Podcast
The Absolute Sound Podcast
Hosted by Nextscreen, LLC · EN
The Absolute Sound is the world’s preeminent source of expert reviews, features, and commentary on high-performance audio and music. Since 1973, TAS has set the standard for quality audio and music journalism, helping to shape the industry and guiding audio enthusiasts and music lovers to components and recordings that faithfully reproduce the sounds one might hear in a good concert hall.
The Absolute Sound is a monthly print and digital magazine, an online destination for those interested in better sound, and a community of audiophiles and music lovers.
For a Brief History of The Absolute Sound:
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/fifty-years-of-the-absolute-sound/
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58episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Klipsch The Sevens II Active Wireless Speaker Review
3d ago00:11:31Tap to summarizeJoin John Quain from The Absolute Sound as he takes an in-depth look at the Klipsch The Sevens II powered wireless speakers. Priced at $1,999.99 a pair, these active bookshelf monitors bridge the gap between high-res streaming convenience and classic, hard-hitting American audio performance. Developed in partnership with Onkyo, The Sevens II feature a 1-inch titanium vented tweeter paired with a Tractrix horn, a 6.5-inch Cerametallic woofer, and 200 watts of internal amplification per side. From vinyl playback to home theater integration via HDMI eARC, we put these speakers through their paces to find out exactly where they shine—and where they might be a bit too much to handle. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction & Overview 2:23 - Design, Drivers, & Connectivity 4:26 - Dirac Live & Control Options 5:54 - Sound Quality & Volume Dynamics 7:33 - Music Tests (Rock, Jazz, & Classical) 10:35 - Final Verdict & Conclusion What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2026, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
Transcribe →Matrix Audio MS-1 Streamer + DAC Review
1w ago00:11:14Tap to summarizeMost streamers at this price are chasing the same thing flat, neutral, maybe invisible. Those are just some of the common terms you hear people say when they're describing music streamers. Matrix built this one to do something else. Refined detail and a warm musical character both at once. And that's just how it sounds. And this is the matrix Ms1 C music streamer. This video is sponsored by: https://goebel-highend.de/ 00:00 Matrix Audio MS-1 01:50 Overview 05:13 DAC 06:15 Inputs & Outputs 09:24 Sound Quality 10:09 Is it for you? What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2026, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
Transcribe →$15K System - Mofi Sourcepoint 888, Rega Planar, Luxman 505Z Review
2w ago00:19:03Tap to summarizeFor better or for worse, vinyl got me into the hobby of hi-fi and in many respects it’s still what drives my interest in equipment and fidelity. My system has evolved steadily over the years, and not always been a straight or simple path. That said, friends and fans have asked me for advice on building turntable-based systems over the years, some at the absolute entry level, and some in the high end. Well, this would be a taste of my own medicine because selecting an entire hifi system in one go is not an easy feat, but I gave it a go anyway, and you may be interested in the results... This video is sponsored by: https://rel.net 00:00 $15K System 01:52 Loudspeaker 02:50 Turntable 03:48 The System 09:28 Sound Quality 15:52 Is it for you? What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2026, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
Transcribe →Soulution 717 Power Amp Review
2w ago00:12:15Tap to summarizeSoulution Audio is a Swiss manufacturer of electronics and turntables. Swiss amplifier companies seem to pursue extreme engineering and this is often accompanied by extreme pricing. Let’s see what the 717 offers and why you might or might not want it. This video is sponsored by: https://www.perlistenaudio.com/products/d8is/ 00:00 Soulution 717 Power Amp 01:28 Specs & Design 04:53 Sound Quality 07:37 Summary What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2026, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
Transcribe →Focal Mu-so Hekla All-in-one Dolby Atmos System Review
