High-End Audio / Audiophile & Music Industry News

Have Your Voice Heard!     
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12 / 30 / 23

Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 9
The 3rd Floor Large Rooms Part B.
Show Report By Rick Becker
After passing through the LTA Headphone Lounge I explored the final hallway of nearly identically sized rooms — not too big, and not too small, that have consistently exhibited fine rooms in the past. The Voice That Is, a boutique dealer of very fine audio lines in Philadelphia, works by appointment only. Their room here had a very familiar sound that was as identical as two rooms can be when spaced weeks apart at two different shows. That other room was the Wynn Audio room at the Toronto Audiofest, which featured the Tidal Akira speakers driven by Karan Acoustics amplification in a rig that was far more expensive than the one here.
---> Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 9.

Capital Audiofest 2023 Bonus Videos By Greg Weaver
Join the audio analyst Greg Weaver for his must-see bonus CAF 2023 videos.
Video By Greg Weaver (a.k.a. The Audio Analyst)
First up, we hear from CEO Valerio Cora and Vice President of Sales Allan Haggar at the revitalized Audio Research Corporation. Thanks to Greg's fast-thinking, he was able to get them to take a break from the Capital Audiofest 2023 show to sit down to talk about the recent ownership changes. Val has great plans for Audio Research Corporation that will provide growth of this time-honored iconic American electronics manufacturer. This is some very interesting, and exciting, information.
---> Capital Audiofest 2023 Bonus Videos By Greg Weaver.

12 / 28 / 23 

Aavik R-180 Phono Preamplifier Review
Born To Invent: It seems as if Michael Borresen was born with a special passion for tinkering and inventing. With his smallest phono preamplifier Aavik R-180, he impressively demonstrates this once again.
Review By Michael Lang
Finally, something different! That was my first impression when taking a look at the new devices from Danish manufacturer Aavik. They are more compact than what we are used to from hi-fi and high-end and have only three buttons, but feature numerous curves and a housing that is not bursting with aluminum. The value of a device is not measured by its looks and its weight at Aavik. Instead, the design is Scandinavian in its straightforwardness and simplicity – not wholly without a reason, though, as we will discover later. In addition, a large display with red letters, which of course can be dimmed or switched off, is to be found. It even allows older listeners to recognize the selected settings from a distance. By the way, the two larger models R-280 and R-580 are characterized by the same simplicity.
---> Aavik R-180 Phono Preamplifier Review.

Nucleus+ Core Unit And XLCR Power Supply Review
Roon: A Short Story
Martin Colloms has become a Roon convert – Here he charts his path to 'Roonification'; using the company's Nucleus+ Core unit.
Review By Martin Colloms
I'd encountered Roon music playing and cataloguing software on a few occasions, as well as its predecessor, the Sooloos music storage and handling system, with its attractive graphical presentations of tracks, artwork and music cataloguing. Acquired by Meridian some years ago as the heart of its streaming solution, Sooloos was later spun off as a separate company, eventually becoming Roon in 2015. But the heart of the system has remained: an informative, easy to use music management system, based on extended metadata and intelligent cataloguing of content. It has seen several iterations bringing it to the present level of refinement – in fact to a level where I felt that I just had to try it out.
---> Nucleus+ Core Unit & XLCR PS Review.

12 / 23 / 23

Happy Holidays From Enjoy the Music.com!
Everyone at Enjoy the Music.com wishes you and yours a wonderful holiday season. As always, in the end what really matters is that you...

Enjoy the Music!

12 / 22 / 23

Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 8
The 3rd Floor Large Rooms Part A
Show Report By Rick Becker
It was by now late morning on Sunday and I walked over toward Olive's Restaurant in the hotel where I started in with the large rooms.... In the past couple of Capital shows the Arion Audio room had not sounded all that great to me. There was a lot of confusion with the layout of the rig as I recall. This year it was obvious a lot of care had been taken with the setup and the rig sounded terrific. This was the Apollo 12 system with full DSP and advanced room correction ($59.9k). The Arion Audio Dual-Pack Woofer Package, the two black towers at the outer edges, included two additional woofers and an amplifier for each side ($9,600). Each subwoofer module contains two drivers facing each other with sound emanating from the slots in the front and rear of each unit.
---> Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 8.

