High-End Audio / Audiophile & Music Industry News

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08 / 29 / 25

This Weekend: StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Expo Melbourne 2025
The StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Expo is the largest annual luxury high-end audio and video event in Australia. This event will bring together audiophiles, home-cinema videophile buffs, modern immersivephiles, and connected-lifestyle enthusiasts from August 29th through 31st at the Pullman Mercure Hotel & Events Centre in Albert Park, Victoria. As the largest show of its type in Australia, it transforms many hotel rooms across multiple floors into immersive demo environments, showcasing everything from compact streaming devices and video screens to colossal floor-standing loudspeakers. Visitors can explore the world's top audio/visual brands alongside up-and-coming innovators, with smart-home integration, gaming setups, and entertainment technologies on display. The addition of a new Level 3 exhibition area underscores the expo's commitment to crafting a truly expansive, hands-on experience for every kind of listener and viewer. Building on its rapid growth, the 2025 edition expands to cover four full floors of the Pullman Convention Centre, featuring over 200 international brands.

Show organizer StereoNET emphasizes the event's evolution into a must-attend on the global hi-fi calendar, attracting company heads, product designers, and engineers from around the world. Attendees can expect bespoke multi-channel home-cinema rooms, live product launches, and expert-led seminars that delve into the latest in acoustic optimization and AV integration. Exhibition highlights include Australia's largest headphone and personal-audio zone, where Headzones curates an extensive selection of flagship cans in dedicated listening suites. The Home Cinema segment dazzles with cutting-edge immersivephile systems, and showgoers have the chance to win coveted prizes. Vinyl aficionados and reel-to-reel enthusiasts will flock to the Vinyl Record Fair hosted by Vinylrules Music, which offers original pressings alongside rare second-hand finds. Expert panel discussions, hands-on demos of modern smarthome technology, and interactive installations round out the schedule, ensuring the StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Expo Melbourne 2025 is a multi-sensory celebration of sight and sound.

08 / 28 / 25

Marantz CD60 CD (Compact Disc) Player Review
The Marantz CD60 CD Player has me very impressed out of the gate but will it seal the deal with pricier amplification and loudspeakers? Stay tuned.
Review By Ian White
Back in February, I spent some time with Marantz so I could experience the new Marantz 40n Network Integrated Amplifier. The $2500 amplifier drove multiple pairs of Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers in the hotel space with relative ease and I left after two hours of listening thinking that Marantz needed to introduce something less expensive to match it. There were other CD players on display in the room but they were priced well above what I was thinking. I was hoping to see the 40n connected to something like the brand new Marantz CD60 that was just introduced at HIGH END in Munich for $999. There are plenty of people who will shake their head at something like the Marantz CD60 in 2022 with streaming owning 85% of the market right now — but I'm not part of that group. Not even remotely. I started buying CDs in 1984 when my father brought home a new Yamaha CD player from Bay Bloor Radio and after almost 38 years of purchases, my collection approaches almost 2000 CDs.
---> Marantz CD60 CD (Compact Disc) Player Review.

JPS Labs Superconductor V Interconnects, Loudspeaker Cable, And USB Cable Review
Connecting to the Soul of Music.
Review By Paul Schumann
There has been quite a bit of discussion, lately, in this publication and other forums, about the current direction of the music industry. One of the hot topics is how popular music is recorded and produced. Many argue that the use of software, like ProTools, to snap everything to a grid and correct any "flaws" is robbing the music of its soul. Many times the result is music that, while initially appealing, quickly loses the interest of the listener. It is soulless music. The question is, what is this soul and how do we recognize it? I think most of the time, this occurs at a subconscious level. Why do we want to go see an artist in concert when we've already heard all of their songs multiple times in studio perfection? Because we want to connect to the soul of the music, warts and all. Now, I'm not saying some audio processing tricks aren't going on at these concerts, but there is only so much that can be done live. In the end, it's about the artists connecting with the audience.
---> JPS Labs Superconductor V Interconnects, Loudspeaker Cable, And USB Cable Review.

08 / 25 / 25

Tencent Music Achieves A Standout Q2 2025
Tencent Music Entertainment Group, a leading online music entertainment platform with 124.4 million paying users and 553 million total monthly active users, delivered a standout second quarter in 2025, with total revenues climbing 17.9% year-over-year to RMB 8.44 billion (U.S. $1.18 billion). Online music services drove much of that growth—up 26.4% to RMB 6.85 billion—while music subscription revenue alone rose 17.1% to RMB 4.38 billion. Strong unit economics lifted monthly ARPPU from RMB 10.7 to RMB 11.7, fueling a 43.2% jump in net profit attributable to equity holders to RMB 2.41 billion (US $336 million) and a non-IFRS net profit increase of 37.4%. At quarter end, cash, cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term investments totaled RMB 34.92 billion, underpinning the company's robust balance sheet. On the user front, Tencent Music's ecosystem remains vast and engaged. Monthly active users for online music stood at 553 million, with paying subscribers rising 6.3% to 124.4 million and SVIP members surpassing 15 million thanks to premium sound quality and exclusive artist perks. The company deepened its content arsenal through partnerships with K-pop labels like The Black Label and SM Entertainment, Chinese superstars such as Wang Feng, and broadcasters including Zhejiang Satellite TV.

