High-End Audio Reviews / Hi-Fi Audiophile Equipment Review Magazine

High-End Audio / Audiophile Equipment Reviews And Think Pieces
April 2020

Now Live! AXPONA 2020 High-End Audio Press Center
High-end audio industry's official Press Center for AXPONA 2020.
Enjoy the Music.com is once again high-end audio's official press center for AXPONA. As we did during AXPONA 2016 and AXPONA 2018, plus CES 2016 and CES 2017, during AXPONA 2020 provide show promoters, exhibitors, members of the industry and our worldwide readership important information they crave. We're offering press releases from high-end audio and Hi-Res Audio manufacturers taking part at AXPONA 2020
---> See High-End Audio's official AXPONA 2020 Press Center.

Live Streams Now Available For On-Demand Viewing
Enjoy the Music.com To Rebroadcast Our Live Stream Of Blues Masters At The Crossroads 2014
The 2014 Blues Masters at the Crossroads event at Blue Heaven Studios, celebrating the 17th year as the preeminent authentic Blues concert in the world, featured performances by Rip Lee Pryor, Moreland & Arbuckle, Marquise Knox, Big George Brock, Kim Wilson, Joe Beard, Lazy Lester, Mighty Sam McClain, Sonny Green, Kim Wilson with Billy Flynn, and Bernard Allison. Taking place in Salina, Kansas, October 17th and 18th (2014) at a converted 1925 church sanctuary, the musical gospel continues to resonate within the walls of this historic building.
---> Read more and watch our Blues Masters live stream.

Our Largest Review Magazine In History!
Plus I shoulda bought a high-end music system.
Stuck at home during Staycation 2020? Well then, it's time to buy a great hi-fi system!
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
My coding fingers are raw to the bone! The April 2020 issue of Enjoy the Music.com's Review Magazine is the largest we've ever done in our 25 years history! The many new writers we've hired are finally chiming in! Blame me for not announcing every new hire, as we've been on a spree as of late and want to take a moment to point out our youngest reviewer, plus a 'new guy' who I've known for decades!
---> Read more about Enjoy the Music.com's largest issue in history.

Coronavirus And High-End Audio
The last few weeks have turned our world a bit topsy-turvy.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
Well, that happened. The past month has been extremely eventful for everyone around the world. As this article will be online for decades, please allow me a moment to put this article into some context. The Coronavirus (Covid-19) has affected many people throughout the world. It has also caused the cancellation, or delay, of a variety of shows from high-end audio and mechanical timepieces to cars, etc. Summertime music concert tours have also been canceled, or at the very least delayed.
---> Read more about the Coronavirus and high-end audio.

Plenty Of Time To Enjoy The Music
Roger Skoff tells how to turn a lemon into lemonade.
Article By Roger Skoff
Seems like everyone I know is staying home lately. Either they're sick; afraid of getting sick; afraid they might unknowingly contract or carry the Coronavirus to someone else just by getting too close; or just staying home because the government (at every level, from the most local to all-the-way up) is telling them to. Besides, with just about every kind of social or recreational business, event, or activity shut down and just about every restaurant, bar, or bowling alley closed or restricted, there's really no place to go – especially if one of those businesses or events happens to be how they make their living.
---> Read more about making plenty of time for music.

Immersive: The New Gold Standard Of Sound
The sonic search is an exciting journey!
Article By Dennis Baxter
The evolution of audio in broadcasting and film has paralleled the increase in the number of audio record and transmit channels available in the ecosystem. Analog satellite technology provided two channels of audio and often one channel was for a full program and one channel for the program without commentary – hence mono audio except for special events. Through the early 1980s, stereo was often electronically processed from mono and original surround sound was processing from two channels to create five channels of sound.
---> Read more about immersive sound as the Gold standard.

Why Hi-Fi Part 2
Article By Gary Alan Baker Of HiFiAudio.Guru
When I decided to continue these little periodic chats as a glimpse into the mind of an audiophile, I thought why not continue on the same subject: "Why Hi-Fi?" After all, that is really what it all is about, why the obsession, why the expense, why continue looking for that perfect formula. I say periodic since I don't know the regularity of this column, as it is really about inspiration and of course available time (writing for and editing two magazines does take its toll).
---> Read more of Gary Alan Baker's Why Hi-Fi article.

Industry POV: A New Understanding Of Diffusion
It's a far more complex concept than absorption is, and here's why.
Article By Jim DeGrandis Of Acoustics First Corporation
In decades past, traditional barrel and pyramidal sound diffusers had their acoustical specifications presented with absorption coefficients as the only available acoustical data. This was handy for low-frequency control applications or targeting particular "bumps" in a room without adding too much absorption, which could make a room too dry. Toward the end of the 20th century, more than one acoustical company began to use graphed polar plots of various diffusion devices to illustrate where sound was being redirected when it reflected off a device's surface. It could be "visualized" from that information.
---> Read more about measuring diffusers.

