Chicago’s listening bars offer a new kind of nightlife, where hi-fi sound, curated vinyl, and craft cocktails take center stage. From Charis to Parachute HiFi, each space delivers a distinct, music-first experience.
Wynn Audio showcased two high-end systems featuring standout gear from Kalista, Kondo, and Vimberg—offering vivid realism, from nuanced piano timbres to trumpet notes that seemed to materialize in the room.
Emcee Rudy Radelic drops in with overlooked reissues, a posthumous nod to Ozzy, and a deep crate dive into Prince’s 12-inch secrets—where the real gems were never on the A-side.
Music and vinyl expert Claude Lemaire highlights essential recordings—and the best pressings to seek out—for your LP collection, indexed by year of release.
In his new series, music and vinyl expert Claude Lemaire highlights essential recordings—and the best pressings to seek out—for your LP collection, indexed by year of release.
Amid downsizing frustrations, Rudy Radelic purges vinyl, CDs, and old gear—while still finding joy in standout reissues from Cal Tjader, Horace Silver, Donald Byrd, and Quincy Jones, plus long-awaited news on Buckingham Nicks.
Chicago’s listening bars offer a new kind of nightlife, where hi-fi sound, curated vinyl, and craft cocktails take center stage. From Charis to Parachute HiFi, each space delivers a distinct, music-first experience.
Wynn Audio showcased two high-end systems featuring standout gear from Kalista, Kondo, and Vimberg—offering vivid realism, from nuanced piano timbres to trumpet notes that seemed to materialize in the room.
Emcee Rudy Radelic drops in with overlooked reissues, a posthumous nod to Ozzy, and a deep crate dive into Prince’s 12-inch secrets—where the real gems were never on the A-side.
Music and vinyl expert Claude Lemaire highlights essential recordings—and the best pressings to seek out—for your LP collection, indexed by year of release.
In his new series, music and vinyl expert Claude Lemaire highlights essential recordings—and the best pressings to seek out—for your LP collection, indexed by year of release.
Amid downsizing frustrations, Rudy Radelic purges vinyl, CDs, and old gear—while still finding joy in standout reissues from Cal Tjader, Horace Silver, Donald Byrd, and Quincy Jones, plus long-awaited news on Buckingham Nicks.
Eversolo introduces the DAC-Z10, a high-end DAC and headphone amplifier featuring dual AKM decoding chips, Fully Isolated Architecture, R2R volume control, and FPGA-based clock reconstruction for precise, low-distortion high-resolution audio. Available in December.
Shanling’s new ECZero AKM portable CD player lands in the U.S. via Forte Distribution, blending AKM DAC tech, dual amps, and Bluetooth 5.3 in a sleek, $349 design aimed at serious CD-loving audiophiles.
Scott Berry’s Computer Audio Design shifts focus from amps and DACs to the hidden culprit in system performance—high-frequency noise—offering Ground Control and USB Filter devices that reviewers credit with sharper imaging and more natural tonality.
MOON by Simaudio’s 371 network player/amplifier—the debut of the new Compass Collection—has landed, packing serious tech and features into one sleek box.
Now branded “Powered by HEOS™,” Denon’s wireless platform marks its 10th year with a major firmware update, evolving from three speakers to a cross-brand audio ecosystem spanning over 50 products.
Eversolo has unveiled its long-awaited T8 streamer, a $1380 transport boasting femtosecond clocking, isolated outputs, evotune room correction, and dual SSD slots—aimed at delivering pure, uncompromised digital audio.
Fosi Audio’s i5 headphones land in the U.S. after a runaway Kickstarter success, also offered in a $1,499 USD bundle with the Luxsin X9 DAC/amp for a complete high-end desktop system.
From a Xi’an high school garage to a global force, Matrix Audio blends obsessive engineering and minimalist design, with in-house software and hardware that now challenge legacy brands on performance, integration, and value.
Eversolo introduces the DAC-Z10, a high-end DAC and headphone amplifier featuring dual AKM decoding chips, Fully Isolated Architecture, R2R volume control, and FPGA-based clock reconstruction for precise, low-distortion high-resolution audio. Available in December…
Shanling’s new ECZero AKM portable CD player lands in the U.S. via Forte Distribution, blending AKM DAC tech, dual amps, and Bluetooth 5.3 in a sleek, $349 design aimed at serious CD-loving audiophiles…
Scott Berry’s Computer Audio Design shifts focus from amps and DACs to the hidden culprit in system performance—high-frequency noise—offering Ground Control and USB Filter devices that reviewers credit with sharper imaging and more natural tonality…
Photo report from Joseph Greenham of the Toronto Audiofest 2025, where dazzling debuts, immersive demos, and jaw-dropping gear made this year’s show one to remember.
EQ Audio Video wowed with two epic setups: a Borresen T5/Aavik system offering visceral, lifelike sound, and a Dolby Atmos home theatre rig with Monitor Audio Cinergy speakers that rivaled the live concert experience.
Corby’s Audio and friends demoed Kuzma and Saturn gear with Coherent Carbon 18 speakers, delivering a rich, spacious soundstage—while debuting Saturn’s 202 DAC and showcasing the camaraderie of audio’s own Rat Pack.
Angela-Gilbert Yeung’s Integrated Separate System—linking power supplies across preamp and amps—drove Fink Team Borg speakers with striking purity, lifelike tone, and exceptional transparency in a concept-rich, sonically convincing demo.
Hearken and Northstar delivered mesmerizing vinyl playback via Ilumnia’s Magister Novus speakers and a Reed/Hana front-end, with standout tone, texture, and imaging.
Altitudo showcased Audiovector’s R8 Arrete and Audio Physics Avanti speakers, driven by Trilogy electronics, with standout musicality and vivid imaging.
In a standout demo, Guy Bélanger played live harmonica over his Postcards from London album, with Davis Acoustics’ “The Wall” speakers and Atoll electronics delivering bold, full, and lively support.
Photo report from Joseph Greenham of the Toronto Audiofest 2025, where dazzling debuts, immersive demos, and jaw-dropping gear made this year’s show one to remember.
EQ Audio Video wowed with two epic setups: a Borresen T5/Aavik system offering visceral, lifelike sound, and a Dolby Atmos home theatre rig with Monitor Audio Cinergy speakers that rivaled the live concert experience.
Corby’s Audio and friends demoed Kuzma and Saturn gear with Coherent Carbon 18 speakers, delivering a rich, spacious soundstage—while debuting Saturn’s 202 DAC and showcasing the camaraderie of audio’s own Rat Pack.