Above: Furutech's NCF Booster in action with the Nordost QBASE QB8 Power Distributor. Q: What do you do when you’ve assembled a system you love, and you’ve optimized the sound in your room? A: You look at tweaks. Today we’ll look at some interesting new tweaks from Furutech. I have on hand two types of NCF Boosters. The original NCF Booster is designed to hold power cables in place, and the NCF Signal Booster is a scaled down version designed for interconnects and speaker cabl READ MORE

After more than five years of research, development and dozens of prototypes, Gravelli is introducing a new line of fully active high-end home audio speakers. The first model in the series are the VIRTUOSO. Autonomous, fully active stereo speakers, custom designed and housed in a concrete enclosure. The specially modified concrete enables the VIRTUOSO speakers to reach its best acoustic properties in the smallest form possible but with a big sound, comparable to the finest high-end audio READ MORE

Since 1979, Focal has been designing and manufacturing high-fidelity audio products.  The French company, based in Saint-Étienne, produces a full slew of products, including home loudspeakers, car speaker audio, studio monitors and over the last few years, headphones.  All Focal products are designed in-house, in France, while their high-end products are manufactured there, as well.  Take a look at any Focal high-end product and you will find the three words…‘Made In France’ proudl READ MORE

Having recently reviewed Gold Note’s stunningly good sounding P-1000 solid state pre-amplifier, when NOVO asked if I’d like to review Gold Note’s PH-10 solid state phono stage ($1,500 USD) and PSU-10 upgrade A/C power supply ($1100 USD), I was more excited than Tom Cruise bouncing up and down on one of Oprah’s interview sofas. PH-10 Phono Stage: Based out of Firenze Italy, Gold Note are world renowned for fabricating high-end turntables, tonearms, cartridges, amplifiers, an READ MORE

McIntosh has just revealed the XRT1.1K loudspeaker, a sibling to the company's larger-than-life XRT2.1K loudspeaker.  Featuring a 1,200 Watt power rating, the full range XRT1.1K is an exceptional speaker in its own right. With its more user-friendly size that is 14” (35 cm) shorter and 173 lbs (78 kg) lighter than the XRT2.1K, the XRT1.1K can comfortably fit in a wider variety of home environments. While not as large as the XRT2.1K, the XRT1.1K is still an extraordinary loudspeaker that p READ MORE

Oscar Wilde once stated: “I have simple tastes… I only like the best.” As a reviewer, I get to listen to a lot of gear and cabling that sounds as good as other products that already exist. Not better… but just as good. For a reference-caliber audiophile product to get my attention, it must sound better than anything I’ve ever auditioned. Stated succinctly, Audeze’s $3,995 USD LCD-4 is the best sounding pair of headphones I’ve ever heard. Product Description: The LCD-4 is Au READ MORE

Have you heard of the Ultrasonic Vinyl Restoration System from Kirmuss Audio?  This product is taking the audiophile world by storm.  Find out why in the "Meet the Maker" story just published by our sister site NOVO.  Click here to read the full story. READ MORE

When thinking about bargains, the statement “hell hath no fury like a woman who misses a 50% off designer shoe sale” readily springs to mind. And just like disobedient dogs who so instinctively enjoy chewing on haute couture footwear, getting value for money on audio gear and cabling comes just as innately to drooling audiophiles. In May 2017, I’d reviewed 1877-Phono’s Zavfino Silver Dart A/C power cords. Back then I’d concluded: “In my audio systems, the Silver Dart consis READ MORE

McIntosh has just introduced the MC312 Power Amplifier which promised many years of musical enjoyment.  Like the MC302 that it replaces, the MC312 is a 300 Watts per channel stereo amplifier and is a great choice to power virtually any home audio system. The full 300 Watts can be delivered to almost any speakers regardless if they have 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance thanks to its unique Autoformer technology. The MC312 has received numerous improvements compared to the MC302. Most notably is th READ MORE

Since 1998 Gruensch has manufactured highly exclusive audio components and speakers in southern Germany and now the company has released its ultimate flagship speaker called the Gruensch Grand Reference. Years of fundamental research and development form the basis for this technologically and sonically outstanding reference loudspeaker. A unique, holistic technical concept was combined with an impressive, acoustically-ideal and elegant design to create a total work of art. Passion, dee READ MORE