July
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.
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.
The Audiophile Alphabet Problem
Why our music loving hobby will live on forever and ever.
Editorial By Roger Skoff
Music isn't just
music. Even in its simplest form, it consists of sounds and silences strung
together in a rhythmic pattern. And the sounds can be of varying pitch and
timbre and of different loudness and duration, or produced by a single source or
any size group of performers, singing or playing different combinations of
voices and/or instruments. Even the silences can be different, varying in duration from
the briefest hesitation to a complete stop. And that means that the rhythm can
change, too, to reflect an infinite number of cultural and/or mathematical
origins, or combinations of them, or even combinations of combinations of any of
the things just mentioned. The equipment we listen to our music on varies, too, with
every part of it, from the individual system components, to the things they're
paired with, to the room they're played in varying to produce numbers of
combinations – and different sonic characteristics and interpretations – so
great as to truly boggle the mind.
---> The Audiophile Alphabet Problem.
Do We Audiophiles Have Too Many Choices?
The difference between 'discovery' and 'curated discovery'.
Editorial By Alan Sircom
Are we spoiled for choice? Maybe a little too many options leads to the
tyanny of choice; not just in audio equipment, but in our choice of music we play and enjoy. In the same way a fully free-thinking Internet leads almost inexorably to conspiracy theories and puts us in touch with our darkest sides, so having access to what is, in essence, the entire musical canon at our fingertips works against us. I think we need some curation and
guidance. Think about the average smartphone today. A smartphone user expects, demands and, under most circumstances, gets immediate and unfettered access to pretty much everything
that's been recorded. Sure, they may need to pay a monthly subscription fee, either for wider access, fewer adverts, or to unlock higher resolutions, but the concept taken for granted by all of us today, is something that was unimaginable a couple of generations
ago. Sci-fi is a great indicator. Not necessarily of the future, but at how people view the future at that
time.
---> Do We Audiophiles Have Too Many Choices?
Audio Human Extensions
What remains to be understood, remains to be described.
Editorial By J. Martins
I believe language is the largest market opportunity for the audio industry—essential for augmented reality and any applications that augment our human abilities, which I have characterized as human
extensions. Language and voice are intrinsically connected and are cornerstones of today's audio product designs both to expand human interfaces, but more importantly as the "code" that connects our experience with technology. I am always fascinated when I see how people explore our current generative AI engines—mostly conditioned to natural language prompts—in different languages and how that "language" interface results in diverse
outcomes. As the interactions with AI-powered products and solutions that are based on large language models
(LLMs) expand to different levels, from work to entertainment, we are now witnessing the rapid transition to AI agents, which theoretically should be agnostic to human languages. Yet that's absolutely not the case—and the reason why I believe this is such a promising field for the audio profession.
---> Audio Human
Extensions.
Southwest Audio Fest 2026 Ignites Dallas With Luxury
High-End Sound Systems
Three days of reference-level listening, product launches, seminars, and vinyl / CD marketplace for serious 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.
HIGH END Vienna 2026 — High-End Audio Premiere
Show Report
Where luxury and music loving audiophiles
meet
Vienna's musical heritage.
The HIGH END Vienna 2026 arrives with remarkable momentum: the
world's leading international audio show is already fully booked several months before opening. Set to take place from June 4th through 7th at the Austria Center Vienna (ACV), the early sell-out signals not only strong demand, but also a collective eagerness across the industry to witness a landmark edition. After 21 years, relocating the event to Vienna marks a symbolic and practical fresh start that many exhibitors and visitors view as a turning point. Moving the show to the Austria Center Vienna represents a strategic milestone for HIGH
END. The
venue's modern infrastructure and forward-looking facilities create a canvas for exhibitors to showcase cutting-edge audio technology in a professional, flexible environment. Organizers and participants alike expect the
center's layout and technical capabilities to elevate demonstrations, listening rooms, and product
launches.
---> HIGH END Vienna 2026 — High-End Audio Premiere Show
Report.
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. 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.
PERFECT8 Cube-S With Sub Review — Reference-Grade Musical High-Fidelity Loudspeakers With Real-World Transparency
A deep dive into PERFECT8's glass-enclosed omnidirectional loudspeaker sound system that delivers endless musical pleasures for both casual and serious listeners.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
OK. Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way... Yes, they are glass speakers, and yes, they sound "transparent." OK. Phew. Glad we got that over with! At a high-end audio show in 2015, I met Jonas from Sweden for the first time in a big room on the first floor. All Ypsilon electronics and their The Point speakers. All glass, open baffle design, dual dipole midrange, and a ribbon tweeter, each sitting on a sealed two-driver subwoofer. As the name implied, they were the closest thing to a point source I had ever heard. Tonally spectacular, they threw a massive sound stage forward, backward, sideward, upward, downward, and every other way there is; and absolutely vanished into that big room. I went back time and time again, and decided that I needed to get to know Jonas better and make sure I heard his room at every show I went to. I also remember the speakers were very expensive, so owning them was not going to happen back then; not without a divorce, and although I loved the speakers, I love my wife too much for that
option....
