December
2025
Celebrating
Our Spectacular 30th Anniversary!
Honoring Enjoy the Music.com's
exceptional articles and reviews.
During 2025, Enjoy the Music.com
will feature historic audio gear reviews and articles during our past 30
years. As always, in the end what really matters is that
you... enjoy the music!
High-Performance
Audio & Music Industry News
Essential high-end audio news you need to know.
Stay up-to-date on the latest audiophile and music industry news.
Musick Hath Charms....
Why you really need your home audio sound system.
Article
By Roger Skoff
Did you ever hear a quotation like "Music has power to charm
the savage beast"? Although practically everybody has, and practically
everybody guesses it to be by William Shakespeare, the real quote is actually "Musick hath charms to soothe a savage breast" and it was written
(originally as "Musick has Charms to soothe a savage Breast, To soften
Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.") by William Congreve as part of his tragic
play The Mourning Bride, first performed in 1697. Although most people seem to get just about everything about
the quotation (date, source, words) wrong, the fact is that it's far truer
than many may think, and music may actually have real benefits for us as
audiophiles. Besides just its hobby value, listening to music has actual
physical benefits. Scientific research increasingly supports the idea that music
has measurable healing effects—physically, emotionally, and neurologically.
---> Musick Hath Charms.... Why you really need your home audio sound system.
We Don't Want You To Miss Out
We have initiatives to reinforce the magazine's access globally.
Editorial By J. Martins
And just like that, our last issue of 2025 was sent to the printers —yes, we are still doing print and we have decided to keep doing it until we find a better way to serve the same readers who are gladly paying to read this publication in
paper. We don't want anyone to miss out. Our increased focus on audio product development and design has been recognized as a unique, valuable resource, serving a wider audience than ever—evenly spread globally. The only thing we can do is make it easy for our readers to get access and read the way they like. Not even the largest media organizations have found the
"magical" formula to make magazines available in other ways. Magazines, with their thoughtful layout, carefully reviewed content, and attractive graphical design, are still the highest form of periodical publications, offering the most consistent form of disseminating
knowledge.
---> We Don't Want You To Miss
Out.
Time Travelling Via Music
Enjoying the music of our youth.
Editorial By Alan Sircom
As we move toward our combination 250th and Awards issue, it occurs to me that audio has a function rarely spoken about.
It's a time machine. And often, the better the system, the greater the time machine
effect. The time machine component is an odd one. Music, perhaps more than anything, can cast you back to the time and place you first heard that recording. It can invoke memories of the place you bought the recording, who was with you when you bought it, the time, the place and the people with you when you first heard it and more. That focus on memory can work wonders;
we've probably all seen the video footage of those with advanced dementia briefly coming out of their shell just by listening to the music of their youth. Taste and smell have similar
'wayback' elements, but they are less focused on a particular time, and invoke more general memories of a person or vague age rather than the specifics of a musical
event.
---> Time Travelling Via
Music.
Toronto Audiofest 2025: Complete Show Coverage, Biggest Gear Reveals, And Best Demos
Canada's high-end audiophile premium
audio / video equipment show.
The Toronto Audiofest 2025 unfolded over three immersive days, spotlighting
high-end home audiophile gear, videophile equipment, modern immersive audio,
and EARVANA—Canada's first and only dedicated headphone festival—within an expansive 8,000 sq ft showcase. Music lovers and audiophiles alike
plugged in and demo'ed the newest in headphone and earphone technology, ranging from flagship over-ear designs to portable high-res in-ear monitors. With both general admission and industry badge options available, the event caters to casual enthusiasts and trade professionals seeking hands-on encounters with
tomorrow's audio innovations. Enjoy the Music.com's exclusive, and
extremely extensive, Toronto
Audiofest 2025 high-end audiophile / immersivephile show coverage is now online!
---> Toronto Audiofest 2025 Luxury
Home Audio Show Report.
Inside Capital Audiofest 2025: Exclusive Show
Report & Latest Gear
New high-end audio trends, top hi-fi gear, plus audiophile insights and
cutting-edge innovations.
