Picking the best audio component of the year is kind of like pondering your ultimate list of girls to ask to the high school prom. There are many very attractive choices, but probably a much smaller number actually in your league. That doesn’t stop you from dreaming, though. And the girl who maybe initially wasn’t near the top, after you gave her a chance and got to know her better, became the perfect choice. Possibly that even led to a longer-term relationship. The Part-Time Audiophile crew danced with a lot of products in 2017, some at the major shows and others in our home listening rooms. Descriptions of some of these products set us a-tingling before we even met them in person, while others grew on us over time. Many were out of our league; we just accepted that they moved in circles far above our individual financial means. But that didn’t keep us from telling you, our dear readers, what it was like to stand in their presence. OK, enough of the cute analogies. On to business. Although we just alluded to the dizzying cost of some equipment – and indeed many of those made our list – 2017 [...]
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The Part-Time Audiophile guide to the best hi-fi gear of 2017
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RMAF 2015: End of Line and Best in Show
Every year, I plan to wrap RMAF coverage up early. Every year, it goes later and later. It’s because I’m cursed. But this year, we were able to pile it pretty high and deep. 90 (nine-zero) show reports is a sh*t ton of words and photos. Many thanks to Noble Audio for making the coverage happen. Thanks to Rafe Arnott, Lee Scoggins, John Stancavage, and Darryl Lindberg for pitching in. And special thanks to Marjorie Baumert and team for running a great show. For me, RMAF is special. It was my first “big show”, and it opened my eyes to a world that I hadn’t really explored before. Yes, I had been “into audio” for some time, but it was RMAF where I was first able to peer around the corner and meet the magicians themselves, instead of just bearing witness to the magic they made. That experience lent depth and color to the photo I had in my head of what this “industry” was, and in many ways, helped me understand that this industry — like many “cottage industries” — is built by and run for passionate individuals. People, in other words, doing what they love. That is magnetic. I [...]
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Best of 2015 and Product of the Year
2015 is over, much to my shock and chagrin. Honestly, I’m not quite sure how it happened. No. Seriously. I kinda feel like I’m Rick Grimes; I just woke up, everyone is gone, and WTF is the deal with all the freakin’ zombies?!? Oh. Right! [Smacking head]. It must be holiday time! Looking back at the millions of articles and billions of photos, all of which have been seen a couple gazillion times [warning: these numbers may be inaccurate], I do have to wonder if we’re all more than a little nuts (seriously — zombies?!?). I’m told that at this point of the year, we’re supposed to sit back, enjoy family, and perhaps a tasty adult beverage, but I’m still vibrating and it’s not just the phone in my pocket. I mean, that’s part of it, but not all of it. We’ve had an amazing run over here at Part-Time Audiophile and quite frankly, I’m continuously baffled by that. Clearly, you, our readership, have some serious issues with maturity, taste, and time-management. God bless you. On our side of the fence, we’re still changing. Mal and Kirsten are off exploring first-time parenthood; we wish them nothing but the best in their new adventure in short-sheeted sleep and randomly stained clothing, and offer [...]
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DeVore Fidelity announces Orangutan collaboration
I had a chance to speak with John DeVore before Christmas regarding his new collaboration with the Orangutan Foundation International that will see DeVore Fidelity sponsor the care of an orphaned orangutan for one year at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) Facility in Borneo for every pair of O/96 loudspeakers sold in the United States. DeVore’s family has a long history with primate research, and I asked him a little about how this collaboration came about. PTA: What was the germination for the trip to the preserve in the first place? Where does your interest in orangutans originally stem from, and how did you initially connect with Dr. Biruté Galdikas? Did you go to Borneo with the express intent, in your mind, that you would come away with a plan to help them? John DeVore: I have been interested in the natural world for as long as I can remember. This was due in large part to my uncle Irven who was a prominent anthropologist, primatologist, and all around polymath. He had been deep into most of the wildest places on Earth and his stories were exotic and exciting. It was his influence that had me thinking about [...]
