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1200x270 -H1- Sphinx Element 3 (20260224)

Friday, May 01, 2026

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This new site was launched in July 2010. Visit the older site to access previous articles by clicking above.

Ultra Audio's site platform was changed in August 2010. For equipment reviews previous to that, use this link to transfer to the old site.

: Written by: Jason Thorpe; Created: 01 May 2026

Reviewers' Choice It seems these days I begin my reviews with an account of how the component arrived in my living room. I won’t do that here. Instead, I’ll refer you to (a) my March 2026 editorial, where I explain why I’m sitting in my neighbor’s house listening to the PMC MB2 SE speakers, and (b) the My Audiophile Neighborhood episode detailing how we set up these monstrous, wonderful speakers, and how the review came about. Just for good measure, here’s a link to my account of my first mind-blowing exposure to PMC’s sound-reinforcement demonstration over on Soundstage! Global.

: Written by: Jason Thorpe; Created: 01 April 2026

I’m not often surprised at hi‑fi shows. I hear so much equipment, in so many different combinations, throughout so many different rooms that I find myself becoming jaded. It takes something truly unique to jolt me out of my comfort zone.

: Written by: Jason Thorpe; Created: 15 March 2026

Note: measurements taken in the anechoic chamber at Canada's National Research Council can be found through this link.

Truly new concepts are extremely rare in audio. Generally, new ideas aren’t welcome, unless they manage to develop some sort of inorganic viral buzz. And wildly different topologies are looked on with active suspicion. I wish this weren’t the case, but audiophiles tend to be a stodgy lot.

: Written by: Jonathan Gorse; Created: 01 March 2026

J.A. Michell Engineering is one of England’s most respected turntable manufacturers. Thankfully, Michell has remained a family-owned concern that doesn’t need to answer to overseas conglomerates, venture capitalists, or outside investors. The managing director, Jonathan Nye, is married to the granddaughter of founder John Michell. Recently, the company has rebranded and released a swathe of new products, including the all-new Gyro and Revolv turntables, plus the exquisite Apollo phono preamplifier I reviewed for this site in January.

: Written by: Phil Gold; Created: 15 February 2026

Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here.

The German audio manufacturer Burmester Audiosysteme writes that their guiding philosophy is “perfection and perpetuity in sound and design.” That means they want to get things right, and they want to ensure their products do not wear out or become obsolete. As a result, they take their time developing new products, and then they keep them in production for a very long time.

: Written by: Jonathan Gorse; Created: 01 February 2026

The Townshend Audio Allegri Reference is certainly the most unusual preamplifier I have ever reviewed. It may surprise you to know that Max Townshend considered the Allegri to be his greatest achievement, rather than his legendary Rock turntable or pioneering work on acoustic isolation.

: Written by: Jason Thorpe; Created: 15 January 2026

Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here.

It was sometime around 2004. I’d been flailing around trying to find an appropriate replacement for my aging EAR Yoshino 509 mono tube amplifiers. The EARs had become unreliable to the point where I could no longer trust them in my reference system. Looking for reliability and neutrality, I purchased a Musical Fidelity A300cr amp, and that worked well for a year or so, but I was missing something. After reviewing the Anthem P2 Statement one year later, I ended up buying the review sample, hoping that I’d find peace with this large, powerful solid-state amplifier.

: Written by: Jonathan Gorse; Created: 01 January 2026

Note: for the full suite of measurements from the SoundStage! Audio-Electronics Lab, click here.

J.A. Michell Engineering Ltd. is one of the longest-established family-owned audio firms in the UK. Their GyroDec turntable, which I have used as my reference for 26 years, is a bona-fide cult classic and one of the very few bargains in high-end audio. You can buy one new with a standard tonearm and cartridge for under £5000. Even in its most basic form, it’s a serious vinyl spinner, but the real benefit of the GyroDec is its ability to take advantage of more potent ancillaries. Mine is fitted with an SME Series IV tonearm and a Lyra Kleos SL cartridge. The current price of my rig is north of £12,000, but it has outclassed some exotic turntables costing up to £25,000.

: Written by: Aron Garrecht; Created: 01 December 2025

Reviewers' Choice In late 2024, Marantz announced its new 10 Series, which comprises three models: the Model 10 integrated amplifier (US$15,000, CA$22,000, £12,999, €15,500), the Link 10n streaming preamplifier (US$14,000, CA$17,000, £10,399, €12,500), and the SACD 10 SACD player–DAC (US$14,000, CA$17,000, £10,399, €12,500), the subject of this review. The 10 Series was five years in development following the launch of Marantz’s retro-styled Model 30 amplifier and SACD 30n SACD player–DAC in late 2020. Conceived and engineered in Marantz’s facilities in Shirakawa, Japan, and clearly inspired by Marantz classics such as the Model 9 mono tube amplifier, the 10 Series is more than a trio of high-end products from Marantz. It’s a truly integrated family of products built from the ground up to showcase the absolute best Marantz has to offer in terms of technology, build quality, and performance.

: Written by: Jonathan Gorse; Created: 15 November 2025

Reviewers' Choice From the moment the Union Jack covering was slipped off the new SME Model 35 turntable and Series Vi tonearm at the press launch last April in London, England, I knew that this was going to be a very special product to review!