Offline initiatives included G-DRAGON's sold-out Macau show, stadium tours for Fiona Sit, TIA RAY and rapper GAI, plus 300+ performances by emerging artists under proprietary IPs like CITY LIVE and BUFF LIVE. Innovation continues to be a growth lever. Kugou Music rolled out VIPER HiFi sound and One-Click Audio Enhancement 2.0, while QQ Music introduced an AI Chorus feature for concert singalongs and launched the Bubble community to deepen fan-artist interactions. In-car partnerships with Geely and Xiaomi broadened distribution, and a new ad-supported membership tier and refined ad formats lifted advertising revenues. On the ESG front, the "Hearing Guizhou" AI project creates immersive instrument-based soundscapes for relaxation. Through these efforts, Tencent Music is sharpening user engagement, diversifying monetization and scaling its one-stop music ecosystem for lasting value.

08 / 21 / 25

Audio Note UK M2 Linestage / Preamplifier And Conqueror Power Amplifier Review
Taking the road less traveled.
Review By Paul Schumann
Hi-fi audio emerged in the 1950s with the introduction of the LP record. As the business evolved and stereo became the norm, acoustic suspension speakers gained popularity due to their smaller footprint in the family room. What followed after that can be called an arms race between audio manufacturers to build more powerful amplifiers. This continued as hi-fi became high-end audio. It was not uncommon to see on the pages of print magazines reviewing amplifiers rated at 400 Watts per channel or more. But not all music lovers were following this path. While the audio business was trending towards the more powerful tube and solid-state amps, an underground movement in Japan was extolling the virtues of the old low-powered Western Electric amps when paired with speakers of the same vintage.
---> Audio Note UK M2 Linestage / Preamplifier And Conqueror Power Amplifier Review.

FiiO M15S Desktop / Portable Hi-Res Lossless Music Player Review
FiiO's M15S and FH9 have incredible synergy and represent an ideal portable listening experience.
Review By Gary Alan Barker
Until I received my FiiO R7 Music Server my go-to player to burn in headphones or to act as a digital source for DAC reviews (computers tend to be noisy over USB) has been my trusty FiiO M11 DAP (while the FiiO M11 Plus LTD offers some advantages, it also sucks up a lot of power), but FiiO is not a company to rest long, always pushing the envelope and developing new and better players, and in this vein is their new FiiO M15S Desktop/Portable Hi-Res Lossless Music Player. Slightly larger and with an almost half-inch larger display, the M15S boasts an eight-channel DAC and over twice the power output and includes a desktop dock with a built-in cooling fan. Some of the things that set the FiiO M15S Desktop/Portable Hi-Res Lossless Music Player apart from the pack beyond the FiiO DK3S dock, are the Dual Power Supply Mode, the Five Gain Levels, Six Operating Modes....
---> FiiO M15S Desktop / Portable Hi-Res Lossless Music Player Review.

08 / 20 / 25

Great News! SWAF And PAF 2026 Show Updates
Southwest Audio Fest (SWAF) listens to vendors and attendees. "For years the audio industry has talked about how slow Sundays are," says Lou Hinkley and Gary Gill of SWAF. "We at SWAF have listened and are dropping Sundays and adding Thursday to generate more traffic, while leaving you more time on Sundays for your families. Our experience at the Southwest Audio Fest seems like Dallas would be a perfect candidate to try the Thursday – Friday - Saturday experience. Thursday's show hours will be 2pm to 8pm, providing more options for attendees with busy schedules. Friday and Saturday will remain 10am to 6pm with many rooms having evening and after hours listening events. See you all in July 2026 at SWAF!

The latest news from Pacific Audiofest (PAF): "In 2024 we considered making PAF a biennial event, and scheduled the next show for 2026," says PAF. "Turns out everyone wants it to be an annual event. So beginning in 2026 it will continue every year. Most of the exhibitors from 2024 will be returning with many new faces as well, bringing the best in cutting edge audio. We are already booking great live music, informative seminars, tons of vinyl for sale and great fun for all." Enjoy the Music.com looks forward to seeing you at the SWAF and PAF in 2026. See Enjoy the Music.com's SWAF 2025 show report and PAF 2025 show reports.

