Naim Audio
Naim Audio
Bluesound

Sometime soon, hopefully before the end of 2018, North American audiophiles will have their choice of two high-resolution music-streaming services. One of them is a familiar name -- now available in 57 countries, Tidal has been operating in North America since 2015. The other is a relative unknown, at least on the west side of the Atlantic.

Toronto has a new audio show. The first-ever Toronto Audiofest was held at the Westin Toronto Airport Hotel October 19-21. In one year, it has effectively supplanted the Toronto Audio-Video Entertainment Show (TAVES), which began in 2011 but gradually lost its way.

Last month, I talked about the advantages that voice command can bring to audio enthusiasts -- and the complications that limit its applicability to music listening. This month I talk in a bit more depth about the prospects for voice-command technology: How much better can voice-command systems get, and might they someday be the primary user interface for audio systems?

A year ago this month, my missus and I made a life-changing decision. We would sell the Toronto home where she had lived for 26 years, and move to a smaller house in the same neighborhood. Our kids had long since left the nest (lucky us!), and that big five-bedroom house was way more real estate than we needed. Downsizing would free up money for our retirements (we are now both, officially, geezers) and simplify our lives.

I’ve reacted with hostility to many audio writers’ musings about smart speakers. I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve been wrong.

Music lovers have been trying to solve a problem ever since they began collecting recordings: How to have convenient access to large music libraries?

High End 2018, in Munich, Germany, was packed with introductions of streaming products. While much of the gear displayed was at the upper end of the hi-fi price curve, there were also a number of new integrated amplifiers and wireless speakers -- from companies such as Technics, Cambridge Audio, and Cocktail Audio -- that can be had for more reasonable prices. What follows is a list of Simplifi-approved products I ran across during my time roaming the halls of the MOC in Munich.

  1. Is the Smart Speaker a Dumb Idea?
  2. What's Up with Apple AirPlay 2?
  3. The Spotify Dilemma
  4. CES 2018, Simplifi’d
  5. Farewell, CES
  6. Room Tunes
  7. Social Streaming
  8. CEDIA 2017, Simplifi’d
  9. Classical Prime Time
  10. The Röst Reconsidered
  11. High End 2017, Simplifi'd
  12. Vinyl: There's an App for That
  13. Metadata: Life with Roon
  14. The Internet and Audio: The Good, the Bad, and the Impossible
  15. The State of Streaming
  16. CES 2017, Simplifi'd
  17. Why "Simplifi"

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