Let’s take a look at some fantastic sounding affordable electronics. We’re going to start at the top with a wonderful integrated amp made in Pennsylvania. This is worth mentioning as virtually everything else that would fit this description, affordable electronics, is coming from China. I’m not saying the Chinese can’t make decent sounding gear. But… please take a serious look at the…

The tonality of the Bryston T-10s is really nice, the soundstage is huge and at the same time spot on imaging and very clean. The bass is incredibly responsive at all volumes plus the headroom is so immense it seems the speakers does not have any limits. Just wanted to give you some feedback, congratulations with producing really great speakers!!!

Bryston Mini T Speakers, $4990 Per Pair (Black, Walnut or Boston Cherry) {22.5h, 10.5w, 10d, 4 ohms, 87dB SPL, 42 lbs} Bryston’s Mini T loudspeakers are among the best stand mount speakers in our biz, regardless of price! What does a great stand mount speaker have to do to be considered in this uber category? Range The speaker has to have great…

Smokin’ System $8450 Speakers: Bryston A2s, $4000 Per Pair Integrated Amp: Atoll IN100 Signature $2100 (100×2) CD Player: Atoll CD80 Signature $1750 Streamer: Bluesound Node $600 Speaker Cables: Kimber 8 PAIR (two 10’ lengths with bananas)

Jim Winey, Magnepan Founder (1934-2024) Jim created the Magnepan loudspeaker design, and company. He’s one of the last of the old school guys our business was fortunate to have. He was an inventor, and then an owner/operator. Magnepan is among the most unique and successful of all speakers. It has the advantage of low mass without the problems of stats. And let…

Atoll PR200 Stereo Preamp, $1500 Made in France! I can make a great case for the Atoll PR200 solid state preamp as being the least expensive, high quality preamp on the market. Let’s analyze. First of all, PR200 sounds clean and quiet. Its build quality is nothing short of exquisite. Have a look inside PR200 and you’ll see a work of art…

Atohm Speakers From France We started dealing with Atoll Electronique of France a few months back and have been BLOWN AWAY by how good the line is for such reasonable money! The same American importer, Emilios Mandalios, told me I HAD to audition an amazing line of French speakers- Atohm. I definitely wasn’t shopping for speakers, but Emilios earned his credibility with…

Atoll Power Amps:Made In France With 3 Year Warranty AM100, $1500 (100×2) Two 340VA transformers, 32,248 uF caps, Four MATCHED MOSFET output transistors AM200, $2200 (120×2) Two 340 VA transformers, 57.280uf caps Eight MATCHED MOSFET output transistors AM300, $3900 (150×2) Two 440VA transformers, 83,300uf caps Twelve MATCHED MOSFET output transistors Meet The Family The family of Atoll power amps sounds SO GOOD,…

Atoll PR300 Stereo Preamp, $2500 Made in France! I read a lot of audio magazines. You learn a little here/there in most of them. A common question as you read, is- where are the good stereo preamps? I have always wondered why guys who write for Stereophile only seem to know about preamps that run $30-90k. Seriously?! Atoll has reset the bar…

JL Audio E-112 Subwoofer, $2500 (16.23h, 15.5w, 18.39d, 74 lbs, 1500w amp, Black Ash) JL Audio’s E-112 should be on the list of every subwoofer shopper. It is a full out, serious product, made in the USA that hits like a middle linebacker. JL is made near Ft. Lauderdale. Almost all similarly priced subs are made in China. Why does that matter?…

Bryston Middle T Speakers, $8600 Per Pair (39.5h, 10.5w, 18.4d, 82 lbs, 88 dB SPL, 4 ohms) Walnut, Walnut Expresso, Black Ash or Boston Cherry The Middles Bryston created quite a splash in the industry when it brought out its Model T over a decade ago. Model T is a great, large, powerful speaker. It’s a big boy to have in your…

McIntosh MA-352 Integrated Amp, $7000 (200×2) (9 7/8h, 17.5w, 20.5d, 66 lbs) Mac’s MA-352 integrated may be just the ticket as you refine your hi-fi experience. It checks a lot of boxes for the die hard audiophile- not just the loyal Mac lover. As always, Mac is built beautifully in Binghamton, NY with a 3 year warranty. First of all, MA-352 is…

Bryston A2 Speakers $3990 Per Pair In Expresso Walnut! (39.5h, 9.25w, 17d, 63 lbs, 87dB, 4 ohms, Walnut, Black, Boston Cherry & Expresso Walnut) Bryston has just come up with a luscious new finish, EXPRESSO WALNUT, for one of its best valued speakers, the uber impressive A2. Did you know they’re made in Canada with a 20 year warranty? A2 has been…

Speakers have a rated impedance. Most are rated at 4, 6 or 8 ohms. There’s a catch word in the spec that says “nominal.” That means average. Speakers, in fact, can vary dramatically in their impedance, given different frequencies. This matters because all amplifiers are happy with 8 ohms. Most are OK with 4 ohms. However some amps have switches to throw…