08 / 19 / 25

Zurich's Finest Audio Show 2025 By High End Society
The Finest Audio Show Zurich returns on 1 and 2 November 2025 at the Mövenpick Hotel Zurich Regensdorf, riding high on the momentum generated by its successful comeback last fall. Bringing together national and international sound expertise under one roof, it reinforces the Swiss hi-fi tradition that has been decades in the making. Over two days, exhibitors and visitors alike will tap into fresh new ideas—from modular, space-saving systems to cutting-edge high-end installations—affirming the show's role as the driving force behind Switzerland's vibrant hi-fi market. Under the banner of quality, regional character and brand diversity, the event showcases a curated lineup of products across the full spectrum of audio excellence.

Attendees can experience intelligent streaming platforms, state-of-the-art turntables, classic tube amplifiers, high-fidelity headphones and proven two-channel systems in a home-like setting designed for optimal sound. Live, hands-on demonstrations and in-depth presentations on audio technology and innovation offer both audiophiles and trade professionals unparalleled insights into the latest developments. More than a product fair, The Finest Audio Show Zurich is a rendezvous point for music lovers of all stripes. Whether you're a seasoned hi-fi aficionado or a curious newcomer, one-on-one meetings and open exchanges create fertile ground for discovery, collaboration and inspiration. By bridging Swiss quality consciousness with global sound innovation, the show cements its status as the must-attend gathering for anyone passionate about listening to music at its finest.

08 / 18 / 25

audioXpress' September 2025 Issue
Editorial: Different Perspectives In Music And Sound Reproduction
An Image Model Theory For Stereophonic Sound
Audinate Dante Virtual Soundcard
Audio-Speech Processing And Microphone Arrays
Phase Delay, Group Delay, And Circuit Sensitivity Basics
A Power Supply Filter
Connected Home Audio And Home Theater
High End Munich 2025
Build Your Own Guitar Amp
And Much More!

Within his editorial, J. Martins says "Opinion is the ideas expressed by a person. Perspective is the point of view from which they view a situation.* The lines between the two don't seem to be well understood. Perspective helps raise awareness of new ideas and methods. I welcome a writer's specific judgment or belief about an issue, as long as it is based on evidence and analysis. I believe in the value of perspective as a way to shape methods, sometimes the whole foundation of an entire approach. That always helps to inspire valid research efforts—even if to prove otherwise. In audioXpress December 2017, we published an interesting article about a different approach to provide the best listening environment for dipolar and multi-directional speakers (omnidirectional), and even directed radiation patterns for specific purposes. In "Educated Reflections," Gary Eickmeier explained why eliminating reflections is not the best approach in a listening room, and how he developed a completely different approach, enhancing the results with "speakers that are renowned for their spaciousness, depth, and 3D imaging."
---> audioXpress September 2025 Issue.

08 / 12 / 25

Siltech Launches Master Crown Cables
New flagship from Holland's premiere cable manufacturer.
Launch Event Coverage By Greg Weaver
Siltech recently launched a new, flagship series of audio cables called Master Crown. As with everything they do, the launch would be a first-class event. With the help of US Siltech distributor, Monarch Systems, based in Englewood, CO, a press event was held Friday, June 20th to introduce and demonstrate the advantages of this new product to the audio press. Monarch Systems was founded by two audio industry veterans, Jon Baker and Rich Maez, and with the assistance of their Marketing Manager, Jaclyn Schnirring, they played host to seven members of the press in a spacious, beautiful home in the gated community of Las Campanas, to the west of the heart of old Santa Fe, at a location they call La Casita. We were also honored to be joined by Siltech's own engaging, conversant, and well-informed Gaby Rynveld, who led much of the day's ceremonies.
---> Siltech Launches Master Crown Cables.

TAD Evolution C1000 Preamplifier And M1000 Power Amplifier Review
Two top-notch solid-state components.
Review By Tom Lyle
TAD (Technical Audio Devices) is a high-end audio manufacturer based in Tokyo. It is a subsidiary of the sizable mass-market audio manufacturer Pioneer. Although Pioneer produces some fine, mostly affordable gear, TAD works independently of Pioneer, designing and manufacturing much more upscale high-end audio products. In 1975, the Tokyo-based Pioneer Corporation began TAD to develop high-end speakers for professional use. In 2007, TAD became an independent subsidiary of Pioneer and has been designing and manufacturing all types of high-end audio products primarily focusing on speakers and amplifiers for home use. Previously, my only experience reviewing TAD products was two years ago, when I reviewed their $20,000 Evolution Two (TAD-E2) floor-standing speakers. These 2.5-way speakers impressed me both in their visual appearance and sound quality.
---> TAD Evolution C1000 Preamplifier And M1000 Power Amplifier Review.

