Jonathan Valin

5 days ago | theabsolutesound.com | Jonathan Valin

Like the UHA Ultima Apollo, this pair of monoblocks and preamp from French manufacturer JMF, a company with deep roots in pro audio, took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting sound that rivaled that of my reference Soulution and MBL electronics, but then, prior to these JMFs, my experience with French ultra-high-end amplification and preamplification was limited to various Jadis tube units (and no solid-state ones). However, hearing is believing.

1 week ago | theabsolutesound.com | Jonathan Valin

When, at AXPONA, Robert and I first auditioned the new, relatively demure, three-way, four-driver, aluminum-enclosed S3 2023—said to be the first Magico loudspeaker (the newly released M7 being the second) to use technology trickled down from the company’s flagship M9—both of us were floored by its sound.

1 week ago | theabsolutesound.com | Jonathan Valin

This has been a very good year for reel-to-reel tape recorders. As you will see, I auditioned two decks that knocked me for a (playback) loop. The first is the latest unit from old hand Greg Beron of United Home Audio—the Ultima Apollo. Seeing that I’d given its older brother, the Ultima5 OPS-DC, a Golden Ear and a POY award in 2023, you might wonder, as I did, how much difference a year or two could make. Well, in this case, it makes a spectacularly large and impressive one.

4 weeks ago | theabsolutesound.com | Jonathan Valin

It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it. Happily, this year that somebody was me. Fifty grand may seem like a high floor for a show report, but if you’ve been to AXPONA (or bother to read this article), you’ll know that the number of very expensive loudspeakers on display in Schaumburg is beginning to approach High End Munich levels. There are a lot of pricey transducers out there—and some of them showed extremely well.

1 month ago | theabsolutesound.com | Jonathan Valin

Those of you who’ve been following my reviews in TAS already know that I’m a huge fan of reel-to-reel tape players. But tape decks are no good unless you can find first-rate tapes to play back on them. So, in keeping with the tradition of our Super LP List, I’ve compiled a selection of recommended tapes, which you’ll find printed below. Of course, I haven’t been able to come close to auditioning all the many 15ips reel-to-reel issues and reissues that have been marketed over the past few years.