12 / 21 / 23

Esoteric N-05XD DAC, Preamplifier, Headamp And Music Streamer Review
The new Japanese sound.
Review By Ran Xiang
The Esoteric sound has normally been deemed as rather representative of the so-called Japanese sound, which is to some nuanced, introverted, controlled and detail-oriented, and to others thin-sounding, sharp, lacking body and bass shy. Yet Esoteric's first self-developed Master Discrete DAC has definitely revised the stereotype of the Japanese sound which was criticized as sounding like a radish (think about the light flavor as well as the shape of a radish with a big head on the top and a thin bottom end). N-05XD has inherited the traditional focus on details and nuances, yet it is much fuller, more musical, and analog sounding compared to their previous lineups utilizing AKM chips.
---> Esoteric N-05XD DAC, Preamplifier, Headamp And Music Streamer Review.

World Premiere Review!
Synergistic Research Foundation SX Cables Review
Affordable products, due to a rising tide of innovation, deliver greater musical satisfaction.
Review By Rick Becker
When Andy Weiderspahn sent me Synergistic Research's new tweak, the Carbon Tuning discs, and told me this was technology built into their Atmosphere series cables, the handwriting was on the wall, but I didn't see it. He said it would bring the Foundation series cables up closer to the performance of the Atmosphere Excite XS, a cable that was more than four and a half times more expensive. I tried the Carbon Tuning Discs and found he was pretty much telling the truth. At $200 for a pair of Gold and a pair of Purple, anyone could try them on whatever brand cable they owned. They even had their usual 30-day money-back guarantee.
---> Synergistic Research Foundation SX Cables Review.

12 / 20 / 23

Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show In February
The funtastic Florida International Audio Expo 2024 is set to take place from February 16th through 18th at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore hotel. Attendees will enjoyed their experience in 12 floors' filled with great luxury sound gear produced by the world's leading premium audio / hi-fi / stereo consumer electronics brands. As their exciting fifth annual Florida International Audio Expo, this is the opportunity for audio and music aficionados to discover this sensational showcase of products that includes home and desktop stereo systems, record players / turntables, headphones, loudspeakers, digital audio music streamers, Hi-Res Audio DACs, cables, amplifiers and more!

The Florida International Audio Expo, with many floors filled with exhibit spaces, will deliver plenty of great sound, 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 audio products. With an outstanding 12 floors of demonstrations to explore, attendees can experience luxurious premium audio electronics, loudspeakers, turntables, and high-end audio headphones produced by manufacturers from all over the world.
---> Learn More About The Florida International Audio Expo 2024 Show.

Inexpensive Stocking Stuffer Gifts Available From Amazon
Since many of us shop at Amazon, and delivery is very easy, below are a few Great Audiophile Gift suggestions that make easy stocking-stuffers. Yes we get a teeny tiny small commission from this, yet the below are very carefully chosen gifts / gear we feel you may enjoy.

VU Meter Hi-Fi Vintage Stereo Audiophile T-Shirt
Available in many different colors too.

DrDrhob Vinyl Record Cup / Drink Coasters
They'll look great within your listening room!

48 Pack Acoustic Panels
Studio foam for walls / sound absorption.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
Wireless earbuds with MagSafe charging case.

Sennheiser HD 660 S Headphones
Hi-resolution audiophile open-back headphones

Retro Style Audiophile T-Shirt
Analog tube amplifier lover's t-shirt available in various colors.

