions. Highlights include an
in-depth evaluation of the SVS Pinnacle loudspeaker, a model that continues to earn widespread acclaim. Our review pairs technical and
real-world listening notes to provide a balanced assessment of performance and value. We also introduce
Tiglon's cabling solutions to you, including a full-system cabling overview and the world premiere of their Golden Dragon digital cable. We are honored to present a detailed appraisal of
Esoteric's new
S-05XE amplifier, examining how it conveys the music's meaning and wonderful emotional
backing. Each article and review emphasizes the attributes that matter most to discerning listeners....
---> August Issue — Expert Reviews & Gear Analysis + SWAF 2026 Show
Report. 
Submit Your Music For The 2027 GRAMMY Awards
The Recording Academy has officially opened the submission window for the 2027
Grammy Awards, marking the start of the annual race toward the music
industry's most prestigious honor. Artists, producers, engineers, and labels now have a limited window to submit their recordings for consideration across dozens of categories. With the
Grammys continuing to evolve — including updated rules, new categories, and expanded eligibility guidelines — this
year's submission period is more important than ever for creators aiming to reach the global stage. According to the
Academy's updated guidance, the submission process is designed to ensure that every eligible recording released within the qualifying period receives fair and accurate consideration. This includes verifying release dates, confirming proper credits, and ensuring that all submitted works meet the
Grammys' strict technical and artistic criteria. The Academy emphasizes that early submission helps avoid
last-minute issues, especially for independent artists who may be navigating the process for the first
time.
---> Submit Your Music For The 2027 Grammy Awards. 
Warner Music Group Posts Strong Q3 Gains As Streaming Momentum Accelerates
Warner Music Group (WMG) reported a powerful fiscal third quarter for the period ending June 30 (2026), driven by surging subscription streaming revenue, disciplined cost management, and broad-based growth across Recorded Music and Music Publishing. Total revenue climbed 10% year-over-year (9% in constant currency), while net income swung sharply to $200 million, a dramatic turnaround from a $16 million loss in the prior-year quarter. CEO Robert Kyncl emphasized that this marks the
company's fifth consecutive quarter meeting or exceeding targets, crediting improved streaming economics, resilient global market share, and operational leverage. Subscription streaming revenue rose at double-digit rates, supported by stronger terms with DSP partners and positive industry trends. Acting CFO Lou Dickler added that WMG remains on track to hit the high end of its 150–200 basis point full-year margin expansion
guidance.
---> Warner Music Group Posts Strong Q3 Gains As Streaming Momentum Accelerates. 
hi-fi+ August 2026 High-End
Audio Magazine
Editorial: Sony's Disc-Free Future & Dynaudio's Exit Signal Shifts In Audio Industry
Pear Audio Blue Aras and Cornet 3 Turntable And Tonearm
SUPATRAC Nighthawk Turntable Tonearm
Trafomatic Audio Elysian Valve Power Amplifier
Enleum AMP-54R Stereo Integrated Amplifier
Atlantis Lab AT16 Pro Floorstanding Loudspeaker
JBL Summit Ama Stand-Mount Loudspeaker
Roksan Caspian 4G Preamp / Power Amplifier
Ferrum Wandla HP DAC / Headphone Amplifier
Tellurium Q Silver III Loudspeaker Cable And Interconnect Cables
...And Much More!
---> hi-fi+
August 2026 High-End Audio Magazine.
Southwest Audio Fest 2026
Luxury High-Fidelity Audio 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. 
Musick Hath Charms
How good sound affects the body, the brain, and the beating heart.
Editorial By Roger Skoff
"Musick hath charms to soothe the savage
breast." William
Congreve wrote that in 1697, and although the spelling has been modernized and
the sentiment has been misquoted for centuries, the underlying truth hasn't
budged. Music—real music, heard with attention and reproduced with
fidelity—still reaches places inside us that nothing else can. It calms, it
stirs, it organizes the mind, and it can even nudge the body toward better
health. In an age when so many people listen through plastic earbuds
that cost less than a cheap lunch, the idea that sound quality still matters may
seem quaint, but it isn't; It's biology. We are, after all, resonant creatures. Our hearts beat
rhythmically, our lungs cycle, our brains fire in waves. We are built on
oscillation. When we encounter external rhythms—melody, harmony, pulse—we
don't just hear them; we physically align with them. Our nervous system syncs.
