Analog
Van den Hul Crimson XGW Stradivarius | REVIEW
Last year I reviewed the Van den Hul The Grail phono stage, and I gave it a firm recommendation. If you’ve read that review, you’ll know that I hoped to spend some seat time with […]
zyx ultimate airy
Components
SPL Performer s1200 Power Amplifier | REVIEW
When I first installed the SPL Performer s1200 power amplifier into my main system a few months ago, I was a little worried. The Lab12 Integre4 integrated amplifier had just left the building, and I […]
Analog
Van den Hul The Grail Phono Preamplifier | REVIEW
Van den Hul? I finally get to review some Van den Hul? Honestly, I’m not entirely sure I’ve even heard a Van den Hul product before. Maybe at a high-end audio show or in a […]
Analog
Brinkmann Taurus Direct Drive Turntable | REVIEW
It seems as if the better part of last year was focused on reviewing the Brinkmann Taurus turntable. First, I arranged for a series of cartridges and phono stages that would be suitable for this […]
Analog
Brinkmann Edison Mk. II Phono Preamplifier | REVIEW
I hate being one of those high-end reviewers who hold onto gear forever, stretching the process out over months and months, waiting for other products to show up, working out whatever issues come up, and […]
Analog
Hagerman Audio Labs Trumpet MC Phono Preamplifier | REVIEW
I don’t have a story about Hagerman Audio Labs from the old days, other than the fact that they offered a product I found intriguing—an affordable tube phono stage called the Trumpet that sounded […]
Analog
Sumiko Celebration 40 MC Phono Cartridge | REVIEW
The Sumiko Celebration 40 moving-coil phono cartridge entered the stable during a very busy time for analog at my place. I’ve plenty of phono preamps and step-up transformers and cartridges in for review, and we’re […]
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 […]
Analog
Technics SL-1210GAE and SL-1200G Turntables | REVIEW
Why do a comparison between the Technics SL-1210GAE and SL-1200G? Everybody “knows” the Technics SL-1210GAE Anniversary turntable, which was just released last year, is better than the Technics SL-1200G. Why? Well, the classic Technics […]
Analog
Luminous Audio Technology Arion Mk. II Phono Preamplifier | REVIEW
“Did you ever hear one back in the day?” Tim Stinson of Luminous Audio Technology (website) asked me. He was referring to his Arion phono preamplifier, the original version which created a lot of buzz […]
Analog
ZYX Ultimate Airy X Cartridge | REVIEW
The first time I listened to the ZYX Ultimate Airy X cartridge it instantly reminded me of Scot Hull’s wife, Julia. I know that sounds strange, and even Scot’s probably thinking “WTF, Marc?” right about […]
Analog
Parasound Halo JC 3+ Phono Preamplifier | REVIEW
Is the Parasound Halo JC 3+ phono preamplifier (website) a modern incarnation of the Vendetta Research? Before you answer that, have you ever heard John Curl’s original Vendetta Research phono preamplifier? I have, maybe about […]
Components
Bryston Audio 4B³ Power Amplifier | REVIEW
At first it sounded like a great idea. A few months ago, Bryston Audio (website) asked me if I wanted to review the newest version of their truly iconic power amplifier, the 4B. They […]
Analog
LSA T-3 Turntable | REVIEW
Maybe you’ve started to notice a certain theme in many of my reviews, so it won’t surprise you to hear that the LSA T-3 turntable (website) and I also go way back. We’re talking […]
Analog
GEM Dandy PolyTable Signature Turntable with Sorane TA-1L Tonearm | REVIEW
I do have a couple of my patented old audio guy stories about George Merrill, the legendary turntable designer who now makes the GEM Dandy PolyTable Signature turntable. (Website here.) The first isn’t really a […]
