Herb Reichert

Tekton Design Enzo XL loudspeaker

Herb Reichert Mar 24, 2015

The CD era was well underway. Rudy Giuliani was about to sweep the crack hoes and squeegee humans off New York's garbage-filled streets. Disney was conquering Times Square. It seemed the perfect time for artists and audio weirdos like myself to go underground. Seeking economic sustainability, I hunkered down in my Seaport bunker and started a little business called Eddie Electric. I found a 23-year-old Japanese business partner named Ryochi who was dealing in big-E Levi's, bubble-back Rolexes, and antique Abarth cars. He was my Seaport, New YorkAkihabara, Tokyo connection.

Budget Component Reviews Gramophone Dreams Turntable Reviews

Gramophone Dreams #3

Herb Reichert Mar 11, 2015

Before I moved to the boat, I lived in a big old firehouse with a shiny brass pole and a red door. The fire engines were gone but it was still a boy-toy pilgrimage site. The first thing one noticed on entering was a red 356 Porsche coupe. Behind it was a black '32 Ford hot rod with a flat-head V8 and triple Strombergs. Behind that was a 1939 Lincoln convertible from some Godfather movie. On the second floor . . .

News

Joe Grado (1925–2015)

Herb Reichert Feb 07, 2015

Hats off and heads down. Let Joe Grado's passing fill our collective hearts with enduring feelings of gratitude (for what Joe brought to the quality and character of the audio industry over six decades) and respect (for his myriad inventions and human fortitude that delivered musical joy and aural insights to countless listeners and audio professionals throughout the world).

Integrated Amp Reviews

Cambridge Azur 851A integrated amplifier

Herb Reichert Feb 05, 2015

The more integrated amps I review, the more I want to tell manufacturers: Please, skip the DAC, omit the phono stage, lose the Bluetoothjust give me the best sound quality, and the most vivid, most transparent line stage and control center (with pre-out) you can design. Make sure this line stage has appropriate gain, and high input and low output impedances. Give me at least four balanced and single-ended inputs. Make sure the volume, balance, and tone controls are durable and degrade the sound as little as possible. That way, I can add a DAC, server, phono stage, or Bluetooth, of any quality level, any time I choose.

CES 2015

The Bacch-SP 3D Sound Experience

Herb Reichert Jan 17, 2015

Working like a stereopticon, Edgar Choueiri's Bacch-SP provides up to a 32dB reduction of interaural crosstalk, not with headphones, but with everyday stereo loudspeakers. And without the coloration that previous solutions, like a physical barrier between the ears, are plagued by.

CES 2015

AudioQuest’s Nighthawk headphones

Herb Reichert Jan 15, 2015

My experience with the new AudioQuest Nighthawk headphones ($599) was one of highest points of my CES adventure.

CES 2015

VANA–Blue Horizon–IsoTek

Herb Reichert Jan 15, 2015

See that picture of a well-suited handsome man? That's Keith Martin of Washington-State firm, Vana Ltd. Vana distributes cool stuff like Vienna Acoustic loudspeakers, IsoTek AC line voltage products, Dr. Feikert Analogue (maker of one of the finest alignment protractors), and Acoustical Systems (makers of the Axiom tonearm, Archon cartridge, the Arché headshell, and the $799, SMARTractor cartridge alignment tool). What Keith is holding is the new Blue Horizons ProFono MM/MC phono stage ($1249).

CES 2015

Pear Audio's "Tracer" moving-iron cartridge

Herb Reichert Jan 15, 2015

It was the sonic flavor of new moving-iron Tracer 10 cartridge ($995) that really captured my attention in Pear Audio's room.

CES 2015

The TW-Acoustic platter mat

Herb Reichert Jan 15, 2015

I fell in love with this new, cool, 5mm-thick, two-layer, bi-rubber compound mat . . . Only one problem: It costs $400.

CES 2015

Audioengine's BlueTooth Speaker

Herb Reichert Jan 15, 2015

I am a sucker for the new breed of desktop "wireless" loudspeakerswhen they look and sound as natural and dynamic as the new Audioengine B2 Premium Bluetooth loudspeaker, I can dance around, sing, dream on Bartok, or play air guitar while streaming Tidal or WFMU. You are invited!