Digital Reviews
Review: Border Patrol DAC SE
When I listen to music on the hifi, I listen for the music. The closer, the better.
HiFi Reviews
HiFi Reviews
Non-Review: LiTe DAC-AH (the eBay DAC)
We’ve all read about the bargain DACs one can find on eBay, typically originating from China. Some, like the one I bought, use the venerable Philips TDA1543 converter chip which can be found in DACs from BorderlPatrol (the DAC SE has been in barn for […]
Digital Reviews
Review: Chord Mojo Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier
Generally speaking, it doesn’t make sense to generalize. You can think of generalizing as the soft cushy pillow of thought where it feels better to not work so hard. So we generalize instead of looking at specifics. Make sense? It depends on how much you […]
HiFi Reviews
Review: Alta Audio Io Speakers
Proper care and feeding. We all need it and loudspeakers are no different.
HiFi Reviews
Review: ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2
Are sins of omission really sins when it comes to hifi? The correct answer is “No”. I’ve been playing with the ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 speakers for months, on and off, with a variety of amplifiers and they are a delight to listen through.
Amplifier Reviews
Review: NAD D 3020 V2 Stereo integrated amplifier with built-in DAC and Bluetooth
I owned an original NAD 3020 back in 1980 and I loved, loved, loved it. Everything about it including its $135 price tag. The new NAD D 3020 V2 clocks in at $399 which, when adjusted for inflation, costs the same as the original (give […]
Amplifier Reviews
Review: Micromega M-150 All-In-One Integrated Amplifier
My great-grandmother on my father’s mother’s side loved Chiclets, especially the red ones. She didn’t speak much English, dressed only in black after her husband passed, and perpetually rolled rosaries between her thumb and fingers, the speed of the passing beads based on what was […]
HiFi Reviews
Review: HoloAudio Azure Headphone Amplifier
What kind of idea are you? The Analyst? Are you the detail hound looking to plumb the depths of your favorite recordings? Or maybe the Sensualist? You’re looking for a dynamic, captivating and more physical listening experience? While no one is any one thing and […]
Amplifier Reviews
Review: Quad VA-One Integrated Amplifier / DAC
Listen here: I like tubes, I like integrated amplifiers, I like integrated amplifiers with DACs, I like Bluetooth, and I like well-made stuff. Seeing as the Quad VA-One is all of the above (and more), I like the Quad VA-One.
HiFi Reviews
System Review: PS Audio Sprout100 + ELAC Debut 2.0
It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve been thinking about writing a system review for years. It’s also the case that I’ve wanted to review this particular system for years as well. On one hand, every component review is a system review, on the other […]
Amplifier Reviews
Review: Ayre EX-8 Integrated Hub
Last year, I reviewed and compared six streaming integrated amplifiers as Editor of AudioStream. I find value in these types of comparisons both as a doer and as a reader because comparative listening to like-components allows us to readily hear the sonic flavors baked into […]
HiFi Reviews
Micromega M.A.R.S. Room EQ
I know some people poo poo on DSP and I get it for analog purists. But within the realm of digital, poo poo’ing on DSP is like refusing to use post-processing on your digital pics. The Micromega M-One offers the optional M.A.R.S. (Micromega Acoustic Room […]
HiFi Reviews
Progress Report: Ayre EX-8
Do you like simple? I like simple. Let’s make a system hardware checklist: Ayre EX-8, DeVore Fidelity gibbon X, sonic Transporter i5 (Roon Core), NAS (music storage), iPad remote (Roon), and a router. Check.
HiFi Reviews
System Review: The Barn (Mine)
I like system reviews. What better inaugural system to review than my very own? I’ve taken great care, over many years, to end up with this exact mix. This system gives me pleasure every single day and I’m going to tell you why.