March
2025
Celebrating
Our Spectacular 30th Anniversary!
Honoring Enjoy the Music.com's
exceptional articles and reviews.
During 2025, Enjoy the Music.com
will feature historic audio gear reviews and articles during our past 30
years. As always, in the end what really matters is that
you... enjoy the music!
High-Performance
Audio & Music Industry News
Essential high-end audio news you need to know.
Stay up-to-date on the latest audiophile and music industry news.
The Future Of Our Audiophile Hobby Part
2
More about things to come and how to make them better.
Article
By Roger Skoff
In last
month's Part 1 of "The Future Of Our Audiophile Hobby", I
wrote that Hi-Fi – our hobby, our industry, and our long-time source of both
enjoyment and cultural enrichment – seems to be following the path of the
electric train, another once great, "everybody-used-to-have-one" product, into
obscurity. I also told you why it was happening: Not many people, nowadays –
at least not a significant percentage of the people that I or my friends and
other people in the industry have talked to about it – know or can tell you
the meaning of the words "Hi-fi", "High Fidelity", or "Stereo", or even know
that we, our hobby, our industry, or the products that could potentially add so
much to their lives, exist. We have dropped out of sight to the general public,
and what is happening is its inevitable outcome.
--->
The Future Of Our Audiophile Hobby Part 2.
A Plan We Can All Take Part In
Another crazy idea by Yours
Truly.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
And what have we as an industry done with this
educational opportunity? We've squandered it, that's what! WTF?!?! Of course the idea below is just that, just an idea and frankly while some might like this idea, doubt it'll go anywhere as it requires effort on your part. Go ahead, prove me
wrong. Am not going to be a whiney bitch and complain about some gear
being incredibly high-priced, as like cars there are Hyundai (very respectable, wife's
daughter has one), BMW (wife and my car), and Ferrari (been there, done that, tracked the living daylights out of it until the engine needed a major rebuild). With high-end audio for 'normal people' out there, most music lovers think of whatever is $$$ (not just $$) in the big box stores as 'high-end'. They, you know, normal people, generally, have zero idea we as an industry exist in any true sense...
---> A Plan We Can All Take Part In.
Reflecting Back On High-End Audio....
High-end audio and the music industry experiences impressive growth.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
I've
spoken to many manufacturers and distributors during 2020, and without a doubt
the saying "May you live in interesting times" holds true. While that
saying is an English expression that is claimed to be a translation of a
traditional Chinese curse, the point is very valid for 2020. On one hand, both
high-end audio and the music industry experienced impressive growth. On the
other hand, we also missed seeing one another during shows. More hi-fi blogs and
YouTube videos have been produced during 2020 than perhaps any other time. So on
one hand we have expanding businesses, online sales, reviews, etc within the
consumer electronics sector, on the other we have (generally the elderly) dying
from... Everyone at Enjoy the Music.com truly feels deep sadness for
those we've lost during 2020.
--->
Reflecting Back On High-End Audio....
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; creating the framework for a powerful
stress reduction and unlocking the full potential music has to offer as it
unfolds in the present moment.
--->
Music And Mindfulness For Stress Reduction.
How Things Measure
Pretending to represent defendants of science and public interest.
Editorial By J. Martins
As I was walking at an accelerated pace along the Las Vegas Strip for another CES 2025 meeting, while passing in front of
Harrah's, the sound of a street musician playing saxophone over a pre-recorded music track inevitably captured my attention. The music was loud enough to mix perfectly with the acoustic sound of the instrument and provided a pleasant background for all those passing by on that cold January morning. As I glanced at his setup, a fairly large battery powered speaker stood out on the floor, still with large, colorful retail stickers proclaiming
"2500 Watts!" I couldn't help smiling as I tried to understand the unknown brand logo for the clunky
apparatus. Well, the brand doesn't really matter, because there's no lack of 2500W active speakers advertised online, as a quick search will reveal. Likewise,
there's no lack of compact, portable Bluetooth speakers advertising 180W. You will need to reach for detailed specifications to learn that this is the
"total amplification" resulting from 2x 40W woofers plus 4x 25W for full-range speakers.
---> How Things Measure.
Dynamic Range And Price Range
Is it great audio gear just because it is expensive?
