Components
Ampsandsound Zion Monoblocks | REVIEW
The story of the Ampsandsound Zion Monos (website) is the story of the best amplifiers I’ve ever had in my system. Full stop. Go back and read that twice. If It seems like I’m giving […]
Modwright Instruments
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) […]
Analog
ModWright PH 9.0 Phono Stage | REVIEW
The story of the ModWright PH 9.0 phono stage (website) is in many ways the story of my entry into the world of high-end vinyl playback, coinciding with my first serious turntable, then a second, […]
Digital
TotalDAC d1-tube-mk2 | REVIEW
Like me, you probably recognize TotalDAC d1-tube-mk2 and the TotalDAC brand (website) in general, but you may know very little about them. This French company has a stellar reputation for making high-end converters, but I’ve […]
Analog
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO Turntable | REVIEW
Debutantes Wear White Pro-Ject’s Debut Carbon EVO landed on my doorstep in what seemed like mere minutes after I’d been asking Managing Editor Eric Franklin Shook, “They want me to do a turntable review? But […]
Announcements
ModWright Instruments Unveils HAL 9000 Supercomputer
AMBOY, WA (PTA) — We received a press release this afternoon from who (or what) we believe to be Dan Wright of ModWright Instruments announcing the company’s newest model HAL 9000 Supercomputer. Reporting by Eric […]
Florida 2020
ModWright, EgglestonWorks, Wolf, WyWires, T+A, Stillpoints, VPI | FLAX 2020
In my coverage of Eikon Audio, I noted how I failed to recognize audio legend Gayle Sanders when he first approached me. I did the same exact thing in the ModWright Instruments and EgglestonWorks room […]
Florida 2020
Saturday Highlights | FLAX 2020
My Saturday highlights for FLAX 2020 start off with the fact that I haven’t seen much of Tampa during my visit–except what I can view from my 14th floor hotel room. I can barely see […]
Audio-Life
Fern & Roby Listening Room Open House
I’ve been looking forward to the Fern & Roby Listening Room Open House event for most of the year, pretty much since Eric Franklin Shook and I visited the factory back in the spring and […]
CAF 2019
Marc’s Capital Audiofest Wrap-Up | CAF 2019
Much of my Capital Audiofest wrap-up has already been telegraphed. I talked about my favorite rooms in The Occasional Podcast, and I’ve hinted as much in these show reports. You’ve probably already guessed that this […]
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 […]
CAF 2019
Fern and Roby Raven II, LTA, Black Cat Cable, Auralic | CAF 2019
As I mentioned, the Fern and Roby Raven loudspeakers were featured in two separate rooms at the 2019 Capital Audiofest–in that very special room with ModWright Instruments amplification, and this room with a more familiar […]
CAF 2019
Fern and Roby, ModWright Instruments, Black Cat Cable | CAF 2019
I know I’ve been blathering on and on about Fern & Roby lately–the review of the $9500/pair Raven loudspeakers appeared just before the 2019 Capital Audiofest, Eric Franklin and I featured out tour of the […]
CAF 2019
Capital Audiofest Friday Highlights | CAF 2019
It was fairly difficult to come up with Capital Audiofest Friday Highlights, and not for a bad reason. I don’t like to judge rooms on sound on the first day of the show–it takes at […]
CAF 2019
Marc’s Capital Audiofest Preview | CAF 2019
I thought a 2019 Capital Audiofest preview from me was necessary, since so many products featured at the show are being reviewed (or have been reviewed) by both Part-Time Audiophile and The Occasional. This is […]
LSAF 2019
High Fidelity Cables, Magnetic Innovations | Lone Star Audio Fest 2019
DALLAS (PTA) — When you sit in front of your stereo system, do you think about the number of magnets working inside of it? The Story Magnetism controls the musical wave, from microphones to loudspeakers, […]
CAF 2018
CAF 2018: ModWright Instruments, Fritz Speakers and Oh, It’s You Again
It became a running joke after a while. I’d be walking the halls at the 2018 Capital Audiofest, I’d look up and Fritz would be standing there or walking by or coming out of a […]
CAF 2018
CAF 2018: Fritz Speakers, ModWright Instruments, Zu Audio, Fern & Roby; The cool kids room
Fritz Speakers prove their versatility, ModWright Instruments exhibits choice sound, Fern & Roby spin a few tunes, and Zu Audio ties it all together. The Story The Fritz speakers are quite legendary in online audio […]
CAF 2018
CAF 2018: Must See Rooms, Friday
There are over 1,000,000 brands exhibiting here at Capital Audiofest … okay, okay, — I don’t know how many brands exactly, but it does seem like a lot this year. Which makes 2018’s event […]
RMAF 2018
RMAF 2018 Preview: Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks
Rocky Mountain Audio Fest Oct 5-7 2018 It’s that time of year again, RMAF 2018 is upon on us, and this year’s festival of sound proves to be just as exciting as any of the […]