The Absolute Sound Podcast

Tom Martin reviews the YG Talus floor-standing speaker and Descent subwoofer. 00:00-2:53 Background on YG Acoustics 2:53-7:05 Specs & Introduction to YG Talus Speaker 7:05-11:15 Set Up & First Impressions of the YG Talus 11:15-14:37 Bass of YG Talus w/out Subwoofer 14:37-20:01 Sound Quality of YG Talus 20:01-24:42 Adding the Descent Subwoofer 24:42- Summary & Conclusion Audio Research...

Tom Martin reviews Audio Research's Reference 160M MkII Mono Amplifiers, their unique tonal color, clarity, and dyanmic stability. Listen in to learn more! *At 18:45 Tom meant Stratocaster not Telecaster* 00:00-01:58 General Overview 01:58-06:23 Specs, Modes, Power 06:23-10:50 Characteristic #1 10:50-15:14 Characteristics #2 & #3 15:14-19:20 Characteristics #4 & #5 19:20-21:50 A Note about...

Newcomer Michael Johnson reviews Metronome's AQWO 2 Hybrid DAC + SACD/CD + Streamer. He starts with an overview of the AQWO its design and function followed by a comprehensive review of sound quality. Who is Michael Johnson? Michael Johnson, DMA, is an oboist and educator currently based in Los Angeles, with an in-demand performing career spread across the American southwest. Since 2019 Dr. Johnso...

Cynthia Blankenship, the Audio Belle, reviews the Schiit Freya+ tube preamplifier, taking us through the philosophy of The Absolute Sound, the qualities of tube amplification, and how the Schiit Freya+ shapes up. Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutes... Substack: theabsolutesound.substack.com Watch more Audio Belle: https://www.yout...

Tom reviews the J Sikora Initial Max Turntable. He discusses its strengths, accessories, and more. Tune in to learn more! 00:00-03:54 Background & Specs 03:54-09:05 Design, Construction Quality, Tonearms 09:05-11:28 A Note on Cartridges 11:28-17:01 Sound Quality Thought #1 17:01-24:10 Sound Quality Thought #2 24:10-26:07 Sound Quality Thoughts #3 & #4 26:07- Final Thoughts Newsletter: http...

During the install of the Wilson Benesch Omnium Loudspeaker, Robert Harley spoke with Luke Milnes to learn more about Wilson Benesch's history, the development of their isobaric drivers, and more... 00:00-03:28 History of Wilson Benesch & Development 03:28-09:16 Isobaric Drivers 09:16-12:12 Enclosure 12:12-16:22 Mechanical Construction & Footer 16:22- Price & Infrasonic Generator What...

Tom Martin reviews the Magico A5, it's sleek design, extreme low level resolution, and more... Listen in! 00:00-3:32 The Basics 3:32-11:57 Sound Quality 11:57- Imaging Interview w/ Magico CEO Alon Wolf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdG8uOZP1PU&t=33s&ab_channel=THEABSOLUTESOUND Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Sub...

New to the The Absolute Sound team, Thomas&Stereo, reviews the highly anticipated KEF R3 Meta. Does it live up to the hype? Does the Meta technology actually makes a difference? Listen in to find out... Who is Thomas&Stereo? I started this channel with the dream of making millions and a few online friends. Although I have yet to make my first million, I am proud to have created an active o...

Jason Kennedy reviews the Børresen X3 Floor Standing Loudspeaker, it's detailed construction, unique cabinet design, and it's superior sound quality. Listen in to learn more... 00:00-04:05 History & Cabinet and Driver Construction 04:05-8:45 Tweeter, Back Design, and More. 8:45-15:50 What Does it Sound Like? 15:50 Final Thoughts and Notes on Footers

Tom Martin reviews the Technics SL-1210G detailing its design, attributes, advantages and potential pitfalls... Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: theabsolutesound.substack.com About Tom Martin: Tom is a long-time audiophile. He began his reviewing career after acquiring the The Absolute Sound magazine in 1997 and t...

In preparation for his upcoming review in The Absolute Sound magazine, Robert Harley is joined by Jim Shannon of T+A to give a brief preview and overview of the S540 Loudspeaker. The Solitaire's S540 AXPONA debut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsilt_q_oY0&t=0s&ab_channel=THEABSOLUTESOUND Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolut...

Tom Martin reviews the Lumin T3, detailing it's digital domain volume control through LEEDH processing, it's competitive price point, and more... LEEDH Processing TAS article: https://theabsolutesound.substack.com/p/leedh-processing-digital-doman-volume LEEDH Processing white paper: https://www.processing-leedh.com/copie-de-presentation Note that the T3 can, in addition to Ethernet streaming, supp...