--->
PERFECT8 Cube-S With Sub Review — Reference-Grade Musical High-Fidelity Loudspeakers With Real-World Transparency.
World Premiere Review!
AGD's Allegro Unleashed: GaN-Powered Stereo Integrated
Phono / Streamer That Rewrites High-End Rules
A powerful 250+250 Watts of GaN amplification, R2R DAC / music streamer, and analog
MM / MC phono stage all within one precision chassis — convenience meets reference level sound.
Review By Brett Rudolph
April is a
busy month for the audiophile world as it hosts various luxury home audio shows,
with many companies releasing their products to enthusiastic music lovers
worldwide. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend it this year as planned, but,
as luck would have it, something even better came down the pike. AGD announced
its first integrated amplifier, the Allegro, and we were lucky enough to get it
in-house for a review. AGD Productions, Inc. is a company started a few years ago by
Alberto Guerra. His goal, as he puts it, is to bring "emotion" to his customers.
I met him a few times at both the CAF and FLAX shows and have always been a fan
of his equipment. His designs have always been extraordinarily well thought out
and incredibly beautiful. He has always been able to take his lifelong passion
and utilize his skills and knowledge to create masterpieces. The AGD Allegro is a new entry for the company. It is their
first attempt at an all-in-one system.
--->
AGD's Allegro Unleashed: GaN-Powered Stereo Integrated Phono / Streamer That Rewrites High-End Rules.
World Premiere Review!
Nagra PREAMP II-S Review: Swiss Reference Vacuum Tube Engineering Unveiled
First expert listen to Nagra's tube preamplifier with their eye-candy
Modulometer.
Review By Tom Lyle
This review
features Nagra's latest preamplifier, the Preamp II-S. I previously had the
opportunity to review two other Nagra products for Enjoy the Music.com.
My first experience with their Swiss-made Nagra components came during my 2018
review of the Nagra Classic Preamp. Many audiophiles are aware that Nagra has spent
75 years
designing and manufacturing "indestructible, Swiss-engineered, portable, and
industry-standard" reel-to-reel tape recorders. Their first model was launched
in 1953, and by the late 1950s, these recorders had gained considerable
popularity. Nagra began designing high-end audio components in 1997. In the past, I frequently saw journalists and engineers using
Nagra reel-to-reel recorders at music events. These machines were trusted and
gave the appearance that they were built to last. Anyone familiar with location
recording understands the importance of having reliable, high-quality portable
recorders. It's no surprise that music enthusiasts appreciate Nagra's
high-end audio gear for its sonic quality, dependability, and distinctive
aesthetics.
--->
Nagra PREAMP II-S Review: Swiss Reference Vacuum Tube Engineering Unveiled.
World Premiere Review!
Charney Audio Kit-1 300B Vacuum Tube Amplifier & Maestro XL
Loudspeakers: World-Class 300B SET Power Meets Voxativ Precision To Deliver Extraordinary Musical Realism
A deep-dive listening review of Charney's new 300B amplifier and Maestro XL musical loudspeakers featuring Voxativ AC-2.6 drivers.
Review By Paul Schumann
When I first walked
into the Charney Audio room at Southwest Audio Fest 2025, I was greeted by this
charming song by Victor Wooten. It was being projected into the room by a pair
of Lumica VI loud speakers. Despite being a single-driver design, the Lumica VIs were
pressurizing the room with their enormous rear-loaded horns. I was intrigued.
The room was super busy at the time, so I snapped a few pics, moved on, and made
a note to myself to swing back later. When I came back a couple of days later, "The Loneliest
Monk" was once again playing, which I thought was an odd bit of synchronicity.
I sat and listened to the Lumica VI speakers and was impressed by how they
filled the room with just a pair of Voxativ AC-2.6 drivers. After taking some
notes, I talked to Brian Charney about reviewing a pair of speakers. After
describing my listening room to him, we decided that none of his speakers would
perform their best there.
--->
Charney Audio Kit-1 300B Vacuum Tube Amplifier & Maestro XL Loudspeakers
Review.
