Robert J. Reina

Sort By: Post Date | Title | Publish Date
Rotel RB-991 power amplifier
Solid State Power Amp ReviewsBudget Component Reviews
Robert J. Reina  |  Mar 03, 2007  |  First Published: Aug 03, 1999  |  0 comments
As a reviewer who has focused on seeking out high-quality audiophile gear for cost-constrained readers, I'm embarrassed to say that the flagship RB-991 stereo amplifier is the first Rotel product I've had in my house. (To be fair to myself, this 38-year-old family-owned company did not develop a large US market presence until this last decade.)
Continue Reading >
Silverline Audio Minuet loudspeaker
Stand Loudspeaker ReviewsBudget Component Reviews
Robert J. Reina  |  Apr 23, 2008  |  0 comments
I always look forward to Stereophile's Home Entertainment Shows, where I scout out interesting new models of affordable loudspeakers. At HE2007 in New York City, I was struck by the Silverline Audio room—not only by the sound I heard there, but by the way Showgoers reacted to that sound.
Continue Reading >
Simaudio Moon i-1 integrated amplifier
Budget Component ReviewsIntegrated Amp Reviews
Robert J. Reina  |  Dec 19, 2008  |  0 comments
Fearless leader called me and asked if I'd be interested in reviewing the Simaudio Moon i-1 ($1500), the entry-level integrated amplifier in Simaudio's Classic line. Hmmm. I'd been very impressed by all of the more expensive Simaudio products I'd heard at Stereophile's Home Entertainment shows over the years, and the 50Wpc Moon i-1 would be an interesting match for the affordable speakers I've had in-house lately. Send it on, JA!
Continue Reading >
Sonic Frontiers Power 2 power amplifier
Tube Power Amp Reviews
Robert J. Reina  |  Dec 04, 2005  |  First Published: May 04, 1997  |  0 comments
I was attacked by Chris Johnson of Sonic Frontiers at HI-FI '96.
Continue Reading >
Sonus Faber Venere 1.5 loudspeaker
Stand Loudspeaker Reviews
Robert J. Reina  |  Dec 30, 2013  |  First Published: Jan 01, 2014  |  0 comments
I've loved the neutral, detailed, involving sound of Sonus Faber loudspeakers for as long as they've been available in the US. Most of my listening to them, however, has been at audio shows, and during a visit to Audio Research Corporation in 2012. (Since 2008, both ARC and Sonus Faber have been owned by the Italian firm Fine Sounds SpA, and since then ARC has used speakers made by SF, as well as by Wilson Audio and Magnepan, in the design of their electronics. Fine Sounds also owns 100% of Wadia, McIntosh, and Sumiko.)
Continue Reading >
Spendor S3/5R2 loudspeaker
Stand Loudspeaker Reviews
Robert J. Reina  |  Mar 07, 2013  |  5 comments
The Spendor S3/5R2 loudspeaker reminds me of Art Dudley. My friendship with Art began more than 25 years ago, long before either of us joined Stereophile. Frequently, we would sit down to discuss music, guitars, and audiophiles. Art didn't have much patience for a certain category of audiophile who would evaluate an audio component based on how many points on their sonic checklists they could tick off. Image specificity? Check. Soundstage depth? Check. Lower-bass extension? Check.
Continue Reading >
The Good Rats' Peppi Marchello dies at 68
News
Robert J. Reina  |  Jul 17, 2013  |  0 comments
Peppi Marchello, founder, lead singer, composer, and arranger for the rock band, The Good Rats, died on July 10, 2013 from cardiac arrest. He was 68. The band's sophisticated, yet catchy and accessible rock anthems fostered a rabid following among fans in their home base, New York City's Long Island suburb. However, despite five strong albums of original material released between 1974 and 1981, three of which were distributed with major label support, the band was virtually unknown outside of Long Island . . . Rolling Stone dubbed The Good Rats, "The World's Most Famous Unknown Band."
Continue Reading >
The Smaller Advent loudspeaker
Stand Loudspeaker ReviewsHistorical
Robert J. Reina  |  May 21, 2006  |  4 comments
One day last year, my friend Larry and I were talking about our college-fraternity days and loudspeakers. Those were four of the best years of my life. Strong friendships were formed, and ever since, we've kept in touch with most of our fraternity's brothers-in-heart. Ours was not a jock house, nor was it the last bastion of rampant male sexuality—it was, after all, an MIT frat house. But it was full of music lovers who fell neatly into three camps: the California School owned JBL Decades, the New England School had Smaller Advents, and the Renegades boasted bootlegged Bose 901s (footnote 1).
Continue Reading >
Totem Acoustic Rainmaker loudspeaker
Stand Loudspeaker ReviewsBudget Component Reviews
Robert J. Reina  |  Nov 21, 2004  |  0 comments
I have concluded that I am blessed.
Continue Reading >
Totem Dreamcatcher loudspeaker
Stand Loudspeaker ReviewsBudget Component Reviews
Robert J. Reina  |  May 16, 2011  |  3 comments
The two-way, biwirable, rear-ported Dreamcatcher is designed and manufactured in Canada; its drive-units are designed by Totem, but made and assembled in Europe. The 1" titanium-dome tweeter, manufactured by German Acoustik, is mated to a 4" Scan-Speak woofer. Totem founder Vince Bruzzese feels very strongly about sourcing his drivers in the West. In the past, he got his small woofers from Peerless in Denmark, but switched to Scan-Speak when Peerless started manufacturing in China. Bruzzese also pointed out that the tweeter used in the Dreamcatcher costs him €16, more than 15 times as much as most similar Asian-made tweeters.
Continue Reading >

Pages

X