May
2026
Celebrating
Our Spectacular 30th Anniversary!
Honoring Enjoy the Music.com's
exceptional articles and reviews.
During 2026, 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.
Why High-End Audio Transforms Listening Into A Deeply Emotional Experience
How high-fidelity audio reveals new layers of music, deepen presence, and turns everyday listening into a restorative ritual.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
There is a quiet
kind of astonishment the first time a familiar song arrives to your ears, and
into your soul, thanks to truly excellent high-fidelity audio gear. The melody
you thought you knew opens like a book you have read a hundred times and
suddenly notice a sentence you had never seen before. That discovery is not
novelty for novelty's sake. It is the music, your favorite tune, finally being
allowed to speak with clarity and space… as recorded using million$ in
recording studio and mastering equipment. High-end audio is not about being
louder in volume or just add 'sparkle'. It 'restores' the intention behind every
musical note. When a recording is reproduced with exceptional fidelity in mind,
not the cheapest route to sound, the small human aural gestures that make music
feel alive becomes audible. A breath before a phrase, the scrape of a bow, the
microdynamics (or the briefest of pauses) of a finger on a string all become
emotional signposts. It is part of being human, not AI.
--->
Why High-End Audio Transforms Listening Into A Deeply Emotional Experience.
That's Not How It Always Works
While a possibly futile task, let's try to discuss audiophile fact and fantasy.
Article
By Roger Skoff
When
I was just an ordinary Hi-fi Crazy, not yet having gotten into our industry
either as a writer or a manufacturer, I and my buds used to spend hours doing
what seems to be standard audiophile practice: When we weren't actually
working on our systems, we'd sit around talking about hi-fi gear: About what
we owned or had heard someplace; about what we wanted or didn't want to buy;
about what we had read a review of or heard about from a friend. We always
talked as if we were the world's greatest hi-fi experts, and when we passed
judgment on something, it was always absolute and always extreme:
The item in question was either "the world's greatest" or "dog meat",
with never anything in the middle. When I actually became a reviewer for one of the magazines (Sounds
Like…) and editor for a monthly Audio Industry newsletter (Sounds
Like…News), all of that changed radically. Instead of issuing high-handed pronunciamentos,
as I had done before, when it didn't matter....
--->
That's Not How It Always Works.
Hear No Evil
A better perspective concerning the future of vacuum tubes.
Editorial By J. Martins
I was asked recently about the AXPONA and High End Vienna shows by someone who sees the audio industry purely from a business and investment perspective and never attended a
"high-fidelity" show in his life. I described the profile of companies exhibiting, the number of manufacturers and brands, and the range of prices involved currently in
"high-end audio" products. When I mentioned that the majority were manufacturers from the
U.S., Canada, or Europe, he reacted with the greatest of surprise and his immediate question was
"and are they doing alright?". This is a common reaction I get even from technology professionals that are not at all familiar with the world of home audio, even though many admit to being aware of some luxury audio brands when I mention
them. In this specific conversation, when I described the business environment in that market segment—generously including a broader spectrum of brand examples with varying prices—the next question I got was something on the lines of
"...and will they still be around much longer?" I understand it. The idea that there are companies in Oregon, Texas, France, Germany, Poland, or Switzerland building handcrafted wood cabinets and circuit boards, employing between 10 and 100
people....
---> Hear No Evil.
Streaming Versus Local: When A Music Server Still Wins
How high-end servers improve streamed and local playback for superior sound.
Editorial By Alan Sircom
On the face of it, the continued rise of streamed music and the general shift away from physical or locally-stored music would tend to suggest
there's no need for a music server anymore. With two new server products in this
month's line-up, I'd argue that reports of the server's demise are greatly
exaggerated. Until recently, almost every self-respecting enthusiast with a networked audio system used a server no matter what. This started because local NAS boxes (network-attached storage) were used to hold your collection of ripped CD files and downloaded high-resolution tracks. A server was needed to coordinate all this, and at a time when storage was cheap and bandwidth was still relatively narrow, this was a great
idea. Now, however, broadband is rarely the bottleneck it once was. You can effortlessly stream even the largest file from a service provider, the likes of Qobuz, Spotify, and Tidal have
'Connect software that lets your streamer bypass the server, and that drive full of CD rips is now full of the tracks you loved to play a decade ago.
