John Atkinson | Jan 16, 2018 I was working on our video coverage of the 2018 CES with our resident videographer Jana Dagdagan, and as video is such a time sink, I wasn’t able to visit as many rooms as I usually do. But one room I managed to visit and that stood out when it came […]
A Stellar Constellation Read More »
Kalman Rubinson | Jan 8, 2018 | First Published: Jan 9, 2018 In May of 2016, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) was sold to EVA Automation in a deal that included Classé Audio and the US distribution of Rotel Electronics. Since then, production and distribution of B&W and Rotel products has continued but not so for Classé. Initially, the new
Classé Audio Revived Read More »
by Neil Gader | Jan 22nd, 2018 Terror on the 29th Floor It’s over. Or, is it? First impressions at CES 2018 told me that for all intents and purposes the high end will not be returning to Las Vegas in the foreseeable future. However, my thoroughly unscientific polling of exhibitors revealed a roughly fifty-fifty split in favor
CES 2018: Neil Gader on Loudspeakers $20k and Under Read More »
Reviewed on 16th November 2017 Q Acoustics leaves its budget roots to challenge the high-end establishment. The Q Acoustics brand has been a major success story. The company is barely a decade old, but in that time it has delivered a series of class-leading and affordable products that have garnered plenty of What Hi-Fi? Awards. But it seems that
Q Acoustics Concept 500 Review Read More »
by Chris Martens | Nov 28, 2017 Sandy Gross is widely acknowledged as an audio legend in large part because he has played a central role in launching three major loudspeaker-manufacturing companies: Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and most recently GoldenEar Technology. As we have noted in the past one common thread connecting these firms involves a
GoldenEar Technology Triton Reference Floorstanding Loudspeaker Read More »
Mark Fleischmann | Aug 3, 2017 Tube amps. Mono pressings. And now, 5.1? Has bedrock surround sound indeed joined the ranks of retro audio technologies? Surround receivers beyond the most entry level nearly always have more than five channels (though their uses vary), while Dolby Atmos and DTS:X have made seven (5.1.2) the new minimum system configuration.
Q Acoustics 3000 5.1 Speaker System Review Read More »
Jana Dagdagan | Sep 21, 2017 In June, I visited headphone manufacturer Audeze’s factory in Southern California (they’ve since moved) and capture an abridged version of the making of a pair of Audeze LCDi4 in-ear planar magnetic headphones ($2495). In the first part of this video, which is narrated by first Sankar Thiagasamudram, Audeze’s founder and CEO,
The Audeze LCDi4: Start to Finish Read More »
J. Gordon Holt, John Wright | May 9, 2017 | First Published: Feb 1, 1968 The RS-212 is one of the most impressive-looking tonearms we’ve seen in many a moon. Our first reaction to it, in fact, was much the same as our reaction to the first big, professional Ampex tape recorder we ever saw: it reminded us of one
Ortofon RS-212 Tonearm Read More »
Dick Olsher | Oct 10, 2017 | First Published: Aug 1, 1987 High fidelity took a giant step forward in 1956 with Peter Walker’s introduction of the Quad ESL. Walker’s research efforts had been motivated by his firm belief in the superiority of the electrostatic dipole over the box loudspeaker, but actually to take the economic plunge and market such
Quad ESL Loudspeaker Read More »
by TAS Staff | Oct 13th, 2017 GoldenEar Technology Triton Five $1999 Sandy Gross, the proprietor of GoldenEar, may be the Babe Ruth of reasonably priced loudspeakers. With the Triton Five, the gregarious Gross has hit yet another one out of the park. Named after the sea god Triton who could calm or rouse the waves
2018 Buyer’s Guide: Floorstanding Loudspeakers $1999 – $2999 Read More »