11.2017

Bluesound Node 2, $500: MQA and CD Streamer     If you have not bought a Node 2 from us yet, you need to stop by – or order one on the phone! 414-354-5082 Bluesound is part of the NAD family. They didn’t ask my opinion but, I would have said, call it NAD Node 2 so everyone will know it’s from an established audiophile company. Since “nobody” has heard of Bluesound, one might be leery. I assure you, be leery NOT. Ah, these clever marketing people… they’re often too smart for their own good. Node 2 streams Tidal or
Read More

10.2017

We Welcome Hegel’s New H90 Integrated Amp $2000 (60×2) 3 1/8h, 16 7.8w, 12 1/4d, 27 lbs   Hegel Audio of Oslo, Norway, brought out its H80 integrated amp ($2k) in 2013. H80 has been a defacto price class leader since its inception. Here we are four years later and H80 has been superseded by the new H90. We’re happy that H90 is the same price as H80. It has an improved version of Hegel’s patented Sound Engine technology, dubbed Sound Engine 2. With SE2 comes superior damping factor whose spec is 2000. Most amps have a damping factor of
Read More

09.2017

New Entry On Our Site: ABC’s It’s up near the top, called ABC’s. It is a short list of my recommendations on how to assemble a dynamite system. It approaches the task from the beginning, with the Milwaukee credo of getting a dollar’s worth of performance for each dollar spent. Print it out. Highlight. Visit to discuss/audition! Mobile Fidelity UltraDeck+ $2000 MoFi introduced its StudioDeck+ ($1150) a couple months ago. I’m glad they did the roll out in summer when business is slower- because the StudioDeck+ has been on back order since day one. Mofi has been busy trying to
Read More

08.2017

GoldenEar Triton Reference Speakers In Stock! $8500 Per Pair GoldenEar has begun shipping its new Triton Reference speakers. GoldenEar has made great value speakers since its inception. The T-Ref is no exception despite its up market price tag. T-Ref is larger than its brethren, of course. This allows the use of two new 6” mid-woofs used in a D’Appolito config. Centered between them is a spiffed up new ribbon tweeter. The speaker is rounded out with three, 6×10” powered subs. The amp is 1800w with DSP control. T-Ref is tuned with four, 9 1/2×10 ½ side firing Quadratic Radiators, two
Read More

07.2017

New $800 Theater Amp From Emotiva: 125×5 Emotiva has just introduced its A5175 power amp. It provides a solid 125×5 with all five channels driven into 8 ohms. Emo is betting that this hits the sweet spot for most buyers. It is a notch above A500 ($500, 80×5), and notch below XPA5G3 ($1600, 250×5). Hence Emo now has three versions of terrific five channel amplifiers! It has commensurate 7ch amps too. Back In Stock- Emotiva MC-700 Pre-Pro $600 No sooner than Emo brought out its MC-700- it went on back order. We only had a handful and then… were out
Read More

06.2017

Emotiva Airmotiv Speakers! Emotiva has introduced a line of extremely affordable loudspeakers, using ribbon tweeters no less! These models do not have amplifiers on board, so don’t confuse them with the POWERED guys Emo has on its site for studio use. These models are designed for home use, surround or stereo. These speakers have very extended high frequency response as a result of using the ribbons. You’ll find they sound quite clear, even with modest electronics- which includes light weight surround receivers. T-1 Towers, $700 Per Pair 1” Ribbon Tweet, 5 ¼ Woven Fiber Mid, Two 6” Woven Fiber woofs
Read More