We've moved on.
---> Streaming Versus Local: When A Music Server Still
Wins.
Montreal Audiofest 2026
Luxury Hi-Fi Audio Show Report
The ultimate audiophile and
music lover experience.
Montreal Audiofest 2026 (Salon Audio Montreal)
returned March
20th through 22nd, bringing Canada's premier high-end audiophile event to the city. Organizers
enjoyed welcoming
thousands of music lovers and audiophiles eager to listen, see, and handle cutting-edge audio gear, with over
luxury 300 brands showcased under one roof. The three-day festival was designed for audiophiles, videophiles,
immersivephiles, and curious music lovers seeking modern immersive, hands-on
experiences. As the largest audio event in Canada, the event gathered top distributors, manufacturers, and retailers from the
high-end consumer electronics industry. Attendees joyously explore dedicated demo
listening rooms, vendor booths, and curated exhibits that highlight the latest in
luxurious loudspeakers, top-rated amplifiers, precision Hi-Res Audio DACs, turntables, immersive
headphones & portable audio, plus home A/V systems. The show's scale and industry presence
made it a
must-visit for anyone tracking trends in premium sound and home cinema.
---> Montreal Audiofest 2026 Luxury Hi-Fi Audio Show
Report.
AXPONA 2026 Features Audiophile Gear, Master Classes,
& Seminars
AXPONA 2026 is a three-day high-end audio event for audiophiles and industry insiders, running April 10th through 12th at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center just outside Chicago. AXPONA's programming emphasizes education and community: the schedule featured seminars, master classes, live concerts, and
after-hours events designed to pair technical deep dives with musical experiences. For attendees planning a visit, organizers and reviewers offered practical tips: plan your route through the many exhibit rooms, use the AXPONA app to track
must-hear demos, and expect international brands to debut flagship systems that are best experienced live rather than via specs
alone. Over three days, the AXPONA 2026 show combines a sprawling Expo Hall with many listening rooms, a trade pavilion, live musical performances, and specialty areas such as the Ear Gear Experience, and IASCA car audio showcase.
---> AXPONA
2026 High-End / Luxury Audiophile Show Report.
World Premiere Review!
Restoring Music To Its Reality: Børresen T1 Silver Supreme Edition Stand-Mounted Loudspeaker Review
In-depth listening test, technical analysis, and
real-world setup tips for audiophiles and music lovers.
Review By Dr. Michael Bump
Giddy. (adj) The emotional response I have developed to
the musical instruments that are Børresen loudspeakers. In my crossover life as both a professional musician and
high-end audio writer and reviewer, I have grown acquainted with a handful of
select audio designs that, from my perspective, serve as true musical
instruments – creations that express sonic art in ways that reach into
the human heart, corporeally moving both body and soul in ways that defy words.
Before we get to my Børresen T1 SSE (Silver Supreme Edition) monitor
loudspeaker review, here's some background. It was six years ago from my first
encounter with Børresen loudspeakers, when, upon first listen, they revealed
those same visceral qualities I am all too familiar with when on stage creating
live music. In the Spring of 2019, I was privileged to pen the U.S.
Premiere review of the Børresen 01 Series stand monitor, the cornerstone of
what was then the newly established Børresen Acoustics loudspeaker company of
Michael Børresen and co-founding business partner, Lars Kristensen.
--->
Børresen T1 Silver Supreme Edition Stand-Mounted Loudspeaker Review.
World Premiere Review!
Geshelli Labs TORC DAC Review: Does This Value-Priced Compact DAC Deliver Big-League Sound?
We explore how the bargain-priced TORC DAC delivers performance that easily exceeds expectations.
Review By Tom Lyle
Over
the years, I have encountered many audiophiles who are unwilling to go into debt
or spend all their money on high-end audio components or systems. While some of
these individuals are new to high-end audio, others are more experienced, yet
both groups consistently assemble impressive audio systems. What these
audiophiles share is their love of music and the pursuit of sound quality, which
is far superior to that of mass-market audio gear found at Big Box Stores. For
music lovers and audiophiles who are not wealthy, or simply prefer not to
splurge on expensive gear, they, instead, piece together their setups using
pre-owned equipment, budget-friendly components, or both. If one of these types of audiophiles asked me for a
recommendation for an affordable, excellent-sounding DAC... read on. Geshelli Labs designs and manufactures DACs and headphone
amplifiers, and is a family business founded by husband-and-wife team Geno and
Sherri Biscegliana.
