[What's new on TNT-Audio - Internet HiFi magazine]

What's new @ TNT-Audio

Weekly website updates with new articles, reviews, tests, tweaks and DIY designs. Brand new articles are available every weekend.

[What's new in the Italian version]

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September 30, 2023
- Listening test/Theory: everything you need to know about the elusive damping factor on amplifiers and its effect on loudspeakers. Mark unveils all the secrets - Part I (M. Wheeler)
- Viewpoint: while other HiFi companies refuse to reveal what's under the hood of their components, Sennheiser opens its main factory to audiophiles, building the Audiophile Experience Center (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! After five years since their last album the band 30 seconds to Mars releases It's The End Of The World But It's A Beautiful Day, from which we select the intense track Get up kid.
September 23, 2023
- Listening test: sometimes things just don't go as planned! We liked the V3 amp from Fosi Audio so much, but this Fosi Audio DA2120D isn't exactly flawless. The good, the bad & the ugly about this integrated amp with digital and Bluetooth inputs (M. L. Gneier)
- Reportage: here's the third and last part of our detailed visit of the Munich High End Show, many pics and entertaining news from the largest HiFi Show in Europe! (C. Iaccarino)
- Sounds, Old and New! The Takács Quartet, winner of several prizes, including the Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance in 2003, releases - under the label Hyperion Records - the Dvorák Strings Quartet N.13 Op. 106: this is the 3° movement: Molto Vivace.
September 16, 2023
- Listening test: three inexpensive headphone amps around 100€: Douk Audio U3 versus Topping L30 versus iFi Audio Zen Air CAN. And the winner is... (L. Cadeddu)
- Reportage: here's the second part of our detailed visit of the Munich High End Show, many pics and entertaining news from the largest HiFi Show in Europe! (C. Iaccarino)
- Sounds, Old and New! The Chemical Brothers are back, with their new, tenth studio album titled For that beautiful feeling. It's not much different than their previous albums, listen for example to this track titled Fountains.
September 9, 2023
- Listening test & DIY: Paul tests and modifies two Monacor tweeters, the DT99 & DT300, installing waveguides and applying other tweaks (P. Hunting)
- Viewpoint: some controversial thoughts on HiFi reviewing! So, you want to be a reviewer? Let's make sure you have what it takes! - Part I (M. L. Gneier)
- Sounds, Old and New! let's get started with the sheer energy of an unbelievable highlander like Alice Cooper, who publishes his new album titled Road, plenty of renowned featurings, like this with Tom Morello on “White Line Frankenstein”.
July 15, 2023
- Listening test: a versatile, afforbable DAC from JDS Labs, here's the EL DAC II+ (M. L. Gneier)
- Editorial: smartphones audio quality is on the rise! Dirac Audio Technology now available on many smartphones (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Out now a new album by the Boony Doon (Bill Lennox, Bobby Colombo & Jake Kmiecik). A collection of new, fresh and immediate songs that proves the Lennox/Colombo duo has excellent songwriting skills. The album, simply and suggestively titled Let there be music contains several breathtaking tracks, such as the title-track.
- Summer break That time has come for a little break, our ritual weekly updates will be back online on Sept., 9. Follow us on our Facebook page and don't forget to support our truly independent work via a Paypal donation. Enjoy your Summer in music! (Staff)
July 8, 2023
- Theory & First Listen: Mark investigates on the controversial audibility of Ethernet switches and gives a first listen to the Reiki Audio Limited Superswitch Master & Servant (M. Wheeler)
- Editorial: the Covid19 pandemic has evidently left indelible marks, so much so that Dyson, a leader in the vacuum cleaner industry, has come up with HiFi headphones with a built-in facemask, with a purifying effect on the air we breathe while listening to music. Odd, to say the least. (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Out now the new album by the Irish songwriter Brigid Mae Power, titled Dream from the Deep Well where, among her own songs, you can find this intense and amazing cover of Tim Buckley's I must have been blind.
June 30, 2023
- Listening test: can a $1000 BBC LS3/5a variant challenge a high end icon? Let's find out! Here are the XSA Labs Vanguard (M. L. Gneier)
- Listening test: our new section Spilling the beans is devoted to those components that fail to work as claimed. Let's start with the horn-loaded smartphone boosters (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! After eleven years Michael Killer Mike Render releases a new album, simply titled Michael, a clever mix of blues, R'n'B, funky, gospel & hip hop. This track, titled Exit 9, features Blxst.
June 23, 2023
- Listening test: a very good, two way compact and easy to install loudspeaker, with a nicely crafted finish, here's the Xavian Aria, equipped with custom-made Scan-Speak drivers (P. Canova)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks. You can contact us with questions, and to give us your feedback on our reviews.
- Sounds, Old and New! After ten years the Sigur Rós have released a new album, titled ÁTTA, and it's a masterpiece. This amazing track is titled Mór.
June 17, 2023
- Listening test: World Premiere! A new, ambitious, tiny integrated amp equipped with the TPA3255 chipset, here's the Fosi Audio V3 (L. Cadeddu)
- Editorial: since many of you asked, and considering our last report dates back to January 2018 (!!!), here are some commented access statistics to our website during the first five months of the year. Traffic and visitors trends, pageviews and also a complete country chart! (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Just released a new album by the French artist Christine and the Queens, aka Héloïse Letissier, titled PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE. The track I met an angel contains a collaboration with Madonna.
June 10, 2023
- Listening test: Paul compares sound between just using a single capacitor, a two capacitor bundle of the same brand and a three capacitor mix where one capacitor was of a different brand. Discover the pros & cons of capacitors paralleling (P. Hunting)
- Editorial: the patents' war between Sonos and Google ends, for a moment, with a victory for Sonos, since the US jury finds Google guilty of patent infringement. And Google has to pay $32.5 million in damages (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Just released Noel Gallagher's new album, titled Council Skies. Noel continues to prove he is simply an excellent songwriter. This is the title track, an intense song gifted with an excellent video.
June 3, 2023
- Listening test: ear tips are nothing less than critical components if you want your earbuds or IEMs to work their best. It's not cheap or easy to experiment with them but the (eventual) performance improvement are worth it. Under test two sets of ear tips: SednaEarfit XELASTEC vs SpinFit CP360 (M. L. Gneier)
- Reportage: here's the first part of our detailed visit of the Munich High End Show, many pics and entertaining news from the largest HiFi Show in Europe! (C. Iaccarino)
- Sounds, Old and New! out now the new Foo Fighters' album, titled But Here We Are, the first one after Taylor Hawkins and Dave Grohl's mother passing away. This song, The Teacher, is entirely devoted to Grohl's mother.
May 27, 2023
- Road test: an extremely useful and easy to use meter (watt/volt/ampere/Hz/kWh) that allows to measure how many watts our HiFi system uses, both when switched on and in stand-by mode, which kind of mains voltage and frequency we have at home, and how much money does it cost to keep our components permanently switched on, as many audiophiles do. Moreover, it is a must if you wish to save on your bills. Here's the Maxcio PM01, for just 20€! (L. Cadeddu)
- Editorial: even Naim Audio and Musical Fidelity jump on the dreadful fake-vintage bandwagon, releasing clones of their iconic integrated amps of the Eighties, the Nait 1 and A1. Let us explain why we don't like these marketing decisions. (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Lloyd Cole's new album, titled On pain, will hit the stores on June, 23. The first single is “Warm by the fire”, a track that brings us back memories of Lloyd Cole's first albums.
May 20, 2023
- Listening test: surprising, inexpensive and multi-configurable isolation feet for HiFi components and loudspeakers, here are the Ball Beads, a kind of “dampened spikes” which make use of a ball bearing (P. Canova)
- Reportage: a new, unusual way to listen to (and purchase!) jazz vinyls and have some excellent Italian espresso, here's the Blue Turtle. When in Naples, you can't miss it! (C. Iaccarino)
- Sounds, Old and New! Out now a new album by the Oval, titled Romantiq. The Oval is one of the leading bands of the so called glitch music. This is Touha, sounds and images used during the opening of the German Romantic Museum in Frankfurt.