Our endocrine system adjusts. Blood pressure shifts. That's not poetry. It's
measurable physiology.
---> Musick Hath
Charms.
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.
SVS Pinnacle Loudspeaker Review: The Flagship Full-Range Towers That
Transformed My Listening Room
The towers that walked into my listening room as a loaner and never left (maybe).
Review By Dwayne Carter
A few weeks ago, I buried a pair of speakers. Not literally.
They are still sitting in the corner of my listening room, draped in a moving
blanket, waiting for me to make a decision I keep avoiding. But for all
practical purposes, my Martin Logan Summits are gone. Fifteen years of service,
a panel that crackled and then went silent mid-song, and a hole in my room where
my reference speakers used to live. If you read my Lyngdorf TDAI-2210
review, you already know the story. The Logans died during that review, one day in, with a glass
of bourbon in my hand and The Cure cut off at the knees. What I had on hand that
day, sitting in their crates and not broken in, was a pair of new, SVS Ultra
Evolution Pinnacles. They were supposed to be a short visit. A review loaner.
Speakers I would write up, box back up, and ship back to the dealer with a
polite thank-you note. That might not be what happens. Today, I have the pleasure of reviewing the SVS Ultra
Evolution Pinnacle, the flagship floor-standing speakers from a company most
people still think of as a subwoofer outfit.
---> SVS Pinnacle Loudspeaker Review: The Flagship Full-Range Towers That Transformed My Listening
Room.
World Premiere Review!
Tiglon Audio Cables Review
We explore four models, including a World Premier digital cable.
Review By Rick Becker
Tiglon? I had never heard of
the company. Bernard Li of Charisma Audio invited me to look over this new line
from Japan at the Toronto Audiofest in October 2025. I knew Bernard had a keen
ear and a strong sense of value. His turntable, tonearm, and a couple of the
phono cartridges he also manufactures have been in my rig for years. I gladly
examined the table full of diverse products from Tiglon, including cables,
equipment racks, vibration absorbing shelves and footers, and some speaker
stands. While everything was of high quality, the cables seemed most likely to
put Tiglon on the map in North America. By the time I was ready to
bring in the cables for review, Tiglon had already set up U.S. distribution with
John Victor in Windsor, California, an hour and a quarter north of San Francisco
on US 101. John has been in the High End arena since 2010, and he has a good
handle on communication with the company in Japan.
---> Tiglon Audio Cables
Review.
Mastered By Bob Ludwig — Inside The Art & Science Of Elite Music Mastering
A revealing look at Bob Ludwig's legendary mastering process, his award-earning career, and the techniques behind the world's most acclaimed recordings.
Bob Ludwig is the owner of Gateway Mastering and a 11-time Grammy award winning mastering engineer. Gateway Mastering Studios goal is to produce the very best sounding masters for their clients – both creatively and technically perfect. Their exceptional team accomplishes this by challenging the edge of audio performance while exceeding our
customers' expectations with excellent service. As an 8-year-old child in South Salem, New York, Bob Ludwig was so fascinated with his first tape recorder he used to make recordings of whatever was on the radio. Ludwig is a classical musician by training, having obtained his
bachelor's and master's degrees from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester, New York, where he was also involved in the sound department and played Principal Trumpet with the Utica Symphony Orchestra. Inspired by Phil Ramone when he came to the school to teach a summer recording workshop, he ended up working as his assistant for the course. Phil asked him if he would like to work at A&R Recording.
---> Mastered By Bob Ludwig An Exploration Of His Career And
Techniques.
Discover more hi-fi reviews and expert articles within our Review Magazine.
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