The Complete Guide to High-End Audio Sixth Edition
Price: $39 (and worth EVERY penny!!!)
In this newly updated version of Robert Harley's epic The Complete Guide to High-End Audio, it now features the latest in cutting-edge audio equipment including how to choose the best audio equipment on a budget, how to get the best sound for the money, and how to set up a system for maximum performance. Revised and expanded to include all the latest audio technologies, this book is packed with expert advice how to make speakers sound up to 50 percent better at no cost, avoid the most common system set-up mistakes, and how to choose the one speaker in 50 worth owning. Among the new topics covered are streaming audio, computer-based music servers, music-management apps, wireless streaming, high-resolution digital audio. A short course on listening-room acoustics is presented and additional information on audio for home theater, multichannel audio, system set-up secrets, and what each component's specifications and measurements mean is also provided.
---> The Complete Guide to High-End Audio Sixth Edition.

Bookmark This Link To Support Us When You Shop At Amazon
We receive a teeny tiny commission from Amazon.

12 / 19 / 23

Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 7
The 3rd Floor Part A
Show Report By Rick Becker
This stretch of smaller rooms was the most kick-ass hallway of the whole show. While the big conference rooms had some heavy hitters, too, and the entire show was on a very high level overall, as I write about this hallway in the fifth week after the show, I am amazed as I review my video recordings. If I had to point a novice or a veteran audiophile to any area of the show with only an hour or two to spend, I would have sent them down this hallway. They were almost all veteran presenters, too, with most of them having cheat sheets prepared to help me write about them. Starting with a classic Audio Note UK room set a valid benchmark for high-end audio. Their rooms sound consistently good with their familiar British sound, and they look pretty much the same regardless of whether they've presented entry-level products or top-of-the-line series.
---> Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 7.

12 / 18 / 23

IFPI Has Released Their Engaging With Music 2023 Report
IFPI, said to be the voice of the recording industry worldwide and representing over 8,000 record company members across the globe, conducted a study that found we're listening to more music in various ways than in the history of humankind. Their data is based on fieldwork conducted between August and October 2023 across 26 countries, with more than 43,000 respondents aged between 16 to 64. What the IFPI's study found is that time spent listening to music increases to 20.7 hours per week. On average, music fans use seven(!) different methods to engage with music. What more impressive is that 79% of people think there are more ways to listen to music than ever before. Of note is that 74% of people with an awareness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities agree that it should not be used to clone or impersonate music artists without authorization. As a reminder, Enjoy the Music.com can not stress enough that musical artists should be very careful with the rights of their master tapes, mechanical rights, etc as they could fall into a trap of allowing recording labels and 'training software' to use their efforts for future AI to manipulate and use their efforts.

As we all know, the audio streaming market continues to grow, led by subscription audio. IFPI's study found that 73% of people say they listen to music through licensed audio streaming services (subscription and ad-supported). There's a 7% growth in time spent listening to music on subscription audio streaming services. According to the IFPI, "Pop is still the most popular genre in the world, with people identifying over 700 genres they typically listen to. Local genres are more and more in demand. 57% of people say it's important to them that they can access music that comes from anywhere in the world – 65% among 16-24s. On average, fans worldwide listened to more than eight different genres of music. Music is hugely important for our mental health and well-being. 71% say music is important to their mental health. 78% say music helps them relax and cope with stress."

12 / 15 / 23

Greg's Exciting Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report
Bigger, better, bolder, and still my favorite show of the year.
Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report By Greg Weaver
This year's mammoth, and monstrously successful, Capital Audiofest 2023 marks the completion of an even dozen such shows... Though not all twelve were held at the current location, the Twinbrook Hilton Hotel & Executive Meeting Center in Rockville, Maryland, this annual late fall event has become, and remains, my favorite show on the entire annual calendar. CAF 2023, even as large as it has grown to be – and let me assure you, it has matured into a full-blown colossus – has always had such a very special, low-key, hip, and friendly vibe that I just can't resist. And while Gary is reticent about sharing actual attendance figures and such, this year, there were over 110 listening rooms and a vacant spot couldn't be found among all of the bustling and diverse booths in the Atrium!
---> Greg's Exciting Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report.