Welcome to
Enjoy the Music.com's comprehensive Capital Audiofest 2025 show report. Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2025
took place from November 14th to 16th at the Hilton Rockville in Maryland, continuing its legacy as the East Coast's largest and most beloved high-end audio show. The event
was open for all music lovers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, offering three full days of immersive listening experiences, gear demos, and community engagement. Founded in 2010 by Gary Gill, CAF
continues to grow from a grassroots gathering into a cornerstone of the North American audiophile calendar, drawing enthusiasts, engineers, and manufacturers from across the
globe. Our Capital Audiofest 2025 show reports are now online and being
updated through December. Be sure to read our exciting, exclusive,
and expanded coverage of CAF 2025!
---> Inside Capital Audiofest 2025: Exclusive Show Report & Latest Gear.
World Premiere Review!
Stunning Design And Mind-Blowing Bass: MC Audiotech TL-8 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review
This sculptural speaker is a must-hear conversation starter for true music lovers.
Review By Bob Grossman
I have had the MC Audiotech TL-8 floorstanding loudspeakers within my home for the
past two months, allowing me to experience them thoroughly, given my experience
with many recordings in a variety of genres, as well as comparisons between CD
and LP sources. As I sat in my living room writing for Enjoy the Music.com,
I felt like I was out on the lawn enjoying a concert under the stars in Saratoga
Springs, the Mann Music Center, or Bravo Vail outdoor theaters. Few people look
for speakers that capture the unique sound of an outdoor performance. But my
brother Michael pointed out that the Grateful Dead hated studio recording and
rarely did it, instead preferring that fans enjoy live outdoor performances. Then Michael was captivated by the sound of the TL-8s speakers
and said he felt transported back to San Francisco in the 1970s.
--->
MC Audiotech TL-8 Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review.
Nirvana Audio Chronos Optimizer Review: Big Sound In A Small Package
If you value sensational sound, the Chronos delivers delightful audio.
Review By Rick Becker
One
of the reasons I like to visit every room at audio shows is the possibility of
discovering a truly outstanding new product. That's exactly what happened when
I ventured into the Nirvana Audio room on the 5th Floor at AXPONA
2025 this year.
Here is what I wrote in Part 7 of my show
report: The name Nirvana struck a chord because of the American rock
band, but I couldn't picture any audio components with that brand name. When I
entered the room and saw some familiar gear hosted by a pair of Asian gentlemen,
I still could not connect the dots. As I took a seat during my show report for Enjoy
the Music.com, among the others in the room, it became apparent that the
room was dedicated to a comparison listening test. But what? Eventually, I realized the little dark item on the counter at
the right edge of the photo was the Chronos Optimizer pictured on the scrim in front of
the window.
--->
Nirvana Audio Chronos Optimizer Review.
Luxury Sound That Won't Break the Bank: Hegel H150 Streaming Amplifier Review
A great value for audiophiles and a smart buy for music lovers.
Review By Paul Schumann
Last
year, I was lucky enough to review the Hegel H400 Streamliner, an integrated
amplifier with a built-in streamer. It was a well-designed piece of equipment
that sounded great. When I was offered to review its smaller sibling, it was an
easy yes for me. The H150 Streaming Amplifier is Hegel's newest integrated
amplifier on loan here at Enjoy the Music.com. The very clever engineers
nicknamed it "The Prodigy" because, while being an entry-level product, it is
loaded with features normally found on more expensive units. Hegel's H150 Streaming Amplifier is quite a
bit smaller than their H400, with a footprint of only 17" x 13.8" and weighing in
at 21.4 lbs. This meant it easily fit within my stereo cabinet, and I didn't have to
bust a gut to get it there. An added plus! It has the same elegant design as the H400, and the
fit and finish are superb.
--->
Hegel H150 Streaming Amplifier Review.
Our Verdict Is In: IsoAcoustics GAIA I Neo Series Isolation Feet Review
An evolutionary product that has been gaining traction over the years.
