December
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.
It's Holiday Time Again
Greeting the season with glorious celebration music.
Article
By Roger Skoff
Now that the
Thanksgiving feast has been reduced to leftovers and we're already seeing homes,
stores, and even downtown streets decorated with holiday cheer, what are you
doing to prepare for what's to come? Have you put together your gift list
for Christmas or Hanukkah – either who should be remembered or what to get
them? Have you planned the parties or events to throw or attend? If you're going
out, where are you going to go? And, with winter on the way, are you prepared to
spend more time at home, whether with family, friends, or just by yourself,
keeping warm? Either way, you'll likely be spending more time there, so do you
know what you're going to do with it, other than such mandatory things as
keeping up with sports or watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve?
---> It's Holiday Time Again.
Audiophile Opinions
There's always someone ready and willing to take the contrarian
view.
Editorial By Alan Sircom
To get at least three completely different opinions on something, ask two audiophiles. In every aspect of audio performance,
there's always someone ready and willing to take the contrarian view, and argue it at length.
We've had audio enthusiasts fight over the superiority of tubes over solid-state, LP
versus CD, CD versus SACD, horns versus panels versus conventional box loudspeakers, and so on. There are those for whom the last 60 years of audio have become progressively worse, and there are those who think we are living in an ever-improving Golden Age of
audio. Although they seldom get physically violent, these fights can be longwinded and fractious. Our sister title
The Absolute Sound had two people arguing on a forum thread for several years with no conclusion in sight by the time the forum itself was switched off!
---> Audiophile Opinions.
Wireless Audio Roadmap
New scalable codecs plus increased bandwidth will ensure better sound quality.
Editorial By J. Martins
Wireless audio is truly remarkable. Whenever I use my smartphone to play music on earbuds, in the middle of a busy street or on a plane, and I hear the music, the experience never ceases to amaze me. When
I'm not at home, it's likely I'm streaming from a cellular network service directly to my smartphone, and using Bluetooth to stream from that device to two
"true wireless stereo" earbuds or to headphones. (I previously downloaded my favorite music, but these days with 5G, most consumers just press play and never stop to think about how the
"magic" happens.) In the audio industry, we tend to criticize Bluetooth for being the last link that still forces us to hear music in compressed form, disregarding the fact that the stream was playing from a central repository somewhere on the other side of the continent, or even in another country, and passing through a complex maze of network servers and cellular links until it reaches our
devices.
---> Wireless Audio Roadmap.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show
Report
With over 120 exhibition rooms, Washington DC's premier high-performance audio event, the Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2024
is set to take place at the Hilton Rockville (Maryland) from November
8th through 10th. Capital Audiofest started out in 2010 as a very casual show and has evolved into a well-organized and well-attended event, while also being recognized as a fun, friendly, and family-oriented high-end audiophile show. Families can casually stroll from room to room listening to music, auditioning gear, and browsing many bins of vinyl LP records, CDs, and hi-fi accessories. During the evenings, CAF 2024 will have live music in the bar
area. Capital Audiofest, held at the Hilton Rockville in Rockville,
MD, is a beautiful venue and conveniently located next to a metro station.
---> Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report.
Toronto Audiofest 2024
Show Report
The Toronto Audiofest
2024 show, held from October 18th
through 20th, is one of Canada's best luxurious premium high-technology home audio
and video showcases. The Toronto Audiofest is made available to audio companies who believe that supporting the audio industry and its community, including the many enthusiasts who come to attend shows, is important to the industry's development and overall
vitality. These shows represent the only way dealers and manufacturers can meet so many audio enthusiasts face-to-face in one place, people who have come to see, hear, and shop hundreds of brands and products in a festive, quality environment that can't be found anywhere else, and to share their findings with
others. The Toronto Audiofest 2024
event brings together hundreds of audio brands featuring top rated high-end audio and video
(audiophile and videophile) equipment from around the globe.
---> Toronto Audiofest 2024 Show
Report.
AGD Productions SOLO Limited Edition GaN-Power Monoblock Amplifiers And Andante Mk II Preamplifier / DAC / Phonostage / Music Streamer Review
The apex of musical reproduction in ways no other Class D design has yet achieved.
Review By Dr. Michael Bump
As a classically
trained percussionist / composer whose forte gravitates towards modern chamber
music, I naturally seek out and explore the most current of musical ideas –
Those that delve into sonic territory yet undiscovered. Contemporary percussion
recognizes the fundamental responsibility of the percussionist-as-inventor.
