Apple AirPods Pro 3: First Impressions

Hegel H150 Integrated Amplifier Officially Announced

Sonus faber Announces Amati Supreme Speaker

FiiO M27 Headphone DAC Amplifier Released

Audio Advice Acquires The Sound Room

LATEST ADDITIONS

News

Los Angeles Audio Show Cancelled!!!

Jason Victor Serinus May 03, 2018

The Los Angeles Audio Show (LAAS), scheduled for June 810 in Orange County, opposite the John Wayne International Airport at the former sites of T.H.E. Show, seems to have been cancelled. Although the LAAS website briefly contained a note that conversations were in progress about the possibility of the show being saved by the Los Angeles & Orange County Audio Society (LAOCAS), that note has now been removed.

Digital Processor Reviews

HoloAudio Spring "Kitsuné Tuned Edition" Level 3 D/A processor

Herb Reichert May 03, 2018

While covering CanMania at the 2017 Capital Audiofest, I was sitting at the table of HeadAmp Audio Electronics, listening first to John McEuen singing Warren Zevon's "Excitable Boy," from McEuen's Made in Brooklyn (24-bit/192kHz AIFF, Chesky JD388/HDtracks), then to Macy Gray's Stripped (24/96 AIFF, Chesky JD389/HDtracks). I was listening through HeadAmp's extraordinary GS-X Mk.2 headphone amplifier ($2999$3199), but midway through Gray's "I Try," I stopped, pulled the Audeze LCD-4 headphones off my head, and asked HeadAmp's head of sales and marketing, Peter James, what DAC he was using.

"Do you know the HoloAudio Spring DAC?"

Integrated Amp Reviews

Luxman L-509X integrated amplifier

Ken Micallef May 03, 2018

We're well past the day when the sound of top-tier tube amplifiers can be described as "syrupy" or "too warm" or producing "soft bass." Equally true, solid-state designs have reached a level of maturity at which "sweetness," "fluidity," and "flow" are similarly applicable descriptors, thus smashing the cliché of "cold transistor sound."

Katz's Corner InnerFidelity

Katz's Corner Episode 25: Adventures in Distortion

Bob Katz May 03, 2018

This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com

I believe that second harmonic distortion is sonic gold for audiophiles: It's very seductive, especially if you want a warm sound quality, three-dimensionality, and beautiful reproduction of ambience and depth. Based on the listening tests, there does not seem to be a sonic negative side if the proportions are done right. Yes, too much second harmonic and detail will be lost or the sound can become flubby, like some inferior tube preamp designs. That's why this listening test was so useful, as we can discover how much harmonic distortion is "just enough".

Fred Kaplan

Miles & Trane, The Final Tour: Copenhagen on LP

Fred Kaplan May 02, 2018

The Final Tour, Volume 6 of Columbia Legacy's Miles Davis Bootleg Seriesdocumenting Miles' quintet, featuring John Coltrane, live in Europe in March 1960is one of the most revelatory new-old jazz albums in recent years. Of the five concerts on the 4-CD boxed set, one of themthe March 24 date in Copenhagenis now out on 180-gram LP, and not only is the music thrilling, the sound quality is extraordinary: as vibrant as just about any live album in the Miles catalog.

News

Gryphon Event on Thursday in Omaha

Stereophile Staff May 02, 2018

A selection of gear from Gryphon Audio Designs, the Danish firm founded some 33 years ago by Flemming Rasmussen, will be introduced to listeners at a special event on Thursday, May 3, at The Sound Environment, 11021 Elm Street, Omaha, NE.

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Mark Levinson No.534 power amplifier

Larry Greenhill May 01, 2018

When I reviewed the Mark Levinson No.536 monoblock, I said that its sound quality was second to none. However, its stratospheric price of $30,000/pair unnerved meonly seven of the 35 top-rated solid-state power amplifiers listed in the April 2017 edition of Stereophile's "Recommended Components" cost more, and a similar number (not the same models) deliver more power into 8 ohms. "But don't despair," I wrote"Mark Levinson has just released a less expensive version of the No.536: the dual-mono, 350Wpc No.534 stereo amp ($20,000)." I requested a review sample of the No.534, to see if it matched the No.536's outstanding qualities of build and sound.

Music in the Round Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Music in the Round #91: Parasound Halo A 52+

Kalman Rubinson May 01, 2018

For some years now, I've tried to free myself from playing physical media and get all my music organized on a server. It's not that I don't enjoy handling and playing discs, but it's almost impossible to keep track of them. When my collection was only a thousand or two LPs, I felt I could remember each one individually. But now I have several times that many silver discs, and I know I can't.

Jason Victor Serinus

Touring South America and More with the Lysys

Jason Victor Serinus Apr 30, 2018

Cellist Antonio Lysy, whose Yarlung Records recording Antonio Lysy at the Broad won a Latin Grammy for its inclusion of Lalo Schifrin's song "Pampas," has returned with a unique recording of South American-connected compositions and arrangements. Aptly titled South America (YAR80167DSD), the nine compositions honor Astor Piazzolla, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Carlos Gardel, Antonio's violinist father Alberto Lysy, and Argentine bandoneon master Coco Trivisonno. There's even some Brazilian-tinged J.S. Bach and a work by Spanish cellist Pablo Casals.

News

Living Stereo Goes Social and Streaming

Jason Victor Serinus Apr 28, 2018

In a definite sign of the times, Sony Classical is poised to bring the 60-year old classic RCA Victor Living Stereo series to streaming, hi-rez download, and social media platforms. Beginning on Friday April 27, and lasting for two months, Living Stereo playlistsLiving Stereo Spectaculars, Living Stereo Top 50, and Living Stereo Deep Cuts among themwill stream on Apple Music, Spotify, and Deezer.