First impressions can mislead with Magnepan speakers, writes Jonson Lee, who reflects on their lifelike realism, anti-forward presentation, and high-maintenance charm after more than a decade of devoted ownership.
Jonson Lee shares three surprising insights from his digital audio journey: your server matters more than your DAC, digital sources are highly vibration-sensitive, and even a reformat can revive sound quality.
Based on three key insightsโroom acoustics, system synergy, and installationโJonson Lee argues that speakers account for just 12.5% of your systemโs sound quality, challenging the conventional wisdom and prioritizing smarter investments.
After testing 49 amps, Jonson Lee crowns the Danish-built Densen DM-30 for its balance of smooth neutrality, reliability, and cool operationโoutshining even the visceral Proceed AMP5 and musical Audio Research D115.
After testing 16 interconnects, Jonson Lee concludes that cables over $100 can offer real gains, price doesnโt predict performance, cleaning contacts boosts clarity, and a cableโs sonic character stays consistent across gear.