Indeed, we percussionists are creatures donning many hats, an amalgam of
scientists, naturalists, engineers, archeologists, et al, compelled to follow
the sonic siren of our artistic goals, unconventional or otherwise, that
ultimately shapes our art. We are musicians in search of a sound, whose
obsession it is to seek the source and its means of actuation (Yes, in the right
hands, everything is a potential musical instrument!).
--->
AGD Productions SOLO Limited Edition GaN-Power Monoblock Amplifiers And Andante Mk II Preamplifier / DAC / Phonostage / Music Streamer Review.
Vivid Audio Moya M1 Loudspeaker Review
Vivid Audio's sonic and sculptural masterpiece.
Review By Maurice Jeffries
In mid-September,
GTT Audio & Video head honcho Bill Parish invited an enthusiastic cohort of
reviewers to his suburban New Jersey digs to hear speaker designer
extraordinaire Laurence Dickie ruminate about his, and by extension, Vivid
Audio's
new Moya M1 flagship floorstanding loudspeaker (LD is the chief designer at
Vivid Audio) and listen to the
speakers. GTT Audio & Video became Vivid Audio's exclusive North
American distributor on January 1, 2023. Bill and the firm that he owns took
over representation of the line at the end of Vivid's long-term association with
audio distributor On a Higher Note. Standing at over five feet tall and measuring 26 inches wide
by a whopping 48 inches deep, the Moya1 M1 cuts an imposing and, in the
exhibited gunmetal gray finish, truly intimidating figure.
--->
Vivid Audio Moya M1 Loudspeaker Review.
World Premiere Review
Siltech Master Crown Cables Review
A first listen to the paragon in today's world of
connectology.
Review By Greg Weaver
During the third week in June, I was invited to attend a
limited press event in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The event was sponsored by Monarch
Systems, based in Englewood, CO, Siltech's US Importer, to introduce and promote
the launch of Siltech's new flagship line of cables, Master Crown. I reported on
that event here, at Enjoy the Music.com, on June 29th, with Siltech Launches
Master Crown Cables. I also provided coverage on my
audio analyst YouTube channel, with E181:
Siltech's Master Crown Cable, on June 30, 2024 (video is near the bottom of this
review). The company was founded with the inspired efforts of two music
students, Hans de Ligt and Michel de Goey. These two were exploring the
fabrication of cables, not by chance, luck, or intuition, but by applying
science and metallurgical knowledge.
--->
Siltech Master Crown Cables Review.
World Premiere Review!
FiiO S15 Music Streamer, Hi-Res DAC, And Bluetooth Receiver Review
The FiiO S15's ease of use and impressive features is matched by its' excellent sound quality.
Review By Tom Lyle
I am a proponent of FiiO's portable digital audio players (DAPs). Since I'm an
audiophile practically obsessed with music but cannot sit in front of my main
audio system to listen to music 24/7, using a DAP is not an option but a must.
I've auditioned many DAPs in the past, and since the spring of 2024, I've been
using FiiO's top-of-the-line M17 "Portable Desktop-Class Music
Player" daily. It has the best sound quality of any sub-$2000 DAP I've ever
heard. When I was offered the opportunity to review
FiiO's new S15 Music Streamer / Hi-Res DAC / Bluetooth Receiver, I immediately said
"yes." After FiiO began marketing their all-in-one desktop
system, the approximately 6" square R7, in early 2023, they decided to
continue developing this type of product and now offer audiophiles and music
lovers the subject of this review: their component-sized S15, a streamer that
can also be used as a preamp, a DAC, and a Bluetooth receiver.
--->
FiiO S15 Music Streamer, Hi-Res DAC, And Bluetooth Receiver Review.
World Premiere Review!
Wells Audio Innamorata III Stereo Power Amplifier Review
Incredible voicing, seductive soundscape, and high-performance musical pleasures.
Review By Ron Nagle
As an audio manufacturer and owner of Audible Arts,
Jeff Wells is at the very foundation of what drives high-end, high-performance
luxury audio. Need proof? Then read the below review of the Wells Audio
Innamorata III power amplifier to truly grasp the outstanding nature of this
product's design and engineering. Jeff Wells is an old-school entrepreneur who
founded a family business in 2014 with only $2600 of spare parts and a great
idea. There would be no high-quality audio today without small startups and
visionaries who are willing to take great risks. And I say thanks to that group
of audio entrepreneurs whose innovations are the lifeblood of our hobby! Let's
take a look at the new Wells Audio Innamorata power amplifier.
--->
Wells Audio Innamorata III Stereo Power Amplifier Review.
