For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part one here. I’ve known a lot of audiophiles and music lovers who are firmly into either analog or digital, and don’t fully embrace both. Obviously with this series, I’m putting myself in the “I love records” camp. That doesn’t mean I... Read More »
Southport, UK: iFi Audio are proud to unveil the successor to their highly popular, highly portable USB dongle DAC – the GO link 2 Max. The GO link 2 Max is a USB-C dongle that transforms your phone, laptop, or PC into a powerful high-resolution audio source – allowing it to reveal new layers of... Read More »
Roger Skoff writes about when a ripoff is really a ripoff I read recently in another publication that Asian manufacturers are now copying ultra‑High‑End brand audio products and selling them, just as one cited example, a US$95,000 amplifier for under US$1000. I think I was supposed to be outraged, but the article said that the... Read More »
The legendary component manufacturer, Audio Research Company, has returned to Seattle at Jaguar Audio. ARC has several newly redesigned tube and solid-state models, and more coming. These are some of the best-sounding components in ARC’s 56-year history. Jaguar is here to discuss which ARC models will work best in your system, and free fly-in setup... Read More »
"Jimi was like aliens had landed. No kidding," said Toto guitarist, Steve Lukather, who recorded with a who's who of artists like Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, and Eddie Van Halen. "I remember sitting in my bedroom listening to his Are You Experienced? album's 'Third Stone From The Sun.' My father walks in and sees the... Read More »
This article is drawn from an ongoing series of public discussions on electromagnetic field theory and audio cable design, conducted on my personal Facebook page over the past several weeks. The exchanges documented here are real – quoted directly from public comments – and represent a pattern I have observed consistently across hundreds of similar... Read More »
The Soulution brand was established in 2005 and is owned by Spemot AG, a company based in Dulliken that has specialized for 56 years in the production of motors and electromechanical components for industrial automation, as well as motors and actuators for the automotive industry (BMW, Volkswagen, SAAB). Cyril Hammer has served as the company's... Read More »
The Dutch Siltech company is one of the leading cable manufacturers. With its Triple Crown series, it has been setting high-end market standards for years, along with a handful of other manufacturers. In May 2024, however, it unveiled its new flagship Master Crown series – twice as expensive. The International Audio Holding Company, the owner... Read More »
Erftstadt, Germany, 26th of May 2026 – TIDAL Audio GmbH is proud to announce the TIDAL Piano Classic, a reinterpretation of the very first loudspeaker that started it all in 1999. The TIDAL Piano Classic is a reinterpretation of our very first product, a root back to our heritage - combined with the latest technologies,... Read More »
The celebrated Danish audio house joins a portfolio built on one belief: sound should move you. VANCOUVER, WA -- Unveil Sound today announces the addition of Gryphon Audio Designs to its curated portfolio of high-end audio brands. A selection of Gryphon reference components is now on display at the studio, with dedicated listening sessions opening in... Read More »
Last year's big story was AXPONA 15th anniversary! This year's "Headline News" is hands down AXPONA's earth shattering attendance! A remarkable accomplishment for any high-end show, North American or otherwise! (Hold the presses: Just as we went to press JD Events announced the sale of AXPONA to Henry Wu, owner of Sound and Fury LLC.)... Read More »
AudioDeskSysteme Gläss GmbH is best known for nearly two decades of manufacturing “the original” Vinyl Cleaner, the first fully automatic ultrasonic record cleaning machine that has been considered the benchmark in its product category ever since being introduced in 2009. Over the past seventeen years of manufacturing, the Vinyl Cleaner has evolved in terms of both effectiveness and... Read More »
High End Vienna is approaching, and we are excited to present a range of new launches from Audio Group Denmark. This year, we will unveil new products from both Børresen and Aavik, including the world premiere of an entirely new Børresen series, along with a few additional surprises. We warmly invite you to visit our... Read More »
Uncle Tupelo, Anodyne. Rhino High Fidelity (33 RPM LP) Anodyne was Uncle Tupelo's swansong album and was released in 1993 on the Reprise label. Originally only released on CD, it was not offered on vinyl until 2010 on the Rhino label. The two key musicians and songwriters for Uncle Tupelo were Jeff Tweedy and Jay... Read More »
For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part one HERE. Since such a large part of my record collection was purchased used, I figured we should talk about buying used records a little more. Obviously different people have different ideas about what they're looking for when shopping used, but... Read More »
Editorial, April 2026 from High Fidelity The audio industry is a battleground where views, opinions, and various solutions clash, all aiming to lead us toward the same goal—better sound. In the heat of the battle, we fail to notice that it is subject to the same laws as any other field related to manufacturing. In... Read More »
Las Vegas, NV–May 5, 2026: Audio Advice expands into the western U.S. with the opening of a new super-showroom in Las Vegas. Former Eagle Sentry executive and industry veteran Chris Oram has been appointed General Manager and will lead the launch and growth of this new storefront. The team will serve customers out of its... Read More »
– Octave Records’ latest release features Benthall and his quintet on an instrumental musical journey into jazz, classical and contemporary influences, captured in superb Pure DSD high-resolution sound – May 4, 2026 – Ryan Benthall calls his music “jazz adjacent,” reflecting the fact that his compositions, while founded in jazz structures, are informed by a wealth... Read More »
I was twelve when Carly Simon released her third album "No Secrets." Even at that age, I was not into commercial pop music much, so I never owned this album until now. However, I did not change the channel when Carly Simon came on. She had unmistakable talent; voice and composition. Simon achieved international fame... Read More »