08 / 08 / 25

Hi-Fi+ August 2025 High-End Audio Magazine
Editorial: Enjoying Music As A Happy Escape
Jadis I-88 Vacuum Tube Integrated Amplifier
Aavik I-188 Integrated Amplifier
Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS Burmester Surround Sound
Hegel H50 Hi-Res Audio DAC 
Soulnote A1 Integrated Amplifier 
Lindemann Woodnote COMBO Integrated Streaming Amplifier
YG Acoustics Sonja 3.2 Floorstanding Loudspeaker
Stax SRS-X1000 Electrostatic Headphone System
Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 E Carbon Stand-Mount Loudspeaker 
Stack Audio Serene Record Dampener
...And Much More!

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says "Of all the reasons I've heard for buying a good audio system, this one seems the most honest. The world, it seems, is falling apart. War, famine, political turmoil, an unpredictable climate, fear of crime... all fuelled by an out-of-control social media and our never-ending desire to doom-scroll through it. Audio is the great escape from that all-pervading sense of dread. A friend, not in the audio business, has a small but relatively nice little audio system. And he has one rule when playing it; phones off. Really 'off', not 'silent'. That means no Shazaming tracks - if you want to know what it is, you ask. That means no sudden wiki-expert knowledge of a band. And it means no loss of focus mid-way through the track as you are drawn to 'InstaGoogleTweetFace.' This resonates with the 'no phones' request made in Classic Album Sundays sessions, where you listen to an entire album in one sitting. Phones are banned there for the same reason. It's strange just how far we've come that the simple demand to turn your phone off is met with looks of sheer horror."
---> Hi-Fi+'s August 2025 High-End Audio Magazine.

08 / 07 / 25

World Premiere Review!
Merrill Audio Element 110 Monoblock Power Amplifier Review
A significant accomplishment!
Review By Tom Lyle
I would understand if some readers of Enjoy the Music.com assumed that I was in cahoots with the high-end audio company Merrill Audio. This is my fifth review of a Merrill Audio component. Within the April 2015 issue I reviewed Merrill Audio's Thor monoblock power amplifiers and, also that year, Merrill's Taranis power amps. In 2017, I reviewed Merrill's outstanding Christine Reference preamplifier. Then, in 2018, I reviewed their mighty 118 monoblock power amplifiers. I have reviewed many of Merrill Audio's products because their headquarters are about twenty miles from my home. The owner of Merrill Audio, Merrill Wettasinghe, has hand-delivered each review component I've reviewed. While he is here, and because Mr. Wettasinghe and I are both audiophiles and music lovers, we often listen to some music after setting up the equipment. Afterward, we frequently get something to eat at a local eatery. Does our professional friendship influence my reviews of Merrill Audio's high-end audio equipment?
---> Merrill Audio Element 110 Monoblock Power Amplifier Review.

World Premiere Review!
Synergistic Research PowerCell 8 SX Review
Pushing your sound system to the next level with innovative technology.
Review By Rick Becker
After catching more than 48 gigs during the nine-day 21st Rochester International Jazz Festival, I rode home after the final show with the sound of live music etched in my mind. The Brubeck Bros. had been scheduled for Kilbourn Hall, an acoustically rich 444-seat performance hall at the Eastman School of Music, but heavy rains overnight and during the day resulted in buckets spread throughout the hall to catch nature's dribbles. It was rescheduled for Kodak Hall, the main venue at the Eastman Theater with enough seats for everyone who wished to be there. I sat reasonably close, maybe 8 rows back in the center to catch a mix of the Steinway piano, the drums, the electric bass, and the electric guitar. Splendid. And easy to hear why this venue is used for the premium Headliner performances at JazzFest and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra the rest of the year. I typically buy a JazzPass, allowing me to attend as many performances as I wish among the multiple smaller venues. Fast footwork and careful pre-planning helped me maximize this annual music festival.
---> Synergistic Research PowerCell 8 SX Review.

08 / 06 / 25

Audio Dreamin': AES Show 2025 Unveils The Future Of Sound
The Audio Engineering Society's (AES) flagship gathering returns to the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center October 23rd through 25th, promising an immersive "Audio Dreamin'" experience for more than 10,000 audio professionals, audiophile enthusiasts, and sound engineering students from around the globe. With registration already open, attendees will converge to explore the latest breakthroughs in audio technology, ranging from modern immersive sound formats to AI-driven signal processing and classical stereo. Whether you're a seasoned engineer fine-tuning your mastering chain or a newcomer eager to dive deep into acoustics, AES Show 2025 delivers a curated blend of exhibits, technical papers, and hands-on demos designed to inspire and inform every corner of the audio lifecycle.

