Modesty is not an approach that earns high marks in the high end. Pleasing hobbyists with limited room to spare is not usually on the to-do list. Take the once-conservative integrated amplifier. In many instances, ...

Invoking yet again the mystery of Stonehenge and its ineffable inner circle, Mystère has recently launched a pair of flagship products aimed squarely at sharing tube magic with a wide audience. Both models use similar ...

While it continues to drag on in all but name only, our Great Recession has a good many of us either putting off new audio purchases altogether or setting our upgrade sights at significantly less ...

Normally, I try to avoid dragging readers through the problems I have in obtaining equipment and making it function. In this case, however, I would do a distinct disservice to any audiophile looking for a ...

This turned out to be a twofer review—two for the price of one—shortly after I accepted the Ultravalve assignment and considered compatible loudspeakers. Speakers are a critical decision that can make or break an amplifier ...

There are times when I think this strange hobby of ours borders on the insane. I feel this way every time I read an ad that promises miracles from an accessory that clearly defies the ...

Although "serious" listening is generally assumed to take place in a comfy listening chair, with the lights turned low and no other distractions, such a luxury is not only increasingly harder to enjoy in this ...

Digital sound now suffers from an embarrassment of riches. In addition to my casual listening to new products, I have had the opportunity to explore in depth four ambitious efforts during the last few months. ...

For me, the analog versus digital debate is similar to one in the wine world, where “Old” versus “New” World advocates often engage in passionate arguments in defense of not only their preferred regions, but ...

As most of you know, I’m a tube guy at heart—particularly when it comes to preamps. But if I were in the market for the state of the art in analog, I’d make a big ...

The annual Buyer's Guide Issue is packed with our top recommendations in every product category and at every price. We’ve carefully selected the crème de la crème from the vast array of products on the ...

The annual Buyer's Guide Issue is packed with our top recommendations in every product category and at every price. We’ve carefully selected the crème de la crème from the vast array of products on the ...

The annual Buyer's Guide Issue is packed with our top recommendations in every product category and at every price. We’ve carefully selected the crème de la crème from the vast array of products on the ...

Critical listening—the practice of evaluating the quality of audio equipment by careful analytical listening—is very different from listening for pleasure. The goal isn’t to enjoy the musical experience, but to determine if a system or ...

Many mechanisms for making air move in response to an electrical signal have been tried over the years. Three methods of creating sound work well enough—and are practical enough—to be used in commercially available products. ...