October
2024
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.
High-End Audio Sound? Audiophile Music? Both? What?
Some basic questions about our hobby.
Article
By Roger Skoff
I First wrote about how music and sound interrelate to enhance each other
years ago within my
2018 article Coming At It From Both Directions ). At that time, I looked at it – even after more than half a
century as a music lover and audiophile – more from point of view of an
audiophile drawn to great music and cultural expansion by a love of great sound
than as a music lover carried inexorably in the other direction by a search for
greater involvement in and enjoyment of one of humanity's greatest arts. Now, like Joni Mitchell, I'm seeing things from both sides. Here are my
latest thoughts on the subject. They say that the difference between audiophiles and music
lovers is that music lovers buy a system to listen to their music and
audiophiles (I and my friends call ourselves "Hi-Fi Crazies") buy music to
listen to their system.
--->
High-End Audio Sound? Audiophile Music? Both? What?
Jadis DA88S MkII Vacuum Tube Integrated Amplifier Review
The ultimate music machine.
Review By Dr. Jules Coleman
Too often, I have been guilty of 'burying
the lead.' Not this time: the Jadis DA88S MkII integrated amplifier is the
most musically convincing and enjoyable vacuum tube stereo integrated amplifier
I have ever experienced – in my home or elsewhere. From the moment it was
installed in my system until the moment shippers were summoned to remove it,
this handsome piece of kit brought joy and fulfillment to my listening
experience that had eluded me since my decade-long love affair with various
Shindo-centered reference systems fell victim to life's often unforeseeable
and unwelcome interventions. At different times my Shindo systems were anchored by the (no
longer in production) Sinhonia push / pull monoblocks featuring the F2 output
tube as well as the ne plus ultra 300B Ltd monoblocks. The former offered
a dynamic realism that the 300B Ltd could not match, while the latter offered a
texture, color, and density that was in equal measure beguiling and bewitching.
--->
Jadis DA88S MkII Vacuum Tube Integrated Amplifier Review.
World Premiere Review!
MACO MACARIA Open Baffle Loudspeaker Review
A soundsational experience that puts you close to the soundstage.
Review By Rick Becker
Coming
around a corner at Capital
Audiofest in 2023 I was stopped in my tracks by an incredible-looking
open baffle speaker in grey granite. The large 15" full-range driver on top
looked vaguely familiar but the speaker itself was a completely fresh design.
Before I could figure out who the manufacturer was, a lovely familiar woman
appeared at my side. It was Deborah Ann whom I had met at the Toronto Audiofest
in 2022. There, she had been showing magnificent sounding open baffle speakers
from Lii Song (China) driven by a Galion tube amplifier, made in China but
voiced by Thomas Tan in Canada. I was eager to review the Lii speaker but she
was hesitant about the possibility both in Toronto and again when we met at
AXPONA the next year, as she is technically only the Canadian distributor for
Lii Song.
--->
MACO MACARIA Open Baffle Loudspeaker Review.
World Premiere Review!
KBL Sound EXtrema Interconnects, Himalaya Pro 2 Power Cables, And EXtrema Digital Cable Review
An awe-inspiring musical experience with extended frequencies and razor-sharp transients.
Review By Tom Lyle
As
a high-end audio equipment reviewer, I've heard many brands and types of
high-end audio cables. However, the sound quality of KBL Sound's
reference-quality cables, which included their EXtrema interconnects, Himalaya
Pro 2 power cables, and an EXtrema digital cable, differed significantly from
all the other audio cables I've heard or reviewed in the past. Their superior
sound quality was obviously due to their elaborate construction techniques and
materials used. For this review, I was sent two of KBL Sound's EXtrema interconnects, one terminated with RCAs and one terminated with XLRs. I was also sent three Himalaya Pro 2 power cables and one EXtrema digital cable. It's a shame I wasn't sent more KBL Sound cables to review.
--->
KBL Sound EXtrema Interconnects, Himalaya Pro 2 Power Cables, And EXtrema Digital Cable Review.
iSonic Cleaner 6.2-PRO Ultrasonic
Vinyl LP Cleaner Review
Ultrasonic deep cleaning and spin drying 10 LP
records in 30 minutes.