May 13, 2023
- Listening test: our new reviewer from Canada, Henry Venema, tests a pretty unusual device, the Space-Tech Lab STR104 mkII, where STR stands for Super Tube Rectifier. The STR can be used as a replacement for 5U4G, 5RU4 rectifier tubes, and it can also be used to replace 6X4 tubes (H. Venema)
- Authors' bio: our new reviewer from Canada, Henry Venema, introduces himself and his particular HiFi set-up to our readers (H. Venema)
- Sounds, Old and New! Out now a new album by Durand Jones, titled Wait Til I Get Over, entirely devoted to his hometown Hillaryville, Louisiana. It is embedded in an amazing R&B and soul atmosphere, like this sweet “Sadie”.
May 6, 2023
- Listening test: again an impressive product from Argon Audio, a very good sounding WiFi streamer for just 250€, here's the amazing Solo, with ESS Sabre DAC and audiophile components including Burr Brown Op Amps. The Solo is AirPlay2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth and Roon Ready and will support up to 24bit/192kHz audio (G. Budd)
- Editorial: our fund raising campaign has been inactive during the last month because of a temporary bureaucratic issue, now solved! Let us update you on how our TNT-Audio supporting campaign is going on. (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! After 24 years, the Everything but the girl, a.k.a Ben Watt & Tracey Thorn, are back with a new album titled Fuse, a fascinating mix of different styles. This “Run a red light” is a small gem!
April 29, 2023
- Listening test: a hybrid (class D + tubes) integrated amplifier that has become quite famous thanks to various, partly misleading, reviews on YouTube. Here's the Aiyima T9, a 50+50 watt amp with 24/192 DAC, three digital inputs, Bluetooth, tone controls, pre/sub out and a complete remote, all for just 150€ (L. Cadeddu)
- Editorial: Sonos and Google one against the other! The trial between them is set for May 8th. Are we going to discover who stole what? (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! At 84, Ian Hunter releases a new album, titled Defiance, Pt. 1, with a long list of impressive featurings: Jeff Beck, Todd Rundgren, Mike Campbell, Slash, Ringo Starr, Taylor Hawkins, Johnny Depp, Dean Deleo, Robert Deleo, Dennis Dibrizzi, Joe Elliott, Duff McKagan, Billy Bob Thornton and Robert Trujillo. The ex-Mott the Hoople rocker can still compose excellent songs, such as this “Bed of roses”, with Ringo Starr at the drums!
April 22, 2023
- Listening test: World Premiere! Can you buy a truly world-class moving-coil cartridge for only $1260 USD? The superb LeSon LS10 MKII proves that you can (M. L. Gneier)
- Editorial: unexpected good news for audiophiles from the automotive world as General Motors new patent improves audio listening based on physical changes of the listening environment (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! [RIP] Sadly, jazz master Ahmad Jamal passes away at 92. Born enfant prodige, he has been a source of inspiration for generations of artists. Miles Davis considered Jamal his main source of inspiration. Let's listen to his magic touch in this amazing live version of “Autumn Leaves”, at the Palais des Congrè, Paris, in 2017.
April 1, 2023
- Listening test: under test a pair of B&W 606 S2 Anniversary Edition, a worthy successor to the crown of best $1000 / pair loudspeakers? (M. L. Gneier)
- FAQ: seven tips to start building a no-nonsense records collection - Part II (D. Hoehl)
- HiFi Shows: it's ready to start the 30th edition of the Milano Hi Fidelity (April, 1-2, Centro Congressi Melià Hotel, Milano, Italy)
- Sounds, Old and New! released some weeks ago, Depeche Mode's latest album Memento Mori (a Latin phrase that means Don't forget you're gonna die) is an interesting mix of light and cloudy atmospheres. This “Don't say you love me” is a real gem.
- Easter holidays: as usual, we take two weeks off around Easter, our usual weekly updates will be back on April, 22. Stay in touch with us on our Facebook Page for news, music and humour from hilarious Marketplace ads!
March 25, 2023
- “Road” test: worried by a wrong cartridge/arm interface? Use our freeware to determine the right resonance frequency of your analogue playback system (P. Canova)
- Audiophile disc: can a 1959 recording sound good even by today's standards? The answer is yes, if the album is “Time Out” by The Dave Brubeck Quartet (featuring the legendary Take Five track) remastered in 20-bit processing and HDCD, this Red Book CD is a gem, for just few euros (L. cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! A very strange mix of Iranian traditional atmospheres and fusion, here's “Derakht” by the Golnar & Mahan Trio.
March 18, 2023
- Listening test: from Argon Audio a highly versatile remote-controlled integrated amp, with one line input, one phono MM input, two digital inputs and Bluetooth connection, here's the SA1, priced around 350€ (L. Cadeddu)
- Editorial: good news for hearing impaired audiophiles, Amazon and Cochlear team up for making audio streaming compatible with Fire Tvs and hearing aids. The next step will be a similar protocol available for HiFi systems... (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Van Morrison releases a new album of covers, titled Moving on Skiffle, from which we select “I'm moving on”, originally written by Hank Snow in 1950. Indicidentally, in the videoclip, there's a Dual 1219 turntable playing the song.
March 11, 2023
- DIY/Listening test: a comparison test of different opamps installed on a CD player: MUSES8820 vs OPA1692 vs LME49723 vs NJM8801 vs OPA1612 (P. Hunting)
- Music: 50 years ago Pink Floyd released their masterpiece The Dark Side of the Moon, a must for generations of musicphiles and audiophiles. Mark puts it into an interesting perspective (M. Wheeler)
- Sounds, Old and New! at 71 Gary Rossington, the last living member of the Lynyrd Skynyrd, passes away. He was the co-author of “Sweet Home Alabama” and of the legendary guitar solo in Free Bird.
March 4, 2023
- Listening test: an entry-level high output MM cartridge by Sumiko, here's the Rainier. Not the ultimate in resolution, but with tons of musicality! All for $149! (M. L. Gneier)
- FAQ: five tips to start building a no-nonsense records collection - Part I (D. Hoehl)
- Sounds, Old and New! just released the sophomore album by jazz bassist Christian McBride and his quartet (“New Jawn”, with Josh Evans, Marcus Strickland and Nasheet Waits). Titled Prime, the album is an interesting mix of tradition and avant-garde. Let's listen to the title-track.
February 25, 2023
- Listening test: a pair of classy bookshelf monitor loudspeakers from the USA, here are the Tonian Labs Oriaco G6, designed by Tony Minasian, a recording engineer by education and profession (M. L. Gneier)
- Editorial: good news from Google News! They have decided to include our website updates in their daily newsfeed (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Out now the 10th album of the British duo Orbital, who are currenly mixing their electro-dance tradition with some ambient atmosphere. Titled Optical Delusion, this album contains several featurings and different musical contaminations. Let's play this bizarre “Ringa Ringa (The Old Pandemic Folk Song)” (with The Mediaeval Baebes) absolutely loud. Heavy bass, watch out!
February 18, 2023
- Listening test/DIY: our new reviewer from the US listens to an amazing, inexpensive (<500$!) tube preamp DIY kit, the Bottlehead Moreplay (G. Johnson)
- Reviewers' bio: our new reviewer/DIYer from the US, Greg Johnson, with an impressive background and expertise in DIY and engineering, introduces himself to our readers. Some of his creations are amazing... (G. Johnson)
- Sounds, Old and New! Released more or less two months ago, this Avril Lavigne's new single (with Yungblud) is titled “I'm a mess”. It is amazing to discover the talented Canadian songwriter can still compose amazing rock ballads like this one!
February 11, 2023
- Listening test: not just another test CD! Indeed, the COI Records Ultimate Audiophile test disc is a two-discs set, meant to investigate your room acoustics as well (P. Canova)
- Editorial: are multichannel audio and Home Theater doomed? The revenge of two channel stereo as Netflix adds Spatial Audio to series and movies (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! After a long and legendary career as composer, pianist and producer Burt Bacharach passes away at 94. He composed many classics such as Magic Moments, The Look of Love, Anyone Who Had a Heart, I Say a Little Prayer, Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head e What the World Needs Now Is Love. Let's remind him with these live versions of Walk On By, I Say A Little Prayer, Do You Know The Way To San Jose, with the voice of Dionne Warwick.
