My favorite preamp on the planet came out about Christmas 2020, during the height of Covid 19. Many audiophiles missed it because they we’re worrying about… other things. BR20 is as good a preamp as money can buy! BR20 is actually a preamp/DAC. So much the better to kill two birds with one stone. Brian Russell Bryston preamps have always had the…

On Loudspeakers… “In 2010 I began a personal quest to develop the ultimate loudspeaker- a model that would reproduce the full dynamic capability of music while remaining tonally neutral, crystal clear, and capable of capturing the subtle nuances of any recording. After collaborating with highly respected loudspeaker engineers for two years, the Model T was born. Initially it was a personal R&D…

Let’s see what the boys are talking about this month. I’ll warn you, it’s mostly absurd. Clearly, these writers don’t think their readers work for a living. They think you’re all sitting home doing nothing but counting your fortune. Kef Blade 2 Speakers They run $28k per pair. What do you get for your 28k? You get a stylish cabinet. Perhaps its…

Marantz CD-60 Single Play CD Player, $1000 Just in is Marantz’s new CD-60. It is the best $1K ish player on the market. Its sound is warm as opposed to cool. While we’re impressed when a big buck product pushes the state of the art, we’re even more impressed when an affordable product sets new standards for its price point. Have a…

There are a lot of speaker companies out there! I’ve compiled a list of most. I’ve put all of them in gold that offer a 20 year warranty. Acora Alta Amphion Apertura ATC Audience Audio Note Audio Physic Audiovector Avantgarde Borreson Bose B&W Bryston Buchardt Burmester Cabasse Canton Castle Crystal Dali Definitive Devore Dutch & Dutch Dynaudio Eikon Elac Emotiva Estelon Falcon…

So you’re looking for a serious record playing system. How far do you have to go to get a table/arm/cart combo that challenges THE BEST at any price- without paying crazy money? The Answer Is $3500, Made in Ann Arbor! $3500 is the package price for the incredible MoFi UltraDeck table and MoFi UltraGold MC cartridge. Please read on. MoFi UltraDeck Turntable…

McIntosh Availability McIntosh has been back ordered like crazy in the teeth of Covid 19. Any new McIntosh order will run six months or more. Audio Emporium is a stocking dealer. That means, we order ahead. We don’t just order per sale. We have a fair amount of McIntosh IN STOCK right now, that we ordered more than six months ago. Hence,…

We look to audio mags for reviews on gear we can’t audition for ourselves. Sometimes the writers do a good job to help us understand what a product sounds like. Sometimes they can’t hit the broad side of a barn. Here are some examples. Hits GoldenEar BRX Speakers “As if etched into its DNA, it possesses the timbrel and harmonic complexities of…

I love hearing and reading about new audio products. I’m like you, a kid in a candy store who gets excited about what this or that technology might bring to make our music sound more like the real McCoy in our living rooms. It seems like yesterday (well, it was 1973) that I was reading that better cables (Fulton) improved our sound….

It’s good to be king! Rogue Pharoah Integrated Amp, $4000, 250×2 Designed/Built in Pennsylvania. Rogue’s new Pharoah Mk2 integrated amp was not created JUST to be a steal of a deal. But it is! Integrated amps offer the best electronic values in high end audio. Pharoah Mk2 gives you a one box solution for very serious audio performance. By pairing a marvelous…

Klipsch Cornwall 4 Speakers, $6600 Per Pair (Cherry, Black or Walnut) (38H, 25.3W, 15.5D, 96 lbs, 8 ohms, 105dB SPL) Klipsch’s famous Cornwall speaker has been updated and is now dubbed Cornwall 4. The new Cornwall has an improved Mylar midrange driver to go with its Titanium tweeter and 15” Pulp Fiber woofer. The cabinet size/shape has been improved, as have the…

Magnepan MG .7 Speakers. $2000 Per Pair (54.25h, 15.25w, 1.25d, 4 ohms) Magnepan’s remarkable MG .7 speakers are back in the house! During Covid 19 Maggie couldn’t source all the parts it needed to make the .7. For over a solid year there were none to be had. With that supply issue solved, one of the best performing, high value panels in…

While music comes in all forms, I especially appreciate sparse and compelling works. I want the musical message without the syrup, thank you very much. There are plenty of examples of this. Let’s open up the iPad and get to work! Classical Piano The grandest of all instruments can be orchestral or introspective. Haydn If the world is driving you nuts and…

Please consider building your system from the BOTTOM UP. There is no tower speaker, not even a $50K colossus, that can deliver bass like a JL Audio subwoofer. JL offers three series (D, E & F) of high performing subs that will cover the bass for you. Starting with a JL sub OR TWO will allow your R&L “wing” speakers to do…

Mytek Liberty 2 DAC $1500 (1.74h, 5.5w, 8.8d) I’m betting anyone who is reading this has a pretty good system already. You don’t need to replace your DAC, or add one, unless it is SPECIAL. I think there are some bullet points to cover that are imperatives for making this move. While Liberty 2 is worthwhile for a number of reasons, I…

KLH Three $1800 Per Pair Price Includes Stands The 3s themselves are 19h, 12.25w, 10.5d, 30 lbs, 6 ohms, 88dB SPL. They are 28.25h on their stands. The 3s have an 8” Cast Frame Pulp Fiber Woofer & 1” Aluminum Dome Tweet. They sound solid and open. The success of VINTAGE speaker designs is alive and well. I like the formula. Take…