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News, events and gossip
Sound by Singer to close.
When the best-known audio dealer in the world closes his doors, what does it mean for the rest of the industry? Changes abound in the uncertain world of retail audio.
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California Audio Show
First time's a charm--ready for 2011?
Final attendance is still being tallied, but Dagogo's first California Audio Show was by all accounts a smash hit. Our show coverage is online with pics and soundbytes.
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California Audio Show
After many years, a west coast show.
What could be better? San Francisco's a cool town, and there'll be cool sounds, and cool temperatures.
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In Defense of Audiophilia
Does music require a defense?
This piece appeared on Gizmodo, and was written for an audience which tends to view high end audio as the realm of snake-oil salesmen, the wealthy and the deluded.
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Just call it UBANGI !
Made in the USA : A Continuing Series.
It's hard enough to imagine having one of these seven-foot monsters in your living room, but TWO? The "Ubangi" was designed for ultimate performance, not decor.
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Dynamic Dynacos, Decades later
A gallery of specimens currently ForSale
So: we run a brief history of Dynaco, and VOILA! An assortment of beautiful Dyna pieces pop up on the site. Coincidence? We think NOT! We KNOW we did it!
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History of Dynaco part 3
Made in the USA : A Continuing Series.
Dynaco continued to be successful well into the solid-state era, selling hit speakers and one of the first "super amps". Part 3 of the Dynaco history.
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History of Dynaco part 2
Made in the USA : A Continuing Series.
Just as the Model T spawned the Hot Rod culture and the automotive performance industry, many audio companies exist due to Dynaco. Part 2 of the Dynaco story.
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Made in the USA - A Continuing Series.
History of Dynaco, part 1
Dynaco may have brought more music-lovers into the hi-fi world than any American brand, with the possible exception of Acoustic Research. Part 1 of the Dynaco story.
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News, events and gossip
Enquiring audiophiles want to know?
Change is inevitable, especially when the economy is struggling. Nevertheless, some changes are hard to accept. Here are a few tidbits: some happy, some sad.
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Lone Star Audio Fest
What do you MEAN, there's no promoter??
It may not be the biggest audio show on earth, but it's definitely a show with a difference. Did somebody say, "FREE"??
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Everest
The tallest peak in the JBL range, too?
When a company has a history and heritage like JBL has, a "statement" product means something. Most of these ultra rare specimens are found only in Japan or on AudiogoN.
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AKFest 2010
It's "Audio Karma", not Bill the Cat .
Mention the name "Novi" to a motorhead, and he'll think of a blown V-8 that ran in the Indy 500. Audiophiles know that Novi, Michigan is the site of AKFest 2010.
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Axpona highlights: i-Fi -
How about a dedicated listening CHAIR?
Sometimes an idea is so obvious that it produces a "DOH!" moment. What if you made the chair the basis of a sound system, rather than the room? That's what the i-Fi does.
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Axpona: Advanced Transduction
What, another new speaker brand?
Axpona marked the debut of Advanced Transduction, a new high-end brand of speakers made in the USA. Here's how they're different, and not just another line of boxes.
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Axpona 2010 show coverage
So what'd you hear? Who'd you see?
Every show prompts the same questions, even when it's the first time out. Axpona 1.0 was no exception, and offered all manner of coolosity at all price-points.
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Audio Expo 2010: Axpona
Spring! And a young audiophile's fancy..
The first audio show of the season after CES, and first ever in Jacksonville. A good showing for the first time out, as you'll soon see in our room-by-room coverage.
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Axpona (Audio Expo) Preview
Did you need an excuse to go south?
After one of the roughest winters in years, Florida should be a welcome venue for a new audio show. Stereophile hosted a show in Miami back in '94; welcome back, guys!
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Acoustic Research AR-3A
Made in the USA : Third in a series
Few products stand alone as "The Best", but the AR-3a held that title for years. Prices have soared, but are today's speakers better than this former gold standard?
