Montreal

Montreal


  • Observations At T.H.E. Show 2024

    “What Iโ€™m going to say now with 100% certainty is that I had never heard these two recordings sound better than they did in that room.”

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  • The Festival Quรฉbec Jazz IN JUNE awaits you from the 20 to 30!

    It is well-known that Quebec has music in its veins, which is probably why it hosts a good hundred annual music festivals, the most famous of which is the Montreal International Jazz Festival, renowned worldwide. The magnificent city of Quebec is recognized for its Summer Festival (FEQ), which is practically sold out every year. However,…

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  • Treasures from the Vinyl Vault, Part 6: Shelly Manne, Barney Kessel, Curtis Counce, Howard Rumsey, Art Pepper

    Welcome to my series Treasures from the Vinyl Vault. In it, I will feature select gems from my approximately 12,000 ever-growing vinyl collection, accumulated over a 45-year period and counting.

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  • Heaven 11 Billie MKII Integrated Amplifier Review

    Doug More of The Sound Advocate likes what he hears in the new Heaven 11 Billie MKll class-D / tube integrated amplifier.

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  • 5 Hi-Fi Hangouts for the Golden-Eared Montrealer

    Exploring Montrealโ€™s Premier Sound Havens For audiophiles seeking the ultimate auditory experience, Montreal offers a rich tapestry of venues that cater to the golden-eared. From cozy bistros blending gourmet cuisine with vinyl records to vibrant bars with custom sound systems, the cityโ€™s sound havens promise a unique and immersive listening experience. Join us as we…

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  • Shazamfest is Back!

    Back for its 19th edition, Canada’s favourite madcap festival is more flamboyant, more freaky and more family-friendly than ever!

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  • How a $1ย Millionย System Changed Me

    Iโ€™ve listened to many audio setups over the years but I only recently heard a โ€œcost-no-objectโ€ system. It happened in the Focal-Naim showroom at Montreal Audiofest 2024. Its cost? Close to $1 million dollars if you include cables and acoustic treatment. My verdict? Mind-blowingly good, and Iโ€™m not someone who would naturally equate higher price…

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  • Festi Jazz Mont-Tremblantโ€”Why You Should Go

    I go every year to the Montreal International Jazz Festivalโ€”I love it. But if you donโ€™t like crowds, or you donโ€™t mind them and just like to go to outdoor music festivals in general, might I suggest a visit to Festi Jazz Mont-Tremblant, a smaller, cozier, more laid-back version of its Montreal cousin.

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  • Reviewedโ€”Audiophile Analog Collection Vol.2

    “Not only is this double-LP compilation outstanding in sound, it is also excellent musically and performance-wiseโ€”surprisingly so, perhaps, given the poor history of audiophile-oriented releases.”

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  • Moon To Showcase New 891 Network Player/Preamplifier And 861 Power Amplifier At AXPONA

    April 4, 2024 (Montreal, Canada) โ€“ MOON will be showcasing an incredible reference system at this yearโ€™s Axpona. The new MOON 861 power amplifier and MOON 891 network player/preamplifier will make their US show debut and will combine with MOONโ€™s 810LP phono amp, 820S power supply, and a Clearaudio Concept Signature turntable to deliver an…

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  • MAF 2024: Hegel, MoFi Electronics, AudioQuest

    Prices listed in CA$. Norway-based Hegel has been steadily gaining popularity with its great-sounding and elegantly-styled products. Of the two rooms they hosted at this yearโ€™s Montreal show, one presented a static display of several of the companyโ€™s successful products, while the other had an active demo that included a pair of MoFi SourcePoint 8…

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  • MAF 2024: Audio Group Denmark / Wynn Audio Room: Bรธrresen, Axxess, Ansuz

    Prices listed in CA$. At the Montreal Audiofest, there wereย quite a few rooms with systems costing in the six figures. The system in the Audio Group Denmark / Wynn Audio room wasnโ€™t one of them, despite sounding like it could cost that much. It included a pair ofย Bรธrresen X6 loudspeakers ($30,000/pr), a 100Wpc Axxess Fortรฉ…

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  • MAF 2024: Altitudo Audio, Electrocompaniet, Harmonic Resolution Systems, Tri-Art Audio, Nordost, Audio Note

    Prices listed in CA$ unless otherwise note. When I first heard Audio Physic speakers (the Classic 15) at Audio Element in Pasadena, California, I was immediately impressed. They were featured in PMA Magazineโ€™s โ€œBest Audio Systems For $10,000โ€ series. I couldnโ€™t believe that speakers costing less than US$ 5000/pair could sound so accomplished or have…

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  • MAF 2024: Lalibertรฉ ร‰lectronique, SVS, Accuphase, HiFi Rose, AudioQuest

    Prices listed in CA$ dollars unless otherwise noted. SVS is a company almost exclusively known for its subwoofers. So I was surprised to learn that they also make speakers. Doing its Canadian debut in the Lalibertรฉ ร‰lectronique room at the Montreal show were the Ohio-based companyโ€™s Pinnacle Ultra Evolution speakers (US$ 5000/pr; Canadian price TBD).…

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  • Setting the Stage for the Montreal Audiofest 2024

    In the days running up to it, from Tuesday to Thursday, the Montrรฉal Audiofest is more of a warehouse scene than an audio one, with boxes and crates scattered around, and all that great gear waiting to take its place on the podiums. Here is a little sneak peak of what the show premises look…

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