Part-Time Audiophile

2024 FLAX Saturday Highlights | FLAX 2024

by Marc Phillips in Florida 2024 0

High-end audio is obsessive by nature, which is why I tend to go nuts whenever I see the latest version of the LS3/5a that scales new levels of performance. So my 2024 FLAX Saturday highlights [...]

2023 Product of the Year

December 17, 2023 Comments Off

I’ve made a few changes for the 2023 Product of the Year Awards. Usually I limit the nominees to products our team at PTA has reviewed over the year. That implies we have significant seat […]

2023 Best Value Awards

December 15, 2023 7

PTA’s 2023 Best Value Awards are marked by an underlying theme, that old audio reviewer canard of saying “I liked it so much, I bought it!” Many of the 2023 Best Value nominees below are […]

Stocking Stuffers for Audiophiles | Buyers Guide 2024

December 8, 2023 2

I’ve been told on multiple occasions by numerous people that when it comes to holiday gifts, I’m notoriously “tough to buy for.” Nonsense! I’m an audiophile! I have a million things I want, and I […]

2024’s Best Hi-Fi Accessories | Buyers Guide 2024

December 3, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Hi-Fi Accessories from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for 2024. We’re not saying that these are the “best” hi-fi accessories or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying […]

2024’s Best Cables, Power and Grounding | Buyers Guide 2024

December 3, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Cables, Power Management and Grounding from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” cables, power management and grounding devices or that these choices somehow overrule […]

2024’s Best Headphone Gear | Buyers Guide 2024

December 3, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Headphone Gear from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that this is the “best” headphone gear or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that these […]

2024’s Best Digital Playback | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Digital Playback for the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” digital playback products or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that […]

2024’s Best Cartridges, Tonearms and Headshells | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 Comments Off

Welcome to 2024’s Best Cartridges, Tonearms and Headshells section from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” cartridges, tonearms and headshells or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s […]

2024’s Best Phono Preamplifiers and SUTs | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 Comments Off

Welcome to 2024’s best phono preamplifiers and SUTs from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” phono preamplifiers and SUTs or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. […]

2024’s Best Turntables | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 1

Welcome to 2024’s Best Turntables from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” turntables or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that these are the […]

2024’s Best Preamplifiers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 1

Welcome to 2024’s Best Preamplifiers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” preamplifiers or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that these are the […]

2024’s Best Power Amplifiers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 4

Welcome to 2024’s Best Power Amplifiers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” power amplifiers in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

2024’s Best Integrated Amplifiers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 6

Welcome to 2024’s Best Integrated Amplifiers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” integrated amps in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

2024’s Best Floorstanding Speakers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 12

Welcome to 2024’s Best Floorstanding Speakers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” floorstanding speakers in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

2024’s Best Bookshelf Speakers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 9

Welcome to 2024’s Best Bookshelf Speakers for the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” bookshelf speakers in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

Announcements

StudioDAC from MoFi Launched | Announcements

A new DAC from MoFi Electronics? For just $599? A collaboration with Mytek? The StudioDAC might just be the digital-to-analog converter that helps digital audio reach a bigger and more mainstream audience. Here’s the official [...]

HiFi Highlights And Best Of Show | Capital Audiofest 2023

November 22, 2023 1

This week’s episode of our HiFi podcast covers off on the big (and getting bigger) East Coast audiofest 2023. Recorded live from the source in DC, The Occasional Podcast features the observational musings of host […]

Bayz Audio at Capital Audiofest | CAF 2023

November 18, 2023 Comments Off

Paperclips, carabiners, and plumbing are just some of the things I have heard people call Zoltan Bayz’s (Pronounced Bay-ze) $160k Counterpoint 2.0 speakers. The Bayz Audio speakers are definitely a unique shape, something to start […]

CAF Day Three with Graig Neville | CAF 2023

November 16, 2023 1

With fresh ears and our bellies full of Grover Neville’s and my new favorite café, Teamania, we tackled CAF Day Three, the final day. I definitely had some rooms I wanted to visit that I […]

CAF Day Two with Graig Neville | CAF 2023

November 15, 2023 Comments Off

For Graig Neville’s CAF Day One Coverage, click here. And now for CAF Day Two: On CAF Day Two, I found that Fidelity Imports commandeered a large chunk of the sixth floor making it easy […]

Day Four with Brian Hunter | CAF 2023

November 14, 2023 Comments Off

What is day four, you might be asking yourself? Capital Audio Fest 2023 takes place on a Friday-Sunday schedule open to the public. Well, if you regularly follow our coverage of audio shows, you might […]

Day Three with Brian Hunter | CAF 2023

November 13, 2023 1

Who doesn’t love big speakers in a big room? If one has a big room, big speakers must naturally follow. At least, that was the mentality I sourced from my walks in, around and though […]

