High-End Audio / Audiophile & Music Industry News

Meet Enthusiastic Music Lovers On Social Media
We invite you to join our social media pages and meet like-minded music lovers from all around the world. Like and follow our social media pages to chat with our reviewers, industry luminaries, and our loyal followers. Have your voice heard while staying informed about the latest high-end audio news, audiophile events, and updates related to Enjoy the Music.com. Don't miss out on the music and fun, come join our Facebook, Instagram, and X pages. We look forward to seeing you there and as always... enjoy the music.

01 / 28 / 25

Southwest Audio Fest 2025 Show Report & Information
Now in their second year, the Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) high-end audio show by the dynamic duo Gary Gill (Capital Audiofest) and Lou Hinkley (Pacific AudioFest / Daedalus Audio) brings magical music to Dallas. SWAF 2025 follows their sensational success with the popular Pacific Audio Fest event. Attendees may listen to many of the world's top manufacturers who create a wide variety of exciting home and portable audio products. Within this expansive Resort environment, bask in luxurious sounds that caress your ears and bring newfound meaning to many of the songs you've heard many times in the past. All this and more within a curated experience filled with fine art and acres of event space.

This just in from the show promoter: "

SWAF 2025 Includes:
• 20+ Large Listening Rooms booked with big name brands! 
• 60 Standard Listening Rooms booking now
• Vibrant Marketplace in the Atrium
• Thousands of records to dig through!

01 / 27 / 25

Kraftwerk Autobahn 50th Anniversary Vinyl LP, Immersive Blue-ray, And Booklet
Kraftwerk, the legendary German electronic music group, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of their album Autobahn in March 2025. The celebration will include new releases, a USA tour, and appearances at Coachella. Specially engineering new releases of Autobahn include a new immersive Dolby Atmos mix of the album on Blu-ray and digitally. Dolby Atmos, 5.1, and stereo mixes will be available digitally. Kraftwerk's 50th Anniversary Autobahn digital release will be available on major streaming platforms. The 12" vinyl LP picture disc of the album's 2009 remaster will also be offered and marks the band's first official picture disc. There a 7" vinyl edit includes "Autobahn," with "Kometenmelodie 2" on the B-side.

The region-free Blu-ray disc comes with a 12-page booklet in Amaray packaging, and ships with an SDE exclusive slipcase (a special 50th anniversary sticker will sit outside the shrink-wrap). Kraftwerk founder Ralf Hütter and engineer Fritz Hilpert revisited the original 16-track master tapes to produce their special 50th Anniversary set. The Dolby Atmos mix was created in 2024 at the band's Kling Klang studio. As for touring, Kraftwerk will also celebrate the band's 50th anniversary of Autobahn with a tour across North America and Europe, including performances during both weekends at Coachella. Kraftwerk's Autobahn 50th Anniversary release will be available March 7th (2025) via Parlophone.

01 / 24 / 25

NAMM 2025: A Symphony Of Immersive Music Innovation
The 2025 NAMM Show, held at the Anaheim Convention Center from January 21st through 25th, will make waves within the music industry. This year's event promises to be one of the most exciting yet, with a lineup of star-studded performances and groundbreaking innovations. The show will be begin with a keynote address from NAMM President and CEO John Mlynczak, who announced a series of new initiatives aimed at strengthening the global music community. Among the highlights was the launch of the NAMM Impact Report, which provides a comprehensive overview of the organization's achievements in 2024 and its plans for the future. Attendees will be treated to a variety of educational sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities throughout the week. The event plans to feature a robust schedule of live performances by renowned artists such as Jon Batiste, Peter Frampton, Jack White, and CeCe Winans. One of the highlights this week will be the She Rock Awards, which celebrated the contributions of female musicians and included performances by Samantha Fish, Amanda Palmer, and Christina Perri.