February 4, 2023
- Listening test: the smallest integrated amplifier by Rega, the IO, is a small music maker that punches above its weight (L. Cadeddu)
- Editorial: clothing brand Fred Perry and ProJect Audio team up to design and release three new turntables. What's next then? A Gucci-branded needle? A crocodile-shaped Lacoste cartridge? (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Upcoming in February the new Morrissey's album, titled Bonfire of Teenagers and this is the title track. It is about the 2017 Manchester Arena terrostic attack that caused 23 deaths.
January 28, 2023
- Listening test: is this the world's best sub-500$ phono preamp in the market, as the manufacturer claims? Let's find out! Actually, it costs just 249$. Here's the Hagerman Audio Labs Bugle MC (M .L. Gneier)
- Editorial: just another modern reissue of an iconic component of the past, here's the BrionVega RadioFonografo, for just 20,000€ (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Out now 12, Ryuichi Sakamoto's new album, composed and recorded in Tokyo while the artist was struggling against cancer. Each of the 12 tracks is titled by the date of composition. Minimalist atmosphere, piano, synths, the artist's own breath and background noises of medical devices...this is 20211201, sweet and melancholic.
January 21, 2023
- Theory/DIY: replacing op amps on CD players and DACs is a rather common practice. Along with a performance upgrade, op amp stability is a goal of op amp rolling, here's an introduction to rolling IC Op Amp Stability (P. Hunting)
- Editorial: we are sure you don't need just another “new” audio format/media, do you? Here's the QUARdisc, a mythical creature, a kind of technological Minotaur, half-LP and half-USB pen. Not hardware, not software...it is vapourware? (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Let's open the 2023 with new tunes, freshly released! Upcoming the new album by the We are scientists, titled Lobe, which has been anticipated by a pair of singles, one of which is this “Lucky just to be here”.
January 14, 2023
- Listening test: a pair of entry-level small floorstanders, a 2 and 1/2 ways design, two 5" woofers, a front firing reflex port and a price tag under 500€/pair, here are the Indiana Line Nota 550X (L. Cadeddu)
- Reportage: here's the fourth part of our detailed visit of the Munich High End Show, many pics and entertaining news from the largest HiFi Show in Europe! (C. Iaccarino)
- Sounds, Old and New! Sadly, Jeff Beck, one of the most influential guitarists of all time, passes away. Let's celebrate him with this version of Steve Wonder's “Superstition”, live at the 25th anniversary of the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame.
December 17, 2022
- Listening test: looking for other Christmas gifts? Our new/former reviewer M. L. Gneier compares four noise-cancelling earbuds: Apple AirPods Pro vs Sony WF-1000XM4 vs Nothing Ear (1) vs Jabra Elite 85t (M. L. Gneier)
- Reviewers' bio: our former US-based reviewer M. L. Gneier is back in full effect! Some things have changed during the last years, so let's welcome him back! (Staff)
- Sounds, Old and New! We are ready for the usual X-Mas & New Year's break! Our usual weekly updates will be back on January, 14. Meanwhile, please accept our warmest wishes for a Happy New Year to you and your families together with this nice, acoustic jazzy version of Wham's Last Christmas, performed by the incredible voice of Rachel Chinouriri, live at BBC1 few days ago. Let's stay in touch on our official Facebook page!
December 10, 2022
- Listening test: Christmas is approaching quickly, what about some cool audiophile gifts? Here are the Chisto fluids for analog: SCS Sutairasu, which is a cleaning system for the stylus of your cartridge, Summit, which is a ready-to-use cleaning liquid for vinyl records, and Easy Groove Concentrate, which needs to be diluted to produce one liter of cleaning solution (P. Canova)
- Reportage: here's the third part of our detailed visit of the Munich High End Show, many pics and entertaining news from the largest HiFi Show in Europe! (C. Iaccarino)
- Sounds, Old and New! We dare to propose you Ryoji Ikeda's latest album, titled Ultratronic. The multimedia Japanese artist's musical universe is made of glitches, rasters, sinusoids and random noises, embedded into an industrial musical environment. Watch out for your woofers and tweeters, this album is a tour de force. Not for everyone, we admit. Let's listen to track 07 (they are numbered between 00 and 16).
December 3, 2022
- Listening test: after having tested the Immersion T1 turntable, Piero reviews the BennyAudio Immersion, a pretty unusual unipivot toneram (P. Canova)
- RIP: sadly, at the age of 75, one of the legends of the Seventies, Wilko Johnson, (Dr. Feelgood, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, the Wilko Johnson Band) passes away, after a long struggle against cancer. He took part in the Game of Thrones series as well. (M. Wheeler)
- Sounds, Old and New! Just released the first album of a trilogy titled Atum, a rock opera in three acts by the Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan's band explores new territories, releasing a caleidoscopic album. Let's listen to the charming track titled Embracer.
November 26, 2022
- Listening test: from Denmark, an incredible pair of small, well made and elegant floorstanders with a stellar quality/price ratio! Here are the Argon Audio Alto 55 mk2 (L. Cadeddu)
- Editorial: who needs a portable turntable? Audio-Technica re-issues their Sound Burger. And it's a shame. (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Today on 26 Nov 1976 the Sex Pistols released the single “Anarchy In The UK”. It reached No.38 on the UK Singles Chart before EMI dropped the group on 6 January 1977.
November 19, 2022
- Listening test: from England, a very, very unusual unipivot tonearm, here's the amazing Supatrac Blackbird (G. Budd)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! Neil Young is back, in full effect with his Crazy Horse band! And it's rock'n'roll! The album, released few days after his 77th birthday (!!!), is titled World Record and this is the electrifying “Break the chain”. Rick Rubin is the producer of the album!
November 12, 2022
- Listening test: we've had mixed feelings with this pair of Moukey Model 20-1 loudspeakers. Despite many positive (even extremely positive!) reviews on the Web, we've found them flawed in many areas (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- HiFi Shows: it's read to start the 34th edition of the Gran Galà dell'Alta Fedeltà (Nov, 25-26, Crown Plaza Hotel, Padova, Italy)
- Sounds, Old and New! Out now the second album of the Ezra Collective, a British jazz quintet that loves contaminations with different musical genres such as soul, afro-beat, reggae and even hip-hop. The album is titled Where I'm Meant To Be and this is Welcome To My World
November 5, 2022
- Listening test: a pair of two-way bookshelf loudspeakers that sound unbelievably wrong, despite many positive 5-stars Amazon reviews! Here are the Wiibo String 15 (L. Cadeddu)
- Editorial: fan of electrostatic loudspeakers anyone? Warwick Audio, maker of electrostatic headphones, has started manufacturing electrostatic panels for automotive use! (L. Cadeddu)
- HiFi Shows: it's read to start the 29th edition of the Milano Hi Fidelity (Nov, 12-13, Centro Congressi Melià Hotel, Milano, Italy)
- Sounds, Old and New! Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the last Kings of Rock'n'Roll, passes away at 87. Let's celebrate “The Killer” with these three live tracks:
- Summer break That time has come for a little break, our ritual weekly updates will be back online on Sept., 10. Follow us on our Facebook page. Enjoy your Summer in music! (Staff)>Wild One, Great Balls of Fire e Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On.
October 29, 2022
- Theory/Listening test: Paul investigates on the relationship between measures, sound quality of 3 op amps (OPA1602, OP275, NJM4562) and their effect on CD players performance (P. Hunting)
- Reportage: here's the second part of our detailed visit of the Munich High End Show, many pics and entertaining news from the largest HiFi Show in Europe! (C. Iaccarino)
- Sounds, Old and New! After four years since their last album, the Simple Minds release their 18th studio album, titled Direction of the heart, composed in Sicily during the lockdown. It contains several amazing tracks, like this “First you jump”.
October 22, 2022
- Listening test: from Poland, an impressive belt driven turntable, the BennyAudio Immersion T1, a massive 25 kg machine, made by a combination of wood, aluminum, stainless steel and rubber (P. Canova)
- Viewpoint: we believe there are too many HiFi brands and too few audiophiles! Some easy math from the facts and figures of the last Munich High End Show 2022 proves we are sadly right (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! A new album by the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra, a jazz ensemble lead by Marshall Allen, who still composes and plays new music at 98! The album is titled Living Sky and this is “Somebody Else's Idea”.
