Old School

The Luxman K-05 Cassette Deck

The Luxman K-05 Cassette Deck

-By Paul DeMara The 1990s were an interesting time for music formats. CD’s were hot, vinyl was dead, and cassette tapes were the primary way people listened to their tunes while driving. Read More ->


The PrimaLuna ProLogue One Integrated

The PrimaLuna ProLogue One Integrated

Who knew that almost 20 years ago that this cool little tube amplifier would change my life? My first assignment for The Absolute Sound was supposed to be a NAD integrated amplifier. Read More ->


The Klipsch LaScala

The Klipsch LaScala

Steely Dan once said in a song, “you go back Jack, do it again…” Did you ever do something you knew was wrong, but you did it again anyway? You don’t have to fess up, but I’m guilty as charged, especially when it comes to vintage cars and vintage hi-fi. Read More ->


Cardas Crosslink Interconnect

Cardas Crosslink Interconnect

One of the questions I’m often asked by fans of vintage hifi, is where to find an upgraded interconnect cable that sounds better than standard issue Best Buy/Radio Shack cable, but doesn’t have a four figure price tag. Read More ->


Harman/Kardon HK670 Receiver

Harman/Kardon HK670 Receiver

I’ve been a fan of vintage Harman/Kardon gear for several years now, so when I heard a local record store had an HK670 receiver for sale I was on the case, immediately. Read More ->


Sansui AU-717 Integrated Amplifier

Sansui AU-717 Integrated Amplifier

I remember the day like it was yesterday: I was pestering the guy at Pacific Stereo in the mall, begging to audition the Sansui AU-717 amplifier and a pair of JBL L-100 speakers that I was lusting after—and yes, the speakers had the orange grilles. Read More ->


Audible Illusions Modulus 2 Preamplifier

Audible Illusions Modulus 2 Preamplifier

In the early ‘80s a new audio company named Audible Illusions burst on the scene with a single product, a dual mono preamplifier for about $300. It got a little bit of press and no one paid a huge amount of attention to AI until 1985 when their Modulus preamplifier debuted. Read More ->


Conrad-Johnson PV-1 Preamplifier

Conrad-Johnson PV-1 Preamplifier

The audio world is sometimes wacky indeed. In the first issue of TONE-Audio, this column featured my first real high-end preamplifier, the Hafler DH-101. Always the packrat, I recently found a box with a bunch of old receipts, for you guessed it, hi-fi gear. Read More ->


Harman Kardon 730

Harman Kardon 730

When I was graduating from high school in 1976, what I wanted most was a Harman Kardon 730, a pair of JBL L100s and a Technics SL1200 turntable.  That was my dream system. Read More ->


Marantz 2215B Receiver

Marantz 2215B Receiver

Every now and then, smaller is better.  Such is the case with a lot of the Japanese receivers from the ’70s.  Pioneer, Marantz, Sansui and the like were on a power race similar to the Cold War of the same period, releasing receivers with more and more power all the time. Read More ->


Bell Carillon Integrated Amplifer

Bell Carillon Integrated Amplifer

My over-excitement got the best of me… Discovering this rare treat in a garage, I tried to needle the owner down from the $50 price tag and lost out on the sale. Read More ->


Acoustat 1+1 Electrostatic Loudspeakers

Acoustat 1+1 Electrostatic Loudspeakers

For many audiophiles, their journey with electrostats began with the legendary Quad 57—but not mine. As someone who really likes to rock, I spurned the audiophile approach and preferred to rock the house with my Altec 19s and a big McIntosh power amplifier. Read More ->