The power of music & audio

  • The Roots of Rock and Roll (Sort Of), Part One

    A much-debated topic in popular music is the origin of rock and roll music. Writer Jeff Weiner tries to sort it all out in his new series.

  • Is Shenzhen Becoming the New Tokyo of the Hi-Fi World?

    Has Shenzhen surpassed Tokyo in high-fidelity audio? With brands like Eversolo and Topping outclassing legacy giants, the shift isn’t coming—it’s already here.

  • Advertise with PMA Magazine

    As one of the biggest Canadian hi-fi magazine, our bilingual (English & French) publication offers you a powerful platform for reaching over 100K+ monthly visitors.

  • The Saul Authority: The Story of Hi-Fi Pioneer Saul Marantz

    Saul Marantz, a graphic designer turned audio pioneer, redefined high-fidelity sound with his groundbreaking designs. From the revolutionary Model 7 preamp to the ill-fated but legendary 10B tuner, his relentless pursuit of perfection shaped the golden age of Hi-Fi—even at great personal cost.

The Music Column, presented by

  • Is Shenzhen Becoming the New Tokyo of the Hi-Fi World?

    Has Shenzhen surpassed Tokyo in high-fidelity audio? With brands like Eversolo and Topping outclassing legacy giants, the shift isn’t coming—it’s already here.

  • Advertise with PMA Magazine

    As one of the biggest Canadian hi-fi magazine, our bilingual (English & French) publication offers you a powerful platform for reaching over 100K+ monthly visitors.

  • The Saul Authority: The Story of Hi-Fi Pioneer Saul Marantz

    Saul Marantz, a graphic designer turned audio pioneer, redefined high-fidelity sound with his groundbreaking designs. From the revolutionary Model 7 preamp to the ill-fated but legendary 10B tuner, his relentless pursuit of perfection shaped the golden age of Hi-Fi—even at great personal cost.

Zidoo UHD8000: The Ultimate Media Player for Audiophiles & Cinephiles

Zidoo? Sounds like a Sea-Doo, but instead of skimming waves, it’s tearing through 8K video and lossless audio at breakneck speed. While basic media players doggy-paddle through compressed streams, Zidoo glides effortlessly with Dolby Vision,…

Winnipeg’s Altitudo Audio: Reaching New Heights in Sound

Altitudo Audio is a high-end audio retailer built on a lifelong passion for pure, immersive sound. Founded by brothers Leonid and Viktor Yamborko, Altitudo Audio has quickly established itself as a premier destination for audiophiles…

Shanling CR60 Brings Effortless CD Playback and Ripping to Any System

Compact, Intuitive, and Affordable: the CR60 is an Easy, High-Performance Add-on to Rack and Desktop Audio Systems Montreal, Quebec, January 27, 2025 – Forté Distribution, a key distributor of audio and audiophile music products, is now…

This is Seoul! Mon Acoustic, The Korean Hi-Fi Brand Making Waves

High-end audio is a world of extremes. Some brands chase raw power, turning up the bass and sculpting frequencies to create a larger-than-life effect. Others lean on nostalgia, clinging to the warmth of analog designs…

Celebrate the Chinese New Year with Liu Fang & “梁祝” (The Butterfly Lovers)

Experience an unforgettable evening as world-renowned pipa virtuoso Liu Fang joins the Orchestre FILMharmonique in a vibrant blend of Eastern and Western musical traditions. The highlight of the night features the timeless Chinese classic “梁祝”…

Le Quatuor Cobalt dévoile son premier album, Reflets du temps : Un hommage vibrant aux compositrices au cours des siècles

Montréal, 13 janvier 2025 – Le Quatuor Cobalt, ensemble à cordes montréalais, annonce la sortie de son premier album, Reflets du temps, disponible le 17 janvier 2025, sous le label indépendant canadien GFN Classics. Ce…

Meet the Shanling CR60: The Machine Bringing Your CD Collection Back to Life

The Shanling CR60 is one of those rare devices that feels like it was designed for a very specific type of person—the kind who doesn’t just listen to music but lives with it, surrounds themselves…

GoldenEar to join PML Sound International

Effective January 1, 2025, GoldenEar will join PML Sound International (Paradigm, Anthem, and MartinLogan) and operate under its new identity as GoldenEar Studio Inc.  To ensure a smooth transition, GoldenEar will temporarily pause business operations from…

Monitor Audio: A Legacy of Sonic Excellence, Brought to You by Kevro

In the realm of high-fidelity audio, few names command as much respect as Monitor Audio. With a rich heritage spanning over five decades, this British company has consistently pushed the boundaries of sound reproduction, seamlessly…

Coga Audio: An Acoustic Revolution from Canada

Les isolants Coga, innovation québécoise, redéfinissent l’interaction enceinte-sol en éliminant vibrations et distorsions pour une expérience audio pure et immersive.

