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Paul Rigby – The Audiophile Man
I’ve been a journalist and editor for over 35 years and I still retain my good humour. Who’d have thought?
This site focuses principally on music and Hi-Fi but my scribblings have found homes elsewhere including hundreds of national magazines and newspapers in the UK, Europe and the USA covering: aviation, computer technology, computer gaming, mobile technology, home automation, lady’s lifestyle, business, plastic model making, antiques and more.
My current outpourings feature within national magazines and various websites in the subjects of music, hi-fi and general technology.
55 Comments
Victor
10th February 2018 at 9:43 pmHi Paul,
I just wondered whether you have considered to review in the future any Hegel Amps and ATC speakers among your busy schedule?
Thank you
Victor
Paul Rigby
10th February 2018 at 10:58 pmGood call Victor! I’ll add them to the list. Thanks.
Roman Akert
15th December 2019 at 10:41 amI can’t answer for PR but I did own a Hegel H90 until recently. A lovely smooth, very dynamic and authoritative sound. Hegel say ‘the most powerful 60 watts you hear’. I can’t confirm that but it has a large power supply and sounds (imho) superb, not least because of some clever and unique distortion reducing engineering. – Not cheap but worth the money in my opinion. Nice large, easy to read OLED disply too. Used with older PMC DB1’s.
Nigel Gilbey
20th March 2021 at 3:04 pmHi Paul
Really enjoy your videos on youtube would like to ask you a question on Mono playback
But I’m not on Facebook twitter etc…
Where is the best place to ask you a direct question.
Thanks
Nigel
Paul Rigby
21st March 2021 at 4:39 pmMany thanks and here is fine for now, Nigel.
Bad K B
4th May 2022 at 12:39 pmI qick comment and then a request for you, Paul. Some, maybe most, of us who can afford to dabble in your superb music and equipment reviews, are older. We have the money to play, but we don’t “do” social media. To make matters worse for some of us, we can’t see. My reader software does no good with YouTube Video files. And my carbon-based reader (she-who-shall-go-nameless), flat out refuses to help. Since you surely have scripts for your presentations, as there not some way you can post all of them in text form?
Paul Rigby
4th May 2022 at 1:13 pmHi Bad K B – fair points and yes, I should do more. More time would be useful though, so if you could expand the working day from 24 to 36 hours, I’d appreciate it. But seriously, folks! Let’s see what we have. The HiFi reviews I publish on YouTube? They all appear on this site as text. Every one. There may be a delay, but they will appear. The others, the music output? Yes, I have been lax. Is that what you’re referring to?
Give me a few specifics please, so I know what you’re missing.
On another, related musing (and I need new, time sucking ideas like I need a hole in the head, to be honest), would a Podcast format be even better than your reader software?
Paul Rigby
6th May 2022 at 10:39 amHmmm, book reviews and HiFi news is part of that, isn’t it? I’ll devote today to filling in a few gaps. Thanks for checking out my site, incidentally. Much appreciated.
John Garnet
5th December 2018 at 11:16 amHi Paul,
Further to your recommendation of the Goldring E3 with which I agreed and commented upon, I have just purchased another of your recommendations, the Black Rhodium Twist speaker cable, which was a huge improvement on my previous favourite, QED Silver Anniversary, and complements the E3 superbly. I really must amend my article ” A HiFi Fanatics 55 Year Journey” on WordPress.com now.
Thank you for your succinct reviews, which are proving to be a godsend.
Paul Rigby
5th December 2018 at 3:54 pmGreat news, John – always nice to hear when an audiophile hears sonic improvements. And thanks for your kind words too.
Andrew Foster
1st July 2019 at 2:17 pmHi Paul, I wonder if you would be interested in Reviewing any of our products.
It would be great to hear from you.
Regards Andrew
Paul Rigby
1st July 2019 at 3:29 pmPlease see your email box, Andrew.
