Part-Time Audiophile

Fidelis, Audio Skies and Ernest Meunier of ArgentPur | AXPONA 2024

by Marc Phillips in AXPONA 2024 0

I’ve known Walter Swanbon of Fidelis AV and Fidelis Distribution for many years, and we usually see eye-to-eye on high-end audio brands. That’s why I’m especially glad to see JMF amplification in his exhibit rooms, [...]

Technical Audio Devices, aka The Big Room Full of TAD | FLAX 2024

February 28, 2024 0

Talk about synchronicity. Brian Hunter and I were awaiting a private demo in the big Technical Audio Devices (TAD) room at the 2024 Florida International Audio Fest, and I received an email notification from PTA […]

Woo Audio | FLAX 2024

February 29, 2024 1

Right before Brian Hunter and I walked into the Woo Audio room at the 2024 Florida International Audio Expo, I turned to him and said, “Of course we should go in–after all, I used to […]

Wynn Wong of Wynn Audio | FLAX 2024

February 24, 2024 2

One of my favorite systems at the 2024 Florida International Audio Expo came from Wynn Wong of Wynn Audio, who is the distributor for Vimberg Loudspeakers among other brands. If you don’t know, Vimberg is […]

2023 Product of the Year

December 17, 2023 Comments Off

I’ve made a few changes for the 2023 Product of the Year Awards. Usually I limit the nominees to products our team at PTA has reviewed over the year. That implies we have significant seat […]

2023 Best Value Awards

December 15, 2023 7

PTA’s 2023 Best Value Awards are marked by an underlying theme, that old audio reviewer canard of saying “I liked it so much, I bought it!” Many of the 2023 Best Value nominees below are […]

Stocking Stuffers for Audiophiles | Buyers Guide 2024

December 8, 2023 2

I’ve been told on multiple occasions by numerous people that when it comes to holiday gifts, I’m notoriously “tough to buy for.” Nonsense! I’m an audiophile! I have a million things I want, and I […]

2024’s Best Hi-Fi Accessories | Buyers Guide 2024

December 3, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Hi-Fi Accessories from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for 2024. We’re not saying that these are the “best” hi-fi accessories or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying […]

2024’s Best Cables, Power and Grounding | Buyers Guide 2024

December 3, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Cables, Power Management and Grounding from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” cables, power management and grounding devices or that these choices somehow overrule […]

2024’s Best Headphone Gear | Buyers Guide 2024

December 3, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Headphone Gear from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that this is the “best” headphone gear or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that these […]

2024’s Best Digital Playback | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 2

Welcome to 2024’s Best Digital Playback for the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” digital playback products or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that […]

2024’s Best Cartridges, Tonearms and Headshells | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 Comments Off

Welcome to 2024’s Best Cartridges, Tonearms and Headshells section from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” cartridges, tonearms and headshells or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s […]

2024’s Best Phono Preamplifiers and SUTs | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 Comments Off

Welcome to 2024’s best phono preamplifiers and SUTs from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” phono preamplifiers and SUTs or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. […]

2024’s Best Turntables | Buyers Guide 2024

December 2, 2023 1

Welcome to 2024’s Best Turntables from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” turntables or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that these are the […]

2024’s Best Preamplifiers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 1

Welcome to 2024’s Best Preamplifiers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” preamplifiers or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re saying that these are the […]

2024’s Best Power Amplifiers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 4

Welcome to 2024’s Best Power Amplifiers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” power amplifiers in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

2024’s Best Integrated Amplifiers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 6

Welcome to 2024’s Best Integrated Amplifiers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” integrated amps in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

2024’s Best Floorstanding Speakers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 12

Welcome to 2024’s Best Floorstanding Speakers from the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” floorstanding speakers in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

2024’s Best Bookshelf Speakers | Buyers Guide 2024

December 1, 2023 9

Welcome to 2024’s Best Bookshelf Speakers for the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide. We’re not saying that these are the “best” bookshelf speakers in the world or that these choices somehow overrule anyone else’s favorites. We’re […]

Bayz Audio at Capital Audiofest | CAF 2023

November 18, 2023 Comments Off

Paperclips, carabiners, and plumbing are just some of the things I have heard people call Zoltan Bayz’s (Pronounced Bay-ze) $160k Counterpoint 2.0 speakers. The Bayz Audio speakers are definitely a unique shape, something to start […]

Day One with Brian Hunter | CAF 2023

November 11, 2023 1

“I just want you to know that you have brought real joy to my life” – That is what I heard today outside listening room at Capital Audiofest 2023. Directed at a speaker designer from […]

CAF Day Three with Graig Neville | CAF 2023

November 16, 2023 1

With fresh ears and our bellies full of Grover Neville’s and my new favorite café, Teamania, we tackled CAF Day Three, the final day. I definitely had some rooms I wanted to visit that I […]

Zanden Audio Systems 1200 Signature Phono Stage | REVIEW

April 7, 2024 0

Like any self-identifying member of the audio cognoscenti, I got super excited about the new Zanden Audio Systems Model 1200 Signature phono stage ($29,500 MSRP). It is way up there in the category of high-end […]

