brinkmann

AXPONA 2017: Music From Another Room, Part 2

June 11, 2017

A photojournal by Eric Franklin Shook Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, proving again that there is more than one way to skin a cat. Axpona is to me an ensemble interpretation of beauty, ruggedness, finesse and power; all tangled in a whirlwind [...]

LA Audio Show 2017: Welcome to the Jungle

June 1, 2017

I strung together a long list of swear words and shook my suitcase helplessly. I was tired, and in no mood to be tested by an insubordinate piece of luggage. I had arrived at my hotel room at the Sheraton Gateway for the Los Angeles Audio Show and [...]

RMAF 2016: Intervention Records and Vandersteen 7s

December 1, 2016

For a record collector like me, lacquers of classic albums are a bit of a holy grail. Lacquers are the fragile pressings that are later used to make stampers which produce the final LP. Typically collectors pay hundred of dollars for these [...]

Capital Audiofest 2016: Because Tidal, enough said

August 9, 2016

I was told, years ago, that there were certain expectations that were completely legitimate to cling to. Horns have a certain sound to them, for example. As do triodes. And panel speakers. And ceramic drivers. The problem, perhaps obvious giving the [...]

Newport 2016: Nordost

June 27, 2016

NEWPORT 2016: NORDOST Nordost came out swinging at T.H.E. Show assembling a beautiful room of all-star components that just sang together and included the largest turntable isolation base seen since since I started this hobby. Nordost was [...]

High End 2016: Brinkmann and Vandersteen and MQA

May 25, 2016

MQA is becoming a reality; the company has a new partner under Brinkmann Audio who despite being a world-class leader in turntable design has a history on digital audio as well with the “Zenith”, a DAC introduced back in 1986! In Munich they [...]

AXPONA 2016: Doshi Audio muscles around 450 lbs Wilson Alexx

May 16, 2016

Nobody is arguing that most Wilson Audio speakers aren’t big. Some of their kit is downright huge. These are serious speakers for serious cats who want large-scale playback capabilities. The Alexx weighs in at 450 lbs each (Midwest debut at [...]

High End 2016: Here we go

May 4, 2016

Scot is flying towards Munich; I will be doing the same at dawn. I hate flying that early and would do it for one reason only. It’s that time of the year. The biggest kermesse in this crazy audio world of hours, the High End Show of Munich, opens [...]

AXPONA 2016: Dan D’Agostino, the god of thunder

April 18, 2016

If there’s anyone in high-end audio who’s known for his skill at harnessing raw electricity and bending it to his will, it’s Dan D’Agostino. The equipment designer made his name a few decades ago with Krell amplifiers. That company’s early [...]

RMAF 2015: Dan D’Agostino powers up Wilson and gets an emotive hand from Lyra and Brinkman

October 8, 2015

All it takes is a quick glance at some rooms that you walk into at hi-fi shows and you just know it’s either going to connect with you, or it’s not. Surprises do happen of course, that’s why it pays to listen. But after hitting a [...]