Twittering Machines

The Rise of the Science State: A HiFi Horror Movie (sorta)

October 12, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

Picture this: You’re alone in your home listening to that new favorite record, slowly easing out of the cares of the day and into the effortless weightless beauty that is the music experience.

Review: Q Acoustics Concept 50 Floorstanding Speakers

October 11, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

If you have your ear to the ground, you’ll already have heard that the Q Acoustics Concept 50 Floorstanding Speakers are a Barn-storming bargain, offering fit & finish plus performance that’ll leave you wondering—how can they do this for that?

Denafrips Unveils The Terminator II & Terminator PLUS 12th Anniversary Edition DACs

October 10, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

I love a good celebration and Denafrips is toasting 12-years in business with the new Anniversary Editions of the company’s popular Terminator II & Terminator PLUS NOS DACs.

#NewMusicFriday: October 7, 2022

October 7, 2022 Stephen Mejias

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: Maxine Funke | Pieces Of Driftwood

October 7, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

On Pieces Of Driftwood, New Zealand outsider Maxine Funke collects music from compilations and non-album singles along with new songs for a kind of mini anthology of her quirky folk fare.

Review: Linear Tube Audio Z40+ Integrated Amplifier

October 6, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

The LTA Z40+ incorporates David Berning’s patented ZOTL amplification for 51 Watts of transformer-less output power generated by four pentode tubes that peak out from the unit’s top plate.

Melco’s New N50-H60 Music Library Offers 6TB of HDD Storage (that’s a lot of music)

October 3, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

The new Melco N50-H60 Music Library sits between the company’s entry-level N100 and the compact N1Z in terms of price and performance, making it the Goldilocks choice.

#NewMusicFriday: September 30, 2022

September 30, 2022 Stephen Mejias

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: Maria BC | Hyaline

September 30, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

Fall is one of my four favorite seasons.

Review: Soulnote A-2 Integrated Amplifier

September 29, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

“Sushi can only be evaluated by eating it.” That is one of my favorite quotes from Soulnote’s Design Philosophy page. I’ve been saying similar things for decades, albeit with a NJ flavor.

In Barn for Review: EMM Labs NS1 Streamer

September 28, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

A clean stream.

DUT: This Is Not A Test

September 27, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

I always kinda cringe when an audio reviewer calls the thing they’re reviewing a DUT (Device Under Test). First off, it sounds horrible and secondly reviewing hifi gear is not a test.

In Barn for Review: A Parasound Stack – JC 3+ Phono Preamplifier/JC 2 BP Preamplifier/JC 5 Stereo Power Amplifier

September 26, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

Power, precision, control. A Parasound stack.

In Barn for Review: Meitner MA3 Integrated D/A Converter

September 25, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

The Meitner MA3 Integrated D/A Converter also houses a Roon Ready network player and volume control making it a plug & play streaming Preamp/DAC solution.

In Barn for Review: EMM Labs DA2 V2 Reference Stereo DAC

September 25, 2022 Michael Lavorgna

The DA2 V2 Reference Stereo DAC is EMM Labs’ flagship DAC. When the opportunity arose for me to hang onto the review sample from the BIG system for closer inspection, I took it (not literally, mind you).