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History of Acoustic Research
Made in the USA : Second in a series
Acoustic Research may have done more to spread the gospel of Hi-Fi in the home than any other American manufacturer, through their products and their spin-offs.
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Acoustic Research AR 3a
Made in the USA : First in a series
Forty-five years ago, Acoustic Research controlled nearly one-third of the speaker market in the U.S., and their products were known and respected around the world.
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QUAD ESL-57, new? How?
Some good things last a lifetime.
If they still made '57 Chevies, would you buy one? Unlikely, unless you want a gas-hog death-trap. Well, here's a graduate of the Class of '57 that's still desirable.
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What's that weird green light?
Uh, that would be the NFS Tiki Bar....
A round-up of characters who made CES and THE a pleasure. Down at the end of the hallway in the Flamingo, an eerie green light emanates from under the door at NFS.
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CES followup: people, events
Even the hard times can be good times.
Okay, we've whined about the hard work. What was fun, what was special at CES and THE? Sure, the toys are cool, but it's the people who make the high end worthwhile.
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Consumer Electronics Show 2010
Was it fun? Yes. Was it hard work? Yes.
All play and no work makes Jack a slacker, but don't worry: CES is all about BUSINESS. For those who go there to work, CES is both exhilarating and exhausting.
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2010 CES + THE coverage online
Over 1200 pictures + SoundBites as well
Albert Porter and the Agon crew photographed every single room in great detail. This coverage also includes our first attempt at capturing SOUND. Very interesting!
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Viva Las Vegas!
What if they gave a show & nobody came?
After a down year, will the halls at CES and THE be empty?
CES audio exhibitors are down in number, but THE looks to be bigger and better. We look ahead to both shows.
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E.T., in your home?
Good guy, good products for 27 years.
Bruce Thigpen's Eminent Technology has quietly produced innovative products for decades. Here's proof that pioneers don't need huge marketing budgets to survive.
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Is vinyl revival in progress?
If AARP writes about it, is it OLD news?
Some say the surge of interest in LPs amongst the young is only a fad, and a burst in the bubble is imminent. Or is it a trend, here to stay? We talk with Michael Fremer.
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Your newbie wants a system?
Make sure you understand one other.
You might think a system is a 'table/CD player,amp, and speakers, but is that what they think? Today's newbies have lots of options: what would you choose for them?
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Thorens TD-125
The 'table that couldn't get no respect.
The turntable that inspired the Linn Sondek? Maybe, but don't expect Ivor to comment. Overshadowed by the 124 for years, the 125 is coming into its own.
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Acoustat X: 'stats with tubes!
A bargain when new, and still a deal.
It's hard to think of a package that contained more hardware for the dollar than these powered speakers. Amazing when new, they've been underground faves for decades.
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Okay. It's all my fault.
Let's talk about ads again, shall we?
Is it irresponsible to make a joke? (Umm...) Is it ever proper to insult your reader? (No, idiot!!) Is it OK to use foul language? (Maybe some places,but we just say no.)
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Want a Garrard idler-drive?
Here's one, if a 301 is too pricey.
Lots of work went into this: an automatic idler-wheel Garrard converted to manual, with a massive custom base and an old Sugden arm. Sold, but you can admire the work.
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Futterman H3: Seen one lately?
Still influential, 50 years later.
Transformers: good or bad? Depends on where and how they're used. Julius Futterman felt output xformers constrained tube amps; half a century later, many still agree.
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The original McIntosh MC-275
Museum-quality collectible up for sale
The most pristine specimen listed on Audiogon for some time, perhaps the best one seen here in a decade...but who's counting? It's freakin' beautiful.
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"Handcrafted Ralph Gleason"?
I remember Ralph...but "Handcrafted"??
All ads are stories: some are better stories than others. If Hunter Thompson and James Joyce met in a pub,they might've come up with something like this story--sorry, AD.
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Does a pair of 5's beat an 8?
It does in poker, and in audio, as well.