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DeVore Orangutan Reference at RMAF 2018
DeVore Fidelity took a giant leap upmarket at RMAF with the debut of their still-to-be-priced Orangutan Reference loudspeakers. Here’s what we know. Bandwidth: 16Hz-45kHz Sensitivity: 98dB Impedance: 12Ω Like their stable mates, the DeVore Orangutan Reference (the O/Ref) is meant to be played with any amp you want — they’re ridiculously easy to drive. The DeVore Orangutan Reference is a system — there are four cabinets, not two. Each is more-or-less the size of the old O/96 that we have known and loved, but the duties are clearly split between the two-pair approach. The O/Ref/A has a 10″ papger-cone woofer (like the O/96 — reviewed here), but it sits in a cast bronze basket. The motor is a huge AlNiCo magnet, with copper Faraday rings above and bleow the cap, a titanium former, and a machines bronze phase plug. Desinger John DeVore says this results “in a far better magnetic and inductive linearity, iincreased sensitivity, and an order of magnitude lower distortion throughout most of the frequency range.” The O/Ref/A also has a 1″ silk-dome tweeter “loaded by a cast & machined bronze horn.” The “all new tweeter motor utilizes a new rare-earth magnet and an underhung voice-coil for increased [...]
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RMAF 2018: A Critical Eye
Photography by Paul Elliott I have completely bought into the music reproduction industry ever since I heard the difference between lamp cord as speaker wire and Monster brand wire oh so many years ago. Yes, I built Heathkit and Eico kits when I was a teenager in the middle 60’s, but really had no idea what was really going on. During this time I was developing my ear for music. Big band and classical when I was alone, and rock when friends came over, as well as getting an inkling of how the music sounded different through different types of components and wire. Through all of the life changes young people go through, I became a professional photographer, while still listening and loving music. Music is that I love forces so many emotions up through me that I can get lost in it. My photography career lasted over thirty years up until the middle 90’s. Meanwhile, I went through many stereo systems, getting caught up in the journey. I have been involved (for the last six or seven years) in the audio festival part of the business in helping Gary Gill and Capital Audiofest. I had volunteered my services and gained [...]
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DeVore Orangutan Reference | High End 2019
DeVore Fidelity‘s new reference speakers were one of the main reasons for me hitting the show in Munich. This, and drinking beer while eating crispy pork knuckles. Never met with John DeVore in person, we had a couple of chats through social media but not much more, I knew the guy is cool as he has great taste in watches and I can now confirm he is as good of a speaker designer as they say. In one of the dreaded ground floor prefabricated rooms he managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat in the form of a 4-cabinet, 4-way, 5-drivers reference speaker system that worked marvels on both jazz and classical music. No, we did not play Royksopp, but I somewhat doubt the typical DeVore customer will anyway. The new DeVore Orangutan Reference speaker system is an evolution of the Orangutan line (and a revision of the Reference the team saw in Denver last year); let’s say that it pushes the frequency extremes to the … extreme. In order to reach for deeper bass, there is a second cabinet with two bass drivers, one active that draws power from a 700W class D Hypex module and one [...]
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CES 2017: Day One – new Chord Hugo 2, DeVore Fidelity, PS Audio speakers, Burwell & Sons go affordable
The Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada The elevator doors slid open and everyone looked at me with revulsion. I was used to it by now, it had happened twice already. It was because there were already 15 people crammed into the lift, and there was no way in hell they were going to let me, or anyone else in to get the 30 floors down to the casino floor. CES 2017 was in full-tilt mode. There were literally thousands of people swarming all over as Brian Hunter from Audiohead, and I were trying to fast-walk our way around the Venetian after he had grabbed me from McCarran Airport 40 minutes earlier. Let’s start with some announcements which will be of real interest I think for can lovers, of the mobile, and transportable varieties. Chord Electronics out of England went big, and blew up three product announcements including massive improvements to their incredibly popular Hugo transportable DAC/headphone amp, now dubbed… wait for it. Hugo 2. The new version features the company’s latest proprietary FPGA technology, a fresh precision-machined, aircraft-grade aluminum case, a full-function remote control, and four digital inputs comprised of optical, coaxial, HD USB, and extended-range Bluetooth, with high-resolution [...]
