The Absolute Sound Podcast

A Win for Beginning Audiophiles? | GoldenEar BRX Bookshelf Speaker

About Tom Martin:Tom is a long-time audiophile. He began his reviewing career after acquiring the The Absolute Sound magazine in 1997 and then hi-fi+ magazine in 2002. He has worked closely with Harry Pearson and Robert Harley at TAS and with Roy Gregory and Alan Sircom at hi-fi+. Since Tom and his teams expanded the TAS and Plus platforms in the digital domain, he has served as Chief Content Officer.What Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.Associated Equipment: Roon Nucleus Server Oppo BDP-105 CD drive Legacy Wavelet DAC/Preamp Bryston 3B Cubed power amp Sanus stands Shunyata Venom power director and AC cablesMusic Used for Evaluation: Metric Gary Burton Quartet Shostakovich Symphony No. 4 Keith Jarrett Joni Mitchell Decembrists Beethoven Late Quartets The Black Keys Cat Power Mahler Symphony No. 3 Gillian Welch Little Feat Of Monsters and Men Procol Harum EfterklangFor more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe to our newsletter at: https://www.theabsolutesound.comFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Soundsmith Hyperion MKII Phono Cartridge | At A Glance

*Audio in video is not high-res nor from listening test source. Video/audio is for aesthetic purposes only.* Thank you Ted Denney and Synergistic Research for hosting us. Learn more about SR's multi-frequency resonator Vibratron, featured in the video, here: https://www.synergisticresearch.com/acoustics/passive/vibratron/What Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe to our newsletter at: https://www.theabsolutesound.comFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Robert Harley PREVIEWS Orion Loudspeaker | Rockport Technologies President Josh Clark

Robert Harley meets with Rockport Technologies' Josh Clark to discuss the Orion Loudspeaker. They review Rockport's history, the development of their tailor-made carbon fiber drivers, and their hand-tuned crossovers.Learn More about the Orion here: https://rockporttechnologies.com/orion/What Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe to our newsletter at: https://www.theabsolutesound.comFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

GoldenEar ForceField 30 Subwoofer Review | Small But Mighty...

The GoldenEar ForceField 30 Subwoofer with 1,000-watts of power, built-in DSP, and a downward facing passive radiator, all in a small 11"x16"x12", makes for a small but mighty addition to GoldenEar's line-up and potentially for your system.Sign up for our FREE newsletter: www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletterAbout Tom Martin:Tom is a long-time audiophile. He began his reviewing career after acquiring the The Absolute Sound magazine in 1997 and then hi-fi+ magazine in 2002. He has worked closely with Harry Pearson and Robert Harley at TAS and with Roy Gregory and Alan Sircom at hi-fi+. Since Tom and his teams expanded the TAS and Plus platforms in the digital domain, he has served as Chief Content Officer.For more product information visit:https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/49344/What Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe to our newsletter at: https://www.theabsolutesound.comFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound00:00-1:42 Introduction1:42-7:07 Overview7:07-18:29 Review18:29-27:30 Important Context27:30- Conclusion

The Magico M9 & The Myth of the Law of Diminishing Returns

Is the Law of Diminishing of Returns relevant to the subjective nature of high-end audio? Lee explores this idea while recalling his visit to Magico's factory.Sign up for our FREE newsletter: www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletterAbout Lee Scoggins:A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Lee got interested in audio listening to his Dad’s system in the late 70s. By the early 80s he got swept up in the CD wave that was launching which led to a love of discs from Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs. Later while working on Wall Street in the 90s, Lee started working on blues, jazz and classical sessions for Chesky Records and learned record engineering by apprenticeship. Lee was involved in the first high resolution recordings which eventually became the DVD-Audio format. Lee now does recordings of small orchestras and string quartets in the Atlanta area, became president of Nextscreen LLC in 2019, before moving on to CEO in 2021. What Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe to our newsletter at: https://www.theabsolutesound.comFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

16 Woofers: Magnepan Ultra-Wideband Bass System First Listen

With 16 total woofers, the Magnepan Ultra-Wideband Bass System is setting out to solve more than one of the much maligned bass problems in high-end audio.Sign up for our FREE newsletter: www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter00:00-14:09 The Magnepan UBS Frankensystem 14:09-30:54 The 4 Bass Problems 30:54-48:15 How Does it Sound?48:15- A Few CaveatsAbout Tom Martin:Tom is a long-time audiophile. He began his reviewing career after acquiring the The Absolute Sound magazine in 1997 and then hi-fi+ magazine in 2002. He has worked closely with Harry Pearson and Robert Harley at TAS and with Roy Gregory and Alan Sircom at hi-fi+. Since Tom and his teams expanded the TAS and Plus platforms in the digital domain, he has served as Chief Content Officer.For more product information visit:https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/49344/What Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe to our newsletter at: https://www.theabsolutesound.comFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

