For reviews of source equipment related to tape and vinyl.
The Music Hall Stealth direct-drive turntable, which includes the Ortofon 2M Blue MM cartridge and carries a price tag of just $1,695, won the PTA Best Value Award for 2023 just a couple of months […]
What’s better for increasing the gain in your analog set-up, a moving-coil phono stage or a step-up transformer such as the Bob’s Devices Sky 20-S? I’ve heard both sides of the debate and I still […]
Sometimes I think about the role of the chassis in high-end audio design, especially when I’m confronted with components such as The Black Swan phono preamplifier and The Black AMP headphone amplifier from Austin Audio […]
There can be no question that my first exposure to the Mola Mola Lupe phono stage in April of this year left me more than merely impressed. In fact, you can see my initial reaction […]
There’s a saying among high-end audio reviewers: “They don’t need reviews.” This saying usually pops up when a writer is interested in a certain brand or product, considers reaching out, and is told by a […]
Smooth as buttah. That’s what comes to mind while I’ve been reviewing the Musical Surroundings Phonomena phono stages. Stages? Plural? Yes. Garth Leerer of Musical Surroundings was nice enough to send me a Phonomena II+ […]
Many years ago I had a discussion with the late Warren Jarrett, a Southern California dealer and distributor who happened to represent Audio Note UK at the time. I mentioned to him that I always […]
I don’t understand the sex appeal of audio gear, but the Parasound JC 3 Jr. phono preamplifier ticks my lustful audiophile itch. Perhaps it’s the John Curl circuit design, a pedigree harkening to the Vendetta […]
Sometimes big things come in small packages. I was on the hunt for modestly priced phono stages to sing with my new Rega P3 turntable. My current entry level separate phono stage is the Schiit […]
The Zu DL-103 Mk. II phono cartridge prompts a single question: Can magic be found in the ordinary? When Brian Hunter asked if I’d like to review the Zu DL-103 Mk. II cartridge I immediately […]
I needed a workhorse turntable. It took me over two years to decide on one, but I finally settled on the Pear Audio Blue Kid Howard turntable, complete with the Pear Audio Blue Cornet 2 […]
Last year it was Phono Preamplifier Central over here, with me being spoiled with one product after another while testing out the Brinkmann Taurus turntable. While I never quite picked a favorite—there were far too […]
We just heard the sad news of the passing of Jim “Foz” Fosgate, inventor of the legendary Fozgometer. The Fozgometer remains one of the best and most convenient devices for setting optimal azimuth during turntable […]
Last year I reviewed the Van den Hul The Grail phono stage, and I gave it a firm recommendation. If you’ve read that review, you’ll know that I hoped to spend some seat time with […]
Van den Hul? I finally get to review some Van den Hul? Honestly, I’m not entirely sure I’ve even heard a Van den Hul product before. Maybe at a high-end audio show or in a […]
It seems as if the better part of last year was focused on reviewing the Brinkmann Taurus turntable. First, I arranged for a series of cartridges and phono stages that would be suitable for this […]
The Koetsu Urushi Black phono cartridge reminds me that in my more pretentious moments as a journeyman audiophile, I referred to myself as a “Koetsu Guy.” This was after decades of less expensive and mostly […]
I hate being one of those high-end reviewers who hold onto gear forever, stretching the process out over months and months, waiting for other products to show up, working out whatever issues come up, and […]
Shortly after my review of the ModWright PH 9.0 phonostage (linked here), Dan Wright reached out to inform me of a new upgraded model (ModWright PH 9.0X) and asked if I’d like to listen to […]
They’ve been here for a long time, this Pass Labs XP-22 preamplifier and matching XP-27 phono stage combo. Months, maybe even a year. They’ve watched other amps and preamps and integrated amps and phono stages […]
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