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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #5: Crafting an Audiophile’s Dream in a Split-Level House
In his pursuit of audio nirvana, Serge transformed a living space into a showcase for his Focal Utopia Maestros and a $100K+ setup, crediting his system’s final leap in performance to DR Acoustics power products.
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During a visit to The Source AV, Jonson Lee auditions a carefully curated $10K system featuring Sonus Faber, Audio Research, and REL—and discovers a compact setup capable of truly moving musical experiences.
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Vincent Bélanger, a fourth-generation cellist and Audio Note UK ambassador, blends elite classical training with audiophile sensibilities, global collaborations, and a deep reverence for accessible, emotionally resonant performance.
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Motown met the Summer of Love in 1967 with “Reflections,” as psychedelic soul emerged—while Sly & the Family Stone’s electrifying debut laid the groundwork for funk, disco, and the future of R&B.
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In this revealing article, Jonson Lee explores how volume controls—digital or analog—inevitably compromise sound quality, ultimately concluding that even the best among them can’t compete with the clarity of having none at all.
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Delaney & Bonnie’s fallout with Stax over their debut LP “Home” triggered a musical detour to L.A., where they recorded the fiery “Accept No Substitute” for Elektra—an album so compelling, it captivated George Harrison himself.
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Jean-François’s McIntosh-powered setup hits a personal sweet spot, where rich bass, vivid timbres, and thoughtful tweaks—from power lines to speaker angles—have ended his upgrade itch and turned listening into a lasting joy.
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With vinyl booming and CD sales rising for the first time in nearly two decades, the music industry is seeing physical formats claw back relevance—though whether it’s a blip or rebirth remains hotly debated.
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In Part 3, Gilles challenges cable skeptics by arguing that blind tests favor short-term memory and ignore the nuanced, experience-driven perception stored in our long-term auditory memory—where true cable differences reveal themselves.
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Ivan Doroschuk of Men Without Hats reflects on his synth-pop revival, embracing ‘80s nostalgia and global tours with humility and humor, performing “The Safety Dance” not once but thrice per show—for three generations of fans.
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Rob Schryer’s new column “The Cable Guru” kicks off with a spirited manifesto from its self-appointed guru, championing the subjective truths of hi-fi cabling, cable break-in, and the sacred art of system synergy.
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In a candid interview, Metaxas & Sins founder Kostas Metaxas reveals how fashion, reel-to-reel tape, and a DIY ethos shaped his wild, high-end hi-fi designs—blending sonic purity with sculptural flair.
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Adele’s tearful Vegas cancellation sparked backlash not just for its timing, but for symbolizing spectacle over soul—an irony, given her voice alone could’ve carried a show that ticket holders paid thousands to witness.
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Montreal dealer Christian Vézina of Planète Haute-Fidélité delivers PMA’s first certified $10K system: Martin Logan XT i60 speakers, Exposure 3510 amp, and an Innuos ZENmini streamer punch far above their price, with upgrade paths mapped.
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Joe Cocker’s breakthrough came in 1968 with a soulful, waltz-time cover of “With a Little Help from My Friends,” crafted alongside Chris Stainton and studio ace Jimmy Page—launching a transatlantic ascent capped by Woodstock.
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Built around both vinyl and digital front-ends, this $50K two-in-one system marries Magnepan LRS panels with Zu Audio Omens—proving great sound isn’t about price tags, but system synergy, savvy tweaks, and soul.
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PMA’s Robert Schryer confesses to abandoning separates for the Grandinote Shinai integrated amp, declaring it the most human-sounding gear he’s owned—and the cornerstone of a system that finally silenced the upgrade itch.
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To showcase how today’s classical recordings can unlock a system’s full potential, Jonson Lee surveys the sonic evolution from flawed late analog to early digital’s brightness, arriving finally at today’s breathtaking 24-bit digital gems.
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After years of AB tests and blind comparisons, Jonson Lee finds that while 24-bit playback offers little audible advantage over 16-bit, high-res still matters—mainly due to improved recording techniques and mastering quality.
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As Motown icons the Supremes and Temptations battled for chart dominance in 1966–67, psychedelic soul and funk pioneers like Sly Stone and James Brown began reshaping the sound of Black music—with drum breaks, distortion, and fire.