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CES 2017 video: DeVore Fidelity to unleash $20,000+ flagship Orangutan loudspeaker
I got lucky in Vegas. No, no… not the way you think. I got lucky with news from John DeVore of DeVore Fidelity. He’s working on his new flagship Orangutan-series loudspeaker. A lot of time, and effort is being focused on making this a truly worthy stablemate to the king of the DeVore speaker jungle, and DeVore said that while the price most likely will be north of $20,000 USD for the new model, he is not building to a price point. He’s building it to be the best he is capable of, which is testament to his desire to push his speaker-design limits. Those who’ve heard them are familiar with what DeVore’s transducers are capable of when it comes to playback of the flesh-and-bone variety. His Orangutan line are culpable in the art of sonic seduction: Ditto for his Gibbon X, and 3XL, The Nines… the list goes on. Having had my living room graced with a pair of O/96s for a number of months summer before last, I’m intimately familiar with what these waveform translators are capable of. But let’s skip ahead a bit in this report. It was at RMAF in October that I first got wind [...]
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CES 2017: Sun setting on Vegas for high fidelity?
This CES was my first. Thing is, it just might be my last. Consensus among fellow journalists, hi-fi manufacturers, distributors, and bricks & mortar owners is that it’s no longer a good fit for home audio, and attendance by companies who pursue higher fidelity had dropped significantly from previous years according to long-time attendees. Up on the 29~32 floors in the Venetian Tower there was grumbling about AARP, and Simmons Mattresses being slotted-in by CES organizers cheek-by-jowl with the likes of DeVore Fidelity, and GoldenEar Technology. This being my first date with CES I was content to look past what I considered minor flaws; it mostly looked good from where I was standing as long as you squinted a bit… and had a few beers. But there was no mistaking CES for an AXPONA or RMAF. In Las Vegas it was virtual-reality technology, ever smaller drones, and robotics that seemed to be the main event, with high fidelity more of an afterthought. Regardless, I ended up having a fantastic time thanks to the people who make up our industry who made Vegas shine on like a crazy diamond. There wasn’t an evening that didn’t have laughter, whiskey, wine, or beer being shared with friends over amazing meals. The gear that [...]
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Pass Labs and DeVore Fidelity arrive for review
Some equipment just speaks your language. Pass Labs designs have always been a favourite of mine on the audio-show circuit. They construct incredibly musical components with real sonic muscle that never sacrifices air or detail, so when I was offered an opportunity to review some of their gear I was very happy indeed. After some thinking, I decided that my approach to this upcoming review would be from the point of view of someone looking to make the jump from an integrated amplifier to separates. With that in mind, and with a budget in my head ($15,000 USD or less) Pass Labs have sent me their entry-level XP-10 preamplifier, and X150.8 power amplifier. Thanks to Soundhounds in Victoria, and DeVore Fidelity in Brooklyn, I’ve got a beautiful pair of DeVore O/93s to review along with the XP-10, and X150.8. AudioQuest cabling throughout wires everything together. Things have been busy at Part-Time Audiophile north lately. PS Audio recently sent me their Perfect Wave Power Plant 10 for review, and the Pass Labs equipment is enjoying their break-in period with noticeably improved dynamics, and a much-lowered noise floor thanks to the P10. Our listening/living room is just starting to clear out after parting with a slew [...]
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RMAF 2017: Must See Rooms
Friday, Day One by Eric Franklin Shook Considering my late head start, I want to point out a few brands, dealers, and vendors you might want to put on your short list of MUST SEE ROOMS. This should have been done last night, but I’ll catch up. Often I hear after the typical show coverage comes out, things like “I didn’t know they were at the show, I missed them.” Which is a shame, but what can you do? Here’s what? Go in prepared, and let me be your sherpa. Off we go! FERN & ROBY Room #1002 w/ Linear Tube Audio and DeVore Fidelity. If you like unique turntables, and probably one of the best vinyl collections at the show, then please make a pit stop here. VANA Ltd Room #1013 and #1015 Audio Physic, EAT, Okki Nokki: Two adjoining rooms with more audio value per dollar than most rooms at the show. Jeff Rowland Design Group Room #1019 Truly a modern art museum experience. If you’ve only seen pictures, they don’t do Jeff’s products any justice. Studio Electric, ModWright, WyWires Room #9013 8 Watts driving, 88db Speakers – A must hear room! Dan brings a new headphone [...]
