In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Audio Note Meishu Phono 300B Konzertmeister Integrated Amplifier
The first Audio Note Meishu hit the market back in 1994. You read that right–over 30 years ago.
HiFi
HiFi Thoughts
HiFi Thoughts: On Logistics
As I type, there’s over 2100 pounds of gear in Barn for review. And that’s not shipping weight which pushes the total well over 3000. Pounds.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Audia Flight Strumento Series N°1 evo Stereo Preamplifier & N°8 Monoblock Power Amplifiers
My interest in and coverage of gear from Italy’s Audia Flight has taken me from their entry integrated to the current top of the line integrated and now to the second from the top separates with their Strumento Series stack.
HiFi News
HIGH END Vienna 2026 Postponed One Week
Why? Eurovision.
In Barn for Review
In Barn for Review: Audio Hungary Qualiton 300B Integrated Amplifier
The Qualiton 300B integrated amplifier runs 4x 300Bs in parallel single-ended Class A for a total of 25 Watts per channel.
HiFi Reviews
Review: JMF Audio PRS 1.5 Preamplifier & HQS 6002 Amplifier
Astonishingly right. After struggling with how best to describe the JMF Audio PRS 1.5 Pre/HQS 6002 pre/power combo, these 2 words seemed to size things up best.
HiFi Thoughts
Percentage Improvements in HiFi Don’t Add Up
I imagine we’ve all read a review or comment where the writer claims a given piece of hifi kit offers an improvement over some other piece of hifi kit and that improvement is offered as a %.
HiFi Reviews
Review: LAiV Audio Harmony µDAC
The Harmony µDAC from LAiV Audio is a remarkable DAC when it comes to price, performance, and build quality.
HiFi News
Win a Pair of Limited Edition Powered Klipsch Jurassic World Rebirth Speakers
Kinda cool, right? Cool in the sense that these limited-edition Jurassic World Rebirth speakers from Klipsch will make some music loving dinosaur digger very happy.
HiFi Thoughts
My Thoughts on the The Biggest Advance in HiFi (revisited)
I attended my first hifi show as a member of the press in 2008.
Road Tours
A Duet of Debuts: DeVore Fidelity O/Bronze & Nagra Reference at Resolution A/V
I love a good vibe.
HiFi Reviews
Review: Auralic ARIES S1 Streaming Processor
When it comes to network players, aka streaming transports, I have an unoriginal motto—just do it.
HiFi Thoughts
HiFi Thoughts: What’s higher than high-end?
Mega? Ultra? Supreme? Spectacle?
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.
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!
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?
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!
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.
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.
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!