Brilliant Corners #38: Listening to the Aidas Violet Phono Cartridge

Brilliant Corners #38: Listening to the Aidas Violet Phono Cartridge

May 06, 2026
Aidas Svazas is an artisan residing in Lithuania's second largest city, Kaunas. Svazas started out as a cartridge repairman, and our first encounter took place when, on a friend's recommendation, I sent him a Fairchild 225-A, a mono cartridge from the 1950s, to be restored.

DeVore Fidelity at AXPONA 2026: No artifice, no coloration, no problem

DeVore Fidelity at AXPONA 2026: No artifice, no coloration, no problem

May 05, 2026

Two AXPONA veterans who don't know each other told Rogier van Bakel separately that they considered the system in the DeVore Fidelity room one of the highlights of the 2026 show—so off to room 646 he went to check it out for himself.

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Bluetooth/Wired Headphones

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Bluetooth/Wired Headphones

May 05, 2026
The first headphones I owned, circa mid-1970s, were made by Pioneer. They jutted out from my ears, with small, paper-cone speakers inside. "Head-Fi" is a whole different world nowadays than it was back then. The biggest change is Bluetooth, which lets us untether ourselves from our stereo systems.

Vandersteen at AXPONA 2026: A family affair 50 years in the making

Vandersteen at AXPONA 2026: A family affair 50 years in the making

May 04, 2026

At AXPONA 2026, Rogier van Bakel checks out a system put together by Wisconsin retailer Ultra Fidelis that features Vandersteen M5-HPA monoblock amplifiers, a Vandersteen L5-ACC Audio Control Center, and Vandersteen Kento loudspeakers.

Re-Tales #65: Albany, New York dealer Hippo's Gets Hip

Re-Tales #65: Albany, New York dealer Hippo's Gets Hip

May 04, 2026
With the hi-fi business, arguably, at a critical juncture, keeping it fun is more important than ever. Hi-fi salespeople play a key role in that—they're the boots on the ground. If anyone is going to foster interest and imbue the hobby with fun, it's salespeople.

Orpheus Lab and Peak Consult at AXPONA 2026: Swiss and Danish, loud and clear

Orpheus Lab and Peak Consult at AXPONA 2026: Swiss and Danish, loud and clear

May 02, 2026

Rogier van Bakel visits a room at AXPONA 2026 that featured a collaborative exhibit from importer and distributor Bluebird Music pairing Swiss precision with Danish craftsmanship. The system he auditioned in that room included Peak Consult Sonora loudspeakers and a stack of Orpheus Lab electronics gear from their Absolute Line.

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