SWAF 2024 Show Report Part 4 Featuring Pass Labs, Audio Note UK, Semrad Audio, Voxativ, Bella Sound, And More!
Apr 04, 2024
As mentioned, I've been reviewing for EnjoyTheMusic.com for over six years, but this inaugural Southwest Audio Fest was my first show. This meant I was able to meet some of the people who I've been corresponding with via email over the years. The first review I did was of the PureAudioProject Trio 15 Horn1, which is a great way to begin. I stopped by the PureAudioProject room a few times before I spied Ze'ev Schlik. Ze'ev gave me a warm greeting and we had a nice visit while listening to his wonderful system. In the room were his elegant Trio15 Classic Speakers with Voxativ AC-PiFe Center Driver ($9,990). They were powered by a Pass Labs INT-25 Integrated Amp ($7,250).
Review: RSX Benchmark Series Cables
Apr 01, 2024
It's always an experience when you get the opportunity to review cables. They take a while to break in, and if they do their job correctly, they should disappear, leaving you with the ultimate playback system, where everything is perfect. In reality, of course, no playback system can be perfect — the components and speakers you use always impact the quality of the sound you hear. However, what people fail to realize is that, although sometimes subtly, the cables you use can and usually do impact the sound, as well. It seems like yesterday, but in reality, it was a few months ago when I first spoke to Roger Skoff, the designer and owner of RSX cables. Roger was involved in cable design for quite several years. The first brand of cables he launched was XLO, the brand whose most famous ad was a two-page spread showing just a loop of cable (no connectors) and, in small type, just the words: Looks like no other, sounds like no other, sounds like nothing at all.
Audiophiles: How To Buy A Violin... Or Something Like That
Mar 30, 2024
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.
April High-Performance Audio Review Magazine
Mar 29, 2024
This month we've finalized our Florida International Audio Expo 2024 show report, while we're still adding to our Southwest Audio Fest and Montreal Audiofest show reports. Be sure to check back often for updates! Roger Skoff's editorial How To Buy A Violin... Or Something Like That talks about supporting your local high-end audio / audiophile dealers. Gear reviews this month includes the Yin Yang Labs Graphametric Paralyzer, Subatomic String Tuning Device Review, and the not-to-be-missed Exotic Automobile Manufacturer Offers 'The Audiophile Car'! If you haven't guessed by now, it is April Fools Day and we enjoy making a bit of fun towards various things music, industry, and exotic sports cars too. Actual high-end audiophile equipment reviews this month includes the amazing Aric Audio Super 300B SET vacuum tube stereo power amplifier, FiiO's fantastic M17 portable desktop-class music player, RSX Benchmark Series cables and more! As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music!
SWAF 2024 Show Report Part 3 Featuring Classic Audio, Technics, Kimber Kable, Terry Audio, AGD Productions, And More!
Mar 28, 2024
One of the rooms I was anticipating was Classic Audio. I had been following these Michiganders since they started with the rebuilding of JBL Hartsfield horns. Dominating the room was the massive T-3.4 Field Coil Powered System ($59,950) with its associated Dual Output Tungar DC Power Supplies ($8,000). Two power amps were being used, an Atma-Sphere Novacron Mk.3.3 ($26,500) and a Classic Audio Push-Pull 300B prototype. The preamp was an MP-1 Mark 3.3 Preamplifier ($23,890). The vinyl setup was an upgraded Technics SP 10 Mk III, Tri-Planar Ultimate 12 tonearm ($11,500), and a Van Den Hul Colibri Stradivarius Reference Cartridge ($13,000)...
More Southwest Audio Fest's Inaugural Event Show Report
Mar 27, 2024
Southwest Audio Fest kicked off on March 15 with a medium-sized, but lively and well-attended event at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. The show's organizers, Gary Gill and Lou Hinkley, are experienced audio show proprietors, having hosted the Capital Audio Fest and Pacific Audio Fest respectively. They make it a family affair for themselves, the exhibitors, and attendees at the show. Many well-known and lesser-known audio brands, including several from Texas, were here to show off their latest and greatest. It was my goal to see and hear as many as possible, and to spend some quality time with them when the rooms weren't too crowded to simply enjoy the music!
