Braving the brisk Montreal weather, Mike Harkins attends the 2022 Montrรฉal Audiofest, where standout systems from Focal, Muraudio, PS Audio, and more share the spotlight with jazz sets, Dolby Atmos demos, and rooftop ducks.
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 memoryโwhere true cable differences reveal themselves.
The Denafrips Pontus II DAC rekindled Mario St-Laurent’s love for digital audio with its smooth, analog-like warmth and emotional depth. After extensive burn-in, it revealed exceptional clarity, imaging, and musicality, effortlessly blending detail with natural sound.
MOON by Simaudio’s Dominique Poupart radiates passion and precision as he leads a tour through the companyโs Quebec-based factory, where cutting-edge robotics meet meticulous hand-assemblyโall in service of sonic excellence.
Veteran music editor Robert Baird reflects on high-end audioโs tribalism, from gear vs. music purists to loudness wars and streaming woes, vowing to spotlight artists who value both sonic integrity and musical impact.
Just as listening to bad music is no fun, itโs no fun listening to bad audio, so knowing what to listen for when auditioning a component is important. โStop, Hey, Whatโs That Sound?โ is a series dedicated to recognizing aspects of good and bad sound reproduction. Once youโve settled on what features you want your…
Jay Jay French recalls funding his first hi-fi with pot money, trashes a Dylan concert, and champions budget gear that “sniffs cocaine like itโs Jaws”โall while slowly, skeptically courting jazz.