AURALiC ARIES G2.2 Network Streamer | REVIEW

April 5, 2024 0

During my time listening to high-end audio products, AURALiC has become one of my favorite brands. Their products are reasonably priced (in the world of high end audio, at least), have unmatched build quality, and […]

Matrix Audio Element X2 Pure Streamer/DAC | REVIEW

March 31, 2024 1

I needed a DAC. Yeah, I know, I’ve started off more than one review with this declaration and it’s a constant reminder that I need to rectify that situation. But I’ve also toyed with the […]

StudioSilver MC Cartridge from MoFi Electronics | REVIEW

March 29, 2024 0

Do I need MoFi in my hi-fi? MoFi expanded beyond their vinyl offerings and their importing and distribution division, and now they’re venturing now into the electronics game–the music giant is shaking the audiophile tree. […]

Triangle Magellan Duetto 40th Anniversary Loudspeakers | REVIEW

March 24, 2024 1

One of our writers here at PTA, Graig Neville, has flipped so completely over the latest generation of loudspeakers from Triangle of France that after reviewing the relatively affordable yet impressive 40th Anniversary Antal, he […]

Hagerman Piccolo MC Head Amplifier | REVIEW

March 22, 2024 2

When I purchased my Naim NAIT 50 integrated amplifier last year, my only criticism was the inboard MM phono stage, which is a really fine phono stage if you’re into high-output moving magnet cartridges. While […]

TAD C1000 Preamplifier (& Friends) | REVIEW

March 17, 2024 0

Technical Audio Devices debuted the TAD C1000 preamplifier at Capital Audiofest this past November, and I was excited to be the first in the queue to get my hands on this new piece of kit. […]

Enleum HPA-23RM Headphone Amplifier | REVIEW

March 15, 2024 0

I don’t think I’ve given PTA Senior Contributing Editor Grover Neville enough credit about this in the past, but he really does an excellent job when it comes to discovering new and worthwhile manufacturers for […]

Orchard Audio Starkrimson Monoblock Amplifiers | REVIEW

March 10, 2024 3

Gallium nitride (GaN) transistors have created quite the buzz in the audio industry over the last few years–some of the buzz is good, and some maybe not so good. When I had the chance to […]

Songer Audio S2 Field Coil Loudspeakers | REVIEW

March 8, 2024 3

On the final day of the 2023 Pacific Audio Fest, I found myself wandering the halls looking to see if I missed anything worthwhile. I discovered an exhibit room I hadn’t yet noticed: Songer Audio […]

Ideon Absolute Digital Suite | REVIEW

March 3, 2024 3

Ideon Absolute Digital Suite; the Stream, Time, and Epsilon DAC Benchmark Performance from Greece My comprehensive findings on the astonishing Ideon Absolute Stream music server/streamer were published HERE last June. If you want an eye-opening […]

Ground Control GC1.1 Earthing Device from CAD | REVIEW

February 16, 2024 2

I’ve already shared the story of how I met the folks at Computer Audio Design (CAD) once or twice on these pages, and how I wound up reviewing their Ground Control GC1.1 earthing device. But […]

Music Hall Stealth Turntable | REVIEW

February 11, 2024 2

The Music Hall Stealth direct-drive turntable, which includes the Ortofon 2M Blue MM cartridge and carries a price tag of just $1,695, won the PTA Best Value Award for 2023 just a couple of months […]

Bob’s Devices Sky 20-S Step-Up Transformer | REVIEW

February 9, 2024 1

What’s better for increasing the gain in your analog set-up, a moving-coil phono stage or a step-up transformer such as the Bob’s Devices Sky 20-S? I’ve heard both sides of the debate and I still […]

Weiss Helios DAC | REVIEW

February 4, 2024 2

The Weiss Helios DAC reminds me of what people forget about Swiss pocket knives. The common association is, of course, with the ubiquitous “Swiss Army Knife” manufactured by Victorinox in that iconic red color. The […]

McGary Audio MA1 Monoblocks and SPA1 Preamplifier | REVIEW

February 2, 2024 2

Regular readers of these pages will most certainly be well aware of the creations of Mike McGary, founder of McGary Audio. In case you’ve been residing in a cave (or at least an audio-free zone), […]

Austin Audio Works The Black AMP & The Black Swan | REVIEW

January 26, 2024 Comments Off

Sometimes I think about the role of the chassis in high-end audio design, especially when I’m confronted with components such as The Black Swan phono preamplifier and The Black AMP headphone amplifier from Austin Audio […]

Audion Silver Night Limited HP1 Headphone Amp | REVIEW

January 21, 2024 1

I really wanted to review some amplification with 300B tubes. I’ve been listening to some of my writers over the last couple of years, reviewers who have been vocal in their adoration of this DHT, […]

Innuos Factory Tour | On the Road

The story of my Innuos factory tour starts off in a fascinating part of the world–Faro, Portugal, at the southwestern tip of the Iberian peninsula, a relatively short distance from the Spanish border, Gibraltar, the [...]

Enleum AMP-23R Integrated | REVIEW

Enleum AMP-23R – Introduction The Enleum AMP-23R (website) is a product you likely aren’t familiar with unless you’re deeply invested in headphones. You might recognize the name Bakoon (website), however, which was the previous name [...]

CAF 2023 Highlights

Deep Cuts