HiFi
Welcome!
Here at Twittering Machines (TM), we take the enjoyment to be found in listening to recorded music seriously—as seriously as we take any of our other passions.
HiFi
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.
HiFi
Question: What Would You Like To See TM Review?
There’s a sea of hifi gear out there, more than any one, two, or three (or more) people can cover. While we have our ideas and interests, I’d love to hear from you about what you’d like to see picked from the shoal for review.
HiFi
In Barn: Audirvana Plus
Audirvana Plus: The audiophile player for Mac and PC (Windows 10) ($74.00).
HiFi
Question: Who Wants Lovely Music?
Back when I was editor of AudioStream, I ran a feature most Mondays called “Lovely Recordings” and it was one of my favorite things about AS. For those who are not familiar with Lovely, the posts were reader-submitted lists of some favorite music with explanations […]
In Barn for Review
In Barn: Ayre EX-8 Integrated Hub
Ayre EX-8 Integrated Hub (starts at $5,990.00 / $7,850.00 with optional network board). I like to call this type of component a Streaming Integrated Amplifier because it offers a Roon-Ready Ethernet input (and DAC) so all you need to add is some music and a […]
In Barn for Review
In Barn: Almost
Here’s a current list of the gear that’s headed to the Barn for review:
In Barn for Review
In Barn: Google Chromecast Ultra
Google Chromecast Ultra ($69.00). In addition to its TV chops (I want the Criterion Chanel), Google’s Chromecast devices are now Roon-Ready making them prime candidates for a TM review.
In Barn for Review
In Barn: PS Audio Sprout100
PS Audio Sprout100 integrated amplifier/DAC ($599.00).
In Barn for Review
In Barn: Alta Audio Io
Alta Audio Io speakers ($3,495/pair).
HiFi
Computer Audio Basics: DAC Types
Think of Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) as the genus and DAC types as the species.
HiFi
Qobuz Hits The US Market
The news of French Hi-Res streaming service and download site Qobuz coming to the US of A broke last December but the Official US Debut will take place at this year’s Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) come October. Hi-Res’ers rejoice!
HiFi
Roon-ology: Hardware Basics
Roon, the music player software (think iTunes but 1 million-times better), is more than a beautiful interface to your music. It is an ecosystem that relies on hardware, software, and a network. As such, there are some things you need to understand about Roon’s hardware […]
HiFi
Computer Audio (CA) Basics: An Introduction
Getting music out of a computer is easy—just hit “Play”. If you want the music coming out of your computer to sound more like music and less like chipmunks trapped in a shoe box, you’ve come to the right place. There are three basic ways […]
HiFi
TM Select: Get Better Sound From Your Phone To Your ‘Phones
If you want to listen to digital music, either streaming or files, using your phone, you need a DAC. Luckily, your phone already has one inside. While you can use your phone as a music player, most everyone does, you can make your music sound […]