The Absolute Sound Podcast

Quadraspire SV3T Hi-Fi Equipment Rack

05 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When putting together a hi fi system, we tend to obsess over the active components. We spend hours agonizing over amplifier topologies or DAC chips, b...

MoFi Electronics SourcePoint V10 Master Edition Floorstanding Speakers

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Five ten inch drivers per speaker. Alarmingly, that's not a typo, and it's by no means a gimmick either. The MoFi Electronics SourcePoint V10 Master E...

Acoustic Energy’s AE1 40th Anniversary Edition Loudspeaker Review

29 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

00:00 AE1 40th Anniversary Edition 01:30 Overview 02:06 What's New? 04:17 Set Up 05:18 Sound Quality 09:31 Summary This video is sponsored by...

Eversolo Play Music Streamer & Amplifier

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When all-in-one streaming amplifiers were first introduced a few years ago, they received a pretty frosty reception from audiophiles and musicians ali...

Inside Kimber Kable | Factory Tour & CEO Interview

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Adrian Alexander went behind the gates of Kimber Kable's Ogden, Utah headquarters to see exactly what goes into making one of the most distinguished a...

PMG Signature Preamplifier Review

15 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Do you really need a preamp? Many audiophiles say no — and if a DAC with volume control is your only source, they're technically right. But in Rober...

WADAX Studio DAC Review

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the past year or so, I have reviewed a reasonably large swath of the DACs in the $10k to $50k range. There are many such DACs to consider however, ...

McIntosh DS200 Streaming DAC Review

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this video, Adrian Alexander dives into the McIntosh DS200 Streaming DAC, exploring its eye-catching design and impressive audio performance. Join ...

Perlisten A3t speaker review

08 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Perlisten A3t is an unusual design. That unusual design accomplishes sonic results different from 90% or more of the speakers on the market. You m...

Martin Logan B100 Bookshelf Speaker Review

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Recently returning from yet another consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, I was reminded of a CES of over 40 years ago, when a company called Martin...

The Voxativ Alberich² Speaker System Review

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Coykendall returns with his review of the ALBERICH² SYSTEM speakers comprised of the Hagen² Monitor and the Alberich² active bass module this ...

Master Fidelity NADAC DAC & Master Clock Review

22 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Taylor takes a deep dive into the Master Fidelity NADAC D and NADAC C — a groundbreaking $50,000 DAC and master clock combo built around the ...

Audio Research LS-2 Preamplifier Review

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the second half of 2025, Audio Research launched six new products in both tube and solid state areas of design. One of those, the D80 Power Amplifi...

Edifier 1700BTS Speakers Review

15 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the world of high end audio. $230 isn't a lot of money, especially when those $230 gets you a pair of two way active bookshelf speakers with Blueto...

Eversolo DAC Z10 and T8 Transport Streamer Review

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Eversolo DAC Z10 is a logical step-up option for audiophiles building their systems beyond, say, the $5000 level. At $5000, plus or minus a bit, y...

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 Wireless Headphones Review

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this video, John Quain dives into the Bowers and Wilkins PX7 S3 wireless headphones, exploring their refined sound profile and standout features. P...

Wattson Madison Stereo Amp Review

08 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

I am well aware that audio coverage on YouTube has something of a histrionic slant. In an algorithmic media world, I suppose that is to be expected. T...

Head-Fi Meet-Up: Brief Sampling

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Senior reviewer Steven Stone returns with a brief overview of his experience at Denver's Head-Fi meet up. Not quite a Can-Jam or major show a Head-Fi ...

D’Agostino Launches Momentum Z Mono Amplifier | Michael Fremer Reports…

01 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In January 2026, Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems celebrated its 15th anniversary with the launch of the Momentum Z Mono Amplifier at their Cave Cr...

Amphion Krypton3X Loudspeaker Review

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Johnson reviews the hefty, unique Krypton3X floor standing loudspeaker. With a frequency response primed for revelation, Michael discovers so...