Mojo Audio Mystique Z Quantum DAC — High End R 2R DAC For Hi Res & Lossless Audio Music Lovers And Purists
Our in-depth exclusive audiophile review of Mojo's latest NOS design, engineered for natural tone, transparency, and uncompromised high-fidelity home stereo playback.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
I have now reviewed several Mojo DAC's: the B4B, the Mystique X SE, and now the
Mystique Z Quantum. Benjamin Zwickel is the brainchild behind Mojo and believes
in advancement through evolution. He believes in the power of the R-2R design
and has essentially spent his professional life improving upon what can be
achieved. So when Ben emailed and asked if I'd be interested in reviewing his
latest component, I expected a little bit better and a little bit more
expensive. To jump to the end, what I got was a little bit more expensive and a whole
lot better! The Mojo aesthetic of the component is as simple as one
can achieve. It's essentially a black box with buttons on the front and all
the necessary (and nothing unnecessary) jacks on the back. Input selection
buttons for USB Type-B, S/PDIF coaxial, and TosLink optical are on the front
(Ben is very proud of these buttons and their ability to work without issue
until our Moon slips from the grip of Earth's gravity!), with matching input
jacks on the back.
--->
Mojo Audio Mystique Z Quantum DAC — High End R 2R DAC For Hi Res & Lossless Audio Music Lovers And Purists.
World Premiere Review!
Bayz Audio Time Corrector Review — Restoring Temporal Coherence
In-depth listening analysis of preserving and restoring temporal integrity for more natural, coherent sound.
Review By Rick Becker
I've met Zoltán Bay a couple of
times at AXPONA and have always been highly impressed with Bayz Audio speakers.
They are an extraordinary omni-directional, C-shaped point-source design with a
commanding presence, both visually and acoustically. His Bayz
Audio Courante 2.0 loudspeaker was highly praised by Dr. Mathew Clott back in the October 2020 issue, which is
worth revisiting to appreciate the context of this review of the Bayz Time
Corrector. When Steven R. Rochlin suggested I review the Time Corrector,
I was taken completely by surprise. We tend to pigeonhole people, even from just
a few encounters, and Zoltán was 'just' a supreme loudspeaker guy in my
mind. Little did I know at the time that he was a physicist as well as an
engineer. He was featured in a "We Ask 10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Zoltán Bay, CEO And Designer For BAYZ Audio" back in 2020. I learned he is also working on an amplifier and has
interesting prior design experience that never made it across the Atlantic
Ocean.
---> Bayz Audio Time Corrector Review — Restoring Temporal
Coherence.
Lyngdorf TDAI-2210 Review — Can This One Box Replace Your Streamer, DAC, And Amp?
A compact, room-correcting, streamer, Hi-Res Audio DAC, and stereo amplifier for serious music lovers,
audiophiles, and tech geeks.
Review By Dwayne Carter
Some
of the best gear in my house has shown up at the worst possible moments. A
Bryston amplifier I once reviewed arrived the same week my refrigerator quit. A
Pass Labs piece landed on my doorstep about an hour after I'd injured my back,
lifting an amplifier I should not have been lifting alone. So, when the
Lyngdorf TDAI-2210 streaming amplifier turned up on a quiet Tuesday
afternoon, I should have suspected the universe was about to charge me for the
privilege. And it did. This afternoon, I cleared my schedule for the Lyngdorf
TDAI-2210. The box glared at me from across the room. I would wait no longer. The unboxing process was relatively easy. The Lyngdorf
TDAI-2210 arrived in a heavy box. Upon opening, I found the unit nicely packed
and protected. Once everything was unboxed, the microphone stand's quality
caught me off guard. This serious microphone stand is easily worth a couple of
hundred dollars.
--->
Lyngdorf TDAI-2210 Review — Can This One Box Replace Your Streamer, DAC, And
Amp?
Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors
SWAF 2026 Show Lanyards & Passport To Sound Booklet
High-end audio's leading online hi-fi publication once again shows its strong support for the industry and assists music lovers, too.
Southwest Audio Fest
2026 returns to the Sheraton Dallas Hotel from July 23rd through 25th, and this
year's show arrives with an exciting partnership: Enjoy the Music.com, one of
the industry's most respected online publications for over 30 years, is the
official lanyard sponsor for the three-day luxury high-end audio
celebration. Their support ensures every exhibitor and member of the press
receives a premium lanyard the moment they check in. For youthful and aspiring
music lovers, Enjoy the Music.com is once again providing the
critically-acclaimed educational booklet Passport To Sound. Written by
scientist and higher education instructor May Anwar, Passport To Sound is the
industry's foremost publication to help both inquisitive adults and youthful
enthusiasts about the fundamentals of the high-fidelity world. Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) 2026 is expected to host many exhibit
rooms, featuring flagship sound systems, class-leading turntable showcases,
top-level headphones, and product debuts from global manufacturers. The
lanyards—worn by many throughout the weekend—serve as a unifying visual
element while highlighting Enjoy the Music.com's ongoing support and our
many years of giving back to the high-end audio community.