---> Geshelli Labs TORC DAC Review: Does This Value-Priced Compact DAC Deliver Big-League Sound?
World Premiere Review!
Heartsound Audio Holostage Review: Scientific Voodoo Or Genuine Upgrade?
Hands-on evaluation of sonic impact, transformative sound, and where Holostage fits in your audiophile journey.
Review By Rick Becker
It was pure chance that I stumbled upon Heartsound
Audio's Holostage to review here at Enjoy the Music.com. I'm not an avid reader of audio
blogs, but occasionally an
e-mail
with a Weekly Recap of the Audiogon Discussion Forum will slip past my email
filters. The subject was actually the Nirvana
Chronos, which I had previously
heard at AXPONA in 2025 and subsequently reviewed very
favorably. People
wanted to know if the Heartsound Holostage was similar or as good, since it was
considerably less expensive. I fired off an inquiry. Kristine Tetrault, founder of the company in 2021, replied
shortly with an offer to send me a review sample. The Holostage is sold in sets
of four blocks for $1000. It arrived via Priority Mail from Concord, NH, which
is too far inland to catch any scent of saltwater. Inside the Flat Rate USPS box
was a black cardboard box of the kind you might expect a gift from Macy's to
be wrapped.
--->
Heartsound Audio Holostage Review: Scientific Voodoo Or Genuine Upgrade?
MooVu DIY Loudspeaker Review — Big Bass, Easy Build, Great Value
Construct, listen, love — a gateway to DIY audio'phile hobbying fun.
Review By Brett And Dylan Rudolph
Last
year at the Capital Audio Fest, I saw Vinh Vu, principal at Ginkgo Audio,
sitting at his booth with his MooVu speakers. I was fascinated by these $815-ish
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) speakers, which he explained to me were his latest
brainchild. So, while I had no real time to do more than look at them, we
chatted a little longer and then put a pin on it, thinking we would come back to
it later. There is one thing that you need to know about
Vinh, and it is absolutely to his credit: he is very organized. Shortly before
the end of the year, he called to ask if I was interested in reviewing the MooVu
speakers. While I have many strengths in this world, one of them is not the
ability to work with my hands, which, coupled with my current vision issues,
leaves me unable to review things such as this; however, my son Dylan was
absolutely thrilled to help with this review. So, we set up for the second
weekend in January for Vinh to come and show us both how to build speakers and
put the MooVus together.
---> MooVu DIY Loudspeaker Review — Big Bass, Easy Build, Great
Value.
Quad PA-One+ Triode Vacuum Tube DAC /
Headamp Review
The quintessential audiophile tube amp for headphones.
Review By Gary Alan Barker Of Headphone.Guru
When
I reviewed the Quad ERA-1 Planar Magnetic Headphone I knew that Quad had made
the occasional tube amp over the years, but considered them to be a speaker
manufacturer, what I didn't know (until I had researched for the ERA-1 review)
was that they had started as an amplifier company, such are the pitfalls of
redefining loudspeaker technology and producing one of the best sounding and
highest respected speakers of all time, the ESL (Electrostatic Loudspeaker). As
fate would have it Quad is, in fact, an audiophile amplifier company who also
designs and builds speakers, hence when I discovered the Quad PA-One+ at RMAF
2018, I agreed to hold onto the ERA-1 until a review sample could be
sent. Then I was informed that there would be a slight delay as a whole new
amplifier was being released the Quad PA-One+.
--->
Quad PA-One+ Triode Vacuum Tube DAC / Headamp Review.
SVS SB-2000 Active
Subwoofer Review
A reasonably-priced high quality 12" powered subwoofer system.
Review By Tom Lyle
At
times I must come off as some sort of audio-curmudgeon, such as when I became
upset when I noted some audiophiles calling a component a preamplifier rather
than a line stage. There have been other times, too, that I've gotten upset over
someone using what I consider the incorrect nomenclature for an audio component
or part. Thankfully, I've gotten over that preamplifier versus line stage
episode. But I'm still working on the fact that some sell speakers that they
call "subwoofers" yet don't go below 20 Hz. "Sub" what? Thankfully, there's no
reason to have any ill will in regards to the SVS SB-2000, since SVS claims that
it reaches down to 19 Hz and might even reach lower depending on one's room size
and its placement in one's room. What makes this SVS SB-2000 subwoofer even
better is that it is rather small, measuring only about 14.5"
x 14.5" x 15.5". The sub's depth is a little greater when attaching its
curved grille, but even still, this is quite a small subwoofer....