Solving for Smoother Frequency Response: Subwoofer Solution

25 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to bass performance in hi-fi playback using the conventional setup of two speakers, there are three major problems that are difficult to...

YG Acoustics Peaks Ascent Loudspeaker Review

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

YG Acoustics Ascent is the second from the top model in the company's new peak series, and it's priced at $23,800. This represents a significant depar...

Lumin T3X streamer-DAC: Do QRONO and LEEDH Matter?

18 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Streamers and Digital to Analog converters are the key source for modern high-end audio systems. For most people at least, if for no other reason than...

Bricasti M1 Series II DAC w/ Network Player Review

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Bricasti M1 DAC has been a powerful mainstay for consumers looking for affordable yet high-fidelity precision since its debut in 2011. Bricasti is...

Innovators Series: Theoretica Applied Physics

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today I’m taking an inside look at possibly the most innovative company in the consumer audio space. I say this because today’s subject, Theoretic...

Sennheiser HDB 630 Wireless Headphones Review

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Flexibility is not something one usually associates with wired headphones. After all, you're tethered to your equipment. You can't go out, hop up and ...

Isoacoustics GAIA Neo speaker feet

04 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this briefing, I give my basic observations about the performance of the Isoacoustics GAIA Neo speaker footers. These are complex passive absorbers...

Onkyo Atmos Receiver Giveaway Details

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Erratum: Giveaway occurs on January 30, 2026 When we reviewed the new Onkyo M-80 power amp and P-80 streaming preamp, Onkyo kindly sent us a TX-RZ3...

Monitor Audio Studio 89 Bookshelf Speakers Review

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's a lot of nostalgia out there for the 1980s, and when British speaker maker Monitor Audio looked back at that decade, it discovered gold in the...

Orchard Audio Pecan Pi+ Premium Streaming DAC Review

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Orchard Audio is a US manufacturer of amplifiers, headphone amplifiers and now streamer/DACs in the case of the product we’re reviewing here, the Pe...

Review/Giveaway: Onkyo Icon M-80 amplifier and P-80 streaming preamp review

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Details of the Viewer Giveaway of an Onkyo 9.2 channel Atmos receiver are after the break. Every once in a while, reviewers get products to evaluat...

JCAT XACT S1 Evo Server Review

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

That said, for those of you who have a budget that could accommodate the JCAT XACT S1 Evo Server at $18,600 US or for those of you who are genuinely c...

Building/Tuning Listening Rooms: Audio Set-Up Series - Tour and Learn

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last year I built a new listening room. From the ground up. In part, this is the story of that process, but much more I have tried here to organize wh...

Devialet Dione Dolby Atmos Soundbar Review

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If there's one job for soundbars, it's to deliver deep bass. That's the Achille's Heel of every single big screen TV. In that sense the Devialet Dione...

Boulder 1162 Stereo Amplifier Review: Class A Amp Series

07 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Boulder 1162 is an amplifier at a price point where you would expect excellence, and indeed you get it. Also, at this price point details matter b...

Audio Research I/70 Integrated Amplifier Review

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Being one of the long established companies in specialist high-end, Audio Research has enjoyed quite a reputation for tube equipment since its foundin...

Aavik U-288 ”Unity” Streaming Amplifier Review

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Anyone that’s been to an audio show in the last five years has likely run across a system from Audio Group Denmark, the Scandinavian company founded...

GoldenEar T44 Loudspeaker Review

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you've been following high-end audio for any length of time, you know GoldenEar has carved out this interesting niche. They're not playing the same...

ARCAM SA45 Streaming Integrated Amplifier Review

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

So, this review has been a long time coming, ARCAM announced their new flagship streaming integrated amplifier at High End Munich in May of 2024 and r...

Pink Faun Scion Streamer Review

16 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From Thomas Tan: When I was asked to review the Pink Faun Scion streamer transport, I felt both excited and a little uneasy. Excited because this is a...

