Twittering Machines

CAF 2018: Fern & Roby

November 6, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

During the “Virtues of Vintage” seminar, Blackie Pagano suggested that the hifi industry has forgotten how to market. I tend to agree although there are a few outliers like Richmond, VA-based Fern & Roby. Just take one look at their room and the products in […]

Portraits in HiFi: Sean Casey

November 5, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

Sean Casey, Zu Audio.

CAF 2018: Zu Audio

November 5, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

The Zu Audio Omen Dirty Weekend [Mk.II] speakers (the smaller one) cost $999.99, shipping included. From what my ears and eyes tell me, that’s a screaming good deal.

Portraits in HiFi: Dave Slagle

November 5, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

Dave Slagle, Emia Labs, intact audio. (photo signed by Dave)

CAF 2018: Emia Labs

November 5, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

“Stacked Quads.” is what someone said when they walked into the Emia Labs room at CAF 2018. That’s like looking at the Mona Lisa and saying, “A nose.”

Portraits in HiFi: Blackie Pagano

November 5, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

Blackie Pagano, tube amp tech.

CAF 2018: Gamut, Pear, and Gaps

November 5, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

“See if you know who this is.” said Gamut‘s US distributor Michael Vamos as he put a record on the Pear Audio Kid Thomas turntable. Miles’y trumpet, ethereal keys, bowed double bass, over-driven harmonica. . .”What is this?” I thought to myself. I don’t know […]

CAF 2018: Mytek Wants To Sell You A Brooklyn Bridge

November 4, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

The streaming DAC strikes me as a very smart way to approach networked audio. What is a streaming DAC? A DAC with an Ethernet connection which allows you to play music from streaming services and your digital music library. Some streaming DACs, like Mytek’s new […]

Portraits in HiFi: Art Dudley

November 3, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

Art Dudley, Stereophile, Listener. When I was but a wee audiophile, my father, the audiophile, read Stereophile while I read Listener (he was an MSEE, I was a BA in Fine Art). Reading Art’s writing, and Herb Reichert’s, made me think I might like to […]

CAF 2018: KEF LSX, Color Me Impressed

November 2, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

Excitement is a terrible thing to waste. I just saw and heard the KEF LSX speakers ($1,099.99/pair) and ran across the street to my hotel to tell you about them. OK, I didn’t really run but I walked really fast.

#NewMusicFriday: November 2, 2018

November 2, 2018 Stephen Mejias

Each Friday, Stephen Mejias, AudioQuest’s Director of Communications and former Stereophile and Audiostream.com columnist, will browse through the many exciting albums released that day and select 15 worth a closer listen.

Album of the Week: Thom Yorke, Suspiria Soundtrack

October 31, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

Boo! I love scary movies and scary movie music, especially when its convincingly creepy. Bernard Hermann’s Psycho comes immediately to mind, as does Edward Artemiev’s soundtrack for Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker, Krzysztof Komeda’s Rosemary’s Baby, and Goblin’s work on the original / Dario Argento Suspiria. Thom […]

Capital Audiofest 2018: Here I Come

October 31, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

If I told you I wasn’t able to attend this year’s Capital Audiofest, never mind—I’ll be there with a few precious Polaroids left in my camera. Last year was the first year I attended CAF, while this year will be the first year I attend […]

Deerhunter Drops New Single

October 30, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

Songcraft can be a beautiful thing and Atlanta’s Deerhunter is capable of crafting and carrying a tune to surprising places. Their new single, “Death In Midsummer”, from their forthcoming album Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? on 4AD, drives this point home.

I Slept in Hill House

October 29, 2018 Michael Lavorgna

The second horror film I watched as a child was called “The Haunting”. This was the 1963 film starring Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn. As with the first horror film I saw, “Horror Hotel” (or “The City of the Dead” as […]

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