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 […]
I really wanted to review some amplification with 300B tubes. I’ve been listening to some of my writers over the last couple of years, reviewers who have been vocal in their adoration of this DHT, […]
The ZMF Caldera and Atrium Closed headphones arrived at a fortuitous point in my reviewing schedule. I had just purchased the Naim NAIT 50 integrated amplifier for use as both back-up amplification and as a […]
The Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition, along with the Focal Celestee headphones, is an attempt to ask myself an important question for 2023: to headphone or not to headphone? There was a point last year […]
Recently, while taking a break from reviewing two-channel gear, I became fascinated by the goings-on in the headphone community. This is part story, part review of how this happened. As much as my time permits […]
The Resident Summit-Fi Gatekeeper I’m the high-end gatekeeper that you keep hearing about in budget audiophile communities. So let’s get this out of the way from the get-go. I’m only interested in the absolute upper […]
Should I dive back into headphones for 2022? I’m thinking about it. Most of my headphone listening these days is confined to my laptop, an AudioQuest Cobalt, a couple of relatively modest headphones and a […]
As the Airmotiv GR1 headphones land in my lap I realize that I’ve been spoiled rotten. Lately it’s been headphones from the likes of Audeze and Focal, brands of which nearly define the best-of-the-best offerings […]
VZR Model One Hands-On Preview The story of the VZR Model One is a rather curious one… it’s not often I get to write about a product like this. The story is extraordinary, and the […]
I don’t listen to headphones like the Focal Stellia (website). Okay, let me back up—I listen to headphones all the time, just not for pleasure, but rather to check my work in the studio and […]
Focal Utopia. “World’s Best Headphone.” This was the proclamation made by the man who gave me my first job doing headphone reviews, my mentor and predecessor at Innerfidelity, Tyll Hertsens. As a young teenager I […]
The Best Headphones [Editor’s note: Welcome to the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for 2021! This year we decided to mix it up a little by breaking up the Buyers Guide into sections, which makes it […]
The story of the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition (website) is one of many welcomed surprises. Not often in life are we gifted with genuine surprises, and the ones most commonly thrust upon us […]
One of the great things about high performance headphone audio is that there is such a diverse selection of great sounding gear now. Back in the day (oh, 30 years or so) there were far […]
This is the story of the Audeze LCD-1 and my emotional rejuvenation. As the pandemic pushed me into a bit of a social lull, I turned to the arts. Days began to fly off the […]
We live in a society that favors the visual. With the election in our rearview (kind of), this fact is constantly reinforced everywhere. Images sell or persuade, and in doing so they change the way […]
Look down, think of a Danish speaker brand that starts with D, look up, think of a Danish speaker brand that isn’t Dynaudio. I’ve had a number of run-ins with Dali speakers over the years, […]
To some, describing a headphone as “fun” is akin to the kiss of death. The calling for linearity occasionally spurs dynamic swings in opinions, and even greater judgments in the comment sections and forums. Whatever […]
Words and Photos by Eric Franklin Shook Nothing holds you hostage with the music like a big set of cans. You are isolated, alone, just you and the music. The music gets inside your head […]
This is not for the faint of heart, or wallet. If you think headphones have reached overwhelmingly high prices spare your time and don’t read this review. You have been warned. Walking down the Munich […]
Copyright PT Audio 2009-2023