Highlighting the event's technical prowess, Warren Huart kicks off the program as keynote speaker, setting the tone for three days of cutting-edge sessions and workshops. On October 22, a series of skill-building workshops and optional technical tours will immerse participants in real-world studios and manufacturing facilities. Beginning October 23, the exhibit halls open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM, featuring leading manufacturers demonstrating their latest gear. Concurrently, breakout sessions run from 9 AM to 5:30 PM on Thursday and Friday, with a final round of presentations concluding at 5 PM on Saturday. These sessions span topics such as spatial audio for VR, sustainable loudspeaker design, and advanced studio automation techniques, ensuring every attendee finds content aligned with their professional passions.

Beyond education, AES Show 2025 is where innovation meets opportunity as exhibitors showcase new products and host intimate demos in dedicated rooms. Sponsors benefit from high-visibility branding through kiosks, demo spaces, and signage packages, while networking events like the Ice Cream Social foster organic connections among peers. As a non-profit, volunteer-based organization, AES leverages these gatherings to advance the science and practice of audio, cementing Long Beach as the epicenter of sound innovation and collaboration each fall.

08 / 04 / 25

Third Floor Fantasies Of Hi-Fi Home Audio Gear
The continuing journey traveling through AXPONA 2025.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker 
After a recess to attend the nine-day Rochester International Jazz Festival, motorcycling up to the Adirondack Mountains for an extended family vacation, and a brief interlude to celebrate our wedding anniversary, I return to those thrilling days of yesteryear and my coverage of AXPONA 2025. The third floor at AXPONA 2025, located at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center, is where Enjoy the Music.com found curated home audio / hi-fi listening rooms, offering kids both young and old the opportunity to enjoy great tunes. Audio demos featuring high-end audio equipment showcases is the rule of the day. According to AXPONA 2025's official exhibit maps, this floor hosts rooms numbered in the 300s. Audiophiles often tackle the third floor first—heading directly to the top and working back down—to avoid elevator congestion, especially during the busy Saturday sessions when turn-over is high.
---> Third Floor Fantasies Of Hi-Fi Home Audio Gear.

Audio Thrills And Music Chills On AXPONA 2025's Second Floor
Let's continue the audiophile coverage with AXPONA part 10.
Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) 2025 Show Report By Rick Becker
On the 2nd Floor, at the extreme front corner of the lobby, is a very tall space with glass on two sides. It can be seen from the Atrium on the 6th Floor. I've heard other systems in this space, and I'm being kind to say that it is a difficult space to work with. Yet many contemporary homes present such large walls of glass, so this area offers a benchmark of what you can expect to achieve. More extensive room treatment could certainly help. Acoustic panels absorb and diffuse mid- and high-frequency energy, taming early reflections that blur detail and smear stereo imaging. By strategically placing panels at first-reflection points—walls, ceiling clouds, and even floors—listening rooms gain immediate improvements in clarity, making subtle nuances in recordings more discernible. This reduction in unwanted echoes and flutter echoes sharpens rhythm and timing, so transient sounds like snare hits or plucked strings remain crisp rather than washing together.
---> Audio Thrills And Music Chills On AXPONA 2025's Second Floor.

08 / 01 / 25

High-End Audio Spotlight: World Premiere, Gear Reviews, & Acoustic Insights
Continuing our celebratory salute to three decades of high-end audio journalism, Enjoy the Music.com's August 2025 Review Magazine kicks off with Roger Skoff's thought-provoking Viewpoint essay, "Pump Up The Volume? When Is Loud Too Loud?", exploring the art and science of musical dynamics and why true emotion often lives between pianissimo and fortissimo. There's a forward-looking editorial by audioXpress, titled "The Endless Mysteries of Acoustics." It delves into advanced subjects like room impulse response paradoxes, real-time acoustic simulation, modeling of floor finishes, reflective versus absorptive effects, and even fundamentals of anechoic chamber design. A must-read! Getting back to loudness, Hi-Fi+'s Editor Alan Sircom writes about The Loudness Wars of the first years of the 21st Century, plus the 'make it bigger' as a driving force, and more.

