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Toronto Audiofest 2019
Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary Loudspeakers; Tontraeger stands; Brinkmann Taurus Turntable, Edison MkII Phono Preamp, and Nyquist DAC; Goldnote DS-10 Streamer; Aesthetix Mimas Integrated Amplifier; HRS Racks; Cardas Cabling
Jim Austin  |  Oct 19, 2019  |  2 comments
After spending time in the Zesto room, I wandered into the other rooms hosted by Canadian audio importer/distributor Tri-Cell.
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Toronto Audiofest 2019
Harbeth Speakers, PrimaLuna Integrated Amplifier, Aesthetix Phono Preamp, Kuzma Turntable and Tonearm, Ortofon Cartridge, Furutech Cables
Robert Schryer  |  Oct 19, 2019  |  4 comments
Looking for a simple, sweet-sounding system that's sure to elicit pride of ownership? If so, I'd like to suggest the one I encountered in the room hosted by retailer Vinyl Sound. It starts with a Ken Micallef fave, the Kuzma Stabi S turntable with Stogi arm ($CAD6400 for both), and an Ortofon Cadenza Blue cartridge ($CAD2000).
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Toronto Audiofest 2019
Klipsch La Scala Speakers, Simaudio Moon Preamp and Amp, Pro-Ject Turntable
Robert Schryer  |  Oct 19, 2019  |  10 comments
Having never before seen a pair of Klipsch La Scalas ($CAD15,000/pair) in person, I was pleasantly surprised by their appearance when I saw them in the Kennedy HiFi room. Looking stately, dare I say noble even, with their wide baffles and hardwood enclosures, the Klipsches were coupled to a system that included a Simaudio Moon 393 preamp ($CAD6800), a Moon 330 120Wpc power amp ($CAD4400), and a Pro-Ject 2Xperience turntable ($CAD1700 with arm and cartridge).
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Toronto Audiofest 2019
SME Turntable and Tonearm, Ortofon Cartridge, VTL Amplification, Lumin Streamer, PMC Speakers, Nordost Cables
Robert Schryer  |  Oct 18, 2019  |  5 comments
More great sound was had in retailer Audio Eden's room, where they were showcasing a system fronted by SME's Synergy all-in-one record player, which includes the SME model 12 turntable, SME lV arm with internal Crystal Cable wiring, an Ortofon Windfeld Ti MC cartridge, and a built-in phono stage made by Nagra ($CAD28,000 total cost)—but no kitchen sink.
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Toronto Audiofest 2018
Zesto Audio Leto Ultra Preamplifier, Eros 300 Monoblocks, Andreos Deluxe Phono Stage, and Allasso Step-Up Transformer; Transrotor Apollon TMD Turntable; TriPlanar Tonearm; Benz Micro Cartridge; Opera Callas Diva Loudspeakers; HRS Racks; Cardas Cabling
Jim Austin  |  Oct 18, 2019  |  1 comments
The first thing I did at the Toronto Audiofest—after eating breakfast and attending some business meetings—was visit the Zesto Audio room, where I was hosted by Zesto Audio President and designer George Counnas. I was eager to hear the just-announced Leto Ultra vacuum tube preamplifier ($9995 US), which features—wait for it—tone controls.
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Toronto Audiofest 2019
Grandinote Server, Integrated Amplifier, and Speakers, Nordost Cabling
Robert Schryer  |  Oct 18, 2019  |  21 comments
My journalistic objectivity be darned! The Goerner Audio/Grandinote room produced the sort of sound that melts my heart, ravishes my senses, and reminds me of why great hi-fi is worth the money . . .
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Toronto Audiofest 2019
Roksan Record Player, Rotel Electronics, Monitor Audio Speakers, Nordost Cables
Robert Schryer  |  Oct 18, 2019  |  4 comments
Making their North American debut in the Rotel/Monitor Audio room were Rotel's P5 preamp, with built-in 32- bit/768kHz DAC ($CAD5299), and 1080Wpc M8 mono amps ($CAD18,000/pair). Speakers were Monitor Audio Gold 300s, said to employ technology trickled down from the company's flagship Platinum ll model.
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Toronto Audiofest 2019
The Second Annual Toronto Audiofest Gets Underway
Robert Schryer  |  Oct 18, 2019  |  6 comments
With its abundance of high rises and freeways, Toronto has the feel of a big, bustling metropolis. It is Canada's most populated city, North America's fourth after Mexico City, New York, and Los Angeles. It is also the country's business epicenter and the only Canadian city to have an MLB team and an NBA one, the latter the Toronto Raptors, the league's 2019 championship winners.
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Audacious AudioSolid State Power Amp Reviews
darTZeel NHB-468 monoblock power amplifier
Michael Fremer  |  Oct 17, 2019  |  44 comments
What's the point of reviewing a pair of monoblock amplifiers that costs more than most people spend on two or even several cars— and far more than most audiophiles spend on an entire music system? That's a good question. Another is: Why should I write this review when, just seven years ago, I reviewed a pair of darTZeel monoblocks that look exactly like this new pair?

I realize that products such as the darTZeel NHB-468 ($170,000/pair) are for the very few, but the very few include far more people throughout the world than you may realize— people who can afford such costly audio products and who do buy them. I know, because in my travels I've met a lot of them, and they deserve to read reviews of products they're considering buying—things most of us can only dream of owning.

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Jason Victor Serinus
Russian Romantic Piano Trio Bonanza
Jason Victor Serinus  |  Oct 16, 2019  |  0 comments
Romantics rejoice! In an age where ice seems to melt faster than hearts, there are still great musicians who uphold the Russian tradition of romantic music. Vadim Gluzman, Johannes Moser, and Yevgeny Sudbin may not (yet) have the cachet of David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Sviatoslav Richter, who famously came together with Herbert von Karajan to record Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, but their new SACD of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50, and Arno Babajanian’s sole Piano Trio (BIS-2372) places them firmly in the grand Russian tradition of emotive, give-it-all-you’ve-got musicianship.
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