Review By Rick Becker
In a time long ago, well, it was the early 1990s, and audiophiles in greater
numbers were accepting that cables and power conditioners could really make an
improvement to sound quality. "Perfect sound forever" was coming to the
realization that even with digital music, improvement was necessary, giving
birth to the stand-alone DAC. Reviews on tweaks like the IsoAcoustics GAIA I Neo
isolation feet / footers and such were rare, though now here on Enjoy the
Music.com. And back then, Tiptoes were the solution to improving the
resolution of components, while floorstanding loudspeakers had spikes to keep them
anchored in the floor and drain vibrations from the cabinets while limiting
vibrations coming up from the floor... or so the story went. After a decade of being a novice audiophile, covering the
Montreal shows from the mid-1990s on, and finally becoming a valuable product....
--->
IsoAcoustics GAIA I Neo Series Isolation Feet Review.
Reflecting Back On High-End Audio
During 2020
High-end audio and the music industry experiences impressive growth.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
I've spoken to many manufacturers and distributors during 2020, and without a doubt
the saying "May you live in interesting times" holds true. While that
saying is an English expression that is claimed to be a translation of a
traditional Chinese curse, the point is very valid for 2020. On one hand, both
high-end audio and the music industry experienced impressive growth. On the
other hand, we also missed seeing one another during shows. More hi-fi blogs and
YouTube videos have been produced during 2020 than perhaps any other time. So on
the one hand we have expanding businesses, online sales, reviews, etc within the
consumer electronics sector, on the other we have (generally the elderly) dying
from... Everyone at Enjoy the Music.com truly feels deep sadness for
those we've lost during 2020. With your kind permission, and after much thought
about what should be said within this 2020 wrap-up, I'd like to focus on the
positives of 2020 to wrap up this year's editorial.
--->
Reflecting Back On High-End Audio During 2020.
Looking Back At Enjoy the
Music.com's 25 Years Of Service
As we also celebrate today... and the future.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
When
I initially realized 2020 would celebrate Enjoy the Music.com's past 25
years of being of service to the high-end audio / audiophile community, it
brought a huge smile to my face. As one of the very first web-based sites
online, there's quite a bit of history that was being made at the time. Back
then virtually no print publication had a website. Yahoo was only a year old,
while Google search engine would not appear online until three years later(!).
Virtually no hi-fi print publication had a website back in 1995. Decades later, virtually
every manufacturer and print publication has a web presence (and social media too!). Today, many
enthusiasts within our hobby have their own web page, some of which are
producing excellent articles and reviews too! As we're all in this
together, Enjoy
the Music.com is also celebrating decades of working with, and actively
promoting, other magazines too! Please allow me to personally take this moment to thank
both our longstanding, and newfound, global readers.
--->
Looking Back At Enjoy the Music.com's 25 Years Of Service.
Music And Mindfulness For Stress Reduction
Mindfulness is very real and it provides a powerful change in perspective.
Article By Gideon Waxman Of Drum Helper
Mindfulness
is an incredibly liberating practice; one that has exploded as a recent
phenomenon in the western world. Interestingly, us moderns are the last people
on the planet to uncover the wealth of treasures it has to offer. Music and
mindfulness are indeed complementary practices. Music and sounds
make a wonderful object of focus for the mind, with mindful listening proven to
boost our overall well-being and reduce stress significantly. Whilst mindfulness is still finding its way into mainstream
culture, music is universal and plays a prominent role in everyday life for most
people. Humans are surrounded by music. It is undeniable that it affects people's moods and emotions, as it engages broad neural networks in the brain.
Playing a musical instrument or listening to music whilst encompassing mindful
values can transform the experience....
--->
Music And Mindfulness For Stress Reduction.
Kimber Kable Naked
Interconnects Review
Let's go skinny dipping... with an impressive leap in cabling technology!
Review By
Paul L. Schumann
Ok,
we've all done it. We've swum in the water in our birthday suits. It may have
been in a swimming pool, maybe in a lake or stream, maybe even in the ocean. I
don't want to know your details, and I'm sure you don't want to know mine. But
one way or another, we got naked outside and took the plunge. And no
matter the outcome, it was a memorable experience. Such as with the Kimber Kable
Naked Interconnects. My familiarity with Kimber Kable goes back further than I like
to admit. Back then I was still a novice to the world of high-end interconnects.
