LATEST ADDITIONS

Jazz critics tend to live in the now. Just-released records. Tonight's concert. New breakout talents. One of the few things I dislike about being a jazz critic is that I rarely go back and dig out old albums I loved and listen to them again just for pleasure. This week, I did.

In the first installment of his non-video Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026 reports, Jason Victor Serinus relays his experiences with new and current gear from D'Agostino, dCS, Wilson, VTL, Nordost, AudioVector, REL, and Moon by Simaudio.

When we first took an interest in reviewing the T+A elektroakustik A 3100 HV Reference fully balanced dual-mono solid state stereo power amplifier ($29,900), every existing unit had been earmarked for a dealer. Then, just as Jim Austin and I were scratching our heads, T+A founder Siegfried "Siggi" Amft informed Jim Shannon, T+A's longtime US media contact and reassuring presence, that he could expedite an amplifier—just one—from Germany.

Ola Björling speaks with László Sós, hardware systems engineer at ADMD Audio Technologies, about the company's Syntra system—which consists of a custom R-2R DAC and active speakers—at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026. Plus, Ola shares his listening impressions of the entire system.

Herb Senior raised me to be a wrench twirler. A problem solver. A mechanic. Not an intellectual. Or an artist. Following his example, I've devoted my life to measuring, cutting, and fastening. To putting things together.

It's trite to observe that we're doomed to fail to understand the generations that come after us, yet it's true. We are also, apparently, doomed to forget we're doomed. "We have to get a younger generation into hi-fi, or the industry is dead," lament aging men, unable to imagine a traversable path other than their own.

The three days I spent at Toronto Audiofest (October 16–18, 2026) delivered on the promise of a wonderful mix of collective cheer and musical bliss, with a dollop of very unusual-looking gear.