(continued from Coverage V) This portion of Dagogo’s 2008 RMAF Coverage by Doug Schroeder (Part 2 of 2) Audio Unlimited/Focal/Boulder Amplifiers/Running Springs Audio/Tara Labs I am sickened by the fact that I had a lousy pic of this room which is unusable. I’m a better listener than photographer. A very majestic experience; this rig was […]

This portion of Dagogo’s 2008 RMAF Coverage by Doug Schroeder (Part 1 of 2) RMAF was enjoyable, quite a relaxed atmosphere, and perfectly timed as the weather was fairly dismal, making the thought of not being in the mountains bearable. Aside from the odd quirk, like a speaker manufacturer removing my Yoshida Brothers demo disc […]

This portion of Dagogo’s 2008 RMAF Coverage by Constantine Soo Ayon/Escalante/MaxxHorn ▼Ayon electronics and Escalante speakers Ayon Audio and Escalante Designs are the hosts of this large Hyatt Grand Mesa C Exhibit. Escalante is now the enclosure builder for MaxxHorn speakers, and this Exhibit showcased the beautiful cabinetries of MaxxHorn speakers in two separate systems, […]

This portion of Dagogo’s 2008 RMAF Coverage by Jack Roberts Turntables Part 2 of 2 Teres Audio Model 260 Turntable Teres Audio’s prototype arm Galibier Design A couple more Artemis Labs SA-1 Turntables Gerard Scheu Diamond Turntable Schroeder Model 2 tonearm The Scheu Diamond Turntable with the Red Wine Audio Phono Preamp One of several […]

This portion of Dagogo’s 2008 RMAF Coverage by Jack Roberts Turntables Part 1 of 2 Continuum Criterion turntable with Copperhead A pair of Triplanars Allen Perkins’ Spiral Groove SG1 Turntable Clearaudio Reference Audio Note Turntable Montegiro Lengo Da Vinci Nobile The Montegiro Lusso Komplet Turntable Montegiro Lusso Komplet Turntable Clearaudio Wood Anniversary CMB Turntable with […]

This portion of Dagogo’s 2008 RMAF Coverage by Constantine Soo Audio Note UK To date, after listening to other system at the show, the Audio Note UK system, with such extraordinary level of sonics in extreme-premium parts and silver implementation, continued to provide the most explicit experience in tonal sophistication. The only regret in this […]

Jack Roberts, Dagogo’s Senior Reviewer, has the opportunity recently to review Oracle of Canada’s $9,250 integrated solid-state amplifier, and I was able to audition it in my system for two weeks. During that time, I was reviewing the $30k Red Rock Audio Renaissance tube monoblocks. The Oracle, being a transistor design with class A for […]

Reviews appear on a regular basis of “new” isolation devices guaranteed to transform the sound of your system, and eliminate the gremlins associated with unwanted vibrations either from the environment or generated by the equipment itself. With the exception of Roy Gregory, the editor of the English print magazine HiFi + , no one has […]

When I was first approached to review the Rita 880, I was somewhat skeptical of the product. I have often heard products that look superb and that are very well built, but ultimately let me down somewhat in terms of the sound. It’s as if the money, time, and effort went in to the looks […]

(Effective August 1, 2009, Maxxhorn has changed its company name to AFFIRM AUDIO. -Ed.) In 1964, Scientists working at Bell Labs in Holmdel, New Jersey, made one of the monumental discoveries in science. Using a 20’ microwave horn antenna, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson were looking for radio signals from the Milky Way and regions […]

It’s a big hassle for me to audition speakers in my main listening room. My reference B&W Nautilus 800Ds are 275 pounds each and spiked, and I don’t have any help when I move them. Consequently, I told Dagogo’s editor, Constantine Soo, that I really didn’t want to review “midfi” speakers in that room – […]

My listening room is definitely looking a lot like a high-end audio store these days, especially with the present speaker lineup I have in there. In addition to my own B&W Nautilus 800Ds, the room sports Usher BE-20s, Daedalus Audio Ulysses and Coincident Speaker Technology Total Victory IVs. Talk about throwing a bunch of Alpha […]

Description One of the things I love about the Satisfy tonearms is that they have a simple eloquence about them. I am a firm believer in the KISS (keep it simple stupid) principle, especially in audio design. Even the anti-skating design is a lesson in simplicity. The Satisfy tonearms are simple nine-inch arms with exceptional […]

