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Details: Written by: News Editor; Category: Features; Created: 02 November 2013

The gallery below features pictures of the rooms visited on November 2. Below each picture is a caption listing the speaker and electronics brands that are visible.

Details: Written by: News Editor; Category: Features; Created: 02 November 2013

The gallery below features pictures of the rooms visited on November 2. Below each picture is a caption listing the speaker and electronics brands that are visible.

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: Features; Created: 01 November 2013

On November 1, one day before the Tokyo International Audio Show, I walked through various parts of Tokyo. The photos in the gallery below show you what I saw.

(Part 4 of 4)

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: Features; Created: 01 November 2013

On November 1, one day before the Tokyo International Audio Show, I walked through various parts of Tokyo. The photos in the gallery below show you what I saw.

(Part 3 of 4)

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: Features; Created: 01 November 2013

On November 1, one day before the Tokyo International Audio Show, I walked through various parts of Tokyo. The photos in the gallery below show you what I saw.

(Part 2 of 4)

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: Features; Created: 01 November 2013

On November 1, one day before the Tokyo International Audio Show, I walked through various parts of Tokyo. The photos in the gallery below show you what I saw.

(Part 1 of 4)

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: Features; Created: 13 October 2013

A couple of days ago I wrote an article under the "Future Fi" theme about the importance of quality all-in-one components to help grow high-end hi-fi's consumer base. The importance of convenience and simplicity, which is what these components provide, can't be underestimated.

Details: Written by: Jeff Fritz; Category: Features; Created: 12 October 2013

Walking around this show was almost depressing. It didn't seem to be well attended, many manufacturers were complaining about the lack of business-producing traffic, and some of the products just didn't make any sense. Sound familiar?

Details: Written by: News Editor; Category: Products; Created: 12 October 2013

Around five years ago the industry declared: the DAC is back! Well, it still is. There were a number of new DACs at RMAF 2013, and they all had something to differentiate them in the crowded marketplace. There were also a number of digital products that had DAC functionality built in. These products, shown at RMAF 2013, are featured in this article.

Details: Written by: News Editor; Category: Products; Created: 12 October 2013

Is there any product category as polarizing as loudspeakers? Audiophiles can become so brand-centric that discussions on Internet forums can resemble guys at a sports bar raving about their favorite NFL teams. And why not? Models of loudspeakers vary wildly in look, build, and sound. Look no further than RMAF 2013 for proof of that.

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: Features; Created: 12 October 2013

I’m convinced now more than ever that in order for the hi-fi market to grow and be attractive to more consumers, the typical audiophile notion of more boxes (i.e., separates), and the many more cables necessary to chain the components together, must give way to all-in-one components that are still very high quality both in terms of build and sound, but are easier to use and more practical to fit in a room. Why? Let’s face it: most consumers today want less clutter in their rooms rather than more, and they like simplicity over complexity. I ran into two perfect examples of this approach in Sumiko’s and Hegel Music Systems’ rooms.

Details: Written by: Jeff Fritz; Category: Features; Created: 11 October 2013

So there we were, having a coffee at the Front Range Trading Post at the Marriott Tech Center, which is where Rocky Mountain Audio Fest is held, just about two hours before the show was set to open. Doug Schneider and I were discussing the state of the audiophile marketplace and considering what types of products we would see and hear at this year's RMAF. Then Doug mentioned that at least one of our writers, a youngster in his 20s, had never even owned a CD. Like, not one.

Details: Written by: News Editor; Category: Products; Created: 11 October 2013

Although we didn't see the bounty of new products we normally find at shows like CES in Las Vegas or High End in Munich, Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) saw a number of significant launches in the realm of amplification components: power amplifiers, integrated amplifiers, and preamplifiers.

Details: Written by: Doug Schneider; Category: Features; Created: 28 September 2013

I'm writing this article before CEDIA Expo 2013 begins, but it won't be published until after it's over. That's because it describes the new approach we plan to take with this event insofar as our coverage goes, but we want it to appear as the very last article in the section listing, since we want people to read it first to understand why we covered this show the way we did (the way our sites list articles, the last published is the first to show in any section).

Details: Written by: News Editor; Category: Features; Created: 28 September 2013

Audio Research's marketing director, Brandon Lauer, told us what we think is a little-known fact, or at least something we didn't know: despite the company having been in business for more than 40 years, there's never been a headphone jack on any of their preamplifiers. Until now.

Details: Written by: News Editor; Category: Features; Created: 27 September 2013

Bryston's VP of marketing, James Tanner (shown in photo below), was laughing as we approached him. When we asked why, he said that a customer had just asked him if Bryston still made amplifiers!

Details: Written by: News Editor; Category: Features; Created: 27 September 2013

Ask us who makes the best subwoofers in the world, and the number of companies we'd name would be less than five. Of that select group, JL Audio would be high on the list.

Details: Written by: News Editor; Category: Features; Created: 27 September 2013

When the Sonus Faber company debuted the new Olympica-series speakers at Munich's High End event last May, there was nothing but praise for the way the line looked -- thoroughly modern, but at the same time retaining the classic, luxurious appearance that the brand has long been known for. But among the group of three speakers that they showed there -- the I, a stand-mounted design, plus the II and III, which are both floorstanders -- there was one thing conspicuously absent: a center-channel speaker. For those who listen to only stereo, that didn't matter. But for those who wanted to set up a full surround-sound-type rig, its absence meant a lot.

Details: Written by: News Editor; Category: Features; Created: 27 September 2013

A few years ago when Anthem first introduced their MRX receiver, which included the 300, 500, and 700 models, they had a clear vision of what they needed to be about: affordably priced with sufficient features and, most importantly, the superb sound quality that the company has been long known for. That approach worked not only with consumers but also with critics, who were able to comfortably recommend the line based on those merits, as well as buy the products for themselves -- the SoundStage! Network's Wes Marshall, Jason Thorpe, and Vince Hanada all own Anthem receivers.

Details: Written by: News Editor; Category: Features; Created: 27 September 2013

Over the years we've seen loudspeakers with drivers made out of many materials, but not a single one has had cones made from flax! That's now changed with Focal's new Aria 900-series speakers, which have innovative flax-based driver cones. Surprisingly, they are also fairly affordable -- the entry-level bookshelf-type 906 sells for $1499 USD per pair, while the top-of-the-line 948 floorstander sells for $4999 per pair.