Articles by Part-Time Audiophile

Revisited: PS Audio DirectStream DAC and Memory Player

August 20, 2017

by John Richardson OK folks, this one is an ongoing saga here in the world of Part-Time Audiophile. Like a boomerang (or certain Millennial offspring) the subject of this review just keeps coming back again and again. Why? Well that’s an easy one: [...]

MOOGFEST 2017 // Part Two

August 13, 2017

by Eric Franklin Shook Click here for MOOGFEST 2017 // Part One. Durham: Moving Full Steam Ahead By this point in my two part series on MOOGFEST, (part one can be seen HERE) I am now a bonafide convert, fan, and proponent of all things Durham. [...]

Review: Audio Research Reference Phono 3

August 6, 2017

By Richard Mak Closer to the master tape In the world of high end audio two of the most revered names in the industry are McIntosh and Audio Research. McIntosh, founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh and Audio Research in 1970 by William (Bill) Johnson, [...]

Review: McIntosh MP1100 Phono Preamplifier, digging into your vinyl grooves

July 30, 2017

When the McIntosh MP1100 phono preamplifier arrived at my doorstep, I was as excited as when I saw the first McIntosh product at 12 years old. I admit, I am a McIntosh fan boy, perhaps not blindly starry -eyed enough to buy the $1,800 USD McIntosh [...]

Mini-Review: Zu Audio Dirty Weekend Omen Version II

July 29, 2017

by John Richardson Sometimes just reading the news here at PTA gets me into trouble. Like last March, when I happened upon a blurb about Zu Audio’s Dirty Weekend event, where a stripped down version of the company’s popular budget floorstander, [...]

GoldenEar Triton References: in Dealers Now and Ready for Audition

July 26, 2017

A little bird (okay, okay, it was Sandy Gross) told me that the long-lusted-for (by yours truly) flagship GoldenEar loudspeakers, the Triton Reference ($8,498US/pair), are now “out in the wild”. Highly anticipated, GoldenEar has now [...]

Grado Labs Introduces Their Finest Cartridges: EPOCH and AEON

July 25, 2017

Received some rather interesting news out of Brooklyn, NY today. Grado Labs has some brand new phono cartridges! Grado Epoch: $12,000; August 2017 Grado Aeon: $6,000; Early 2018 From the press release: The Brooklyn Company Kicks Off The Lineage [...]

MOOGFEST 2017 // Part One

July 23, 2017

by Eric Franklin Shook Click here for MOOGFEST 2017 // Part Two. The synthesis of music, art, and technology Their mission: “Grow a community of futurists who explore emerging sound technologies and design radical instruments for change.” Seems [...]

The Smoking Jacket: Pablo’s Boutique

July 23, 2017

By Marc Phillips As an agnostic progressive, I’ve learned to keep my own counsel when herfing with strangers or casual acquaintances. I don’t want to perpetuate any stereotypes about knuckle-dragging cigar smokers, but I also don’t want to get [...]

Spirited Away: Basil Hayden’s, Four Roses Single Barrel, Michter’s US*1 Unblended American Whiskey

July 22, 2017

by Brian Hunter This is a tale of three whiskeys. All damn good whiskeys in their own right, mind you, but this trifecta happens to land very close to each other in price as well as origin (as do most American bourbons). Basil Hayden’s, Four Roses [...]