JansZen Audio’s Valentina A8 Loudspeaker; A Perfect Match for the BACCH-SP

Senior reviewer Andrew Quint returns with a preview of JansZen Audio's Valentina A8 SE Loudspeaker and it's perfect pairing with the Theoretica Applied Physics's BACCH-SP "adio" Stereo Purifier. Watch Andrew's preview of the BACCH-SP here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0fGZnDIZ5k&ab_channel=THEABSOLUTESOUNDRead more on the JansZen Valentina A8 SE here: https://janszenaudio.com/products/valentina-a8-active-biamplifiedAbout Andrew:Admitted to the Oberlin Conservatory as a trombone performance major but, encountering his limitations as a player in this elite environment, instead obtained a B.A. degree from Oberlin College, while completing eight semesters of applied study on his chosen instrument and playing in numerous Conservatory ensembles.With a degree in Biology went on to medical school, graduating in 1979 and subsequently joined an endocrinology subspecialty practice in Philadelphia. By the mid-1990s, he was missing an intense engagement with music and musicians and began contributing to several publications, mostly Fanfare and The Absolute Sound. He contributed record reviews and feature articles to Fanfare for 19 years, eventually establishing himself as their main Wagner video reviewer. For TAS, he started as a music writer, producing reviews of recordings, long articles on composers and other subjects, and interviews (David Zinman, Igor Kipnis, Frederick Fennell, Jennifer Higdon, etc.)About ten years ago, he began writing about "High End" audio equipment as well. He covers large audio shows in the US and abroad and has established connections with manufacturers of perfectionist equipment internationally.What Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe to our newsletter at: https://www.theabsolutesound.comFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Michael Fremer Previews The Kuzma SAFIR 9 Tonearm

From Michael: "My full review of Franc Kuzma's newest tonearm, the Safir 9 will appear in an upcoming issue of The Absolute Sound. This video offers a preview showing the tech behind both the original 4 Point arm—if you're not familiar you'll see exactly what those 4 points are and where they are— and the new arm as well."Subscribe to TrackingAngle YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCj8HvEZPUSI0IkMhtuRcqIg What Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe to our newsletter at: https://www.theabsolutesound.comFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

The Legacy Wavelet DAC/Preamplifier & JL Audio Dominion Subwoofers | DSP Dilemma & System Review

In this review, Tom discusses the Legacy Wavelet DAC/Preamp/DSP, the JL Audio Dominion subs, and the dilemma in dialing in DSP and subs.00:00-07:30 Rollover, DSP, and Introduction7:30-13:14 JL Audio Subs & Legacy Wavelet Overview13:14-19:10 The Legacy Wavelet19:10 - How Does It Sound?Reference System:-Magnepan LRS+ speakers-Audioquest BRX speakers-Magico A5 speakers-Audio Research Reference 6 preamp-Bryston 3B Cubed power amp-dCS Lina DAC and Master Clock-Technics SL-1210G-R turntable-Hana EL cartridge-Hegel V10 phono preamp-Sanus stands-Salamander cabinetsAbout Tom Martin:Tom is a long-time audiophile. He began his reviewing career after acquiring the The Absolute Sound magazine in 1997 and then hi-fi+ magazine in 2002. He has worked closely with Harry Pearson and Robert Harley at TAS and with Roy Gregory and Alan Sircom at hi-fi+. Since Tom and his teams expanded the TAS and Plus platforms in the digital domain, he has served as Chief Content Officer.What Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe to our newsletter at: https://www.theabsolutesound.comFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Technics SU-G700M2 Integrated Amplifier Review | A Real Digital Amplifier?

With 70 watts/ch into 8 ohms and 140 watts/ch into 8 ohms the G700M2 is unusual in its nearly complete digital approach to amplification.About Tom Martin:Tom is a long-time audiophile. He began his reviewing career after acquiring the The Absolute Sound magazine in 1997 and then hi-fi+ magazine in 2002. He has worked closely with Harry Pearson and Robert Harley at TAS and with Roy Gregory and Alan Sircom at hi-fi+. Since Tom and his teams expanded the TAS and Plus platforms in the digital domain, he has served as Chief Content Officer.For more product information visit:https://us.technics.com/products/stereo-integrated-amplifier-su-g700m2-kWhat Is The Absolute Sound?The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe to our newsletter at: https://www.theabsolutesound.comFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound