Dynaudio speakers are known for pushing the boundaries of sound reproduction. Ever since the first speakers started rolling out of the factory in the late 70s in Skanderborg, Denmark, Dynaudio has always sought to do things differently for the sake of great audio. The podcast series, Inside Dynaudio, invites you to follow the company and its employees on their journey to engineer the best audio reproduction experiences in the world. From stories of how a small inquiry became the start of a g ...
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The official podcast for SoundStage!, featuring host Jorden Guth for seasons 2 and 3, plus hosts Brent Butterworth and Dennis Burger for season 1
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The Absolute Sound is the world’s preeminent source of expert reviews, features, and commentary on high-performance audio and music. Since 1973, TAS has set the standard for quality audio and music journalism, helping to shape the industry and guiding audio enthusiasts and music lovers to components and recordings that faithfully reproduce the sounds one might hear in a good concert hall. The Absolute Sound is a monthly print and digital magazine, an online destination for those interested i ...
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Best Speakers Under $10K Series: Dynaudio Contour 20 Black Edition Review
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23:14The Dynaudio Contour 20 Black Edition may look almost identical to the contour 20, but looks can be deceiving. The Danish loudspeaker company, I think, has packed quite a few changes under the hood of this long popular stand mount speaker. Let's find out what! 00:00 Dynaudio Contour 20 Black Edition 02:29 Specs & Design 05:45 Sound Quality 18:45 Is…
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The Science and Precision Behind KEF’s Speaker Production
31:43
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31:43This week, SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast host Jorden Guth is joined by Jack Oclee-Brown, VP of Technology at KEF, to discuss the decisions that go into what products are made where, and the intricate relationship between measurements and manufacturing. Sources: “KEF’s Jack Oclee-Brown” on the SoundStage! Audiophile Podcast: https://www.soundstage.…
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The Via Blue Rocket cable lifter system briefing
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8:09In this briefing I cover the Via Blue Rocket cable lifter system. I’ve been using these for several months now and have found them quite useful and enjoyable. Let’s find out why. This video is sponsored by: https://www.hegel.com/en/ The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodo…
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Following up from his Pass Labs factory tour, Adrian reviews the hefty, rich Pass Labs 260.8 Monoblock Amplifier. This video's sponsored by: https://shunyata.com/product/gemini-model-8/ 00:00 Pass Labs 260.8 Monoblock Amplifier 01:56 Specs & Design 03:32 Sound Quality 06:31 Customer Service 07:33 Summary The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: htt…
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A business strategy frequently employed by seasoned organizations when developing a new product is to design and produce what is known as a Minimum Viable Product. After hearing the Chesky Audio LC1s, it became abundantly clear Founder and CEO, Lucca Chesky, made the prudent decision to dispense with circumspect practices of seasoned organizations …
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April Recordings of the Month from The Absolute Sound Reviewers
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5:54We 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 Met…
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Dutch Decibels: The Netherlands-Built Sound of Dutch & Dutch
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30:07This week, host Jorden Guth joins Martijn Mensink of Dutch & Dutch to discuss what aspects of the company’s beloved 8c speakers are made where, how the decision is made to craft some things in-house and outsource other elements, why driver manufacturing and DSP development are very different enterprises, and what the future holds for the design and…
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Meze Audio 105 AER Open Back Headphones Review
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12:14Some listeners feel that the most intimate experience you can have with recorded music is by using headphones. Not just because of the proximity to your ears, but it's the way they're voicing their aural personality gets right inside your head. An excellent example of that are the Meze Audio 105 AER Headphones... 00:00 Meze Audio 105 AER 01:32 Spec…
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Audia Flight FLS9 Modular Integrated Amplifier Review
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17:57Just north of Rome on the Italian coast is a high end amplifier manufacturer you've probably never heard of, but Audia Flight who've been making amps and preamps in-house since 1996, is a company that I think is past due for serious consideration from North American audiophiles. I spent this past winter with their FLS9 Modular Integrated Amplifier,…
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We’ve just attended the 2025 AXPONA audio show in Chicago. We had a team of 5 on site: Adrian Alexander, Grover Neville, Jason Methfessel, Robert Taylor and Tom Martin doing video coverage. The magazine also had a group of reviewers covering the show and their summary will be published in an upcoming issue. Errata: DeVore Fidelity Gibbon Super 9: $…
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Songer Audio S2x Loudspeaker Field Listen
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12:28Songer Audio is the kind of audio company that puts a smile on your face. Songer is a small company devoted to designing and hand-building unusual loudspeakers. The concepts used by designer Ken Songer in some ways harken back to the early days of audio in the ‘30s and ‘50s. But these ideas are off the beaten path for modern designs. And a seven-ye…
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Best DACs Under $50k Series: Tidal Camira LC Review
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23:28Regular viewers (thank you!) will know that we have defined six major issues for audio believability. These are systemic technical issues that have proven hard to address, one of these being ‘the problem of a-musical digital distortion’. We have been reviewing D/A converters in the hope of finding some that deal with the issue effectively. Is the T…
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Made-in-Germany Hi-Fi and Playback-Control Software from T+A
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29:02In this week’s episode, host Jorden Guth chats with T+A elektroakustik COO Conradin Amft to learn more about the value proposition of where components are manufactured, why German manufacturing still has value in and of itself irrespective of the financial considerations, and why the choice fo where to manufacture is different for products with and…
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Best Wireless Headphones Series: Bang & Olufsen H100 Wireless Review
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14:36Newcomer Matt Coykendall reviews the Bang & Olufsen H100 headphones with their versatile but surprisingly high-fidelity sound. How do these stand up in the marketplace of hi-fi headphones? Listen in to find out... The video is sponsored by: https://chordelectronics.co.uk/mojo-2 Matt's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UC145VfPR89fEeiwjvQvThaA The A…
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Blockaudio Class A Monoblock Amplifier Review
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11:49I tend to approach amplifier reviews with some trepidation, because I’m afraid the differences between them will be minute. This is almost never the case in reality. With the Block Class A monoblocks, the sound quality was not only easily discerned, it was what I think many audiophiles would want, if cost were no object. https://www.theabsolutesoun…
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Adrian Alexander stopped by Auburn California to take a peak at what Pass Labs has been up to... Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in hig…
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VPE Electrodynamics Dipole Bass Systems for Magnepan and Other Open-Baffle Speakers