SWAF 2024 Show Report Part 2 Featuring Songer Audio, Raven Audio, Avantgarde Acoustic, Ayre Acoustics, LampizatOr, Stromtank, Phasemation, and more!
Mar 26, 2024
Seeing that Songer Audio made the trip to the Southwest Audio Fest 20924 show, they demonstrated their wonderful loudspeakers was a real treat! In the room were the S1x field-coil speakers ($45,000) powered by a Trafomatic Rhapsody integrated amplifier ($19,000). Front-end duties were performed by Innuos Statement Music Server and Streamer ($18,900) and a LampizatOr Poseidon DAC ($25,000). Power was supplied by Stromtank S-2500 Quantum ($30,000). The SX1x speakers feature the new V4 Nova driver.
SWAF 2024 Show Report Part 1: Featuring Kimber Kable, YG Acoustics, Tidal, Emm Labs, Spatial Audio, Raven Audio, and more!
Mar 23, 2024
It's hard to believe, but I've been reviewing for Enjoy the Music.com for over six years. In that time I have been fortunate to listen to a lot of excellent equipment in the comfy confines of my living room. The one thing I haven't been able to do is go to a high-end audio show. Then, this fall, the stars aligned in my favor. Gary Gill and Lou Hinckley decided to start a new show here in Dallas. This is just a three-hour drive from Austin, so I was eager to go. Before I knew it, I was driving up to Dallas on a Friday morning and arrived in time to get my badge and start walking around just as the show started. Several of the big rooms on the Atrium and Mezzanine floors weren't quite ready for visitors, so I decided to start at the top and work my way down.
World Premiere Review! AGD DUET GaN-Power Amplifier
Mar 23, 2024
A brilliant engineer and visionary, he has emerged as the torchbearer for innovative Class D designs, largely through his unique applications of Gallium nitride (GaN) transistor technology specific to high-end audio amplification. Each of his product examples utilizing this technology (Tempo di GaN, Audion MkIII, Vivace, Gran Vivace, and the Solo) has significantly and uniquely shortened the bridge between live music and the recorded medium. AGD's most recent addition to this objective, the DUET, narrows the divide all the more, offering, among several new applications, the first compact monoblock amplifier utilizing 100% Gallium Nitride power MOSFET for both the output stage and the power supply
TBT: Ampsandsound Kenzie OG Rev 2 Headamp Review
Mar 21, 2024
I have made it no secret that I am a huge tube fan. I have also made no secret of my love of ampsandsound amplifiers. The reason is that Justin Weber is one of the few designers of his generation that gets what tube amps are all about and almost more importantly, knows what music is supposed to sound like. What tubes are all about is musicality, and in this context, musicality means dynamic, open, natural-sounding, clear, resolute, linear, organic sound without the added hard edge produced by solid-state amplification. (I have stressed this often, but what tubes are not about is rolled off highs, anemic bass, and supposed pleasantness of high THD as is the misconception of modern non-audiophile engineers.) So it was with no little excitement that I greeted the news that I would be given the opportunity to review the newest revision of the amp that started it all.
Press Release: EnjoyTheMusic.com Sponsors Montréal Audiofest 2024 Exhibitor / Press Party
Mar 20, 2024
EnjoyTheMusic.com, high-performance audio's long-celebrated online publication for 29 years and a leader in providing industry news, high-end audio reviews, and luxury show reports, is pleased to announce for the third year in a row we're sponsoring Montréal Audiofest's Saturday evening Exhibitor / Press Party. We invite exhibitors and members of the press to join us for delectable drinks, marvelous music, and friendly fun! The Salon Audio Montreal Audiofest 2024, scheduled from March 22nd through 24th, will bring together over 5000 visitors who desire to see, touch, and listen to over 300 brands of high-performance audio products all under one roof. As the largest show in Canada, you may experience the very best audio/video industry manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in Canada. Within each listening room, exhibitors are elated to share their passion for music with you by demonstrating some of the world's best sound systems from $5000 to $500,000.