Mohsin
25th September 2019 at 5:37 pmHi Paul, how come no recent reviews? Any chance of reviewing the Marantz NR1200?
Best regards
Mohsin
Paul Rigby
25th September 2019 at 5:43 pmHi Mohsin – Good spot. The reason I put reviews on hold – and I did – was to develop my new YouTube channel. This needed a LOT of work and there’s only so many hours in the day :). There’s never a good time to do these things so I picked on August. When a lot of people go on holiday and many people were thinking of sun, sea and sand and not hifi. I’m reviewing now. In fact, I posted a recent review of the Audio-Technica turntable only a few days ago. Did you see that one? I’ll put the Marantz on my ‘to do’ list.
Bert
24th December 2019 at 4:17 pmHi, I’m in the process of updating my twelve-year-old hifi. I have new Seinheiser HD650s and am now looking for a CD player. If I were to buy the Audiolab 6000CDT CD transport, what would you recommend as a DAC? I have about £700 to spend on the DAC. At the moment I use the old, but very nice Vans headphone amp. I like instrumentals, especially guitar, and voice.
Thanks, Bert
Paul Rigby
24th December 2019 at 4:44 pmHi Bert – thanks for your question. This is a very nice DAC: https://www.schiit.co.uk/dacs/gungnir
Clement
1st March 2020 at 8:40 pmHi Paul
Have just found out your site and content lools great. Quick Q though: are the ratings given relative to the product’s price point or in absolute terms? For instance, would a 9-rating amp priced £350 beat an 8-rated amp price £1500? Might sound silly a question but reading the page called ratings explained, it isnt that obvious.
Thank you for reading!
Paul Rigby
2nd March 2020 at 11:50 amHi Clement – thanks for reading and your kind words. Any rating is specific to that time and that place, its price-point and its direct and specific competition. It would be impossible to rate anything over a long period because I’d have to bring in every old product and re-review, related to the new one. Apart from the years of extra work, it would drive me potty 🙂 If you’re unsure and need confirmation about a rating or any related part of the review, by all means give me a shout.
Clement
3rd March 2020 at 11:23 amThanks for clarifying – makes a lot of sense. Do you review active speakers at all? I’m interested in the Kef LS50 which, while not cheap, remain at a reasonable price point given you wouldnt need a separate DAC and amplifier. Have you come across it?
Clement
3rd March 2020 at 11:24 amsorry, meant Kef LSX
Paul Rigby
3rd March 2020 at 4:03 pmHi Clement, yes, I’ve reviewed a few (I’ve put some links below) but not the KEFs, I’m afraid. Colleagues tell me that they love them, though.
https://theaudiophileman.com/premium-wireless-301-review-piega/
https://theaudiophileman.com/yu4-powered-speakers-review-kanto/
https://theaudiophileman.com/r-41pm-powered-speakers-review-klipsch/
https://theaudiophileman.com/ae1-active-acoustic-energy-review/
Swanny
5th May 2020 at 12:35 pmHi Paul, its great to read your musings. I’m in the UK and getting back into hifi in my 50’s after still having my records from the 70’s when i last had a turntable .. I’m wondering if you’ve ever reviewed Klipsch Quartets and Tannoy Monitor Golds 15, speakers ? I seem to be heading in quite a vintage area using a Tube amp (minute el34 by sac in thailand) and now awaiting a Yamaha CA-1000 SS amp to try that .. i was on your newsletter and hope this is how i get notified of your further and always quality writings
Paul Rigby
6th May 2020 at 9:34 amHi Swanny – yes, you’re subscribed. Many thank for that. I haven’t tackled those particular speakers, I’m afraid but will look out for them. I really must begin to tackle more vintage gear, actually.