It was 1997 and I just upgraded my CD player. When I got it home and plugged it
into my system, my wife and I noticed that it didn't sound right. The tonal
quality was pinched and it sounded nothing like it did in the showroom of the
audio salon where I bought it. When I went back, they asked me what
interconnects I was using.
--->
Kimber Kable Naked Interconnects Review.
PureAudioProject Trio15 Horn1 Open Baffle Design
Speaker Review
A trip down the rabbit hole.
Review By Paul L. Schumann
First of all, let me be totally upfront with you my dear
readers, this is the first review I've written in a long time, so if I come off
as an old curmudgeon, I apologize. In the business of high-end audio, the
one constant is change. So when Steven asked me to review the Trio15 Horns,
I knew I'd be in for a challenge. After so long, could I still use the
reviewer part of my brain? Before you continue reading this, I would recommend you read
Rick Becker's excellent review of the PureAudioProject Trio Horn1's sibling, the
first generation of the Trio15 with TB driver. Rick does an excellent job
of going through the assembly process of these early and more DIY speakers. I
have to honestly say the Trio15 Horns that arrived at my humble abode were the
latest generation, with Aluminum Frame and almost completely assembled. All I
had to do is put in the horns, add capacitors to the crossovers, connect the
drivers and was ready to go.
--->
PureAudioProject Trio15 Horn1 Open Baffle Design Speaker Review.
Winter Tweakfest 2020!
Featuring many Great Audio Tweaks Including:
Audio Magic CE Generators (Donuts)
Captive Power Cord Conversion Male AC Plug
Herbie's Audio Lab Way Excellent II Turntable Mat
Soundeck Record Weight
Block Audio C-Lock Duplex Outlet Cable Support
Furutech NCF Clear Line Mini Power Conditioner
Review By Rick Becker
With the 2020 election behind us, we still face the battle of
Covid-19. From what I hear from manufacturers, many audiophiles have turned to
music to fill their isolation and the audio industry had not evaporated. In
fact, many high-end companies are doing quite well. Those individuals who have
maintained their professional careers in one form or another have continued to
upgrade their equipment, even in the absence of new product introductions at
shows that never materialized in 2020. Those working from home and minimizing
social interactions and errands have likely saved thousands of dollars in travel
expenses. In my case, we've downsized from two cars to one with little
inconvenience.
---> Rick
Becker's Winter High-End Audiophile Tweakfest Review.
Pass Laboratories INT-25 Solid-State Integrated
Amplifier Review
A fantastic sounding Class A stereo amplifier!
Review By
Tom Lyle
Lest one
think that this review is simply not only more evidence that I have somehow
formed an untoward relationship with Pass Laboratories, I'd build my defense
around the fact that every time I reviewed one of their high-end audio
components, I was "assigned" the task. Sure, the fact that I use not only the
power and preamplifier but also the headphone amplifier I use as references,
must not help my case. The next thing I know I'm asked to review their INT-25
integrated amplifier. It's tough work, but someone has to do it. Yes, I'm
grateful for my problems. In addition to the fact that it is designed and manufactured
by Pass Laboratories, there are quite a few other reasons why the INT-25 is not
an average integrated amplifier. Most notably, the INT-25 amplifier circuit is
Class A.
--->
Pass Laboratories INT-25 Stereo Integrated Amplifier Review.
Note: We're short on time at Enjoy the
Music.com, so instead of a new list we've handpicked enduring favorites below—perfect for
music lovers. As always... enjoy the music!
Great Audiophile Gift Ideas For The
2020 Holiday Season
Enjoy the Music.com celebrates our
15th annual gift ideas to give your audiophile!