Within our equipment section, this issue presents a World Premiere Review as Paul Schumann examines the Pilot Radio Vacuum Tube Stereo Preamplifier. Retro looks with modern parts. Paul praises its marriage of vintage warmth and modern clarity. Also within this issue is longtime audiophile reviewer Brett Rudolph as he puts the Rotel Michi X5 Series 2 Integrated Amplifier through its paces, highlighting its 600 Watts of power, built-in phono stage, and Hi-Res Audio DAC as a Swiss Army knife for serious music lovers. As we look back upon our 30th Anniversary, we revisit Wojciech Pacuła's report on the Ayon Audio Crossfire EVO vacuum tube monoblock amplifier. He emphasizes its rich, tuneful sound and balanced tonality. We also feature a must-buy book The Complete Guide To High-End Audio, by The Absolute Sound's Editor Robert Harley, plus our review of YG Acoustics' Carmel 2 floorstanding loudspeaker. And just for fun, we're also featuring Nelson Pass' sensational Slot Loaded Open Baffle loudspeaker DIY project. As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music!
---> High-End Audio Spotlight: World Premiere, Gear Reviews, & Acoustic Insight.

Pump Up The Volume? When Is Loud Too Loud?
Roger Skoff writes about musical and audio dynamics.
Article By Roger Skoff
Do you know what a piano is? Sure you do; It's big keyboard instrument that you can play music on, and that's been used by everyone from (in nothing like chronological order) Mozart to Franz Liszt (perhaps the first true rock star) to Sergei Rachmaninoff, to Yuja Wang, to "Fats" Domino, to "Fats" Waller, to Elton John, to the neighbor kid who drives you nuts with his awful and incessant practicing next door. Do you know, though, how a piano got its name? It's not actually just a "piano", but a "pianoforte" – a name derived by combining the two classical music terms for "soft (piano) and "loud" (forte), and it became hugely popular – completely replacing its predecessor, the harpsichord, because, unlike the harpsichord's single volume level, it can be played as loud or as quietly as the player wants, and more easily convey feeling or emotion. (Instead of the "plectra" that a harpsichord uses to pluck its strings – always with the same force – a piano has "hammers" that can strike its strings as hard or as softly as the player wants, and produce whatever volume level may be desired.)
---> Pump Up The Volume? When Is Loud Too Loud?

World Premiere Review!
Vintage Warmth Meets Modern Clarity: Pilot Radio Vacuum Tube Stereo Preamplifier Review
Elevating your hi-fi setup with a blast from the past.
Review By Paul Schumann
My dad passed away last August. This has brought back many fond memories of him. One of my earliest memories was of my dad's sound system in the bedroom beside mine. I only got a few peeks in there since my presence in that chamber was normally strictly verboten. Besides the fantastical sounds that I could hear, I remember the orange glow coming from the Dynaco ST 70 and a mixture of the mingled aromas of solder and fresh vinyl. My dad only had his special music room a couple of years before my brother arrived. I moved into my dad's sanctum, and his audio system, vinyl, and tapes were banished to the basement. Such are the sacrifices of a parent. Even in the basement, that great stuff was behind a locked door to keep it away from my grubby mitts. My dad spent quite a bit of time down there when I was young, but as the years passed, the basement became the domain for my brother and me.
---> Vintage Warmth Meets Modern Clarity: Pilot Radio Vacuum Tube Stereo Preamplifier Review.

600 Watts Of Musical Bliss: Rotel Michi X5 Series 2 Integrated Amplifier Review
A modern Swiss Army Knife stereo integrated amplifier for music lovers.
Review By Brett Rudolph
A few months ago, I had the pleasure of attending the Florida International Audio Expo 2025. It was an incredible show, and the week I got home, I got even better news. My editor had arranged for me to review the new Rotel Michi X5 Series 2 solid-state stereo integrated amplifier with phono stage and Hi-Res Audio DAC here at Enjoy the Music.com. Michi is a designation that represents a flagship series of components within Rotel's family of products. Originally introduced to the market in 1993, it showcased all the best that Rotel had to offer. However, the components as we know them today were reintroduced to the market in 2019. These latest incarcerations continue to showcase the best Rotel has to offer while keeping audiophile values alive. Of course, all the labels aside, the thought of getting an integrated amplifier excited me personally.
---> 600 Watts Of Musical Bliss: Rotel Michi X5 Series 2 Integrated Amplifier Review.

Ayon Audio Crossfire EVO Monoblock Power Amplifier Review
Ayon Audio's Crossfire Evo produces an amazingly rich, tuneful sound with tonal balance.
Review By Wojciech Pacuła
When we carried Ayon Audio's Crossfire Evo monoblock amplifier for review to my apartment on the fourth floor, my mind flooded with memories of a Germany reviewer that uses Ayon Audio's Epsilon mono amplifiers for quite some time. He use them in both his mastering work while preparing vinyl re-issues and for reviewing purposes. His amplifiers use eight KT150 tubes each to produce sound. Attendees of the Audio Show 2014 in Warsaw (Poland) could find that out for themselves listening to how well these amps handled the mighty Dynaudio Platinum Evidence loudspeakers. So while going up the many floors to my home, Ayon Audio's Crossfire Evo monoblocks might not be particularly heavy since most of the weight is concentrated on their backs due to the large transformers. There are two power transformers as one powers up only the output tube, as the other serves for input and driver tubes.
---> Ayon Audio Crossfire EVO Monoblock Power Amplifier Review.