Miike Truman
28th May 2020 at 4:18 pmHi Paul,
You’ve helped me before in recommending the Hana EL cartridge for my Project X2 and the results have been excellent – many thanks for that. I’m a bit of a tweaker and my thoughts have now turned to what else I can improve. I’m using the original Pro-Ject phono leads, connected to an Arcam r-phono, Arcam FMJ39 and Kef R3 speakers. The question is, would I get a bigger improvement if I bought better phono leads or should I change the r-phono for a better phono stage, something around the £1k mark (or less)? Or both, or would I be wasting my money? By the way, the turntable is very well isolated and I’ve invested in an origin Live TT mat and cartridge enabler as well. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Paul Rigby
29th May 2020 at 12:15 pmHi Mike – you can run in one of two directions here.
I would either grab this phono amp for just under £1k: https://theaudiophileman.com/profono-phono-amp-review-blue-horizon/
Or…
Look at these cables from Tellurium Q: https://telluriumq.com/blue-rca-cable/ at £180 a pair. And then grab this Moon phono amp for around £500: https://theaudiophileman.com/110-phono-amplifier-review-moon/
Both would see sonic improvements. I would go for the Profono if you see yourself further upgrading in the future to a better turntable in the next year or two. If you’re happy with the X2 and you won’t change that for 7-8 years, go for the Moon/TQ cables.
As for the phono amp?
Walter Seal
9th July 2020 at 12:19 pmPaul – were you in the band, “Midnight Movie,” which became “The Lucy Show” after you left?
Paul Rigby
9th July 2020 at 12:40 pmAhhh, the drummer? No, that wasn’t me, I’m afraid. I’ve been a journalist all my working life so have had a pen in my hand rather than drumsticks. That said, I have been known to rap out a quick ‘fill’ on my desk now and again.
Tarik
9th February 2021 at 1:28 pmHi Paul! I am Farley new to audio equipment and I am looking to buy a amp for jbl 530 around 100$. Could you reccomand me something please
Paul Rigby
9th February 2021 at 6:38 pmHi Tarik – can you tell me what source you are looking to use with the speakers and your prospective amp please?
Robert Suffak
14th July 2021 at 2:09 pmHello Paul
After many years spent with earning needed money, building a house and raising kids, came time the latter have left the house and thus stopped objecting to my music listening. Recently I restarted my pastime – first completing my now vintage equipment (done), now testing some cables and cartridges. What repeatingly plagues me: Old CD players tend to jump and need cleaning. Further, trying out a DAC (Cambridge Audio Magic 200) I began to wonder, what a CD transport could do for me. I am eyening (cannot test one vs the other) Audiolab CDT6000 and Cambridge Audio C-something. They cost over here in Switzerland approximately the same and lie in my „cash-reach“ and willingness to spend. So, if I may, I would like to ask you for your opinion, as to which one to choose. Secondly, sometime ahead lies an ampifier to replace my vintage Creeks – pre- and power-amps (biamping). The new one should be a „material“ progress in sound quality, but… not cost as much as say a Mcintosh…
I would appreciate your advice very much, so if you have time and muse to answer, please do so.
Paul Rigby
19th July 2021 at 3:29 pmHis Robert – in short, the 6000CDT. Next, do you have an amp budget and can you list the rest of your hifi?
Tero Saari
24th July 2021 at 8:20 pmHello Paul
German turntable Dual , There is new model CS 518. 505 models was very popular in 80′ s on finland. I am looking for a good player. Sorry about my bad english.
Paul Rigby
26th July 2021 at 1:41 pmYou’re English is fine, Tero – do you need buying advice on a new turntable, though?
Paul Rigby
28th July 2021 at 4:12 pmHi Teri – let’s maintain the same thread and talk here. What do you need to know about the Dual?
Jerry Gerber
14th August 2021 at 8:49 pmDear Paul,
I am a composer who has recently released my 15th album. Would you be interested in possibly reviewing it on your site?