2w ago00:14:18Tap to summarizeIn this video, Aaron Jenkins reviews the Focal Mu-so Hekla, an all-in-one sound system that promises an immersive audio experience. At $3,600, it boasts 15 speakers, 660 watts of amplification, and support for high-res audio formats. With advanced connectivity options and five listening modes, including Dolby Atmos, Aaron explores its design, performance, and how it fits into everyday life. This video is sponsored by Fidelity Imports 00:00 Focal Mu-so Hekla 01:20 Overview 03:15 Design & Build Quality 06:45 Connectivity Options 09:30 Sound Performance 12:00 Listening Modes 14:30 Summary What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2026, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
Transcribe →Aurender ACS100 Music Server Streamer CD Ripper Review
3w ago00:14:20Tap to summarizeInstead of forcing you to piece together a complex computer-based setup or manage a noisy network-attached storage drive, Aurender positions this unit as a quiet, central anchor for your digital ecosystem. But at four thousand dollars, does it offer the practical everyday convenience and fidelity that a high-quality audio system demands? Let’s find out. This video is sponsored by: https://silentangel.com/ 00:00 Aurender ACS100 02:00 Overview 03:20 Physical Connectivity 07:56 First Impressions 09:11 Reference Equipment 09:43 Sound Quality 13:00 Summary What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2026, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
Transcribe →HiFi Rose RS451 Streamer Review
3w ago00:13:42Tap to summarizeWhat would you buy if you wanted one box that does everything and actually looks really dang good doing it is a common question these days, right? The HiFi Rose RS451 is $3,295, and it's trying to solve that problem, not by cutting corners, by building a streamer, a DAC, and a headphone amp into one aluminum box with a screen that makes you want to really look at this thing. The question is whether it earns that price or if it just looks the part. This video is sponsored by: https://wireworldcable.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoowpiXj2LBgvcTuRYqBzA1LerFapMSwvxzOn25yhhthD5RcKODY 00:00 Rose RS451 01:17 Specs & Design 04:50 DAC 07:28 Sound Quality 09:11 One Box vs "Stack" 11:09 Is it for you? 12:19 Summary What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2026, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
Transcribe →ATC EL50 Anniversary speaker system review: State of the Art Series
4w ago00:17:16Tap to summarizeAs you may know, there are technical reasons that active speakers can be advantaged, and as a result, I’ve covered a few of these speakers in the last year or so. ATC is also noteworthy as a major pro audio speaker-maker. I have had good experiences with some pro speakers, and active setups are common in that world, so it seemed interesting to try an active speaker from a pro company. The EL50 thankfully skips the industrial cosmetics typical in the pro world, since it has a consumer-only aesthetic. Let’s take a look at the results. This video is sponsored by: https://silent-angel-audio.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopnyOIgN8kBfCZ3raKqdX4cLI6GwOg6wQy1VkoF8Mc5siNLiEq0 00:00 ATC EL50 01:34 Description 05:42 Sound Quality 12:49 Comparisons 16:20 Summary What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2026, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
Transcribe →Technics EAH-AZ100 True Wireless Earbud Review
Jun 1700:12:21Tap to summarizeCan true wireless earbuds satisfy the critical ear of a high-end audio enthusiast? In this video, John Quain, a reviewer for The Absolute Sound, puts the Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds to the test to see if they live up to their "Reference Class" branding. Priced at $299.99 USD, the EAH-AZ100s integrate advanced driver technology typically absent in consumer-grade wireless audio. John breaks down how these earbuds perform across various genres and technical categories. What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2026, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
Transcribe →Advance Paris A10 Apex Review
Jun 1400:14:18Tap to summarizeThe Advance Paris A10 APEX integrated amplifier represents an intriguing proposition in the contemporary Hi-Fi landscape. Retailing at $3,499 US, it positions itself as a feature-rich, high-value hub designed to capture the emotional core of analog playback while anchoring a modern digital system. Does it succeed? Find out! This video is sponsored by: https://gttaudio.com/ 00:00 Advance Paris A10 Apex 02:05 Overview 04:24 The DAC 06:11 Phonostage 06:42 Input/Outputs 07:24 Reference Equipment 08:13 Sound Quality 13:08 Summary What Is The Absolute Sound? The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles. Intro/Outro Music: Backed Vibes Clean - Rollin at 5 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound Copyright 2026, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved
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