October 15, 2022
- Jurassik (S)Park!: another legend in the history of HiFi, the Marantz 1060 integrated amplifier. If you're looking for some classic, vintage sound, this amplifier should score high in your wish list (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- HiFi Shows: a new, unusual HiFi Show in Turin, Italy! Instead of the usual single hotel meeting, the event will take place in several listening rooms hosted by different HiFi shops. Learn more about the first Torino AudioVideo Show 2022 (Oct., 21-22)
- Sounds, Old and New! ForeverAndEverNoMore is the title of the new Brian Eno's album, after six years. This is the hypnotic and deeply inspired “There Were Bells”. Welcome back Brian!
October 8, 2022
- DIY/Theory: you might have heard that crossover recapping (i.e. installing new caps) is the shortest and safest path to upgrade the sound of any loudspeaker. Well, things are not that straightforward since, even using audiophile-grade caps, things might get worse! Part II now online! (L. Cadeddu)
- Audiophile recordings: Roger listens to a new Storyville Records release, here's Clark Terry Big Bad Band “Live in Holland 1979” (R. McCuaig)
- HiFi Shows: when in Rome, do as the Romans do! Ready to start the 19th edition of the Roma hi-fidelity 2022, Oct. 15-16, Mercure West Hotel, Rome.
- Sounds, Old and New! Just released by ECM a new Keith Jarrett's album, recorded live in Bordeaux, France, before his left side got partially paralyzed by a pair of strokes in 2018. Simply titled Bordeaux Concert, it contains several movements. Let's listen to the “Part II”.
October 1, 2022
- DIY/Listening test: Roger tests a bunch of SPH parts for DIY Idler Drive turntables: spindle assembly, idler wheel tweaks, idler arm damper and headshell damper (R. McCuaig)
- Editorial: big fan of vintage VU meters anyone? Here's the Reservoir Sonomaster, a sophisticated wristwatch bi-retrograde chronograph that uses two VU meters! (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Out now the new album of the Pixies, US-based alternative-rock cult band. Titled Doggerel, the album contains this “Vault of Heaven”, a proof the Pixies are still alive and kicking!
September 24, 2022
- DIY/Theory: you might have heard that crossover recapping (i.e. installing new caps) is the shortest and safest path to upgrade the sound of any loudspeaker. Well, things are not that straightforward since, even using audiophile-grade caps, things might get worse! Part I (L. Cadeddu)
- Vintage Corner: David reviews a very old recording, the 1951 first piano concerto of (Soviet) Georgian composer Otar Taktakishvili, the first in a prospective series about special old records (D. Hoehl)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! Out now the third album of the indie-rock band The Beths, from New Zealand. Titled Expert in a dying field it contains several gems, like the title track. A vast collection of pro and audiophile components appears in the musician' rooms.
September 18, 2022
- Listening test: the procedure of burning-in audio components is highly controversial and while it's easy to burn-in amplifiers via their line inputs with specific CDs, nothing much can be done to burn-in phono stages. That's why the guys at Granite Audio have just released their own Phono Burn-In CD 101.1 (P. Canova)
- Funds raising campaign: after a long period of brainstorming, we've decided to start a support campaign for making TNT-Audio fresher and better. It will be exactly like the voluntary supporting campaign for Wikipedia. Here you will find all the details and motivations (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! Ozzy Osbourne has just released a new all-stars album (Patient Number 9), with the help of some of the best rock musicians out there. This “One of those days” track features the immortal Eric Capton at the guitar. Other unbelievable featurings are: Jeff Beck, Tony Iommi, Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), the late Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses), Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction) and, obviously, his friend Zakk Wylde.
September 10, 2022
- Listening test: the Arylic S50 Pro+ is a DAC/Preamp and digital streaming hub. You send to it all your digital streaming sources such as Tidal, Prime Music, Spotify, Internet radio sources and a long list of others via Wifi, or Bluetooth, or Ethernet cable. You can also play music from a USB pen drive, stream from a PC or NAS, use your CD player as a transport, and there is also has an analog input! All for just a bit over $200. (R. McCuaig)
- Viewpoint Any idea of perfection in audio reproduction is fantasy that if pursued, like any perfectionism, may lead to obsessive-compulsive behaviours intended to avert the catastrophe of imperfection. For many of us, Audiophilia fulfils a role similar to religion. For many of us, Audiophilia takes over almost in the manner of a mental illness. Is Audiophilia faith or fantasy? (M. Wheeler)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! A new, genuine rock'n'roll album by Marcus King, titled Young Blood, from which we have selected this enthralling “Hard working man”. The album has been co-produced with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.
July 16, 2022
- Listening test/DIY: passive preamplifiers again on TNT-Audio...here's a comparative test of three different passive shunt preamps (DIY): Kiwame carbon film vs TKD metal film vs Vishay bulk foil (P. Hunting)
- Breaking news! The quest for lossless CD quality Bluetooth audio is finally over! Qualcomm has released new chipsets for high quality audio via BT, the S3 and the S5 (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Elisabeth Fraser (ex Cocteau Twins), together with Damon Reece (Massive Attack, Spiritualized, Echo & the Bunnymen) releases a new EP titled “Sun's Signature” from which we have selected this evocative “Underwater”.
- Summer break That time has come for a little break, our ritual weekly updates will be back online on Sept., 10. Follow us on our Facebook page. Enjoy your Summer in music! (Staff)
July 9, 2022
- Listening test: a rather expensive and pretty unusual tonearm, here's the Sperling TA1, which can be ordered with armwands in ebony, snakewood, panzerholz or other woods on request and in 9, 10.5, 12 and 13.5 inch lengths (J. Maxson)
- Editorial: Greta goes analog! Pressing vinyl isn't an eco-friendly procedure, here's how the guys at Green Vinyl are ready to solve the problem! (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Nick Cave is such an eclectic and prolific genius! He has just released Seven Psalms, a collection of...psalms, written during lockdown, in a week (one each day). It's a short album of spoken words accompanied by Warren Ellis's incidental music. This EP also contains a long, obscure instrumental piece. Woofers alert, once again, deep and powerful bass frequencies here!
July 2, 2022
- Listening test: new Class D power amp monoblocks, the NuPrime ST-10M, in direct comparison with their ancestors, the NuForce REF9 SE and the new kids on the block, the ZeroZone IRS2092 (P. Canova)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! We were waiting for a new studio album of the progressive band Porcupine Tree since 2009! This new, amazing CLOSURE / CONTINUATION contains several gems, like this “Never have”. The album is available in any format you like, physical or not, including Compact Cassette and crystal clear audiophile-grade 45rpm LPs!
June 25, 2022
- Listening test: a complete, customizable try-before-you-buy set of room acoustics treatments/panels by PYT Audio (G. Budd)
- Things Mom warned you about! Myths and urban legends on tone controls. These get their bad reputation in part from failure to observe that where tonal adjustment is concerned, less is more! (D. Hoehl)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! Out now a new album that celebrates the 35 years of Neneh Cherry's career. It's an album of covers by - among others - Sia, Anohni, Greentea Peng, Kelsey Lu, Robyn, Seinabo Sey, Sudan Archives, Tyson and Jamila Woods. Simply titled The Versions, it contains this strange version of “Buffalo Stance”, by the Swedish singer/songwriter Robyn. Woofers integrity alert from 1:15 on! (“Pump the bass, rock this place!”)
June 18, 2022
- Listening test: a very good sounding MM/MC phono preamp, with a very high quality/price ratio, here's the MonRio ADN-N (P. Canova)
- Editorial: discover what Queen songs, prime numbers and digital delays have in common. A weird story which is hardly known (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! The legendary 4AD label has just released the second album of Bartees Strange, an emerging american artist who covers anything from indie-rock, hip-hop and R'n'B. The album is titled Farm to Table and is a caleidoscope of different emotions. Let's listen to Heavy Heart, a track with distant echoes of 4AD atmospheres.