The exhibition floor will be buzzing with excitement as attendees explore the latest in musical instruments, recording and playback equipment, and high-technology including immersive sound system and software. To add a bit of levity and humor, NAMM 2025 will also featured a variety of quirky and innovative products, including the Fart Pedal, which converts guitar notes into amusing sound effects. With its blend of education, entertainment, and innovation, the 2025 NAMM Show is set to be a memorable event for music enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. According to the show promoter, "The NAMM Show is the crown jewel event of the year for all things music and music products. This is where brands launch their most daring and awe-inspiring innovations and where retailers go to discover the next-generation tools of the trade. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, small business or legacy brand, The NAMM Show is your place to connect with thousands of industry leaders with purchasing power. This is where the game changes."

01 / 23 / 25

Why I Love Our Loyal Readership
First and foremost, this entire site is for you! Let's work together....
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
In a few months Enjoy the Music.com will officially be celebrating our 25th Anniversary (that's 25 consecutive years). For those who've read the About Us info, you'll notice below all the site facts n' stuff that not a single word has changed for decades. And so it began 25 years ago... and I quote, "Longtime classically-trained medal-earning musician and high fidelity audio enthusiast Steven R. Rochlin launched Enjoy the Music.com in 1995 as a way to easily answer the many questions he was receiving from others online. Since he grew tired of answering the same basic questions from various people during the very early days of the Internet, when at that time information was scarce, he felt having various common questions and answers on a website was the logical action."
---> Why I Love Our Loyal Readership.

Metronome Le Dac Digital-To-Analog Converter Review
And the Technicolor Dream.
Review By Paul Schumann
Those of you who have read some of my previous reviews know that I am in some ways a throwback, sticking with my compact discs while some audiophiles have moved to uncompressed digital files and others have embraced the vinyl side. I have a lot of CDs, and by God, I'm going to still listen to them. A few years ago I purchased the iFi Audio iDSD, and that opened up my world on how far digital has come in the last decade. At $599, it's one the great bargains in audio. But sometimes you start to wonder, are those fancy high-end DACs really that much better? A few months ago, I noticed an announcement for a new DAC by a company called Metronome. Appropriately it is called Le Dac.
---> Metronome Le Dac Digital-To-Analog Converter Review.

01 / 22 / 25

Montreal Audiofest 2025 Audiophile Show Report
The Salon Audio Montreal Audiofest 2025 takes place from March 28th through 30th with more than 5000 visitors expected who desired listening, seeing, and touching over 300 brands of high-end audiophile products all under one roof. As the largest show in Canada, attendees will experienced the very best high-end audio and video/videophile industry distributors, manufacturers, and retailers in Canada. Within each listening room, exhibitors are overjoyed to share their passion for music with you by demonstrating some of the world's best sound systems from $5000 to $500,000.

Montréal Audiofest is celebrating its 36th edition in 2025 and remains the must-attend event for audiophiles, high-end audio gear enthusiasts, and music lovers. This long-standing event has become a tradition in showcasing the very latest advances in high-technology, high-fidelity audio equipment in Canada. More than 300 brands will present their latest innovations from music streamers and high-quality headphones to cables, tweaks, loudspeakers, turntables, and much more! Immerse yourself in the exclusive "Prohibition Night" at the Montréal Audiofest. Montreal Audiofest invites you to experience the unique "Musical Wine Tour"! Embark on an exclusive private tour of six prestigious exhibitors, where each group of eight to ten participants will be guided by a sommelier.
---> Montreal Audiofest 2025 Audiophile Show Report.

01 / 21 / 25

Part 10: Best Of Capital Audiofest 2024 Blue Note Awards
Plus Honorable Mentions to great-sounding high-end audiophile gear.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker
After 452 photos and over 41k words of copy submitted for Parts 1 though 9, it's time to salute some of the Best Rooms and make some Honorable Mentions. This has been the hardest Part of my chronicles to write. Not only were there 125 rooms, 15 tables, and 17 booths listed (though a couple of rooms were no-shows and I missed one other room, and some of the booths in the Atrium were filed at the last minute while others remained empty), but good sound quality and musicality were easy to find. We all have our personal sense of what constitutes those values and I won't go down that rabbit hole. I encourage you to read the summaries of other journalists for comparison. We don't all think or listen alike, nor do the manufacturers.
---> Part 10: Best Of Capital Audiofest 2024 Blue Note Awards.

