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1 week ago | 
pt.audio | Marc Phillips
After reviewing the excellent Fern & Roby Amp No. 2 last year and then visiting the company again in Richmond VA just a few months ago, I’m pleased that Christopher Hildebrand is on fire with one new product after the other.
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3 weeks ago | 
pt.audio | Marc Phillips
It’s right there in the liner notes of Lyn Stanley’s new album, Tribute to 1924: “Welcome to my final audiophile master recording!” Final? What the heck is going on? I did run into Lyn in the hallways at the Munich show last year and we chatted for a few minutes while a spontaneous queue of European audiophiles immediately formed behind me to wish her well and hopefully take a photo with her. She did mention, much to my surprise, that the next album would tentatively be her last.
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1 month ago | 
pt.audio | Graig Neville |Brian Hunter |Marc Phillips |Garrett Hongo
In the infinite of the universe, we are finite. Or are we? And what does this all have to do with the Ayre KX-8 preamplifier? Put on your tinfoil hats and let’s explore the existential experience and the meaning of life, the universe, and everything–all before you answer “42.”I met up with Jake Forsyth, the Vice President for Ayre Acoustics, at Capital Audiofest 2024. Besides the great conversation, I was curious how Ayre Acoustics was doing as it was one of my favorite brands back in the ‘90s.
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1 month ago | 
pt.audio | Brian Hunter |Marc Phillips |Garrett Hongo |Richard Mak
One of our favorite amplifier manufacturers, Linear Tube Audio, is set to debut their latest preamplifier at the Southwest Audiofest this weekend–the LTA MZ Pre 3. Here’s the official press release on the LTA MZ Pre 3:Linear Tube Audio is proud to introduce MicroZOTL Preamplifier the ThirdOur Level 3 preamplifier represents a generational shift from its predecessors.
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1 month ago | 
pt.audio | Marc Phillips |Brian Hunter |Richard Mak |Garrett Hongo
March 18, 2025 – In October 2022, Focal made a brilliant entry into the Bluetooth® hi-fi Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) headphones with Bathys. This success continues with new finishes revealed by the French leader in acoustics: Dune, in 2023, and Deep Black today, a black shade synonymous with elegance and timelessness.
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1 month ago | 
pt.audio | Brian Hunter |Marc Phillips |Richard Mak
ModWright Instruments will be debuting a new power amplifier, the Modwright KWA 300, next week at the Southwest Audiofest in Dallas TX.
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1 month ago | 
pt.audio | John Richardson |Marc Phillips |Brian Hunter |Richard Mak
Orchard Audio is a small, perfectionist audio company in New Jersey run by Leo Ayzenshtat, who I had the pleasure of meeting at Capitol Audiofest back in November of 2024. There, I encountered his class D amplifiers driving a batch of speakers from Philharmonic Audio, and I found the sound particularly compelling. After my listening session, I happened to find Mr. Ayzenshtat standing just outside and had the good fortune of striking up a conversation with him.
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1 month ago | 
pt.audio | Marc Phillips |Brian Hunter |Richard Mak
As I mentioned, the Three Amigos (Volti Audio speakers, BorderPatrol electronics and Triode Wire Labs cables) have split up into two rooms at high-end audio shows so that BorderPatrol’s Gary Dews, US distributor for Living Voice speakers, can show off that UK company’s new R80 loudspeakers. Those LV speakers are quite extraordinary, by the way, but Greg Roberts of Volti has a wonderful new speaker of his own–the Volti Audio New Vittora.
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1 month ago | 
pt.audio | Marc Phillips |Brian Hunter |Richard Mak
At the last show I covered, the 2024 Capital Audiofest, I walked into the Volti Audio room expecting another Three Amigos (BorderPatrol, Volti and Triode Wire Labs) system and noticed the absence of BorderPatrol–Greg Roberts of Volti was showing off his loudspeakers with a Cary Audio integrated and Triode Wire Labs cabling. What I didn’t know at the time was that BorderPatrol was in another room exhibiting with Living Voice R80 loudspeakers from the UK.
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1 month ago | 
pt.audio | Marc Phillips |Brian Hunter |Richard Mak
One of my resolutions for the new year is to keep that glowering pile of review gear in my listening room at bay, and Exhibit #1 is the Audio by Van Alstine NP1 power amplifier. After a way-too-busy 2024, where the flow of equipment to my door seemed to continue unabated whether I said yes or no to a review, I really wanted to focus on gear such as the NP1. This is the stuff I want to review, the stuff I ask to review, the stuff I look forward to reviewing.