June 11, 2022
- Listening test: here's the second part of our thrilling comparative test of four low-cost line preamps: Tisbury Audio Mini Pre, BRZHIFI PAP-FV3-2, BRZHIFI VOL-02, Akliam/Domelec. Two passive preamps, a solid state one and a full-tubed one, all priced between 50 and 200€...and the winner is? (L. Cadeddu)
- Reportage: our detailed visit of the Munich High End Show, many pics and entertaining news from the largest HiFi Show in Europe! (C. Iaccarino)
- Sounds, Old and New! Just released, a new album by Roger Eno, Brian's brother, titled “The Turning Year”, from which we listen the overwhelmingly sweet title-track.
June 4, 2022
- DIY: a new, easy DIY speaker design here at TNT-Audio! It's the TNT Hotch, with no filter on the woofers, inspired by the good ol' Dynaco A25 loudspeakers (P. Hunting)
- Breaking news! Tired of sterile sounding CDs and fragile LPs? Now you can have the best of both worlds, with the Ionic Originals discs, a new audio format that seems like a CD, but you can play it on your turntable. Well, maybe. You see, we're not convinced at all. (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Just released, a new album by Liam Gallagher (ex-Oasis), titled “C'mon You Know”, with excellent featurings like Dave Grohl and Ezra Koenig. Let's listen to this “Better days”.
May 28, 2022
- Listening test: according to Roger McCuaig, the best MM/MC phono preamp around 400€, here's the Six Acoustic York (R. McCuaig)
- Editorial: after 76 years, Onkyo Japan filed for bankruptcy! Luckily, it seems the Onkyo and Integra brands will live on (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Unfortunately Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode passes away at 60. Let us remind him playing live in this 1998 concert at the Koln Arena.
May 21, 2022
- Listening test: here's the first part of a thrilling comparative test of four low-cost line preamps: Tisbury Audio Mini Pre, BRZHIFI PAP-FV3-2, BRZHIFI VOL-02, Akliam/Domelec. Two passive preamps, a solid state one and a full-tubed one, all priced between 50 and 200€ (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! Even Vangelis sadly passes away, at 79. The Greek composer, well known for the soundtracks of Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire, was a prolific (54 albums!) and eclectic artist. This is just one beautiful example of his talent: “Ask the mountains”, taken from his album titled Voices.
May 14, 2022
- Listening test: one year after our discovery of the outstanding ZeroZone monoblocks, Piero tests the balanced version of these amplifiers. They use the same chipsets and hexfets, but the geometry and the layout are different. Still, their stellar quality/price ratio remains the same, here are the ZeroZone IRS2092 balanced! (P. Canova)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! After 20 years, Marc Almond and David Ball (aka Soft Cell) release a new album, titled *Happiness not included. Their brilliant synth-pop is back as their lyrics, like in this “Heart like Chernobyl”.
May 7, 2022
- Listening test: a comparison test of several different passive preamps: Ladder Vs Shunt, Thin film Vs bulk foil resistor (P. Hunting)
- Editorial: does music affect driving style (and fuel consumption/battery power)? A recent KIA UK research investigates and proves the obvious. Read our fuel wasting advices, instead (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! After six long years of absence, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are back with a new album, titled “Unlimited love”. Back in full effect John Frusciante, their former guitarist, and Rick Rubin, the producer. Let's listen to this “White Braids & Pillow Chair”, a proof that the Peppers' vein isn't over yet!
April 30, 2022
- Listening test: a revived classic, the Shure M44 cartridge, now made by Jico, here's the J44A-7 IMP (J. Maxson)
- Editorial: since vinyl sales are on the rise, it seems logical new pressing plants become necessary! For this reason Vinyl me, please! is building a new, revolutionary audiophile-grade pressing plant in Denver (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Sadly, Klaus Schulze passes away at 74. A pioneer in electronic music, he started his eclectic musical journey with the Tangerine Dream, and finally started an impressive soloist career. We'd like to remind him with this outstanding live exhibition with Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance).
April 9, 2022
- Listening test: another TPA3116-equipped Class D integrated amp, here's the cool Loxjie A10, tested and compared to the Nobsound F900S, equipped with the same chipset. And the winner is... (L. Cadeddu)
- Authors' bio: our new reviewer from the US, Jeff Maxson, introduces himself and his HiFi set-ups to our readers (J. Maxson)
- Sounds, Old and New! a tribute to the city of Kiev, written after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, by the band Barclay James Harvest, simply titled “Kiev”, here in a intense live version
- Easter holidays: as usual, we take two weeks off around Easter, our usual weekly updates will be back on April, 30.
April 2, 2022
- Jurassik (S)Park!: another legend in the history of high-end audio, the huge and hard to drive Stax ELS F81 planar loudspeakers. This is the first article by our new reviewer from the US, Jeff Maxson.
- Things Mom warned you about!: myths and urban legends on volume controls, how do they work, the mostly feared 12 o'clock position and much more! (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! The duo Muddy Magnolias released just one album (“Broken People” - 2016), but it contained some very nice songs, like this intense It ain't hard
March 26, 2022
- Listening test: Graeme listens to a pair of pretty expensive stand-mount loudspeakers, the unusual Audio Note AN-J SPe (G. Budd)
- Editorial: the war in Ukraine and the consequent export sanctions applied to Russian products are going to have a severe impact both on prices and availability of vacuum tubes worldwide (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! let's discover an incredible choral ensemble from Slovenia. This version of Toto's Africa is simply unbelievable. The way they use their voices and bodies is really breathtaking!
March 19, 2022
- Jurassik (S)Park!: which is the smallest high quality loudspeaker ever made? And one of the best selling loudspeakers of all time? The answer is easy, here are the Visonik David, astonishingly good sounding tiny boxes after almost 50 years! (L. Cadeddu)
- Audiophile recordings: another audiophile recording from the Soundkeeper catalogue, here's The Twain Shall Meet by the Cosmic American Derelicts (N. Whetstone & M. Wheeler)
- Sounds, Old and New! The winds of war here in Europe remind us of this sad Broken heroes by Saxon, a song written in 1985 to honor the soldiers who lost their lives in the battlefields around the world.
```
They came to fight for glory in their thousands
Young men with their dreams
They died before the guns for their country
A book of faded pictures, broken dreams
```
March 12, 2022
- Vintage Corner: an exclusive comparison of the major families of horn phonographs in action! Edison Triumph Model B vs Pathephone Concert Model 20 vs Victor V. A video comparison included! (D. Hoehl)
- Viewpoint: RIAA mid-year report sheds some light on recent music market trends. Believe it or not, but CD sales are on the rise for the first time in 17 years! (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! Just released a new album by Wolfgang Flür (ex-Kraftwerk), titled Magazine 1. “Das Beat” is a song which features Midge Ure (Ultravox): synthetic sounds and beats, like you'd expect, enriched by a fresh modern pop influence.
March 5, 2022
- DIY: now you have no excuses! Here's a complete step by step tutorial, with lots of pictures, on how to build the TNT Aircoil mkII inteconnect cables (P. Canova)
- Viewpoint: the CD and other digital formats have an advantage on portability and ease of use, whereas vinyl is attractive for its nostalgia and the pleasure of the physical media and the enjoyment of the album covers. Hence, which one is better? (R. McCuaig)
- Sounds, Old and New! After 17 years of inactivity the Tears for Fears are back with a new album, titled The Tipping point. Unusual atmospheres for the Orzabal & Smith duo, and this “No small thing” is just an example.
February 26, 2022
- DIY: our new outboard power supply unit design for synchronous AC motor-driven turntables, such as the Michell Gyrodec with Papst motor (R. Sanna & L. Cadeddu)
- Editorial: once again, artists against streaming services! After Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, even Kanye “Ye” West lauches his attack, with his proprietary STEM player. His new album will be available only on this platform (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! At 57 Mark Lanegan (ex-Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age) sadly passes away. His last album, titled Straight songs of sorrow, seems to anticipate his early departure. This obscure and sad “Skeleton Key” is a dark masterpiece.