12 / 14 / 23

Mojo Audio Mystique X SE Stereo DAC Review
One of the most musical, engaging, and flexible DACs I've heard at any price.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
When Benjamin Zwickel of Mojo-Audio asked me to review his updated Mystique X SE DAC I jumped at the chance. My last experience with his equipment represented some of the best performance at any price, much less the huge bang for the buck it was at around $10K (in fact, the DAC was named the Mystique Evo B4B). The X signifies Benjamin's next evolutionary advancement. The closest I can compare is the Porsche 911. Take a thing and focus on making that thing the best it can be, limited only by the technology and advancements of the time. Don't look left or right, just ahead; make that thing better and better over time. There is both logic, and elegance, in this design principle that has worked well for both Porsche and Mojo-Audio.
---> Mojo Audio Mystique X SE Stereo DAC Review.

Ohm AE 2000 Floorstanding Speaker Review
A pleasing alternative to the typical loudspeaker design.
Review By Michael Lang
The Legacy of Mr. Walsh – Almost 50 years after the debut of the famous Ohm F omni-directional speaker, a modern successor finds its way into our office – the Ohm AE 2000. No one can deny the legendary status the omni-directional speaker Ohm F carries. This icon of loudspeaker history has stirred up far too much dust since its first debut in 1972 for that. Unfortunately too late for the man who did the basic development and calculations for this groundbreaking loudspeaker, Lincoln Walsh. He sadly already passed away one year before the first model built according to his ideas was unveiled. The CLS driver of the speakers visually somewhat resembles familiar traffic cones and is often called the Walsh driver after its inventor. It not only looks completely distinct when compared to conventional speakers, it also works completely differently.
---> Ohm AE 2000 Floorstanding Speaker Review.

12 / 13 / 23

audioXpress' January 2024 Issue
Editorial: The Things That Stand Out
Loudspeaker Bass Reflex Alignments
TPCD Technology In Headphones
An Afternoon With Robert Munnig Schmidt
The Role of Resonance In Audio Clarity
Composite Amplifiers
Is Digital Jitter Really A Problem?
New Options For Improved Designs
How Can I Learn?
And Much More!

Within his editorial, J. Martins says "Following my previous reference to the Urbanista Malibu, the world's first self-charging wireless speaker using an integrated Powerfoyle membrane that charges the battery whenever exposed to indoor or outdoor light, Exeger, the developer of the Powerfoyle technology, is now top of mind for 2024. We will attend Exeger's press conference, selected to be part of the Official CES 2024 Media Days, which is in itself a significant honor and a sign of the impact this Swedish company is having on the technology world. Exeger has also announced a strategic partnership with Tymphany, one of the largest OEM / ODMs of speakers and audio systems in the world, to produce a self-powered speaker that will be unveiled at CES 2024."
---> audioXpress' January 2024 Issue.

12 / 12 / 23

Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 6
The 6th Floor Part B
Show Report By Rick Becker
The banner across the front wall was for the re-entry of Perreaux (in New Zealand) to North America. The orange integrated amp sure caught the eye and matched the speaker cables, but the active unit in the Pangea Audio rack was in white. Lots of other colors are available to appeal to the younger set or the young at heart. What caught my ear was the liquid sound coming from Rosso Fiorentino as it always does at shows. This is one of my favorite brands and the first time I've heard the new Certaldo 2 (~$10k), shown here with a dark alligator treatment on the sides. They are from Italy and sounded just as good with the Perreaux amp as I've heard the Rossos sound with the Norma amps from Italy.
---> Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 6.

12 / 11 / 23

SouthWest Audio Fest Launches In March 2024
The SouthWest Audio Fest arises from the partnership of Gary Gill (Capital Audiofest) and Lou Hinkley (Pacific AudioFest / Daedalus Audio) and their success with the Pacific Audio Fest event, which is destined to be an annual event for high-end audio in the Pacific Northwest serving the entire Pacific region. We are pleased to announce a new industry-operated show for another underserved part of the country... the SouthWest Audio Fest in Dallas in Texas. They worked for over two years to secure a contract with an amazing event hotel, which is very safe, family friendly, and great weather in March too! The Hilton / Anatole in Dallas will host the inaugural show that is slated for March 15th through 17th, 2024, and initially we are focusing on a small but solid regional show. Both Gary Gill and Lou Hinkley are confident that this show will grow and the Anatole has all the room a premium audio event needs.

