Twittering Machines

Album of the Week: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band | Horses In The Sky

January 5, 2024 Michael Lavorgna

I love a beautiful mess of a record, especially one that feels like it was made on the spot in a special place by a collective who share an attitude—the badder, the better.

Review: Wharfedale Dovedale Standmount Speakers

January 3, 2024 Michael Lavorgna

The original Wharfedale Dovedales date back to 1959. This all-new version celebrates the company’s 90th anniversary and fits nicely into their Heritage line with lovely stout retro hand veneered appeal.

Twittering Machines Favorite Amplifiers (Retired)

January 1, 2024 Michael Lavorgna

The Retired list is for gear that I haven’t heard in years, has been discontinued or replaced with a newer version, or gear that’s been retired by something else around its price that I like better.

Album of the Week: mui zyu | Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century

December 29, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

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.

Further Thoughts on Why I Chose Tidal & Qobuz

December 28, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

In a word, Roon.

Why I Chose To Pay For Tidal HiFi

December 27, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

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.

Season’s Greetings & a Note of Thanks

December 24, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

Here’s wishing you (all) a happy healthy Holiday season.

Octave Audio Releases Two New Mono Amplifiers Into the Wild: the Jubilee Mono Ultimate and the MRE 220 SE

December 23, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

To say I liked the Octave V 16 Single Ended Integrated Amplifier is like saying Popeye liked spinach.

#NewMusicFriday: Favorites of 2023

December 22, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

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: Jessica Bailiff | Jessica Bailiff

December 22, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

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.

Review: Audio Research I/50 Integrated Amplifier

December 21, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

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. […]

Twittering Machines: A Year (of Reviews) in Pictures

December 19, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

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: New Age Doom | There Is No End

December 15, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

New Age Doom. New age, doom.

Review: Ideon EOS DAC

December 14, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

How much do we really know about a DAC we’ve never heard? The answer depends on who you ask.

Qobuz Sessions at SXSW: Live Music from Yazmin Lacey, Daniel Villarreal, and Shana Cleveland!

December 13, 2023 Michael Lavorgna

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!

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