Maybe. Probably. Two monos should be better than one stereo, for many reasons. Anybody offering loaners for a Marantz 5s VS. Marantz 8 shootout?
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Bowers & Wilkins 801
Iconic design continues 3 decades later
Give each driver its own cabinet. Makes sense. Lots have tried it but none have been as Good, as Bad, or as Ugly as the B&W 800 series (depending on who you ask).
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No moving parts? No problem!
We don't need no stinkin' cones!
What could could simpler than a speaker with no mass or moving parts? What could be harder to achieve? Flames, arcs,plasmas, ionic clouds: many have been tried.
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Original Snell Type A speakers
Refrigerators that can really sing
Thirty-something off-white twin rockers seeking new home near Philly. Prefer full-sized rooms with LOTS of elbow/butt room. Hobbies include rock, jazz, classical.
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The most influential amp ever?
Number Nine? ...Number Nine?....
Look around the world of high-end power amps today, and you'd think this big boy was still being made. Its face has been copied many times; its sound is harder to clone.
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Audio Research SP-3A-1
The one that made Audio Research famous.
Yet another museum-quality piece on AudiogoN. Few pieces of gear were as influential as this one; anyone who's been in audio for a while had one,or has a story about one.
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Lenco revival at its finest
by 3 of AudiogoN's master members
Bulletproof yet beautiful, this Lenco was totally rebuilt and customized by three master-craftsmen Audiogon contributors, Jean Nantais, Albert Porter, and 4yanx.
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Big speakers, lots of drivers?
Rudy Bozak went that route 50 years ago.
Think 2001-monolith-sized speakers with a zillion drivers are a recent trend? Guess again:these Bozaks were almost as tall as Rudy, weighed more, and had 14 drivers each!
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Like going to the show itself,
too much to process after RMAF 2009.
Just a few more of many rooms of interest, the future of audio technology and back to the past, and encounters with some colorful characters. TidBits from RMAF, Part 3.
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The unusual, the affable,
and a $500,000 system that's worth it.
There were lots of bargains at RMAF. These rooms may not have been the least-expensive set-ups seen at the show, but they approached state of the heart. RMAF, Part 2.
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When you go to a car show,
do you look at Kias, or Lamborghinis?
In audio, things have never been better for the poor music-lover, or for the robber-baron fund-manager audiophile. Both could find plenty to drool over at RMAF. Part 1.
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Timeless? If not, close to it.
Beauty and brawn: this one has both.
For audiophiles of a certain age, the JBL Paragon was a touchstone like the Jaguar E-Type: even if you didn't want it, you KNEW of it and spoke of it in admiring tones.
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So what happens after....
A technology becomes obsolete?
Can a technology be made UN-obsolete? Two new no-holds-barred turntables attempt that feat, and can be seen this week at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. Second of two parts.
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So what happens after....
A technology becomes obsolete?
Can a technology be made UN-obsolete? Two new no-holds-barred turntables attempt that feat, and can be seen this week at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. First of two parts.
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Single handedly Single Ended
Cary 300sei: revived the SET love affair
The siren call of sisters 300B is an experience that no audiophile should have missed. You say SET is not your cup of tea? Maybe because you've not tasted THESE leaves!
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Love can start with a kiss,
or with a ''For Sale'' sign
Didn't get that first McIntosh, but many followed, all black and chrome and glass and blue light. They came, they went, bills were paid. But here is a KEEPER.
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James Edward Thiel 1947-2009
Few in the industry have created as many innovations and breakthroughs as did Jim Thiel; even fewer are as highly regarded by the press and peers. Jim will be missed.
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Some things get older;
Some just get better.
Our first encounter found him sitting on the floor of an audio-salon, shoes off, in a lotus position. Mark Levinson was as cool as his new preamp. Here's a rare creature.
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Okay, we get it.
Introducing ''The Hub''
Somewhere along the way we went from being the college-kid with the bitchinest stereo in the dorm, to being the old guy screaming "TURN THAT THING DOWN ! "
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