Review By Bob Grossman
The
iSonic Pro 6.2-PRO is the latest variation and upgraded record cleaner design
from a company that specializes in commercial ultrasonic cleaning machines. They
have styles and sizes for various products with personal and industrial
applications. The iSonic company has dozens of cleaner models for medical
applications, jewelry, and personal items used in the home. Jerry Fan of iSonic
said, "Over the past six years, we have made a lot of progress with cleaners
for audio systems." Jerry modestly told me he "doesn’t know too much about
anything else, but we do know about ultrasonic cleaners!" They started with
processing 5 to 10 records for cleaning only, then added the PRO accessory kit
for spin drying with an in-water filter two years ago. Those developments were
with the model P4875II+MVR10-PRO which was an upgrade to the early model
P4875II+MVR5 or MVR10....
--->
iSonic Cleaner 6.2-PRO Ultrasonic Vinyl LP Cleaner Review.
World Premiere Review!
PS Audio Aspen FR5 Loudspeaker Review
High-tech innovation and true-to-life sound.
Review By Ron Nagle
PS Audio was founded in 1973 and shipped its first products in 1974. The company
began life with audio designers Paul McGowan and Stan Warren, with Paul now at
the helm. While most may already know, for those unfamiliar, PS Audio is a
company specializing in high-end audiophile equipment and the sound recording
industry. It designs and ships audio amplifiers, preamplifiers, power-related
products, digital-to-analog converters (DAC), streaming audio devices, plus
music management software and cables. Each weighing 26.62 lbs, the PS Audio Aspen FR5 is a new
compact two-way stand-mounted loudspeaker. At $3500, it represents the least
expensive of the four speakers in their Aspen series.
--->
PS Audio Aspen FR5 Loudspeaker Review.
World Premiere Review!
Synergistic Research Pink Fuses Review
Gentlemen, start your engines!
Review By Rick Becker
First,
let's dispose of all the Barbie jokes about Synergistic Research's new Pink
fuses. Aftermarket fuses have been a legitimate category for years now and the
Pink fuse is a lot closer to Oppenheimer than Barbie. Coming only a year after
the release of the Master fuse, this new fuse caught me by surprise. Usually, technology trickles down, and this time Ted Denney,
fuse maestro extraordinaire, borrowed some tricks learned in the development of
the Master fuse and his Voodoo Server – namely, a new high-voltage
conditioning process that claims to improve texture and resolution. Another
improvement comes from a new conductivity treatment developed for what is likely
his new, yet-to-be-released, Reference power conditioner that is said to improve
low-level detail retrieval, yield improved tonal color, and deliver greater
dynamic performance. I suspect this latter treatment was also used on the new
PowerCell 8 SX which I recently reviewed and awarded a Blue Note Award. The
PowerCell 8 SX certainly exhibited those very same improved qualities.
--->
Synergistic Research Pink Fuses Review.
World Premiere Review!
Naim Audio NAP 350 Reference Mono Amplifier
And NVC TT Phono Stage With NPX TT PS Review
The Naim analog system sounded like listening to the master tape.
Review By Tom Lyle
In
the early 1990s, I often visited one of the local high-end audio salons near my
home. During one of these visits, while my friend and I were bothering the staff
with silly questions, I asked a salesperson which CD player or turntable was
playing the loud, awesome-sounding music in the background. Their answer? A Naim
Audio FM tuner. To say that I was impressed (and embarrassed) is an
understatement. This was my first experience, my first experience with Naim. After this experience, my audiophile friend and I started
believing that Naim had a mystic aura surrounding them. In those pre-internet
days, rumor had it that this audio company was run by nonconformists, at least
compared to the other "major" audio companies we were familiar with. Eventually, I learned more about the UK-based Naim. Finally,
about two months ago, I received my first Naim components for review, which
included a pair of Naim Audio NAP 350 Reference monoblock power amplifiers, a
Naim NVC TT phono stage, and its accompanying NPX TT power supply.
--->
Naim Audio NAP 350 Reference Mono Amplifier And NVC TT Phono Stage With NPX
TT PS Review.
World Premiere Review!
TriangleArt I-20 Single-Ended Integrated Amplifier Review
Taking the single-ended triode to a new realm.