Sincerely,
Jerry Gerber
http://www.jerrygerber.com
Paul Rigby
16th August 2021 at 9:22 amModern classical would you say, Jerry? Although I have reviewed ‘neo’ classical (but mostly from an associated electronica stand point) I’ve gotta say, pure classical is my one musical weak spot. So, happy to leave the link here (most advertising links die a death here and their owners are banned so you’re privileged 🙂 ) but no more than that I’m afraid, Jerry.
Stefan
24th August 2021 at 4:31 pmHi Paul,
over the years you have reviewed quite a number of mains purifiers such as Puritan Audiolabs PSM 136/156, ISOL-8 Substation, Styx Mains Block and many more. Can you give a recommendation from today’s point of view?
Sincerely,
Stefan
Paul Rigby
25th August 2021 at 11:18 amHi Stefan – as ever, it depends on your budget. All of these products still stand, as do my comments associated with them. They haven’t wavered or lost any of their allure 🙂
Sebastian Mammes
7th October 2021 at 5:22 pmDear Mr Rigby
Dear Mr. Rigby,
a couple of days ago you reviewed the Gold Note Valore 425 Plus. In reference i wont let unmentioned the smaller edition, the Valore 425 Lite. Though it is very similar to the larger one from the outside there exist some covered savings that hands down reduce its allday practicability in some ways. One way that should be exposed from my point of view is how the problem of stability and balance. It seems to me that this point hadnt got the required attention by the devloper. Customers have been given little degree of freedom to react to adverse circumstances.
The customer will be forced to think seriously about the line-up, because the turntable is hard coupled. This makes it all the more important that there is absolute peace and quiet during operation. Unfortunately, it is important for me to be able to assume a suitability for the bookshelf, as I can not use a special rack, let alone a wall mount.
Hence my question to you, Mr Rigby: Where is it possible to improve the Valore Lite in order to reduce the sensitivity to impact sound events increased by the hard coupling? Do You think the conducting of accustic waves evoked by footsteps on unquiet grounds will become a serious problem for music reproduction. Do you say that taken into account your competence based on former work shops with the Gold Note Valore 425 Plus, and given the tools and the means Gold Note can provide their customers such as an upgraded feet or dumpers and the like, the user will definitely get a soothing result, enough to make the Valore Lite a bookshelf suitable turntable? Vice versa I may reject an expensive price of tuning work and diverse exercises, if the result won ` t justify the efforts. Bear in mind, the Valore Lite is obviously a-demanding for a later pick-up upgrade. I was pleased finding You wanting to deal with my concerns. I ask for your assessment. Thank you very much.
warm regards
Sebastian
Paul Rigby
10th October 2021 at 10:50 amI’ve answered this one via Facebook, methinks.
Patrick
27th November 2021 at 11:09 pmHello Paul,hopping for some advice here, i own a Cambridge Cxa61 and i’m now looking for a good speaker match that will warm up the sound of the Cambridge , budget is around 1500.00€
Love your youtube channel btw
Cheers
Paul Rigby
29th November 2021 at 10:17 amTo be honest Patrick, if you see an obvious problem in your hi-fi chain (and it looks like you do) then I would address that first and not look to spend yet more cash to act as a poor Elastoplast.
Andrew Sexton
6th August 2022 at 12:30 pmHi Paul i have enjoyed watching quite a few of your videos , and was just after a bit of help, i have just bought the Audiolab 6000CDT and an IFI Zen DAC also a IFI Silent Power external power supply , after watching your review as my Mission Cyrus CD8 cd player is not reading any of my CD’S . I have a Cyrus pre X pre amp and a Cyrus Q power ,power amp all are circa 2003 , to cut a long story short i am pretty clueless on how or if i can use the CD transport through my system without the need for an external DAC , basically my Genesis Seconds Out CD is happily playing in the Audiolab but i can’t get any sound ,just not sure how to hook it up to my system , if i need to use the DAC because my pre amp is to old to have an internal DAC how can i hook this up as i don’t want to connect via my desktop computer ,the DAC only seems to come to life when connected to my desktop via the digital usb cable , otherwise the green power light is on at the back , just a bit confused as to where my cables go in to my pre amp etc , so sorry to ramble on hope you could give me some idea on how to get going thank you very much Andrew
Paul Rigby
9th August 2022 at 9:27 amHi Andrew – you can run a coax cable from the 6000CDT to the rear of the Cyrus pre-amp, I think the company call coax ‘Digi’ sockets. That will utilise the Cyrus internally-mounted DAC. There is no coax cable on the Zen DAC though so you will need an alternative if you wish to use an external DAC.
