The Absolute Sound

The Absolute Sound, commonly known as "TAS," is a monthly magazine based in the United States. It focuses on reviewing high-quality sound equipment and recordings aimed at audiophiles, as well as discussing a range of topics related to music.

National, Trade/B2B

English

Magazine

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#191899

United States

#113356

Computers Electronics and Technology/Consumer Electronics

#531

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

Wadax Studio Player Streaming DAC and Disc Player

1 day ago | theabsolutesound.com | Robert Harley

Regular readers will know that I’m a big fan of the Wadax Reference digital products. Their sound quality is unmatched in my experience, delivering a warmth, ease, dimensionality, resolution, and timbral realism that are the state of the art in digital playback. But there are two big problems with the Wadax Reference products—their size and cost.
Raidho X2.6 Loudspeaker

4 days ago | theabsolutesound.com | Neil Gader

A lot of what I listen for in today’s loudspeakers has been informed by my experiences with two-way compacts. Even now, my current everyday two-ways, a pair of ATC SCM20Ps, attests to the sonic “magic” that still defines this segment—point-source-like coherence, midrange immediacy, and precision image placement. Two-ways also suit a key listening bias of mine, namely a fondness for vocalists.
2024 Golden Ear: JMF Audio HQS 7001 Monoblock Amplifier and PRS 1.5 Linestage Preamplifier

4 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.
Colin James: Chasing the Sun

1 week ago | theabsolutesound.com | David McGee |David Mcgee |Colin James

A A A Twenty-one albums into his career, veteran Canadian bluesman Colin James is very much in possession of his fastball on the captivating Chasing the Sun. Whether working in a basic band configuration or showing off an effective changeup in an acoustic-electric trio lineup, James digs deep at every turn.
2024 Golden Ear: Magico S3 2023 Loudspeaker

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.
T+A PSD 3100 HV DAC/Preamp

1 week ago | theabsolutesound.com | Ed Selley

When the editor of this fine publication, a man routinely in the company of devices with gravitational pull, describes a DAC as ‘large’, it is sufficient to raise a note of mild alarm and have me reach for my third Weetabix of the day and a weight belt. True enough, the T+A PSD 3100 HV is a bit of a whopper. It’s the best part of 20cm tall, half a metre deep, and tips the scales at 26kg. That makes the T+A a very big DAC indeed, but it does at least boast functionality as extensive as the casework.
2024 Golden Ear: United Home Audio Ultima Apollo Tape Deck

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.
Duke Robillard: Roll with Me

2 weeks ago | theabsolutesound.com | Greg Cahill

Take a high-octane blues cruise with Duke Robillard down a retro Americana highway. The journey kicks off with a solid shot of Chicago blues (“Built for Comfort,” “Look What You’ve Done”). Move on for a hit of KC jump blues (“Blue Coat Man”) and a taste of horn-heavy Basie-inflected swing with a twist of Texas power-blues (“Just Kiss Me”).
2024 Golden Ear: YG Acoustics Hailey 3 Loudspeaker

2 weeks ago | theabsolutesound.com | Alan Taffel

Although the Hailey 3 looks identical to its predecessor, from a philosophical, technological, and sonic perspective the new speaker is a complete break from the past. Series 1 YGs were accurate and detailed but analytical to a fault. Series 2 models were much more musical, while still giving precedence to neutrality and resolution.
Döhmann Audio Helix Two Mk3 turntable

2 weeks ago | theabsolutesound.com | Alan Sircom

This review can be summed up in a simple phrase; “the apple never falls far from the tree”. In Issue 221, we reviewed Mark Döhmann’s excellent Helix One Mk3. To recap, this large statement piece of a turntable from Australia is one of the ultimate ways to hold two tonearms and play vinyl to perfection through both. We also pointed out that if you wanted a smaller turntable and are content with just the one tonearm, then the Helix Two Mk3 makes a strong case to meet those needs.