February 19, 2022
- Theory/DIY/toolbox: if you're not sufficiently skilled it is not easy to detect faults and wiring mistakes in your mains. This magical device, for just 15$/€, checks everything in a snap: line voltage, wiring mistakes, stray voltages and RCD efficiency. Master in electrical engineering not required. Just insert the Habotest HT107D into the socket and you're done! (L. Cadeddu)
- Books: is this just another book about Dylan by a dedicated fan? This book is more than another book about his Bobness, KG Miles again engages the reader in a journey, the author invites readers to follow in the author's, and hence the subject's, footsteps. Mark reviews the book Bob Dylan in The Big Apple (M. Wheeler)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! Ten years after his second solo album, Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) does it again! Together with Stevie Wonder, Ringo Starr and the ubiquitous Elton John, Earthling is a very nice album, as is the song that opens it: “Invincible”.
February 12, 2022
- Theory/DIY: this article looks at a novel way to match Sound Pressure Level (SPL) between tweeters and woofers. Resistors are used in the crossover network to lower the tweeters' SPL so that the tweeter does not sound overly loud compared to the woofer. However, there is a debate as to the crossover resistors' impact on sound reproduction (P. Hunting)
- Editorial: do you have 3700$ to spend in a digital portable device? Then the brand new Sony Walkman^® is waiting for you (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! Out now the new album by the Spoon, a Texan indie-rock band. The album is titled “Lucifer on the sofa”, from which we've chosen this The hardest cut. Pure, simple and genuine rock'n'roll.
February 5, 2022
- Listening test: a pair of bookshelf/monitor loudspeakers with a modified Airborne FR151 full-range coaxial driver, with wood cone! Here are the Unity Audio Whitewater V2 (R. McCuaig)
- Editorial: we're not alone! Is Pope Francis a vinylphile? Yes, it seems The Holy Father spins some vinyl at the Holy See... (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! Just released the third album of the Imarhan, titled Aboogi. The Imarhan are an Algeria-based desert blues band and they express the power and the tradition of the Tuareg culture and music. Imagine black blues music and Tuareg atmospheres mixed together! “Achinkad” is just one brilliant example of their art!
January 29, 2022
- Listening test: a magnetic levitation platform for components isolation, here's the eSseCi Design Relaxa 750, a quite sophisticated evolution of the old SAP Relaxa we reviewed, oh well, 21 years ago!!! (P. Canova)
- Viewpoint/Music: we use to think that artists going back and re-recording songs was some sort of sacrilege. Maybe, if it is done with a love for the music in mind, and in some cases, an almost reverence, then maybe it can be done not only successfully, but as a perfect compliment to the original album. Discover three Re-recordings by Alanis Morissette, the Verve and Paul Weller that are worth listening to! (B. Court)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! an artist we have loved since his debut album (a magnificent audiophile recording, by the way): Keb' Mo'! Out now his latest album titled “Good To Be”, from which we have chosen - among many other lovely songs - the title-track...
January 22, 2022
- Listening test: Roger tests a pair of unconventional omnidirectional floorstanding loudspeakers, the Ohm Acoustics Walsh Tall 3000 (WT3000). Ohm Acoustics omnidirectional loudspeakers are hand made in Brooklyn, NY since 1971! (R. McCuaig)
- Reviewers' bio: new year, new reviewer! Paul Hunting introduces himself to you with a brief biography and his opinions on HiFi, DIY and measurements (P. Hunting)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! new year, new music: just released, a new album by Trees Speak a.k.a Daniel Martin Diaz & Damian Diaz from Tucson, Arizona. The title should be self-explanatory: “Vertigo of Flaws: Emancipation of the Dissonance and Temperaments in Irrational Waveforms”. It is an electronic journey through many different musical influences: echoes of old kraut-rock, Stockhausen, John Cage, Pere Ubu, Vangelis and more. Certainly not for everyone, but deeply fascinating, as this “Cybernetic Dream”, with a certain Blade Runner atmosphere.
January 15, 2022
- Listening test: Mark tests a Chinese clone of a famous Nelson Pass's design, here's the Breeze Audio Pass Clone amplifier (M. Wheeler)
- Theory/listening test: new year, new reviewer! We warmly welcome Paul Hunting and his first article on the relation between tweeters measurements and sound. Under test: Peerless DA25BG08, Seas 19TNF and Visaton DT-94 (P. Hunting)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Sounds, Old and New! new year, new music! Just released the 42nd Neil Young's studio album! Played with the help of his Crazy Horse band, this “Barn” is exactly what you'd expect from the good 'ol Young. Among the tracks, we've chosen “Canerican”, a tribute to his double citizenship. Rock on Neil! The album is also available on vinyl...
December 18, 2021
- DIY: some homework for the upcoming holidays! Here's our latest, no-compromise silver wired mkII edition of our TNT AirCoil interconnects (P. Canova)
- RIP: another great artist has passed away. Mark devotes an obituary to Robbie Shakespeare, of Sly & Robbie, the famous Bard of the Bass (M. Wheeler)
- Sounds, Old and New! While we take some week off around Christmas and New Year's Eve, let us wish you and your families a very happy Holiday season and a wonderful New Year, with another Olivia Dean's sweeeet song: The Christmas Song. Our usual weekly updates will be back on Jan 15, 2022. In the meanwhile, stay tuned for HiFi news and musical suggestions on our Facebook Page! (Staff)
December 11, 2021
- Listening test: Arvind tests a pair of active subwoofers intended for home audio, the SVS Sound SB2000 and SB3000, equipped with an app from whence you can control: level, low pass filter, phase, polarity, 3 parametric eqs and room gain. In-room measurements included! (A. Kohli)
- RIP: a very sad month for the music community, as many artists have passed away. Mark devotes an obituary to John Miles, passed away at 72 (M. Wheeler)
- Sounds, Old and New! We love strange covers! This seems a piano piece by Ludovico Einaudi while it's just “Where is my mind”, a Pixies famous song, re-intepreted by Maxence Cyrin, a French composer and pianist who made a similar job with Depeche Mode and Massive Attack songs.
December 4, 2021
- Review: do you want a free test CD/files compilation? Look no further than this free Focal/JM Lab CD Tools and put your system on a severe test! Technical tracks and music/sound tracks will unveil all the virtues and faults of your system/listening room (L. Cadeddu)
- DIY: a step by step tutorial for making your own record sleeves. Happy cutting to all during the upcoming holidays! (D. Hoehl)
- Sounds, Old and New! Olivia Dean is a young talent (born in 1999!) who has just won the “Amazon Music's 2021 breakthrough artist of the year” award. To know why, just listen to these 35 minutes of pure talent. Hard to believe.
November 27, 2021
- Review: ready for Christmas audiophile gifts? If you're a vinylphile, you can't miss this pair of products for stylus cleaning & preserving. After 40 years the LAST Stylus Cleaner & Stylast preservative rule! (L. Cadeddu)
- Editorial: hearing impaired unite, part III! Released just few days ago, a new audiophile hearing aid, by Knowles and Lucid Audio. If your ears are starting to leave you in the dust, now there's hope! (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Rock legends still alive and kicking: Robert Plant, ex-Led Zeppelin, together with Alison Krauss, has just released a new album (Raise the roof) containing 11 cover tracks and a new single, “High and Lonesome”, written with T-Bone Burnett. Echoes of Led Zeppelin sounds, thanks to Plant's voice and nice guitar riffs.
November 20, 2021
- Listening test/DIY: how do you take an excellent vintage turntable into the 21st century? Discover our exclusive Lenco L75 Restomod (P. Canova)
- Editorial: hearing impaired unite, part II! You might be interested in a pair of brand new Bose SoundControl™ Hearing Aids! (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! Inspired by the sound of the Seventies (R&B, soul, funk & pop) here's “An Evening with Silk Sonic”, by the duo Silk Sonic, a.k.a Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. “Smokin out the window” is an entertaining song, with a nice vintage-style videoclip!
November 13, 2021
- Listening test: Bruno Putzeys strikes again! Arvind tests a pair of outstanding VTV monoblock amplifiers based on 1ET400A Purifi chipsets (A. Kohli)
- Editorial: are you getting old? If yes, you might need audiophile hearing loss medical aids. By coincindence, one of the leading companies in this business, Sonova, has just acquired Sennheiser!...hence there's hope :-) (L. Cadeddu)
- Sounds, Old and New! After exactly ten years after their Gold Cobra album, Limp Bizkit release a new album titled Still sucks, with the usual nu&rap metal atmospheres, but also with several unusual tracks, like this ballad titled “Don't change”.