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The Best Floorstanding Speakers | Buyers Guide 2021
The Best Floorstanding Speakers [Editor’s note: Welcome to the Part-Time Audiophile Buyers Guide for 2021! This year we decided to mix it up a little by breaking up the Buyers Guide into sections, which makes it a far more manageable read. And oh, we know what you’re thinking–the best floorstanding speakers? Really? Are we discriminating against height-challenged monitors? Isn’t it really just “different flavors of ice cream?” Let’s clear this up: these are the best floorstanding speakers that we, the PTA team, have heard.] Magnepan LRS ($650 pr USD) On the surface, it might seem that the Magnepan LRS (Little Ribbon Speaker) is a direct replacement for the MMG. In economic terms it is. In the audible sense, however, it is not. Where the MMG was a sample taken from the entry level of what Magnepan can do, the LRS is a sample taken from Magnepan’s flagship designs. Imagine a steakhouse selling 4 oz. samples of their Dry-Aged Japanese Wagyu Rib-Eye for $6. That should be a game-changer for their business. Right? Sonus faber Lumina III ($2,199 pr USD) A pair of Sonus faber 3-way towers, made in Italy, and retailing for just $2200? There has to be a mistake [...]
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Sound Kaos Vox 3a Loudspeaker | REVIEW
The Sound Kaos Vox 3a is probably a speaker many of you have not heard of before. I certainly had not heard of it until Soo In of Enleum and Bakoon fame offered me a [...]
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Pass Labs and DeVore Fidelity arrive for review
Pass Labs XP-10 preamplifier. Some equipment just speaks your language. Pass Labs designs have always been a favourite of mine on the audio-show circuit. They construct incredibly musical components with real sonic muscle that never sacrifices air or detail, so when I was offered an opportunity to review some of their gear I was [...]
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RMAF 2017: Must See Rooms
Friday, Day One by Eric Franklin Shook Considering my late head start, I want to point out a few brands, dealers, and vendors you might want to put on your short list of MUST SEE ROOMS. This should have been done last night, but I’ll catch up. Often I hear after the typical show [...]
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The DeVore Fidelity O/93 loudspeaker long-term review
DeVore's designs are some of the most beautiful speakers I've ever seen. There's something about John DeVore's loudspeakers that intrinsically connect me to the music. Jazz, blues, EDM, folk, rock, or pop... it doesn't matter. The electron translations being performed by DeVore Fidelity designs – like the O/93 graciously provided to me by [...]
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The Part-Time Audiophile guide to the best hi-fi gear of 2017
Photo Credit: Jason Tang Picking the best audio component of the year is kind of like pondering your ultimate list of girls to ask to the high school prom. There are many very attractive choices, but probably a much smaller number actually in your league. That doesn’t stop you from dreaming, though. And [...]
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DeVore Orangutan Reference at RMAF 2018
DeVore Fidelity took a giant leap upmarket at RMAF with the debut of their still-to-be-priced Orangutan Reference loudspeakers. Here's what we know. Bandwidth: 16Hz-45kHz Sensitivity: 98dB Impedance: 12Ω Like their stable mates, the DeVore Orangutan Reference (the O/Ref) is meant to be played with any amp you want -- they're ridiculously easy to drive. The [...]
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RMAF 2018: A Critical Eye
Photography by Paul Elliott I have completely bought into the music reproduction industry ever since I heard the difference between lamp cord as speaker wire and Monster brand wire oh so many years ago. Yes, I built Heathkit and Eico kits when I was a teenager in the middle 60’s, but really had no idea [...]
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