01 / 20 / 25

Florida International Audio Expo 2025 Show In Tampa
In about two months, the Florida International Audio Expo 2025 takes place from February 21st through 23rd at the Sheraton Tampa Brandon, the event's new, and larger, venue. The Florida International Audio Expo will showcase many floors filled with exhibit spaces featuring the latest in home and portable audio gear. You may enjoy an abundance of great sound from mono to stereo and immersive, plus various exhibit room will feature never before seen new products! Show attendees are the world's first to experience many of the best new high-performance, hi-resolution modern audio products. With many floors and large conference rooms of demonstrations to explore, attendees can experience luxurious immersive premium audio electronics, loudspeakers, turntables, and high-end audio headphones produced by manufacturers from all around the world.

The 2025 Florida International Audio Expo is within easy driving distance to local attractions including Disneyworld, Tampa Busch Gardens, and the Florida Aquarium. Don't forget about Universal Studios, and of course NASA to see a SpaceX rocket launch or two! Yes, you and your family may see a SpaceX rocket launch live and in person. Let's not forget that America's #1 beach is close by too, and February is excellent weather in Florida (we promise you no cold snow)! The Sheraton Tampa Brandon provides an elevated experience, plus you can use their complimentary shuttle to any destination within three miles of the hotel. This includes the popular Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Westfield Brandon, and the Florida State Fairgrounds. Learn more at our Florida International Audio Expo 2025 (FIAE 2025) show report page.

01 / 17 / 25

FireAid Benefit Concert On January 30th
The FireAid Benefit Concert is set to take place on January 30 (2025) at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum in Los Angeles. This star-studded event will feature performances by Lil Baby, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Tate McRae, Jelly Roll, Gwen Stefani, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and many others. The concert aims to raise funds for the communities affected by the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, focusing on rebuilding infrastructure, supporting displaced families, and advancing fire prevention technologies. No word about this benefiting those in North Carolina or Florida, who have also greatly suffered from recent devastation due to weather events. SoCal's FireAid Benefit Concert will be broadcast live on various platforms, including Apple Music, Apple TV, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Netflix / Tudum, Paramount+, Prime Video, and YouTube beginning at 6pm PST. Tickets will go on sale on January 22, 2025, via Ticketmaster.

This event is to showcase an evening of music and solidarity. The FireAid Benefit Concert will be held at Intuit Dome and Kia Forum on January 30th dedicated to rebuilding communities that have been devastated by wildfires. Contributions made to FireAid in connection with the FireAid benefit concert and other direct donations will be distributed under the advisement of the Annenberg Foundation and will be distributed for short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California. The Annenberg Foundation, with decades of philanthropic leadership in our community, including rapid response, will help coordinate a team to direct funds for the greatest impact. Both concerts will operate at the same time at Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum. Tickets are only valid for the single venue that you selected when you purchased your ticket(s).

01 / 16 / 25

How A Vinyl LP Record Is Made
We tour Quality Record Pressings / Acoustic Sounds vinyl LP pressing plant.
Video By Steven R. Rochlin
Enjoy the Music.com presents to you our tour of the Quality Record Pressings (Acoustic Sounds) vinyl LP pressing plant. We join plant manager Gary and owner Chad Kassem as they take us on a step-by-step journey through how a vinyl LP record is produced. Creative Director of Enjoy the Music.com Steven R. Rochlin guides you on his Quality Vinyl Pressings factory tour to learn how they produce a vinyl LP. There are many steps that go into making the perfect album, and it is fascinating how a puck of specialized material creates your favorite music on vinyl LP. As always, in the end what really matters is that you... Enjoy the music!
---> Learn How A Vinyl LP Record Is Produced.