What It Takes To Make Our Review Magazine
A special sneak peek look into the inner workings...
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
Getting out a new issue of the Enjoy the Music.com Review Magazine takes much effort and concentration. First comes the many hours of deep meditation. As is customary, a minimum of four hours are spent each and every day seeking the divine wisdom to the Audio G-ds. We search only for His knowledge and wisdom as handed down to us though the ages.
---> Read more about what it takes to make our Review Magazine.

"I Suspect My Tastes Are More Esoteric Than Yours."
Said a show attendee to me during FLAX 2020.
Editorial By Steven R. Rochlin
Like many comedians, audio journalists get great article (joke) ideas during our experience within the world we experience around us. Am sure our readers know that the Florida Audio Expo (FLAX) the past month was a resounding success! Exhibit rooms were up ~50%(!), from around 44 in 2019 to 61 in 2020 as I recall. The mix of attendees are also perhaps one of the most vibrant and varied of any American event too!
---> Read more about attending FLAX 2020.

How To Waste Money By Saving It
Roger Skoff writes about buying a music system.
Article By Roger Skoff
I was married when I bought my first really good stereo component, an ultra-high-end (for the 1980s) preamp that been highly praised in a review by Harry Pearson, and that I was able to buy – unheard and unseen – through a friend in the industry, at a very good price. Even with the friendly discount, it was still a lot of money, though, and the way I justified it to my wife was by telling her that it was a "state-of-the-art" piece, and that we could, therefore, be sure to have and enjoy it for many years to come, without ever needing to buy anything better.
---> Read more about making a wise investment in high-end audio.

Understanding Digital Room Correction
Article By Mitch Barnett Of Accurate Sound
Modern Digital Room Correction (DRC) is an often misunderstood subject area. I have seen many articles written on the subject that don't answer basic questions such as what problem is DRC trying to solve? How does DRC work? And why, as an audiophile, should I care? This article endeavors to answer these questions. Let's start off with what problem DRC is trying to solve. One can identify the problem fairly quickly by listening to the bass response of your loudspeakers in your room. Try it along with me.
---> Read more about understanding room correction.

Interview With Art Dudley
Listener Magazine Head Honcho And All Around Great Guy!
Interview By Steven R. Rochlin
Listener magazine began life in 1994 as an inspiration from a deep love of music. As a musician, Art Dudley (with the assistance of his wife Janet) threw caution to the wind and began venturing into the wonderful world of print publication. Listener magazine had a virtually cult-like following reaching readers that desired an alternative to super mega-buck products and perceived advertorials as found in other media. In December of 1999 Belvoir Publications bought Listener from Art Dudley, keeping him as editor and allowing the magazine's writers and its direction to remain intact.
---> Read our interview with Listener's Art Dudley at this link.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Benjamin Zwickel, Owner of Mojo Audio
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Benjamin Zwickel, Owner of Mojo Audio Inc. The company's products are engineered to sound natural, musical, and coherent. We never use voicing or attractive distortions to impress or enhance. Rather, we seek to create the most musically transparent products possible. They strive to have the simplest signal path, the highest performance power supplies, the lowest resonance, the best shielding, and best grounding possible.
---> Read more about Benjamin Zwickel, Owner of Mojo Audio.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Florian Cossy, CEO Of CH Precision
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Florian Cossy, CEO Of CH Precision. Each and every CH Precision circuit is designed with a single goal – to touch the signal as little as possible. It sounds simple and in some ways it is, at least on a conceptual level. But it also means accepting that conventional approaches and accepted practice fall well short of that ideal.
---> Read more about Florian Cossy, CEO of CH Precision.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Jeff Poggi, Co-CEO Of Audio Research
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Jeff Poggi, Co-CEO Of Audio Research. Audio Research is one of the oldest continually operating manufacturers in American audio. The company was founded in 1970 in Minneapolis with one goal in mind: to advance the state-of-the-art in music reproduction. Today, Audio Research remains a performance-oriented company by philosophy and design.
---> Read more about Jeff Poggi, Co-CEO of Audio Research.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Nelson Pass Of Pass Labs And First Watt
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Nelson Pass of Pass Labs. Pass Laboratories was founded in 1991 by Nelson Pass. Operating out of his shop at home, Pass developed prototypes of a single-ended Class A amplifier design. At the same time, he and Mike Burley were constructing an in-house machine shop with three home-built CNC milling machines with which to produce the amplifiers when the design was finished. The first product, the Aleph 0, shipped in 1992.
---> Read more about Nelson Pass of Pass Labs and First Watt.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Norbert Lindemann Of Lindemann Audio
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Norbert Lindemann of Lindemann Audio. The development of their products fall back on a wealth of experience gathered in 25 years of building loudspeakers, amplifiers and digital sources. At Lindemann Audio, new products are created by means of the most advanced design tools and measuring methods.
---> Read more about Norbert Lindemann of Lindemann Audio.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Yoav Geva, Chief Engineer At YG Acoustics
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Yoav Geva, Chief Engineer at YG Acoustics. Founded in 2002, YG Acoustics is recognized as one of the most prominent companies in the high-end audio industry, a pioneer whose technical advancements remain unmatched. They strive to provide the best performance, cutting-edge technology, value, reliability and exceptional customer service.
---> Read more about Yoav Geva, Chief Engineer at YG Acoustics.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Greg Roberts Of Volti Audio
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Greg Roberts of Volti Audio. He started back in 2009 building upgrade parts for Klipsch Khorn speakers, which is still a part of his business today. Parts developed for Khorns led Greg into his first complete speaker design, the Vittora.
---> Read more about Greg Roberts of Volti Audio.

