HiFi Thoughts
McGill Study Suggests We Don’t Just Listen to Music, We Become It (w/Video!)
Our brains and bodies physically resonate along with music, according to an international study co-authored by McGill psychologist Caroline Palmer.
#NewMusicFriday
#NewMusicFriday: May 23, 2025
Each Friday, Stephen Mejias, AudioQuest’s Director of Communications and former Stereophile and Audiostream columnist, will browse through the many exciting albums released that day and select 15 worth a closer listen.
Album of the Week
Album of the Week: BIG|BRAVE | OST
Sometimes, finding music that fits the mood turns into a quest for alteration.
HIGH END Munich 2025
HIGH END Munich 2025: My Show Report
Let’s begin with the obvious—HIGH END Munich is full of people, about 22,000 according to their published numbers. All kinds of people and that’s why there’s all kinds of gear as tastes vary as widely as people’s appearance.
HiFi News
HIGH END Munich 2025: Welcome, Qobuz Connect!
Here’s some big news from the big show—Qobuz Connect is here!
Album of the Week
Album of the Week: Japanese Breakfast | For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)
As someone looking into the rear view at middle age*, enjoying Michelle Zauner’s latest treat feels nearly naughty.
HIGH END Munich 2025
HIGH END Munich 2025: VTL to Launch Their Flagship Lohengrin Amplifier
It’s not every day that VTL releases a new product, something I appreciate and even admire.
HIGH END Munich 2025
HIGH END Munich 2025: Octave to Unveil the Jubilee Class A Mono Amplifier
Want to know a secret?
#NewMusicFriday
#NewMusicFriday: May 9, 2025
Each Friday, Stephen Mejias, AudioQuest’s Director of Communications and former Stereophile and Audiostream columnist, will browse through the many exciting albums released that day and select 15 worth a closer listen.
Album of the Week
Album of the Week: Amor Muere | A time to love, a time to die
How’d I miss this?
HIGH END Munich 2025
HIGH END Munich 2025: A Complete totaldac System
Me and totaldacs, or is it totaldacs and I, have a long history dating back more than 12 years and I’ve owned one totaldac or another for 10 of ’em.
HiFi News
dCS Unveils the Lina DAC X Network Music Player
You can think of the new dCS Lina DAC X as a full width Lina Network DAC with its own volume control. Just add amplifier & speakers.
HiFi News
HARMAN Buys Sound United (and Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz…)
It’s getting awfully crowded under that HARMAN umbrella.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Wattson Audio Madison Amplifier & Madison LE Streaming DAC
Are two Wattsons better than one?
HIGH END Munich 2025
HIGH END Munich 2025: Meet IsoAcoustics’ New GAIA Neo and GAIA Titan Neo Isolation Feet
I’ve had a pair of IsoAcoustics ISO stands under my ADAM A3X active speakers on my desktop for about 13 years. 13 lucky years.
HIGH END Munich 2025
HIGH END Munich 2025: Audiovector to Introduce the Flagship R 10 Arreté Loudspeakers
Meet the Audiovector R 10 Arreté—13 drivers per side, 21-53 kHz, 90dB 1W/M.
HIGH END Munich 2025
HIGH END Munich 2025: A Week Away!
I barely finished folding my socks after Axpona but back in the bag they go!
#NewMusicFriday
#NewMusicFriday: May 2, 2025
Each Friday, Stephen Mejias, AudioQuest’s Director of Communications and former Stereophile and Audiostream columnist, will browse through the many exciting albums released that day and select 15 worth a closer listen.
Album of the Week
Album of the Week: Whitney Johnson & Lia Kohl | For Translucence
“What kind of music do you like?
HiFi Reviews
Review: Bel Canto Design Black ACI 600 Integrated Amplifier
I’d like us to think about the Bel Canto Black ACI 600 in architectural terms.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Grimm Audio LS1c Active Loudspeaker System
I was listening to this this very pair, you may have been too, at Axpona 2025.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Octave Audio Jubilee Preamplifier & Jubilee Mono ULTIMATE Monoblock Amplifiers
Towers of power plus Pre.
HiFi News
The Schiit News Keeps On Coming: Meet the Mimir Balanced Mesh DAC/EQ/Preamp
You can buy Schiit’s new Mimir as just a DAC for $299 or add a 3-band parametric EQ and digital preamp for an extra $50.
#NewMusicFriday
#NewMusicFriday: April 25, 2025
Each Friday, Stephen Mejias, AudioQuest’s Director of Communications and former Stereophile and Audiostream columnist, will browse through the many exciting albums released that day and select 15 worth a closer listen.
Album of the Week
Album of the Week: Quade | The Foel Tower
I’m going to say it—Talk Talk.
HiFi Thoughts
HiFi Thoughts: The Great Violin Scam!
Did you know that most violins are made of wood? No matter how much they cost?
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Aesthetix Mimas Integrated Amplifier
A hybrid affair.
Axpona 2025
Axpona 2025: Final Thoughts
HiFi shows are many things but I think their most important function is one of introductions and reacquaintance.
Axpona 2025
Axpona 2025: Notable Products
Products of note. There were lots (and lots) or things at Axpona 2025 I wished I could get to know better having been bit by their charms during my fleeting time in their company.
#NewMusicFriday
#NewMusicFriday: April 18, 2025
Each Friday, Stephen Mejias, AudioQuest’s Director of Communications and former Stereophile and Audiostream columnist, will browse through the many exciting albums released that day and select 15 worth a closer listen.
Album of the Week
Album of the Week: Bon Iver | SABLE, fABLE
Consider me a fan.
Axpona 2025
Axpona 2025 Favorite Rooms: Fidelity Imports | Wilson Benesch | Audia Flight
In true go big or go home fashion, Fidelity Imports filled 9 rooms on the 12th floor of Axpona 2025 plus the ginormous Utopia D ballroom.
Axpona 2025
Axpona 2025 Favorite Rooms: Well Pleased AV
Somethings familiar, something new!
Axpona 2025
Axpona 2025 Favorite Rooms: Audio Note
Audio Note is another company whose gear I’ve enjoyed for more than years. We’re talking decades.
Axpona 2025
Axpona 2025 Favorite Rooms: Fern & Roby | Network Acoustics
I don’t know about you, but I like to look at hifi too. Between you and me, I also enjoy the feel.