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In this follow-up on budget headphone amps, Steven Stone evaluates three sub-$500 Chinese models—including the Aiyima SMSL E600, Topping EH-5, and xDuuo X-20—highlighting performance, upgrade potential, and the high early failure rates he’s experienced.
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In part two of his candid interview, Chad Kassem recalls the gritty rise of Acoustic Sounds from a record-crammed apartment to an industry leader, detailing the challenges of pressing plants, COVID’s business boom, and forging respectful industry alliances.
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Claude Lemaire kicks off his seven-part series Diving into Disco by defending disco’s cultural legitimacy and sonic richness, while tracing its roots in gay liberation and challenging its enduring underappreciation among audiophiles.
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In a hidden alley of audio dreams, the Sonic Sommelier pairs silence with symphony, punk with Soviet TVs, and sound with soul—reminding us that true listening is an art.
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Pylon Audio’s Diamond 25 MkII may resemble its predecessor, but its sonic upgrades are striking. This refined floorstander now offers increased dynamics, clarity, and boldness—without losing its signature warmth and balance—all at a compelling price.
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In this profile, Alain Gascon shares his audiophile journey—from teenage catalog dreams to a vinyl-focused system built around Totem Winds and McIntosh gear—emphasizing music’s emotional power over technical obsession.
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In the annals of music history, few moments shimmer with the kind of star-studded, genre-blending brilliance as the day when the future King of Pop met the Reggae Revolutionary. Picture this: a sunny day in Kingston, Jamaica, 1975, a setting so ripe for a musical crossover, it could have been scripted in Hollywood. Yet, this…
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In the debut of his “Super Budget Components” series, Steven Stone spotlights three Chinese-made audio bargains—a $130 Fosi amp, SoundArtist LS3/5A monitors, and a $250 Rod Rain DAC—that punch far above their price.
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Building on Part 1, this detailed follow-up compares three subwoofer integration strategies—evaluating bass smoothness, articulation, and timing.
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Pierre recounts how a record theft led him from rock to a lifelong passion for classical music, recommending five era-spanning albums—from Renaissance to Stravinsky—that shaped his journey and still dazzle audiophiles today.
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By February 21, 1970, the Jackson 5 were no strangers to the national stage. Just two months earlier, they’d dazzled millions on The Ed Sullivan Show, announcing their arrival as Motown’s freshest sensation. But their appearance on American Bandstand was something else entirely. This wasn’t just about proving they belonged; it was about showing the…
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From studio sessions with the Stones to running Toronto’s Executive Stereo, Ed Stone’s journey reveals how deep musical knowledge and audio passion shape everything from gear choices to helping customers discover better sound.
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Cyrus Audio’s Stream-XR streamer impresses with its clean, engaging sound and smart BluOS integration—especially when paired with Neil Young Archives, offering detailed playback that rivals higher-end gear in a fiercely competitive market.
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Jonson Lee explores how excessive dynamic compression is warping our musical experience, comparing classic and remastered waveforms to show how “bigger” sound often means less nuance—and why old CDs may offer sonic salvation.
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As Taylor Swift racks up Grammy wins and global headlines, this piece asks: has the NFL turned her romance with Travis Kelce into peak overexposure—or is the backlash missing the real culprits?