Review By Paul Schumann
The single-ended triode is the most venerable of amplifier
designs. The Western Electric amplifier designs of the 1930s have stood the test
of time. Kondo Audio Note, Audio Note (UK), WAVAC Audio, and Wavelength Audio,
among others, pushed the envelope of SET design during the triode revival 30
years ago. Today, designers are continuing to revisit this classic
configuration. TriangleArt has thrown its hat into the ring with its new I-20
Single-Ended Integrated Amplifier. TriangleArt is already familiar to Enjoy the Music.com
readers because of its phenomenal equipment, which has garnered several Blue
Note awards. So I was stunned when the I-20 Single-Ended Integrated Amplifier
fell into my lap. The I-20 is TriangleArt's first venture into single-ended
amplification. Like many of its components, it takes a different tack on the
tried-and-true SE design.
--->
TriangleArt I-20 Single-Ended Integrated Amplifier Review.
Synergistic Research PowerCell 8 SX Review
Pushing your sound system to the next level with innovative technology.
Review By Rick Becker
After catching more than 48 gigs during the nine-day 21st
Rochester International Jazz Festival, I rode home after the final show with the
sound of live music etched in my mind. The Brubeck Bros. had been scheduled for
Kilbourn Hall, an acoustically rich 444-seat performance hall at the Eastman
School of Music, but heavy rains overnight and during the day resulted in
buckets spread throughout the hall to catch nature's dribbles. It was
rescheduled for Kodak Hall, the main venue at the Eastman Theater with enough
seats for everyone who wished to be there. I sat reasonably close, maybe 8 rows
back in the center to catch a mix of the Steinway piano, the drums, the electric
bass, and the electric guitar. Splendid. And easy to hear why this venue is used
for the premium Headliner performances at JazzFest and the Rochester
Philharmonic Orchestra the rest of the year. I typically buy a JazzPass,
allowing me to attend as many performances as I wish among the multiple smaller
venues. Fast footwork and careful pre-planning helped me maximize this annual
music festival.
--->
Synergistic Research PowerCell 8 SX Review.
Best Of 2024 Blue Note Equipment Awards
Celebrating the best high
fidelity / high-end audiophile gear of 2024!
High-End Audio
Awards By Enjoy the Music.com
Enjoy the Music.com's
Best Of 2024 Blue Note Awards celebrates the many great achievements
by audiophile manufacturers within the high-end audio and Hi-Res Audio industry. Our
2024
Blue Note Awards is a culmination of more than two decades of reviewing high-end
audio equipment and carefully
choosing what products have earned special recognition for our annual awards. Our Best Of
2024 Blue Note Award celebrates the finest products we have reviewed during the
previous 12 months. Recipients have
been carefully chosen after much debate and consideration by our staff of
reviewers. With each passing
year our industry has experienced great advancements in technology including analog
circuitry, vinyl LP and analog playback, digital-to-analog
converters (DACs), loudspeaker design, personal media
players, and more.
--->
Best Of 2024 Blue Note Equipment Awards.
Métronome Technologie Le Player 4+ DAC / CD
Player Review
The persistence of memory.
Review By Maurice Jeffries
In
an act of musical and marketplace bravery, the esteemed French electronics firm
Métronome Technologie has taken the bold step of offering music lovers still
wed to physical media a device many long ago consigned to the dustbin of audio
history: a dedicated CD player. When Toronto, Canada-based audio distributor /
dealer Wynn Wong of Wynn Audio and our Creative Director Steven R. Rochlin
contacted to gauge my interest in reviewing Metronome Technology Le Player 4+ CD
player / DAC, I thought that they both must be crazy. What sane manufacturer
would dare to offer a dedicated (and pricey) CD player in a market dominated by
digital servers, streamers, music streaming services, and outboard DACs to that
most fickle of consumers, the modern audiophile?
--->
Métronome Technologie Le Player 4+ DAC / CD Player Review.
Soundsmith Zephyr
MK III ES Phono Cartridge Review
Unveiling the masterworks!
Review By Paul Schumann
Back when I
was starting to get serious about audio equipment, a long-time audiophile friend
of mine offered me his collection of back issues of The Absolute Sound. I
was a fan of TAS and eagerly accepted. For the next few months, night
after night, I read, from cover to cover, all of those issues in chronological
order. It was a fascinating dig into the early history of high-end audio and the
culture that developed around it. One of the important discoveries made by Harry
Pearson and his minions, was the sonic superiority of the old RCA "Shaded Dog"
and Mercury records. The acquisition of pristine copies of these discs became an
obsession for many audiophiles because, with the exception of a few reissues by
MoFi, the audiophile vinyl business wasn't in full swing yet.