10 Questions For High-End Audio Manufacturers
Featuring Scott Bierfeldt, Founder Of Verdant Audio
Enjoy the Music.com's 25th Anniversary special feature!
During Enjoy the Music.com's very special 25th Anniversary we're asking various high-end audio manufacturers to answer the same ten questions. Their answers may surprise you! This month we're featuring Scott Bierfeldt, Founder of Verdant Audio. As part of their mission, Verdant products are all assembled in the USA and as many parts are manufactured or sourced from USA-based companies wherever possible.
---> Read more about Scott Bierfeldt, Founder of Verdant Audio.

Bauhutte DAW, Audiophile / HT And Gaming Bed
Nearfield audio mastering / gaming bed for those on Staycation 2020.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
Wake up and move from bed to desk in a matter of seconds as your bed 'transforms' into a digital audio workstation (DAW nearfield monitors. It can also be used as a gaming bed as well. In addition, those who add more speakers may enjoy a truly immersive experience! Stuck in Staycation 2020 due to the Coronavirus? This problem is solved by The Gamebed from Japan. It features a lifting headboard that adds functional storage to the bedside and a bed desk that can be set at the foot of a single bed.
---> Read more Bauhutte DAW, Audiophile / HT and Gaming Bed.

McDonald's Limited Edition Scented Candles
Celebrate Staycation by enjoying the scent of delicious fast-food.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
If you're missing that glorious fast-food feeling while on Staycation 2020 due to the Coronavirus, McDonald's is here to help. For a limited time, McDonald's is offering a special six-pack of scented candles. This limited edition set of six custom scented candles in glass containers is inspired by Quarter Pounder ingredients: Bun, Ketchup, Pickle, Cheese, Onion, and 100% Fresh Beef.
---> Read more about McDonald's limited edition scented candles.

Toilet Paper DIY Separator 8467
DIY project doubles your money with this ingenious TP separator!
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
Introducing the cost-savings Toilet Paper Splitter for those on Staycation 2020. As many know, finding a roll of TP is a challenge during these tough times due to the Coronavirus. The incredible TP Separator 8467 quickly separates your two-ply toilet paper into two individual rolls!
---> Read More about the Toilet Paper DIY Separator 8467.

World Premiere Review!
Chesapeake Crab Chips
High-end potato chips for the discerning audiophile.
Article And Review By Rick Becker
During this time of the Coronavirus pandemic when audio shows around the world have been cancelled and product review samples are hard to come by, I'd like to take this opportunity to share a review of my epicurean road food. Those familiar with my audio show reports are well aware of my disdain for public transport, preferring to travel in my humble Hotel Tracker SUV or simply hoof it for shorter distances such as mountain ascents.
---> Read more our Chesapeake Crab Chip article here.

Officine Panerai Luminor GMT 44MM PAM01033
Wear a bit of Italian history on your wrist.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
Panerai watches are a natural blend of Italian design, Swiss technology, and passion for the sea says the company. Also known as Officine Panerai, this luxurious Italian watch manufacturer was founded by Giovanni Panerai within Florence, Italy, back in 1860.
---> Read more about Officine Panerai's Luminor GMT PAM01033.

Golden Hills Coffee Roasters
A coffee and espresso lovers dream bean.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
Based in sunny Groveland, Florida, you'll find Golden Hills Coffee Roasters who are a family-owned company roasting custom blends of specially prepared and roasted coffee beans for both Americana and espresso. Their artisan handcrafted micro coffee roasting is done by hand, in the classic method, which allows them to carefully control the process using sight, sound and smell for every part of the roasting process. They feel that the fresher your coffee, the better. And that's why they do roasts each week.
---> Read more about Golden Hills Coffee Roasters.

