Ola Björling

Show Report

ADMD Audio Technologies at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026

Ola Björling Oct 28, 2026

Ola Björling speaks with László Sós, hardware systems engineer at ADMD Audio Technologies, about the company's Syntra system—which consists of a custom R-2R DAC and active speakers—at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026. Plus, Ola shares his listening impressions of the entire system.

My Back Pages

New Dimensions in Hi-Fi

Ola Björling Oct 27, 2026

It's trite to observe that we're doomed to fail to understand the generations that come after us, yet it's true. We are also, apparently, doomed to forget we're doomed. "We have to get a younger generation into hi-fi, or the industry is dead," lament aging men, unable to imagine a traversable path other than their own.

Show Report

Estelon at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026

Ola Björling Oct 24, 2026

Ola Björling speaks with Alfred Vassilkov, founder of and chief designer of Estelon, about the company's new Forza Ultra loudspeaker at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026.

Show Report

Silent Pound at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026

Ola Björling Oct 24, 2026

Ola Björling speaks with Audrius Balčiῡnas of Silent Pound about the company's Parallax loudspeaker at Audio Video Show Warsaw 2026.

Audacious Audio Solid State Preamp Reviews

Soulnote P-3 preamplifier

Ola Björling Oct 22, 2026

My wife and I are both very specific about how we take our coffee, to the amusement of everyone around us. She likes her coffee so black and violently strong that it has its own event horizon, while I swoon over ultralight roasts with fermented, fruity, and flowery notes.

Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Soulnote A-3 Core power amplifier

Ola Björling Sep 28, 2026

I sometimes lament how much technological know-how is required for a consumer to successfully navigate the world of high end audio. Why do we have to wade through all this engineering mumbo jumbo just to enjoy great sound?

Floor Loudspeaker Reviews

Silent Pound Bloom loudspeaker

Ola Björling Jul 24, 2026

Imagine being a Michelin-star–level chef, but your food is delivered via carrier pigeon in the middle of winter. The inherent compromise must be infuriating, exacerbated by complaints from customers displeased with the food's presentation, temperature, and guano topping. Now consider speaker designers . . .

News

Coturn by Thorens goes big at High End Vienna 2026

Ola Björling Jun 25, 2026

Ola Björling speaks with Benjamin Großjohann, the inventor of the Coturn portable turntable, at High End Vienna 2026 about the next-gen CT-02. It's the German company's latest diminutive table—built in conjunction with Thorens—and it sports a battery life of up to 20 hours, in addition to offering Bluetooth, line-out, and headphone playback options.

News

Skyanalog flies high with two new cartridges at High End Vienna 2026

Ola Björling Jun 24, 2026

Ola Björling speaks with Aaron Leung of Skyanalog at High End Vienna 2026 about the company's two new cartridges: the triple-diamond 3D REF, and the P-1GC with its bespoke stylus profile.

News

eXamining a trio of systems at Xclusive High End Show Vienna 2026

Ola Björling Jun 23, 2026

Ola Björling reports on what he saw and heard at the Xclusive High End Show Vienna 2026, one of High End Vienna 2026's satellite shows.