Nagra Tube DAC And Classic PSU Power Supply Review
Sonic glory... worth it!
Review By Tom Lyle
Nagra is a Swiss audio equipment manufacturer that has been in business for over 65 years. Their professional portable tape records were an industry standard for many decades, even appearing as props in many films and television shows. Their reputation was rock-solid even before they started manufacturing high-end audio equipment in the 21st Century. Because of this, and because of the fine high-end audio components they've been designing and manufacturing since 2012, I suppose there are many audiophiles, and plenty of non-audiophile, who might add the Nagra Tube DAC and its matching Classic PSU power supply to their systems without an audition, or without reading reviews on the subject.
---> Nagra Tube DAC And Classic PSU Power Supply Review.

01 / 15 / 25

audioXpress' February 2025 Issue
Editorial: Love It Or Hate It, 2025 Is About AI
mh acoustics Eigenmike em64 Sixth-Order Ambisonics Microphone
Sony MDR-M1 Closed Monitor Professional Headphones
Getting Out Of The Ear
A New Op-Amp For Phono Preamps Part 1 — The Design
Modern Op-Amp Distortion Tests Part 2
MEMS Microphones In The Age Of AI
An In-Depth Look At WMAS
Sabine, Models, And Measurements
The Legendary Dynaco ST-70 And ST-70 II Tube Power Amps
And Much More!

Within his editorial, J. Martins says "There was so much we had planned to talk about in this issue of audioXpress... But as always, there's only a certain number of pages. We will definitely be coming back to the topic of microphones this year, given that a lot is happening in "conventional" and wireless microphones. And likewise, we will need to cover so much of what is happening in artificial intelligence (AI) and microphone integration for audio processing. Just as we are sending this issue to the printers, pre-CES news in this field continues to flow. In this issue's Market Update, we have discussed developments in the cutting-edge MEMS microphone space that represents a massive amount of business when it comes to capturing sound sources for recording or transmission. But that doesn't mean that the established non-MEMS microphone manufacturers have been sitting still. In 2024, we have seen important new designs and a lot of innovations that challenge established models in use."
---> audioXpress February 2025 Issue.

01 / 14 / 25

HDMI Version 2.2 For Hi-Res Immersive Audio And Video
The HDMI Forum, comprised of the world's leading manufacturers of consumer electronics, personal computers, mobile devices, cables, and components, has announced Version 2.2 of the HDMI Specification. The new HDMI Specification delivers enhanced options for the vast HDMI ecosystem, with more advanced solutions to create, distribute, and experience the best end-user outcome. New technology enables higher quality options now and in the future for content producers while enabling multiple distribution platforms. Higher 96 Gbps bandwidth and next-generation HDMI Fixed Rate Link technology provide optimal lossless immersive Hi-Res Audio and modern video for a wide range of device applications.

Faster 96Gbps bandwidth improves demanding data-intensive, immersive audio and virtual applications such as AR / VR / MR, spatial reality and light field displays as well as various commercial applications such as large scale digital signage, medical imaging and machine vision. Also included is Latency Indication Protocol (LIP) for improving audio and video synchronization, especially for multiple-hop system configurations. The new specification will be available to all HDMI 2.x Adopters and they will be notified when it is released in H1 2025.

01 / 13 / 25

2025 Grammy Awards In Los Angeles
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 2, 2025, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, promises to be a night of celebration and resilience. While we all feel for the many who have been affected by the ongoing Southern California fires that have ravaged the city, the Recording Academy and CBS are still determined to proceed with the event, albeit with some adjustments. The wildfires, which have caused significant damage and forced thousands of residents to evacuate, have put a strain on the city's resources. However, the Grammy Awards are in discussions to potentially pivot the broadcast to a fundraiser, with proceeds going towards rebuilding efforts and supporting displaced families. In response to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, the Recording Academy and MusiCares pledged $1,000,000 to aid music professionals.

