Steven Stone

1 month ago | pmamagazine.org | Steven Stone |Donald Byrd

Prices listed are in US$. Many subjective audiophiles loathe blind listening tests. The standard putdown for blind testing is, “That’s not the way I listen.” Yet, in truth, blind comparisons—free from the influence of price, brand, technology, aesthetics, or other personal non-sonic biases—represent the purest form of subjective evaluation. So why aren’t blind tests more popular with audiophiles? The answer is simple—conducting a well-designed, truly unbiased blind test is a pain in the ass.

2 months 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.

2 months 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.