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The ported, two-way, CA$ 6000/pair standmount Yamaha NS-800A oozes quality—it’s hefty, feels impeccably built, has a curvaceous body, and comes with big, robust binding posts that feel like iron door knockers between your fingers. It also comes in a beautiful black finish, said by Yamaha to be the same signature gloss finish used on the…
“On a Mobile Fidelity version of Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms, I heard a wealth of scintillating detail and instruments that popped out from the background with shape and aliveness.”
Welcome to “The ABCs of Audio: Hi-Fi Lexicon,” your ultimate guide to understanding the fundamental terms and concepts in high-fidelity audio. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to expand your knowledge, this article breaks down complex audio jargon into simple explanations. We use two levels of simplicity: In the following sections, we’ll cover essential…
Impressions of South Korea’s thriving audio show, along with a handful of Best-of-Show rooms.
Prices listed in CA$. If there had been an award given out at the Audiofest for “Most Vintage-Looking Component”, the Fyne Classic Fifteen speakers ($50,000/pr) in the Villeneuve Audio Vidéo / Marchand Audio Vidéo room probably would have won it. The design is a point-source system whereby a bass/midrange cone is coupled to a high…
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital music, the quest for pristine sound quality amidst the convenience of digital formats has led to the creation of an array of lossless audio codecs. These formats serve as a beacon for audiophiles and music enthusiasts alike, offering a sanctuary where the integrity of sound is preserved in its…
“I certainly prefer the weight and presence… musicality, of the Stream-XR”
I belong to several Facebook audio-related groups, including Streaming Music Matters, which is administered by Qobuz’s David Solomon. While the undeniable focus of the group is music-streaming via Qobuz, there are also many lively and intense tech-centred discussions covering all aspects of streaming and its associated equipment. Many of those discussions feature members from the…
“It is quite hard to think how else T+A could have done any better here. A DAC for the ages, without question.”
Prices listed in CA$. Another room that served up incredible sound was that of retailer Bliss Acoustics, whose demo included a J.Sikora Reference turntable ($64,500) fitted with a KV Max 9″ tonearm ($16,450) and Nagra Reference cartridge ($24,500), a Nagra Classic preamplifer ($24,000), a Nagra Classic phono stage ($26,000), a Gryphon Essence stereo amplifier ($32,480),…
Regular visitors to the Toronto or Montreal Audiofest have come to expect something unique and special at an Audio Note UK exhibit: a live cello performance by the company’s music ambassador, Vincent Bélanger, who plays his instrument while accompanied by instrumental music played back by an all-Audio Note system. As usual with one of these…
Prices listed in CA$ except where otherwise noted. For the 30th anniversary of the company’s Black Swan loudspeaker, Gershman Acoustics unveiled their Black Swan 30th Anniversary Edition, in a striking white finish ($90,000). Changes over the regular Black Swan include refinements to the drivers. The bass driver also weighs more, which, at 66lbs (30kg), requires…
Prices listed in CA$. One of the demoes hosted by distributor Erikson Consumers was displaying something I hadn’t seen in any other demo at the show but that on first sight warmed the cockles of my heart in a place overrun with streaming: a dedicated CD player. This is no knock on streaming; I get…
Prices listed in CA$. The Hegel room was showing off its Viking CD player ($6000), on static display when I visited, and 308Wpc, dual mono, DAC-equipped H600 integrated amplifier ($15,000). The source was FLAC files streamed from a laptop hard drive, while the speakers were Magnepan’s model 3.7i ($11,875/pair), which looked taller to me, and…
With the arrival of the fall-winter music listening season upon us, this is a perfect time to organize your music collection and tune-up your stereo.