Category: Reviews
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The 10 Best Sounding Albums of 2018…That You Haven’t Heard Yet.
As an Audiophile, good music is one thing, but good sonics is just as important. I not only want my music to induce toe-tapping but it should also be well recorded so it can make all the electronics, speakers or headphones that I constantly obsess over shine. Here’s my list of great music from 2018…
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The Best (Or Basically My Favorite) Jazz Albums of 2018
As far as I’m concerned, 2018 was a very good year for Jazz music, with so many great albums covering so many different styles. While there were many like the Mark Ward Trio and Dr. Lonnie Smith that followed the traditional paths set by the Jazz forefathers, there were others like Tigran Hamasyan or Mammal Hands…
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Review: Nano iDSD Black Label by iFi
Best Buys, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Portable Audio, ReviewsMQA and Native DSD playback set this mini powerhouse apart. Looking for a powerful, great sounding, DAC/headphone amp combo that handles MQA rendering and native DSD playback? Want it to be smaller than a pack of cigarettes? Want to pay less than $200? Then the Nano iDSD Black Label by iFi is not only the…
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Music Monday: Jose James-“The Dreamer-10th Anniversary Edition”
I feel like Vocal Jazz is in a new Golden Age, where artists have escaped the monotony of imitation and forged new paths for an old art form. Jose James’ “The Dreamer” released in 2007, was at the leading edge of the Vocal Jazz resurgence, and it is just as fresh today as it was back…
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KZ ZST & ZSR IEMS…Real Good Sound, Real Cheap!
Update: The ZST and ZSR are still great earphones for the money, but the new ZSN is even better…better tonal balance, and more refined sound…check out my comments on my other post, Best Affordable/Budget Audiophile Headphones (2019)! As an unabashed audio junkie, I’m always in online audiophile groups chatting about the next big audio thing. As…
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iFi Nano iDSD Black Label In The House!
DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Portable Audio, Reviews, UncategorizedThis headphone amp/USB DAC has all the technology, but how does it sound? Review coming soon! P. CashI’m an audio writer who started as a young audio salesman/consumer electronics professional back in the late 90s. That’s where I discovered the magic of 2-Channel sound. My thirst for great sound has led me on a delightful…
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Zorloo ZuperDAC-S Review
The ZuperDAC-S, currently available for pre-order on the Zorloo website for $69, is a follow-up to Zorloo’s original ZuperDAC, which was a portable DAC/AMP with a USB Stick form factor similar to AudioQuest’s Dragonfly Black. The follow-up ZuperDAC-S instead has a female micro-USB port on one end, so you can plug in different USB cables…
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Music Monday: Great Music for Headphones Part 2
Last week I shared some albums I thought sounded really good while listening with some nice headphones. Today i’m sharing another playlist with some new and old songs i’m really digging during my headphone testing sessions….again feel free to comment with some albums and songs that you think sound good over headphones! P. CashI’m an…
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1MORE Triple Driver Over-Ear Headphone Titanium (H1707) Review
If you read my post, Best Sounding Headphones Under $100 (2018), then you know i’m a big fan of 1MORE’s Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone ($99). At that time, I said it had the best sound of any earphone under $100, and I have yet to hear anything better. I instantly fell in love with its…
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Music You Need To Hear: Tigran Hamasyan-“For Gyumri”
Pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan’s “For Gyumri”, his third recording on Nonesuch Records, is what I would call short and sweet. At only 5 tracks, it is technically an EP, but the combination of atmospheric chants and beautiful piano combine to form a rich tapestry of sound you may want to play several times back…
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Hi-Fi Deals: Get These Celebrated Budget Audiophile Cans for Only $50! (That’s $20 off)
Long considered by Headphone enthusiasts as one of the best headphones under $100, Newegg is selling the Philips SHP9500S Over-Ear Headphone for only $49.99 from now until the end of tomorrow! That is $20 off the next lowest price over at Amazon. I mentioned it last month as the best-over ear open headphone under $100, so $50…
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Music You Need To Hear: Melody Gardot-“Live In Europe”
In this edition of “Music You Need To Hear”, my weekly post where I point out a standout new release, i’m featuring Melody Gardot’s “Live In Europe”. I’m a big fan of Gardot’s music, since I love the way her sultry voice ignites the air in which it resides, and it’s awesome to finally hear…
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Music Monday: Mark Wade Trio-“Moving Day”
Every Monday I like to recommend some great sounding, as in well recorded, music as part of the “Music Monday” feature, and this week i’m recommending this funky Jazz album from the Mark Wade Trio called “Moving Day”. If you want to give your system a good workout, then be sure to give this a…
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First Impressions: NSMT Loudspeakers In The House w/ Amber Rubarth
First Impressions, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, Power Amps, Reviews, Speakers, StreamingToday i’m listening to an audiophile desktop setup from NSMT Loudspeakers, a U.S. Manufacturer of high-end speakers and amplifiers. The setup is comprised of their Model 5AX Desktop Monitor, which is a solid pillar of heavy MDF with transmission-line tuning giving it the ability to play very low frequencies for it’s small footprint, and their…
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10 Building Blocks for Your Budget/Affordable Hi-Fi System!
Best Buys, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, MQA, Music, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Speakers, Streaming, WirelessCheck out our updated list for 2019: 10 Building Blocks for Your Budget/Affordable 2-Channel Audiophile System! (2019) 1. Elac Debut B6-This speaker has become a legend of sorts in the audiophile world due to it’s insane value for the money. When paired with a quality amp like the NAD C338 on this list, you will have…
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Anchor your Budget Hi-Fi System with these Five-Star Q Acoustics 3020 Speakers at $249.99! (Reg. $289.99)
Q Acoustics may not be well known in the states, but anyone in the know regarding Hi-Fi knows the name. This British Speaker company has planted its flag in the U.S., and it’s 3020 bookshelf speaker is leading the invasion. A quick Google search will acquaint you with its many accolades, such as a five…
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Best Sounding Headphones Under $100 (2018)
Check out our updated list of 10 Best Budget Headphones for 2019 here. With a headphone under $100, one cannot expect world class sonics, but nowadays at this price point, you can get several models that get you pretty darn close. With their Triple-Driver earphone, 1More has changed the game, providing the best sound ever…
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5 Best Bookshelf Speakers $500 and under (2018)
Check out our updated 2020 list: Outstanding! The Best Bookshelf Speakers Under $500 (2020) Looking to build a budget or starter hi-fi system? Here are some great speakers to start with! All of these speakers scale very well so don’t be afraid to pair them with electronics that cost double their price. A quality integrated amp…
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LG V30: The Ultimate Hi-Fi Audiophile Review
Bluetooth, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Reviews, Streaming(Update: The Tidal Android App now supports Tidal Masters (MQA) streaming on the LG V30…check out my post about it here.) DSD, FLAC, MQA, OH MY! Those were my first thoughts last August when I read about the new LG V30 smartphone and it’s upgraded Hi-Fi Quad DAC. You see, I already owned the LG…
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Music You Need to Hear: Dr. Lonnie Smith
I feel like it doesn’t get any more funky than a soulful guitar lick and wailing Hammond B-3 organ, and this new album from jazz great Dr. Lonnie Smith and his trio, surely confirms this hypothesis. “All In My Mind”, Smith’s second release of his second stint with Blue Note, is from a live concert…
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