Editorial By Alan Sircom
One
of the great joys of good audio is dynamic range. But not necessarily in the way
you think. Sure, the ability for a system to reproduce the dynamic swings of a
good recording is something sublime to behold. Also, that ability for a system
to be able to portray tiny dynamic cues within a larger setting (such as being
able to hear mechanics of pressing the pedals on a piano in a concerto) is one
of those aspects of audio performance we all look for. They are the subtle
details that separate the 'great' from the merely 'good'. There's another dynamic range that is perhaps even more
satisfying; the dynamic range of audio products. While many fume over the 'oligarch-fi'
prices of ultra-high-end audio, there has been a change taking place across the
board. The affordable end of audio has upped its ante, upped its game, and –
arguably – lowered its prices. This last is controversial, but holds. Our rose-tinted view of
past price tags doesn't take our past salaries into account.
---> Dynamic Range And Price
Range.
Florida International Audio Expo
2025 Show
Report
High-end audio / audiophiles and music
lovers rejoice in Tampa.
The
Florida International Audio Expo 2025 takes place from February 21st through
23rd at the Sheraton Tampa Brandon, the event's new, and larger, venue. The Florida International Audio Expo will showcase many floors
filled with exhibit spaces featuring the latest in home and portable audio gear.
You may enjoy an abundance of great sound from mono to stereo and immersive, plus various
exhibit room will feature never before seen new products! Show attendees are 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 can experience
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 Show
Report.
Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Show Report
SWAF 2025 high-end audio / audiophile event coverage.
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. 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! All this and
more within a curated experience filled with fine art and acres of event
space.
---> Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Show
Report.
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.
---> Montreal Audiofest 2025 Audiophile Show
Info & 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.
Oracle Audio Delphi MK VI Turntable Review
A first-class turntable with incredibly advanced power supplies.
Review By
Tom Lyle
My first "real" turntable after years of listening to
crummy mass-market contraptions was an AR ES-1. Mounted on its arm-board was a
Grace tonearm, but I eventually upgraded to a Magnepan model, which as it turned
out was not really an upgrade but merely a move sideways. At the time I was
listening to the AR table in my humble high-end system I was also spending lots
of my audiophile hours with the now legendary Herb Papier, the maker of the
Tri-Planar tonearm. He became, for lack of any other term, my analog and
high-end mentor. Eventually he sold me his original version of the Oracle
Delphi, which was one of his first "modern" high-end tables that he owned, of
which he spent many hours and a good sum of money modifying.
--->
Oracle Audio Delphi MK VI Turntable With SME V Tonearm Review.
First
Watt / Pass Labs SIT-2
Stereo Amplifier Review
Ten
excellent Watts!
Review By A. Colin Flood
On several
systems including mine, the SIT-2 did not sound like a tube amplifier. It was
better in some respects. Nor did it sound like solid-state either. It was better
in many respects there too. The new Static Induction Transistor SIT-2 stereo
amplifier from Pass' First Watt company is a plain dark-gray box. Sure, it has
signature Pass cooling fins sticking out at an angle like Batman's car, but
small, bright blue LED eyes replace the famous big, blue Pass meter. The
amplifier doesn't look monstrously powerful. It isn't either. Intended so its
first Watt is the best, the SIT-2 amplifier is rated at only 10 Watts output.
Designed to sound like tubes, instead the SIT amplifier does not sound like
solid-state.
--->
First Watt / Pass Labs SIT-2 Stereo Amplifier Review.
Abyss AB-1266 Planar Magnetic Headphones
Review
The journey is the destination.
Review By
Dave Hanson
The practice of building a home system and tweaking it to
perfection is a time-honored tradition among music lovers and audiophiles. And I'm not just talking about buying equipment and is plainly evident within my
review of the Abyss AB-1266 headphones and you'll soon learn. It's about
perfecting the angle of the speaker. Damping the reflective surfaces of the
room. Perhaps even rewiring the electrical sockets in search of that last one or
two percent. Few understand this practice better than Joe Skubinski of JPS
Labs, a man who has built a name for himself in the world of high-end cables. A
close listen to other JPS designs such as the Aluminata Power Cable ($3999)
reveals a prodigious level of attention to detail at every stage of the build.
--->
Abyss AB-1266 Planar Magnetic Headphones 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.
Furutech DF-2 Vinyl LP
Record Disc Flattener Review
Plus the system that time forgot.
Review By Ray Chowkwanyun
The test record was Linda Rondstadt's Living
in the USA. Hers is a voice that comes along once in a generation.
Unfortunately, my LP copy had a warp that comes along once in a
generation.
Altogether, I had four LP copies of this album. The one with the worst warp
sounded the best, naturally. The other three sounded the same as far as I could
tell. These three I used as my reference so as not to rely on fallible aural
memory. The first test record sounded like the other two references
and weighed 128 grams. Furutech says not to treat any record weighing less than
110 grams which is 3.88 ounces. Nor any record made during the oil crisis
weighing between 100 and 115 grams.) Naturally, you should clean the record
before flattening. I use the first three stages of the excellent Walker system.
---> Furutech DF-2 Vinyl LP Record Disc Flattener.
Pro-Ject X2 Vinyl LP Turntable Review
Easy to set up and very easy to use. You will not be disappointed.
Review By Tom Lyle
As
the technology advances, it's only natural for any decent audio manufacturer to
take advantage of this new technology. And so, when Pro-Ject was faced with
improving upon their Debut and Xpression series of turntables, which are both
very successful designs, they decided to, in their words, "improve on the
technologies that had already been established". As a result, Pro-Ject
introduced their X1 and X2 turntables. The X2, the subject of this review,
besides many other improvements, , makes the most of higher quality raw
materials to use in its production (even though they are more difficult to
source), and also increases the size of the turntable's existing components,
which resulted in the chassis, platter and tonearm having greater mass, which
made the turntable "heavier, and more robust".
--->
Pro-Ject X2 Vinyl LP Turntable Review.
OPPO BDP-105 3D Blu-ray
Universal Disc
Player Review
I'd call it more of a disc player A/V processor.
Article By Bill Gaw
When you read this I'll be sunning
myself during my three- month semi-retirement in the Caribbean. Why do I mention
that? Because I'll probably be lying back on a chaise lounge with headphones on
listening to this newest and best player that OPPO has
produced. There, I've probably ruined the rest of the article for readers
familiar with the units from this company. In the past, they've always shown up
on lists for best "Product of the Year" especially for the price, and this one
is no exception. I do have a gripe with OPPO over the naming of
this unit which will become clearer as you read further; thus the parentheses in
the title. Over the past several years, I've reviewed just about
every one of their top- of- the- line players, and in each case
have found them to be equal to or better than products two to three times their
price.
---> OPPO BDP-105 3D Blu-ray "Disc Player" Review.
Benchmark DAC1 USB And Bel Canto e.One
Dac3 Review
Two digital preamps under
careful scrutiny and testing.
Article By Steven Stone
You
may well ask, "What defines a digital preamp?" Simply stated, a digital preamp
is a two-channel preamp that accepts digital input sources and outputs variable
electrical
levels of analog signals. It incorporates a fully featured DAC (digital-to- analog
converter) so in most cases it can handle not only 44.1kHz red-book CDs but
also MP3s and 48kHz on up DVD soundtracks. Such a device can reduce the number of
components in a system by at least one (an outboard DAC is no longer needed) and
in the case of both the Benchmark DAC1 USB and Bel Canto e.One Dac3, since they
both have USB input capabilities, a USB to SPIF converter box also becomes
redundant.
---> Benchmark DAC1 USB And Bel Canto e.One Dac3
Review.
Sony
VFETs In Push-Pull Class A By Nelson Pass
Common Source Mode, Transformer
Coupled
Article By Nelson Pass
This article is the first of a series presenting fairly simple
"Do-It-Yourself" audio power amplifiers using Static Induction Transistors. SITs are a rare breed of transistor which have characteristics particularly
desired by some audiophiles. They were first developed in Japan in the
early 1970's and known then as VFETs. Brought to market by Sony and Yamaha
in the 1970's and into the 80's they largely vanished except as a lingering
legend among audio aficionados. My hands-on experience with SITs followed the publication of
my 2010 piece "The Sweet Spot" where I discussed positioning the operating points of Class A amplifiers for
load lines which allowed trade-offs involving the characteristic curves of the
devices. One of these, equivalent to the Plate Resistance in tubes, we
will call Drain Resistance and it is possible to exploit this for better (or at
least different) performance.