Montréal Audiofest 2024 Is This Weekend!
Mar 19, 2024
The Salon Audio Montreal Audiofest 2024, scheduled from March 22nd through 24th, will bring together over 5000 visitors who desire seeing, touching, and listening to over 300 brands of high-performance audio products all under one roof. As the largest show in Eastern Canada, you may experience the very best audio/video industry manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in Canada. Within each listening room, exhibitors are elated to share their passion for music with you by demonstrating some of the world's best sound systems from $5000 to $500,000. Montréal Audiofest is celebrating its 35th edition in 2024 and remains the must-attend event for audiophiles and music lovers.
The Best-Sounding Florida International Audio Expo To Date!
Mar 18, 2024
For me, mid-February in Central Florida usually means a two-hour road trip from Orlando to Tampa to attend the annual (and now well-established) Florida International Audio Expo (FIAE, previously FLAX – I prefer the latter as it rolls off the tongue more easily). Warm sunny days, pleasant balmy nights, great tunes, good food, and more than a few libations typically define FIAE show weekends. This year's shebang delivered most of the expected thrills, but the awful weather (wet, dreary, and cold) dampened spirits somewhat, and the venue elevators seemed even slower this year. Still, and on balance, I thought this the finest sounding FIAE yet (I've attended all but one), with a fine (if perhaps slightly smaller) cohort of manufacturers, distributors, and dealers demo'ing high-performance gear from around the globe, and at all price points.
CES, AI, And Your Music
Mar 16, 2024
It's been some years since we went to the annual Consumer Electronics Show. Despite missing the winter desert sun in Las Vegas (especially in the UK, where the sun disappears around mid-November only to return some time in April), Las Vegas had become a busted flush for high-end (or 'specialty') audio. Some audio brands still attend the event, but the relevance of the show waned for the audio world in the 2010s, and by the later part of the decade it had become unsustainable for audio. As the name changed from the Consumer Electronics Association to the Consumer Technology Association in 2015, so the CES subtly changed emphasis, moving increasingly toward wearable tech, health tech, and most recently Artificial Intelligence. While embedded AI in consumer goods is still something of a novelty (who really needs an AI-enhanced kettle?), it's set to dominate the consumer electronics market. And, it's likely to do so fast. Although high-end audio no longer attends the show, that doesn't mean it is immune to the same market forces. AI is coming to your audio system! Get used to the idea.
Meeting The Standards
Mar 16, 2024
Audio professionals working in product development, design, manufacturing, and system implementation always meet new challenges as technologies change and evolve. In professional or consumer applications, digital audio signals are being carried using a number of different platforms, technologies, and digital protocols, creating a complexity that no single company in the test and measurement (T&M) field is able to address on its own. Increasingly, T&M companies specific to the audio industry are being forced to focus on one specific angle (e.g., electronics product design, acoustic measurements, production line testing, etc.). On the software front, things look a bit more dynamic, with the availability of solutions that are more or less able to react quickly to new industry demands.
Throwback: Listener Magazine Into By Art Dudley
Mar 12, 2024
Recently I received some new CD re-issues from JVC who have begun applying their very nice XRCD process to the RCA Victor catalog of classical recordings from the 1950s and 1960s. Among this batch was a personal favorite: Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony orchestra performing Beethoven's Symphony No.7. I enjoy this one the most of all the Sevenths in my collection, and the fact that my copy is a mono LP isn't something I ever gave all that much thought to. In fact, until someone corrected me on the point, I half assumed that LM-1991 might be one of those recordings in the RCA catalog that never came out in stereo in the first place. (I am not the sort of record collector who concerns himself with such details, although I am often thankful for the knowledge of those who are.) I also remember thinking that a stereo version of this LP, with that big, gaudy LIVING STEREO banner across the top, must surely suffer by comparison in terms of its cover art, which is Botticelli's La Primavera, reproduced on a sturdy fold-over sleeve the likes of which I haven't seen on any other record.
The Most Expensive Component
Mar 10, 2024
What would you say if I told you that the most expensive thing about your system might not be what you think it is? No, I'm not thinking of your listening room, although, from a physical standpoint, that might certainly be true, and it might even be the subject of some future article. It's not your collection of records, CDs, and master tapes, either, even though that, too, might at one time have been the case. Instead, for altogether too many people (not you and I, of course) the most expensive thing about their system is one or more of the mistaken assumptions they might have made in putting it together.
Review: AGD DUET GaN-Power Monoblock Amplifier
Mar 04, 2024
In my years as an audiophile, I have met many artisan audio designers who I count among my most respected 'musician' friends, whose mission is to create not just fine audio equipment, but true musical instruments. Some of these artisans are performing musicians (and quite accomplished). Regardless, all have one key trait in common, and that is they allow live music to be the key informant in the development of their audio designs, and ultimately the guiding beacon of their company's direction. One of these artisan friends is Alberto Guerra, founder and chief design engineer of AGD Productions, Inc., based in Palos Verdes, California.
FIAE 2024: American Sound Showcases A Lovely International Lineup
Feb 29, 2024
When the Tampa show first began, the word 'International' was not within the name. Thankfully, the show promoters quickly realized the error of their ways. This year at the Florida International Audio Expo 2024 were products from many different countries. Perhaps no single room better showcased this than retailer and distributor American Sound Of Canada with great gal Angie at the helm. Before I post a gear list, let's have fun and see a country list first: dCS United Kingdom, Oracle Audio Technologies Canada, Phasemation Japan, Avantgarde Acoustic Germany, Transparent Cables USA. To my ears, there's something about highly efficient hornspeakers that showcase immediacy, speed, and exceptional dynamic swings from whisper quiet to the guy blown away in the Maxell commercial.
TBT: Pass Labs INT-25 Stereo Integrated Amplifier Review
Feb 29, 2024
It's been a while since I've had an opportunity to listen to some of the Pass amps officially. The last one was, if memory does serve me, an integrated INT-30 amplifier, a review you had the opportunity to read in this magazine (No. 81 / 2010). My experience with Pass Labs amps is not extensive, but it may be relevant. Before that integrated amplifier in my listening room I enjoyed my own amps over the years, such as integrated amplifier INT-150, power amp x150.5, preamplifier X1 and Aleph P. Either loaned to me, or through other familiar listening rooms, I also had the opportunity to listen to X250, X 250.5, X350, X600, X150, Aleph 3 and Aleph 5. As you can see from the above, there is a certain historical void in my acquaintance with Pass, which we will try to fill in by listening to and learning about the latest Pass Labs toy, the Pass INT-25 integrated amplifier.
Live Nation Reports All-Time Highs For Concert Attendance
Feb 27, 2024
With attendance, ticket sales, and sponsorship activity at or near all-time highs, concert attendance for 2023 as compared to 2022 is up 20% to over 145 million fans. This figure spans more than 50,000 events, with 50% more international acts in top 50 tours, plus there are 15% more touring shows on average too. Furthermore, revenue is up as spending on hospitality has achieved double-digit growth, with fan spending up across all major venue types – amphitheaters, festivals, clubs, and theaters. Of course ticket sales have experienced a gross transaction value (GTV) that is up 30% to nearly $36 billion. Live Nation says they are "the largest supporter of artists: Investment in artists up over 40% to over $13 billion. Promoting more artists at every level from clubs to stadiums, with nearly 7,000 touring artists in 40+ countries."
FIAE 2024: MC Audiotech, Pass Labs, Audience AV, And More!