I received some Plinius products for review a few months ago. These are the first products I’ve reviewed from a “down under” manufacturer, by which I mean not only Australia and New Zealand, but also South America, Southern Africa and Malaysia. My apologies to you geographers who can list the 40-plus countries entirely in the […]

This is my third pair of Teresonic speakers to review and I’ll tell you right now these people know how to build beautiful and musical cabinets for Lowther drivers. The little Magus with their stands have been my personal favorites so far of the mini-monitors I have heard, and they looked so great, too. The […]

One of my goals in writing the “Beatnik’s Journey” is to share with you prospects of the reviewing process. So, I thought it might be fun this month to share with you four of the LP’s I always use in the reviewing of any given product. I’ll try to give you a quick synopsis of […]

I’m always on the lookout for deals. Since I first compared different power cords in my system I’ve also been continuously on the lookout for power cords that improve my system and match my personal tastes. Since I discovered that great power cords can be made by small but ambitious companies located in obscure places, […]

If you buy equipment based solely on appearance, then you may not consider Monarchy Audio equipment. However, if you are like the majority of audiophiles who would not judge a component merely by the design of its front plate, then by the end of this review you may find reasons to try the company’s products […]

With a perfect face, a killer body and an ultra sexy voice, I would like to introduce America’s next Top Model… Jeff Rowland 501! You say, “That’s NO model!” I reply, Oh, yes it is; it’s got my vote for top model of Class D amp! As for Jeff Rowland, he is a gentlemanly designer […]

Red Rock Audio was founded in 1994, after a chance meeting between Al Stiefel and Gordon Maughan at the Colorado Audiophile Society that cemented the foundation of the company. At that time, Al was investigating the prospect of cable manufacturing and Gordon was passionate in cable constructions, especially the application of graphite in Teflon tubing, […]

Another Accidental Discovery And A Little Personal History If you happened to read my review of the Ikonoklast Model 3 speakers, you know how I accidentally discovered them while traveling around comparing the VSEI modded Sony SACD players to good turntables. Well it has happened again. I went by to pick up the Teresonic Integrum […]

Over time, it becomes clear to the ardent audiophile that there is a distinct sonic difference between brands of cables. I have never reviewed or conducted listening tests in my own system where a distinction between cables has been more pronounced than when I installed Wireworld’s products. Wireworld products are tested and constructed differently than […]

The Audio Note AN E has become a modern day classic now widely reviewed and revered all around the world by several major publications, including several of the reviewers here at Dagogo. But the AN E is not the only Audio Note loudspeaker deserving of your attention. Audio Note makes several smaller, and quite excellent, […]

Introduction If you are given the opportunity to audition an SET amp in your own system, as ridiculous as it may sound, I’d speculate that for many it will be a decision similar to Alice’s when offered a choice of two pills in Lewis Carol’s classic tale Alice in Wonderland, or if you’re more the […]

This article seeks to make several points by looking at the evolution of my current front end: i) that achieving a reference quality front end is a journey, ii) that it is necessary to think of the components between the cartridge and the preamplifier’s input as a system rather than individually, and iii) to characterize […]

First of all, I would like to begin with a word of thanks to our Sponsors whose messages are being displayed at the top. I envy high-end retailers. They have a houseful of equipment in a wide range of price and performance category, and they are in the business to furnish their sound rooms with […]

In another 15 days, Dagogo’s September 2008 Issue will be launched, which will continue celebration of the ascension of 3 Dagogo Reviewers to the Senior Reviewer positions: Ed Momkus, Jack Roberts and Doug Schroeder. We featured three of Jack’s reviews in our July Top-Of-The-Month Issue, and this month, Doug’s reviews of Jeff Rowland Design Group […]

A premium dealership network is crucial to the long-term stability of the audio industry. For the audio hobby entails a “system” approach that is best conveyed and demonstrated by the brick and mortar establishment. Without stores that provide a personable learning and listening environment for the consumer, especially the ones that convey respect and trust […]

Design Goals The Medallion cabinet of Lowther America has been one of the most popular cabinets for the use of Lowther seven-inch drivers for over a decade, but many of Lowther America’s customers wanted something not so big and a little more modern-looking. The Alerion is Lowther America’s answer to their customers. It makes use […]

Forward Clearaudio of Germany has been dedicated to advancing the art of analog playback since 1978 with the introduction of their phono cartridges. Over the last decade, they gained a reputation by some of having abandoned the natural warmth of vinyl for speed and transparency in their turntable designs. I, for one, commend them for […]