Audio Skies Michael Vamos - YG Acoustics, JMF Audio, Ideon at Capital Audiofest 2025

The Listening Room and Fidelity Imports - Diptyque DP-160 Mk.2 at Capital Audiofest 2025

Fidelity Imports Audia Flight and Perlisten System

Fidelity Imports Wilson Benesch and Audia Flight System at Capital Audiofest 2025

J Sikora Aspire, Innuos Stream 3, Aurender N50, Gryphon Antileon Revelation, Command Performance AV

Bella Sound Kalalau Preamplifier: Interview with Mike Vice

BorderPatrol Zola DAC – Gary Dews at Capital Audiofest 2025

Audio Note UK TT3 Reference Turntable Debut at Capital Audiofest 2025

Kevin Hayes of VAC at Capital Audiofest 2025

2WA Group debuts Aequo Ensium at Capital Audiofest 2025

Capital Audiofest 2025 lobby marketplace walk through day one

Lucca Chesky Introduces the LC2 Loudspeaker at Capital Audiofest 2025

Capital Audiofest 2025 Gary Gill interview

LATEST ADDITIONS

Munich 2025

Tea, Tubes, and a Touch of Bias: Jadis Plots Its Next Move

Jason Victor Serinus Jun 08, 2025

What more delightful way to end the third day of High End Munich than having a cup of tea and a short chat with Jean-Christophe Calmettes, owner of Jadis Electronics? He had some interesting news to share about the French company's two forthcoming integrated amplifiers, the Aria class-AB ($5200, all prices approximate when converted from Euros) and the Ode 30W pure class-A (available fourth quarter 2025, price TBD).

Munich 2025

ONE for the Money: Brinkmann’s Bold New DAC

Ken Micallef Jun 07, 2025

Germany’s Brinkmann Audio Systems unveiled a full system of its own components in Munich, featuring new releases alongside upgraded legacy models.

Munich 2025

Back in the Groove: Dual’s CS 718Q Builds on ’70s Lineage

Ken Micallef Jun 07, 2025

Dual sales manager Lothar Mertens presented the company’s full line of manual turntables, along with an intriguing prototype: the CS 718Q, a manual direct-drive 3-speed model.

T.H.E. Show SoCal 2025

Lots of Luxman at Common Wave

Julie Mullins Jun 07, 2025

L.A.-based dealer Common Wave Hi-Fi is presenting in six rooms in Costa Mesa this year. The one I visited was showing a Luxman PD-151 Mark II turntable ($5995) with Luxman's LMC-5 cartridge alongside other Luxman components from the 100-year-old Japanese maker's limited Black Edition Centennial series.

Munich 2025

Tracking Force of Nature: TechDAS, Kroma, Engström, Wadax, Jorma

Ken Micallef Jun 07, 2025

TechDAS turntables appeared in several rooms. In Room F219, I was particularly taken with the Korf tonearm and the intricate latticework design of the Exquisite Vord Cartridge.

Munich 2025

Guru Speakers Promise Swede Sound

Ken Micallef Jun 07, 2025

Reporting on High End Munich is like navigating a blizzard. As I pushed from room to atrium to hall to lobby, products seemed to whiz by me, their presenters vying for attention in this international maelstrom of hi-fi. Amid my mad dash, a small speaker manufacturer from Sweden caught my attention: Guru.

Munich 2025

Storgaard & Vestskov Speakers: Danish and Delicious

Ken Micallef Jun 07, 2025

Danish loudspeaker maker Storgaard & Vestskov, a relatively young company, operates from Bornholm, a small island in the Baltic Sea. Their 150,000ft² production hub handles everything in-house: R&D, milling, varnishing, and final assembly.

Munich 2025

Heavyweight Vinyl, Featherlight Detail: J. Sikora, EgglestonWorks, EMM Labs, Meitner, Kimber

Ken Micallef Jun 07, 2025

Being an audio reporter definitely has its perks—like when you're in a spacious Munich room, listening to top-tier systems deliver music with astonishing scale and precision.

T.H.E. Show SoCal 2025

T.H.E. Show Returns to Costa Mesa with Fresh Vision and Broader Appeal

Julie Mullins Jun 07, 2025

T.H.E. SoCal show, held once again at the Hilton Orange County in Costa Mesa, California, kicked off today (Friday, June 6). It will run through Sunday, June 8. It's the show's 3rd year at the venue.

Floor Loudspeaker Reviews

Amphion Krypton 3X loudspeaker

Tom Fine Jun 06, 2025

One of the things I value most in life is clarity. In my work, in my intellectual pursuits, and in my relationships, I try to cut through the noise and find the place where I can clearly see facts, goals, feelings, the big picture. If I can find clarity, it's much easier to form opinions, make plans, and take action. Success becomes more likely.

In audio reproduction, my values are similar. I can't enjoy music if the system is producing a clouded, muddy, overly warm, or otherwise unclear sound. I want the electromechanical representation of music to be richly detailed, sharply focused, and full range in dynamics and frequency. In that kind of all-encompassing and attention-demanding aesthetic, I can truly hear what the music is about. Under those conditions, the nature of the recording—good or bad, craft or crud—is plainly heard.