Audiophile News, Opinion and Insights

I was first introduced to audiophilia by way of an all-McIntosh system when I was 15 years old. I was still riding a bicycle and most of the music I heard was by way of a handheld AM transistor radio… Read More »

Audiophiles tend to fall into a number of different camps when it comes to the philosophy of system design. The first one if the Linn Camp, which suggests that your system is only as good as your main source component. That’s… Read More »

There was no more unifying concept for my college buddies and me than going Compact Disc shopping. In the mid-1990s, the CD was the unquestioned king of all silver-disc media, and when we weren’t spending every free dollar on audio gear,… Read More »

Gramophone just announced the Grand Opening of their fifth and newest showroom, the one-of-a-kind Gramophone Experience Center.  The exclusive showcase, located at 8 West Aylesbury Road in Timonium, Maryland — next door to Gramophone’s existing retail location — features some… Read More »

Debuting in the new DB12, Aston Martin drivers will be able to enjoy the newly developed Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System in their cars for the first time, as two iconic British brands announce an exciting new audio partnership.… Read More »

T.H.E. Show, North America’s longest-running HiFi audio trade show, is announcing the launch of their record label, T.H.E, Music Group, and accompanying radio show, T.H.E. Radio Show, marking a new era in the HiFi audio industry. This innovative venture will… Read More »

Las Vegas is the undisputed gambling mecca in the United States and perhaps the world. Home to casinos galore, breathtaking hotels, entertainment of all varieties and even a surprising amount of debauchery, Vegas is a gambler’s paradise. Catering to all… Read More »

Rhino Records label is launching an exclusive premium vinyl series, Rhino High Fidelity (Rhino Hi-Fi). These high-end, limited-edition vinyl reissues of classic albums claim to represent the pinnacle of sound and packaging.  The first two Rhino High Fidelity albums are… Read More »

Gryphon Audio Designs ApS, designer and manufacturer of Ultra-Luxe Audio Systems, proudly announces the world premiere of their new Diablo 333 Integrated Amplifier, today at HIGH END Munich, Atrium 4.1, Room E120. Surpassing the legendary Diablo 300 was no simple… Read More »

One of the biggest historical criticisms of the audiophile hobby is that many old-school traditionalists sometimes fall into a habit of listening to audio more than listening to music. In a perfect world, your audio system should be able to… Read More »

Swiss high-end audio firm, Audio Technology Switzerland SA, announces the High End 2023 Munich show official world debut of the Nagra Classic DAC II. Nagra’s newest digital offering, the Classic DAC II, features the same NADM (Nagra Audio Digital Module)… Read More »

Marantz, a leading manufacturer of high-performance audio and video equipment, is proud to announce the launch of the silver gold finish for its Marantz SACD 30n, CINEMA 40 and 50 AVR receivers. The new color will be available exclusively on … Read More »

At the High End Munich show 2023, Grimm Audio introduces the MU2 high-end music streamer to the audiophile audience. The MU2 is a sister product of their famous MU1. It offers the same functionality with integrated Roon Labs Core and… Read More »

NAD Electronics will launch the NAD C 3050 Integrated Amplifier (read the review) at High End Munich in Germany. Demonstration sessions of the C 3050 Stereophonic Amplifier will run, for the first time, at the show in Room D108 in… Read More »

Bluesound today announced the launch of a special limited-run Anniversary Edition NODE X streamer created in celebration of its 10th anniversary. The NODE X, in a unique silver finish, takes the brand’s iconic NODE hi-res player and, yet again, sets a new standard… Read More »

Florida-based Reel Sound Distribution Inc. is now the exclusive distributor of the world-famous line of hi-fi audio products from Metaxas & Sins, following a partnership agreement with designer Kostas Metaxas. The Metaxas & Sins line of audio equipment includes the… Read More »

The Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus is and always has been a unique combination of unbridled ambition and revolutionary design – the result oftruly original ‘outside the box’ thinking that perfectly encapsulates the Bowers & Wilkins brand philosophy. To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of this iconic loudspeaker, Bowers and Wilkins has produced a unique pair in a dramatic Abalone Pearl finish.Pearl is, of course, the perfect … Read More »

Audiophile music can be tough to swallow for non-hobbyists. Incredibly well-recorded albums from mostly unknown artists with unfamiliar songs and often obscure musical genres can be a bit off-putting to anyone who hasn’t already drank the Kool-Aid. If you’re buying… Read More »

Designed to work perfectly with the Denon PMA-1700NE affordable integrated amplifier and DCD- 1700NE CD Player, the DNP-2000NE is packed with advanced features to provide an immersive music experience like no other. Denon’s new audiophile grade end point HEOS integration… Read More »