---> Sony VFETs In Push-Pull Class A By Nelson Pass.
The Intro:
The Heart Of Our Hobby
Editorial By Art Dudley
Apart from reminding Listener's
readers how seldom I have been arrested compared to George W. Bush (the score stands at "zero" to "three that we know of"), I vow to keep the following observations as non-political as I
can. Today's concern goes to the heart of our hobby. Specifically, what should we, as audiophiles, be doing with our hi-fi gear? Should we use our stereos to lay bare every nuance of sound on our recordings, as faithfully and thoroughly as technology allows? Or should we use them as we would a drug, to achieve a musical bliss-out whenever the fancy strikes
us? And: Is it acceptable for us to even think of these as separate goals? The old musical
kicks-vs.-fidelity to the master tape argument has been around longer than Goldie
Hawn, and it gets trotted out at least every other week on the various internet hi-fi forums.
---> The Intro For Listener Magazine.
Measure Audio Harmonics The Easy Way
Article By Larry Lisle
From Sound Practices
Issue 12
Designing, building and tweaking audio
amplifiers can be a lot of fun. It can also be very frustrating unless you measure the
effect of design changes or parts substitutions. In this article I'll show you an easy
way to measure one of the most important characteristics of an amplifier, distortion
caused by harmonics in the second, third, fourth and higher orders in the middle
frequency range. Every audio amplifier adds some distortion to the signal it amplifies. One type of distortion
that's especially important is harmonic distortion. For example, if the input signal is 500 Hz, the output may also contain
signals at multiples of 500 Hz, such as 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 Hz and so on in addition to the fundamental frequency of
500 Hz.
---> Measure Audio Harmonics The Easy Way.
Dinkin' Around
Tech tips and other unsolicited advice.
Article By Dan Schmalle
Got an H.H. Scott LT-110 (the kit version
of the 350) in the shop last week that was
misbehaving badly, just a buzz would
come out. After a couple tubes and an
alignment of the RF and IF/limiter
stages, mono sounded great, stereo
wasn't stereo and had a bunch of growlies. When I got to the 19kHz transformer on
the multiplex board, there was no signal
coming out, and the slugs seemed to
spin freely. Ah hah! I said (actually I said Shit!). Opened up the can and realized
I was witnessing the work of the Gods.
Apparently a previous alignment had
been performed by Hercules. Herc had adjusted the transformer with
little regard for the fact that kit type tuning
coils were apparently set and sealed
in place with wax by the mere mortals at H.H. Scott.
---> VALVE Magazine
Dinkin' Around.
Eminent Technology LFT8c Loudspeaker Review
Dipole done well.
Review By Jules Coleman
If you are not familiar with Bruce Thigpen,
it's time you were. Bruce has been among the more creative and innovative designers in the audio industry over the past forty years. He began his career by working on what was to become the Infinity turntable, which he followed with the classic and much-admired ET 2 linear tracking tonearm (parts and updates are still available for the model 1, ET-2 and ET- 2.5), before turning his attention to magnetic planar loudspeakers. Beginning with the full-range planar LFT3, he ultimately shifted focus to hybrid designs featuring planar mid and high-frequency drivers mated with traditional cone drivers to handle the lower frequencies. The shift in focus led to the development of the LFT-8 introduced in 1989 and then widely distributed beginning in 1990, the transformative version of which, LFT-8c, is the subject of this
review.
--->
Eminent Technology LFT8c Loudspeaker Review.
World Premiere Review!
Zesto Audio Eros 500 Select Class A
Monoblock Review
The Eros 500 is a neutral, realistic, and natural-sounding amplifier. true standard of excellence.
Review By Robert H. Levi
The more I immerse myself in this
hobby since I retired from the entertainment industry in 2008, the more certain
I have become that the amplifier is the most important and telling piece of
equipment in your system. It was in the late 1970s that J. Gordon Holt stated in Stereophile that
one should buy a very good speaker that fits your needs and then bust your
budget on an excellent amplifier. I have more or less followed that advice over
the last half century of reproducing music in my home. Lately, however, with the
maturation of really great tube and hybrid source devices, phono preamp sources
and superb LP pressings, extraordinary phono cartridges, SACDs, much improved
digital streaming with high resolution, and the maturing science of neutral and
high-definition interconnectivity, I have confirmed that JGH was 100% right.