Enjoy
the Music.com proudly unveils our 15th Annual Great Audiophile Gift Guide! Finding the perfect present for the music lover in your life
isn't always easy—but we've done the hard work for you. This year's hand-picked list is packed with exciting, affordable ideas that will delight vinyl collectors, headphone fanatics, and anyone who treasures great sound. From clever stocking stuffers to standout surprises, our recommendations are designed to make every audiophile smile. Whether
you're shopping for a seasoned gear enthusiast or someone just beginning their
hi-fi journey, you'll discover gifts that blend quality, creativity, and incredible value. As we celebrate the season, all of us at
Enjoy the Music.com wish you joy, prosperity, and good health. Dive into our Great Audiophile Gift 2020 Guide now—and get inspired with presents that will make this holiday truly unforgettable!
---> See Enjoy the
Music.com's our Great Audiophile Gift 2020!
Enjoy the
Music.com's Great Holiday Gift Guide 2022
Support premium audio companies this holiday season.
Article By Enjoy the Music.com Staff
Welcome one and all to Enjoy the Music.com's extraordinary 17th annual Great Audiophile Gift recommendations! We all love gifts, yet getting something special for a passionate music lover can be quite challenging! Our annual Great Audiophile Gift wish list brings you some truly spectacular ideas for music lovers. There are so many wonderful products we can recommend to our longstanding loyal readership. All recommended gifts this year are reasonably priced to be kind to your wallet. We have gifts that will make your vinyl junkie smile, plus a few surprises along the way! Everyone here at
Enjoy the Music.com wishes you and yours a prosperous, joyous, and healthy holiday season. And now, on with our Great Audiophile Gift 2022 suggestions we know you'll love!
---> Enjoy the
Music.com's Great Holiday Gift Guide 2022.
Valve Amplification Company Factory Tour
An exclusive factory tour of VAC thanks to Jay's Audio Lab.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
Valve Amplification Company (VAC) was launched by chief designer Kevin Hayes with a passion about music realism so it sounds like the real thing within your home. With many awards and positive reviews globally in many publications, VAC products are considered masterpieces as they not only sound incredible, they also look the part
too. According to VAC, "The difference between a good amplifier and a great amplifier resides in the details, and in the passion of the designer. One of the reasons for superiority of VAC equipment is that VAC uses vacuum tube technology almost exclusively. After almost 100 years since its invention, the triode vacuum tube remains the most linear (accurate) amplifying element known producing superior sonic
performance."
--->
Video: Valve Amplification Company Factory Tour.
Chad Kassem Discusses Steely Dan's
Aja UHQR Vinyl LP
An exciting recording and reissue discussion with
Fagen, Grundman, Schnee, Kassem, and Kaplan.
Video By Acoustic Sounds
Thanks to Analogue Productions owner Chad Kassem, we're bringing you this curated video discussing the new UHQR 45 rpm vinyl LP release of Steely Dan's legendary
Aja recording. We get a rare opportunity
to hear behind-the-scenes info! We also enjoy learning more about the classic Steely Dan
Aja on UHQR clarity vinyl. Within the video, none other than Donald Fagen reminisces with award-winning recording engineer Bill
Schnee, mastering engineer Bernie Grundman, and the Tracking Angle's Fred Kaplan, plus Analogue Productions' own Chad Kassem. Steely Dan enthusiasts
rejoice! Bonus video as Bernie Grundman revisits Aja. We're especially overjoyed to present the below video with legendary audio engineer Bernie
Grundman.
--->
Chad Kassem Discusses Steely Dan's Aja UHQR Vinyl LP.
StereoNET's Mark Gusew Interviews Bjorn Bengtsson Of Nordost
Magazine reviewer interviews Bjorn Bengtsson Of Nordost.
Video By StereoNET
Within the below
video, Mark Gusew caught up with Bjorn Bengtsson, Product Specialist at Nordost during the
StereoNET Melbourne Hi-Fi & AV Show. Enjoy the Music.com would like to humbly thank your host Mark Gusew as he takes us onto a journey with Bjorn Bengtsson, who provides expertise about cables, tweaks and much
more. We'd also like to thank StereoNET's Marc Rushton and Clemente Meulio for
their excellent camera work, which was later edited by Clemente Meulio. StereoNET would like to give special thanks to Australian distributor, Advance Audio for facilitating the interview and their ongoing support.
--->
StereoNET's Mark Gusew Interviews Bjorn Bengtsson Of Nordost.
