Distilled


Welcome to Distilled!

Welcome to Distilled!

Hello and welcome to Distilled.

We are not abandoning our standard reviews, but for those of you that would like a little more than the canned press releases everyone else is posting, but not sure if you want to make the time investment in a full review, we present the distilled column. Read More >


Continuing the battle on noise...

Continuing the battle on noise…

Vera Fi’s latest creation solves a common problem, and at a reasonable price.

If you’ve ever suffered the aggravation of a ground loop you can’t break, you know what we mean. Read More >


SVS SB-5000 R|Evolution Sub

SVS SB-5000 R|Evolution Sub

Say that 10 times as fast as you can!

All kidding aside, we’re big fans of SVS. Their subs deliver the goods. Well made, easy to use, and easy to set up thanks to DSP processing and a killer app that lets you dial it all in from your phone. Read More >


The Western Electric 91E Integrated

The Western Electric 91E Integrated

An intriguing combination…

The Western Electric 300B tubes are pretty much the gold standard for the version, and at $1,495 a pair somewhat spendy. Read More >


The SMSL PL-100PRO CD player

The SMSL PL-100PRO CD player

Amazingly good for the money!

$159 won’t even buy a tank of gas for a giant SUV these days, but it will buy you a pretty bitchin’ CD player. Read More >


The Klipsch AK7 Klipschorn

The Klipsch AK7 Klipschorn

There aren’t a lot of companies that have been making speakers for nearly 80 years, (2026 is their 80th anniversary!!) but Klipsch and the legendary K-horn are still here, better than ever.

With a sealed back since the AK6 model, they still really should be in the corner (as the late, great Paul Klipsch intended), but they have much more solid bass than ever. Read More >


Curtail Cable Crankiness

Curtail Cable Crankiness

No matter what the reason, there’s a certain group of audio enthusiasts who always bristle at spending more than a pittance on cables, regardless of the system’s price. Here’s a great solution from Vera-Fi Audio: Their new Ranger line of cables. Read More >


The Songer S1-X Redefines the Category

The Songer S1-X Redefines the Category

If you’ve never heard a pair of single-driver speakers, the Songer S1-X might be too much for you to take in. They might freak you out. They are that good. And like a handful of speakers that are truly special, providing a sonic experience like no other, the S1-X is destined to join that rare category. Read More >


YG Carmel 3 in for review...

YG Carmel 3 in for review…

Image courtesy of YG Acoustics

As we’re winding up the review on the YG Descent (a three-way floorstander), that is coming in at right about $30k per pair, and is the top of their Peaks range, the two-way, all-aluminum Carmel 3 has also landed. Read More >


Vera-Fi Line Noise BlackHole Power Conditioner

Vera-Fi Line Noise BlackHole Power Conditioner

Why the SET amp in the background?

Let’s cut to the chase – If you have an SET amplifier you need one of these. Read More >


Vera-Fi Audio Snub Station Zero

Vera-Fi Audio Snub Station Zero

Regardless of what the internet pundits say, your AC outlets are full of noise from various sources.

Your gear picks this up, and whatever its power supply doesn’t filter out, gets amplified by your amplification chain. Read More >


Zu Audio DWX Supreme Loudspeakers

Zu Audio DWX Supreme Loudspeakers

The DWX Supreme is a high-sensitivity, high-fun-factor speaker – in every way.

If you’ve ever been to a Zu Audio room at a hifi show, you know they always have one of the most engaging rooms in the house. Read More >


Rega P2 turntable with ND2 MM cartridge

Rega P2 turntable with ND2 MM cartridge

Whether you stay in the family forever or not, a Rega turntable truly has to be part of your audiophile journey if you enjoy analog. Read More >


Java Double Shot LDR Preamplifier

Java Double Shot LDR Preamplifier

This is the third product we’ve reviewed from Java HiFi, and we are definitely looking at three for three in terms of sound quality, build quality, and stylish excellence. Read More >


The FX-Audio L-07 Integrated Amplifier

The FX-Audio L-07 Integrated Amplifier

$200 for a 200-watt per channel integrated? That you can hold in the palm of your hand? Really? And it will drive a pair of Magnepans? You bet. Read More >


Hagerman Piccolo ZERO - phono step up

Hagerman Piccolo ZERO – phono step up

If you happen to be a moving coil cartridge enthusiast or are thinking about stepping up (pun intended), you’ll need a way to raise that signal to a level that your current MM stage can handle. Read More >


Black Ravioli’s Big Pad Plus

Black Ravioli’s Big Pad Plus

We’re huge fans of Black Ravioli products; over the years, they have kept improving their process.

The latest Big Pad Plus is more efficient at isolating your components from vibrations in the environment that subtly blur the ultimate resolution of your system. Read More >


The FX-Audio DS-07 DAC/Preamplifier

The FX-Audio DS-07 DAC/Preamplifier

What we’ve got here is a very cool, very compact DAC and Preamplifier that is only about 5 inches tall, 3 inches wide, and 7 inches deep. (125mm x 80mm x 176mm to be exact)

What is so exciting about this mighty little DAC is the performance it delivers for such an approachable cost. Read More >


The Dynaudio Contour 20 Black Edition - First look

The Dynaudio Contour 20 Black Edition – First look

Don’t even ask.

They only come in black. And I’m guessing that’s a part of how Dynaudio can offer this much speaker for this price – they don’t have to build four color combinations. Read More >


The MoFi Master Phono

The MoFi Master Phono

There’s nothing this one can’t do.

You might think that hyperbole, but MoFi’s Master Phono is aptly named. It features two voltage gain inputs (what every other phono stage has) and a current gain input. Read More >