Latest articles

Can digital audio players still compete with your smartphone?

Last month, I created a sound installation for an art organization in Fukuoka, Japan, as part of an art residency program. When the time came to upload the nine-hour sound installation to some playback device and run it through the PA system in the gallery, it turned out my good old MP3 player, connected to a power bank charger, was the best option.

I don’t even remember why I took it with me, and yet it turned out to be quite a useful thing to have at the time.

Stereo vs surround sound for music and home theater

Getting more from your home theater requires a deep understanding of the importance of sound when enjoying a movie, music, or a game.

While it’s true that internal TV speakers and affordable soundbars can deliver satisfying results, they simply can’t replicate the cinematic experience most of us look for. That’s something only stereo and surround sound systems can do.

The 5 best AV receivers for most home theater setups in 2025

If you want to create an immersive, cinematic experience at home, you need an AV receiver that can enhance the qualities of your speakers and blend their sound into a cohesive soundstage. But how do you choose one that suits your budget and needs?

Here are the 2025’s best AV receivers across different price ranges, focusing on gear that’s performing and versatile regardless of the surround system they need to manage.

Fluance RT81 review: Good budget all-rounder for beginners

If you’re familiar with my articles, you probably know I’m a big fan of audio gear that delivers a better sonic experience than its price would lead to believe. Fluance, a Canadian brand active since the late 90s, embodies the philosophy of affordable-yet-performing items for music reproduction I aim to celebrate.

The 3 best phono preamps for your turntable in 2025

Getting a phono preamp is a necessary step in the life of every music enthusiast; sooner or later, you’ll feel the need to an extra layer of depth to your listening sessions, and upgrading the phono preamp of your hi-fi system is generally the way to go if you want to achieve great results at a reasonable price.

In this article, you’ll find a list of what I believe are the best phono preamps you can get right now, based on overall performance as well as price.

The 8 best songs to test your stereo speaker system

One of the reasons you might be reading this article is that you just unboxed your brand-new stereo speakers and want to experience right away how they’re going to upgrade your listening experience. If that’s the case, you’re in the right place!

In this article, I’ll look into how you can test every aspect of your stereo speakers, what to pay attention to when trying out your system’s fidelity, and the best tracks to do so.