My experience of over three decades in the audio sector reinforced a conviction that no matter how hard we try, there is no way to achieve truth in audio, just joy. And that the latter is completely independent of the former. This is a fundamental principle on my standing about audio technologies. I care about good audio experiences and I believe that our efforts should be focused on eliminating bad sound, not so much about achieving exceptionally great fidelity — that illusive quest. Do I have a low bar when it comes to audio experiences? I just know when I find joy listening to music ..read more

Many a long year ago a friend of mine asked me what kind of speakers he ought to buy. Complimented by his confidence in my judgment and wanting to be helpful, I asked him some questions to help me figure out what might be best for him. One of the first was "How much do you want to spend?" To which I got "It doesn't matter; whatever it costs." I should have known better – he was the local Maserati dealer, quite well off, and really could afford just about anything I might suggest. Next, I tried "What kind of music do you listen to? " and was told "Everything; I like it all, as long as it's goo ..read more

Editorial: Physical Media Music Formats Audiovector Trapeze Floorstanding Speaker Reed Audio Muse 1C And 3P Turntable / Tonearm Acoustic Energy Corinium Floorstanding Speaker Chord Electronics Ultima Int. Amplifier Audiobyte SuperHUB Network Streamer Michi X3 Series 2 Integrated Amplifier Sonus faber Duetto Active Streaming Speakers Ayre Acoustics EX-8 2.0 Integrated Amplifier Pro-Ject Evo 9 CA Premium Turntable / Tonearm And Much More ..read more

The Charisma Audio Musiko tonearm had already become part of my reference system back in May 2021. when it was incorporated into my Linn Project — a complete re-make of the fabled Linn LP12 using off-the-shelf, re-engineered parts from several after-market companies. These parts were sourced from Great Britain, Canada, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Colorado. By the time I finished, the only original OEM parts were the suspension springs and grommets, the belt, the sub-chassis nuts and bolts, and the wood plinth ..read more

This month we've finalized our Southwest Audio Fest, Montreal Audiofest, and AXPONA show reports. Later this month we'll be posting show coverage from HIGH END 2024 in Munich (our 24th time, we were there in Frankfurt too!). Roger Skoff's editorial 'What Kind Of Music Do You Like?' may answer the question of matching your loudspeakers to your music preferences. Or it could be a trap, you decide! With so much effort going towards shows, we still found time to review the incredible Linkwitz LX521 loudspeakers. Longtime audio reviewer Rick Becker truly hopes you have the opportunity to hear them ..read more

Here are Senior Editor Greg Weaver's Top Five Rooms / Best Of AXPONA 2024 Blue Note Award winners, presented in the same order as the main show report is laid out, starting on floor 16 and working down to the ground floor. Keep in mind that, given your personal biases and musical preferences, ANY of these Top Five Rooms might have filled your top honor qualifications. They were ALL fabulous and deserving of such remarkable recognition. Let's literally, "Take it from the top ..read more

This most recent AXPONA (Audio EXpo NOrth America), held Friday, April 12th through Sunday, April 14th at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center for the fifth time (COVID-19 took its toll affecting the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 events), managed to break all its previous records by welcoming 10,391 attendees from 42 states and 31 countries ..read more

Last month I had the fortune of being asked to review new speakers from Endow, which made their debut at the Florida Audio Expo 2020. Endow Audio's T35s loudspeakers, according to the company, represents the same quality at a substantially reduced price without cutting corners. Indeed, they are certainly visually a sight to behold.... The engineering itself was fascinating; Endow utilized multiple drivers in various phases and closed baffle in a very non-trivial design to allow for a very expansive off-axis listening field ..read more

If there is anything obvious about obvious truths, it is their truth. Nothing else about them need be, and often nothing else is. Moreover, some obvious truths are obvious only in retrospect. Obvious truths – truisms – can be revealing, insightful and even important. Take what is certainly one of audio's most obvious truisms: an audio system is, after all, a system! Patently obvious? Yes. Uninteresting or unimportant? Hardly ..read more

Editorial: New Hi-Fi Gear Is Pushing The Boundaries Sonus Faber Duetto Stereo Speaker System Dellichord FR6 Loudspeakers DS Audio DS 003 Optical Cartridge Richter Wizard Series 6Plus Loudspeakers Australian Hi-Fi Show 2024 Guide History of Portable Audio: Part 4 Podcasts for Music Lovers Top Picks And Reissues And Much More ..read more