KEF XIO Soundbar High-End (Dolby Atmos 5.1.2) Review

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Big screen TVs are notorious for having really minuscule or poor sound quality. That's because just the dimensions of them dictate the fact that you c...

Best Speakers Under $5k Series: New Chesky Audio LC2

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chesky Audio is a relatively new company. Today I’ll be reviewing their second speaker model, the LC2. Like the original LC1, the LC2 features a com...

Sound Lab G5-4C Electrostatic Speaker Review

09 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A couple of months back, Tom Martin reviewed the Sound Lab G7-7C – the G5-4C’s big brother (although still not the largest speaker Sound Lab makes...

Recordings of the Month: Recommendations from The Absolute Sound Reviewers

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this edition of Recordings of the Month. Here we recommend recordings that our audio reviewers have enjoyed. They may be new recordings or ...

T+A Criterion S240: Best Speakers $10k-20k Series

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

T+A elektroakustic is a venerable German company with extensive engineering and manufacturing capabilities for speakers, amplifiers, D/A converters, t...

Best DACs $10k-$20k Series: Grimm MU2 streamer/DAC

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Grimm is a manufacturer of audio equipment that take a somewhat different path than normal. Eelco Grimm, the CEO, is a fascinating person if you like ...

Innovators Series: Perlisten Audio

26 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At times, audiophiles tend to think of innovation in the field as something dramatic – technologically dramatic. In the case of speakers, the mind i...

dCS Lina Master Clock Review

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this review, Robert Taylor explores the dCS Lina Master Clock, the problem it's trying to solve, and its synchronization with this dCS Bartók APEX...

Dynaudio Sub 6 Powered Subwoofer Review

19 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This spring, I reviewed the new Dynaudio contour 20 Black Edition bookshelf speakers and I found these speakers to be one of the most highly resolving...

Magico S2 Review: Best Speakers $20k-$50k v2

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One thing I love about audio reviewing is the element of surprise. Sometimes you get a product in for review and you might expect it to be good and th...

AVM30 AS 30.3 Integrated Amplifier Review

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are a couple of sentences on the website of German high end audio company AVM that caught my eye. They read, we believe that any kind of music, ...

J. Porter Studios Waterloo Micro Review

12 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I find it refreshing when design form and function meld into an inspired synergy. Many of you may not have heard of J. Porter Studios, and after heari...

Piega Premium 701 Gen 2 Loudspeaker Review

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Everything about these feels like a luxury product. The aluminum isn't just functional - it's beautifully finished with that sandblasted surface. The ...

HifiMan Susvara Unveiled Review

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hifiman has unveiled their update to the originial Susvara. What's new? What's the same? How do these two models size up? Tune in to hear Grover's tho...

zzzzHifiMan Susvara Unveiled Review

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hifiman has unveiled their update to the originial Susvara. What's new? What's the same? How do these two models size up? Tune in to hear Grover's tho...

Focal Bathys MG Wireless Closed Back Headphones Review

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Bathys MG is an update to the original focal Bathys. So what is it that the Bathys MG offer above the original? Tune in to find out. This video...

Linn Klimax 360 Exact System Review

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over 30 years ago, Linn began an aggressive march into the future, expanding their line to include networked electronics and making a heavy investment...

Best Speakers Under $10k Series: PS Audio Aspen FR 5

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Taylor reviews the affordable, powerful PS Audio Aspen FR 5 loudspeakers. Relatively small but effortlessly powerful across the entire frequenc...

Factory Tours: AVM Electronics and ViaBlue Cables (Bonus AMG visit)

21 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Grover Neville stops by the AVM Factory to see their manufacturing HQ first-hand, while taking the opportunity to stop by AMG as well for a second hel...

Naim CI-Uniti 102 Power Streaming Amplifier Review

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The world of high-end audio is full of fantastic-looking gear, but not everyone wants their sound system to be the visual center of attention—or, in...

