Welcome to The Abso!ute Sound online! We explore music and the reproduction of music in the home. We believe that the sound of music, unamplified, occurring in a real space is a philosophic absolute against which we may judge the performance of devices designed to reproduce music. Our goal is to provide the resources consumers need to judge how a component's sound either honors or departs from the music's truth, and to make sound purchasing decisions that maximize their experience of reproduced sound. Below is our Issue 182, June / July 2008 contents and editorial.

 

Read this edition's editorial by clicking here.

 

Articles & Reviews In This Issue
8 Letters

14 From The Editor

96 Manufacturer Comments

126 The TAS Short List
Our top equipment picks in every category and price level.

 

Contents
29 2008 Golden Ear Awards!
13 pages of the best in high-end audio.

57 Special report
Inside the Chinese audio industry.

 

Equipment Reports
16

24

82 Bybee Technologies Golden Goddess "Super Effect" Speaker Bullets
Dick Olsher on a controversial new addition to any stereo system.

86 

90 Parasound Halo JC 2 Linestage Preamplifier
JV on a superb (and affordable) solid-state preamp from John Curl.

98 The Cutting Edge
Balanced Audio Technology Rex Linestage Preamplifier
BAT’s two-chassis, all-tubed, 76-pound linestage sets a new standard in midrange liquidity RH reports.

108 HP’s Workshop
Harry Pearson previews the Clearaudio Statement turntable, and announces his 2008 Golden Ear Award winners.

 

Music
120 2008 Golden Ear Awards
For this year's awards, each music writer chose their favorite records released to date 2008.

140 Rock

150 Classical

152 Jazz

 

TAS Back Page
152 TAS Back Page
A chat with ray Kimber of Kimber Kable.

 

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