HiEnd Asia 2023, Part 3 | Singapore 2023

October 29, 2023 Comments Off

For Part 1 of Richard Mak’s coverage of HiEnd Asia 2023, click here. For Part 2, click here. The Newest Debut at HiEnd Asia 2023 – Wilson Sasha V These were so new at HiEnd […]

HiEnd Asia 2023, Part 2 | Singapore 2023

October 27, 2023 Comments Off

(For HiEnd Asia 2023 Part 1 show coverage from Richard Mak, click here.) The Biggest Room at the Show – ESD Acoustics ESD Audio garnered much attention at the 2023 Munich Show with a $3 […]

HiEnd Asia 2023, Part 1 | Singapore 2023

October 26, 2023 2

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this HiEnd Asia 2023 show report in the wake of the recent atrocities that have taken place in Israel and Gaza. Regardless of one’s position […]

Ground Control GC1.1 Earthing Device from CAD | REVIEW

February 16, 2024 0

I’ve already shared the story of how I met the folks at Computer Audio Design (CAD) once or twice on these pages, and how I wound up reviewing their Ground Control GC1.1 earthing device. But […]

Music Hall Stealth Turntable | REVIEW

February 11, 2024 0

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 […]

Bob’s Devices Sky 20-S Step-Up Transformer | REVIEW

February 9, 2024 0

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 […]

Weiss Helios DAC | REVIEW

February 4, 2024 1

The Weiss Helios DAC reminds me of what people forget about Swiss pocket knives. The common association is, of course, with the ubiquitous “Swiss Army Knife” manufactured by Victorinox in that iconic red color. The […]

McGary Audio MA1 Monoblocks and SPA1 Preamplifier | REVIEW

February 2, 2024 2

Regular readers of these pages will most certainly be well aware of the creations of Mike McGary, founder of McGary Audio. In case you’ve been residing in a cave (or at least an audio-free zone), […]

Austin Audio Works The Black AMP & The Black Swan | REVIEW

January 26, 2024 0

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 […]

Audion Silver Night Limited HP1 Headphone Amp | REVIEW

January 21, 2024 1

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, […]

LSA Statement 100 Monitors | REVIEW

January 19, 2024 1

We’ve reviewed plenty of gear from the Underwood HiFi umbrella of brands over the last year, everything from the Audio-gd Master 10 Mk. II integrated amplifier that was a nominee for Best Value of the […]

Børresen M3 Loudspeakers | REVIEW

January 14, 2024 1

Words and Photos by Greg Weaver My first exposure to the world premiere of the $280,000/pair Børresen M3 loudspeakers at AXPONA in April, driven by the $70,000 each flagship Aavik C-880 linestage and P-880 amplifier, […]

Innuos PULSAR Network Streamer | REVIEW

January 12, 2024 5

“It’s for people who just want to stream,” the folks from Faro told me when I first listened to the Innuos PULSAR network streamer. “You mean people like me?” I asked, and they nodded in […]

Triangle Magellan Quatuor 40th Anniversary Loudspeakers | REVIEW

January 7, 2024 0

Hot on the heels of reviewing the impressive Triangle Antal 40th Anniversary loudspeaker, I had to look up the rest of this French speaker manufacturer‘s product lines. The flagship line is known as Magellan, and […]

Merason DAC1 Mk II | REVIEW

January 5, 2024 1

I have an ongoing dilemma with reviewing digital audio. I never seem to have all the pieces I need to test out DACs, streamers and servers. (Digital cables can occasionally be an issue as well.) […]

Alexandria Audio The Monitor | REVIEW

December 29, 2023 3

How do I choose which two-way monitors I want to review? Most of the time I’m already familiar with the product. I’ve heard it once or twice, or I have experience with the brand or, […]

ZMF Caldera and Atrium Closed Headphones | REVIEW

December 10, 2023 1

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 […]

AURALiC Vega G2.2 Streaming DAC | REVIEW

November 26, 2023 6

Sometimes you get caught up in looking for the next big thing. You buy great equipment, enjoy it for a while, and then an itch comes along and the only way to scratch it is […]

Innuos Factory Tour | On the Road

The story of my Innuos factory tour starts off in a fascinating part of the world–Faro, Portugal, at the southwestern tip of the Iberian peninsula, a relatively short distance from the Spanish border, Gibraltar, the [...]

Suspended turntable battle: Oracle Paris MK V takes on Linn Sondek LP12

Old school vs. new school The suspended-turntable wars of 2016 Orgasm Addict: basically a dirty limerick wrapped in a catchy punk-rock riff released by the Buzzcocks in the late ’70s. Analog addict: a fair descriptor [...]

Capital Audiofest 2023

Singapore 2023

PTA On the Road

Deep Cuts