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11:21Thomas gives his impressions of his first experience with two different dipole bass systems, provided by VPE Electrodynamics, one for use with smaller Magnepan speakers like the LRS+. and one for use with open-baffle dynamic speakers. Listen in to hear his thoughts. This video is sponsored by: https://www.advanceparis.com/ The Absolute Sound’s Revi…
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By Nextscreen, LLC
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ERRATA: Popori Hypersail does NOT include subs. Demo had REL subs in place. Apologies for the mistake. MBL 101 X-Treme price is $433k/pr (4 pcs) Tom Martin and Jason Methfessel return from this years Southwest Audio Fest with a list of some of the most compelling products and rooms they experienced at the show. Listen in to see what's new! theabsol…
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Dynaudio's Otto Jørgensen: Made in Denmark and Elsewhere
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34:45This week, host Jorden Guth chats with Dynaudio’s Otto Jørgensen about the company’s manufacturing processes, its massive Jupiter speaker-measuring room and how it compares to anechoic chambers, and why some things must still be made locally from a practical perspective. They also dig into why you can’t look at the “Made in X” label on a component …
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Best Speakers Under $2000 Series: KEF Q7 Meta Review
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9:38Does 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 Q…
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Spatial Audio Update: High-End Atmos Could Be A Game Changer (but…)
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17:44"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…
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Spatial Audio Update: High-End Atmos May Be A Game Changer
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17:44
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17:44"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…
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Preview: 6 New Audio Research Products Revealed (TAS Factory Visit)
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13:56We 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-els…
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March Recordings of the Month from The Absolute Sound Reviewers
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7:41
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7:41We 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 Met…
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Best Speakers $20-$40k Series: Wilson WATT/Puppy Review
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15:42
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15:42Robert 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-prin…
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The World's Greatest Speakerman? Sandy Gross: From Polk to Definitive to GoldenEar and Beyond
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58:40
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58:40This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by industry legend Sandy Gross to discuss his passion for hi-fi and his insider perspective on the three brands he co-founded and remains mostly closely associated with: Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and GoldenEar Technology. Sources: “The 2024 SoundStage! Network Awards for Outstanding Achievements and Pr…
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Accuphase E-800S integrated amplifier review [DRAFT]
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24:16
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24:16This 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:…
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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/colle…
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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 & …
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Dr. Sean Olive on the Harman Target and Its Myriad Alternatives
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41:16This week, host Jorden Guth is joined once again by Dr. Sean Olive, senior fellow at Harman International, to dive deeper into the development of the Harman target curve for headphones, the reason why so many alternative target headphone curves have cropped up in recent years, and what it all means for music fans. Sources: “Sound Researcher Dr. Sea…
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Best Speakers $10k-$20k Series: PSI Audio A25-M
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18:11
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18:11PSI 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 happen…
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February Recordings of the Month from The Absolute Sound Reviewers
6:31
6:31
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6:31We 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 Met…
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Best Power Amps Under $5000 Series: NAD C298 Stereo Power Amplifier Review
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9:45The 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 Po…
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A Completely Different Speaker—Ole Siig of Treble Clef Audio
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56:21
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56:21This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by Ole Siig to discuss his history in hi-fi and the development and design of Treble Clef Audio’s distinctive and much-ballyhooed TCA-M active loudspeaker, which the SoundStage! Network video team covered when they traveled to Denmark last year to cover. Sources: “Treble Clef Audio's TCA-M Loudspeaker—Danish, A…
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Best Headphones Series: ZMF Caldera Open Back Review
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12:38Newcomer (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 …
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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-so…
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Synergistic Research Voodoo Streamer Review
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13:02Robert 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 Abo…
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Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 Wireless Hi-Fi Earphones Review
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11:55There 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://playbackdistrib…
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Technics SC-CX700 Wireless Speakers Review
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16:39
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16:39There 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-CX70…
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Best Streamer/DACs Under $1000: Bluesound Node Icon Review
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11:16The 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, whic…
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Hi-Fi Entrepreneur Peter Lyngdorf—The Follow-Up Interview
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58:29This week, host Jorden Guth is joined by hi-fi industry legend Peter Lyngdorf for a supplemental chat, following the release of SoundStage! founder Doug Schneider’s one-on-one video interview on the SoundStage! Network YouTube channel. Peter Lyngdorf is the founder of many hi-fi brands, including DALI, Lyngdorf Audio, Steinway Lyngdorf, and he is a…
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McIntosh C2800 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Review
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13:13A 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-m…
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By Nextscreen, LLC
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Best Speakers Under 2k Series: DALI Oberon 3 Review
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7:13Danish 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…
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Recordings of the Month from The Absolute Sound Reviewers
4:33
4:33
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4:33We 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://w…
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Marantz Stereo 70s Stereo A/V Receiver Review
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14:31DESCRIPTION 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/play…
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