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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Nextscreen Llc Podcasts

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Best Headphone Amplifiers Series: Ray Samuels Audio B-21 Raider Electrostatic and Dynamic Amplifier
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7:59Ray 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 Ove…
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Ultra Evolution Pinnacle Loudspeaker Review
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10:46This 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:…
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June Recordings of the Month from The Absolute Sound Reviewers
5:48
5:48
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5:48We 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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T+A elektroakustik Factory Tour | Tom Martin reports...
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10:17Tom recently visited T+A in Herford, Germany to get an overview of their approach to audio design. Of course, he knew something from the name, which means “Theory plus Application”, but he really didn’t know what to expect. Frankly, he was surprised, pleasantly surprised, by what he found. The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabs…
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Rhumba Extreme 1.4 linestage tube preamp review
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30:59Founded in 2012, Backert Labs are an American company that only produce tube preamps. Despite a crowded marketplace this family operation has stood out with its unique approach to linestage design. I got to spend the last two months with the new Rhumba Extreme 1.4, an $8500 dollar analog linestage from the company that promises a lot in a small cha…
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While the Martin Logan Motion XT series isn’t especially new to the market, we’re trying to go back through the catalog of available options that may interest our viewers. And, yes, Martin Logan may be best known for their electrostatic offerings, but we thought we’d see what they were able to do with traditional cabinet speakers. Were they able to…
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Martin Logan Motion XT speaker review _ DRAFT
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9:46While the Martin Logan Motion XT series isn’t especially new to the market, we’re trying to go back through the catalog of available options that may interest our viewers. And, yes, Martin Logan may be best known for their electrostatic offerings, but we thought we’d see what they were able to do with traditional cabinet speakers. Were they able to…
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Factory Tour and Listening Session: Tidal Audio – In Love With A Question
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21:45Originally founded in 1999, TIDAL is now one of the world's premier loudspeaker and high-end audio manufacturers. The Absolute Sound's Grover Neville had the opportunity to tour TIDAL's factory outside Cologne, Germany and investigate for himself: what makes TIDAL, TIDAL? Listen in to discover what he found out... 00:50 History 04:08 TIDAL factory …
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Best DACs Under $5000: PS Audio Stellar DAC
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10:43In the ever evolving landscape of digital audio conversion, PS Audio has once again demonstrated why they remain a resolute pillar in the high end audio community. This video is sponsored by: https://www.javahifi.com/home The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-…
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Accuphase C2900 preamplifier + A80 amplifier review
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11:07Robert Taylor duel reviews the Accuphase C2900 preamplifier and the Accuphase A80 amplifier, noting their individual characteristics and their combined output. Tune in to hear Robert's thoughts... 01:04 Specs & Design 03:44 Preamp door controls 05:10 Associated Equipment 05:58 Sound Quality 08:08 Sound Quality Pt. 2 10:51 Conclusion This video is s…
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We've all heard the phrase, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Today we are going to review the Perlisten R7t Speakers & R10 Subs by the end of the review, we'll re-ask the question: can have your cake and eat it too? Erratum: Since filming the review, the price of the speakers has gone up as note in subtitles. This video is sponsored by: htt…
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Best Speakers Under $10,000 Series: Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Signature Review
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18:16Introducing Muse Kastanovich, a longtime TAS magazine writer making his YouTube review debut. Muse reviews the design, sound, and context of the Bowers & Wilkins 702 Series 3. Listen in to hear his thoughts! 00:00 Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 02:34 THREE-way design 07:02 Listening to TWO 16:25 ONE Conclusion The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: http…
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Cambridge Audio Evo 150 Streaming Amplifier Review
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10:59One of the things that I’ve discovered in life is that the broader my brush, the more quickly I paint myself into a corner. Scouring the online forums of audiophilia has shed light on a subset of listeners who have done just this when it comes to switching amplifiers. This video is sponsored by: https://www.perlistenaudio.com/products/r212s/ While …
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Best Headphones Series: Stax SR-X9000 electrostatic headphones
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11:30If you’ve been around headphones for a while, you will know that Stax is a Japanese manufacturer of electrostatic headphones that has operated in the top tier for decades. I recently tested their top-of-the-line SR-X9000 headphones. Does the SRX-9000 carry on the Stax tradition? 00:00 Stax SR-X9000 01:24 Electrostatics? 02:42 Sound Quality 10:50 Su…
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May Recordings of the Month from The Absolute Sound Reviewers
8:10
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8:10We 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 is sponsored by: htt…
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Best Speakers $5k-$10k Series: Tekton Design Ulfberht Speaker Review
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15:31Okay this one is obviously different. At 77” tall and weighing 235 lb, the Tekton Ulfberht is not your typical under $10,000 speaker. One look at the front panel, and you’ll know these aren’t your standard 3-way or 4-way towers on the technical front either. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the ideas and the sound quality behind the Te…
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Best Desktop Speakers Under $500 Series: Onkyo GX-30ARC Review
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8:14Okay, full disclosure, this video is not targeted at our average viewer. Rather, this is an attempt to open the door of hi-fi for those previously unfamiliar and at $350 US this delicate sounding desktop pair provides a worthwhile peek through that open door. 00:00 Onkyo GX-30ARC 00:56 Overview 03:50 How'd it sound? 07:11 Summary This video is spon…
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Exclusive: BACCH Stratos Atmos Processing System Listening Preview
9:54
9:54
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9:54You could view the title of this video as audiophile "click bait"—and perhaps it is. In a more charitable frame of mind, however, you could view it as directing attention to a novel product that could prove to be highly significant and even a bit disruptive to the high-end audio marketplace. This is Andrew Quint, a Senior Writer for The Absolute So…
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Best DACs Under $10K Series: Hegel D50 D/A Converter Review
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12:03When Hegel announces a new flagship DAC, the audio world tends to take notice. Hegel has recently released the true successor to their previously acclaimed HD30 DAC. This Hegel Reference Converter promises to elevate Hegel's reputation for pristine digital reproduction to new heights at $4,900. This is placed within the high end realm of HiFi, and …
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McIntosh MSA5500 Streaming Integrated Amplifier Review
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10:03I often rely on analogies to help develop my thoughts. This is a great way to take a known experience that I am relatively more familiar with to draw out the nuance of a less known experience – of course at some point all analogies fall apart and, therefore, they can only get us so far. I bring this up because I admit, when it comes to audio equipm…
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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 Via Blue Rocket cable lifter system briefing
8:09
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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
5:54
5:54
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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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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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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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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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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"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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15:42Robert 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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Accuphase E-800S integrated amplifier review [DRAFT]
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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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Best Speakers $10k-$20k Series: PSI Audio A25-M
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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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