Andrew Sexton
10th August 2022 at 5:10 pmHi Paul thank you very much for your help i will try your idea with the coax cable all the best Andrew
János
6th January 2023 at 2:35 pmHi Paul!
First of all I would like to wish you a Happy New Year!
I need a little help with a turntable purchase.
I am currently listening to a Technics Sl-D2 turntable. Unfortunately it is old, like me. Basically I don’t have many problems with it, but I would like to replace it with a new one. Which one should I choose for everyday listening?
Nad 558 (because of the lever height adjustment)
At-lp5x or its brother the 140x.
I have Goldring E3 and At vm 520 eb pickups for these.
Thanks for your help.
János from Hungary.
Paul Rigby
11th January 2023 at 2:38 pmHappy New Year to you too, János. Do you have a budget for this new turntable?
Apolo
8th January 2023 at 2:06 pmHappy new year!!! Hello Paul, how are you? I want to buy a small amplifier and a technics turntable. I have; speakers Canton townus 10, blu-ray sony uhp-h1, subwoofer Dali e9f. I’ve seen Leak stereo 130 and Quad vena 2 play… What dou you think about these amplifiers? Which best? Do you know other amplifiers similar size? Thank you.
Paul Rigby
11th January 2023 at 2:42 pmHi Apolo, you can read my opinion on the Leak in my review here: https://theaudiophileman.com/stereo-130-amplifier-review-leak/
Both have good bass response although the Leak sounds rather more golden, slightly 70s in its approach. Your do get the Streaming options with the Quad too.
Laurence Moroni
11th January 2023 at 8:12 pmHi Paul,
I have a new line of audio gear (U.S. Patents Pending) based on using drum components as speaker cabinets. Please take a look at our website http://www.subdrum.com We would love for you to somehow review our product, although we are not yet exporting to Europe
Paul Rigby
12th January 2023 at 11:32 amHi Laurence – thank you for getting in touch and well, they’re…different. Let me have a think and I’ll contact you via your email address soon.
Matthieu BOUILHOT
13th January 2023 at 3:27 pmHi Paul,
I would like to send you a product for review.
Can you please let me know where I can ship it?
Thank you very much for your help 🙂
Matt
Paul Rigby
13th January 2023 at 3:33 pmHello Matthieu – I will email you and we can talk about you and it/them.
patricia bedor
16th January 2023 at 6:32 pmMr. Rigby,
I am sorry to ask you this question.
I am 74 years old. I have always listened to music, don’t know what I would do without it. I am also going blind.
I sold off all my albums in the past 4 years before my last state-to-state move. Started with 6,000 or so, zero now. I am that sad. because. Apple eliminates the ipod. The iPod was simple with a sound dock to operate for a going blind woman.
So. I have no wi-fi, I want no wi-fi, no streaming music, no playing music through my Mac because the Macs days are numbered.
Is there a way to hook up say aAstell & Kern music player to hard-wired receiver and speakers?
In advance thank you so much for any help.
Paul Rigby
17th January 2023 at 11:16 amHi Patricia – never apologise for asking questions. That’s how we grow. Even at 74. When I get to 74 I fully intend to be a pain in people’s backsides, asking many questions.
May I ask what Astel & Kern you have? Can you describe the rest of your HiFi hardware and also what budget do you have?