The Absolute Sound Podcast
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 in better sound, and a community of audiophiles and music lovers. For a Brief History of The Absolute Sound: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/fifty-years-of-the-absolute-sound/ Sign up for our weekly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/iPNIR2 Subscribe to our monthly magazine: https://theabsolutesound.secure.darwin.cx/J200BNRA
Episodes
D'Agostino Pendulum integrated amplifier made from Dan D'Agostino Master Audio Systems, the company belonging to the man who was founder, CEO and chief designer of KRELL until 2009. They mostly manufacture megabucks electronics like preamps, power amps and integrated amps, which sell for up to $385,000. But the Pendulum is their new most affordable amp at $18,000 base, or $22,500 as reviewed, with both options and capable of 120W p...
As you may recall, we have outlined seven major problems with audio believability. A link is in the description for details. One of these items is the problem of recording standards. Today, we look at a new electronics product from Vandersteen that is designed to address this issue. Let’s see what Richard and team have done.
With a price per pair coming in at $23.5k (USD), for me they’ll remain a memory for now, but when my hi-fi budget grows, I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on these beauties. However, if you currently find yourself looking for equipment in this price range, you’re gonna wanna stick around while I share what I heard while listening to the AGD SOLO Monoblock amps.
This video is sponsored by: https://shunyata.com/product/everest-x/
...After hearing the Model 1's at this year's AXPONA, in combination with their minimalist design, Adrian Alexander decided to investigate these further. Are they possibly going to be Adrian's new reference speaker? Tune in to find out!
This video is sponsored by: https://www.wattson.audio/
The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/
...The venerable firm Audio Research has recently undergone a big transition in ownership, strategy and product offerings. We covered this extensively in a visit to their Minnesota headquarters in advance of the release of 6 new products this summer. Today, I’ll be reviewing two of those products, the LS-3 solid-state preamp/DAC and the S-100 solid-state power amp. We’ve covered the new D-80 tube power amp, and will be covering the LS...
What happens when you take one of the most respected professional monitor companies and ask them to build their flagship home speaker? You get something that challenges everything you think you know about how big sound should look...
This video is sponsored by: https://www.javahifi.com/home
00:00 PMC Prophecy9
01:39 Overview
4:40 Sound Quality
11:15 Is it for you?
12:46 Technology
13:36 Summary
Newsletter: https://www...
The streamer is quite possibly the most misunderstood device commonly used in the high-end audio chain. Most people harbor the thought that the differences between streamers are either non-existent or very, very small. I had that thought, reinforced by the idea that “it’s just a computer, and computers can be had for $500.” Then I started testing them. The differences are pretty obvious on a good system, and I think meaningful if y...
In many loudspeaker reviews, you'll hear the word 'soundstage' and 'sound dispersion' a lot, and today you're going to hear a lot more about it, in this review of The Golden Ear Triton five loudspeakers.
This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/pages/introducing-perlisten
00:00 Golden Ear Triton 5
1:01 Overview
01:42 Specs & Design
5:35 Sound Quality
09:15 Summary
Newsletter: https://www.theabsolute...
The E-3 is strictly for playback of DS audio optical cartridges. Does its refined purpose lead to refined sound? Listen in to Robert's review to find out.
This video is sponsored by: https://hifirose.com/
00:00 Soul Note E-3 Phono Equalizer
00:49 Specs & Design
02:39 Sound Quality
08:45 Summary
Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound
Substack: htt...
Ahead of his review of the https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/alsyvox-caravaggio-xx-loudspeaker/ Editor-in-Chief of The Absolute Sound hosted Alsyvox founder and owner Daniele Cohen at his listening room to gather some expository information on the Caravaggio and Alsyvox as a company.
The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles...
What can 80 watts per channel of American tube muscle do for your system in 2025? And further, what can a storied heritage brand like Audio Research bring to the table in a field increasingly dominated by foreign competitors? Hello viewers, I'm Michael Johnson with the Absolute Sound and I am lucky enough to have an early look and listen to Audio Research’s new D-80 stereo tube amplifier, so let’s just dive in.
For a long time, electrostatic driver technology has been at the apex of headphone performance. Audeze, famous for their planar magnetic headphones, has recently updated their electrostatic flagship to create the CRBN2. Let’s take a look.
This video is sponsored by: https://www.perlistenaudio.com/products/r210s/
The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-meth...
Some products that we review do special things that are almost immediately obvious in a controlled environment like we use for testing. Some products also present a challenge to our preconceived notions of what works in audio. The Esoteric F-01 integrated amp does both. Let’s take a look.
This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/
6 Major Problems of Believability: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-...
Robert Taylor reviews the versatile yet simple Bricasti M21 Platinum Series DAC, with its sleek, timeless platinum faceplate.
This video is sponsored by: https://www.perlistenaudio.com/products/r210s/
00:00 Bricasti M21 Platinum Series DAC
00:38 Specs & Design
02:23 Reference Equipment
2:49 Sound Quality
08:48 Summary
Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theab...
This one is different. The Sound Lab G7-7C speaker is just under 7 feet tall, 3 feet wide and 4 inches thick. There are no conventional speaker drivers inside. From the right perspective, it contends for the best speaker in the world. And while $49,500 per pair isn’t inexpensive, in a world where the top speakers are often priced at $400,000 or $800,000 per pair, the Sound Lab might be considered a bargain. Let’s check out the deta...
Today we're diving deep into what might be one of the most tech-focused streaming decks to date: the Eversolo DMP-A10. This isn't just another incremental upgrade, as we often see, this is Eversolo's flagship statement piece, turning heads with its features and hardware, priced at around $3,999.
00:00 EverSolo DMP-A10
01:00 Specs & Design
03:13 Connectivity & Features
05:32 What's Inside?
07:07 Room Correction
09:0...
Robert Taylor reviews the impressive, hefty Soulnote E-3 phono equalizer.
00:00 Soulnote E-3
00:39 Specs & Design
2:29 Sound Quality
08:36 Conclusion
The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/
Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound
Substack: https://w...
Ray Samuels Audio is a long-standing builder of both portable and desktop headphone amplifiers. Ray sent us his B-21 Raider amp to try with a bevy of high-end electrostatic and dynamic headphones that arrived in the lab. As you might intuit, the B-21 can drive both types of headphones. Let’s see what we heard.
00:00 Ray Samuels Audio B-21
00:59 Overview Ray Samuels Audio B-21
02:44 Sound Quality
07:13 Summary Summary
This speaker really surprised me; I don’t know if it was all the rhetoric of being a disrupter to the industry on their website – I often approach disrupters with a hint of skepticism, but SVS means business and the Ultra Evolution Pinnacle brings it!
00:00 Ultra Evolution Pinnacle
00:47 Overview
03:13 Sound Quality
08:59 Wrap Up
Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/...
This speaker really surprised me; I don’t know if it was all the rhetoric of being a disrupter to the industry on their website – I often approach disrupters with a hint of skepticism, but SVS means business and the Ultra Evolution Pinnacle brings it!
00:00 Ultra Evolution Pinnacle
00:47 Overview
03:13 Sound Quality
08:59 Wrap Up
Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.