Distilled

The FX-Audio L-07 Integrated Amplifier

$200 for a 200-watt per channel integrated? That you can hold in the palm of your hand? Really? And it will drive a pair of Magnepans? You bet. Read More >

Welcome to Distilled!

Hello and welcome to Distilled.

We are not abandoning our standard reviews, but for those of you that would like a little more than the canned press releases everyone else is posting, but not sure if you want to make the time investment in a full review, we present the distilled column. Read More >

Hagerman Piccolo ZERO – phono step up

If you happen to be a moving coil cartridge enthusiast or are thinking about stepping up (pun intended), you’ll need a way to raise that signal to a level that your current MM stage can handle. Read More >

Black Ravioli’s Big Pad Plus

We’re huge fans of Black Ravioli products; over the years, they have kept improving their process.

The latest Big Pad Plus is more efficient at isolating your components from vibrations in the environment that subtly blur the ultimate resolution of your system. Read More >

The FX-Audio DS-07 DAC/Preamplifier

What we’ve got here is a very cool, very compact DAC and Preamplifier that is only about 5 inches tall, 3 inches wide, and 7 inches deep. (125mm x 80mm x 176mm to be exact)

What is so exciting about this mighty little DAC is the performance it delivers for such an approachable cost. Read More >

The Dynaudio Contour 20 Black Edition – First look

Don’t even ask.

They only come in black. And I’m guessing that’s a part of how Dynaudio can offer this much speaker for this price – they don’t have to build four color combinations. Read More >

The MoFi Master Phono

There’s nothing this one can’t do.

You might think that hyperbole, but MoFi’s Master Phono is aptly named. It features two voltage gain inputs (what every other phono stage has) and a current gain input. Read More >

The dCS Lina DAC

This one is way overdue… I’ve had the Lina from dCS for a long time. Long enough that I bought the review sample, yet it’s been a lot of exploration and comparisons. Read More >

The Vera-Fi SnubWay noise filter

No, this isn’t a wacky kind of sandwich, it’s another handy way to get high frequency switching noise out of your mains without breaking the bank. Read More >

The Cambridge Alva TT V2 Turntable

Analog purists might be screaming “Aaaah, Bluetooth! No one is digitizing my precious vinyl,” when they look at Cambridge’s Alva TT V2. Read More >

The Java Double Shot Power Amplifier

Many audio enthusiasts forget that power and dynamic range are the fourth dimension when it comes to achieving natural sound reproduction. Read More >

Octave V80SE Integrated Amplifier

If you’ve been hunting for a premium vacuum tube integrated amplifier, the Octave V80SE should be at the top of your list. All previous Octave amplifiers we’ve used are built like a mid-80s S-Class Mercedes, i. Read More >

Vera-Fi Caldera 10-inch active subwoofer

Whether you are listening to two, or multiple channels, chances are your system will benefit from additional low frequency output. Adding a subwoofer is a deceptively simple thing that doesn’t always deliver the desired results, regardless of the price asked. Read More >

Pass Labs’ XA60.8 Monoblocks

Of course, the big news is that now you can get Pass components in black. This is a good thing considering how many people have passed on conrad-johnson gear over the years because the champagne color does not match anything else in their system. Read More >

Vera-Fi’s Main Stream is anything but…

Mark Schifter and Vera-Fi have been on a roll lately, introducing some great products offering high performance at reasonable prices. This is a great way for everyone to get into the game. Read More >

The REL Classic 99 – It’s more than more!

While this may sound like one of those AI-generated comments, if you’ve seen, heard, or read about REL’s recent addition, the Classic 98, you know that this is something different than the standard bill of fare from REL. Read More >

Voodoo For You…

Oddly enough, this product is backed up by quite a bit of science, but I love the name. I’ve known Jan Geschke for a while now, and between our love for Porsche automobiles and fine audio, I agreed to give these a try. Read More >

REL Tzero MKIII Subwoofer

All REL!

We’ve put a lot of emphasis on REL’s larger sub bass systems, but their smallest offering is affordable, approachable, and easy to use. Read More >

GETZ/GILBERTO by Impex!

Last year at Axpona, Abey Fonn and Nick Getz introduced their collaboration in the form of an Impex Records Limited Edition (7500 numbered pressings) in the One Step Getz/Gilberto album, originally released in 1964. Read More >

Audio Research I-50 Integrated Amplifier

$6,500 – $8,500 (config. Dependent)

audioresearch.com

Generating as much excitement as a new In-N-Out Burger restaurant, ARC’s I-50 integrated amplifier has taken about two years for supply to start to catch up with demand, and a review sample is finally available. Read More >