The Absolute Sound Podcast

Does high-performance audio necessarily mean high-fidelity audio? In my default reactionary state, I might pointedly blurt out, “Of course it does!” I might even go so far as to say, “How could one even ask such a question?” That was, until I heard the KEF Q7 Meta. theabsolutesound.com/newsletter 00:00 KEF Q7 Meta 01:17 Specs & Design 03:12 Sound Quality 8:33 Summary The Absolute Sound’s Revie...

"I started making this video a few months ago, but didn't feel ready to post it and set it aside. As it turns out, I'm glad that I did, because about two weeks ago, my colleague Jason Methfessel put up a video on this very subject about his initial and unenthusiastic experience with Atmos. Very different from my own over the past year or so. Things are happening in the Atmos music sphere at an eve...

"I started making this video a few months ago, but didn't feel ready to post it and set it aside. As it turns out, I'm glad that I did, because about two weeks ago, my colleague Jason Methfessel put up a video on this very subject about his initial and unenthusiastic experience with Atmos. Very different from my own over the past year or so. Things are happening in the Atmos music sphere at an eve...

We recently got a sneak preview of six new products that the revitalized Audio Research is launching in March of 2025, all entering production in Q2. That’s a lot of products for any company, especially one with the market position and pedigree of Audio Research. Maybe even more important, these are “core market” products, not “state-of-someone-else’s-wallet” offerings. Let’s take a look at some o...

We wanted to share with you some of the music we are using in the review process, with a focus on musically interesting work that is also enjoyably recorded. This isn’t necessarily new work or new recordings. With streaming making a test drive of these recommendations so easy, we simply wanted to give you some ideas. The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/article...

We wanted to share with you some of the music we are using in the review process, with a focus on musically interesting work that is also enjoyably recorded. This isn’t necessarily new work or new recordings. With streaming making a test drive of these recommendations so easy, we simply wanted to give you some ideas. The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/article...

Robert Taylor reviews the Wilson Audio WATT Puppy, gives a brief comparison to the Sasha V, and describes his overall impressions with the classic yet new Puppies. This video's sponsor: theabsolutesound.com/newsletter The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/ Magazine: https://theabsolutesound.com/sub...

This video's sponsor: theabsolutesound.com/newsletter The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/ Magazine: https://theabsolutesound.com/subscribe Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Substack: https://theabsolutesound.com/substack 00:00 Accuphase E-800S integrated amplifier 00:51 Ove...

One of the challenges today in audio is how to get Gen-Z. That generation is grown up with everything in the palm of their hand on their smartphone, to appreciate the subtle joys of high fidelity sound. Well, NAD may have met that challenge with its C 00 V2 blue OS streaming amplifier.... This video's sponsor: https://playbackdistribution.com/collections/esprit The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodol...

The Bowers and Wilkins 804 D4 speakers have a rather different sonic profile to most of the high end speakers on the market. As a result, the 804 may satisfy a need that other speakers can't, at least in this price range. Let's examine this idea. This video's sponsor: https://shunyata.com/ 00:00 Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4 01:13 Overview 02:19 Specs & Design 03:50 Sound Quality 06:36 Voicing 1...

PSI Audio is primarily a pro audio company focused on monitors for use in recording studios. Given our interest in reproducing recordings well, I thought it would be interesting to review a few studio monitors to see if hearing what the engineers hear, or something more like it, had any benefits. There are all sorts of urban myths about what happens in the studio and try as I might, I can’t escape...

We wanted to share with you some of the music we are using in the review process, with a focus on musically interesting work that is also enjoyably recorded. This isn’t necessarily new work or new recordings. With streaming making a test drive of these recommendations so easy, we simply wanted to give you some ideas. The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/article...

The NAD C 298 strikes me as the amplifier a lot of audiophiles would want. But it is somewhat unusual, which may mean it flies under your radar. It shouldn’t, but let me tell you why so you can decide. This video's sponsor: https://www.mofielectronics.com/products/mofi-electronics-sourcepoint-888-floorstanding-speakers-pair 00:00 NAD C298 Stereo Power Amplifier 02:07 Overview 03:13 Sound Quality 0...