Hegel Music Systems H400 Streamliner Review
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
Review By Paul Schumann
One
of the rites of passage into adulthood for my generation was the purchasing of
an audio system. You saved up enough scratch at some point, went down to the
local fi-fi store, and picked out a system. The heart of this system would be
the receiver. It had everything you needed: a phono preamp, tuner, tape loop,
and power amp. All you needed was a turntable with a pre-mounted cartridge and a
pair of speakers, and you were set. If you had some extra cash, you could pick
up a cassette deck to record the "King Biscuit Flour Hour" on the radio. That
sustained many of us until we were compelled to buy a multi-channel home
entertainment system or go into high-end equipment and demote our receiver to
the garage. Eventually, dust, humidity, and father time would take their toll
and our stalwart would give up the ghost.
--->
Hegel Music Systems H400 Streamliner Review.
Triangle
Borea BR03 Connect Monitor Loudspeaker Review
No muss and no fuss for only $699.
Review By Ric Mancuso / Bargain Audiophile
Triangle is an audio company based in France and has been developing and manufacturing
Hi-Fi loudspeakers for more than 40 years. The BR03 CONNECT speaker system is a
lifestyle sound system that incorporates multi-source connectivity offering a
simple and elegant way to listen to music. I own a pair of the BR02 passive
speakers and use them frequently to introduce myself to electronic pairings with
various components. They are used in my stable of speakers, which are of high
efficiency and can reveal the nature of upstream components. In an obtuse way,
they are the canary in the coal mine. Being the Bargain Audiophile that I am, the customer for the
BR03 CONNECT system would be someone(s) who would like a no-fuss way of getting
good sound with the ease of set-up and good value.
--->
Triangle Borea BR03 Connect Monitor Loudspeaker Review.
Furutech NCF Power Vault, Project V1 Power Cable
And AC Duplex Wall Ensemble Review
Elevating the performance of my stereo sound system.
Review By Rick Becker
I opened a promotional email recently for a $12,000 mountain bike. What planet am
I living on? And yes, I've seen the drone footage of cyclists hopping along
mountain precipices proving their immortality. Or perhaps the drone footage
outlives them? But then I reflected on the $7,875 Furutech NCF Power Vault and
the accompanying Project V1 Power Cable for $9,550 I had opened up for
review moments earlier. Expensive? Yes, for most of us. As we get older our interests in life narrow to what becomes
most important to us. My last bicycle ride up Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina was
in 2018 when I closed down my retail furniture business. My writing for Enjoy
the Music.com, already with a 19-year track record at that point, expanded
to fill a void in my life, just as I imagine high-end audio becomes more
important to many of us after we "retire."
--->
Furutech NCF Power Vault, Project V1 Power Cable And AC Duplex Wall Ensemble Review.
Manley Labs Oasis Vacuum Tube
MM / MC Phono Stage Review
Manley Labs vacuum tube Oasis
phono stage produces excellent sound quality.
Review By Tom Lyle
My
first experience with a Manley component was in the late 1990s. I was working at
a well-known recording studio mastering an album when the chief engineer
insisted we use their vacuum tube-powered Manley Stereo Variable Mu
Limiter-Compressor, which I had no idea at the time was one of Manley's first
products which was introduced in 1994. We had the music signal pass through the
Manley compressor but kept all its settings on default. This happened quite a
long time ago, so I can't recall any specifics about how the Manley affected the
album's sound quality other than passing the signal through this studio
component made the album sound closer to our goal of making it "sound like
a record." Shortly after, I learned that Manley designed and manufactured
high-end home-system audio products.
--->
Manley Labs Oasis Vacuum Tube MM / MC Phono Stage Review.
Vacuum
Tubes Part 1. 2, And 3
Article By
Grey Rollins
Passive
components are all well and fine, but for audio purposes we need something that
will amplify a signal. All sensors, whether they read digital bits or analog
recordings, are deficient in both voltage and current when it comes to driving
speakers. High fidelity reproduction of music is impossible without amplifying
devices. For that matter, electric guitars, keyboards, and microphones also
require amplification; so much of current popular music is dependent on
amplification, as well. There are scads of devices that can amplify a signal. A full
breakdown of the possibilities begins to resemble a fairly dense tree, with
branches going this way and that. For most consumer applications, this decision
is simple: solid-state. Only. However, music reproduction (and production —
just try to tell owners of tubed Ampegs, Marshalls, Fenders, and Mesa Boogies
that you're going to take away their amps...
---> Vacuum Tubes Part 1. 2, And 3.
What Is Important To Men And My Readers
I don't buy records for background music.
Editorial By Herb Reichert
My first wife used to have this Madison Avenue market research job, and her main assignment was to do surveys-to find out what women wanted and what men thought was
important. Not surprisingly, she discovered that women desired economic security and
status in the community way more than sex or power or even love. Shockingly, sex
was usually seventh or eighth on the woman's list. What really surprised me, though, was what men claimed was important to them.
