We have something very special with the LSA .5 phono stage. It retails for $249. That’s right. The last time we heard a phono stage this incredible for such a low price was about ten years ago, when we reviewed the Lounge LCR. If you’re new to analog listening, even […]
Breaking from the standard protocol of completely familiar music, the new complete Godzilla boxset is too hard to resist, so that’s where the journey listening to the Quadratic MC-1 moving coil step up transformer begins. Via the AVID Volvere SP/SME 309/MySonicLab combination, the sound is big, glorious, enveloping and immersive. […]
Extended listening to the Audio Research PH9 might have you looking more closely at the front and rear panel for a “REF” logo. This is a spectacular phonostage. There’s a smooth, natural quality to the vinyl playback that hints at a much higher price, thanks to their hybrid FET/Tube design, […]
The more time you spend on your analog journey, (or any pursuit for that matter) it’s tougher to be knocked on your ear. Not from a jaded perspective, but one of familiarity. Once you’ve heard a number of phono cartridges from the MM and the MC camps, at various price […]
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Grado Labs. This Brooklyn company, also known for their diverse crop of headphones has been making incredible phono cartridges for decades now. All the way down to their entry level cartridges, Grado stands for high performance and supreme value. When the […]
Seriously, how about it? With so many vinyl enthusiasts, new and old excited about this event, Record Store Day is growing to the point where it’s becoming more exclusive than inclusive. Here in Portland, Oregon, my favorite record store owner, Terry Currier, of Music Millennium told me that “the line […]
A $2,995 Marvel. Listening to the intricate harmonies in Crowded House’s “You Better Be Home Soon,” European Audio Team’s E-Glo S (named for its glowing vacuum tubes jutting out of the casework) offers up a sound that is mellow, defined, and dynamic. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed […]
Audiophiles love to argue the merits of moving magnet vs. moving coil cartridges. Come to think about it; they love to argue about nearly everything. However, the MM/MC debate gets sketchier as the price goes up and the line blurs between top-level MM and moderate level MC cartridges. Having owned […]
If any record ever deserved the deluxe reissue treatment, it’s the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street. Given mixed reviews upon release in 1972, the double album has deservedly assumed an immortal place in music history. At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum […]
Audio Research Reference phonostages are an excellent blend of performance, ergonomics and all around user friendliness, with the REF Phono at the top of the range, delivering world-class performance. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim […]