Jeff Dorgay

United States

Head Content Creator at TONEAudio Magazine

Music, Gear, Style, Fun. That's what we do.

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Articles

MartinLogan Summit X ESL Speakers

2 weeks ago | tonepublications.com | Jeff Dorgay

For a few years, MartinLogan’s Summit was their flagship speaker, and it received worldwide praise. At the beginning of 2009, MartinLogan combined what they’d learned building the new flagship CLX full-range electrostatic speaker system and the Spire hybrid to arrive at the Summit X. Just like the Summit, it features a pair of powered 10-inch woofers, one facing toward you and the other firing toward the floor. Though it looks similar to the original, the Summit X is an entirely different product.
The Vera-Fi Caldera 12 Subwoofer

2 weeks ago | tonepublications.com | Jeff Dorgay

Digging right in with the Caldera 12 and driving it down the rough road with a long playlist of Stanley Clark, Jaco Pastorius, and Tool tracks (but not “Chocolate Chip Trip,” because that is becoming the metal version of “Keith Don’t Go”) reveals it has what it takes to get the job done. Veri-Fi principal Mark Schifter has been in this industry for a long time, and he’s always had a handle on what’s really important.
Fighting Entropy

Dec 7, 2024 | itsmine.substack.com | Jeff Dorgay

Staying on my mission to lower stress, I’ve decided one of the biggest contributors is entropy. The Oxford dictionary describes it as “A lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder. Sound familiar? I don’t know about you, but when I’m missing my car keys, wallet, stud finder, etc., after about five minutes of searching I start to panic. Once the missing keys app starts spinning in my brain, it wears my battery down faster than Google Maps.
The Alfa Romeo 916

Nov 17, 2024 | heeltoemag.com | Jeff Dorgay

La, la, la means I love youLook at that front end. Those cool headlights, and the signature Alfa grille. Is it black or is it blue? The owner swears it’s black metallic, but when the light hits it just right, a subtle tinge of blue comes shining through. And those red seats – so Italian. Not gonna give you a hard time for being unfamiliar. This is an Alfa 916 Spider.
The Vera-Fi A40 Power Amplifier - World’s 1st review!

Jul 26, 2024 | tonepublications.com | Jeff Dorgay

It’s hard to believe that a $2,000 amplifier drives the $149k pair of Clarisis Auditorium Plus ribbon speakers with this level of control, quality, and tonal involvement. Chris has me listening to Tool’s Fear Inoculum album more, and the track “Chocolate Trip Trip” has become a great test track due to its percussive, massive soundstage. Moving the A40 over to the Peak Consult Sinfonias ($68k/pair) proves equally involving.
The Formula xHD DAC (rev.2) and La Diva Transport

Apr 8, 2024 | tonepublications.com | Jeff Dorgay

It seems appropriate to begin listening to the Aqua combination with Emerson, Lake, and Palmer’s “Still, You Turn Me On..” Even though the compact disc format was less than immersive when introduced backin the early 80s, it has been transformed over the years. Personally, I abandoned the “digital sucks”posture around 1990, and things have only gotten better and better to the point where digital audio is just fine.
The PlatiMon Virtual Coaxial One Speakers

Mar 23, 2024 | tonepublications.com | Jeff Dorgay

Listening to the gentle guitar and drum work in J.J. Cale’s “Magnolia” instantly reveals the level of resolution that the PlatiMon Virtual Coaxial One speakers can serve up. Driven by the BAT REX tube power amplifier, this is a lovely match – delivering speed, tonal saturation and a huge soundfield in all three dimensions. (Photo courtesy of MON Acoustic)Don’t be thrown off by the pair of 5-inch woofers, these small-ish speakers, with their dual ports around back generate serious bass energy.
YG Acoustics Hailey 3

Nov 9, 2023 | tonepublications.com | Jeff Dorgay

One of the most compelling things about the world’s finest products, be it speakers, watches, cameras, you name it – is the ease of enjoying them in a fashion that you no longer think about the object in use. There’s no more longing for additional performance, or an aspect of use that annoys you. A Rolex Submariner, a Leica M6 (if you’re a film person) or M10 (if you aren’t), the Eames Lounge Chair (a real one), or a late 80s 3.2 Porsche Carrera.
REVIEW: The Emerald Physics 600.2 SE Amplifier

Nov 3, 2023 | tonepublications.com | Jeff Dorgay

Driving a pair of vintage Acoustat 2+2 full range electrostatics to panel rattling volume while listening to the new Stones album, the yellow circular power output meters on the 600.2SE power amplifier are barely bouncing mid-way up the scale. Staying in the 80s groove with a couple of tracks from Cameo (“Word Up” and “Single Life”) push the power meters go all the way up, but the stats are in serious damage of being blown up.
FULL REVIEW: Enleum 23R Amplifier

Oct 12, 2023 | tonepublications.com | Jeff Dorgay

If you happen to be an audio enthusiast that is only impressed with large racks of gear, and convinced this is the only way to go, skip this review. You won’t want the Enleum 23R. It’s small. Tiny, actually. Like 9 inches square and a little over 3 inches tall with super cool feet attached. I’ve seen bigger apple pies than this. In all seriousness, it has about the same footprint as a Nagra Classic component and is half the height.