The power of music & audio

The Music Column, presented by

  • Burmester, Beer, and Passion Audio

    At Passion Audio’s Burmester launch event, Robert Schryer hears the new 232 amp paired with LampizatOr and Wolf von Langa gear—describing the sound as transparent, dynamic, and musically intoxicating, with Nick Cave sealing the night.

  • From a 10m² Office to a Global HiFi Powerhouse: The Story of Fosi Audio

    In a candid interview, Fosi Audio CEO Ryan (Huang Qinglong) shares how a moment in Shenzhen sparked his mission to democratize HiFi, turning a 10m² office startup into a global brand now leading Amazon’s audio charts across 150+ countries.

  • How to Play in a Rock Band, 10: When Good Gigs Go Bad, Part One

    Frank Doris recounts wild gig disasters—sick performances, broken gear, flaming hair, hostile crowds, and forgotten sets—in a brutally funny look at the mayhem musicians endure onstage.

Introducing the Shanling EC Zero T – a Portable CD Player with R2R DAC & Tube Output

EC Zero T represents a culmination of the latest trends in the portable Hi-Fi market, combining some of Shanling’s highlight features from the past two years. In 2023 we released EC Mini, a battery-powered transportable…

Clair-Obscur for Your Ears: Advance Paris Paints With Sound

Advance Paris blends retro flair with cutting-edge tech across its hi-fi lineup, as the French brand—backed by Tri-Cell—brings its stylish, high-performance gear to North America.

La Maison d’Haïti Celebrates Afro-Descendant Arts & Culture at its 7th Edition of the Festival Afro Urbain

A Rich and Diverse Cultural Event Dedicated to Afro-Descendant Expression.

Stéréogroup Named Exclusive Canadian Distributor of Rega

Stéréogroup becomes Rega’s new Canadian distributor, merging a 50-year hi-fi legacy with fresh energy and a coast-to-coast support network.

Still Buying CDs? The Onix Zenith XST20 Is Your New Obsession

Shanling’s Onix Zenith XST20 defies digital dominance, making disc playback a tactile ritual with SACD support, top-loading elegance, and unmatched I2S connectivity.

Rotel DX-5 Redefines Personal Audio with Audiophile-Grade Sound

Rotel’s new DX-5 delivers 33W of Class AB muscle with HDMI ARC, Sabre DAC, and Roon-tested finesse—compact, versatile, and tuned for sonic purity.

Introducing the Shanling EC Zero T – a Portable CD Player with R2R DAC & Tube Output

EC Zero T represents a culmination of the latest trends in the portable Hi-Fi market, combining some of Shanling’s highlight features from the past two years. In 2023 we released EC Mini, a battery-powered transportable…

Clair-Obscur for Your Ears: Advance Paris Paints With Sound

Advance Paris blends retro flair with cutting-edge tech across its hi-fi lineup, as the French brand—backed by Tri-Cell—brings its stylish, high-performance gear to North America…

Harman Acquires Masimo’s Consumer Audio Business

Harman International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Masimo’s consumer audio division, Sound United, for $350 million in cash. This acquisition includes renowned audio brands such as Bowers…

The Roots of Rock and Roll (Sort Of), Part 2

Part 2 of Jeff Weiner’s two-part series that tries—and does so convincingly—to answer the enduring question: “Where did rock and roll come from?”

Early Reflections 101: The First 10 Milliseconds That Make-or-Break Stereo Imaging

Kevin Fielding offers a step-by-step guide to taming first reflections and giving you the best soundstage you’ve ever had.

Saturn Audio: Celestial Sound at a Grounded Price

Robert Schryer meets René Evans of Saturn Audio, where high-end sound doesn’t mean expensive.

RAY Tubes: Transforming My Listening Experiences

Tom Gibbs falls in love with vacuum tubes from Ray Tubes, comparing their sound to that of much more expensive NOS ones.

My Dinner Date with the Focal Diva Utopia

Robert Schryer shares juicy details about his evening with Focal’s new Diva Utopia speaker.

Say Cheese! The 2025 Montreal Audiofest in Photos

The 2025 Montreal Audiofest in snapshots—by Psyphonyx Audio’s Joseph Greenham and Altitudo Audio’s Leonid Yamborko.

Where Are Signal Cables Most Effective Between a System’s Components? I Ask the Experts, and Get Schooled

I set out to pinpoint which signal cables offer the biggest sonic gains, but instead ran into resistance from AudioQuest’s Bill Low and Audience’s John McDonald, who questioned the premise itself and steered the discussion into deeper philosophical territory.

How to Play In a Rock Band, 9: Look Sharp!

Frank Doris gives more worthy tips about the business of playing music for an audience, this time about looking the part. You won’t believe what his #1 tip is.

The Roots of Rock and Roll (Sort Of), Part 2

Part 2 of Jeff Weiner’s two-part series that tries—and does so convincingly—to answer the enduring question: “Where did rock and roll come from?”

Early Reflections 101: The First 10 Milliseconds That Make-or-Break Stereo Imaging

Kevin Fielding offers a step-by-step guide to taming first reflections and giving you the best soundstage you’ve ever had.

Saturn Audio: Celestial Sound at a Grounded Price

Robert Schryer meets René Evans of Saturn Audio, where high-end sound doesn’t mean expensive.

RAY Tubes: Transforming My Listening Experiences

Tom Gibbs falls in love with vacuum tubes from Ray Tubes, comparing their sound to that of much more expensive NOS ones.

AUTHORS