Equipment Reviews

Hana introduced its S Series cartridges in 2014. They have become popular in many audio systems worldwide. Garth Leerer, President of Musical Surroundings, the US importer and distributor of Hana Cartridges, and Excel Sound Japan, the manufacturer of Hana cartridges, decided it was time to refresh their best-selling S Series cartridges, which include the high output SH, the low output SL and the mono SM. Designer Masao Okada-san aimed to incorporate the knowledge... Read More

I have an admission to make, in all the demonstrations of dCS products that I have attended none have inspired me to listen further. They have always sounded perfect but devoid of involvement. However, this product and by extension the need to investigate its various set up options has revealed that dCS DACs are distinctly better than I thought. And this is only the baby in the range.By most metrics dCS is the reigning brand in British digital electronics. No one else... Read More

Sometimes you just have to stop what you are doing and do this. I've been listening to a now vintage Shure V15V Type VxMR moving magnet cartridge, long considered "really good", really "linear", really great tracking at 1 gram, really worthy of "respect" but never considered "really exciting" sounding, that now sounds spectacular!People were dumping these V15s at one time because replacement styli were no longer available.... Read More

High-end audio has a rich history of husband-and-wife teams. In the case of Zesto Audio, head honcho George Counnas designs the circuitry, and his wife Carolyn creates the line's distinctive, unmistakably artsy, curvaceous looks. She also does Zesto's marketing.George’s back story includes being part of a research and development team designing airborne navigational systems for the Royal Air Force and later as a recording engineer, musician, and producer.... Read More

Just because Tracking Angle unapologetically advocates for analog-based audio doesn’t mean we are digital troglodytes. I am confident that many professed analog lovers out there are "closet streamers," so staying updated on the fast-changing developments in the digital arena is important. Combining analog musical satisfaction with digital music's convenience and accessibility is a lofty but worthwhile goal. But don’t fret; this is not an announcement... Read More

Two recent connections provided the perfect opening for this review. One was from a guy I'd not heard from in more than twenty five years. He'd visited my basement listening space but I don't recall the circumstances. Contacting me via LinkedIn, he wrote, "I don’t think I’ve ever heard a system and room as gorgeous as your Glen Rock room. Not the recording studios I’ve been in. Not the radio station rooms I’ve broadcast from in years past. I can’t... Read More

The Japanese firm DS Audio has been on a mission to revive and massively improve optical-based cartridges since CEO Tetsuaki Aoyagi introduced the DS Audio W1 in early 2014, updating Toshiba's optical cart concept from the 1970s. The DS W3 model I’m reviewing here is considered one of the company’s third-generation designs and incorporates many improvements taken from the top-of-the-line Grand Master Ex, Grand Master, and DS Master 3.(Editor's note: I... Read More

I can already hear you asking, "Ken, why are you reviewing a product introduced in 2014?" Good question. It is rare to find an audio component design with a lifespan of over ten years in today's industry, and I am intrigued by the longevity of this product series. While much has been written about various Point 8 amplifiers and industry legend Nelson Pass, this review will cover the amplifier's sound quality and explore the reasons behind Pass... Read More

One of my favorite demo LPs—heck, one of my favorite LPs, period—is the 45rpm reissue by the late, lamented Classic Records of the Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures At An Exhibition, which was originally released by RCA on its fabled "Shaded Dog" Living Stereo label. It was recorded in 1958 at Orchestra Hall and features the Chicago Symphony led by the legendary conductor Fritz Reiner. A young Adolph Herseth, probably the best orchestral trumpeter of the past... Read More

Gryphon Audio just introduced its first entry into the power conditioning universe.

Denmark based Dynaudio designs and manufactures loudspeaker systems for professional studios, car audio, and home hi-fi, all using advanced driver technology engineered and developed in-house. When Dynaudio's John Quick offered the opportunity to review the Evoke 30s, I was absolutely stoked. Though I've been impressed by casual listenings to their stand-mount Special 40, I've never had the chance to spend quality time with a pair of Dynaudio speakers.... Read More

I’ve been a fan of Charisma Audio for a while now. I reviewed and purchased a Charisma Audio Signature One several years back. I consider that cart to be my first high-end cartridge. Although I previously used several other MC carts, the Signature One gave me a more neutral tonality along with more resolution than I previously had. So when Bernard Li of Charisma Audio asked if I’d like to hear his new top-of-the-line YYZ cartridge (the latest evolution up from the... Read More

At a press conference during last spring’s Munich High End 2024 YG Acoustics introduced its new “flagship” $498,000 XV 3 Signature loudspeaker—a four tower, limited-to-eight-pairs edition.This isn’t a review of that speaker, so there’s no point in going through all that went into its design and execution overseen by YG CEO and chief designer Matthew Webster.No doubt designing and executing this modestly priced Talus loudspeaker introduced in 2023 was at least, if not... Read More

The Gryphon Audio Designs Diablo 333 integrated amplifier is the highly anticipated, long-awaited replacement for the very successful Diablo 300, which had a remarkable 8-year run and sold thousands of units. This new design incorporates advanced technologies used in Gryphon's flagship Apex and Commander amplifier and preamp. I met Anthony Chiarella, Gryphon's Director of Sales and Marketing for the USA, at AXPONA 2024. We talked about Gryphon's... Read More