Components
AVM Ovation CS 6.3 | REVIEW
In most cases, I use this opening sentence of an integrated amplifier review to tell you why I love integrated amplifiers. I can’t quite do that with the AVM Ovation CS 6.3 streaming CD receiver […]
Jeff Rowland Design Group
Components
Balanced Audio Technology VK-3500 Integrated Amplifier | REVIEW
It’s been twelve or thirteen years since I’ve had Balanced Audio Technology in for review. That previous time, the only real seat time I’ve had with BAT, was with a pair of all-tube separates that […]
Components
Jeff Rowland Design Group Capri S2-SC and Model 125 | REVIEW
The Jeff Rowland Design Group Capri S2-SC preamplifier and Model 125 amplifier are soooooo tiny. How tiny are they? When the boxes arrived at my front door, I said “This can’t be right. These boxes […]
Loudspeakers
TotalDAC d100 Loudspeakers | REVIEW
In all my years of being an audiophile, of being a high-end audio importer and distributor, of being an audio reviewer, I had never seen a pair of loudspeakers get split up in a shipment […]
Analog
Sumiko Amethyst MM Phono Cartridge | REVIEW
This isn’t the first time in the last few months where I had to explain my reasoning behind reviewing a certain component. Take this new Sumiko Amethyst cartridge, a moving-magnet cartridge that retails for a […]
Analog
Technics SL-1210GAE and SL-1200G Turntables | REVIEW
Why do a comparison between the Technics SL-1210GAE and SL-1200G? Everybody “knows” the Technics SL-1210GAE Anniversary turntable, which was just released last year, is better than the Technics SL-1200G. Why? Well, the classic Technics […]
Analog
Luminous Audio Technology Arion Mk. II Phono Preamplifier | REVIEW
“Did you ever hear one back in the day?” Tim Stinson of Luminous Audio Technology (website) asked me. He was referring to his Arion phono preamplifier, the original version which created a lot of buzz […]
Buyers Guide
The Best Phono Preamplifiers | Buyers Guide Summer 2021
The Best Phono Preamplifiers [Editor’s note: Welcome to the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for Summer 2021! These are the best phono preamplifiers that we, the PTA team, have heard.] Soundsmith MMP3 Mk. II ($799.95 USD) […]
Components
Jeff Rowland Design Group Continuum S2 Integrated Amplifier | REVIEW
Four hundred watts per channel. The Jeff Rowland Design Group Continuum S2 (website) has four hundred watts per channel. In over forty years of being an audiophile, including the twenty-plus years I’ve been reviewing hi-fi […]
Cables & Power
Nordost QKORE Ground Units and QKORE Wire | REVIEW
I enter the world of grounding, as it pertains to high-end audio, with some trepidation. When the Nordost QKORE products (website) first arrived at my doorstep—the QKORE1, QKORE 3 and QKORE6 Ground Units and quite […]
Analog
The Best Phono Preamplifiers | Buyers Guide 2021
The Best Phono Preamplifiers [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 […]
Components
Rotel A14 Integrated Amplifier | REVIEW
Why in the world would I want to review the Rotel A14 (website), an integrated amplifier with DAC and phono stage and headphone amplifier all sorts of features for just $1500? What is this, […]
Show Report
Now Listen Here “Micro-Show” Wrap-Up | Now Listen Here 2020
The Now Listen Here (a Tenacious Sound company) micro-show listening event was held at the Hyatt House Hotel in King of Prussia, PA. An event location with quick access to main highways, decent shopping, and […]
Analog
Goldring Ethos Phono Cartridge | REVIEW
I wasn’t supposed to review the Goldring Ethos phono cartridge. It merely hitched a ride with the Thorens TD-1601 turntable and arm combo that I have in for review. Anthony Chiarella, who represents both companies, […]
Analog
Fern & Roby Montrose Turntable and Tonearm | REVIEW
A few months ago, Dave and Carol Clark of Positive Feedback made a social media post where they told friends in the industry they were looking for a new turntable and asked everyone an audiophile’s […]
Analog
Jeff Rowland Design Group Conductor Phono Preamplifier | REVIEW
Having a Jeff Rowland Design Group product in my reference system reminds me, in a roundabout way, of one of the greatest hi-fi systems I’ve heard. This happened nearly a decade ago, at the […]
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 […]
RMAF 2019
Classic Album Sundays | RMAF 2019
The idea behind Classic Album Sundays is simple: the idea of listening to entire albums, uninterrupted, is a lost art in the 21st century and we should do everything we can to bring it back. […]
THE Show 2019
More Rooms from Sunny Components | T.H.E. Show 2019
Sunny Components Inc. made a huge impression on me at T.H.E. Show 2019 with their Stenheim/CH Precision/Technics room. But, as I mentioned before, Sunny’s had four exhibit rooms at the show and each one impressed […]
RMAF 2018
RMAF 2018: Jeff Rowland Design Group and the Ultimate Phono Pre for Multiple Tonearms
Lucien Pichette of the Jeff Rowland Design Group is an old friend of ours. He grew up in Montrose, Colorado, where Colleen and I lived for a few years, and I used to drive past […]