Audiophiles collect gear. Audiophiles collect music. Many of us also collect books that enrich the hobby. These can range from technical explainers to music-oriented to books about the hobby and the business itself. While these books can be a design… Read More »

The Diamond Surround Sound System by Bowers & Wilkins, whichalso featured in the launch of the new BMW 7 Series models,combines expert engineering and elegant design to deliver an audiophile-grade experience throughout the vehicle’s interior. Dan Shepherd, Vice President of… Read More »

It has been a long time since I rock and rolled… and I think thousands of others at AXPONA 2023 felt the same way. For the past few years, real-world fears of COVID-19 made it unreasonable to for most of… Read More »

Qobuz, one of the leading high-quality music streaming and download platforms, is continuing its international expansion with its launch today in Canada. With Qobuz hitting the market, all Canadian music lovers who are looking for a unique music experience will… Read More »

Overall, despite a very successful launch, there are a few things I wish I would have done differently from the get-go with FutureAudiophile.com.  One of the biggest faux pas was picking a higher-commission source for affiliate sales as opposed to going… Read More »

Sony Electronics announced the MDR-MV1 Reference Monitor Headphones, designed for professional sound engineers and music creators. The headphones combine sound quality with long-lasting wear and reliability. Their open back design enables accurate reproduction of a wide sound field, making them… Read More »

Rotel, just announced the launch of three new Michi Series 2 models – Michi X3 Series 2 Integrated Amplifier, X5 Series 2 Integrated Amplifiers and P5 Series 2 Stereo Preamplifier.These latest models demonstrate the brand’s ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional… Read More »

Last week, I was talking to the guys at Linn about getting Paul Wilson one of their legendary LP-12 audiophile turntables for review, which looks to be about two weeks away from arriving at Paul’s home. Linn’s audiophile philosophy pretty… Read More »

Vinyl fans have new reason to celebrate as Luxman America introduces the eagerly-anticipated PD-191A analog player. “So many music lovers have told me how much pleasure they get from the PD-171A,” said Jeff Sigmund, president. “This new player is more… Read More »

JAVA Hi-Fi’s new six-strong lineup of audiophile stereo preamps, stereo power amplifiers employ breakthrough technologies and unique circuit designs. The result is exceptional audio quality, designed to cater to the demands of the most discerning audiophile.  The JAVA integrated amplifier… Read More »

Ansuz just introduced the new PowerSwitch Generation 3 series. With the integration of technological advancements, Ansuz have significantly strengthened the X-TC, A2 and D2 Ansuz PowerSwitch models. In Ansuz’ quest to unlock the full acoustic potential of music playback, their… Read More »

Few teenagers forget buying their first car. My father refused to give me a car like all of the other 16-year-old kids at my fancy prep school in Philadelphia. He played me cassette tapes of 1970s sales training guru and… Read More »

VANA LTD, Importer and Distributor of many luxury audiophile brands, will introduce WANDLA: the first “stand-alone” DAC from Ferrum. Ferrum’s complete range of award-winning products will be on display in Ear Gear booth # 1205 and room #8208 of the… Read More »

The new Bowers & Wilkins Pi5 S2 in-ear monitors offers the best audio performance in its class, with TWS transmission coupled to a single 9.2mm bespoke drive unit in each earbud. Pi5 S2 also offers seamless access to user-selectable noise… Read More »

The year was 2007, and Tam Carlson was a man on a mission. Tam wanted to build a cost-no-object listening room seating 20, in which every last detail would exist only to serve the playback of great music from an… Read More »

The upcoming AXPONA audiophile consumer show will return for the 12th edition, April 14-16. Audiophiles, music lovers, musicians and collectors will unite at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center to experience a record breaking show featuring 500 exhibitors and… Read More »

Spin-Clean International, creators of the award-winning Spin-Clean Record Washer (read the review here), just launched the industry’s first education program specifically designed to inform young vinyl music enthusiasts about the importance of cleaning and maintaining their record collections. The announcement… Read More »

There are tens of thousands of audiophile components on the market today from hundreds of well-known and well-respected brands. Many of them have very specific naming conventions that are the handiwork of experienced marketing executives, Madison Avenue PR firms, enthusiastic… Read More »

“This is a transformational period in digital audio, and the new D-07X digital player is at the cutting edge,” said Jeff Sigmund, president of Luxman America. The player supports MQA-CDs, MQA files, 32-bit/768 kHz PCM, 22.4 MHz DSD, conventional USB… Read More »

In 2019, Silent Angel, designer of High End digital components, introduced the Rhein Z1, which was immediately hailed as a new standard in high value audiophile music servers. Now, Silent Angel proudly debuts Rhein Z1 Plus: an all-new design whose… Read More »

NAD Electronics just announced the retail availability of the NAD CS1 Endpoint Network Streamer (read the review here) , a minimal, high-performance streaming component that equips any existing stereo or home-theatre system with networked music streaming capability. With support for… Read More »

Campfire Audio has announced the launch of the next generation of its most iconic hand-crafted audiophile IEMs. Andromeda ‘Emerald Sea’ and Solaris ‘Stellar Horizon’ reimagine the boutique manufacturer’s flagship models with improved shell designs, re-engineered acoustic chambers, and the latest… Read More »

Andover is now shipping the Andover Audio SpinDeck 2 ($299 – read the review), the latest addition to its Spin Collection, striking the ideal balance between value performance and convenience for vinyl fans. Featuring high-quality materials, precision-engineered parts and plug-and-play… Read More »

It doesn’t take a lot of investigation to determine that audiophile equipment prices can get very expensive. In our beloved industry, we see floorstanding speakers, audiophile subwoofers, power amps, stereo preamps, and beyond that cost well into the five-figure range—and… Read More »

AXPONA is known for featuring world-renowned brands and manufacturers, showcasing the most innovative products and services in the high-end audio industry.  The following is a summary of first-time exhibitors that will be at AXPONA 2023, representing a number of product… Read More »

Qobuz, the music lovers’ high quality music streaming and download service, is launching a new community platform designed to connect audiophiles and music lovers around the world: Qobuz Club. The interactive forum will allow Qobuz users to convene with like-minded… Read More »

Historically, audiophile-grade amplifiers hold their value over time. So do good stereo preamps. The best audiophile floorstanding loudspeakers also hold their value in most cases over a reasonable amount of time. Solidly built audiophile turntables don’t tend to lose their… Read More »

SVS, leading manufacturer of high-performance speakers, subwoofers, wireless audio, and accessories, proudly announces the new 3000 In-Wall Subwoofer, a breakout first offering in the architectural subwoofer category from one of the fastest growing audio brands in the world. SVS spared… Read More »

My audiophile publishing comeback wasn’t supposed to ever happen. When I sold HomeTheaterReview.com and AudiophileReview.com back in late December 2019, I told anybody that would listen that I was pretty much done. I was looking for some new challenges and… Read More »

HIFIMAN just announced a new closed-back headphone designed for professionals and hobbyists who demand detailed, accurate representations of their music, podcasts, and other sound recordings. The new HIFIMAN AUDIVINA (SRP: $1,999) is a closed-back planar headphone that relies on HIFIMAN’s Stealth Magnets to… Read More »

Early in his tenure as Parasound’s new owner, David Sheriff made a commitment to the company’s legendary designer, John Curl, to  bring more of his new ideas to the fore. To accelerate this process, Sheriff has hired Darren Myers as… Read More »

PSB Speakers, together with hearables start-up Sonical and audio specialists MQA, announced a partnership that will attempt to define a new category of high-resolution audio headphones. The product combines high resolution wireless transmission, proven high-fidelity design, and Sonical’s CosmOS platform.… Read More »

So there you are, all primed and ready for a true audiophile experience with your bad-to-the-bone stereo system – the one you’ve spent months/years/decades researching, curating, purchasing, and setting up. You select the music, press play, and wow, doesn’t it… Read More »

Much lip service has been given to the failing health of the audiophile hobby, and with the demographics looking about as close as you can get to 100 percent male and a median age of well over 55, who could… Read More »

AXPONA attendees year after year look forward to the live concert series on Friday and Saturday evenings. This year, AXPONA will welcome Anne Bisson, Canadian Jazz Singer-Songwriter who will be taking the stage to close the first day of AXPONA, bringing with… Read More »

Call me what you want… publisher, editor, entrepreneur, schmuck or just Hey You and I likely will respond quickly and with a smile. Despite running my own publishing business for nearly all of 25 years, I still pretty much consider… Read More »

MartinLogan, the leader in high-performance loudspeakers, is excited to announce the release of not one but two new product lines, the Motion and the Motion XT. This premium collection of loudspeakers has been completely reimagined with a fresh attitude, sleek… Read More »

Watching the Internet come to life as a commercial entity in the 1990s, when I was in music/business school, was most eye opening. From the time that I got to South Central Los Angeles to celebrate the pending West Coast… Read More »

Employing audiophile-grade components, the NAD CS1 (read the review) can play high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192kHz. It features Bluetooth, Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi and supports the most popular streaming and casting protocols, including Apple AirPlay 2, GoogleCast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect… Read More »

BluOS, the premium multi-room music management platform by Lenbrook International, announces a new and improved BluOS 4.0 update to its mobile application platform. A preview demonstration of BluOS 4.0 will take place at the Integrated Systems Europe conference in Barcelona,… Read More »

Two weeks ago, I was on the phone with a public relations executive I hadn’t spoken with in a few years. Frank currently represents PS Audio, Audio-Technica and a few other audiophile brands and he was confirming that he had… Read More »

Ansuz has made quantum leaps in the development and design of innovative and unconventional audio technologies that have revolutionized the quality standards of high-end music reproduction. High time, then, to integrate all these groundbreaking advances into a new series of … Read More »

Things have changed quite a bit in the audiophile world as compared with just a few years ago when I left the business to try my hand at being an executive at a publicly traded Fortune 500 company. The pink… Read More »

The Florida International Audio Expo takes place Friday–Sunday, February 17–19, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore. The sold-out show will be the biggest yet, with more than 77 exhibit spaces delivering plenty of action—several exhibitors will unveil… Read More »

Greensboro is much like any other mid-sized, sleepy college town in the Southeast. Home to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), part of a statewide system that quite surprisingly encompasses 17 colleges, universities, and institutions of higher learning,… Read More »

PS Audio is now shipping its PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC MK2 (read the review), successor to the acclaimed original version. The DirectStream DAC MK2 incorporates a host of newly-developed PS Audio technologies to deliver a new level of sonic… Read More »

Bricasti Design just launched  the newly engineered Bricasti M1 Series II (read the review) dual mono digital to analog converter.  Bricasti M1 v2 DAC dressed in silver The M1 Series II introduces a new look and feel to the M1… Read More »

Naim is out with their New Classic range of electronics including the NSC 222 streaming pre-amplifier; an all-new iteration of the iconic NAP 250 power amplifier; and the NPX 300 power supply upgrade. Each boasts more features – including balanced… Read More »

When I was 19 years old, I remember literally begging my boss, Christopher Hansen, to go to CES in early 1994. I was off from college, and back then the show was the Super Bowl of all things audio. What… Read More »

Acoustician Bob Hodas, who has tuned and pretty much every good recording studio—from Sony Music and Electric Lady Studios to Van Halen’s 5150 and so many more—also works with enlightened audiophiles seeking real-world, non-voodoo tuning of their rooms. This can mean… Read More »

One of the advantages of living in a big city is all of the access to various services, products, and experiences. Being a resident of a major metropolis gives you access to cultural, medical, culinary, and—in the case of the… Read More »

Richard Schram, who founded the audio equipment brand Parasound in 1981, has announced his retirement and the sale of his company to David Sheriff, an entrepreneur active in product growth and supply-chain management. Parasound manufactures audiophile-grade amplifiers and other components… Read More »

One of my stated goals as a consumer is to support local retailers. Sure, I buy my fair share of crap from Amazon.com just like everybody else but when possible, I try to shop local. One store that I used… Read More »

You want to know why I’d rather be a high-end sports car dealer than an audiophile store owner these days? More often than not, high-end cars, over time, wear out or get old. People wreck them more frequently than you’d… Read More »

PSB Speakers, makers of high-fidelity loudspeakers since 1972, just announced the retail availability of the Alpha iQ, Streaming Powered Speakers with BluOS, the brand’s first pair of wireless streaming bookshelf speakers that integrate control, source and amplification. The Alpha iQ… Read More »

Rotel just introduced its S14 Integrated Streamer offering discerning listeners a high-performance product to access and enjoy online music with ease. This solution delivers the family-owned audio company’s promise of quality, value, and performance, aiming to bring music to life… Read More »

The two music icons came together in 1974 when the Grateful Dead unveiled their famed “Wall of Sound” at the San Francisco Cow Palace. The most unique traveling concert sound system in history, the system was 100+ feet wide and… Read More »

One of the biggest audiophile fallacies is a pricier or more exclusive product is going to perform better than a more affordable or mass-market solution. Perhaps that was once the case, but new-school audiophiles are increasing supporting manufacturers who deliver… Read More »

If you have a pair of ears, or even only one functioning ear, it’s impossible to avoid the “I” word these days. Most of the inflation news today is bad, and that makes sense as bad news creates media-based user… Read More »

Aavik announced today that it has expanded its range of amplifiers with their new flagship Aavik 880 series. The new series consists of the Aavik I-880 integrated amplifier, the C-880 control amplifier, and the P-880 power amplifier. The primary development… Read More »

Monolith, Monolith, the high-end audio brand from Monoprice, just announced its Audition series speaker solutions. The Audition speakers will be available in bookshelf, center-channel and two tower configurations.  “Our new Audition Series speakers bring extremely-high quality sound to a new level… Read More »

Andover Audio just announced the launch of its new SoundBites Series with the first model, the Andover Audio SpinStage phono preamp (read the review here MSRP $249). Making an elegant style statement in a striking clear finish of bead-blasted, anodized… Read More »

McIntosh just announced the MDA200 D/A Converter, allowing audiophiles to add premium digital music capabilities to an analog audio system. At the heart of the MDA200 is the McIntosh DA2 Digital Audio Module featured in the award-winning MA12000 Integrated Amplifier… Read More »

Recently, I’ve been asking audiophile industry executives what they think of Chi-Fi or “Chinese Hi-Fi (aka: audiophile components made in China, sold directly to  clients all over the world at often hard-to-conceive-of prices). It has been notable how many were… Read More »

Mobile Fidelity Source Point 10 Speakers by Andrew Jones MoFi Electronics introduced its new MoFi SourcePoint 10 loudspeakers (read a review of the Source Point 8 here) at Capital Audiofest in Rockville, MD, U.S.A., running November 11 through November 13.… Read More »

Schiit Audio announced the immediate availability of Yggdrasil+, its flagship True Multibit DAC. Featuring a choice of audiophile D/A converter options, remote control, NOS mode, and phase inversion, the Yggdrasil+ offers exceptional performance and value in a high-end DAC, together… Read More »

Audio-Technica announced the release of its ATH-TWX9 truly wireless in-ear headphones with digital hybrid noise-cancelling technology. Featuring 5.8mm high resolution drivers, these earbuds deliver an extended high-frequency range and improved sound detail for a superior listening experience. With up to… Read More »

Some audiophiles read my articles and think I absolutely hate vinyl. I don’t at all. In fact, I have been thinking of adding a turntable to my ever-evolving living room music playback system. The issue with vinyl is that we… Read More »

With COVID not looming as large as it has for the past few years and Rocky Mountain Audiofest in Denver now ended forever, Capital Audiofest in Rockville, Maryland represents the best chance for audiophiles from around the country to experience… Read More »

Periodic Audio announces a price reduction for its line of V3 in-ear monitors launched earlier this year. The company will move to a direct model and as a result will pass distribution cost-savings to its loyal customers.   “We feel so… Read More »

SVS, manufacturer of high-performance speakers, subwoofers, wireless audio, cables, and accessories, proudly announces the SVS Prime Wireless Pro SoundBase (read the review here). It’s the company’s second-generation integrated stereo amplifier bringing audiophile sound quality to the wireless audio space with… Read More »

Swiss high-end audio firm, Nagra, announces the upcoming release of its first phono cartridge – the Nagra Reference MC cartridge. Initial units are scheduled to be delivered in December.  The Nagra Reference MC cartridge is the product of a number… Read More »

Recently, my nephew and niece moved into a new home. As a housewarming gift, I decided to gift the millennial couple a new stereo system. I gave them their first system when they moved into their first home. It was… Read More »

French audio brand Focal presents a line of products designed for listening in marine, coastal and wet settings, the Littora 200. Within this range, three products have been specially developed to bring sound to outdoor spaces such as gardens, terraces,… Read More »

On October 11, 2022, Audio Research executive and audio industry friend, Brandon Lauer was badly injured in a motorcycle accident in Minnesota. He is alive but is in very serious condition. His recovery is realistically expected to take months if… Read More »

The time has come for change in the audiophile world. That’s why I’m launching a new publication called FutureAudiophile.com to deal with the problems at hand. My goal is simple to articulate but apparently not easy to pull off. I… Read More »

Audioengine just announced the availability of DAC3, a portable, powerful headphone amplifier/DAC (digital-to-analog converter) that offers better-than-CD sound and compatibility with every major streaming format on the market. The Audioengine DAC3 (buy at Crutchfield – $149.00), which measures a 1.9… Read More »

Bowers & Wilkins, the renowned British premium audio brand, has launched its new flagship wireless headphone, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 (read the review). The new model sets a new reference standard for the brand on sound, build and finish… Read More »

There have been a lot of changes at legendary speaker company Bowers & Wilkins over the past few years. Longtime owner Equity International sold the brand to a Silicon Valley tech company run by an NFL-team-owning multi-billionaire—who tried to transform… Read More »

Although Rekkord might not be a household name in the US, their German-made turntables have been a standard of excellence for nearly half a century. VANA Ltd has been appointed North American distributor and is proud to present these superbly… Read More »