Known primarily for its digital, networking, and DAC products, SOtM has built a strong presence in the audio market. Over the years, I have tried and tested a number of SOTM products, and there’s always something unique about the way the company approaches the design of certain products that consistently come with great, engaging sound. The sPQ-100 is the latest […]
Recently, the three well-known and recognized high-end audio manufacturers Ansuz, Aavik, and Børresen Acoustics were united under one brand Audio Group Denmark. This has created a unique and extremely potent high-end audio hub with a wealth of audio products that offer a wide range of products that can be combined to create high-performance, high-end audio systems. Like the rest of Audio […]
There is probably no boutique ultra high-end audio brand that inspires as much mystique and wonders as Robert Koda. Robert Koch, the owner of this fascinating Japanese manufacturer, is no stranger to Mono & Stereo readers. It’s been well over a decade since the brand was launched, and yours truly was initially involved in exclusive interviews, glimpses of the Takumi […]
You’re invited to dive deeper into the review of a highly interesting, innovative, and excellent-sounding high-end analog audio component. This time it’s about the PH -1000 phono preamplifier of the unmistakably Italian brand Gold Note from Tuscany. The PH-1000 The PH -1000 was designed from the ground up to be the best phono stage Gold Note has ever developed. A […]
With the P1, LUMIN continues its line of forward-thinking products that build on the rich and proven heritage of music players with DAC and preamplifier. Like the rest of LUMIN’s P and T Series products, the P1, perhaps the brand’s most flexible and powerful all-in-one box product to date, was designed from the ground up to be the centerpiece of […]
And another interesting product from the hands of Stratos Vichos and Lab12 that I am taking a closer look at. The melto1 preamplifier is the latest proud creation of the ever-inspiring young team of Lab12 engineers from Greece. melto1 There is no question that vinyl is back. Actually, it never disappeared, it just got more attention in the last decades. […]
My correspondence with Jesús Alejos Pérez of atm audio of Spain dates back to 2017 when I learned about his interesting Class A amplifiers, which have a unique, solid aluminum enclosure with a special heat dissipation system. Fast forward to 2022, the stars finally aligned and it’s time to take a closer look at atm audio’s creations. The ATM Llebeig-A […]
One of the more interesting announcements at the end of the 2019 was for me the all-new (50.000 EUR) Thrax Libra differential balanced 300b tube preamplifier. I do have a soft spot for anything 300B related and have owned over the years more than 30 different 300B based amplifiers, preamplifiers, etc. At one point I’ve just stopped with this particular […]
It’s always interesting to see and hear what Audio Analogue has accomplished with its products. This iconic Italian high-end audio company has been around for years and many music lovers and audiophiles have found something that suits their needs and appreciation for how audio Audio Analogue’s product operates. So when I was asked to choose the next product to […]
The WestminsterLab Quest solid-state preamplifier is the latest addition to the portfolio of this unique and highly interesting high-end audio company. Following the extremely positive debut of WestminsterLab electronics with the introduction of the REI Class-A power amplifiers I reviewed here, the Quest follows the same uncompromising path that anchored by REI. Here is the breakdown of all the important features and […]
It’s almost unreal how the world has changed in 2021. After most high-end audio shows in the Western Hemisphere were canceled, the momentum suddenly shifted to the Internet more than ever. Some experts even claim that we fast-forwarded ten years in the future with online impact, importance, and awareness. Because of the circumstances, 2020 was also a year when […]