Best Speakers Under $10k Series: Sonus faber Lumina 5 Amator loudspeaker

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Lumina Amator series speakers are beneficiaries of the trickle-down economy at play when a brand has the breadth to produce speakers ranging from ...

Acora Acoustics MRC-2 Loudspeaker Review

14 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when you take stone, precision ceramic drivers, and decades of acoustic engineering? Then you ask them to reproduce the subtlest emotiona...

Borresen C3 Loudspeaker Review: Best Speakers $20k-$50k Series

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Over time, we are investigating several of the interesting speakers in the $20,000 to $50,000 per pair range. We’ve done the Magico A5 and the Perli...

Technics 1300G Turntable Review

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last year, Technics unveiled an expansion to their acclaimed Grand Class series with the SL-1300G, the first direct-drive turntable in the lineup sinc...

True Life Audio TSI-300 Integrated Amplifier Review

05 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Taylor reviews the pricey yet formidably impressive TSI-300 Integrated Amplifier. Engaging, relaxing, and extremely natural, this integrated am...

Meze Audio POET | Open-Back Planar Headphones Review

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Meze has been releasing a lot of new headphones in the last couple of years. And this is kind of a new generation of what I think of as their mid-rang...

Best DACs under $10,000 Series: Denafrips Terminator 15th Review

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Denafrips is a manufacturer of audio electronics, primarily known for its series of advanced ladder DACs. In this test I cover the Terminator 15th DAC...

D’agostino Pendulum Integrated Amplifier Review

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

D'Agostino Pendulum integrated amplifier made from Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems, the company belonging to the man who was founder, CEO and chie...

New Vandersteen L5 Audio Control Center Preview: 7 Major Audio Problems Series

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As you may recall, we have outlined seven major problems with audio believability. A link is in the description for details. One of these items is the...

AGD SOLO Monoblock Limited Edition amplifier review

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With a price per pair coming in at $23.5k (USD), for me they’ll remain a memory for now, but when my hi-fi budget grows, I’ll definitely be keepin...

Pearl Acoustics Model 1 Speaker Review

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After hearing the Model 1's at this year's AXPONA, in combination with their minimalist design, Adrian Alexander decided to investigate these further....

New Audio Research S-100 amplifier and LS-3 preamp: Best Amplifiers Under $10k Series

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The venerable firm Audio Research has recently undergone a big transition in ownership, strategy and product offerings. We covered this extensively in...

PMC Prophecy9 Loudspeaker Review

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when you take one of the most respected professional monitor companies and ask them to build their flagship home speaker? You get somethi...

Tidal Audio Arkas streamer review

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The streamer is quite possibly the most misunderstood device commonly used in the high-end audio chain. Most people harbor the thought that the differ...

Golden Ear Triton 5 Loudspeakers

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In many loudspeaker reviews, you'll hear the word 'soundstage' and 'sound dispersion' a lot, and today you're going to hear a lot more about it, in th...

SoulNote E-3 Phono Equalizer Amplifier Review

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The E-3 is strictly for playback of DS audio optical cartridges. Does its refined purpose lead to refined sound? Listen in to Robert's review to find ...

Alsyvox Michaelangelo Preview and Interview

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of his review of the https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/alsyvox-caravaggio-xx-loudspeaker/ Editor-in-Chief of The Absolute Sound hosted ...

Audio Research D-80 stereo tube amplifier review

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What can 80 watts per channel of American tube muscle do for your system in 2025? And further, what can a storied heritage brand like Audio Research b...

Audeze CRBN2 Electrostatic Headphone (Best Headphones Series)

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For a long time, electrostatic driver technology has been at the apex of headphone performance. Audeze, famous for their planar magnetic headphones, h...

Best Integrated Amps Series: Esoteric F-01 Class A Amplifier

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some products that we review do special things that are almost immediately obvious in a controlled environment like we use for testing. Some products ...