I mean, yeah, sex was always at the top (usually number one or two). But incredibly, right there on the top of the list next to sex and way ahead of money or power or even fame was music. I am not kidding you. And this wasn't only in
rock-till-ya-wear-dentures America, no sit.
---> What Is Important To Men And My Readers.
Guerrilla Tactics For The Audiophile Home
You find yourself staring at an amazing jumble of audio
parts.
The first time you find him in the kitchen wearing your
frilly apron and baking a newly spray-painted amp chassis in the oven you think it's kind of cute. You keep an open mind
despite the fumes and try to sympathize with his need for a hammered metal look finish. Then on a dark night you stub
your toes on that same chassis lying in the middle of the living room floor and you think,
not so cute. Might as well face the truth. For every audiophile in the world, there's an afflicted spouse, housemate or friend. And,
sooner or later, we all must learn the guerrilla tactics necessary for survival in the audiophile
home. Your favorite sewing scissors have once again mysteriously disappeared. You must confront him
immediately....
---> Guerrilla Tactics For The Audiophile Home.
My Own Triode Input MK III
Dan remakes a Dyna MKIII to 'juice his lizard'.
A remarkably
bad graphic representation of a very pretty amp. Squint to see the Tung-Sol 6550's, new tube
arrangement,
Vitamin Q caps, new bias pot location, and cool
paint job. Some of you may remember that I was
so enamored of the Mklll's I modified
for Chris that I wangled a pair for myself.
As I recall I bought a Fisher 20A,
swapped that and some other stuff for a MkIV, and then swapped the MklV and
a pair of Ampex monoblocks for the Mklll's. Then I swapped a Philco Model
60 cathedral radio for a quad of Tung
Sol 6550 tubes. Then I made my list of parts for
the mod. I ordered polypropylene caps
and metal film and power resistors from
Mouser, and axial electrolytics from Antique
Electronic Supply. Mean time Eric
scored some 1.0 mfd @ 400V Vitamin
Q caps for me on their way to a
dumpster.
---> My Own Triode Input MK III.
Naim Audio Solstice Turntable System Review
A great turntable package!
Review By Alan Sircom
It's a
little strange that for all its importance in vinyl replay over its first 48
years as a manufacturer, Naim Audio has never made a turntable. Sure, there have
been power supplies, phono stages, and even the Aro tonearm, and yes... a
heavily modified turntable or two were bounced around the Salisbury-based
company's 'skunkworks'. But a company that was one of the two defining vinyl
brands for more than a generation of music lovers never made a turntable; until
the Summer of 2021. Solstice is that first complete turntable from Naim Audio, a
500 turntable run special edition turn-key package launched – as befits the
name – on the Summer Solstice (Naim's Salisbury HQ is precisely 2.5 metric
Druids from Stonehenge, and sometimes that rubs off in moments of uncontrollable
tie-dye).
--->
Naim Audio Solstice Turntable System Review.
Raidho TD 3.8 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review
Wonderfully cohesive and engaging.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
The
art of weaving pros allows us to convey description, imagery, opinion,
impression, and emotion. Yet Raidho's TD 3.8 floorstanding loudspeaker, as
reviewed here, lends itself to the elegance of the
solitary word; my notes are awash with them.... "Behold, Shimmer, Brilliant,
Wow, Delicious, Holographic, Cohesive, Decompressive." I think I made up the
last one, but I'll explain later.... Raidho, as a company, has gone through some changes. The Raidho
of old has matured, retaining much of the DNA of its' previous incarnation while
looking to the future with a redefined path. This metamorphosis has resulted in
some voicing changes and a slightly different design philosophy yet retained the
passion for physical beauty and all-out audiophile performance without
restrictions.
--->
Raidho TD 3.8 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.
Enjoy the Music.com Exclusive!
Métronome Technologie's World-Class Kalista
Mantax DAC
Musical revelations in Vienna!
Coverage By Greg Weaver
Thursday morning, November 16th (2023) found myself on an
airplane bound for Vienna, Austria. I had been invited to the private launch
event for the new flagship Kalista Mantax DAC, to be held at the Adagio Vienna
City Hotel on Saturday, November 18th. The Adagio Vienna City sits just south of the
Donaukanal, an
arm of the nearby Danube River, and just immediately west of where the Wiental
Kanal flows into it, bordering Vienna's city center. This places it just inside what is known as "The Ring," the
popular name given to a series of wide tree-lined boulevards that encircle
nearly the entire center of the city. "The Ring" is about six and a half
kilometers long (~ four miles) and arguably offers more historical sights lining
its edges than any other road in the world.