--->
SVS SB-2000 Active Subwoofer Review.
How To Do A Proper Listening
Test: Part 1
Article
By Ethan Winer
There are two ways to assess the quality of audio devices:
measuring and listening. Measuring is usually the better choice because the
results are absolute, and repeatable because they avoid the vagaries of human
hearing perception. But when measuring isn't practical or possible, a
listening test using a music source is perfectly fine. For example, listening is
needed to compare CD quality at a 44.1 kHz sample rate to "high definition"
audio at 96 kHz. Both will measure the same if the frequency response is limited
to the audible range, but some people believe they sound different. Another
example is when comparing MP3 bit-rates, especially higher values such as 256
versus 320 kbps. It's pretty much impossible to "measure" the effect of
lossy compression using traditional means because the frequency response changes
from moment to moment. Listening tests are also useful for comparing loudspeakers
because there are so many variables such as off-axis response, dB per octave low
frequency roll-off slope, distortion that varies continuously with volume level,
and separate distortion amounts for the woofer and tweeter.
--->
How To Do A Proper Listening Test: Part 1.
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III Int. Amp. / Phono Stage Review
Excellent build quality combined with the sonic performance of vacuum tubes.
Review By Ron Nagle
The
name Cronus is past down to us from an ancient Greek myth. Krónos was the
leader and youngest of the first generation of Titans.
I did my usual on line peeking and sleuthing and found images of the Cronus, a
very retro looking open frame amplifier. But while all of those pictures looked
like the subject of this evaluation they were actually photos of an earlier
version of the Magnum II amplifier. So these photos were taken before I ever got
my hands on this review sample. This story is about the new extensively upgraded
Cronus Magnum III. When I opened the box and peeled back the packing I lifted
(grunt) an impressive 55 pound amplifier from its cardboard container. Rogue Audio's Cronus is a very serious and convincingly
constructed component; I didn't see any signs of money saving cost cutting
construction anywhere. The Amplifier is shipped with five small triodes in
place. That is three 12AU7 and two 12AX7 tubes.
--->
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III Int. Amp. / Phono Stage Review.
Listener Magazine The Intro
Editorial By Art Dudley
Volume two of the Monumental five-volume set of Bob Dylan's
The Genuine Basement Tapes reaches an emotional climax with a plaintive song called
"I'm
Not There" — no mean feat after the brilliant "Going to Acapulco" and three takes
of "Tears of Rage," one in waltz time. "I'm Not There" has appeared before, on
The Great White Wonder and on Volume One of The Newly Discovered Basement Tapes
on Surprise Records (the latter credited to Blind Boy Grunt and The Hawks), and while the version on
The Genuine Basement Tapes is the best sounding of the bunch, you still wouldn't mistake it for
anything other than a bootleg. About a third of the words are unintelligible, and as if that
weren't enough of an obstacle, the recording begins in mid-verse, with no clue as to
how much had been played before the tape started rolling. No way for technology to
fix that, I guess.
---> Listener Magazine The Intro By Art
Dudley.
Fear Of Frying
Or how I learned to stop worrying and love my home audio system.
Article By Joyce
Despite the fact that I've been married for
years to an audio geek extraordinaire; despite the fact that back in college I owned
the mini-component audio system that was the envy of the entire fourth floor of my
dorm; despite the fact that I have artfully wielded a soldering iron (okay, so his arm
turn in a cast, and mine was twisted behind my back, no matter), I still find that nobody
takes me seriously as an accomplished, dues paid-in-full, audio aficionado.
I really resent this. All I have to do is walk into a room full of "audiophiles" and the
conversation goes something like this, "Yeah, this 655 output to primary voltage
resistance is very musical. Oh, hi Joyce, bake anything interesting lately? Great.
