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 […]
totaldac
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 […]
Buyers Guide
The Best DACs, Servers, Streamers and Disc Spinners | Buyers Guide Summer 2021
The Best DACs, Servers, Streamers, and Disc Spinners [Editor’s note: Welcome to the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for Summer 2021! These are the best DACs, streamers, servers and disc-spinners that we, the PTA team, have […]
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 […]
Buyers Guide
The Best DACs, Servers, Streamers, and Disc Spinners | Buyers Guide 2021
The Best DACs, Servers, Streamers, and Disc Spinners [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 […]
Digital
TotalDAC USB Gigafilter | Review
Digital is dicey Looking at the totalDAC USB Gigafilter, you ask questions. Digital is supposed to be straightforward: ones and zeroes coded as “Hi” and “Lo” voltage signals, all marching forward in a straight line […]
Announcements
TotalDAC to introduce AMP-1 at High-End 2019
Vincent Brient of totaldac has a new product to introduce at the Munich show in May — and it’s not a DAC. This time around, it’s an amplifier, the AMP-1. No word on pricing, specs, […]
RMAF 2018
DeVore Orangutan Reference at RMAF 2018
DeVore Fidelity took a giant leap upmarket at RMAF with the debut of their still-to-be-priced Orangutan Reference loudspeakers. Here’s what we know. Bandwidth: 16Hz-45kHz Sensitivity: 98dB Impedance: 12Ω Like their stable mates, the DeVore Orangutan […]
Munich 2018
Munich High End 2018: totaldac shows off d1-twelve DAC and new USB GIGAFILTER
For those who’ve followed my path meandering through digital audio, and streaming in particular with Tidal Hi-Fi, the name totaldac might be a familiar one. I’ve been hooked on Vincent Brient’s designs for more than […]
Loudspeakers
The DeVore Fidelity O/93 loudspeaker long-term review
There’s something about John DeVore’s loudspeakers that intrinsically connect me to the music. Jazz, blues, EDM, folk, rock, or pop… it doesn’t matter. The electron translations being performed by DeVore Fidelity designs – like the […]
RMAF 2017
RMAF 2017: DeVore Fidelity unleash Gibbon Super Nine, Tone Audio rock steady with Sugden, SPEC
For the last few years John DeVore, and Jonathan Halpern have been hosting an exclusive speakeasy in the Denver Marriott Tech Centre during RMAF. It’s always in the same room, on the same floor, and for […]
Announcements
Review updates: Harbeth, DeVore, Totem, Pass Labs, totaldac, AudioQuest, Pro-Ject, PS Audio… coming from Rafe
2017 is rocketing past us, and with the summer at its zenith I thought it was time for a quick update on what’s happening with me up north here on the Best Coast in Vancouver. […]
Munich 2017
High End 2017: New totaldac d150 loudspeaker system
I’m an unabashed fan of Vincent Brient’s totaldac DAC/Streamer designs. The French electronics engineer, and wunderkind behind the bespoke, discrete R2R ladder DAC components he has founded his company on is a soft-spoken man who let’s […]
Digital
Review: Roon, Tidal and totaldac – Part Two – delving into Roon
This is the second part of a three-part series on living with a computer-based audio system from an analog diehard’s perspective, and how it has changed the way my family, and I listen to music […]
Audio-Life
Pass Labs and DeVore Fidelity arrive for review
Some equipment just speaks your language. Pass Labs designs have always been a favourite of mine on the audio-show circuit. They construct incredibly musical components with real sonic muscle that never sacrifices air or detail, so […]
Announcements
CH Precision and Dynaudio in house for review
The queue of equipment in the house for review is growing longer, and with the help of David Chan, and Lawrence Lock from DVL Audio I managed to get my hands on the L1 preamplifier, […]
Announcements
totaldac announce new flagship d150 loudspeakers
Vincent Brient of totaldac renown in France has been incredibly busy with his d-1 series of R2R ladder DACs, and streamers for the last few years, (which have received critical acclaim in the high-fidelity press. I have a […]
Digital
Updated – MQA and Tidal: Initial listening impressions
First of all, I’m not a “high-resolution” expert by any stretch. I’m a simple analog caveman who finds himself in a digital world. But I absolutely love what Roon, and Tidal do together with the […]
Announcements
Best of 2016 and Product of the Year
So here we are again. Somehow, the year has turned, we’re all facing yet another New Year, and yet no one is running through the streets screaming about “the end of meaning”, “the inexorable march […]
Digital
Review: Roon, Tidal and TotalDac – Part One
Can computer streaming turn an analog house into a digital domain? What does it take to get a vinyl junkie who only listens to LPs to give up his fix, and go cold turkey with […]