Virtual-reality surround sound — also known as 3D audio, binaural, 5.1 or whatever you want to call it — never caught on for music. Surround sound that goes hand-in-hand with video has taken off, and now nearly all new movies, concerts, games and TV shows have multichannel audio. But new music on LP, CD, SACD, …

The LP sales surge continues year after year, and Amazon’s turntable numbers are ramping up, so I was taken aback by stories of new LP buyers not listening to their new tunes. According to the BBC, nearly half of LPs sold aren’t listened to! That number seems absurdly high, but even if the actual percentage is lower, it’s still disconcerting. …

From time to time I’ve covered sound art shows at museums and exhibitions, but Tom Sachs’ “Boombox Retrospective, 1999-2016” is my all-time favorite. I knew something was up when I spotted a pair of 10-foot tall loudspeakers flanking Sachs’ “Presidential Vampire Booth” sound system dominating the museum lobby. While the funky-looking white-painted speakers weren’t playing at all loud, the music …

I’m no stranger to Audio Technica headphones, especially their more affordable models, but this one, the ATH M70x over-the-ear headphone has a $419 MSRP/$299, £219, AUS299 street price, and faces stiff competition. Even so, first impressions were very positive, so before I knew it I had racked up quite a few hours on the ATH M70x. The Audio Technica ATH-M70x …

I’ve totally lost count of how many Avalon Acoustics speakers I’ve heard since the early 1990s, but for one reason or another I haven’t reviewed one in at least 10 years. So when my friends at the Innovative Audio Video showroom in New York City suggested I check out the Avalon Idea speakers, I quickly agreed. Enlarge Image The Avalon …

Everybody knows audiophiles aren’t supposed to love bass-heavy headphones like the Maiden ED-Phon3S ($299), but I found a lot to like about this one. Tuned by Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris, this on-ear headphone makes a lot of bass, but it’s not just the quantity of bass; it’s plenty deep, and its bass definition and clarity are awfully good. The Maiden …

I’d love to see your audio system or home theater. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just interesting or quirky. Some people decorate their speakers or paint them in wild colors. I once had a girlfriend with a pair of old Acoustic Research speakers (a gift from her father), a funky amp she found on the street and an ancient …

Sony’s NW-ZX100 high-resolution music player is a looker, its sleek chassis and large display have a luxury feel. Before we go any further I hope anyone considering a player like the NW-ZX100 ($700, £500, AU$799) already owns at least one set of high-end headphones. If you don’t, first invest in a really decent set of ‘phones, only then will you …

Headphones and speakers present sound in very different ways: speakers “play” the room, headphones “play” your ears. To clarify, when you’re listening to speakers, more sound is reflected off the floor, walls, and ceiling than there is direct sound coming from the speakers. Which means your room’s acoustics have a major effect on the sound, and no matter how good …

I really like the Klipsch Reference X6i in-ear headphone ($179, £124, AU$269), first because it’s unusually comfortable, thanks to its ultra-light weight (0.6 ounce/18 grams), and small size. Then, as I listened while wandering through the Museum of Modern Art the X6i provided a perfect soundtrack for looking at art. Isolation from external noise was above par, and the sheer …