Timex Marlin Automatic 40mm Timepiece
An automatic mechanical timepiece does not need to cost a fortune.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
Here's proof that luxurious, and classic, styling does not need to cost a fortune for an automatic wind mechanical timepiece. Timex's Marlin Automatic 40mm leather strap watch ($249, TW2T22800Z) won't be the most accurate, or finely decorated movement watch, yet is a great entry-level timepiece from a longstanding brand. Timex's iconic 1960s Marlin case gets an aesthetic refresh for 2020. Ticking inside is a tried and true 21 jewel automatic movement, creating a contemporary timepiece that honors the company's watch-making history.
---> Read more about Timex's Marlin automatic 40mm timepiece.

World Premiere Review!
Endow Audio T35 Point-Array Loudspeakers
Exceptionally well made with impressive on- and off-axis sound.
Review By Brett Rudolph
Last month I had the fortune of being asked to review new speakers from Endow, which made their debut at the Florida Audio Expo 2020. Endow Audio's T35s loudspeakers, according to the company, represents the same quality at a substantially reduced price without cutting corners. Indeed, they are certainly visually a sight to behold.... The engineering itself was fascinating; Endow utilized multiple drivers in various phases and closed baffle in a very non-trivial design to allow for a very expansive off-axis listening field.
---> Read our review of the Endow Audio T35 loudspeakers.

Kronos Sparta Super Capacitor Power Supply
Making the already exceptional truly exemplary!
Review By Greg Weaver
Typically, I open my reviews with technical information and engineering background on the product under examination before I address its sonic attributes. However, my experience with the new Kronos Sparta Super Capacitor Power Supply (SSCPS) was so remarkable and brought such starkly positive change, to such an already overachieving turntable, that I had trouble believing it. After its installation, within the first ten seconds of my original needle drop, I was so floored by what I was hearing that I was almost speechless. If you knew me, you'd realize just how significant that is; I'm rarely at a loss for words!
---> Read our review of Kronos' Sparta Super Capacitor Power Supply.

Sonus Faber Il Cremonese Floorstanders
Sonus Faber's Il Cremonese speakers tell a story, and the more you listen, the more you not only get lost in the music, you appreciate and admire both in the story and the telling of it.
Review By Jules Coleman
If there is anything obvious about obvious truths, it is their truth. Nothing else about them need be, and often nothing else is. Moreover, some obvious truths are obvious only in retrospect. Obvious truths – truisms – can be revealing, insightful and even important. Take what is certainly one of audio's most obvious truisms: an audio system is, after all, a system! Patently obvious? Yes. Uninteresting or unimportant? Hardly!
---> Read our review of the Sonus Faber Il Cremonese speakers.

Triangle Art Anubis Turntable & Osiris Mk. 2 Arm
Enjoy music presented with harmonic density, dynamics, and more.
Review By Robert May
The venerable turntable, uniquely among the components of an audio system, presents a fundamentally mechanical design problem. Since a turntable is nothing other than a mass in a spinning motion, the problem is how stability is to be maintained to very close tolerances. If the stylus is to make a complete and accurate read of the record, then in principle nothing extraneous should interfere with its reading the message from the grooves. Approaching this "perfect" interface is the art and science of successful engineering of a turntable design.
---> Read our review of Triangle Art's Anubis turntable/tonearm.

Sonus Faber Nova II Floorstanding Speakers
These are immensely sexy speakers with the build quality, and attention to detail, that you would expect on an Italian sports car.
Review By Dean Cacioppo
Let's get this started with a hi-fi thought exercise. When does a loudspeaker become something that is considered a luxury item? Is $1000 per pair of speakers a luxury item? How about a $5000 pair? What about those that are priced at $100,000? Although we all may have a different idea of what luxury is, we all know when we are in the presence of something that is truly luxurious.
---> Read our review of the Sonus Faber's Nova II floorstanders.

Soulution 511 Stereo Amplifier
An iron fist in a velvet glove.
Review By Phil Gold
I've written before about Soulution Audio, the high end Swiss manufacturer. Their entry level amp, the 330 Integrated Amp, was the subject of my 2018 review and I admit to being astonished at its capabilities. My conclusion ran "when the recording is of the highest caliber, the 330 is sensationally good over virtually every dimension of sound that I can think of, and I give it my fullest recommendation for an integrated amplifier. I have never been sadder to have to pack up a review component".
---> Read our review of Soulution's 511 stereo amplifier.