The NAD C 298 strikes me as the amplifier a lot of audiophiles would want. But it is somewhat unusual, which may mean it flies under your radar. It shouldn’t, but let me tell you why so you can decide. This video's sponsor: https://www.mofielectronics.com/products/mofi-electronics-sourcepoint-888-floorstanding-speakers-pair 00:00 NAD C298 Stereo Power Amplifier 02:07 Overview 03:13 Sound Quality 0...

Newcomer (to The Absolute Sound, not to high-end audio) Grover Neville shares his breakdown and thoughts on the ZMF Calderas. Are they a return to form? A new development? Or all of the above? Listen in to learn more. 00:00 ZMF Calderas 00:51 Specs & Design 02:47 Sound Quality 07:10 Value? 11:01 Summary Grover's Reference Gear: Ampsandsound Custom 300B SET Ampsandsound Yosemite Preamp/Phono Am...

The Mola Mola Tambaqui is a DAC unlike any other. The question is whether that distinction is apparent in sound quality or is just a distinction without a difference. Let’s see. This video's sponsor: https://playbackdistribution.com/collections/esprit The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/ 00:00 Mo...

Robert Taylor goes 3-for-1 in this review of the Synergistic Research Voodoo Streamer, SR Network Switch, and SR Router. Is there something more than magic going on in the sleek, stylish, Synergistic boxes, listen in to hear Robert's thoughts. This video's Sponsor: theabsolutesound.com/newsletter 00:00 Synergistic Research Voodoo Streamer 00:42 About Robert 01:54 Specs & Design 03:55 Network D...

There are some technologies, let's face it, that just don't meet our standards yet, but we'd like to really see them work. And so engineers keep plugging away at meeting the challenges. As is the case with true wireless stereo and ear monitors such as the Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 Wireless Hi-Fi Earphones. This video's sponsor: https://playbackdistribution.com/collections/advance-paris The Absolute S...

There are situations that, due to space considerations or the variety of music sources you're dealing with, or just out of a desire for convenience where you want to use something like a pair of powered bookshelf speakers. Techniques has decided to fulfill that need for budding audio files by coming out with the wireless speaker system, the SC-CX700's. This video's sponsor: https://playbackdistrib...

The Blusound Node Icon is a four-part product: streamer, D/A converter, headphone amp and room correction system. You could use it as the hub of a system simply by adding powered speakers or a stereo amp and speakers. Rather than try to do many things, but somewhat badly, in this review I want to look at the Node Icon simply as a streamer/DAC, which I think is its foundational functionality. To wh...

A long time fan of McIntosh, Adrian reviews the versatile, curious McIntosh C2800 and explores why it has 4 vacuum tubes on offer as opposed to the expected 6 or 8. This video's sponsor: https://playbackdistribution.com/pages/about-esprit The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/ Newsletter: https://w...

Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries, which goes by the acronym DALI, builds the Oberon three as a stand mount speaker with floor standard sound. That's a big claim, and all the more so because the Oberon three costs $800 a pair, which isn't much in the world of high end audio. So does this relatively inexpensive speaker deliver on that promise, and more important, how does it sound? This vide...

We wanted to share with you some of the music we are using in the review process, with a focus on musically interesting work that is also enjoyably recorded. This isn’t necessarily new work or new recordings. With streaming making a test drive of these recommendations so easy, we simply wanted to give you some ideas. This video's sponsor: https://www.advanceparis.com/fr/ The Absolute Sound’s Revie...

DESCRIPTION If the novelty of your soundbar has worn off, or you’re in the market for a receiver or amplifier that provides an opportunity to tidy all those cables in addition to presenting the music you love on hi-fi stereo, Marantz had you in mind when creating the Stereo 70s AV Receiver. Jason's music for this review: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/28143020 The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodol...