PAF 2022
Serhan Swift, Les Davis Audio | PAF 2022
It’s been four years since I was a distributor, so I think enough time has passed for me to wax rhapsodic about my dear friend Brad Serhan and his speaker designs. I still use his […]
dynavector
THE Show 2022
Acora Acoustics, Ampsandsound, Lampizator, Thrax, Audio Research, Dynavector | THE Show 2022
Regular readers will know by now that Dave McNair, myself and the rest of the PTA Team have an enormous amount of respect and appreciation for Acora Acoustics and founder Valerio Cora, who is perhaps […]
AXPONA 2022
Drooling over Acora, VAC, LampizatOr, UHA, TW-Acustic | AXPONA 2022
I am not in the budget for an ultra-fi system — and probably never will be. That fact, sad though it is, is true for most of us. HOWEVER, the point of the ultra-fi is […]
Show Report
Grover’s Wrap-Up and Best of Show | T.H.E. SHOW 2021
THE SHOW 2021 was, by my estimation, a reason for cautious optimism. Everything appeared to go off without a hitch, attendees were well-behaved and plentiful enough, and exhibitors seemed pleased by the amount and depth […]
Show Report
Alsyvox, Vitus Audio, Kuzma, Computer Audio Design, Dynavector, Purist Audio Design | T.H.E. SHOW 2021
Cake Audio, another local Southern California dealer, was showing the perennially popular Alsyvox (website) Botticceli speakers in a room I’m convinced was designed to double as a sensory deprivation chamber. Besides bringing a very literally meaning […]
Buyers Guide
The Best Tonearms and Phono Cartridges | Buyers Guide Summer 2021
The Best Tonearms [Editor’s note: Welcome to the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for Summer 2021! These are the best tonearms that we, the PTA team, have heard.] Tonearms Sorane TA-1L ($1,875 USD) From the Japanese […]
Analog
Ana Mighty Sound, Great Cartridge Maker and Rebuilder | REVIEW
Before I even bring up Ana Mighty Sound (website), let me state that I abhor rebuilt cartridges. They are to me, unholy, defiled, inferior, and more often than not, a far cry from the real […]
Analog
The Best Tonearms and Phono Cartridges | Buyers Guide 2021
The Best Tonearms [Editor’s note: Welcome to the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for 2021! This year we decided to mix it up a little by breaking up the Buyers Guide into sections, which makes it […]
Components
Audio Hungary Qualiton APX 200 Vacuum Tube Stereo Power Amplifier | REVIEW
When Mark Sossa of Well Pleased AV called about dropping off a pair of the excellent QLN Prestige Three speakers for me to review a few months back, he casually mentioned he might also bring […]
Analog
LampizatOr Vinyl Phono MC1 | REVIEW
What the heck is in THAT thing? That was my first reaction to the huge road case I signed for from my delivery guy. My second reaction was “Dayum, I don’t remember there being an amplifier […]
Analog
ZYX Ultimate 100 Phono Cartridge | REVIEW
There is something about a curry. Sorry, but for some reason when I started making serious notes about the sound of the ZYX Ultimate 100 moving coil phono cartridge, I thought of food. I love Indian […]
Loudspeakers
Qln Prestige Three Loudspeaker | REVIEW
Last November at the 2019 Capital Audio Fest, I had a fantastic time hearing numerous amazing systems and meeting some great folks. One of the many rooms I enjoyed was hosted by Well Pleased AV […]
Analog
Rega P10 Turntable | REVIEW
By means of introduction to the Rega P10 turntable, let me start by saying that I work as a mastering engineer. For some time, I’ve wanted to upgrade my current turntable, a Rega P3, to […]
Florida 2020
Suncoast Audio, Stenheim, VAC, Aurender, Acoustic Signature, Critical Mass Systems | FLAX 2020
Every time I visit a high-end audio show room with Stenheim loudspeakers, I mention how I’m trying to get a pair in for review–specifically, the Alumine 2 bookshelf speakers ($11,950). I’ve heard these Swiss speakers, […]
CAF 2019
Studio Electric, SOTA, ModWright Instruments, Skogrand Cables | CAF 2019
I was eager to hit this room at the 2019 Capital Audiofest for two reasons–first, I wanted to hear some of the Studio Electric loudspeakers after Eric Franklin Shook’s very positive review of the stand-mount […]
Florida 2019
FLORIDA 2019: Backert Labs, RJS Acoustics, Pass Labs, Luminous Audio, Render life in the music
RJS Acoustics brought the MD6 Bass Augmentation Speaker System, Backert Labs showed their new Rhumba Extreme 1.3 tube preamplifier, Pass Labs brings the power, and Luminous Audio Technology ties it all together. The Story Starting […]
AXPONA 2018
AXPONA 2018: Stereo Haven lives up to it’s Name
Stereo Haven is probably one of the most aptly named bricks & mortar outfits out there. I came across it late in the afternoon Friday during the AXPONA weekend at a time when I needed […]
AXPONA 2018
AXPONA 2018: The MUST SEE Rooms of Day Three
Welcome to Chicago There are over 160 rooms and exhibits here at Axpona. Making this event the largest audio show in North America. For some this can be overwhelming and cause a bit of anxiety. […]
Music
Review: Getting my groove on with one-step vinyl releases
In business, it can be advantageous to cut out the middle man. In vinyl record production, too, less can be more. The latest mini-trend in the audiophile world is one-step recordings, which eliminate two parts […]
LAAS 2017
LA Audio Show 2017: Gene Rubin, Harbeth 30.1 make music, magic
Attending the three biggest U.S. high-end shows last year, I got to hear a lot of speakers. Many were new, exotic, state-of-the-art designs, driven by megabuck equipment. A fair number of those produced impressive sound. Yet, […]