Synergistic Research PowerCell ONE Line Conditioner
Common mode noise reduction and a complementary dose of Synergistic Research technology might be just the thing.
Review By Bruce Kinch Of Positive Feedback
Just a mere month ago, Audio Tourism looked like the next new thing. Given the continuing demise of brick-and-mortar retail salons, regional, national, and international audio shows were popping up all over — how brilliant was having a show in Florida in February, not in Miami, not in Orlando, and not during school vacation week? But then, comes March, and out of China spreads the coronavirus pandemic.
---> Read PF's Synergistic Research PowerCell ONE Line Conditioner review.

KEF LS50 Active Wireless Speaker System
KEF's bookshelf speakers still tower over much of the competition.
Review By Rogier van Bakel
I've long had a predilection for prix-fixe meals. And why not? Hacking your own path through the culinary scene is fine, but it might be unwise to turn up your nose at three or four courses pre-selected by a talented chef. I don't presume to know his cooking better than he does, so if he tells me that the suggested dishes are his way of combining quality ingredients, his special skill in preparing them, and a reasonable bill at the end, I'm in.
---> Read our review of KEF's LS50 active wireless speakers.

Audience Forte V8 Power And forte f3 Power Chord
Clean power at an affordable price.
Review By Dr. Jules Coleman
There is no doubt that the quality of electrical power is a limiting factor in the performance of an audio system. I learned this lesson the hard way. In the mid to late 1970s, while living in Milwaukee, I had put together what at the time was a high-end system featuring an early version of the Magnepan Tympani loudspeakers, a Connoisseur Turntable with a Formula 4 arm and a Decca Plum cartridge. Between the TT and speakers, I employed as many different high powered amplifiers as I could get my hands on.
---> Read our review of Audience's Forte V8 & forte f3 Power Chord.

World Premiere Review!
LIRPA DDRX - 401 Reference Converter
Eating one's cake and having it too. A quantum leap in progress.
Review By Claude LeMero
If you follow the near endless digital evolution, you are well-aware that the days of the Red Book 16-bit/44kHz limits are long gone and we are now starting to take for granted the Internet's pluralism of HD audio files in 24-bit/96kHz and 24-bit/192kHz resolution. Yet as we progress in numerical terms, many audiophiles are still clinging to their trusted vinyl. They are not satisfied with the numerous digital alternatives out there.
---> Read more about LIRPA's DDRX - 401 Reference Converter.

World Premiere Review!
Audio Analogue aaDAC Hi-Res Audio DAC
The converter to beat within this price range.
Review By Tom Lyle
Audio Analogue's aaDAC digital-to-analog converter is the latest high-end audio component from their PureAA line, which also includes their AAcento integrated amplifier and AAphono phono preamplifier. Audio Analogue says on their website "the aaDAC is a product that perfectly fits in the Audio Analogue philosophy: its simple design, its remarkable sound performances and its great care for the finish and the materials and parts selection, make it a perfect partner for your digital sources".
---> Read our review of the Audio Analogue aaDAC Hi-Res DAC.

Digital Amplifier Company 2-CHerry Power Amplifier
The light amp that packs a heavy punch!
Review By Frank Garofalo
My time as an audiophile to date, I've always had the impression that Class D amplification is just simply inferior to Class A or Class A/B amplification. That impression was influenced by educating myself in the various topics of audio, and through lurking on many online forums including topics about Class D amplification.... While this may be true for common off-the-shelf Class D modules that may be found in A/V receivers and the like, this is certainly not the case for the 2-CHerry Power Amplifier.
---> Read our review of Digital Amplifier Company's 2-CHerry amp.

World Premiere Review!
Sozy Wulkmun High-Rez Audio Turntable
Freeing your music has never been easier!
Review By Nilhcor R. Nevets
Look, I'll make this preview brief as spy photos and an advanced copy of their upcoming advertisement just hit my desk. While I'm bound to this desktop torture getting this story out fast, your music LPs soon will have a newfound freedom away from their homeward bondage. With vinyl LP sales experiencing double-digit growth, it appears that the LP is once again becoming a major force within the music industry.
---> Learn more about Sozy's Wulkmun High-Rez audio turntable.

World Premiere Review!
Lindemann Musicbook SOURCE And POWER 500
Beautify, simplify, electrify... may the SOURCE be with you.
Review By Clive Meakins
The old days are gone... well, almost. How many of us still have piles of audio equipment connected via cable spaghetti? Is it crazy to dream of simplifying Hi-Fi systems into a very few items of equipment? Doesn't such simplicity come at the expense of quality? There are of course economies in reducing the Hi-Fi box count; chassis costs are high so fewer of these should result in a major saving. Reducing the number of power supplies is beneficial too as is directly connecting circuits internally which can cut the costs associated with providing external connectivity.
---> Read our Lindemann Musicbook SOURCE & POWER 500 review.

