How To Buy A Violin... Or Something Like
That
Laying out money for music.
Article
By Roger Skoff
It's
only been about a century since, if you wanted to hear music, you either had to
play or sing it yourself or get somebody else to do it for you. Sure, the first
music recording was made back in 1860, by a Frenchman, Edouard-Leon Scott de
Martinville, and, sure, the phonograph (but not in a form we'd recognize it
today) was invented in 1877 by Thomas Edison, but it wasn't until 1925 that
electrical recording came along and made buying a record for an evening of
listening a practical reality. And it wasn't until the 1940s that even any
attempt was made to record and reproduce what we now call "High Fidelity" sound.
Before then, if you wanted to listen to music at home, you
either had to make it yourself or invite people over to make it for or with you.
--->
How To Buy A Violin... Or Something Like That.
World Premiere Review!
LessLoss BlackGround For Speakers Review
A breakthrough loudspeaker signal conditioner.
Review By Rick Becker
The
original LessLoss
BlackGround 10X Power Base was such a spectacular
product it was an easy choice for an annual Blue Note Award in 2023. Then I
received advance word of the new BlackGround for Speakers. Would that be as
impressive as the original Power Base? Would it be simply an alternate choice?
Or would there be diminishing returns with both of them in the system? Then I discovered there would be both a stereo version and a
larger, more potent monoblock version of the new Speaker Base. How would these
two compare? And while I'm at it, Louis Motek had two power cords above
the base Prime cord that would improve the performance of the BlackGrounds.
Should I try those, too?
--->
LessLoss BlackGround For Speakers Review.
Montreal Audiofest 2026
Luxury Hi-Fi Audio Show Report
The ultimate audiophile and
music lover experience.
Montreal Audiofest 2026 (Salon Audio Montreal)
returned March
20th through 22nd, bringing Canada's premier high-end audiophile event to the city. Organizers
enjoyed welcoming thousands of music lovers and audiophiles eager to listen, see, and handle cutting-edge audio gear, with over
luxury 300 brands showcased under one roof. The three-day festival was designed for audiophiles, videophiles,
immersivephiles, and curious music lovers seeking modern immersive, hands-on
experiences. As the largest audio event in Canada, the event gathered top distributors, manufacturers, and retailers from the
high-end consumer electronics industry. Attendees joyously explore dedicated demo
listening rooms, vendor booths, and curated exhibits that highlight the latest in
luxurious loudspeakers, top-rated amplifiers, precision Hi-Res Audio DACs, turntables, immersive
headphones & portable audio, plus home A/V systems. The show's scale and industry presence
made it a
must-visit for anyone tracking trends in premium sound and home cinema.
---> Montreal Audiofest 2026 Luxury Hi-Fi Audio Show
Report.
AXPONA 2026 Features Audiophile Gear, Master Classes,
& Seminars
AXPONA 2026 is a three-day high-end audio event for audiophiles and industry insiders, running April 10th through 12th at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center just outside Chicago. AXPONA's programming emphasizes education and community: the schedule featured seminars, master classes, live concerts, and
after-hours events designed to pair technical deep dives with musical experiences. For attendees planning a visit, organizers and reviewers offered practical tips: plan your route through the many exhibit rooms, use the AXPONA app to track
must-hear demos, and expect international brands to debut flagship systems that are best experienced live rather than via specs
alone. Over three days, the AXPONA 2026 show combines a sprawling Expo Hall with many listening rooms, a trade pavilion, live musical performances, and specialty areas such as the Ear Gear Experience, and IASCA car audio showcase.
---> AXPONA
2026 High-End / Luxury Audiophile Show Report.
Part 5 — Lower Level, And Left
(Outremont / St. Laurent Rooms)
At The Montreal Audiofest 2026 Show
Major demos, new high-end audio tech, and very interesting
audiophile innovation.
Montreal Audiofest Show Report By Rick Becker
In Part 5 we tackle the other
main hallway on the lower level. which is to the right as you come down the
escalator. I'll first go down the Outremont rooms. which are large, but not as
large as the St. Laurent rooms. Straight ahead and off to the right as you come down the
escalator was the long counter full of Audio-Technica Canada headphones Sorry
about the soft focus. I was in a hurry to get a shot off before someone else
walked in front of me on this busy thoroughfare between the two main corridors.
A l arge poster listed all of the products on display at the show with Show
Special pricing that would save you from $10 to $700. depending on the item. The AT-LPA2 acrylic turntable with dust cover and separate
power supply, for example, was marked down to $2000. a saving of $700. making
this a very attractive package for the price, even at full markup. As eye-catching as this McLaren sports car was the coffee and
snack counter just to the right drew a much bigger crowd.
---> Part 5 — Lower Level, And Left (Outremont / St. Laurent Rooms) At The Montreal Audiofest 2026
Show.
Jury Rules Live Nation And Ticketmaster Illegally Monopolized U.S. Ticketing Market
A Manhattan federal jury found that Live Nation Entertainment and its Ticketmaster subsidiary illegally monopolized the U.S. ticketing market, delivering a landmark verdict on Wednesday, April
15 (2026). A nine-member jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York returned the verdict after a
five-week trial that featured testimony from dozens of witnesses and four days of deliberations. The case was brought by a coalition of state attorneys general that continued the litigation after the U.S. Department of Justice reached a separate settlement with Live Nation in March. Jurors found that Ticketmaster
"willfully acquired or maintained monopoly power" in primary ticketing for major concert venues and that Live Nation monopolized the market for large amphitheaters through exclusionary conduct, including restrictive venue agreements and tying practices that disadvantaged rivals. The verdict form indicated consumers in 22 states and the District of Columbia were overcharged by an average of $1.72 per ticket from May 2020 through
2024.
