The separates path is one of the most rewarding in audio, and one of the most complicated. Once you commit to separates, the options multiply fast. Every brand makes a compelling case for its preamplifier. A different brand makes an...
There's a school of thought in high-end audio that says the separates path is about freedom, the freedom to choose the best preamplifier from one manufacturer, the best power amplifier from another, the best DAC from a third. Mix and...
Synergistic Research Quark review: an $8,995 fanless Roon music server built to cut internal EM noise. Setup, sound, specs, and Quark vs Voodoo.
A practical guide to presenting, valuing, and selling used headphones, from first upgrades to flagship models. Headphones have a funny way of multiplying. You buy one good pair, discover what a proper headphone amplifier can do, try a different cable,...
If you’re thinking about selling a turntable, there’s a big difference between simply putting it up for sale and getting what it’s actually worth. For serious audio equipment, condition, completeness, provenance, and documentation can have a major impact on value....
Personal audio is evolving fast. Explore 5 standout headphones worth knowing about in 2026—from accessible open-backs like the Focal Hadenys to high-end planar magnetic flagships from Audeze and Meze Audio. Find your next pair and elevate your listening experience.
Is a noisy electrical ground bottlenecking your entire stereo system? In Part 2 of our Synergy series, Synergistic Research founder Ted Denney explains how appliances, Wi-Fi routers, and dimmers pollute your electrical ground. Discover why ground is the absolute ceiling for your noise floor, what components you should never ground, and how stabilizing your zero reference point can make your existing amplifier sound brand new.
Streamline your Hi-Fi stack without compromising performance. Discover 5 exceptional preamplifiers featuring built-in DACs and MM/MC phono stages—from accessible powerhouses like the Rotel RC-1572 MkII to flagship designs from McIntosh and Unison Research. Simplify your setup and elevate your sound.
Are you connecting your high-end components with a mix-and-match "cable stew" of different brands? In this installment of our Synergy series, Synergistic Research founder Ted Denney explains why cables are actually waveguides for electromagnetic fields, not passive pipes for electrons. Discover how digital noise from behind your rack bleeds into your speaker lines, and why a unified cable loom unlocks true system coherence.