World Premiere Review!
Monoprice Monolith Liquid Gold X Headamp
Return Of The King: Monoprice and Alex Cavalli resurrect the legendary Liquid Gold.
Review By Dave Hanson
The Cavalli Liquid Gold holds legendary status within the personal audio community. I remember when I first entered into the hobby the Liquid Gold felt like the very definition of ultra-high-end unobtanium. Among many within the hobby, it was considered the king of headphone amplifiers. My first encounter with the Liquid Gold was at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in 2015. I remember vividly how it gave headphones a tremendous sense of body, a level of holographic imaging and transparency I had never heard before.
---> Read our review of Monoprice's Monolith Liquid Gold X.

Schiit Bifrost 2 DAC & Ragnarok 2 Nexus Int. Amp.
A true multi-bit Hi-Res Audio DAC meets Nexus-level amplification.
Review By Ron Nagle
Yes, it's pronounced, SHIT! There is no person with that name associated in any way with this relatively new company. Would you think of this as a name for a startup? As it happened this Schiit company started in 2010 when two audio industry veterans decided it was time to produce their Shiit audio products. The two audiophiles are Jason Stoddard, formerly of Sumo Audio, and Mike Moffat, formerly of Theta Audio. They began with a nascent idea to build highly innovative Audiophile quality components at a reasonable price. So how do you tell people how they sound?
---> Read our Schiit Bifrost 2 DAC & Ragnarok 2 Nexus int. amp review.

Tweaking Without Limits
For your special April 1 celebration.
Article By Jeff Poth
Sometimes, dear reader, we hear of tweaks that leave us scratching our heads- how could anyone be so foolish? The HST, or Head Scratch Threshold varies by person — some would lump cables in here (not me!) and some would say that the quantum effects touted by some are totally legit. Many times, perhaps even most of the time, these tweaks are as phoney as a stuffed mermaid. But in some cases, it is simply a lack of understanding that leads to dismissive attitudes.
---> Read more about tweaking without limits.

Focal Chora 806 Stand-Mounted Loudspeakers
'Slatefiber' cones are the talking point for the latest affordable range from the French speaker specialists. Kevin Fiske was looking forward to getting to grips with this bookshelf model.
Review By Kevin Fiske Of HIFICRITIC
At a retail price of £600, or a sub-£400 street price on eBay, Focal's new Chora 806 two-way bookshelf speaker is an intriguing package. Engineered and built by the French manufacturer in the same facility at Saint-Étienne that makes the £130,000 Focal Grande Utopia III Evo, the Chora 806 is intended, says Focal, as an uber-affordable first rung on the audio ladder. The visual cues offered by the 806 speakers say 'stand mounter,' but it is a mistake to ignore the word 'bookshelf' in the product name.
---> Read our review of the Focal Chora 806 speakers.

Audio Research DAC9 Digital-To-Analog Converter
An organic sound that draws you into the music.
Review By Tom Lyle
This past summer I was in a showroom auditioning a new line of speakers that included a system that was made up of mostly Audio Research components. Even though I heard four other products from that same line of speakers that day, it was their smallest model that impressed me the most. As it just so happens, this system included the Audio Research DAC9 digital-to-analog converter that is the focus of this review.
---> Read our Audio Research DAC9 Hi-Res DAC review.

Musical Fidelity M6s Stereo DAC Review
A solution for almost every problem? On paper, Musical Fidelity's new M6sDAC fulfills just about every possible requirement for this type of device.
Review By Michael Lang Of STEREO Magazine
For years, D/A converters were an endangered species. Many a manufacturer who had focused his attention on these devices has by now vanished into oblivion. However, as soon as DAC sales hit rock bottom they experienced a comeback of unprecedented proportions. Hardly surprising when considering the large number of digital devices nowadays are used for music playback.
---> Read our review of Musical Fidelity's M6s stereo DAC.

Nessie Vinylcleaner Pro LP Washer / Cleaner
Far more fun than washing the dishes!
An elegant and effective record cleaning machine too!
Review By Rick Becker
In the early 1990's, as I was starting my audiophile journey, I scurried from garage sale to garage sale collecting old LPs that people were dumping in the belief that vinyl was dead. Having bartered for a vintage Linn LP12, vinyl was just being born in my mind as I purchased records for dimes on the dollar that I couldn't afford "back in the day." Even though I inspected each one before purchasing, it was clear that most needed cleaning – dust and fingerprints being the biggest culprits, and sometimes mold.
---> Read our Nessie Vinylcleaner Pro LP washer / cleaner review.

