phono

Review: Audio Research Reference Phono 3

August 6, 2017

By Richard Mak Closer to the master tape In the world of high end audio two of the most revered names in the industry are McIntosh and Audio Research. McIntosh, founded in 1949 by Frank McIntosh and Audio Research in 1970 by William (Bill) Johnson, [...]

Review: McIntosh MP1100 Phono Preamplifier, digging into your vinyl grooves

July 30, 2017

When the McIntosh MP1100 phono preamplifier arrived at my doorstep, I was as excited as when I saw the first McIntosh product at 12 years old. I admit, I am a McIntosh fan boy, perhaps not blindly starry -eyed enough to buy the $1,800 USD McIntosh [...]

Grado Labs Introduces Their Finest Cartridges: EPOCH and AEON

July 25, 2017

Received some rather interesting news out of Brooklyn, NY today. Grado Labs has some brand new phono cartridges! Grado Epoch: $12,000; August 2017 Grado Aeon: $6,000; Early 2018 From the press release: The Brooklyn Company Kicks Off The Lineage [...]

LA Audio Show 2017: Magico, VAC provide head-soothing sound

July 11, 2017

Toward the end of three hectic days covering the Los Angeles Audio Show, I was coming down with a nasty migraine as I entered the large Scott Walker Audio room at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel. Valve Amplification Co. CEO Kevin Hayes was standing just [...]

McIntosh Announces new MA9000 Integrated Amplifier

July 6, 2017

Touted as their “Biggest Integrated Amplifier” (which is really saying something), McIntosh Labs is today launching another battleship of an amp, this time an integrated going by the moniker MA9000. With 300 watts per channel, two [...]

Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs shipping turntables, cartridges, phono stages

June 29, 2017

Lionel Goodfield of Mobile Fidelity Distribution shot me a note today saying the long-awaited Mofi turntables, cartridges, and phono stages were shipping, and also sent a press release with the full price list. Here’s a link to Mofi [...]

Munich 2017: Nagra, Kronos, and Wilson make listeners see red

June 12, 2017

We’ve all heard the phrase, pictured it in our minds, or seen a commercial based on it. Like waving a red flag at a bull. That’s what the Nagra room in the 4.2 Atrium level of High End at Munich felt like when I walked into it. The [...]

LA Audio Show 2017: Gene Rubin Audio impresses with LFD, Harbeth, Acoustic Signature, Aurender, CanEver.

June 10, 2017

I don’t know about you, but I really appreciate hand built high-fidelity components. And when it comes to integrated amplifiers, few are more bespoke than what British amplifier manufacturer LFD are offering. While many of the most coveted [...]

Review: Dynamic Sounds Associates Phono II

February 18, 2017

Being an audiophile is difficult. Being an audiophile into vinyl is more difficult. Being an audiophile who is so into vinyl that you have more than one turntable is bordering on a personality disorder. Having a turntable is often looked upon as a [...]

CES 2017: Sun setting on Vegas for high fidelity?

February 6, 2017

This CES was my first. Thing is, it just might be my last. Consensus among fellow journalists, hi-fi manufacturers, distributors, and bricks & mortar owners is that it’s no longer a good fit for home audio, and attendance by companies [...]