PAF 2023
Notable Audio | PAF 2023
Notable Audio, if you don’t know, is the importing and distributing wing of Jeff Fox’s audio empire. Jeff, of course, has been a dealer under the Command Performance A/V moniker for as long as I […]
lyra
Audio-Life
Vandersteen 7XTRM, First Listen | On the Road
When Ultra Fidelis sent out the notice that Richard Vandersteen would be visiting Milwaukee with the new flagship Vandersteen 7XTRM loudspeaker, my brain immediately began planning how I could be there. Making the two hour […]
Buyers Guide
The Best Cartridges, Tonearms, and Headshells | Buyers Guide Summer 2022
Welcome to the Best Phono Cartridges, Tonearms, and Headshells section of the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for Summer 2022. The Guide is more than “We heartily endorse this [fill in the blank].” This collection represents […]
Announcements
The Best of Buyers Guide 2022
The Best of Buyers Guide [Editor’s Note: Welcome to the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. This year we’ve added more entries to the Buyers Guide, which means we had to review more products than last year. […]
Buyers Guide
The Best Phono Cartridges, Tonearms and Headshells | Buyers Guide 2022
Welcome to the Best Phono Cartridges, Tonearms, and Headshells section of the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for 2022. The Guide is more than “We heartily endorse this [fill in the blank ].” This collection represents […]
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 […]
Buyers Guide
The Best of The Buyers Guide 2021
The Best of The Buyers Guide 2021 [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, […]
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 […]
Review
Wilson Audio Pedestal | REVIEW
Over the years, we’ve tried endless numbers of tweaks to get the most out of our components. Some work, others don’t, and some behave as un-wanted tone controls. It’s a puzzle that every audiophile loves […]
CAF 2019
LKV Research, Sonner Audio, Basis, Lyra, Small Green, Roon Labs, Prism Sound | CAF 2019
WASHINGTON DC (PTA) — LKV Research along with Sonner Audio, Basis, Lyra, Small Green Computer, Roon Labs, and Prism Sound really put on a good show. LKV Research was debuting their new Veros PWR+ for […]
RMAF 2019
Audio Alternative, Vandersteen, VTL, AudioQuest | RMAF 2019
Audio Alternative, the highly-regarded dealer from Fort Collins CO, featured an impressive room that included the debut of the new Vandersteen Kento Carbon loudspeakers ($37,500/pair), as well as the new Vandersteen M5-HPA monoblock power amplifiers. […]
RMAF 2019
Nordost Cables, VTL, YG Acoustics | RMAF 2019
When I sat down and listened to the Nordost Cables, VTL and YG Acoustics room at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, I had no idea what resonance synchronization and why I needed such a […]
Analog
D’Agostino Momentum Phono | Review
There is no lack of religion, opinions, or passion when it comes to vinyl. Which table, which tonearm, which cartridge, which geometry or even which equalization curve to use? Lots of smoke. Maybe even some […]
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 […]
THE Show 2019
Sunny Components, CH Precision, Stenheim, AudioQuest and Technics | T.H.E. Show 2019
Sunny Components in Covina was another Southern California dealer at T.H.E. Show 2019 with a dominating presence spread out over several rooms. One system that stood out for me, perhaps over all others, was an […]
CES
CES 2019: New VTL Phonostage sings with Lyra
Luke Manley and Bea Lam are two of the hardest working folks in the business. At every show, you can feel confident that VTL will have a room and its going to sounds fabulous. So […]
CAF 2018
CAF 2018: VPI Industries, AudioShield, Krell, Wilson Audio, Soundsmith, Nordost; If more is better, too much is almost enough
VPI Industries was in direct control, AudioShield had the room well protected, Krell and Wilson Audio tango with reference style, Soundsmith and Lyra go head-to-head, Nordost throws a lasso around the crowd. The Story Twice as […]
RMAF 2018
RMAF 2018: The Audio Alternative, Audioquest, Vandersteen, AMG, Lyra and VTL
I was enthusiastic about checking out the Audioquest room at the 2018 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. Just a few months ago I met Audioquest’s Bill Low when he strolled into one of my dealer’s stores […]
Loudspeakers
Wilson Audio Sasha DAW with dCS Bartók DAC | First Listen
Brian Berdan, owner of Audio Element in Pasadena California grew up in a household filled with music, his late father was a well known hi-fi dealer, so I can suspect that he had some killer […]