Audience aR6-T4 Power Conditioner
With upgraded frontRow powerChords and standard powerChord SE-i.
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
The opportunity to review new models of familiar equipment is similar to catching up with an old friend. I have enjoyed, owned and respected Audience cables and conditioners since the original Adept Response was released and the "Original" powerChord first hit the proverbial scene. The Au24 power cables were the epitome of neutrality and their speaker wire and interconnects magically conveyed the full auditory picture in an inconceivably thin cable that defied logic and belied current trends of bigger must be better cable etiologies.
---> Read our review Audience's aR6-T4 power conditioner.

Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo System Review
A new audiophile experience.
Review By Bob Grossman
Bowers & Wilkins Formation System is a recent development in a self powered and streaming type of music system that comes from the highly regarded and prestigious firm of Bowers & Wilkins. The design is multi faceted and has numerous speaker choices and applications to make it very user friendly. Because of the highly sophisticated design, all of the speakers have the ability to be linked to operate together throughout the home locations or separately in various zones which can easily be switched to independent choices of music.
---> Read our review of Bowers & Wilkins' Formation Duo system.

Complete System Review! Total System $5475!
Featuring Focal Chora 826 speakers, Outlaw 2160 integrated amplifer, Bluesound NODE 2i Music Server, SVS SB 2000 active subwoofers, and Kimber Kables.
Review By Frank Iacone Of HiFiAudio.Guru
My first system review for the HiFiAudio.Guru was my first venture into a complete HiFi system review in over 15 years. Selecting new components for this review was exciting and brought back memories of when I had a dedicated listening room. When my middle daughter moved out to attend medical school, I saw the opportunity to maximize utility and use the room on the second floor for our new dedicated listening room. The room, measuring 14.5' x 20', is perfect for listening to music.
---> Read more about this $5475 hi-fi system.

StereoPravda SPearphone SB-3.5
Audiophile in-ear monitors reviewed.
Review By Alan Gary Barker Of Headphone.Guru
The SPearphone SB-3.5 is the latest product of Russian manufacturer StereoPravda, one of the more unique IEM manufacturers I have come in contact with. Their no-compromise, no-holds-barred approach to audio has made them unique in several ways. For one, their IEMs are not jewelry, they are not even pretty, if that is what you are looking for, then look elsewhere. Also, since they are designed to fit deep into your ear canal, along with their almost comically large speaker cables, they are not exactly comfortable, and I, for one, would be hesitant to wear them out jogging.
---> Read our review of StereoPravda's SPearphone SB-3.5.

World Premiere Review!
Vincent SP-332 Stereo Hybrid Power Amplifier
Proving amplifier burn-in will deliver delightful results!
Review By Ron Nagle
Almost every month I see Vincent Audio within the Audio Adviser catalog sent to my mailbox. But of course there are other retailers that sell Vincent audio components. Just to name two, you can check out Upscale Audio and of course Amazon too.... Although the SP-332 stereo solid-state amplifier as reviewed here is the latest iteration of the Vincent Hybrid amplifier line, it was in fact preceded by two earlier versions. First was the SP-331, and later the SP-331MK amplifiers.
---> Read our Vincent SP-332 stereo hybrid amplifier review.

AGD "The Audion" GaNTube Monoblocks
Class D reaches the upper echelon of high-end audio.
Review By Rick Becker
Back at the turn of the millennium you could put together a pretty good audio system for $10,000, and you could listen to many of those components in a local brick & mortar store if you lived in a decent size city. Sure there was some stratospherically priced gear in the $10,000 to $20,000 range you might be able to see if you went to one of the audio shows on the left or right coasts. Then along came "quantitative easing" and the internet. Gear got more expensive, the brick & mortar landscape eroded and major as well as regional audio shows proliferated.
---> Read our review of AGD "The Audion" GaNTube monoblocks.

Pro-Ject X2 Vinyl LP Turntable
Easy to set up and very easy to use. You will not be disappointed.
Review By Tom Lyle
As the technology advances, it's only natural for any decent audio manufacturer to take advantage of this new technology. And so, when Pro-Ject was faced with improving upon their Debut and Xpression series of turntables, which are both very successful designs, they decided to, in their words, "improve on the technologies that had already been established". As a result, Pro-Ject introduced their X1 and X2 turntables. The X2, the subject of this review, besides many other improvements, makes the most of higher quality raw materials to use in its production (even though they are more difficult to source).
---> Read our review of Pro-Ject's X2 vinyl LP turntable.

Triode Connected Pentodes
Article By Herb Reichert of Eddy Electronic Inc.
From Sound Practices Issue 2, Fall 1992
Back in 1955, some of the big audio issues were: Which provides higher fidelity, triodes or pentodes? Feedback or no feedback? Active or passive? Solid core or stranded wire? Does this all sound familiar? It was in this climate that D.T. Williamson's amp arrived. The old guard believed that there was no substitute for 2A3s push-pull. But the hot issue in the audio mags was high power. High power back then was only 20-30 Watts, but it was thought that the extra headroom contributed to a sense of effortlessness. The Williamson amp tried to be both.
---> Read Herb Reichert's article about triode connected pentodes.