Among the night's highlights will be the much-anticipated performances and the announcement of winners across 94 categories. Notable nominees include vocal dynamo Shemekia Copeland, who is up for three awards, and established artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, who continue to break records and set new standards in the industry. The event will also feature a special benefit concert hosted by MusiCares, the Grammys' foundation, aimed at aiding music professionals in need. This concert, along with other fundraising efforts, underscores the music community's commitment to supporting those affected by the wildfires. As the city of Los Angeles grapples with the aftermath of the fires, the Grammy Awards stand as a testament to the resilience and unity of the music industry. The night will not only celebrate artistic achievements but also honor the strength and solidarity of a community coming together in the face of adversity.

01 / 10 / 24

American Music Tourism Act Of 2024
The American Music Tourism Act of 2024 (S.4212) was introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) in April 2024. The bill aims to promote music tourism across the United States by amending the Visit America Act of 2022. It passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 31, 2024, and was unanimously approved by the Senate on December 5, 2024. The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism is tasked with identifying and promoting key music tourism locations and events across the United States. This includes music museums, studios, festivals, and concert venues. The Act also aims to boost both domestic and international travel to music-related destinations. It emphasizes rural and culturally rich destinations as prime locations for hosting international meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions.

Music tourism is a growing industry, valued at $5.5 billion in 2022 and projected to more than double by 2030. The Act seeks to rejuvenate the music industry and celebrate the rich musical heritage of various communities. The Assistant Secretary is required to periodically report to Congress on the activities and progress related to promoting music tourism. Senator Blackburn highlighted the significant impact of music tourism on the economy and culture of Tennessee, home to iconic musical landmarks such as Graceland, the Grand Ole Opry, and Dollywood. She emphasized the importance of promoting music tourism to ensure fans from around the world can celebrate the rich history of music. By promoting music tourism, the Act not only enhances economic growth but also preserves and celebrates the musical heritage that defines many communities across the United States. It addresses the declining percentage of international visitors to the United States while bolstering domestic travel. The American Music Tourism Act of 2024 represents supporting the music industry and promoting cultural tourism. By supporting and increasing music tourism, the Act aims to create a positive economic impact and celebrate the rich musical heritage of the United States.

01 / 09 / 24

Occasional Column: The Musical Point Of View
Audio systems are communicators - not just modes of communication.
Article By Jules Coleman
The audio community is a community – actually, many overlapping and intersecting ones. Like other communities, its members share norms, support and encourage excellence in one another, celebrate achievements, mourn losses, welcome new additions, and more. Communities communicate. This is an obvious truth; perhaps even a banal one. It's not always bad to be obvious or banal, however. After all, 'obvious truths' come in two varieties: those so obvious they require no defense or argument in their favor; and those that are obvious only after the argument for them has been made. And while many banalities are simply that, the history of ideas is basically a catalog of great works expanding on apparent banalities.
---> Occasional Column: The Musical Point Of View.

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.

01 / 07 / 25

Part 8: Capital Audiofest 2024 Large Rooms Part 1
Lovely sounds at CAF 2024's large exhibit rooms.
Capital Audiofest 2024 Show Report By Rick Becker
After finally getting back to the office, return with me now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, circa November 2024, where I proceed on the 3rd Floor to the large rooms overlooking the Atrium floor. I'll start with the Twinbrook room, closest to Olive's Restaurant. MBL (or mbl, as the Germans like it spelled) is one of the most elite major brands in the industry. There is a timelessness to this brand, anchored by the technology of its omnidirectional speakers, that evolves slowly only as the technology of the industry itself evolves. I can imagine that most customers see mbl gear as their "forever" purchases, allowing them to target other luxuries with their wealth. It doesn't show up on the used market very often…except for a DAC or CD player being displaced by a new streamer.
---> Part 8: Capital Audiofest 2024 Large Rooms Part 1.