Ólafur Arnalds, Sunrise Session III. Olafur Arnalds, composer and pianist; Sandrayati, RAKEL, Salóme Katrín, vocals; with string quartet. Universal Music (EP, digital only). TT: 12.58. Echoes. Þú ert sólin. Ashes. A Dawning. This is not my usual line of territory: I'm very much a classical guy. But the majors—Universal and Sony/BMG, at least—have been promoting... Read More »
Recently, while doing some research, I discovered the existence of an album that in all my decades of obsessive record collecting I had never seen nor heard of. The album is called Red And Ernie (Decca DL 8298). Not to be confused with Burt and Ernie, Red and Ernie were music legends Red Foley (1910-1968)... Read More »
Black velvet, acoustic-dampening curtains cover the surrounding walls of the darkened 12' x 15 'x 8' Chesky Audio hotel room packed with guests seated in folding chairs this Saturday afternoon. Upfront, the celebrated owner of HD Tracks, David Chesky, 69—a wiry and energetic man with a New York accent, long curly locks, clad in a... Read More »
James Oscar Smith was an American jazz icon who helped popularize the Hammond B-3 organ, forging a link between jazz and 1960s Soul—or the "urbanization and commercialization of rhythm and blues in the 60s," (www.allmusic.com), and the Acoustic Sounds Series reissues from Verve/Universal Music Enterprises delivers his artistry with exceptional fidelity in their 180 gram... Read More »
We deeply believe in "development" and "progress." Especially in audio. On the other hand, we know that newer is not always better and that old technologies can surprise us. So what is the current situation: Is there progress or not, and if there is, what drives it, and how should we respond to it? Let's... Read More »
This article is part of an ongoing series examining electromagnetic field theory and its application to high-fidelity audio reproduction. The engineering framework described here has been developed, tested, and refined over thirty-three years of product development at Synergistic Research—and has been the subject of extensive public discussion on my personal Facebook page, where the physics,... Read More »
This was the line-up who was the first to play "electric" at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. This caused quite a disturbance from the folk-purists in the crowd. Especially when members then backed up Dylan for his first electric performance. The Butterfield Blues Band album "East West" of 1966 is one of the earliest... Read More »
Being a music and audio person, I have some thoughts about how AI will relate to our listening consumption in an increasingly AI-laden era. Unlike much of the AI slop and other...stuff that now permeates the internet and social media, this article was written exclusively by a human, me, and the opinions expressed are strictly... Read More »
The latest JPLAY update introduces HQPlayer library integration, dynamic Smart Playlists, a brand-new History screen with calendar view, and a range of refinements based directly on community feedback. JPLAY announced the release of a major new update Ñ bringing one of the most-requested features in the app's recent history together with a number of new... Read More »
Strategic move positions North America’s leading high-end audio event for continued expansion SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (April 28, 2026) – Sound & Fury LLC today announced the acquisition of AXPONA (Audio Expo North America), the largest high-end audio event in North America. Since its inception, AXPONA has served audiophiles, manufacturers and music enthusiasts as a premier destination to experience... Read More »
I so often bring to you music in ultra-high resolution, but there are so many wonderful recordings not originally recorded in DXD or DSD256. I listen to many of these, but don't regularly write about them because my brief is to focus on the higher resolution recordings so readers can know that they are available.... Read More »
Events in St. Louis, Atlanta, and NY/NJ will include a special presentation by the SVS team, immersive home theater and HiFi system demos, Q&A sessions, and multiple giveaways. Youngstown, OH – April 23, 2026 - SVS proudly announces three more cities as part of its Sound R|Evolution Experience, with new events at dealer partner showrooms in... Read More »
I am frequently overwhelmed, in the most positive way imaginable, by the cornucopia of marvelous releases that appear. Such is the case today as I offer to you my thoughts on eight recent releases available at NativeDSD. They have made my heart sing these past few weeks. Santiago de Masarnau: Piano Works (Vol. 1-3), Claudia... Read More »
April 21, 2026 — Audio Research and Acora Acoustics are pleased to announce the appointment of David Schultz as a senior member of our sales organization, marking an exciting milestone in our continued global expansion. “Joining Audio Research and Acora Acoustics feels like a natural next step in my lifelong commitment to high-end audio,” said... Read More »
No one can deny that Linda Ronstadt has proved to be one of the most talented pop female singers, and has one of the best voices, and offers the most divers of vocal styles in history. She can make you cry and make you rock. Pure and soft, powerful and demanding. Ronstadt's vocal range spans... Read More »
AXPONA! The trade show where all the sounds and other spectaculars of the high-end audio community come together to listen, listen, and then listen some more with 12,546 attendees and 235 individual listening rooms this year. I'm pretty sure this is a record. So many products, distributors, and manufactures here that it really wouldn't be... Read More »
12,000+ attendees and 750+ brands from 50+ countries gathered in Schaumburg to experience AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) Schaumburg, IL (April 15, 2026) -- AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) officially marked its biggest year yet, drawing 12,546 music lovers to the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center—a 15% jump over 2025. This year's record-breaking crowd was characterized by a distinct... Read More »
Chrysalis Records continues their superb series of catalog reissues from legendary guitarist Robin Trower, with an expanded edition of his 1976 live album, Robin Trower Live! The new release has arrived as Robin Trower Live! 50th Anniversary Edition, and it documents a spectacular 1975 concert from Stockholm, Sweden, for the first time in its entirety.... Read More »
