Seismic shifts at MBL, Audio Research
Two major figures in high end audio have quietly moved on from long-held positions.
Jason Victor Serinus
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Warsaw wraps up royally
As we arrive onsite to prepare for our coverage of High End Vienna and its many satellite shows, we continue to share Jason Victor Serinus and Rogier van Bakel's coverage of Europe's second most important audio show, Audio Video Warsaw. Next up: Jason reports on what he saw and heard from the likes of Galeria Audio, Franco Serblin, OePhi Audio, OrWaTi, Amphion, Brunoco Audio, and wraps things up with a powerhouse system from Raidho and Simaudio.
JVS's Day Two romp in the Blu playground
As we prepare for our coverage of High End Vienna and its many satellite shows, we share Jason Victor Serinus and Rogier van Bakel's coverage of Europe's second most important audio show, Audio Video Warsaw. First up: Jason reports on what he saw and heard from Dutch & Dutch, Pure Audio, and Grandinote—plus his life-altering experience with Soft Collective.
May 2026 Classical Record Reviews
Brahms: Trio Op.114; Tabea Zimmermann, viola; Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello; Javier Perianes, piano. Mahler: Symphony 9; London Philharmonic Orchestra/Vladimir Jurowski. Sean Shibe: Vesper. Elsa Barraine: Symphonies 1 & 2; Song-Koï; Les Tziganes; Orchestre National de France/Cristian Măcelaru.
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Nordost QNet7 reclocking network switch
In the opinion of this hi-fi reviewer, the debate over the efficacy of audio-quality network switches should be over. As logic would dictate, when connections are made via a network switch, the quality of its inputs, outputs, oscillators (clocks), power supplies, and pathways affects the sound of everything downstream. It's clearly audible. Everything matters.
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dCS Varèse Transport CD/SACD transport
Silver platters and I began divorce proceedings over a decade ago. The separation began when the husband and I contemplated liberating ourselves from crime-ridden East Oakland and moving to placid Port Townsend. There was no way I was going to haul 55 big boxes of CDs 846 miles and have no place to put them.
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Meitner MA3i Integrated D/A processor
"Is the Meitner MA3i integrated DAC ($11,500) sufficiently different from its predecessor to warrant a full review?" That's the question Editor Jim Austin posed as he contemplated the alternative: a shorter follow-up to my 2022 review of the now discontinued MA3 ($10,500).
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Recording of May 2026: Willows
Willows
Music by Vaughan Williams, Caroline Shaw, Ellen Reid, and Traditional/Sam Amidon
Pekka Kuusisto, violin; Sam Amidon, folksinger; Norwegian Chamber Orchestra
Platoon PLAT29192 (reviewed in stereo as 24/96 WAV files).
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Music by Vaughan Williams, Caroline Shaw, Ellen Reid, and Traditional/Sam Amidon
Pekka Kuusisto, violin; Sam Amidon, folksinger; Norwegian Chamber Orchestra
Platoon PLAT29192 (reviewed in stereo as 24/96 WAV files).
April 2026 Classical Record Reviews
Anne-Sophie Mutter: East Meets West; Midori: Robert Schumann: Violin Concerto, Robert & Clara Schumann: Chamber Works; Osvaldo Golijov: Ever Yours; Riccardo Frizza: Italian Perspectives.
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CH Precision M10 monoblock power amplifier
A mono pair of CH Precision M10s ($210,000/pair as reviewed) declares its presence in capital letters. Each channel consists of two large units, each almost 2' high, linked by a total of four umbilical cords. While the "lighter" amplifier unit weighs almost 117lb, the toroidal transformer–based power supply unit tops out at nearly 172lb. That's a lot of metal.
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