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.
---> The Intro by Art Dudley Of Listener.
Casual Reactions
Who made me? Everybody's talking... I think it is art.
Article By Herb Reichert, Audio Note
NYC
Reckon me this
Sound Practices readers.
"Who in world of audio fringe persons am I writing for?" The editor is not deep into
market research and Joyce just says they get letters from a "broad spectrum". So who in
audio hell is reading this and what are they really interested in? My best guess is that
you guys are really smart (or at least hard working), really love music and are
probably more than a little eccentric. In any event, let me start by thanking you and
SP for giving
me the opportunity to learn to write and practice my shaving on someone else's
beard. I don't know your faces, I have never been in
your basements, so I just write about my own experiences, hoping there is something
that I have done or learned that will inspire others to action. A lot of audio writers hope
to educate and opinionate their readers. Me? I would rather see some action.
---> Casual Reactions By Herb Reichert.
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.
---> Triophoni: Triode Triumph.
World Premiere 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.
Silent Angel Bonn N8 Data Switch Review
The Silent Angel Bonn N8 already has an audiophile following, but Martin Colloms says adding the Forester F1 power supply further levitates its performance.
Review By Martin Colloms
Thunder Data, the primary company responsible for the Silent Angel products was founded by two Chinese research engineers – Dr. Huang Jian and Chorus Chuang –
specializing in both hardware and software development and engineering, and they have several patents in this field. Features of the already highly-regarded Bonn N8 eight-port Ethernet switch, which sells for £399, include fully balanced input and output transformers for every port, though it must be said that pretty much all such network connections are done this way even on low-cost Netgear
switches. Further additions include damping pads on many internal components to reduce induced jitter from audio-related vibration, and the use of a low-noise high-stability
reference clock to upgrade it to an audio-quality computer network switch. The eight ports are 100/1000Base-T gigabit specification, and the design includes a
customized 'Silent Angel Noise Absorber' with two EMC filters for the main internal power supply and a further two for the clock generator circuit.
--->
Silent Angel Bonn N8 Data Switch 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.
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.
AGD Audion Mk III Monoblock Amplifier Review
Art deco style with an emotionally engaging, tonally rich, and high-resolution sound.
Review By Rick Becker
It
was love at first sight when I discovered the new AGD Audio at Rocky Mountain
Audiofest back in 2019. My review came out in the February 2020 issue and it was
awarded a Best of 2020 Blue Note Award. Now, four years later, it still puts a
smile on my face when I turn it on. It's priced at $7850
per pair in a satin finish and $8600 in full polish, a modest price increase
from the $6800 in satin and $7500 in polished when first introduced. Given how
quantitative easing to deal with COVID-19, along with supply chain disruptions
and opportunistic suppliers has led to inflation, this is sadly understandable.
Factoring in the increase in sound quality brought first by the Mk II, and now
the Mk III, well, that's what this review is all about.
--->AGD Audion Mk III Monoblock Amplifier
Review.
Premium Luxury Audio Fall Foliage
Tweakfest
Featuring the Bybee Clarifiers and Massif Record Weight / Cable Risers, plus
Synergistic Purple Duplex Outlet, MiG 3.0 Footers, and Carbon Tuning Discs.
Review By Rick Becker
Well, audio tweaks are not exactly history-altering inventions
like the printing press.... Thus, my annual Tweakfest of small, but significant products,
has drifted into fall, just in time for the November issue and foreshadowing the
Holiday Gift Guide. The cognoscenti of audio forums have probably christened
me a fanboy of Synergistic Research, but I've been continually impressed with
the creations from the mind of Ted Denney. His major products are cables and
power conditioners, but once he makes a discovery it is frequently spread
throughout a multitude of smaller products and occasionally gives birth to a new
tweak. I'll cover three such items, plus a few more, in this Fall Foliage
Tweakfest.
--->
Premium Luxury Audio Fall Foliage Tweakfest.
Previous Issues
2025
January
February March
April May
June
July
August September
October November
2024
January
February March
April May
June
July
August September
October November
December
2023
January
February March
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