You know what I like? Surprises. Vinnie Rossi of Red Wine Audio had packed an unannounced gift into the box of the (recently reviewed) Signature 15 (AU$1500)…which I didn’t notice until I began to repack the amplifier for its return trip to the Connecticut. What was it? A second tube for rolling into the little 15 watter. But let me

The guys at Consonance have hitched their wagon to the digital audio road train with the Sovtek 6H30 tube-infused Consonance Reference7 HD tube music server. It’s a hard disk music storage device AND a network streamer with both single-ended and balanced outputs. Here’s what Consonance refer to as “key functions”: Digital stream master network audio interface (24Bit/192KHz) Digital stream Hard

I want to identify a common complaint amongst computer audiophiles: DAC anxiety.  Some of us try them “all” and get nowhere, never satisfied (few DACs I’ve heard approach the “rightness” of a Rega Saturn or an older Marantz CD player).  Some of us freeze in the face of the bewildering number (and types) of DACs on offer.  Some of us

The year was 1994.  Mighty Joe Moon – Grant Lee Buffalo’s sophomore album - had just dropped into my lap and Melody Maker had concluded their review with the words “Stunning.  Absolutely F**king Stunning.”  CDUniverse’s review summary page censors the profanity thus diluting the conclusive impact of the review, but the F-word was there.  It was there.  It rang in my head like

Deckard: She’s a replicant, isn’t she? Tyrell: I’m impressed. How many questions does it usually take to spot them? Deckard: I don’t get it Tyrell. Tyrell: How many questions? Deckard: Twenty, thirty, cross-referenced. Tyrell: It took more than a hundred for Rachael, didn’t it? Deckard: She doesn’t know?! Tyrell: She’s beginning to suspect, I think. Deckard: Suspect? How can it

The original Miniwatt – the S1 – was widely praised for deploying a classic single-ended circuit in an insanely small chassis with the resulting sound being more than a little bit special. That lilliputian integrated’s 6J1/6P1 tube combo has been given the heave-ho for the new Miniwatt, the N3. This new iteration confirms Miniwatt’s commitment to true bonsai-hifi. Prior to

The Maverick TubeMagic D1 (RRP $299) is of 24bit/96kHz flavour with two output stages: solid state and tube.  An upgraded “vintage” NOS tube is available for an additional $29, but I took a standard unit with a view to switching in the NOS tube midway through the review process. Prior to listening, I emailed Ryan Ping (head designer at Maverick