--->
Zesto Audio Eros 500 Select Class A Monoblock Review.
Avantgarde Acoustic Duo XD Hornspeaker
Review
Blow Up! – With the Duo XD, Avantgarde Acoustic shows what horn technology and a perfectly matched active woofers... are able to do to the sound.
Review By Matthias Böde
Yes, you have read the measurement results
from our lab correctly (in case you checked them): For 94 decibels of sound
pressure at a distance of one meter, this speaker needs just 0.07 Watts of
power. Seven Watts would be somewhat normal, 0.7 Watts already a sensation –
but 0.07 Watts reads like a typo. It is completely true though! This is made
possible by the large horn at the top end of the Duo XD, coming from the
specialist Avantgarde Acoustic, based in a small town in the Odenwald mountain
range in southwestern Germany. This horn is connected directly to the amplifier
without any intermediate crossover and visually symbolizes the phenomenal
efficiency with its huge opening of 67 centimeters.
--->
Avantgarde Acoustic Duo XD Hornspeaker Review.
Gryphon Audio Essence Preamplifier
And Essence Stereo Power Amplifier Review
Blown away by an amazing musical performance!
Review By Tom Lyle
The
Gryphon Essence preamplifier and Gryphon Stereo power amplifier are gorgeous
looking and beautiful sounding Danish high-end audio components. Those who can
afford either or both of these components will not only enjoy stellar sound
quality but most likely will also be able to enjoy the fact that they are the
epitome of audio equipment that has a look and "feel" of luxury goods. Gryphon
founder Flemming E. Rasmussen was responsible for the stunningly beautiful
exterior of the rather large (and heavy!) Gryphon Essence preamplifier and
Stereo Essence power amplifier. Good looks and operational refinement are
especially true of the Gryphon Essence preamplifier. Its weighty
infrared metal remote was only one indication of this Danish audio manufacturer's
recognition of many audiophile's appreciation of the intangibles that are
available on many preamps.
--->
Gryphon Audio Essence Preamplifier & Essence Amplifier Review.
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.
Ayon
Audio CD-35 II CD Player And USA Labs RS9 Music
Server Review
Two very versatile, and impressive, performers.
Review By Bob Grossman
The Ayon Audio CD-35 II as reviewed here, is the latest introduction to a long lineage of CD players that have
been well regarded going back to the various models in the 3 and 5 series, along
with ideas derived from their special edition CD35HF. But the CD-35 II is more
than a CD player – it is also a fully functioning preamplifier and DAC. It is
a single-ended triode pure Class A design using a 6H30 and a 5687 tube for each
channel, and a GZ30 tube as a rectifier for the power supply. It is also a zero-feedback
design. Ayon Audio's CD-35 II built-in DAC can be used to play music files
from your computer via the USB connection. The DAC also has a coaxial RCA input
for S/PDIF, I2S, BNC, AES/EBU, and three other BNC inputs for DSD. For this
review I also evaluated the USA Labs RS9 music server to coordinate streaming of music
from Qobuz.
--->
Ayon CD-35 II CD Player And USA Labs RS9 Music Server Review.
Pass Laboratories XP-22 Line Pre & XP-27 Phono
Pre Review
Colossal soundstage and the pinpoint imagining prowess!
Review By
Tom Lyle
I began to assemble my first "real" audio system while still in high
school. I made it chiefly from DIY components and other "vintage" gear
I could scrounge from friends and family. At that time, I don't think I heard
anyone use the term "audiophile." All I knew was that I wanted to hear
music at home on a better system than the mass-market stuff sold at department
stores. This was also about the same time I discovered a
high-end audio showroom near my parent's suburban home. Every once in a while, I
would quietly enter their store. There was no way I would have been able to sit
in the comfy chair in front of one of the active displays and listen to a
system. But I did walk among the array of components on display, and when no one
was looking, turn the knobs up and down and flip the switches on the front
panels of a component or two while it was muted or its power was off.
--->
Pass Labs XP-22 Line Pre & XP-27 Phono Pre Review.
Previous Issues
2025
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