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1 week ago | 
pt.audio | Marc Phillips
The arrival of the Merrill Audio Element 110 power amplifiers in my reference system prompts the following question: Have you joined the revolution yet? I’m talking, of course, about the GaN FET revolution, the same one I told you about a couple of years ago when I reviewed the ArgentPur Monobloc amplifiers.
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2 weeks ago | 
pt.audio | Marc Phillips
AXPONA 2025 is in the books, and I’m no longer as concerned that this show has become too big for its own britches as I have for the last couple of years. That’s because AXPONA is not only huge–this year’s attendance was around 11,000, which is supposed to be a record for hi-fi shows in the US–it’s also incredibly well-run.
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3 weeks ago | 
pt.audio | Marc Phillips
What is Advance Paris? I’m only familiar with this French manufacturer because they always host a room at the Munich show, and I’m always obsessed with the looks of these products. There’s something about the organization of the faceplate that reminds me of the great ’70s receivers, but at the same time the black and blue colors are more reminiscent of designs that started popping up a decade or two later.
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1 month ago | 
pt.audio | Marc Phillips |Panagiotis Karavitis |Brian Hunter |Garrett Hongo
Ever since I reviewed an entire Audio Note UK system for pt.AUDIO a couple of years ago, I’ve been trying to figure out Round Two from this legendary UK marque.
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1 month ago | 
pt.audio | Graig Neville |Panagiotis Karavitis |Brian Hunter |Marc Phillips
I like big bass and I cannot lie–rooms 1442 and 1444 had the bassiest rooms I heard at AXPONA 2025. In 1444, SVS had the new PB-5000 R|Evolution series playing movie tracks at absurd levels. The room also included the SVS speaker line, with floorstanding, bookshelf and even Atmos speakers showing off their home theater capabilities. Room 1442 had the sealed SB-5000 R|Evolution playing music paired with the SVS floorstanding and bookshelf speakers.
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1 month 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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1 month 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.