It Is Not A Gang, It Is A Club
Editorial From VALVE Issue 1 / 2, February 1994
A sampling of tube amplifier prices from the October 1993 Stereophile Recommended Components list: Air Tight ATM-2 $6995, ARC Classic 60 $3995, Sonic Frontiers SFS-80 $2895. Yes, the price of admission to the world of euphonic, liquid midrange is plainly exorbitant. Handcrafting, limited production, and hype all work to drive the price of new tube equipment ever higher. But what about used gear?
---> Read more about VALVE magazine.

Digital Amplifier Company MEGAschino Stereo Amp
Tommy O'Brien's Class D amplification is a total success.
Review By Jeremy R. Kipnis At Kipnis Studios (KSS)
You're sitting there, quietly listening to a favorite album, when... BAM, something catches your attention by popping out of the recording and sounding absolutely amazing! In this case... I'm listening to the soundtrack to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, the first of three soundtracks by composer Ennio Morricone that offers very unusual orchestration featuring voices, guitar, Latin percussion instruments, and full orchestra w/ piano, strings, brass, winds, etc. And what's amazing is that, even though I know the sound of this album very well, being a recording producer and engineer, there are little familiar bits like the opening main title which leap out, suddenly, like never before.
---> Read our review of Digital Amplifier Company's MEGAschino stereo amplifier.

Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems
Momentum Phono Stage Preamplifier
A championship phono stage from living legend Dan D'Agostino.
Review By Tom Lyle
When I heard that I would be reviewing the $28,000 Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Momentum phono preamplifier for this issue of Enjoy The Music, I was a very happy audiophile — on account of the time I spent with the $50,000 D'Agostino Momentum Lifestyle integrated amplifier that I reviewed earlier this year. If this phono preamplifier had any of the sonic characteristics of the MLife, I suspected I was going to hear my records through a state-of-the-art phono preamp, or at the very least one that was very close to state-of-the-art. When writing about their MLife integrated amp I declared that not only have I never heard an integrated sound so marvelous in my system, I never have I heard one sound as marvelous anywhere.
---> Read our Dan D'Agostino MAS Momentum Phono Stage Preamplifier review.

Furutech NCF Cable Booster-Signal
Life often contains hidden gems awaiting exploration.
Review By Jeremy Kipnis
Sometimes, you can't help but get giddy about a product that most everyone is going to gripe that, "It can't possibly work!" But the fact is the highly debatable yet finely engineered Furutech NCF Booster-Signal I've been lucky enough to be closely reviewing these past few months clearly improves the clarity, focus, resolution, and musical enjoyment...
---> Read our Furutech NCF Cable Booster-Signal review.

How A Vinyl Record Is Made
We tour Quality Record Pressings / Acoustic Sounds vinyl LP pressing plant.
Enjoy the Music.com and Enjoy the Music.TV presents to you our video tour of the Quality Record Pressings (Acoustic Sounds) vinyl LP pressing plant. We join plant manager Gary and owner Chad Kassem as they take us on a step-by-step journey through how a vinyl LP record is produced. Creative Director of Enjoy the Music.com Steven R. Rochlin guides you on his Quality Vinyl Pressings factory tour to learn how they produce a vinyl LP.
---> See our video of how a vinyl LP is made.

CES / THE Show And Remembering A True Legend...
Kondo-san Of Audio Note Japan.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin
Obviously January brings many within the Enjoy the Music.com staff, including myself, to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronic Show 2008 and THE Show 2008. Usually i spill quite a bit of cyber-ink about this, yet loyal readers know the drill. i post a pre-show report followed by daily updates each day during the events. Have already posted quite a bit within the pre-show report, so get a head start in hearing about the many new products when you have a chance! What i'd really like to talk about is something that happened at last year's THE Show. Specifically, the passing of chief designer and owner of Audio Note Japan, Hiroyasu Kondo-san.
---> Read more about remembering Audio Note's Kondo-san.

Mojo Audio Mystique V3 Non-Oversampling R-2R Hi-Res Audio DAC
The art and science of high resolution digital audio today.
Review By Jeremy R. Kipnis
Back in April of 1980, when I was a lad of 15, I went to a recording session that featured one of the new digital tape recorders. This big device on wheels translated the microphone's sound into binary ones and zeros and recorded it on special 1/4" reel-to-reel tape. This process, known as Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC), resulted in a near perfect approximation of the incoming signal, unlike traditional analog magnetic tape, which requires special biasing and noise reduction.
---> Read our review of the Mojo Audio Mystique V3 R-2R DAC.