Feb 26, 2024
Back in July 2021, EnjoyTheMusic.com's Rick Becker reviewed the MC Audiotech Forty-10 floorstanding loudspeaker and said, "it is for the discerning music lover who is not afraid to think outside the box and seek out the unique as well as the very enjoyable." Here at the Florida International Audio Expo 2024, the company was showcasing a different model, the MC Audiotech TL-12. As a visually more normal style of loudspeaker, the T-12 features the company's wide band line source drivers mated with a 12" transmission line woofer. Operating as a dipole from 300 Hz to 20 kHz, the overall frequency response is from 28 Hz to 20 kHz, has a sensitivity of 93dB/W/m, and presents a nice 8 Ohm non-reactive load to your amplification.
FIAE 2024: Suncoast Audio's Sensational Rooms
Feb 26, 2024
As with virtually all shows, the local dealers come out strong to showcase their best gear and the FIAE 2024 was no exception. Suncoast Audio, based in Sarasota (FL), featured one room with MBL gear and assorted components while the other contained the Clarisys Audio Auditorium speakers, VAC amplification, MSB digital gear, etc. Since there's been a lot of cyberink about the MBLs, and most know of their excellent products, I'm going to focus on the Clarisys Audio room. Doing a double-take as the Clarisys Audio Auditorium speakers are quite large at 76" high and 36" wide, yet are only 4.3 inches deep. Why so thin?
Press Release: EnjoyTheMusic.com Sponsors The Southwest Audio Fest 2024
Feb 26, 2024
EnjoyTheMusic.com, premium audio's celebrated online site since 1995 and a leader in providing over 25 years of industry news, thousands of gear reviews, and more than 280 show reports, is pleased to announce we're sponsoring the inaugural Southwest Audio Fest 2024 in Dallas. We're sponsoring the SWAF's Thursday night 'Happy Hour' before the event opens to the public. Scheduled to take place from March 15th through 17th at the Hilton / Anatole in Dallas, Texas, exhibitors and members of the press are invited to join us for food, drinks, and live music. EnjoyTheMusic.com looks forward to seeing you there!
For over 29 years, EnjoyTheMusic.com's ongoing efforts and resources have benefited both the consumer electronics industry and music lovers by providing leading information concerning luxury high-performance audio and premium high-fidelity equipment via the internet. We are deeply honored for the opportunity to support the very first Southwest Audio Fest event, and in teaming up to benefit both the high-end audio industry and audiophiles.
FIAE 2024: Astounding Acora Acoustics And Vibrant VAC In The Big Room
Feb 25, 2024
For those of you reading this who, for some reason, didn't attend this year's incredible Florida International Audio Expo 2024, the Acora Acoustics, LampizatOr, and VAC room was within the largest room at the event. It was impossible to miss since the bar area, live music, and smoking area all are within the same second-floor area. From the Thursday night party, which is sponsored by Enjoy the Music.com as are all major industry-operated events within the USA and Canada, you could walk into the Acora Acoustics and VAC room and enjoy the most expansive sound within the show!
FIAE 2024: Heaven = High End By Oz
Feb 24, 2024
It's always a joy to chat with Oz Turan during shows. His endless enthusiasm and deep love for music shine warmly, and am sure everyone who visited his room experienced this too. There's always another song to play, something new to discover, and of course hours of listening pleasure during the Florida International Audio Expo 2024. Stopped into his room a few times during the show as the sound was very, very impressive. During shows, I like to 'sneak into' rooms and first want to thank show attendees for putting up with me coming in and taking pics, etc. As much as I try to be 'invisible', take pics fast, and get out of everyone's way. Sometimes I do find myself apologizing for my photo efforts that 'block' a speaker or ??? With that said, am so glad I took extra moments to revisit as the music was very engaging.