---> Jury Rules Live Nation And Ticketmaster Illegally Monopolized U.S. Ticketing Market.
Southwest Audio Fest 2026: Show Dates, Tickets, And Highlights
The Southwest Audio Fest returns to Dallas this summer, running July 23rd through 25th at the Sheraton Downtown, with organizers shifting the schedule to a Thursday to Saturday format to replace the traditional Sunday session.
This new schedule brings more people in a day early, and gives everyone a chance to pack up and enjoy their Sunday. Programming for the three-day festival emphasizes extended, reference-level listening sessions and curated manufacturer suites, alongside informative seminars and moderated panels. Attendees can expect product launches, evening listening parties, and a vinyl, CD,
tweaks, reel-to-reel, etc marketplace aimed at serious audiophiles and music lovers. Exhibitors will span the full spectrum of high-fidelity gear, from floorstanding loudspeakers and boutique amplifiers to turntables, DACs, streamers, and room-treatment solutions, all demonstrated in purpose-tuned rooms to allow realistic auditions. Single-day tickets and multi-day passes are available through the festival site, with advance purchase recommended for popular demos.
---> Southwest Audio Fest 2026: Show Dates, Tickets, And Highlights.
AXPONA 2026 Highlights Featuring Top Systems, New Gear, And Expert Sound Quality
Impressions
A detailed look at more standout demos, flagship loudspeakers, vacuum tube &
solid-state electronics, and analog showcases that defined AXPONA.
AXPONA 2026 Show Report By Chuck Bruce And Steven R. Rochlin
AXPONA 2026's weekend days, Saturday and Sunday, was filled with an energy that reminded attendees why this luxury home audio showcase brings a gathering of
high-end audio enthusiasts and music lovers. The lively crowd explored the latest innovations in loudspeakers, electronics, analog playback, and digital front ends. From intimate
reel-to-reel demonstrations to towering reference-grade systems, the weekend delivered a rich blend of technical excellence and musical immersion. Exhibitors showcased everything from compact
lifestyle-friendly designs to six-figure flagship systems, each room offering its own interpretation of what true
high-fidelity sound can be. Across the Audio Expo North America 2026 show floor, manufacturers unveiled new products, updated reference lines, and carefully curated system pairings that highlighted both engineering prowess and artistic presentation.
This weekend's demonstrations revealed a wide spectrum of sonic philosophies that defined AXPONA
2026.
---> AXPONA 2026 Highlights Featuring Top Systems, New Gear, And Expert Sound Quality Impressions.
How High-End Audio Broke Into Ecosystems: A Buyer's Guide For 2026
Why purists, streamers, and convenience seekers buy different kinds of high-fidelity.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
High-end audio's
market structure in 2025 and 2026 shows concentrated growth in premium segments,
even as the mass-market hi-fi segment also expands. Am humbled to find that our
global consumer audio market was valued at about $58.9 billion in 2025, with
hi-fi sound systems and premium headphones growing faster than commodity
categories. What may look to some like fragmentation is actually a move towards
specialization: manufacturers and boutique builders optimize for listening
context rather than a single universal product. That may yield better-fitting
systems for critical listening, living-room convenience, and portable use. Like Enjoy
the Music.com, our part of the overall consumer electronics sector is doing
better than ever! For purists, the separates ecosystem—standalone
loudspeakers, amplifiers, preamps, phono stage, and DACs—remains the gold
standard.
--->
How High-End Audio Broke Into Ecosystems: A Buyer's Guide For 2026.
Audio Note Ongaku
Article By Hiroyasu Kondo-san, Audio Note
The 211 creates a formidable impression because of its shape. But
the 211 may appear old-fashioned and unsophisticated to high-brow maniacs for audio equipment. Perhaps this is the reason why there
are only a few amplifiers that employ the 211 tube today. This type of amplifier is a challenge from the viewpoint of the
manufacturer. The power supply circuit cannot be normally designed, since the supply voltage required for the 211 tube must be approximately
1000V. In manufacturing the amplifier, we must pay utmost attention to moisture-proofing the chassis and proper insulation of
the wiring so as to prevent hands from getting electric shock if one reaches into the
amplifier. However, it is only large triodes like the 211 that provide the best performance that vacuum tubes can
offer.
---> Audio Note Ongaku Article By Hiroyasu
Kondo-san.
World Premiere Review!
Restoring Music To Its Reality: Børresen T1 Silver Supreme Edition Stand-Mounted Loudspeaker Review
In-depth listening test, technical analysis, and
real-world setup tips for audiophiles and music lovers.
Review By Dr. Michael Bump
Giddy. (adj) The emotional response I have developed to
the musical instruments that are Børresen loudspeakers. In my crossover life as both a professional musician and
high-end audio writer and reviewer, I have grown acquainted with a handful of
select audio designs that, from my perspective, serve as true musical
instruments – creations that express sonic art in ways that reach into
the human heart, corporeally moving both body and soul in ways that defy words.
Before we get to my Børresen T1 SSE (Silver Supreme Edition) monitor
loudspeaker review, here's some background. It was six years ago from my first
encounter with Børresen loudspeakers, when, upon first listen, they revealed
those same visceral qualities I am all too familiar with when on stage creating
live music. In the Spring of 2019, I was privileged to pen the U.S.
Premiere review of the Børresen 01 Series stand monitor, the cornerstone of
what was then the newly established Børresen Acoustics loudspeaker company of
Michael Børresen and co-founding business partner, Lars Kristensen.
--->
Børresen T1 Silver Supreme Edition Stand-Mounted Loudspeaker Review.
Discover more hi-fi reviews and expert articles within our Review Magazine.
High-Performance
Audio Gear Reviews,
