Ten Best Buys in Vintage Audio
There’s no better way to start an argument between audiophiles than to make a “best of” list. So, prepare to put up your dukes. To make the hit to everyone’s ego easier to bear, we’ll define the parameters that make one amplifier more worthy than another, etc.
Nakamichi PA-7 Amplifier
Nakamichi is synonymous with high-performance cassette decks, but not everyone is as familiar with the rest of its electronics. The company’s first attempts at amplifier and preamplifier design, the 400 and 600 series, were nonetheless popular as they followed the tenets of the day with excellent measured ability albeit somewhat compromised sound.
Woo Audio WA7 Fireflies Headphone Amplifier
Woo Audio makes incredible headphone amplifiers in all shapes and sizes. The American manufacturer, which is based in New York, recently introduced its WA7 Fireflies headphone amplifier, which is especially cool.
ALO Audio Studio Six Headphone Amplifier
Let’s get right to the point, Motown style, and put the hit on the first track. The Studio Six from ALO Audio redefines what headphones are capable of delivering, from the least expensive to the most exotic cans in your collection.
AURALiC Taurus MKII Headphone Amplifier
A TONEAudio World Premier!
Many great bands and product designers have suffered the “sophomore slump,” stumbling after producing a great product or releasing a great album, with the follow-up never meeting the promise of the debut.
KEF M500 Headphones
Though traditionally a loudspeaker manufacturer KEF has joined the likes of B&W and Martin Logan, extrapolating in-house expertise to the personal audio market.
Sennheiser HD700 Headphones
Founded in 1945 as “Laboratorium Wennebostel,” Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser’s namesake company is now known around the world as a leading manufacturer of headphones and professional microphones.
Grado RS1i Headphones
Over the past few years, the world of high-quality personal audio has experienced an explosion, due partly to the success of Beats by Dre headphones, which seem to have inspired hope for an industry that previously failed to even attract a fleeting glance from the millennial generation.
Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear Headphones
The audiophile portion of Sennheiser’s headphone business has grown steadily over the last few years, due in part to the fanatical attention that its full-size HD 800s and in-ear IE 800s have received.
NuForce HAP-100 Headphone Amplifier
Over the past couple of years, there have been two principle driving forces within the hi-fi industry. The first is the maturation of digital technology in the form of DACs and streaming-related systems; the second has revolved around headphones.
Nagra 300p Amplifier Bottles of Beauty
A visit to Nagra is a very special thing indeed. The factory is cleaner than a hospital, with highly organized workstations populated by happy and highly skilled workers calmly assembling some of the world’s finest audio gear.
KEF Blade Loudspeakers A year with the 'Blades
Time flies when you’re having fun. And the fun hasn’t stopped since the bright orange KEF Blades arrived in our studio almost a year ago. Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? For those of you who skip straight to the conclusion anyway, we’ll save you the bother.
Please note that all TONE and TONE related text and images are copyright © 2005–2025 TONE Magazine and The Audiophile Apartment. The RSS feed provided is for personal, non-commercial use only.
If you are not reading this content in your news aggregator, RSS reader, or direct, then the site you are looking at may be guilty of copyright infringement. If you locate this anywhere, please contact jeff@tonepublications.com so we can take action immediately.