Bricasti M21 Platinum Series DAC/Streamer

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Taylor reviews the versatile yet simple Bricasti M21 Platinum Series DAC, with its sleek, timeless platinum faceplate. This video is sponso...

Best Speakers Under $50k Series: Sound Lab G7-7C Review

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This one is different. The Sound Lab G7-7C speaker is just under 7 feet tall, 3 feet wide and 4 inches thick. There are no conventional speaker driver...

EverSolo DMP-A10 Music Streamer and DAC Review

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today we're diving deep into what might be one of the most tech-focused streaming decks to date: the Eversolo DMP-A10. This isn't just another increme...

Soulnote E-3 PHONO EQUALIZER Review

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Taylor reviews the impressive, hefty Soulnote E-3 phono equalizer. 00:00 Soulnote E-3 00:39 Specs & Design 2:29 Sound Quality 08:36 C...

Best Headphone Amplifiers Series: Ray Samuels Audio B-21 Raider Electrostatic and Dynamic Amplifier

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ray Samuels Audio is a long-standing builder of both portable and desktop headphone amplifiers. Ray sent us his B-21 Raider amp to try with a bevy of ...

Ultra Evolution Pinnacle Loudspeaker Review

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This speaker really surprised me; I don’t know if it was all the rhetoric of being a disrupter to the industry on their website – I often approach...

Ultra Evolution Pinnacle Loudspeaker Review

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This speaker really surprised me; I don’t know if it was all the rhetoric of being a disrupter to the industry on their website – I often approach...

June Recordings of the Month from The Absolute Sound Reviewers

28 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We wanted to share with you some of the music we are using in the review process, with a focus on musically interesting work that is also enjoyably re...

T+A elektroakustik Factory Tour | Tom Martin reports...

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tom recently visited T+A in Herford, Germany to get an overview of their approach to audio design. Of course, he knew something from the name, which m...

Rhumba Extreme 1.4 linestage tube preamp review

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Founded in 2012, Backert Labs are an American company that only produce tube preamps. Despite a crowded marketplace this family operation has stood ou...

Martin Logan Motion XT F100 Speaker Review

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While the Martin Logan Motion XT series isn’t especially new to the market, we’re trying to go back through the catalog of available options that ...

Martin Logan Motion XT speaker review _ DRAFT

21 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While the Martin Logan Motion XT series isn’t especially new to the market, we’re trying to go back through the catalog of available options that ...

Factory Tour and Listening Session: Tidal Audio – In Love With A Question

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Originally founded in 1999, TIDAL is now one of the world's premier loudspeaker and high-end audio manufacturers. The Absolute Sound's Grover Neville ...

Best DACs Under $5000: PS Audio Stellar DAC

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the ever evolving landscape of digital audio conversion, PS Audio has once again demonstrated why they remain a resolute pillar in the high end aud...

Accuphase C2900 preamplifier + A80 amplifier review

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Taylor duel reviews the Accuphase C2900 preamplifier and the Accuphase A80 amplifier, noting their individual characteristics and their combine...

Perlisten R7t Speakers & R10 Subs Review

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We've all heard the phrase, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Today we are going to review the Perlisten R7t Speakers & R10 Subs by the end...

Best Speakers Under $10,000 Series: Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Signature Review

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Introducing Muse Kastanovich, a longtime TAS magazine writer making his YouTube review debut. Muse reviews the design, sound, and context of the Bower...

Cambridge Audio Evo 150 Streaming Amplifier Review

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the things that I’ve discovered in life is that the broader my brush, the more quickly I paint myself into a corner. Scouring the online foru...

Best Headphones Series: Stax SR-X9000 electrostatic headphones

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve been around headphones for a while, you will know that Stax is a Japanese manufacturer of electrostatic headphones that has operated in th...

Accuphase C2900 preamplifier + A80 amplifier review

01 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Taylor duel reviews the Accuphase C2900 preamplifier and the Accuphase A80 amplifier, noting their individual characteristics and their combine...