Reviews

By cheerfully weird happenstance, I received two world-class phono preamplifiers, pretty much right on top of each other. The first to arrive was the Arion phonostage ($6,395) from Tim Stinson of Luminous Audio. Tim Stinson was beside himself over this phono pre — he and his partner Mike Bettinger of Bettinger Audio Designh ave been working on this thing for well over a year now — and the final product was “beyond all expectations”. Heady stuff. Read the review...  

By Michael Fremer • Posted: Aug 12, 2015  • Published: Aug 11, 2015   Much to the probable consternation of Luminous Audio Technology, I’ve sat on this MM/MC preamplifier review for more than six months. I probably could have literally sat on the Luminous Audio Arion too, so solidly is it constructed, but I didn’t. Why the review delay? I wanted to be sure the $6395 Arion, from a relatively unknown, small company was reliable. Plus I was enjoying it way too much and wanted to be sure I completely understood why. Read more.....

Designed by Mike Bettinger, this Arion phono pre ($6,395) is built that way I like em. Super accurate. with my Benz cartridge and a VPI Scout, this pre does not hype the sound, it makes the best cartridge and LP sound  as open and spacious as the source. Very low noise as well. Read the review....

The Luminous Audio Technology Axiom II passive preamplifier with Walker mod opened my eyes to the fact that one doesn’t need to spend mega-bucks on a “High-End” preamplifier in order to get true High End performance. If you pair the Walker/Axiom II with a very good amplifier you will be amazed at the Axiom II’s degree of musicality and the wealth of detail that will ensue. Read more...

Tim Stinson of Luminous Audio and Mike Bettinger of GAS Audio have teamed up to create a new phono preamplifier, the Arion, which will be sold under the Luminous Audio brand. Mike’s $5,995 design has been a good while in the making and tweaking — I first heard about the project at Mini-CAF a little while back, but this was my first chance to see and hear the finished product. Read more....