The Absolute Sound Podcast

The KEF Coda W promises audiophile-grade sound from a speaker designed to be subtle, chic, but engaging — tailored for an office, dorm room, or small living space, but does it actually deliver? John Quain reports... 00:00 KEF Coda W 01:02 Overview 02:04 Specs & Design 04:53 Sound Quality 09:45 App & Remote Control 10:23 Summary This video is sponsored by: https://www.hifiman.com/products/detail/295

In this video, Robert Taylor dives into the world of music servers, focusing on the DeJitter it NUC-X server, priced at $8,000. He breaks down its technical enhancements, including a custom power supply and the removal of Bluetooth/Wi-Fi for superior audio performance. Robert also compared it to a standard Intel NUC, showcasing the remarkable improvements in sound clarity and bass definition. Plus, he reviews the DeJitter it Switch-X and discusses how high-quality networking equipment can elevate your audio experience. This video is sponsored by: HiFiMAN Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

00:00 Audio Solutions Vantage M 01:33 Specs & Design 04:50 Sound Quality 14:00 Comparisons 15:54 Character This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/collections/matrix-audio Alexx V Review: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/wilson-audio-alexx-v-loudspeaker/

When putting together a hi fi system, we tend to obsess over the active components. We spend hours agonizing over amplifier topologies or DAC chips, but we often treat the literal foundation of our systems as an afterthought. So settle in while I share some thoughts on a piece of equipment that quietly supports this entire endeavor: The Quadraspire SV3T performance Hi-Fi rack. 00:00 Quadraspire Equipment Rack 00:56 Overview 01:46 Specs & Design 03:26 Customizability 04:24 Is it for you? This video is sponsored by: https://rel.net/ Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Five ten inch drivers per speaker. Alarmingly, that's not a typo, and it's by no means a gimmick either. The MoFi Electronics SourcePoint V10 Master Edition is one of those speakers that just kind of stops you mid-sentence the moment you walk into a room in CES. Or maybe I should say, the moment you hire a crane operator to get them into your basement, they're big, they're impressive. They're beautiful. But how do they sound? Tune in to find out! This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/products/perlisten-audio-d8is-in-wall-on-wall-subwoofer-with-amplifier 00:00 SourcePoint V10 01:35 A Story 02:44 Overview 04:04 888 vs V10 05:49 Specs & Design 10:06 Set Up 10:37 Sound Quality 14:55 Is it for you? Aaron Jenkins reviews the new and improved AE1 Loudspeaker from Acoustic Energy. A 40th year anniversary edition and update, how do these compare to the original? What's new? Tune in to find out... 00:00 AE1 40th Anniversary Edition 01:30 Overview 02:06 What's New? 04:17 Set Up 05:18 Sound Quality 09:31 Summary This video is sponsored by: https://shunyata.com/ Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

00:00 AE1 40th Anniversary Edition 01:30 Overview 02:06 What's New? 04:17 Set Up 05:18 Sound Quality 09:31 Summary This video is sponsored by: https://shunyata.com/

When all-in-one streaming amplifiers were first introduced a few years ago, they received a pretty frosty reception from audiophiles and musicians alike — and rightly so. But in the years since, significant research and technical improvements have transformed the category. Streaming apps have evolved to offer lossless features and a wealth of capabilities, and quite frankly, you just can't beat the price. Case in point: the Eversolo Play. This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/collections/matrix-audio 00:00 Eversolo Play 01:41 Overview 3:00 Features 05:17 Use 08:03 Sound Quality 12:16 Summary

Adrian Alexander went behind the gates of Kimber Kable's Ogden, Utah headquarters to see exactly what goes into making one of the most distinguished audio cable manufacturers in the world. From raw wire drawing to the signature hand-braiding process, Adrian got the inside scoop on the people and processes at Kimber Kable, including an exclusive interview with founder and owner Ray Kimble and a look at his IsoMike an experimental acoustic baffle system. This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/pages/introducing-perlisten 00:00 Inside Kimber Kable's Factory 01:54 Lonnie & Kimber's History 04:10 Factory Floor 08:36 Shipping 09:24 Production Manager 10:45 Product Manager 13:30 Heat Shrink 16:05 Graphic Designer 17:45 Meeting Ray Kimber 20:15 Ray Kimber Interview 24:21 Snake Oil? 25:55 IsoMike In Action 27:48 Listening Room 32:10 Counterfeits? 33:53 Wrap Up Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Do you really need a preamp? Many audiophiles say no — and if a DAC with volume control is your only source, they're technically right. But in Robert's experience, DACs connected directly to power amps tend to sound dull, with muted dynamics and anemic bass. Passive preamps often have the same problem. Today, Robert reviews the PS Audio PGA Signature Preamp to see if a quality active preamp makes the difference. This video is sponsored by: https://axpona.com/why-attend/?utm_source=TAS&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=2026 NADAC Review: https://youtu.be/ObKIIUHaOyo 00:00 PMG Signature Preamplifier 02:43 Overview 06:55 Sound Quality 10:54 Summary Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

In the past year or so, I have reviewed a reasonably large swath of the DACs in the $10k to $50k range. There are many such DACs to consider however, so this has not been a complete survey. And it will likely continue – and still be incomplete. Today, I consider a streamer/DAC combination from WADAX that from some angles is the best DAC I’ve covered. Let’s take a look at what that means, because, well, details matter if you actually consider buying the equipment we review and you actually listen to the equipment you buy. 00:00 WADAX Studio DAC 01:14 Overview 02:10 Features 04:38 Sound Quality 13:00 Musical Examples 16:02 Summary

