Even equipment commentators need systems that exist solely for their private enjoyment. Systems that are fenced off from critical ears, there to provide sounds during review downtime.  The Audion EL34 Sterling Stereo Anniversary started its life in my life this way: this wasn’t intended as a review unit.  (Ditto Zu Omen bookshelves). Instead, this commentary comes after six months’ gestation

As a follow-up piece to the 6Moons Hoyt Bedford review, I’ve penned some verbiage on how well the Trafomatic Aries SET tangos with the Bedford Babes. In the context of the Hoyt Bedford Type 2, the EL34 Aries was compared to an Exposure 2010s2, a Weston Acoustics Troubadour and a Dayens Ampino. Click here for the 6Moon-age daydream (oh yeah)

Commissioned for use with the Hoyt Bedford loudspeaker range, Audio Addiction Australia are excited to announce the forthcoming availability of the Trafomatic Aries integrated amplifier. “I wanted something to match the Hoyt-Bedford’s to perfection.  To have energy and speed.  To have single ended purity.  There really was just one catch.  It needed to built to budget.  A reasonable budget, but

I’ve always had a soft spot for EL34 valves. Indeed, my main amp for some six years was a Consonance M100+, sporting 4 x EL34 valves. That knocked a Krell KAV-300i out of my system and – along with much valve rolling – saw off all other reasonably priced contenders for half a decade. The JLTi EL34 (~AU$1300) is a