--->
Soundsmith Zephyr MK III ES Phono Cartridge Review.
Vermouth Audio Studio Monitor Loudspeaker
Review
A good-looking and great-sounding loudspeaker.
Review By
Tom Lyle
Vermouth
Audio is located in the Indonesian province of Bali, which is located east of
Java. Most know Bali as a vacation destination. In fact, in 2017, Trip Advisor
named Bali the world's top destination in its "Traveler's Choice
award." Bali again won this honor in January 2021. About 80% of Bali's
economy is tourism related. Vermouth Audio is part of the 20% unrelated to
tourism. They are a company that designs and manufactures high-end audio
connectors, cables, electronics, and, of the subject of this review,
loudspeakers. When I was given the opportunity to review Vermouth Audio's
Studio Monitors, which are distributed in the US by Believe Audio, located in
Hutto, Texas, I enthusiastically accepted their offer.
--->
Vermouth Audio Studio Monitor Loudspeaker Review.
Volti Audio Razz LE Loudspeaker Review
Sometimes good things come in large packages.
Review By Ron Nagle
A buzzing bell sound sends me to my front door. Outside two large boxes hide a
sweaty, smallish UPS delivery man. I can see a faint smile cross his face as he
tells me, "My father wanted me to be a doctor." Now I have two mini monoliths inside my front door. The boxes each weigh about
97 pounds and stand five feet tall. I can see my significant other giving me the
look that means, I've been bad. I'm thinking, don't get your knickers in a
twist, I can handle this. I downloaded the unpacking instructions. And using the
instructions as a guide I peeled away the three cardboard boxes that held the
speakers. This unpacking thing is a job for two people and four hands. Volti Audio is a brilliant creation by loudspeaker engineer
Greg Roberts. He seems to be the CEO, CFO, Chief Designer, the guy who sweeps
the floor and sends out for pizza.
---> Volti Audio Razz LE Loudspeaker
Review.
Aavik Acoustics System Review
High-end audio equipment is made by those who love music.
Review By Tom Lyle
Aavik S-280 Streamer, U-280 Unity Integrated Amp with built-in DAC, Ansuz Acoustics Mainz8 A2 AC Power Distribution Bar, Mainz8 A2 AC Ansuz Power Cords, Speakz Speaker Cables, Digitalz Ethernet Cable, PowerSwitch A2 Ethernet Switch,
Darkz C2t, Resonance Control Devices, and Titanium Balls for Ansuz Acoustics Darkz C2t.
The
subjects of this review feature components and accessories from two of the three
brands designed and manufactured by The Audio Group Denmark, which acts as an
umbrella company for Aavik Acoustics, Ansuz Acoustics, and Břrresen Acoustics.
The company was started by two Danes, Lars Kristensen, and Michael Břrresen,
who first met more than 20 years ago. Aavik Acoustics designs and manufactures many types of
high-end audio components, such as amplifiers, DACs, phono stages, and
streamers. Ansuz Acoustics products consist of what most audiophiles would call
high-end audio accessories, cables, power distribution, streaming accessories,
and resonance control devices.
---> Aavik Acoustics System
Review.
Audience Hidden Treasure In-Wall AC PowerCable
And High Definition Wall Receptacle Review
Like a buried treasure that pays huge dividends in musical enjoyment!
Review By Rick Becker
If you're
reading this review, you're either considering the installation of a dedicated
line in what is likely your dedicated listening room or perhaps your home
theater... or maybe the video rig in your family room if you're seriously into
watching TV. Or possibly, you've already installed a line and are wondering if
this new Audience cable might be a worthwhile upgrade. In any case, I suspect
you're already convinced that "everything matters" in high-end audio, especially
cables. Keep reading. Audience is one of the most respected cable manufacturers and
my ears perked up when I saw the ad for their new In-Wall AC cable. It's been 20
years since I reviewed Joe Skubinski's JPS Labs Power AC In-Wall cable.
He's sold miles of it and "Big Red" has remained my reference dedicated line
ever since. What's taken so long for the competition to arise?
--->
Audience Hidden Treasure In-Wall AC PowerCable And High Definition Wall Receptacle
Review.
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