Axiom M-50 Tower, $1400 Per Pair {35.5h, 9.25w, 13d, 39 lbs, 94 dB SPL, 8 ohms, 10-200 w/ch} Two 6.5” Aluminum Woofers, One Titanium Tweeter Bryston contracted Axiom to build its speakers over a decade ago. The project was a tremendous success and the companies merged. The resulting company is simply called Bryston. Bryston is using the Axiom banner to bring speakers and electronics to market that are outstanding- yet under the price and power levels reserved for the Bryston brand. Axiom speakers are built in Canada with a 5 year warranty. M-50 Is Axiom’s Most Affordable Tower We booted
Read More
Archives for Newsletters
11.2024
Audio Emporium Newsletter 11-1-24 Atoll Streaming Integrated Amplifiers Atoll makes two dynamite streaming integrated amps. First and foremost, these are fabulous sounding integrated amps! They just happen the have Atoll’s outstanding streaming app built it. The streaming app has proven to work quite well in our time with it. Of more importance is the magnificent integrated amp within which it is housed. These SDA (streamer on board) models have dual, powerful transformers that Atoll has built to spec for them in Spain. The filter caps are also of Atoll design, built specifically for them in Japan- not China. Both models
Read More
10.2024
Atoll IN400 Evo Integrated Amp, $7000 (160×2) {5.11h, 17.3w, 14.6d, 43 lbs) Atoll has just updated its flagship integrated amp. IN400 is built like a Mac truck. Don’t worry about the modest power claim. That’s just Atoll being conservatively French. When an amp is built with massive transformers and power supply caps, it produces a much weightier sound than its wattage rating would imply. Atoll builds this big boy like a brick out house. It can crush virtually any speakers you’ll ever own. IN400 has a silky smooth sound but wields Thor’s hammer just in case you ask for it.
Read More
09.2024
Bryston Model Trim T-10, $8000 Per Pair (60h, 10w, 16d, 83lbs, 4 ohms, 91 dB SPL) Just in are Bryston’s gorgeous Trim T-10s in a stunning Boston Cherry (Rosewood-ish) finish. The Trim T-10s use the same BAM module as the Model T-10s ($20k per pair bigger brother). Hence the precision midrange clarity and imaging is the same. The BAM (Bryston Audio Module) is the heart of the speaker. It uses a pair of tweeters in the center, opposed by top/bottom flanked midrange drivers. This four driver array is housed within its own chamber. The enclosure his made of Canadian Rangerwood,
Read More
08.2024
Bryston BP-19 Stereo Preamp, $5195 ($6195 with MM, $6945 with MM & MC) Bryston has been talking about a new analog preamp for well over a year. Bryston is never fast, but when they ultimately deliver the goods, we’re never disappointed. BP-19 measures up as another superstar Bryston product- with a 20 year warranty. BP-19 is just now shipping to the USA. It’s built in Canada with a 20 year warranty. BP-19 is available as a line stage only preamp, or with the phono options spelled out above. It isn’t available with on board DAC. Bryston has BR-20 for that
Read More
07.2024
We received our first batch of Atoll (made in France with 3 year warranty) gear in April. I focused on the entry level integrated amps right away. Wow! They are CLASS BUSTING! Atoll handily surpasses its like price, Chinese competitors. The brawn… weight and horse power they bring to the party at unusually fair pricing is absolutely unique in our industry. I’m referencing sound quality, not bells and whistles. All of the Atolls are dual mono design. The IN100 Signature for only $2100 is the first unit in the line to incorporate TWO large toroidal transformers. Have a look inside
Read More
06.2024
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. So I said OK, prove it to me. He did! What differentiates Atohm from all the other attractive, nice sounding Euro speakers is that Atohm has class defying bass performance and the ability to play loudly- that
Read More
05.2024
Atoll Electronique Just in, straight from France, is Atoll Electronique. Yes, Atoll is made in France, not China, and comes with a THREE year warranty. Atoll was founded in 1997 by brothers Stephane and Emmanuel Dubreuil. You’ll see that Atoll is barely more money than the Chinese imports- yet the performance is astonishingly more dynamic, rich and smooth sounding. The line is so good, and so reasonable in price, that you have to ask why nobody else is doing this. Ultimately, Atoll is SMART and efficient. They use a short menu of chassis sizes. Their base units use a generous
Read More
04.2024
Rogue Sphinx Magnum $2000 (100×2) My favorite integrated amp value just got better! An already classic integrated has been improved in crystalline detail and a more airy top end. Rogue has made the Sphinx v3 ($1700, 100×2 with Skeleton remote) for several years now. It’s a dynamite integrated amp, with MM/MC phono section, outstanding headphone amp and uses two 12AU7 tubes in the preamp stage. The tubes are JJs from the Slovak Republic. Rogue provides a matched pair- vs just grabbing any two out of boxes- to insure you have proper channel balance. Oh, and it’s built in the USA,
Read More
03.2024
Bryston Model T-10 Speakers, $20,000 Per Pair {72h, 12w, 17d, 133 lbs, 92 dB SPL, 4 ohms} Black Ash, Walnut, Walnut Expresso, Boston Cherry, Natural Cherry Bryston has just shipped its LINE ARRAY big boy towers, Model T-10. The T-10 denotes that Bryston has been making speakers over a decade. All Brystons are made in Canada with a 20 year warranty! Model T-10 is a full assault on putting the musicians in your room. Most speakers are quite scaled down from reality in their presentation. We understand that and accept them for what they are. Your wife would prefer shorter/leaner
Read More