The Complete Guide to High-End Audio
Fifth Edition by Robert Harley
An excellent reference book for a newbie and seasoned reviewer.
Review By Heather And Steven R. Rochlin
Steven got this very helpful reference book for me, The Complete Guide to High-End Audio Fifth Edition by Robert Harley, as I slowly learn some of the ins and outs of high-end audio. I am very content listening to the awesome systems both within our home and at shows. Other times, there are great interests in what makes these products excellent, and so I really want to know about the what, why, and especially how these systems achieve their great sound. I realize there are people out there who actually enjoy reading technical manuals, such as my husband Steven, yet this is not for me.  The Complete Guide to High-End Audio is perfect for me as a reference book. In fact I bring it with me to the many different audio shows we attend just in case there are questions about something. Am a bit timid and don't want to ask a silly question, so I refer to my awesome new book! For me, and probably all audiophiles both seasoned and aspiring, have found the glossary extremely helpful.
---> The Complete Guide to High-End Audio.

The Slot Loaded Open Baffle Loudspeaker Project
Article By Nelson Pass
In 1972 I had the good fortune to begin working for ESS, arriving a few weeks before they met Oskar Heil and his air motion transformer design. You can imagine the excitement that followed. The first Heil tweeter was a dipole design like an open baffle and it operated from about 800 Hz to above 20 kHz with high accuracy and efficiency. Once the tweeter had been launched in a commercial product, thoughts turned to the notion of a low frequency version. Oskar had a design which looked like a stack of pancakes with magnets on the top and bottom and a series of parallel cones driven by rods which passed through small holes in the cones. As a concept it was workable, but it did not look like something that would be easily made. While Oskar continued to develop that approach I put together a prototype for the AMT-3 that used six regular woofers firing against flat panels in a slot loading arrangement.
---> The Slot Loaded Open Baffle Loudspeaker Project.

Many more reviews & articles are within our Review Magazine.

07 / 31 / 25

CEDIA 2025 Luxury Audio / Video And Integrator Event
CEDIA Expo/CIX returns to the Colorado Convention Center in Denver from September 3rd through 6th, co-located with Commercial Integrator Expo for the third consecutive year. Attendees will explore ~300 exhibitors showcasing smart home and commercial AV technologies—spanning luxury audio, immersive home theater, integrated lighting, outdoor living, and Work-From-Home solutions. The show floor will feature an immersive Smart Stage thought-leadership sessions, interactive demos, and the Launchpad area, where emerging brands unveil pioneering products that elevate sound, display, and control systems. This unified event enables integrators, designers, architects, and manufacturers to discover cutting-edge innovation, compare solutions side-by-side, and gain insights from industry experts. This year's expo spotlights strong category growth with more than 50 new-to-show companies joining established brands and mid-sized enterprises. In audio, many innovative companies will deliver premium listening experiences, while continued advances in immersive audio and video integration take their rightful place within modern homes and office spaces.

Alongside the expo floor, the CEDIA Education Conference runs September 3rd through 5th, offering expert-led tracks on business growth, future-ready technologies, and integration best practices. On Wednesday, September 3 at 5:30 p.m. MDT, the CEDIA Expo 2025 Town Hall welcomes Daryl Friedman (CEDIA) and Bill Darcy (NKBA | KBIS) to unveil joint research on the evolving collaboration between smart home integrators and design-build professionals, providing first access to key study findings at no additional cost. L-Acoustics plans to debuts their HYRISS (Hyperreal Immersive Sound Space) demo room, featuring a 360° spherical loudspeaker system powered by Soka, SB10i, and X4i models, L-ISA Anima spatialization, and full Milan-AVB connectivity—offering attendees a glimpse of professional-grade audio for true luxury residences and magnificent yachts.

07 / 30 / 25

IFA 2025 To Feature Immersive Music Experiences
With an impressive 215,000 attendees from 138 countries and featuring ~1800 exhibitors plus 187 conference speakers, the 101st edition of IFA is scheduled from September 5th through 9th in Berlin. Berlin's popular Messe Berlin conference center will transform into the world's consumer-tech showcase as IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) features consumer electronics and home audio. While other events may feature legacy devices, now in its 101st edition, IFA offers attendees every facet of tomorrow's lifestyle: from smart home music distribution and automation to AI-driven voice-activated audio connectivity, digital gear, mobile hi-fi solutions, and much more! Attendees navigate themed show areas that unite global brands, innovative startups, and reseller forums under one sprawling roof, ensuring that buyers, press, and enthusiasts all find their niche. Building on its century-long legacy, today's modern IFA 2025 introduces immersive experience zones designed to spark creativity and community. The IFA Creator Hub offers influencers and storytellers live-stream studios, podcast booths, and VIP lounges.

