Steven Stone

2 weeks ago | pmamagazine.org | Donald Byrd |Steven Stone

Prices listed in US$. I’m back with another bunch of ultra-budget components that don’t perform like budget components. Usually, gear with ultra-low price tags only sound good when compared to cheap Bluetooth speakers or freebee earbuds. Not here. Every component that makes it into this column is worthy of being compared to the kind of serious and expensive gear any advanced audiophile would be happy to have in their system.

3 weeks ago | theabsolutesound.com | Steven Stone

Most of my reviews over the past have been focused on modern digital devices such as DACs and network players, but I’ve owned a reel-to-reel tape deck for over 50 years. My first deck was a Teac 1200U, which I used to record many live concert recordings from FM radio. Later I acquired a Revox A-77 Mark IV with built-in Dolby as well as a second Revox A-77 Mark IV without Dolby. I will admit that for the past 30 years both of those Revoxs did little besides collect dust.

Apr 12, 2024 | theabsolutesound.com | Steven Stone

Over the years I’ve found that the most sonically transparent preamplifier designs have always been passive ones. But sometimes, especially with my own live concert recordings, I need a bit of gain from a preamplifier to get the volume up to a satisfying level. The best solution I’ve found so far is the Schiit Freya S preamplifier. It is a full-function, stereo, solid-state preamp that offers both balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs and three different circuit options.

Apr 7, 2024 | pmamagazine.org | Steven Stone

This “budget” series exists in large part because, at PMA Magazine, we believe that more people should be allowed to enjoy quality audio, not just the well-heeled. We also believe that these products offer the sort of performance that will encourage people to join our hobby and become lifetime consumers of quality audio gear manufactured both abroad and locally. Prices listed in US$. Pride of ownership plays a big part in the premium audio marketing paradigm.

Mar 27, 2024 | hifiplus.com | Steven Stone

In 2016, Focal joined the headphone tsunami by introducing its Utopia and Elear models. I reviewed the original Utopia headphone for The Absolute Sound that same year, I concluded my review, “If you want to hear and feel just how good headphone listening can be, I invite you to give the Focal Utopia headphones serious consideration.