ReDiscoveries #13: The End of the Road for Megadeth
May 19, 2026
After ignominious dismissal from Metallica shortly before that band's debut recording, guitarist Dave Mustaine could have easily become a Greg Walls–esque footnote in metal history. But his seething anger, easily audible in his subsequent discography, led him to retaliate by forming Megadeth, which, if not as lucrative as Metallica, was just as influential.
At AXPONA 2026, Ken Micallef speaks with Axiss Audio's Steve Huntley and Phasemation's Hideki Sato and Shigeki Momoto about the gear shown in another one of the Axiss rooms at the show, including Phasemation MA-3000 monoblock amplifiers, a Phasemation PP-2200 cartridge, and a Reed Muse 3C turntable.
MOON by Simaudio 371 streaming integrated amplifier
May 15, 2026
The origins of Canadian audio manufacturer MOON, from the company called Simaudio, stretch back to 1980, when audio engineer Victor Sima created his first designs. Sima's company became Simaudio Ltd. in 1990. Simaudio launched the MOON brand in 1997.
Stenheim, VTL, VPI, and Nordost at AXPONA 2026: A system fit for a Duke
May 15, 2026
Rogier van Bakel concludes his AXPONA 2026 ventures by spending quality time with Stenheim's Reference Ultime Two SX speakers, VTL Lohengrin Reference monoblock amplifiers, and a VPI Avenger Direct turntable.
Well Pleased AV, Norse, Merason, and QLN at AXPONA 2026
May 14, 2026
At AXPONA 2026, Ken Micallef speaks with Well Pleased AV's Mark Sossa about the gear shown in the company's room at the show, including a pair of Norse X1 amplifiers, a Merason DAC 2 DAC, and QLN Prestige Five Gen 2 speakers.
T+A elektroakustik at AXPONA 2026: High-voltage sound from two new reference components
May 14, 2026
At AXPONA 2026, T+A elektroakustik demoed two new top-level components: the A 3100 HV amplifier and the SDX 3100 HV streaming DAC/preamp. Rogier van Bakel reports on them both.