Like
I was saying, try an unfilamented 90LX cap to ground next time and blah, blah...." Okay,
so maybe electronics manuals aren't my favorite bedtime reading and maybe I
was diagnosed with math anxiety at the tender
age of eight. None of this means I don't like music, beautiful, tuneful
MUSIC.
---> Fear Of
Frying.
Triophoni: Triode Triumph
Article By Dan Schmalle
This month I will take the opportunity to show off a little
(Oh brother, not again...). I have today been putting the finishing touches on my latest amp
project, a pair of triode output power amps called Triophoni. Since I spent a fair amount of
time writing up a blurb to advertise them I will use excerpts from said blurb to describe them:
6CK4 cathode type triode valves operate class AB1 push-pull as the output tube. This tube exhibits
low drive and plate voltage requirements, allowing for fewer drive stages than the typical triode
amplifier, helping to reduce phase shift. A triode's transfer curve is more linear than that of a pentode. This
helps minimize amplitude, harmonic and phase distortion, resulting in the incomparable
triode sound. The triode also exhibits low effective plate resistance, which
minimizes....
---> Triophoni: Triode
Triumph.
How To Buy A Violin... Or Something Like
That
Laying out money for music.
Article
By Roger Skoff
It's
only been about a century since, if you wanted to hear music, you either had to
play or sing it yourself or get somebody else to do it for you. Sure, the first
music recording was made back in 1860, by a Frenchman, Edouard-Leon Scott de
Martinville, and, sure, the phonograph (but not in a form we'd recognize it
today) was invented in 1877 by Thomas Edison, but it wasn't until 1925 that
electrical recording came along and made buying a record for an evening of
listening a practical reality. And it wasn't until the 1940s that even any
attempt was made to record and reproduce what we now call "High Fidelity" sound.
Before then, if you wanted to listen to music at home, you
either had to make it yourself or invite people over to make it for or with you.
--->
How To Buy A Violin... Or Something Like That.
World Premiere Review!
LessLoss BlackGround For Speakers Review
A breakthrough loudspeaker signal conditioner.
Review By Rick Becker
The
original LessLoss
BlackGround 10X Power Base was such a spectacular
product it was an easy choice for an annual Blue Note Award in 2023. Then I
received advance word of the new BlackGround for Speakers. Would that be as
impressive as the original Power Base? Would it be simply an alternate choice?
Or would there be diminishing returns with both of them in the system? Then I discovered there would be both a stereo version and a
larger, more potent monoblock version of the new Speaker Base. How would these
two compare? And while I'm at it, Louis Motek had two power cords above
the base Prime cord that would improve the performance of the BlackGrounds.
Should I try those, too?
--->
LessLoss BlackGround For Speakers Review.
Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems Progression S350 Stereo Power Amplifier Review
The Dan D'Agostino S350 amplifier makes each musical selection sound spectacular!
Review By Tom Lyle
Dan D'Agostino Master Audio
products are not the most expensive audio components on the market, but in my
opinion, their audio products are some of the best sounding high-end
audio components I've ever had the pleasure of auditioning. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to review two
D'Agostino Master Audio components in the past. In 2017, I reviewed the
excellent-sounding Momentum
Lifestyle integrated amplifier, which had an onboard DAC and could also
be used as a streamer with its front-panel LCD metadata display. Also in 2017, I
reviewed D'Agostino
Master Audio System's Momentum phono stage, which I was highly impressed
with its outstanding sound quality and very user-friendly front panel controls.
--->
Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems Progression S350 Stereo Power Amplifier Review.
Songer Audio S1 Field Coil Point-Source
Loudspeaker Review
Singing a magnificent song.
Review By Bob Grossman
Do you remember as a kid when you
first heard an excellent quality music system? It was exciting, right? That
first time I heard music on a good stereo, I was completely mesmerized as if
real musicians were performing in the room! It was an emotional experience
beyond the thrilling sound. That feeling came back a few months ago at the
Capital Audio Fest when I visited the Songer Audio room and heard the S1
Speakers for the first time. I had been listening to music in many different
demo rooms with my good friend Ken Sternberg. We were also saying hello to
industry friends and taking in the excitement of the festival. Something magical
happened when we went into the Songer Room that distinctly grabbed our
attention, like the first time I heard a stereo 60 years ago.
--->
Songer Audio S1 Field Coil Point-Source Loudspeaker Review.
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