With over 17 million people and exceptional wealth in this corner of Texas, the local demographics could not be better for high end audio. The location is also very safe and an easy ride from the airport. Couple that with two major hub airports and the ability to get a non-stop flight to Dallas from almost anywhere in this country and beyond, they have reserved an ideal location for a major high-end luxury audio show. Spring in Dallas is beautiful, the music and clubs amazing and the show venue, pure luxury. You can learn more at the SouthWest Audio Fest website.

12 / 08 / 23

Hi-Fi+ December 2023 High-End Audio Magazine
Editorial: hi-fi+'s 2023 Product Awards
WIN! A Pair Of Dynaudio Special Forty Speakers
DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/Baby Speaker
conrad-johnson ART Phono Stage
Raidho Acoustics X1.6 Loudspeaker
Solid Tech Balance Equipment Rack
Phasemation PP-2000 MC Phono Cartridge
Kimber Kable 4PR/8PR Loudspeaker Cables
Hana Umami Blue MC Phono Cartridge
A Beginner's Guide to... Hip-Hop Part 3
And Much More!

Within this month's editorial, Alan Sircom says "Our annual Awards issue is also the last issue of the year. So it's hard to avoid trying to take stock of the events of that year and make some predictions for the year ahead. Looking at those dozens upon dozens of pages of awards on our 'flat plan' (the colour-coded map of all the pages in a magazine) points to one overarching conclusion about the audio world; we are living in a golden age; right here, right now! That golden age might not be reflected in sales figures (the audio market of half a century or more ago was shifting a lot more boxes than today), but in terms of performance and scope, our forefathers would be shocked at the near-limitless potential for high-performance sound today." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi+ magazine at this link.

12 / 07 / 23

Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 5
The 6th Floor Part A
Show Report By Rick Becker
Based in Toronto, Angi Lisi's American Sound is a major importer and a top retailer in Canada. She also typically has a major presence at the Chicago show. Her room at Capital was modest but it was a fine-sounding room with Rethm Marga speakers driven by a Western Electric 91E amp. The Rethm speakers are markedly improved within the room at CAF 2023, sounding fuller and more tonally balanced. If you liked them before, you will love them now. And if you haven't appreciated them in the past, they deserve to be revisited. It's a hybrid design with active woofers and an efficient full-range driver on top that can be driven with SET amps. It has an interesting, architectural use of metal and wood and it is very easy to listen to.
---> Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 5.

Vermouth Audio Studio Monitor Loudspeaker Review
A good-looking and great-sounding loudspeaker.
Review By Tom Lyle
Vermouth Audio is located in the Indonesian province of Bali, which is located east of Java. Most know Bali as a vacation destination. In fact, in 2017, Trip Advisor named Bali the world's top destination in its "Traveler's Choice award." Bali again won this honor in January 2021. About 80% of Bali's economy is tourism related. Vermouth Audio is part of the 20% unrelated to tourism. They are a company that designs and manufactures high-end audio connectors, cables, electronics, and, of the subject of this review, loudspeakers. When I was given the opportunity to review Vermouth Audio's Studio Monitors, which are distributed in the US by Believe Audio, located in Hutto, Texas, I enthusiastically accepted their offer.
---> Vermouth Audio Studio Monitor Loudspeaker Review.

Gingko Audio VCS Toolkit Review
Improving your music system with little cost and no downside.
Review By Brett Rudolph
It is always a thrill when you are asked to review products from a vendor for which you have already done an evaluation. It was exhilarating when your editor wrote you and asked if you were interested in trying out the new version of something you had been given a brief chance to try. Nevertheless, that is precisely what happened when Vinh Vu of Gingko Audio asked if I would like to try out the improved VCS Toolkit, it and I jumped at the chance. Gingko Audio is an audio company that makes various types of components. These components range from the sextet modular speaker system and the Clarissa LE speakers to the VCS Toolkit. In other words, from audio components to vibration control devices to make things perform better than they usually would inside your system, or so it claims. That is the subject of this review.
---> Gingko Audio VCS Toolkit Review.

