Album of the Week
Album of the Week: mui zyu | Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century
Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century is the first full length from Hong Kong British artist Eva Liu as mui zyu and it feels fantastically familiar.
Year: 2023
HiFi Thoughts
Further Thoughts on Why I Chose Tidal & Qobuz
In a word, Roon.
HiFi Thoughts
Why I Chose To Pay For Tidal HiFi
Tidal recently sent an email to industry members, e.g. reviewers like me, who had been enjoying a free Tidal account to let us know the free ride would end on December 12, 2023.
HiFi Thoughts
Season’s Greetings & a Note of Thanks
Here’s wishing you (all) a happy healthy Holiday season.
HiFi News
Octave Audio Releases Two New Mono Amplifiers Into the Wild: the Jubilee Mono Ultimate and the MRE 220 SE
To say I liked the Octave V 16 Single Ended Integrated Amplifier is like saying Popeye liked spinach.
#NewMusicFriday
#NewMusicFriday: Favorites of 2023
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: Jessica Bailiff | Jessica Bailiff
I reached all the way back to Jessica Bailiff’s self-titled album from 2002 to share this week’s pick because I was looking for something sweet without being saccharine.
HiFi Reviews
Review: Audio Research I/50 Integrated Amplifier
Tung-Sol introduced the world to the 6550 beam tetrode vacuum tube in 1954, with early production coming out of their Bloomfield, NJ plant. I grew up about 8 miles away and that plant, the Electron Tube Division, remained in operation until I was a teen. […]
HiFi
Twittering Machines: A Year (of Reviews) in Pictures
Taking photos of the gear that’s here for review, in Barn, ranks among my favorite things. Getting a good likeness is an important piece of information and, ideally, a feast for the eyes.
Album of the Week
Album of the Week: New Age Doom | There Is No End
New Age Doom. New age, doom.
HiFi Reviews
Review: Ideon EOS DAC
How much do we really know about a DAC we’ve never heard? The answer depends on who you ask.
Music News
Qobuz Sessions at SXSW: Live Music from Yazmin Lacey, Daniel Villarreal, and Shana Cleveland!
With all of the harping, or has it been carping, I’ve done about music choices in hifi, I am particularly pleased to share news of three inaugural EPs from Qobuz’s Sessions at SXSW featuring music from Yazmin Lacey, Daniel Villarreal, and Shana Cleveland!
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Vivid Audio GIYA G3 Series 2
There’s no mistaking a Vivid Audio speaker. Even, I would suggest, with one’s eyes closed and ears open.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Merason DAC1 Mk II
I’ve been waiting, patiently, to get some Barn time with a Merason DAC, having enjoyed some of the systems containing one at a number of hifi shows, so color me pleased to be sitting in front of a new Merason DAC1 Mk II.
#NewMusicFriday
#NewMusicFriday: December 8, 2023
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: Titanic | Vidrio
Titanic, the band, is Mabe Fratti (cello and vocals), Jarrett Gilgore (saxophone), Gibran Andrade (drums) and together they perform compositions by i.la Católica who also plays piano and guitar on Vidrio.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: GoldenEar T66 Tower Speakers
The T66 is the first speaker in GoldenEar’s new T Series that offer refinements over GoldenEar’s much loved Triton Series of loudspeakers.
TM Favorite Gear of 2023
Twittering Machines Favorite Gear of 2023
If my writing is any good at communicating, you already know a few of my favorite products from 2023. After all, conveying enthusiasm for the things that turn our attention to the beauty and power of music is the first item on my job description […]
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Viva Solista Integrated Amplifier
The Vivia Solista is a single-ended Class A integrated amplifier that relies on 845 triodes to produce its 22 Watts of output power.
HiFi Bargains
HiFi Bargains: Wattson Emerson ANALOG Streaming DAC
When it comes to digital music replay, sometimes small and simple is just the thing. Especially if you add in lovely listenability.
HiFi News
Meet totaldac’s New Amp-1-Sublime Power Amplifier
France’s totaldac, best known for their totally lovely DACs, has been offering complete systems from source to speakers for years. The new Amp-1-Sublime trades the original Amp-1’s triode stage for a solid state solution.
Album of the Week
Twittering Machines Favorite Albums of 2023
Sharing music is one of life’s great joys. I hope you find something that tickles your fancy herein.
#NewMusicFriday
#NewMusicFriday: December 1, 2023
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.
HiFi Reviews
Review: Soulution 330 Integrated Amplifier
When it comes to listening to music on the hifi, I’ve been wondering of late if a sense of refinement is innate or learned. In other words, do we know a refined sound or does the gear teach us about it.
HiFi News
Canton’s New Reference Series Speakers Now Shipping in USA and Canada
Germany’s Canton is now shipping their new Reference Series Loudspeakers, consisting of 6 models plus a center channel and subwoofer, in the USA and Canada.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Auralic ARIES G2.2 Wireless Streaming Transporter
Have you ever wondered what moving up the Auralic line, say from the G1.1 to the G2.2, might bring? I have.
HiFi News
Harman Bought Roon
Harman, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics (since 2017), has gone and done it—they bought my Roon.
HiFi News
Astell&Kern (re)Join the Dongle DAC Party With the New AK HC4 USB DAC
One thing that sets the new Astell&Kern AK HC4 USB DAC apart from most other dongle DACs is its dual 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, perfect for headphone & IEM loving ‘philes.
#NewMusicFriday
#NewMusicFriday: November 24, 2023
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: Nondi_ | Flood City Trax
Something other is always more than welcome in Barn and Johnstown, PA-based Tatiana Triplin’s debut as Nondi_ on Planet Mu is just that.
Art&Culture
Twittering Machines 2023 Holiday Gift Guide
I love a gift guide, especially one filled with delights that allow us to appreciate the communal creative souls within us all. I hope you find some wonder herein. Cheers.
HiFi News
The New WiiM Amp: All-In-One Fun for Under 300 Clams
WiiM, makers of the popular, thanks in part to Darko.Audio, and affordable WiiM Mini and Pro streamers just launched their first streaming amp that packs a boatload of functionality in a very nicely priced package.
HiFi News
The New MasterDeck Turntable from MoFi Electronics Has Arrived
MoFi Electronics has a history of hiring masters of their craft and they brought in industry veteran turntable designer Alan Perkins of Spiral Groove fame to push the limits of their new MasterDeck Turntable.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Thöress EHT Integrated Amplifier
If you read my CAF 2023 Standout Products post, now you know I wasn’t kidding.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Volti Audio Rival Special Edition Loudspeakers
High efficiency speakers have a few tricks up their sleeves, one being the ability to drive ’em with just a few Watts.