LA Audio Show 2017: Wrap-Up and John Stancavage’s Best of Show
Audio shows can be a strange experience. No, I’m not talking about catching a frightening glimpse of yours truly, shakily down on all fours, getting a close-up photo of an [...]
tubes
McIntosh MP1100 Phono Preamplifier | REVIEW
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 [...]
LA Audio Show 2017: Rethm, Audio Hungary, Aqua create pleasing sound at attractive price
Looking at price tags at audio shows quickly can start your head spinning. Yes, this hobby is called the high-end, but really? That’s why I always enjoy finding rooms where [...]
LA Audio Show 2017: Magico, VAC provide head-soothing sound
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 [...]
LA Audio Show 2017: Upscale Audio’s PrimaLuna Dialogue HP integrated much more than ‘good for the money’
If you run into a friendly, middle-aged man at an audio show calling himself “Uncle Kevvy,” you can be sure that nearby there will be two things: lots of tubes and good [...]
LA Audio Show 2017: Zesto’s tubes shine in the spotlight
George and Carolyn Counnas, proprietors of Zesto Audio, probably are pinching themselves frequently these days. For a small maker of tube gear that’s not much more than six [...]
LA Audio Show 2017: Spatial speakers and Vinnie Rossi LIO – literally made for each other
One of the often-elusive challenges in this hobby is finding components that work together so spectacularly that the aural result borders on magical. You’d think choosing [...]
High End 2017: Blumenhofer, MasterSound, Cammino and the final horn room
This is it. This is my last horn-loaded loudspeaker room writeup from High End 2017 at the MOC in Munich. Some of you will lament this, other rejoice, but to both camps I say [...]
High End 2017: TuneAudio, Trafomatic, Rockna, and Skogrand Cables stock the candy store
I felt like I was in candy store. Everything looked colourful, mouthwatering, and sugary… the sound was also drawing me into the sweet spot for an extended listening [...]
High End 2017: The horns of Azzolina Audio, Thomas Mayer amplification, Vinylista turntables
Aubergine? That was the closest colour match I could think of to describe the large, tasty Sphera horns that Azzoline Audio – the creation of Frenchman Chuck [...]