--->
Enjoy the Music.com Sponsors SWAF 2026 Show Lanyards & Passport To Sound
Booklet.
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.
Art
Dudley's The Intro
Editorial By Art Dudley
Recently I received some new CD re-issues from JVC who have begun applying their very nice XRCD process to the RCA Victor catalog of classical recordings from the 1950s and
1960s. Among this batch was a personal favorite: Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony orchestra performing Beethoven's
Symphony No.7. I enjoy this one the most of all the Sevenths in my collection, and the fact that my copy is a mono LP isn't something I ever gave all that much thought to. In fact, until someone corrected me on the point, I half assumed that LM-1991 might be one of those recordings in the RCA catalog that never came out in stereo in the first place.
(I am not the sort of record collector who concerns himself with such details, although I am often thankful for the knowledge of those who
are.) I also remember thinking that a stereo version of this LP, with that big, gaudy LIVING STEREO banner across the top, must surely suffer by comparison in terms of its cover art, which is
Botticelli's La Primavera, reproduced on a sturdy fold-over sleeve the likes of which I haven't seen on any other
record.
---> Art Dudley's The Intro.
I Never Met A 2A3 Amp That I
Didn't Like
Article By Editor Joe Roberts
From Sound Practices
Issue 15
Nothing in audio is a sure deal but if I were
forced to come up with a foolproof recommendation to stake my name on, I would have to go with the classic no-brainer:
"It's hard to build a bad 2A3 amplifier." There might be some bad ones somewhere
but I have to say that every 2A3 amp I ever had the pleasure to hear was at least pretty
good and some were downright amazing. My introduction to triode amps came with restoring a few Brook 2A3 amps of the
early 1950s, which I didn't get to hear until they were certified antiques in the early
1980s. Even in the late 1940s / early 1950s when they were current models, the Brook
designs were a throwback to prewar technologies (see Sound Practices
issue 2), valued by a few purists who knew that those newfangled pentodes were nothing but a sell
out.
---> I Never Met A 2A3 Amp That I Didn't Like.
High Efficiency Speakers
The continuing saga of a search for a loudspeaker for single-ended tube amplifiers.
Article By Dan Schmalle
Without a doubt, the single most revolutionary
change to take place in audio in this decade is the widening acceptance of single ended topology as the most
musically accurate form of signal amplification. The term revolutionary may be a bit
mild. So much audio angst has been stirred up by the idea of going 'backwards'
to 1920's technology that a new audio subculture has grown up around the concept, sharing information when
the mainstream audio press turned a deaf ear to the topic. By now of course, the mainstream is listening. We see reviews of single ended
amps in recent issues of every large publication. And the reviewers aren't saying "Gee this is cute" anymore.
They're calling some examples of this 'old fashioned' technology the best there
is.
---> High Efficiency
Speakers.
Audiophiles: Can There Be Too Many Notes?
Not just listening, but truly hearing the music.
Article
By Roger Skoff
Do you remember the
part in the movie Amadeus where Emperor Joseph II, his Kapellmeister,
and other music advisory staff, including Salieri, have just heard a part of
Mozart's latest work, are less than pleased with it, and the emperor declares
that it "has too many notes"? Mozart is shocked and amazed, and, to everyone's horror,
openly disagrees with the emperor and his sycophants, saying, instead, that
there are precisely as many notes as there needs to be. That was about an opera, The
Abduction From The Seraglio, but
the same thing could be said of any piece of music – there are neither more
nor fewer notes than there needs to be to communicate what the composer is
trying to say. I remember hearing a lecture many years ago about Beethoven,
where the speaker was analyzing one of the great Beethoven symphonies, note by
note, phrase by phrase, and showing that even that great and complex work was
composed of just a few simple themes and leitmotifs, layered, interwoven,
repeated, inverted, changed in key, and passed from one instrument or
instrumental group to another.....
--->
Audiophiles: Can There Be Too Many Notes.
World Premiere Review!
Synergistic Research PowerCell 14 Power Conditioner Review
Raising the performance of audiophile gear you plug into it.