November 6, 2021
- Listening test: three inexpensive headphone amps tested one against the other: Cavalli Audio Liquid Spark, JDS Labs Objective 2 and Schiit Magni 3+...and the winner is? (B. Court)
- Reportage: Roger visits the Toronto AudioFest 2021, one of the first HiFi Shows to take place after the Covid19 pandemic! (R. McCuaig)
- Sounds, Old and New! some pretty unusual Baroque music this week! Enjoy Heinrich von Biber's Sonata “La battaglia” (1673), played by The San Francisco Early Music Ensemble “Voices of Music”. Von Biber is a relatively known composer who was two centuries ahead of his colleagues. His use of the so-called scordatura is impressive.
October 30, 2021
- Review: a must-have free app for the audio lover or the die-hard DIYer, here's the JBLTools suite. It contains almost everything you need to know to build your own speakers, or to measure SPL, waveforms, polarity and much more. Everything is user-friendly and explained in layman's terms. Too bad it is for Android devices only (L. Cadeddu)
- Viewpoint: there are several attempts within the industry to “certify” or “authenticate” components. A brief and controversial journey among THX, Roon Ready, MQA and Hi-Res features (B. Court)
- Sounds, Old and New! just released a new album by Tom Morello, ex-frontman and guitarist of Rage against the machine. This long track, On the shore of eternity, gives an idea on the musical evolution of this artist. The track features Palestinian DJ Sama' Abdulhadi, who was arrested for her DJ set in a muslims' sacred area last December. This surprising “The Atlas Underground Fire” album also contains a bizarre cover of AC/DC's “Highway to hell” ft. Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Vedder!
October 23, 2021
- Listening test: Graeme tests three different versions of new isolation feet by Lehmann Audio: one for under equipment (the 3S point 1), one for under speaker spikes (the 3S point 2) and one with threaded rods that can be screwed directly into speakers or components. Here are the 3S feet (G. Budd)
- Viewpoint: Bevan explains his concern with spatialized audio. It might be well mastered and recorded, but even if good, they are still a “walled garden”, either forcing you to stream from one particular service or to buy your music again (B. Court)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- (New section) Sounds, Old and New! [RIP] At 95 Franco Cerri, world renowned jazz guitarist, passes away. Let us celebrate him with this version of the classical “Take the A train”, played with his quartet at the Blue Note in Milan.
October 16, 2021
- Listening test: after the surprising low-cost high performance minimonitor LP42, Lonpoo strikes again with the new LP42X active version, with a TPA3116-based internal Class D amplification and a new, improved cabinet! It's a crash course on how to improve an unbelievable bargain that puts the M-Audio BX8 D3 active monitors to shame (L. Cadeddu)
- Book: Roger reviews another classic and highly technical audio manual, by Philip Giddings, the Audio Systems Design and Installation book (R. McCuaig)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- (New section) Sounds, Old and New! [RIP] Alan Lancaster, founder and bassist of the rock band Status Quo, passes away at 72. Let us remind him with their anthem, Whatever you want. Perhaps not their best single, but certainly the most popular.
October 9, 2021
- Jurassik (S)Park!: a pretty unusual pair of vintage loudspeakers, that can be found for peanuts on the second-hand market, here are the Dynatron LS1428, a little known vintage bargain. Test and some history of the brand (M. Wheeler)
- Music: Friday September 24 was the 30th anniversary of the release of Nevermind, legendary Nirvana's album (R. McCuaig)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- (New section) Sounds, Old and New! Just released a tribute album for Metallica's “Black Album”: more than 50 different artists and covers, from Elton John to Miley Cyrus, from J Balvin to Dave Gahan, just to name a few. We've decided to choose this minimalist and surprising version of Nothing else matters performed by Dave Gahan, Depeche Mode's singer and frontman. Stunning, to say the least.
October 2, 2021
- Listening test: Piero tests a set of damping feet based on steel springs, the XSSH Feet, and finds their performance quite disappointing. Some tweaking can improve their effect, though (P. Canova)
- Viewpoint: David proposes an unscientific survey on the relationship between cats and planar loudspeakers, enjoy Maggies and Moggies: Myth or Reality? (D. Hoehl)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- (New section) Sounds, Old and New! Just released the third studio album of Alessia Cara, a Canadian artist of Italian descent. Winner of The Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2018, Alessia Cara is a talented singer-songwriter. This is Best Days from the album In the meanwhile.
September 25, 2021
- DIY: new DIY designs on TNT-Audio! Here it comes Plinthology1: an innovative recipe for a high quality, heavyweight glass plinth for turntables (P. Canova)
- Editorial: Primephonic, the classical music streaming service we reviewed some time ago, has been acquired by Apple. Trick or threat? (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- (New section) Sounds, Old and New! 43 years after his album This year's model Elvis Costello (Diana Krall's husband, if you're an audiophile more than a music lover) releases a bizarre Spanish edition of it, titled Spanish model, with covers by famous latin music artists. This is Llorar (Big tears, in the original album), by Sebastian Yatra. Oh yes, the original 1978 album was better, in our opinion ;-)
September 18, 2021
- Review: Bevan reviews a preamp & power amp pair with a very high value for money, the Schiit Vidar & Saga S (B. Court)
- Book: another Dylan 80th cash-in? Or a unique story needing an opportunity to be told? Mark reviews the book Bob Dylan in London: Troubadour Tales (M. Wheeler)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- (New section) Sounds, Old and New! The Stranglers are back with a brand new album, after nine years of inactivity! It is titled Dark Matters and this is the first single: This song (the link opens the YouTube video). It seems they are back in full effect! Unfortunately this will be their last album with the keyboardist Dave Greenfield, dead by Covid in 2020.
September 11, 2021
- Review: Bevan reviews a rather unique amplifier: a Class AB integrated amp which doubles as a Class A headphone amp, here's the Burson Audio Funk (B. Court)
- RIP: shortly after having published his latest DIY article, right before the Summer break, our reviewer Chris Templer has sadly passed way... (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
July 10, 2021
- Review/DIY: holidays homework for you! Another DIY loudspeaker design, based on the classical Onken scheme, with modifications. A not-easy project (good DIY skills required!) but excellent results are guaranteed! (C. Templer)
- Book review: Roger reviews a classic introductory book, written by Robert Harley in 2007, and still a good guide to learn the basic HiFi rules for setting up a high performance audio system. Here's Introductory Guide to High-Performance Audio Systems (R. McCuaig)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Summer break: exactly fifty years ago, on July 6, 1971, Louis Armstrong passed way. Let us remind him with this lovely version of Gershwin's Summertime (together with Ella Fitzgerald). This is our way to wave goodbye for our usual Summer break. Our site updates will be back online on Sept. 11. In the meanwhile, follow us on our Facebook page
July 3, 2021
- Review: holidays are approaching quickly, so get ready for some easy homework. Do you really want to discover how many watts you use during your listening sessions? Just 15$/€ are sufficient to purchase a Class 2 digital 2 sound pressure level meter like this cool Tasi TA8151. No excuses! Put your HiFi system on a test. It's easy to use, just a click and it measures the SPL! (L. Cadeddu)
- Music review: David listens to and reviews a remaster of Erich Kleiber's last concert. Today, mentioning the name “Kleiber” most likely conjures thoughts of Carlos Kleiber, wizard of the podium noted for his intractable, uncompromising ways. Well, he came by it naturally: Erich was his father! (D. Hoehl)
- RIP Stewart Tyler, Founder & Managing Director of ProAC loudspeakers, has sadly passed away. ProAc speakers heritage will continue under his daughter Zoe & husband John.