In this video, Adrian Alexander dives into the McIntosh DS200 Streaming DAC, exploring its eye-catching design and impressive audio performance. Join him as he shares his thoughts on this high-resolution audio device and its nostalgic connection to vintage audio gear. 00:00 McIntosh DS200 01:15 Overview 02:45 Design & Aesthetics 05:30 Technical Specifications 08:15 Listening Experience 12:00 Final Thoughts Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

The Perlisten A3t is an unusual design. That unusual design accomplishes sonic results different from 90% or more of the speakers on the market. You may or may not want that difference, but I think you will want to know about it. Let’s check it out. This video is sponsored by: https://shunyata.com/product/everest-x/ Perlisten Profile: https://youtu.be/rkNmzkS9cNs?si=DABLAGowVdC4fjxX 00:00 Perlisten A3t 01:32 Overview 03:29 Sound Quality 15:24 Comparisons 16:32 Downsides 17:08 Summary Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Recently returning from yet another consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, I was reminded of a CES of over 40 years ago, when a company called Martin Logan introduced an audacious, stunning set of towering electrostatic speakers. In the 40 plus years since then, they've become a venerable name in the audio business, making not just cutting edge tower speakers, but also in wireless speakers, wireless systems, even a soundbar or a set of bookshelf speakers such as the Motion B100s. This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/products/perlisten-audio-d8is-in-wall-on-wall-subwoofer-with-amplifier 00:00 Martin Logan - B100 01:19 Overview 02:58 First Impressions 03:48 Specs & Design 05:52 Sound Quality 10:51 Summary Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Matt Coykendall returns with his review of the ALBERICH² SYSTEM speakers comprised of the Hagen² Monitor and the Alberich² active bass module this speaker system not only packs a clean, articulate bass, but impressive dynamics, and even a high "wife acceptance factor". Is the ALBERICH² SYSTEM for you? Tune in to find out. 00:00 Voxativ ALBERICH² SYSTEM speakers 01:33 Overview 02:57 Specs & Design 05:54 Sound Quality 11:43 Technical Considerations 12:33 Is it for you? 14:50 Final Thoughts Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Robert Taylor takes a deep dive into the Master Fidelity NADAC D and NADAC C — a groundbreaking $50,000 DAC and master clock combo built around the world's first custom one-bit ASIC chip since Philips' legendary TDA 1547 back in 1988. Does this ultra-ambitious pairing from the Vancouver-based team finally deliver on digital audio's long-promised potential? Tune in to find out! This video is sponsored by: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com 00:00 NADC D & C 01:12 Overview 04:45 Sound Quality 11:53 DADC DAC 13:12 Summary Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

In the second half of 2025, Audio Research launched six new products in both tube and solid state areas of design. One of those, the D80 Power Amplifier is a unit that I reviewed, this past July right when the series launched. Well, this time I got to spend some quality listening time with the natural pairing to the D80, the LS2 preamplifier a line stage with intriguing features and an even more intriguing value proposition. This video is sponsored by: https://www.mofielectronics.com/ 00:00 ARC LS2 Preamplifier 01:33 Overview 02:28 Specs & Design 05:05 Set Up 06:36 Sound Quality 13:40 Compare & Contrast 15:10 Summary Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

In the world of high end audio. $230 isn't a lot of money, especially when those $230 gets you a pair of two way active bookshelf speakers with Bluetooth, dual RCA inputs, and a subwoofer output. The big question, of course, is how do they sound? So let's dig into the Edifier 1700BTS speakers. This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/ 00:00 Edifier 1700BTS 01:40 Overview 03:08 Specs & Design 05:25 Set Up 06:15 Sound Quality 11:39 Summary Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

The Eversolo DAC Z10 is a logical step-up option for audiophiles building their systems beyond, say, the $5000 level. At $5000, plus or minus a bit, you probably spend $1000 on a streamer and DAC, $1500 to $2500 on amplification and $1500 to $2500 on speakers. You might balance this differently, but you just don’t have budget for a $1400 streamer and a $2000 DAC, which is what the two Eversolo products we’re looking at cost at review time. If, however, you are working on upgrades or just straight-up buying a system around $10,000 or so, these products might fit nicely. Let’s see what they offer. This video is sponsored by: 00:00 DAC Z10 and T8 02:13 DAC Z10 Features 09:50 Sound Quality 13:34 Voicing 16:00 T8 Streamer 20:26 Additional Important Thoughts 21:01 Summary Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

In this video, John Quain dives into the Bowers and Wilkins PX7 S3 wireless headphones, exploring their refined sound profile and standout features. Priced at $479, these over-ear noise-canceling headphones boast 40mm dynamic drivers and support Bluetooth 5.3 with AptX Lossless codec. I’ll discuss their impressive battery life, customizable EQ via a smartphone app, and a sound stage that delivers clarity and detail across various music genres. If you're an audiophile looking for your next pair of headphones, this review is for you! This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/collections/matrix-audio Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

I am well aware that audio coverage on YouTube has something of a histrionic slant. In an algorithmic media world, I suppose that is to be expected. The problem of course is that when something truly special comes along, if treated with the standard approach, it can get mentally dumped by viewers into the “more BS hysteria” bucket. I offer this warning because the product I’m covering today is, I think, truly special, but since I try to avoid histrionics, I’m not going to attempt to express that with wild exaggerations or shouting. This amplifier will not alter audio history, transform your music or improve your sex life. This is however, a very good amplifier and a real bargain in the right system. As always, its particular sonic profile and capabilities may not fit your needs, so that must be kept in mind. Okay, let’s take a look at the Wattson Madison power amplifier. This video is sponsored by: https://shunyata.com/product/everest8000/