01 / 06 / 25

CES 2025 In Las Vegas Begins Today
CES 2025, the world's premier tech event, will be held from January 7th through 10th, at the Las Vegas Convention Center and surrounding venues. This highly anticipated annual event, organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), brings together the brightest minds and most innovative companies from around the globe to showcase their latest advancements in technology. With a focus on fostering growth and exploring future trends, CES 2025 promises to be a melting pot of ideas and innovations, ranging from smart cities and digital health to automotive technology, home audio networking, immersive experiences, and beyond. CES serves as a launchpad for groundbreaking products and services, providing a platform for industry leaders to connect, collaborate, and unveil their latest innovations. Live demonstrations and keynote presentations from industry titans offer attendees an immersive experience that transcends traditional trade shows.

While there are an abundance of premium audio shows within the USA and throughout the  world, there is still a segment at CES 2025 that showcases high-end audio gear, which is set to accommodate audiophiles and casual listeners alike with state-of-the-art sound technologies. This year's high-end audio section will feature cutting-edge innovations in audiophile-grade headphones, speakers, sound systems, and consumer-friendly wireless audio technologies, promising to revolutionize how we experience sound. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the advancements in spatial audio, immersive sound experiences, and high-resolution audio, with major companies unveiling products designed to deliver unparalleled audio quality. CES exhibitors will highlight the latest trends in noise-canceling technology, soundbars, and home theater systems, as well as emerging technologies that aim to bring studio-quality sound into the home. With an emphasis on both performance and design, the home and personal audio segment at CES 2025 is poised to showcase mainstream brands within the audio industry, offering both stereo and immersive sound for everyone passionate about high-fidelity sound.

01 / 03 / 25

Hi-Fi+ January 2025 High-End Audio Magazine
Editorial: It's All Good
Meet Your Maker: Dr. Matthew Webster, CEO Of YG Acoustics
Antipodes Audio Oladra Music Server
Master Fidelity NADAC D/NADAC C DAC And CLock
Thrax Audio Sirens Stand-Mount Loudspeaker
Cambridge Audio EXA100/EXN100 Integrated Amplifier & Streamer
Piega Coax 611 Floorstanding Loudspeaker
conrad-johnson ART150 Stereo Power Amplifier
Roksan Caspian 4G Streaming Integrated Amplifier
Quiescent T500VA Balanced Mains Supply
...And Much More!

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says "The WWI French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau famously once said, "Generals always fight the last war." That statement applies as much in audio as it did in the trenches of Ypres. Although, fortunately, audio's butcher's bill is a lot lighter. We're in 2025, now. We didn't get replicants or flying cars, but a quarter of a century into the millennium, we need to stop thinking like we are still living in the last one. What's great about right now in the audio world is we are living in an 'it's all good' time. It doesn't matter whether you want to listen to music on LP, tape, CD, SACD, streamed, downloaded, on compact cassette, MiniDisc (yes, there are still collectors) or sent by semaphore. Nobody really cares whether you listen using tubes, solid-state, IC-based, in Class A, AB, D, or F#. If you want to play music on headphones, boxes, panels, horns or by someone tapping out a rhythm on your eyeballs... there has never been such diversity of music acquisition and enjoyment."
---> Hi-Fi+'s January 2025 High-End Audio Magazine Issue.

01 / 01 / 25

January High-End Audio Review Magazine & CAF Show Report
Our January 2025 issue celebrates Enjoy the Music.com's 30 years of continuous service to music lovers, audiophiles, and immersive sound enthusiasts alike! We are truly grateful to you, our longstanding loyal readership and newcomers too. Over the past 30 years, our luxurious premium audio industry has grown and flourished far beyond our wildest expectations in 1995. With vinyl LPs and analog reel-to-reel tape bringing the many joys of great-sounding music within our homes, virtually all of us also enjoy recording studio quality lossless Hi-Res Music streaming. During 2025, Enjoy the Music.com plans various features and other highlights during the past 30 years of being a service to music lovers globally. We wish everyone a very happy New Year and as always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music!
---> January High-End Audio Review Magazine & CAF Show Report.

