Quick answer: You can't rely on seller reputation alone. Verify a used audio cable's authenticity by checking its weight, connector hardware, screws, and markings against manufacturer specs, requesting original documentation and serial numbers, and buying from a dealer that offers...
Rotel Michi Prestige Series The compact disc is having a moment. Not a nostalgic one, a genuine one. Serious listeners are rediscovering what a well-executed disc playback chain does that streaming still hasn't fully replicated. Used CD collections are selling....
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.