--->
Métronome Technologie's World-Class Kalista Mantax DAC.
World Premiere Review!
LCH Audio B1610 Subwoofers
Stack Audio Auvo Isolators
Synergistic Research Vibratron
An audiophile special ménage à trois.
Review By Rick Becker
Actually, neuroscience has come a
long way since Schrodinger's day, and audiophiles might be able to offer some
suggestions, too. Let me tell you about three innovative items that helped those
old songs move me even further. In typical audiophile fashion, I'm always on the lookout to
improve the sound quality of my system in search of more musical delight. A
pattern that has emerged over the past two decades is that my speakers always
seem to get better when I improve the components and add ancillary tweaks to the
rig. Funny how that happens. Many people would sooner go out and buy a new
speaker. But I've developed somewhat of a reputation for adding tweaks rather
than spending huge sums on major components. The opportunity to explore Axpona earlier this year turned up
two products in particular that I wanted to review and a third opportunity
subsequently came my way from Great Britain.
--->
LCH Audio B1610 Subwoofers, Stack Audio Auvo Isolators, And Synergistic Research Vibratron
Review.
Verdant Audio Blackthorn 1 Monitor
Speakers
An over-achieving monitor with a musical performance well beyond its' modest size.
Review By Dr. Michael Bump
I first had the pleasure of meeting Scott
Bierfeldt, President and Chief Designer
at Verdant Audio, at AXPONA 2019 in a
by-chance meeting. I was planning on heading out earlier than expected on
Sunday, as the snow was starting to come down (attendees may recall), and I was
a bit nervous about the six-hour mark. drive home to the cornfields of Missouri.
Nevertheless, the rooms beckoned me back for one more quick tour that morning,
where I happened to walk by a familiar blue glow within the Verdant Audio room.
At the center of a very attractive system were a
pair of stunning Art Audio Quartet 845 push-pull monoblocks. I was familiar with
Art Audio from an introduction years prior to their 50-Watt SET Adagios, and was
aware that Verdant Audio had re-introduced the UK company to the U.S. earlier
that year as the sole domestic distributor. Needless to say, my curiosity was
piqued stepping into the room noting several examples of Art Audio pieces, as
well as the premiere of two monitor designs created by Scott, under the Verdant
Audio name.
--->
Verdant Audio Blackthorn 1 Monitor Speaker 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 Int Amp, D-180 DAC, And S-180 Streamer / Network Music
Player Review.
Kronos Discovery Vinyl LP
Turntable Review
Drive-by reviewing at Long Valley.
Rick Becker
Investigates A Treasured Turntable.
It
was supposed to be a nearly five-hour trip but my wife missed a turn on the
shortcut and took the Shooting Brake through an all-terrain parking lot to buy
lunch at Subway. Then there were accidents on I-80 to slow us down.
Nevertheless, Bill Parish was all smiles, as usual, when we pulled into GTT
Audio to get a listen to Louis Desjardins' latest masterpiece, the Kronos
Discovery turntable. Bill had sent me his GTT video newsletter
with a pow-wow after David W. Robinson, Editor in Chief and Senior Writer
Maurice Jeffries of Positive Feedback had spent an afternoon listening to the
new turntable. Emails flew and Louis sent me a copy of Alan Sircom's review in HiFi+
magazine. I emailed Louis and told him I thought it was a very good
review. He replied that he thought it was an Excellent!
--->
Kronos Discovery Turntable Review.
Meitner Audio MA3 Integrated
Hi-Res DAC Review
Outstanding performance and value!
Review By Phil Gold
The
industry is converging around integrated digital front ends – something to
access streaming services such as Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, Internet Radio as well
as your own digital library and some offer a volume control. You may get analog
inputs, maybe even a phono section for turntable fans, while some include a
power amp stage. Today we are looking at a very special sample of this breed. First of all, who or what is Meitner Audio? Meitner Audio is
the junior sibling of the reference class EMM Labs, based in Calgary, Canada.
EMM Labs. It is named after Ed Meitner, as is EMM Labs (Ed's initials are EMM).
For a DAC with variable output, the DV2, EMM Labs carries a list price of
$30,000, and they also offer a streamer, the NS1, which lists for $4500. So that
makes a total of $34,500 for a two box streaming DAC with volume control. What if I told you the MA3 Integrated D/A Converter was the
exact equivalent of these two boxes for a total of $9500. Well, I'd be
lying of course, or at the very least exaggerating. But I wouldn't be that far
off the mark.
--->
Meitner Audio MA3 Integrated Hi-Res DAC Review.
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