Review By Rick Becker
The naysayers on internet forums will have
a "hey"-day with this review. They complain about reviewers who proclaim that
each new product they review is better than the last one. Well, I'm here to
plead "guilty" as this is the third power conditioner I've reviewed in the past
seven months, along with an incredible 650 photos and 59,000 words in the
reviews of the Toronto Audiofest 2024 and Capital Audiofest 2024. Each power
conditioner was better than the last, as well as significantly more expensive.
Let me give you an overview in case you haven't been following along. My longstanding power conditioner, since July 2017 when the
review was published by Enjoy the Music.com, had been the Synergistic PowerCell 8 UEF SE with an
Atmosphere Level 2 power cord, a unit that sold for about $2000 at the time.
--->
Synergistic Research PowerCell 14 Power Conditioner Review.
Integrating New Audio Technologies
Into Your Home For Stereo / Immersive High-Resolution Sound
Listening To The Future: An audiophile's AI assistant has this to
say...
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin And His AI Assistant
Over the past six
months of 2025, Enjoy the Music.com has taken you on a journey through
six luxurious high-end audio events, each one a vibrant celebration of sonic
excellence. We began in reverse order with the season's grand spectacle, HIGH
END Munich 2025, the largest and most anticipated show, setting the bar high for
the industry. Just before that, the more intimate Lone Star Audio Fest 2025
charmed enthusiasts with its unique vibe, followed by a polished series of
events including AXPONA 2025, Montreal Audiofest 2025, and Southwest Audio Fest
2025. Each of these events brought its own distinct flavor to the high-end audio
landscape. Early February greeted us with the Florida International Audio
Expo 2025 — a delightful convergence of world-class audio and family fun, plus
after the event your family turns into fun-filled vacationers headed to Disney,
Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, and beyond.
--->
Integrating New Audio Technologies Into Your Home For Stereo / Immersive High-Resolution
Sound.
World Premiere Review!
Grandinote Mach 8 XL Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review
Reproducing the heart and soul within recorded music.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
What has eight woofers, one horn
compression tweeter, no crossovers (well maybe a single capacitor, first order
high pass for the tweeter. So a filter, not formally a crossover), and a semi
resonance tube 'transmission line like' cabinet? You guessed it, the Grandinote
Mach 8 XL speaker does. Wow... You're good! And so are they! Although it sounds counterintuitive, the one word that comes
to mind when describing these very tall, nine-driver speakers is, "Simple."
Massimiliano Magri's design philosophy equates to the K.I.S.S. principle (Keep
It Simple Stupid). Reduce resonance in the simplest way possible. Reduce
intrusion of capacitance, inductance, and resistance as much as possible by
eliminating the use of crossover components. Utilize elegant and simple speaker
design to improve performance by implementing a modified transmission line that
they refer to as a Semi resonance tube.
--->
Grandinote Mach 8 XL Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.
Triangle Art L-200 MK2 Stereo Vacuum
Tube
Preamplifier Review
It is Triangulicious!!!
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
The fascinating thing about
reviewing Triangle Art's L-200 MK2 vacuum tube preamplifier is that it's a tube
pre-amp… and that I know, when I agree to review it, that this review
will not get half the readership to click on it because it has the word
"tube" in it. And I will lose even more because Triangle Art is not a
mainstream name and many do not recognize it. So, for the 20% to 30%-ish of our
readership that made it this far, you will be rewarded by learning about a
pre-amp that everyone should know about! The Triangle Art L-200 MK2 is a $25,000 tube preamp that can
compete with a $40,000 preamp (tube or solid-state), built by a company that has
a creative philosophy similar to Porsche. Take a design and just keep making it
better (think 911 of the 1980s and today); they call it, "Think it
out."
--->
Triangle Art L-200 MK2 Stereo Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Review.
World Premiere Review!
Acora Acoustics QRC 2 Floorstanding
Loudspeaker Review
First-class sound quality in a luxurious form factor.
Review By Rick Becker
Val Cora must have spotted my
press pass when I first encountered their SRB two-way stand-mounted monitor at
the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest show back in
2019. He encouraged me to take a
closer look and listen as I didn't seem particularly interested. It was my
subconscious fear of tipping over heavy stone or aluminum speakers that I later
traced back to a childhood trauma incident. Fast forward to 2023 and I've become one of Acora Acoustics' biggest
fans, typically including them among the Best Rooms awards in my show reports.
Not so much because I like them as because they're so damn good. Val has been a
master of setting up rigs in a wide variety of rooms supported by a diverse
selection of amplification and front ends. That he consistently features
different top-level turntables and phono cartridges has been a particular
delight, though he also showcases digital front ends. I fear that since he
recently acquired Audio Research, his presentations may become more restricted
to their products.
--->
Acora Acoustics QRC 2 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.
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