Happy High-Fidelity Premium Audio New Year!
It's going to be a very good one!
Article By Roger Skoff
No matter how you look at it, 2024 was not the best year yet for our hi-fi/high fidelity music/audio hobby. People who already had a good audio system just kept it, buying little else. After worldwide inflation, people without systems and of ordinary means were sufficiently concerned about keeping food on the table, shoes on their feet, and gas in their car, that they put off any purchases they didn't think absolutely necessary – including new, even otherwise affordable, high-performance audio gear; and, even though the rich – including, apparently, a surprising number of billionaires – bought ultra-expensive, Ultra High-End Audio gear (including multi-hundred-thousand-dollar electronics and near-million-dollar speaker systems) in surprising quantity, it wasn't enough to keep our industry prosperous.
---> Happy High-Fidelity Premium Audio New Year!

PureAudioProject Duet 15 Loudspeaker Review
A benchmark performance open baffle loudspeaker.
Review By Dr. Jules Coleman
Featuring the extraordinary Voxativ Pife full range driver mated to a comparably fast 15" woofer, the PureAudioProject (PAP) Duet 15 offers the listener an unrivaled, relaxed, unhurried, yet fully resolved natural and immediate musical experience that box speakers, for the most part, can only dream of providing, and one that competitor open baffle designs will struggle, most likely with only limited success, to equal. These speakers are unassuming, seductive, and enthralling. I found myself unable to resist falling into the music's awaiting arms for the better part of the several months I was fortunate enough to have them in my home. The term 'open baffle' is vague. The standard design consists of a single baffle (think of the 'front baffle' of an enclosed speaker) on which one or more drivers are affixed. All open baffle speakers produced by PureAudioProject are of this sort.
---> PureAudioProject Duet 15 Loudspeaker 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.

Resistors
Once upon a time, the tolerance of resistors was an issue.
Article By Grey Rollins
My interest in electronics began at an early age. The folks who lived diagonally across the street from our family would throw out old pieces of stereo gear that no longer worked. Now, you could argue that perhaps they should have paid a little more so as to get higher quality equipment that wouldn't fail so quickly, but I'm grateful that they didn't. As soon as I saw the tell-tale glint of sun on metal and plastic by the road, I would scuttle across the road as fast as my eight year-old legs would carry me to claim my new prize. I would take it apart and stare at the multi-colored parts for hours, trying to figure out how it worked. I stood no better chance than an alien attempting to make sense of a square dance, but that didn't stop me.. Time passed and I learned to distinguish between resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors, and tubes (this was a while back).
---> Learn More About Resistors.

Art Dudley's The Intro
Editorial By Art Dudley
Passions run high among music lovers. We vilify "bad" musicians (the ones we dislike), and we elevate marginally functional savants with a couple of two-minute singles and some album filler under their belts. When it comes to more unique and productive figures like Phil Spector, Jimi Hendrix, Wilhelm Furtwängler, John Cage, or [insert your own heroes and villains here], music fans either revere them as gods or dismiss them as meaningless. Sometimes there are shades in between, but perspective is at a premium. This tendency to paint things black or white spills over to the equipment we use to play back our favorite recordings. I've seen the cognoscenti dismiss people on the basis of no more information than their choice of power amp, though I suspect few of us are quite so one-dimensional in truth. Anyone with an internet connection can publish broadsides proclaiming their love for equipment and music and aim verbal barrages at their musical "enemies."
---> Art Dudley's Intro Article From Listener Magazine.

Many more reviews & articles are within our Review Magazine.

Previous High-End Audio News
For previous high-end audio and music industry news click here.