12 / 06 / 23

IFPI Seeks To Discover If AI Is Desired By Music Enthusiasts
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), an organization that claims to be the voice of the recording industry worldwide with ~8,000 members across the globe, has posted their outlook concerning Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the music business. A new study by the IFPI found that ~79% feel human creativity remains essential to the creation of music. Furthermore, ~76% felt that an artist's music or vocals should not be used or ingested by AI without permission. IFPI's study also discovered that ~74% agree that AI should not be used to clone or impersonate artists without authorization. As many have just heard this past week, after decades of live concerts the band Kiss has performed their last show, and is now turning to AI, CGI, etc to keep their fans engaged.

According to the IFPI, "The research comes from the forthcoming Engaging with Music 2023, IFPI's global report examining how fans around the world engage with, and feel about, music. With responses from more than 43,000 people across 26 countries, the report is the largest music study of its kind and the most detailed insight into fan thinking. This year, for the first time, the report includes a section dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) as the technology's rapid advancement continues to present both opportunities and challenges for the music business and for artists. What is clear is that fans deeply value authenticity – nearly eight-in-ten music fans (79%) feel human creativity remains essential to the creation of music."

12 / 05 / 23

AKM Announces Their New AK4333ECB 32-Bit DAC
Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) recently announced the availability of their new AK4333ECB 32-Bit digital-to-analog converter chip. This new stereo audio D/A converter has a built-in headphone amplifier too. The mounting area has been significantly reduced by 32% compared to other chips, while still producing very high sound quality, low power consumption, and it includes Velvet Sound Technology. According to AKM, this new chip was developed to enhance the acoustic experience of VR headsets and AR glasses (sunglass-type display), which allow users to enjoy watching video content anywhere on a large screen comparable to a movie theater. Application include, but are not limited to, VR headsets, AR glasses, wireless headphones, lossless Hi-Res Audio portable music players, audiobook playing devices, and gaming devices.

With a 24-pin CSP package , when I²C is not used the Parallel Mode Control function reduces the number of wires. The advantages to this approach includes enabling an easy route for circuit designers to separate the DAC from the main board, thus increasing the flexibility of the layout inside the chassis. Valvet Sound Technology is used in premium DACs for high-end audio equipment, which can also be implemented within products for portable audio devices too. A wide dynamic range and low distortion characteristics contribute to improving the sound quality of audio products. AKM's AK4333ECB 32-Bit DAC has a SNR of 109dB with low power consumption of 6.4 mW, a THD+N of -100dB at a load of 32 Ohm, plus the ground reference headphone amplifier is also equipped with an impedance detection function. This enables electronic engineers to achieve optimal sound quality within a variety of headphones.

12 / 04 / 23

Spotify Is Firing 17% Of Their Workforce
While we have musicians (rightly) unhappy about the very low compensation (if any!) when their music is streamed on Spotify, we have just learned that Spotify is letting go of 17% of their workforce. According to Spotify's CEO Daniel Ek, "Over the last two years, we've put significant emphasis on building Spotify into a truly great and sustainable business – one designed to achieve our goal of being the world's leading audio company and one that will consistently drive profitability and growth into the future. While we've made worthy strides, as I've shared many times, we still have work to do. Economic growth has slowed dramatically and capital has become more expensive. Spotify is not an exception to these realities."