Beyond hands-on demos and immersive listening spaces, IFA 2025's Innovation, Dream, and Creator stages deliver four days of deep-dive programming on Future of Intelligence, Smart Society, Connectivity, and Sustainability. Highlights include keynote addresses by Electrolux's CEO on resource-efficient manufacturing and by Dr. Markus Miele on AI in home appliances, plus expert panels on AI-driven wellness, next-gen networks, and circular-economy strategies. High-level networking unfolds at the invite-only Retail Leaders Summit, while ShowStoppers on September 4 gives media early access to product launches. Trade visitors secure business conferences, exclusive previews, and guided sector tours, and general-public tickets unlock live demos, e-sports competitions, Summer Garden music concerts, and celebrity autograph sessions—all bookable now via the IFA portal, which also offers travel planning, accommodation deals, and interactive venue maps.

07 / 29 / 25

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues In Theaters September
This Is Spinal Tap, released in 1984, is a landmark mockumentary directed by Rob Reiner (also plays a role as Marty Di Bergi) that chronicles the fictional British heavy-metal band Spinal Tap on their American comeback tour. Fronted by David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer), plus assorted drummers, the film adopts a documentary style—complete with backstage interviews, on-stage mishaps, and impromptu jam sessions—to parody the excesses and absurdities of rock 'n' roll culture. Its improvisational dialogue, devised by the principal actors, lends an authentic spontaneity to moments like the notorious on-stage meltdown over miniature Stonehenge props, broken amplifiers, and the endlessly quoted line, "These go to eleven." Beyond its unflinching send-up of tour-bus banter and egotistical rock personas, This Is Spinal Tap resonated for its affectionate satire rather than mean-spirited mockery. Moments such as the baffling album cover art, the band's heartfelt yet misguided press conferences, and the ongoing drummer-related calamities (including spontaneous combustion and choking incidents) showcase a razor-sharp wit tempered by genuine camaraderie among the characters. The film's clever balance of cringe and comic relief helped it transcend genre boundaries, turning it into a cult classic almost overnight.

Over the decades, Spinal Tap has influenced countless mockumentaries, from Waiting for Guffman to A Mighty Wind, and has been embraced by both music and film aficionados. It introduced tropes—like the oversized stage props and the amplifier that literally "goes to eleven"—into the rock lexicon, while its characters became archetypes for self-important musicians everywhere. Forty-one years after the original's release, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues reunites Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, and director-narrator Rob Reiner for "one final concert," documenting the band's attempt to reconcile past grudges and secure a 12th drummer who survives past the encore. Set to hit theaters on September 12, the sequel brings back documentarian Marty Di Bergi (Rob Reiner) capturing the trio's absurd rehearsals and backstage antics, while featuring star-studded cameos from Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Questlove, and Trisha Yearwood. The first trailer, unveiled July 24, 2025, promises more of the original's musical mayhem, with the band determined to turn the volume "beyond eleven" for their ultimate farewell gig. But who will be their drummer?

07 / 28 / 25

Stay True To The Act: Protect Copyrighted Works Of Art
Over 30 prominent and emerging artists from across the EU have joined forces in a video campaign called "Stay True To The Act," urging European policymakers to honor the original intent of the EU AI Act and safeguard creators from unlicensed use of their work by generative AI firms. Among those speaking out are Spanish singer-songwriter Álex Ubago, who emphasizes that "AI should protect music and those who create it," and Poland's Eurovision 2025 representative Justyna Steczkowska, who demands the right to know if—and to refuse—when her music is used to train AI systems. The IFPI, an organization that claims to be the voice of the recording industry, says, "The Stay True To The Act campaign is a direct appeal to the European policymakers to ensure that implementation of the Act reflects its original spirit of transparency, accountability and the protection of European creators."

The coalition's appeal centers on a critical concern: AI developers are reportedly leveraging copyrighted material without artists' knowledge or consent to train models capable of churning out content that closely mimics individual styles. Although the 2024 EU AI Act introduced pioneering requirements for developers to disclose training data, campaigners warn that current discussions risk diluting these transparency and accountability clauses, leaving creators vulnerable and undermining the legislation's protective purpose. Through heartfelt video messages, the artists call on the European Commission to implement the AI Act in its full spirit by ensuring that creators retain control over how their works are used and receive fair remuneration, that AI training processes remain transparent and compliant with existing copyright rules, and that a thriving, collaborative ecosystem emerges where both music and AI innovation can flourish throughout the EU.

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