Zidoo UHD8000: The Ultimate Media Player for Audiophiles & Cinephiles

Zidoo? Sounds like a Sea-Doo, but instead of skimming waves, it’s tearing through 8K video and lossless audio at breakneck speed. While basic media players doggy-paddle through compressed streams, Zidoo glides effortlessly with Dolby Vision…

Winnipeg’s Altitudo Audio: Reaching New Heights in Sound

Altitudo Audio is a high-end audio retailer built on a lifelong passion for pure, immersive sound. Founded by brothers Leonid and Viktor Yamborko, Altitudo Audio has quickly established itself as a premier destination for audiophiles…

Shanling CR60 Brings Effortless CD Playback and Ripping to Any System

Compact, Intuitive, and Affordable: the CR60 is an Easy, High-Performance Add-on to Rack and Desktop Audio Systems Montreal, Quebec, January 27, 2025 – Forté Distribution, a key distributor of audio and audiophile music products, is now…

Korea’s Audio “Cafés”—Where the Customer ISN’T Always Right

Jonson Lee visits three music-listening spaces in Korea where silence is enforced, and the sound system—not the customer—rules. These venues offer a rare escape from choice overload, immersing visitors in pure, communal music appreciation.

How to Play In a Rock Band, 7: Playing on Medium-Sized Stages

Frank Doris offers a soundcheck pro tip and talks about playing on a bigger stage, with the vagaries that come with it.

Review: McIntosh C2800 Preamplifier

Simon Wilce takes McIntosh’s new McIntosh C2800 Preamplifier for a spin, and shares his impressions.

Supercars on Gravel Roads: Are You Wasting Your Sound System’s Potential?

Would you drive a Formula 1 racing car on a gravel road? Not if you could help it, right? Because on a gravel road, you know that an F1 car can’t reveal its potential. Yet, this is exactly what many audiophiles do when they play their high-end audio system in an untreated room.

Dragon, Concerto for Pipa—A Historical Meeting Between East and West

Captivated by Liu Fang’s mastery of the pipa, composer Christian Thomas created Dragon, Concerto for Pipa—a sweeping East-meets-West musical odyssey.

Paul Whitehead: The Visionary Artist Behind Genesis’ Most Iconic Album Covers

Paul Whitehead, the artist behind Genesis’ album covers, reflects on his iconic work and creative journey. Alter egos, the Borg Symphony, live concert paintings, and his ever-evolving artistry continue to define his innovative spirit.

Paris’ Sonic Escapes: 8 Listening Bars You Can’t Miss

Paris’ jazz kissa-inspired bars like Listener and Bambino blend high-fidelity sound, vinyl culture, and refined design, redefining nightlife for audiophiles.

Golden Ears Anonymous: A 12-Step Program for Recovering Audiophiles

From apologizing to loved ones neglected during DAC testing to listening to Dark Side of the Moon on a $20 speaker, this clever guide skewers obsessive habits with wit, reminding readers that “it’s the ear, not the gear.”

Korea’s Audio “Cafés”—Where the Customer ISN’T Always Right

Jonson Lee visits three music-listening spaces in Korea where silence is enforced, and the sound system—not the customer—rules. These venues offer a rare escape from choice overload, immersing visitors in pure, communal music appreciation.

How to Play In a Rock Band, 7: Playing on Medium-Sized Stages

Frank Doris offers a soundcheck pro tip and talks about playing on a bigger stage, with the vagaries that come with it.

Review: McIntosh C2800 Preamplifier

Simon Wilce takes McIntosh’s new McIntosh C2800 Preamplifier for a spin, and shares his impressions.

Supercars on Gravel Roads: Are You Wasting Your Sound System’s Potential?

Would you drive a Formula 1 racing car on a gravel road? Not if you could help it, right? Because on a gravel road, you know that an F1 car can’t reveal its potential. Yet, this is exactly what many audiophiles do when they play their high-end audio system in an untreated room.

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