Tom Martin reviews the Audio Research 6SE Preamplifier, detailing its design, purpose, and listening quality. Tom's dCS Lina review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqn1oCLG_G0 Tom's PH Audio BHK Power Amp review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tX3gprOt14&t=1s&ab_channel=THEABSOLUTESOUND Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolut...

Tom Martin review the PS Audio BHK 600 Power Amplifiers, details its brutish power power supply, its vacuum tube rectification stage, and relays some of the history behind the designer, the late Bascom H. King. 00:00-05:51 Specs 05:51-15:04 History, Design, Bascom H. King 15:04-18:11 First Thoughts on Sound 18:11-21:32 Reference Equipment and Tracks 21:32- Pros, Cons, and Further Thoughts About To...

Tom Martin reviews the Hana Umami Blue Moving Coil Cartridge, including set-up, pricing, and compares it to the Hana ML and DS003 cartridges... Prices of cartridges referenced in this review: Hana EL: $475 Hana SL: $750 Hana ML: $1200 Hana Umami Blue: $2500 DS 003 optical cartridge: $2500 DS-specific 003 phono pre-preamp:$3500 Hana Umami Red: $3950 What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound ma...

From the mind of the late Siegfried Linkwitz, Tom Martin reviews the Linkwitz LX521. Thoroughly impressed, Tom believes it may be a true breakthrough; listen in as he details its dipole construction, its precise yet vast soundstage, and more... Tom apologizes for the lighting errors; he filmed this right before surgery and couldn’t re-shoot. 00:00-05:05 What is a "Breakthrough"? 05:05-09:18 What i...

Lee Scoggins reviews Alta Audio's Titanium Hestia II & Infigo Audio's Method 3 Class A Monoblock Amplifier, their unique relationship to one another, his history with the Hestia II's, and more... Get Better Sound w/ Jim Smith: https://youtu.be/CX9y40bPkGI 00:00-09:28 Background & Associated Equipment 09:28 The Review For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe...

Tom Martin had the opportunity to have an extended listening session of the Burmester BC150. He compares it with other loudspeakers at its $150,000 price point, and contrasts it by noting its powerful bass, its clear dynamism, and more... 00:00-06:32 Construction, Design, Details 06:32-16:49 Sound Review 16:49- Manufacturer Comments For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary s...

Tom Martin reviews the Burmester 032 Integrated Amplifier, detailing its envy-worthy craftsmanship, its relentless power, and its undeniable "grip" on music... For more show reports, expert reviews, features, and commentary subscribe to our newsletter at: https://www.theabsolutesound.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: theabsolutesound.substack.com #hifi...

Lee Scoggins reviews Wilson Audio's Alexia V, contrasts it with the Alexia II, speaks to a few of its 31 improvements, and more... 00:00-02:00 The Set-Up 02:00-6:08 Lee's Background 06:08-14:53General Overview 14:53-24:26 Cabinet & Construction 24:26-31:04 Alexia II & Associated Equipment 31:04 What's there to Hear? Dialing in my Alexia V's... : https://youtu.be/T7w-9cpfizM Alexia V vs. XV...

In this review Lee Scoggins explores the possibilities high-end cabling can achieve, and specifically the impact of Synergistic Research's SX Foundation Ethernet cable had on his system. Lean more about the SX Foundation Ethernet Cable here: https://www.synergisticresearch.com/cables/foundation-sx/foundation-sx-ethernet/ The Absolute Sound Links https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Substack...

Tom Martin reviews the dCS Lina Ring DAC and Master Clock, going in-depth to to dCS's approach to resistor alignment, the importance of timing, and of course the power dCS brings to system enhancement. About Tom Martin: Tom is a long-time audiophile. He began his reviewing career after acquiring the The Absolute Sound magazine in 1997 and then hi-fi+ magazine in 2002. He has worked closely with Ha...

Lee Scoggins gives his thoughts and impressions on the Ansuz Power Switch D2 followed by an interview with Audio Group Denmark (Ansuz, Aavik and Boerresen) co-founder Michael Børresen. What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazin...

Peter McGrath joins Robert Harley as they compare and contrast the Chonosonic XVX and the Alexia V ahead of Robert's upcoming review in The Absolute Sound Magazine. This video is brought to you in part thanks to AudioQuest. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/40dwZn1 Learn more about Wilson loudspeakers: https://www.wilsonaudio.com/ Watch our Wilson Audio Tour here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFf...

With 70 watts/ch into 8 ohms and 140 watts/ch into 8 ohms the G700M2 is unusual in its nearly complete digital approach to amplification. About Tom Martin: Tom is a long-time audiophile. He began his reviewing career after acquiring the The Absolute Sound magazine in 1997 and then hi-fi+ magazine in 2002. He has worked closely with Harry Pearson and Robert Harley at TAS and with Roy Gregory and Al...