I’ve known for some time that clock-timing accuracy is essential to good-sounding digital-audio reproduction. But I didn’t realize just how important it was until I heard the Esoteric G-0Rb Rubidium Master Clock Generator. That’s right—the ...

Back in The Absolute Sound Issue 176, I wrote about a remarkable B&W speaker, the 685. A tiny $650 two-way that I thought raised the bar in its price range, the speaker had an open ...

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show Rotel debuted the 15 Series, an impressive range of components encompassing most segments of the audio, A/V, and custom-installation markets. Beyond its eye-catching appearance and upgraded internals the 15 ...

I’m not an ideologue on the issue of solid-state versus vacuum tubes. No allegiances whatsoever. But I recognize that tube components possess a special appeal­—particularly to audiophiles who crave greater involvement in the sport. Charting ...

Having been exposed almost exclusively to KT88 and EL34 designs this past year, I jumped at the opportunity of reviewing something different—a 300B-based push-pull amplifier. With the Ref 3.1 you get the full enchilada—an integrated ...

Those of us with single systems for stereo playback, multichannel music, and film-sound reproduction are presented with a dilemma. We can choose the best-sounding multichannel controller we can afford and accept its performance limitations with ...

(Photography: Joel Salcido) The precision, speed, and balance of Meridian’s DSP7200 active loudspeakers are the most compelling argument I’ve heard to dispel the notion that separates are invariably superior to integrated components. While this prejudice ...

Some amps just know how to make an entrance. Their presence conveys an air of substance and quality. And serious intent. The Marantz PM-11S2 integrated amplifier is one of these. Clad in champagne-brushed aluminum, the ...

For over thirty years, ATC Loudspeaker Technology has built a sterling reputation for engineering self-amplified or active speaker systems for professional applications—from recording studios and mastering facilities to ritzy music venues like Disney Hall. ATC ...

Note: This review was originally published in The Absolute Sound issue 194 in conjunction with Editor Robert Harley's interview with Meridian Audo co-founder Bob Stuart. To read that interview in its entirety, click here. __________ ...

It could be argued that high-end audio components have personality traits similar to those of their companies’ founders. While specific examples abound, let’s consider just a few from our most auteur-driven companies. Even if the ...

For the past six months I’ve been using the superb $40k Soulution 710 stereo and $115k 700 monoblock solid-state amplifiers from Switzerland in my system—the latter the same amp with which Magico triumphantly debuted its ...

Large, full-range, multi-driver loudspeaker systems can be thrilling and a lot of fun, yet in my experience, they frequently suffer from a lack of coherence between at least some of their drivers. My former Infinity ...

The German company Vincent was established in 1995 with the goal of placing high-end sound within reach of the common man. The question of how to make the high end affordable was answered by its ...

When it comes to high-end audio, the integrated amplifier represents our strongest example of democracy in action. By combining the preamp and amp in a single chassis—itself a costly part of any component—and by paring ...