FIAE 2024: Wynn 'ing At The Florida International Expo Fest 2024
Feb 22, 2024
Virually everyone within the industry knows Wynn Wong. Always a good word, a smile, plus Wynn is extremely passionate about music. On a personal note, he's also into horology (that means timepieces, or for your Floridians out there, wristwatches). Am a proud member of the NAWCC and AHCI too, and if you happen to be into horology go check them out and join. So where were we? Oh yeah, the fun-filled Tampa show. Based in Canada, Wynn Audio is both a retailer and an outstanding distributor. Founded in 2011 by Wynn Wong, his love for music and audio... and being both a retailer and distributor since 2011 proves he is truly 'one of us'. Have a look at the brands here and you'll see this is not your typical one-and-done kinda music lovers. The gear within his FIAE 2024 exhibition room includes gear made in Germany, Serbia, France, Spain, Sweden, and the USA. Wynn takes time to seek out great gear, you know, like we all do.
TBT: LampizatOr Baltic 3 Hi-Res DAC Review
Feb 22, 2024
Founded near Warsaw Poland in 2010, while LampizatOr builds electronics and speakers, many are not aware of those offerings, as it was their exceptional tubed DACs that first put the company on the map. Owned and operated exclusively by its designer Łukasz Fikus, after hearing the disarming $17,250 Golden Gate DAC some seven years ago, then the even more engaging $27,000 Pacific DAC at a show during 2018, the reason for their success became apparent. Both these SET-based devices offered a conspicuous step closer to the undeniable naturalness, organic coherence, and space and dimensionality offered by the very best LP transcription systems.
FIAE 2024: Gershman Acoustics 30th Anniversary Loudspeaker Celebration
Feb 20, 2024
The multi-award-earning Canadian company Gershman Acoustics favorably distinguished the Florida International Audio Expo 2024 with their new 30th Anniversary Black Swan floorstanding loudspeaker ($90,000). As their top-line reference loudspeaker, you know there's very special technology and advanced engineering within this new design. This wonderful work of audio art is the company's no-holds-barred loudspeaker design and has a very wide frequency response from a room shaking 18 Hz to a smooth 24 kHz. Sensitivity is 88dB/W/m, with driver compliment being a powerful 12" woofer, marvelous 5.25" midrange, and delightful 1" dome tweeter. Joining the party are the Convergent Audio Technology C.A.T. monoblocks ($70,000 per pair), C.A.T. preamplifier ($100,000), plus Wolf Audio music streamer and Aavik Hi-Res Audio DAC.
The Musical Point Of View
Feb 18, 2024
Within my previous article last month, I argued that modes of communication could themselves be sources or initiators of meaning. An example illustrates the point. An artist paints a portrait of a friend whom he knows well. Through a range of artistic choices – pose, color, background, composition, etc. – the artist hopes to capture aspects of his friend's character, personality, the life she's lived, and perhaps his friend's self-conception as well. The portrait may or may not do a good job of realizing the artist's intentions, or may succeed in the eyes of some, but not in the eyes of others. Whatever the artist's or the subject's intention or vision, once complete and available to an audience, viewers are likely to respond to the portrait in the light of their interests in it. Those interests may have little, if anything, in common with the artist's or the subject's goals for the painting.
DALI Kore Floorstanding Speaker Review
Feb 15, 2024
After the presentation of the DALI Kore, in a rare moment of complete agreement, the guests left the room with a big smile on their faces. HIGH END audio show, May 2022, Munich, Germany – for someone from the press, this equates to four hectic days, a race against time to discover as many exciting new products as possible, to have them explained to you and to get hold of at least a couple of short listening sessions from a suitable sitting position. Despite these circumstances, the DALI showroom was packed with press representatives when CEO Lars Worre and his team explained the background and aspirations of the Kore.
TBT: Limitless Musical Pleasures
Feb 08, 2024
When performers or recording engineers talk about "cutting a track", those words can be the literal truth. Making a phonograph record – the first kind of sound recording – has always meant using some kind of a sharp object (most recently a heated cutting stylus), to cut a groove into the surface of some suitable material, and to wiggle that groove right, left, up, down, or, for stereo, in all of those ways, diagonally at the same time, for the purpose of recording sound. The recording material has ranged from Edison's beeswax to a special lacquer, and the finished recording has been everything from a wax cylinder through, currently, a heat-stamped vinyl disc, but the process, itself, has always remained essentially the same.
