Part-Time Audiophile

Saturday at the Munich Show | Munich 2024

by Marc Phillips in Munich 2024 0

After the heady excesses from Friday at the 2024 Munich Show, the Saturday highlights focus less on the incredible and more on simply incredible sound. There was a point, after lunch on Saturday, where I [...]

Saturday at the Munich Show | Munich 2024

May 12, 2024 0

Friday at the Munich Show | Munich 2024

May 11, 2024 0

Friday at High End 2024 in Munich was a day spent listening to big, big systems that take up a lot of real estate–not to mention a lot of money. While the ESD Acoustic room […]

Press Day Highlights | Munich 2024

May 10, 2024 1

This is my first Press Day in my four years of attending the High End show in Munich. I always miscalculate my itinerary and wind up needing to sleep through the first day of the […]

Electrocompaniet ECI6DX-MKII Integrated Amplifier | REVIEW

May 5, 2024 0

What is it about these so-called “all-in-one” components, such as the Electrocompaniet ECI6DX-MKII, that I like so much? When I was a journeyman audiophile I was always taught that it’s better to separate the features […]

Zanden Audio Systems 1200 Signature Phono Stage | REVIEW

April 7, 2024 0

Like any self-identifying member of the audio cognoscenti, I got super excited about the new Zanden Audio Systems Model 1200 Signature phono stage ($29,500 MSRP). It is way up there in the category of high-end […]

AURALiC ARIES G2.2 Network Streamer | REVIEW

April 5, 2024 0

During my time listening to high-end audio products, AURALiC has become one of my favorite brands. Their products are reasonably priced (in the world of high end audio, at least), have unmatched build quality, and […]

Matrix Audio Element X2 Pure Streamer/DAC | REVIEW

March 31, 2024 1

I needed a DAC. Yeah, I know, I’ve started off more than one review with this declaration and it’s a constant reminder that I need to rectify that situation. But I’ve also toyed with the […]

StudioSilver MC Cartridge from MoFi Electronics | REVIEW

March 29, 2024 0

Do I need MoFi in my hi-fi? MoFi expanded beyond their vinyl offerings and their importing and distribution division, and now they’re venturing now into the electronics game–the music giant is shaking the audiophile tree. […]

Triangle Magellan Duetto 40th Anniversary Loudspeakers | REVIEW

March 24, 2024 4

One of our writers here at PTA, Graig Neville, has flipped so completely over the latest generation of loudspeakers from Triangle of France that after reviewing the relatively affordable yet impressive 40th Anniversary Antal, he […]

Hagerman Piccolo MC Head Amplifier | REVIEW

March 22, 2024 2

When I purchased my Naim NAIT 50 integrated amplifier last year, my only criticism was the inboard MM phono stage, which is a really fine phono stage if you’re into high-output moving magnet cartridges. While […]

TAD C1000 Preamplifier (& Friends) | REVIEW

March 17, 2024 1

Technical Audio Devices debuted the TAD C1000 preamplifier at Capital Audiofest this past November, and I was excited to be the first in the queue to get my hands on this new piece of kit. […]

Enleum HPA-23RM Headphone Amplifier | REVIEW

March 15, 2024 0

I don’t think I’ve given PTA Senior Contributing Editor Grover Neville enough credit about this in the past, but he really does an excellent job when it comes to discovering new and worthwhile manufacturers for […]

Børresen C1 Loudspeakers Debut | AXPONA 2024

April 21, 2024 2

Audio Group Denmark rarely attends a show without introducing at least one new product, and at AXPONA 2024 they introduced two–the new Børresen C1 two-way monitors ($16,500/pair), and a new line of Axxess cables to […]

Arnold Martinez and Krell | AXPONA 2024

April 20, 2024 0

I haven’t heard from my good audio buddy Arnold Martinez in quite a few years–long enough to have the what-happened-to-Arnold discussion with a number of others this year. Arnold was one of my favorite dealers […]