"This brings me to a decision that will mean a significant step change for our company to align Spotify with our future goals and ensure we are right-sized for the challenges ahead," continues CEO Daniel Ek, "I have made the difficult decision to reduce our total headcount by approximately 17% across the company. I recognize this will impact a number of individuals who have made valuable contributions. To be blunt, many smart, talented and hard-working people will be departing us.... Today is a difficult but important day for the company. To be very clear, my commitment to our mission and belief in our ability to achieve it has never been stronger. I hope you will join me on Wednesday for Unplugged to discuss how we move forward together. A reduction of this size will make it necessary to change the way we work, and we will share much more about what this will mean in the days and weeks ahead. Just as 2023 marked a new chapter for us, so will 2024 as we build an even stronger Spotify." You can read the complete Spotify press release.

Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 4
The 7th Floor Part B
Show Report By Rick Becker
In their second room, Just Audio went further upstream with Spendor Classic 100 three-way stand-mount speakers ($14,800) speakers and an all-Cyrus Audio rig.
Seen here, paired up on standard-width shelves, was the current generation of Cyrus gear which I've found at other shows to be a noticeable improvement over the previous generation. Cyrus also has their own dedicated stand which stacks their components one above the other in a smaller footprint. I've also seen this gear parked side-by-side across a sofa table for a most elegant presentation. New, to me at least, was this TTP turntable with an integrated DC motor ($5800) with what looked like a Rega tonearm. I'd like to tell you how this rig sounded, but there was no music playing at the time and no host present.
---> Capital Audiofest Chronicles 2023 Part 4.

12 / 01 / 23

Enjoy the Music.com's December Premium Audio Review Magazine
Our very special December holiday issue includes World Premiere gear reviews, think pieces, plus our new eNewsletter design! While our extensive Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2023 show report is still being updated often, and our Great Audiophile Gift Guide 2023 is in full swing, new gear reviews within our December issue are sure to please every music lover within your family. Everyone at Enjoy the Music.com wishes you and yours a glorious holiday season. Be sure to join us for more fun and bonus content within our Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter social media pages. As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music!

Enjoy the Music.com's Great Audiophile Gift Guide 2023
We're here to help you discover great gifts for your premium audio music lover.
Article By Enjoy the Music.com Staff
Welcome one and all to Enjoy the Music.com's exceptional 18th annual Great Audiophile Gift recommendations! We all love gifts, yet we also know that getting something special for your passionate music lover can be quite a challenge! Our annual Great Audiophile Gift wish list brings you some truly spectacular ideas for music lovers. There are many wonderful products we can recommend to our longstanding loyal readership, and below you will see many excellent recommendations. We know this year has been a challenge for many, and so 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 2023 suggestions we know you'll love!
---> Enjoy the Music.com's Great Audiophile Gift Guide 2023!

Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2023 Show Report
CAF 2023 premium luxury audio event coverage.
Capital Audiofest (CAF) is the Northeast's favorite audio show! CAF started out in 2010 as a very casual show and has evolved into a well-organized and well-attended event that most everyone in the audio industry knows about. CAF is recognized as a fun, friendly and family-oriented show, where you often see families strolling from room to room listening to music, auditioning gear and browsing the multiple bins of vinyl records, CDs and accessories in the Atrium Marketplace. In the evenings we have live music in the bar and special live performers in the Theater, and local distillers offering tasting. During the event will be wonderful live music plus Enjoy the Music.com in once again sponsoring the Thursday night vendor / press party with live music and free drinks!
---> Capital Audiofest (CAF) 2023 Show Report.

Enjoy the Music.com Exclusive!
Métronome Technologie Launches Their World-Class Kalista Mantax DAC
Musical revelations in Vienna!
Coverage By Greg Weaver
Thursday morning, November 16th (2023) found myself on an airplane bound for Vienna, Austria. I had been invited to the private launch event for the new flagship Kalista Mantax DAC, to be held at the Adagio Vienna City Hotel on Saturday, November 18th. The Adagio Vienna City sits just south of the Donaukanal, an arm of the nearby Danube River, and just immediately west of where the Wiental Kanal flows into it, bordering Vienna's city center. This places it just inside what is known as "The Ring," the popular name given to a series of wide tree-lined boulevards that encircle nearly the entire center of the city. "The Ring" is about six and a half kilometers long (~ four miles) and arguably offers more historical sights lining its edges than any other road in the world.
---> Métronome Technologie Launches Their World-Class Kalista Mantax DAC.

