Gordon Brockhouse
Gordon Brockhouse Editor-at-Large, WiFi HiFi; Freelance Writing and Editing
FEATURE: Audio's Great Debate: Does MQA Improve Sound Quality?
Has any subject created more controversy among audiophiles than MQA? Developed by Meridian Audio and announced in late 2014, MQA purports to deliver master-quality audio in files that aren't much larger than CD-resolution. Not just CD-quality, not just high-resolution, but audio that matches, as closely as possible, what the microphones picked up at the recording venue.
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FEATURE: An Interview with Mike Jbara, CEO, MQA Ltd.
In late June, Mike Jbara, CEO of MQA Ltd. joined Greg Stidsen, Director of Technology and Planning for Lenbrook International, at the Alumnae Theatre, a converted firehall in downtown Toronto, for a presentation on "Achieving Studio Master Quality at Home" to Toronto's Music Technology MeetUp.
Hands-on Review: On the Road with CarPlay and Android Auto
People are keeping their cars longer than ever; and the aftermarket offers abundant opportunity to refresh old cars with new technology. Consumers are aware of CarPlay and Android Auto, and they're asking about them when they come into the store.
Hands-on Review: Yamaha NX-N500 Network Powered Speaker
Yamaha's NX-N500 is a marvelous, innovative product, with engaging sound and cutting-edge connectivity. It could serve as a music system in a small or medium-sized room for serious or background listening, but would also be at home on a desktop for nearfield listening.
Review Update: Moon 340i Integrated Amplifier
During the summer, MOON by Simaudio made an important update to its Nēo 340i integrated amplifier. The Boucherville, QC company began offering the 340i with a built-in DSD-capable DAC. Previously, the built-in DAC available for the 340i supported PCM playback to 24 bits/192kHz, but not DSD.
Hands-on Review: Monitor Audio's AirStream A100 amplifier and Radius 90 speakers
Music is changing, and music systems are changing right along with it. This Monitor Audio system is a case in point. It's a very enjoyable system, equally satisfying when listening up close, or when sitting back and listening out loud in a small to medium-size room.
Hands-on Review: NAD D3020 Amplifier; Totem Kin Mini Speakers and Kin Mini Subwoofer
What really impressed me me is how wonderfully organic this lovely little system can sound. The NAD D3020 amplifier and Kin Minis speakers fare nicely on their own; but the system really blossoms with the Kin Mini Subwoofer thrown into the mix.
Hands-on Review: The Electric Kool-Aid Cable Test
I don't imagine WiFi HiFi Publisher John Thomson realized he was setting off a firestorm earlier this year when he posed the question "Do Cables Matter?" in his weekly newsletter. Over the next few days, John's inbox filled up with messages weighing in on both sides of the debate.
Hands-on Review: Kanto Grandstand Sound Base
Soundbars are a popular option for people who want to improve on their flat-panel TV’s built-in speakers, but don’t want a full-blown surround-sound system. A sound base, like the Kanto Grandstand reviewed here, is a variation on this theme.
INSIDE THE NEW SAMSUNG AUDIO LAB
Not many people think of Samsung as a major player in audio. A Canadian ex-pat working in California plans to change that. "We want to be the number-one audio company in the world," says Allan Devantier, Director of Samsung Research America's U.S. Audio Lab in Santa Clarita, CA.
HANDS-ON REVIEW: Headphones for commuters and travelers
I can't think of a product better suited to on-the-go music-lovers than headphones with Bluetooth connectivity and active noise cancellation (ANC). This is a relatively new category, offered by a handful of brands, including B&O, Definitive Technology, Parrot and Sennheiser.
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