The Latest
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 13 September 2025 13 September 2025
StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Show 2025 – Coverage
It’s that time again. As I make my way down ‘The Hill’ to Sydney Domestic, bound for all-seasons-in-one-day Melbourne, I’m warned of an unusually cold spell. Wait, what? Yeah, cold even for a Mountains Man like moi. Hey, but I’m anticipating warm cozy vibes at the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park Hotel, the traditional homebase of the StereoNET Hi-Fi & AV Show. There, I’ll be struttin’ and scattin’ through exhibits bathed in the warm red, blue, and green glow of valves and LEDs, in sync with paper, ceramic, and metal cones and domes producing good, good, good, good vibrations. And this is the spot where you’ll read about this writer’s handpicked selection of the sonic comforts at the event’s standout rooms. Let’s do this…
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: News News
- Published: 11 September 2025 11 September 2025
Yamaha Announces YH-4000 and YH-C3000 High-End Headphones
Shown as advanced prototypes at shows around the globe, the new Yamaha YH-4000 and YH-C3000 high-end headphones bring to production bespoke driver technologies, high quality materials, and much more.
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- Written by Barry Jones Barry Jones
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 01 September 2025 01 September 2025
Bluesound NODE ICON Reference Music Streamer
What makes an icon? I pondered this question as I awaited delivery of my next product review sample – the ‘NODE ICON’, a flagship wireless music streamer designed by Bluesound for, in the company’s own words, “the audio obsessed”. My mind initially went to Hollywood and icons such as Clint Eastwood, Brad Pitt and Charlize Theron came to mind, but I decided to ask ChatGPT, and the answer was revealed… Whether it’s a person, a symbol, or a brand, an exemplar becomes iconic when it’s instantly recognisable, emotionally resonant, and timeless. Would the Bluesound NODE ICON fulfill this definition? We'll see.
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 01 September 2025 01 September 2025
Siltech Master Crown Cables
Back in 2011, while writing for 6moons online publication, I had the privilege of reviewing what was, at the time, the most expensive interconnect cables ever to grace my system. Stratospheric stuff at US$42K for a 1m RCA stereo set. Yep, one of the world’s most extravagant. It was a “wow” moment then and, truth be told, still a “wow” moment now. Well… maybe a touch less ‘wowie’ nowadays. Schlepping along my timeline to the here and now, through a journey punctuated by long-term listening with several seriously upmarket cables, once again I find myself deep in super-dosh territory. Even my personal reference cables, which are far from modest, are leagues away from the realm inhabited by Siltech’s Master Crown. Mucho gold coins. And yes, the precious metal is literally part of these flagship cables’ allure. There’s silver and gold in them thar hills…
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 26 August 2025 26 August 2025
SoundStage! Talks Australia Video: Siltech’s Master Crown: Is this Audiophile Cable Engineering at Its Peak?
In this video, editor Edgar Kramer speaks with Edwin van der Kley Rynveld — founder of International Audio Holding (IAH) and co-founder of Siltech, which is part of IAH — about the company’s top-of-the-line Master Crown cables, now in for review at SoundStage! Australia. Van der Kley Rynveld shares his deep insights into advanced materials science, the unique concept of “positive aging,” and the painstaking engineering that goes into creating a US$70,000 reference-grade audio cable.
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- Written by Mark Busby Mark Busby
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 15 August 2025 15 August 2025
Musical Fidelity M6xTT Turntable
The nineteenth century architect Louis Sullivan proposed that in design "Form Follows Function". What if that was reversed and function followed form? We could end up with beautiful creations like the Musical Fidelity M6xTT turntable, a transparent acrylic creation that not only looks gorgeous but produces sublime music too! Read on for the full low-down on this high performance looker…
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- Written by Mark Busby Mark Busby
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 01 August 2025 01 August 2025
Skyanalog G-1 MKII Moving Coil Cartridge
The moving coil cartridge has been around now for nearly 80 years and, with continuing interest in new vinyl, the MC cartridge shows no decline in popularity. Ongoing research into the interaction between materials has allowed cartridge designers and engineers to identify additional musical playback attributes from these devices. And yes, thoughtful engineering is exemplified by the Skyanalog G-1 MKII MC cartridge.
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 01 August 2025 01 August 2025
PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid Power Amplifier
The best of both worlds… such an attractive concept. Merge the positives and strengths of divergent philosophies, varying points-of-view, in order to form what could potentially be a superior outcome. That was the core basis for the development of the EVO 300 Hybrid power amplifier from renowned electronics specialist PrimaLuna. The company’s engineers must have considered, “Is it possible to fuse ideals and technologies in the one product?” Could marrying the rich tonality and naturalness of vacuum tubes with the power, authority and dynamic expression of solid state circuitry unify into a single, truly exceptional amplifier?
Cyrus Debuts New Full Width 80 Series
Due for arrival in time for Christmas 2025, the new 80 Series from Cyrus represents the evolution of the company’s famed half width products to a standard size allowing enhanced circuit design and product functionality.
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- Written by Mark Busby Mark Busby
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 15 July 2025 15 July 2025
Lyra Analog PhonoPipe Phono Cable
Founded by a trio of vinyl replay artisans including American cartridge designer Jonathan Carr, Japanese master craftsman Yoshinori Mishima and Norwegian business strategist Stig Bjorge, Japan-based Lyra Analog has been manufacturing cartridges and components since 1986. Originally established under the name Scan-Tech, then rebranding to Lyra Analog in 1991, the company’s products are renowned for their exceptional transparency and dynamic capabilities. Lyra Analog’s mission is to create enduring products that combine original design, advanced engineering and optimal materials application. So, are those values reflected in the ‘PhonoPipe’ phono cable?
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 09 July 2025 09 July 2025
Feature – REL Acoustics Carbon Special Line Array Audition at Sydney’s Audio Solutions
Bass: It’s the foundation of music… the bedrock. Whether it’s the dramatic punctuation of an orchestral crescendo, the gut-shake of electronica, or the concussive slam of metal, visceral low-frequency energy is a fundamental aspect of the musical experience. In any genre of music. So, as I head to Audio Solutions, the famed house of hi-fi indulgence in Mascot, near Sydney’s airport, I feel like I’m lifted by a thermal and am almost airborne with anticipation. I’m going to audition REL Acoustics’ unfathomable power configuration: dual Carbon Special subwoofer line arrays, a six-pack of three subs per channel, monstrous dual stacks whose sheer acoustic energy will likely have my skinny jeans flapping to the bass beat. And potentially realign my skeletal frame. Yet, such force is not necessarily what this powerful line array is all about… there’s nuance behind the roar.
AudioQuest Debuts New Brave Heart Loudspeaker Cables
Despite its “junior” status compared to models in AudioQuest’s upper echelons, the new Brave Heart loudspeaker cables feature the company’s latest advanced materials and technologies.