World Premiere Review!
LampizatOr Pacific 2 DAC Review
One of the best values for a high-performance DAC.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
When LampizatOr came out with their state-of-the-art $49,000 Horizon assault on DAC'dom, they had a larger plan in mind. The Horizon was the first in an entirely new redesign of LampizatOr's take on building a digital-to-analog converter. Everything learned from their first Big7 through the Golden Gate to the Pacific, was a foundation upon which the next generation of LampizatOr would be based. Somewhere during the past few years, it became apparent that they had taken their current designs and engineering schematics to the limits of what those circuits could yield. To progress and advance LampizatOr into the future, a completely new engine, circuits, power supplies, and enclosure would be needed; and the Horizon was born. Moving forward, all of their new products will benefit from design principles inherent in the Horizon.
---> LampizatOr Pacific 2 DAC Review.

Aric Audio Transcend Push Pull Amplifier Review
An enlightening listening experience!
Review By Bob Grossman
In today's machine-driven, highly commoditized world, the sheer number of hand-crafted artisanal products appears to be ultimately going the way of the dodo bird — heading toward extinction. Thankfully, the Aric Audio Transcend Push Pull amplifier from the genius of Aric Kimball is an exception to this rule. Another exception that comes to mind is Rolls-Royce. While it now exists under the corporate umbrella of parent company BMW, Rolls defiantly maintains a great level of independence, continuing to offer buyers an unusually wide array of customization options to satisfy each buyer's unique desires. And so it goes with Aric Audio. Based out of a small suburb in western Massachusetts, for more than 15 years Aric Kimball has specialized in custom, hand-built, superbly crafted audio gear. Fortunately, due partly to Aric's direct-to-consumer business model, one need not have a Rolls-Royce budget to afford the luxury of such exceptional quality audio components. This is a high-value proposition indeed.
---> Aric Audio Transcend Push Pull Amplifier Review.

World Premiere Review!
Finalé Audio F-6 Hommage EF86 Edition Vacuum Tube Integrated Amplifier Review
How low can you go?
Review By Paul Schumann
Sometime in the mid-1990s, I was in a music store and noticed an audio magazine on the rack I had never seen before. It was Issue 12 of Sound Practices. I flipped through it and was fascinated by its retro take on audio, so I made the purchase. I read every article, but Herb Reichert's Causal Reactions column struck me to the core. This was back during a time when Herb Reichert was an arts school teacher and his vacuum tube efforts were dedicated towards DIY. His basic argument was this: the best way to evaluate an audio system is how it allows you to feel the emotions in your music. All other criteria are secondary. I know I've reduced a beautifully written article into a simple statement. But this statement leads the reader to the next question: What kind of system allows you to do this?
---> Finalé Audio F-6 Hommage EF86 Edition Review.

World Premiere Review!
LCH Audio B1610 Subwoofers
Stack Audio Auvo Isolators
Synergistic Research Vibratron
An audiophile special ménage à trois.
Review By Rick Becker
Actually, neuroscience has come a long way since Schrodinger's day, and audiophiles might be able to offer some suggestions, too. Let me tell you about three innovative items that helped those old songs move me even further. In typical audiophile fashion, I'm always on the lookout to improve the sound quality of my system in search of more musical delight. A pattern that has emerged over the past two decades is that my speakers always seem to get better when I improve the components and add ancillary tweaks to the rig. Funny how that happens. Many people would sooner go out and buy a new speaker. But I've developed somewhat of a reputation for adding tweaks rather than spending huge sums on major components. The opportunity to explore Axpona earlier this year turned up two products in particular that I wanted to review and a third opportunity subsequently came my way from Great Britain.
---> LCH Audio B1610 Subwoofers, Stack Audio Auvo Isolators, And Synergistic Research Vibratron Review.

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