Fidelis, Audio Skies and Ernest Meunier of ArgentPur | AXPONA 2024

April 18, 2024 0

I’ve known Walter Swanbon of Fidelis AV and Fidelis Distribution for many years, and we usually see eye-to-eye on high-end audio brands. That’s why I’m especially glad to see JMF amplification in his exhibit rooms, […]

Zesto and TIDAL Audio | AXPONA 2024

April 26, 2024 0

The Zesto Audio and The Voice That Is room, which also included Cardas, TIDAL Audio, Ortofon, Dr. Feickert Analog, Stillpoints and Tri-Planar, benefitted from the set-up talents of Doug White. Doug White, if you don’t […]

Treehaus AudioLab | AXPONA 2024

April 16, 2024 1

At AXPONA 2024, I heard Treehaus AudioLab for the very first time. I’ve been wanting to slip into this room and take a quick listen for the last three or four high end audio shows, […]

Aretai at Midnight | AXPONA 2024

April 22, 2024 2

Let me tell you about my “Aretai at Midnight” story. I had a busy Saturday evening at AXPONA 2024–drinks in the hotel bar, a heavy dinner, and by ten I just wanted to get to […]

2023 Product of the Year

December 17, 2023 Comments Off

I’ve made a few changes for the 2023 Product of the Year Awards. Usually I limit the nominees to products our team at PTA has reviewed over the year. That implies we have significant seat […]

2023 Best Value Awards

December 15, 2023 7

PTA’s 2023 Best Value Awards are marked by an underlying theme, that old audio reviewer canard of saying “I liked it so much, I bought it!” Many of the 2023 Best Value nominees below are […]

Stocking Stuffers for Audiophiles | Buyers Guide 2024

December 8, 2023 2

I’ve been told on multiple occasions by numerous people that when it comes to holiday gifts, I’m notoriously “tough to buy for.” Nonsense! I’m an audiophile! I have a million things I want, and I […]

2024’s Best Hi-Fi Accessories | Buyers Guide 2024

December 3, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Hi-Fi Accessories from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for 2024. We’re not saying that these are the “best” hi-fi accessories or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying […]

2024’s Best Cables, Power and Grounding | Buyers Guide 2024

December 3, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Cables, Power Management and Grounding from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” cables, power management and grounding devices or that these choices somehow overrule […]

2024’s Best Headphone Gear | Buyers Guide 2024

December 3, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Headphone Gear from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that this is the “best” headphone gear or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that these […]

2024’s Best Digital Playback | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Digital Playback for the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” digital playback products or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that […]

2024’s Best Cartridges, Tonearms and Headshells | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 Comments Off

Welcome to 2024’s Best Cartridges, Tonearms and Headshells section from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” cartridges, tonearms and headshells or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s […]

2024’s Best Phono Preamplifiers and SUTs | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 Comments Off

Welcome to 2024’s best phono preamplifiers and SUTs from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” phono preamplifiers and SUTs or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. […]

2024’s Best Turntables | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 1

Welcome to 2024’s Best Turntables from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” turntables or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that these are the […]

2024’s Best Preamplifiers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 1

Welcome to 2024’s Best Preamplifiers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” preamplifiers or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that these are the […]

2024’s Best Power Amplifiers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 4

Welcome to 2024’s Best Power Amplifiers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” power amplifiers in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

2024’s Best Integrated Amplifiers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 6

Welcome to 2024’s Best Integrated Amplifiers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” integrated amps in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

2024’s Best Floorstanding Speakers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 12

Welcome to 2024’s Best Floorstanding Speakers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” floorstanding speakers in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

2024’s Best Bookshelf Speakers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 9

Welcome to 2024’s Best Bookshelf Speakers for the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” bookshelf speakers in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

Innuos Factory Tour | On the Road

The story of my Innuos factory tour starts off in a fascinating part of the world–Faro, Portugal, at the southwestern tip of the Iberian peninsula, a relatively short distance from the Spanish border, Gibraltar, the [...]

LSA Discovery Warp One Power Amplifier | REVIEW

I’m always open to listening to value proposition gear since it can be so much fun. When Underwood Hi-Fi (website) offered up their $1,499 LSA Discovery Warp One amplifier for review, I jumped at the [...]

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