The Best Sounding HiFi Gear From 2024
Just as the year wraps up, so does our impressions of what was a colossal 12 months of gear, reviews and outstanding new tech from the HiFi market. This week on The Occasional Podcast, Marc and Brian walk through all the best highlights they heard through hundreds of listening sessions at audio shows and personal reviews.
And what a great 2024 it was. As supply slowly crept back up to meet demand, new product releases (both promised from the pandemic years and those fresh out of R&D) made it to market. A big highlight was the growth of the integrated category. Born of necessity, a dual category DAC/pre or just the convenience of less boxes, the high rule of integrated amplifiers continues to make waves in the market. Season 11, Episode 5 is a run through all the best hifi gear for 2024, a true end of year summary, including all the best loudspeakers, bookshelves, power amps, sources and more.
The Occasional Podcast recently covered the subject of regionalized HIFi sounds, CAF 2024, The Best Vintage Amplifiers To Buy At A Garage Sale, interviewed Jason Stoddard of Schiit Audio, and covered the future of digital and class D with Michal Jurewicz of Mytek and High End Munich 2024, but previous episodes include how tos, tips, tricks and education in all things high fidelity audio from episodes like last week’s Hot Headphones For The Holidays, an Interview With John Devore, Measurements explained with Andrew Jones, 3 things to know about streaming audio, 5 things to consider when buying a tube amplifier, interviews with Steve Guttenberg, how to’s and more from audio’s greatest talents, including Michael Fremer, another interesting conversation about the History Of The BBC’s LS3/5a Loudspeaker, A Beginner’s Guide To Tube Amplifiers and A View From The Booth: Reference Systems, Accuracy & Why Audiophiles Love Jazz So Much: including rare interview with the late audio legend engineer Al Schmitt. The finale from season 5 includes the yearly “best of awards” and you can also find episodes covering British HiFi, Subwoofers/Setup/Tips, and the how to: Budgeting From Entry Level To High End. Season 4 highlights include Joseph Audio, Pro-Ject Turntables, and Rob Watts. One can still download this season’s educational show with TOP’s Beginners Primer To High Fidelity Digital Audio alongside the latest on Two-Way Speaker Design. Fan favorite What Is Mastering? What Happens When An Album Is Remastered? is also still available as well. If you are interested in further exploring the analog realm, the Guide To Buying A Turntable (and records) might point you in the right direction.
Options to stream this week’s interview on the best HiFi gear from 2024, direct from the embed below or subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform including iTunes, Android, Google, Deezer, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more.