Focal Attains Utopia at Audio Advice Live 2026

Rega's Royal Analog Experience at Audio Advice Live 2026

Cambridge Audio Rocks and Rules in a Fidelity Imports Room at Audio Advice Live 2026

Fyne Audio and Harmonia Distribution are in Fine Harmony at Audio Advice Live 2026

Welcome to Audio Advice Live 2026!

The Top Turntables, Tonearms, and Cartridges of SouthWest Audio Fest 2026

Reference Analog Shares All the Right Reference Points at SouthWest Audio Fest 2026

See How the Degritter Mark II Ultrasonic RCM Cleans an LP!

Scott Walker Audio Takes It From the Top at SouthWest Audio Fest 2026

Audiophile Newbies Shocked by SRPs at High End Vienna!

LATEST ADDITIONS

News Show Report

Linear Tube Audio, Prodigio Audio, and Spiritual Sound Find Natural Harmony Together at SouthWest Audio Fest 2026

Ken Micallef Jul 31, 2026

At SouthWest Audio Fest 2026, Ken Micallef speaks with Jacob Knibb of Linear Tube Audio, Jason Messina of Prodigio Audio (shown above), and Cameron Rector of Spiritual Sound about the gear seen and heard in this room, including the prototype for the Linear Tube Audio Century preamplifier, Prodigio Audio WR1 Sicambria electrostatic loudspeakers, and Spiritual Sound cables and interconnects.

Audacious Audio Tube Preamp Reviews

Ampsandsound Yellowstone preamplifier

Ken Micallef Jul 31, 2026

At hi-fi shows and across social media, Ampsandsound's Justin Weber projects a sense of upbeat. Positive, placid, disarmingly pleasant, he looks less like a high-end audio manufacturer than a big-hearted camp counselor about to gather berries and butterflies. And honestly? That's not far from the truth.

News Show Report

Altec Lansing & Infigo Audio Have a Ball(room) at SouthWest Audio Fest 2026

Ken Micallef Jul 30, 2026

At SouthWest Audio Fest 2026, Ken Micallef speaks with Steven Rabitz (shown above) and James Harvell of Altec Lansing, as well as Hans Loomans of Infigo Audio, about the gear seen and heard in Austin Ballroom 3, including the Altec Lansing Ribbonacci Reference loudspeakers and Infigo Audio Method 4 DAC.

Re-Tales

Re-Tales #68: A Wine Event Holds Lessons for the Hi-Fi Industry

Julie Mullins Jul 30, 2026

In these Amazon days, retail customers need a good reason to enter any brick-and-mortar store. When you can buy anything and everything you want online, you need a reason to get up off the sofa. Especially when spending discretionary money, people want not only good products but good experiences.

News Show Report

Van Zyl Audio Reveals a Zeal for Realism at SouthWest Audio Fest 2026

Ken Micallef Jul 29, 2026

At SouthWest Audio Fest 2026, Ken Micallef speaks with Johan van Zyl of Van Zyl Audio about the company's latest offerings, including the Equiem mid-horns and BB‐15 horn‐loaded subwoofer.

My Back Pages

What My Toddler Taught Me About Music and AI

Rogier van Bakel Jul 29, 2026

When she was three years old, I watched my daughter operate a drinking fountain for the first time. As she leaned in, she loosened her grip on the button, cutting the flow. She tried this several times, with admirable persistence but zero success. Eventually she had an idea: Lean in first, then press the button.

News Show Report

Playback Distribution Plays Big at SouthWest Audio Fest 2026

Ken Micallef Jul 28, 2026

At SouthWest Audio Fest 2026, Ken Micallef speaks with Rob Standley of Playback Distribution about the company's latest offerings, including the Dual CS 529 turntable, Advance Paris A-I190 Nova integrated amplifier, and Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand Reference speakers.

Spin Doctor

Spin Doctor #39: The History of the Technics SL-1200 Turntable

Michael Trei Jul 28, 2026

Technics introduced the world's first direct-drive turntable, the SP-10 (above), in 1970. It was aimed squarely at professional facilities like radio stations and not at deejays for club use. The SP-10 was a "motor unit"—just a spinning platter with no plinth or tonearm, which the user was expected to source elsewhere.

Show Report

Pilot Radio Takes Command at SouthWest Audio Fest 2026

Ken Micallef Jul 27, 2026

At SouthWest Audio Fest 2026, Ken Micallef speaks with Barak Epstein of Pilot Radio about the company's tube-based legacy and its latest offerings, the Pilot Preamplifier and 232 stereo power amplifier.

Spin Doctor

The Spin Doctor in Vienna

Michael Trei Jul 27, 2026

After a decade of holding the annual High End Society show in Munich, Germany, this year the society moved to a new city and country. The show decamped to Vienna, Austria. There was no shortage of new phono-related debuts at the show. Here are some that caught my eye.