June 26, 2021
- Listening test/DIY: here's the second part of a list of impressive DIY loudspeaker designs inspired by the recent lockdown: second-hand drivers, horns and much more! The point of all this is to show that DIY is a viable alternative to the “chequebook audiophile” and each of these loudspeakers turned out better than commercial ones at many times the cost (C. Templer)
- Editorial: what about a compact cassette that doubles as a digital audio player with high resolution audio capability? Here's Mixxtape, where nostalgia meets high tech. It is a tape-less compact cassette that contains a digital audio audio player. Or it is a digital audio player housed inside an old compact cassette casing, if you prefer (L. Cadeddu)
June 19, 2021
- Listening test/DIY: a list of impressive DIY loudspeaker designs inspired by the recent lockdown: second-hand drivers, horns and much more! The point of all this is to show that DIY is a viable alternative to the “chequebook audiophile” and each of these loudspeakers turned out better than commercial ones at many times the cost (C. Templer)
- Book review: Audio Technology, Music, and Media, from Sound Wave to Reproduction is a book that presents a thorough history of recorded sound, with focus on the invention of stereo and the necessary technology to make it work, written by Julian Ashbourn, a former TNT-Audio reviewer (L. Cadeddu)
June 12, 2021
- Listening test: a surprising pair of monoblock power amplifiers, which deliver 600 watt @ 8 ohm and 1kW (!!!) @ 2 ohm, with a full aluminium cabinet and a price too good to be true! Here are the ZeroZone IRS 2092, based on Class D IRS2092 chipsets. Let those jaws drop! (L. Cadeddu)
- Viewpoint: every streaming service seems ready to lauch a proprietary high quality streaming plan, so get ready for the upcoming lossless streaming wars! (B. Court)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
June 5, 2021
- Listening test: one of the least expensive 100% pure cork turntable mats out there, here's the MayRecords Cork Mat, an incredibly well-made mat for less than 10€/$, shipping included! (L. Cadeddu)
- Viewpoint: Graeme suggests to make HiFi Shows great again!, with advices for the sales staff (G. Budd)
May 29, 2021
- DIY: a complete and detailed article, with lots of pictures, on rebuilding a Linn Akito tonearm with bad bearings (R. McCuaig)
- Listening test/follow up: the Topping A50 S review has been updated with a new section that evaluates its performance as headphone amplifier (P. Canova)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
May 22, 2021
- Listening test: would you fancy adding a stereo/mono outboard switch to your system? Here's the Sweet Foot Pedals stereo/mono switch, useful on vintage recordings, and not only (D. Hoehl)
- Theory: knowing that Confirmation Bias is part of our listener position means we have to acknowledge that position in our reviews on TNT-Audio, which we tend to do when acknowledging which design aspects to which we're attracted in any product review. Prospective purchasers of audiophile exotica should also beware their own confirmation biases before parting with cash (M. Wheeler)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
May 15, 2021
- Listening test: another interesting and inexpensive preamp & headphone amp from Topping, here's the 200€ A50 S, tested against a “giant” preamp as the Jeff Rowland Sinergy (P. Canova)
- Editorial: Roger complains about the poor sound quality of modern LP pressings (R. McCuaig)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
May 8, 2021
- Listening test: Bevan tests the Sony 360 Reality Audio app for immersive sound via headphones and finds it rather disappointing (B. Court)
- HiFi Waste: don't you know what to do with old HiFi components? A finance website suggests fancy ways to recycle our obsolete audio gear. Our thoughts on this topic [humour inside] (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
May 1, 2021
- Listening test: an extremely inexpensive DAC for the Raspberry Pi, here is the Nanomesher NanoSound One (B. Court)
- Editorial: did you know we're facing a Chipageddon? The microchip shortage is going to affect HiFi as well (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
April 24, 2021
- Listening test: not outrageously expensive HiFi-oriented products, but still extremely efficient (and inexpensive) devices to dampen and control vibrations, here are the Bilz Insulation pads. Also included a crash course on basic physics related to vibrations and damping (P. Canova)
- Editorial: free vinyl listening for everyone! Discover SAM, a room entirely devoted to analogue music listening. That's music therapy for the masses! (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
April 17, 2021
- Jurassic (S)park! Listening test: a pretty unusual gem from the Eighties, here's the NAD 3140 integrated amplifier. Frequently called “the 3020 on steroids” it is, actually, a quite different beast. It's a 1020 preamp and a 2140 power amp put together into the same cabinet...and the result is stunning (L. Cadeddu)
- Editorial: David writes about Gassy Classical: concerts and broadcasts, yesterday and today (D. Hoehl)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
April 10, 2021
- Listening test: artisan, science or snake oil? Mark explores the benefits of the Stanley Engineering walnut body for Decca London cartridges (M. Wheeler)
- Editorial: if lossless streaming doesn't seem you enough, discover the amazing HiFi Room by Deezer (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
March 27, 2021
- Listening test: normally we don't review very expensive gear, but we'll make an exception to this rule with the Audio Note IO 1 MC cartridge (G. Budd)
- In memoriam: at the age of 94 the inventor of the Compact Cassette, Lou Ottens, passes away (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
- Easter break: as usual TNT-Audio takes some weeks off around Easter, our usual weekly updates will be back online on April, 10. Stay in touch with us following our official Facebook page!
March 20, 2021
- Listening test: World's first! The comeback of Fabio Serblin's Fase Audio, here's their brand new Phonodrive 2.0 phono preamp (P. Canova)
- We support Real Stereo: we have updated our Real Stereo List with 3 new, interesting websites (Staff)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
March 13, 2021
- Listening test: inexpensive powered minispeakers with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity via a 16 bit CSR8670 receiver supporting aptX, AAC, and SBC codecs, here are the AudioEngine A1 (D. Hoehl)
- Editorial: when loud is too loud? Apple gurus seem to be concerned about potential hearing loss. The Headphone Safety feature tells you when loud is too loud...and turns the volume down against your will! (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
March 6, 2021
- Listening test: after the PA3, here's the Topping MX3 amplifier, with built-in 24/192 DAC, Bluetooth, headphone and subwoofer outputs, remote, bass & treble controls, NFC and much more, all for just 140€ (L. Cadeddu)
- Listening test: Chris tests Primephonic, a streaming service claimed to be “home of classical music lovers - The streaming service designed for classical music” (C. Templer)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
February 26, 2021
- Listening test: Roger tests a highly modified Lenco turntable, the TJN Reference mkI by Jean Nantais (R. McCuaig)
- Editorial: “Don't trust an audio salesman until you get to know that person very well.” We still sincerely believe in this advice and recommend it to anyone who will listen. Follow Roger's advice on our February editorial (R. McCuaig)
February 20, 2021
- Listening test: Piero reviews a set of "over-ear" wireless headphones with a built-in microphone and active noise cancelling, the Sony WH-1000X M3 (P. Canova)
- Theory: this crazy HiFi market can be segmented into four main areas, depending on performance and cost. See the theory behind HiFi Market Segmentation (P. Canova)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
February 13, 2021
- Listening test: 70 watts per channel, two line inputs and a refined sound, all for just 125€. Impossible? No, if the amp is the Topping PA3, equipped with the Texas Instruments TDA7498E class D chipset (L. Cadeddu)
- History: JBL celebrates its 75th anniversary and we devote a short article to tell the story of its early days and the achievements during its history (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
February 6, 2021
- Listening test: the second part of a long review of another digital Swiss Army knife, here's the Burson Audio Conductor 3, DAC, preamp and headphone amp (R. McCuaig)
- Viewpoint: the second part of a controversial series of articles devoted to myths and legends in audio. Chris refers to these as a Cauldron of Conundrums (C. Templer)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
January 30, 2021
- Listening test: the first part of a long review of another digital Swiss Army knife, here's the Burson Audio Conductor 3, DAC, preamp and headphone amp (R. McCuaig)
- Viewpoint: the first part of a controversial series of articles devoted to myths and legends in audio. Chris refers to these as a Cauldron of Conundrums (C. Templer)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.
January 23, 2021
- Listening test: impressive closed headphones, the nicely crafted and good sounding Meze Audio 99 Classics (B. Court)
- Editorial: dreaming of having two blue McIntosh VU meters on your car stereo system? Dream no more, here's the all new Jeep Cherokee L equipped with a jaw dropping McIntosh audio system. VU meters included in the dashboard! (L. Cadeddu)
- Readers' feedback: read some of the selected letters we received last weeks.