Herb Reichert

CES 2017

Increcable TIA-280R Integrated Amp

Herb Reichert Jan 13, 2017

Besides the TIA's thick copper top deck (and copper remote handset), the 280R features full point-to-point-wired, dual-mono construction with one GZ34 rectifier tube per channel

CES 2017

Arcam Solo Music

Herb Reichert Jan 12, 2017

I am an Anglophileand a Brit-fi guy. I just am. Back in 1982 I really wanted a wood-cased A&R Cambridge A60 to drive my Rogers LS3/5a speakers. But I couldn't afford its modest price. Somewhere around then, this venerable UK company simplified their name to Arcam.

CES 2017

Ampsandsound Mogwai

Herb Reichert Jan 12, 2017

Look at that photo, with the beautiful wood-plinthed KT88 amp. What do you notice? That's not a dCS digital stack lying on the table bottom-right: It's an iPad. A fancy red cable, whose name I forgot to get, is connecting a portable music source to the line-level input of a $1850 single-ended stereo integrated headphone amplifier called the Mogwai.

CES 2017

Technics SU-G700 DAC-Integrated Amp

Herb Reichert Jan 12, 2017

Technics spent all of 2016 re-emerging into the Euro-American audio marketand they did it with full-on high Japanese style and connoisseur-level sound. At last year's CES, Technics introduced their Grand, Premium, and Reference class audio productsincluding the 100 percent new SL-1200GAE/G/GR turntables! They made a big splash then, and now they're doing it again.

CES 2017

DeVore and Sugden and the Dap-Kings

Herb Reichert Jan 12, 2017

Today, in Vegas, DeVore's super-sensitive Orangutan O/96 loudspeakers ($12,000/pair) were powered by Sugden's Masterclass LA-4 line preamplifier ($3750) and Sapphire FBA800 40Wpc class-A amplifier ($7500). The system was playing Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (on Daptone Records) with super cool but hot-running LP joy.

CES 2017

App-Controlled SE Amp from Rogers

Herb Reichert Jan 12, 2017

The one that has me the most stoked is the Rogers High Fidelity 65V-1 class-A, single-ended EL34/KT88 integrated amplifier ($3999). Not to mention: I have never seen an amp painted with industrial-black crinkle paint that I didn't love.

CES 2017

Octave Audio V 80 SE

Herb Reichert Jan 12, 2017

Both sides of the Atlantic are making tube products that (again) sound at least a little like actual vacuum tubes and less like high-strung solid-state racing cars. Both cultures now want genuine tube sound but demand 21st century tube longevity and reliabilityand, of course, a discrete headphone amplifier.

CES 2017

Emotiva XPA Gen3 Modular Amp

Herb Reichert Jan 12, 2017

Emotiva looked so direct-sales, street-wise smartand everybody was talkin’ about how musical Emotiva’s stuff sounds: “It sounds goodand they're givin’ it away!” I couldn’t wait to try one of their products.

CES 2017

The Micromega M-One

Herb Reichert Jan 11, 2017

The Micromega M-One has more features than any of those silver-age contraptions, but to my eye, it is the purest, most high-design-beautiful audio machine on the planet. And, of course, it's made in France.

CES 2017

VTL's TP-2.5i Series II Phono Preamplifier

Herb Reichert Jan 11, 2017

I visited the VTL room three times, collecting photos and data, and every time Luke was smiling his big Luke-smile: "Herb, how can I help you?" The room was well-litand yet I failed to get good pictures.