![Electrocompaniet AW 800 M](https://cdn.magzter.com/1394478161/1693230240/articles/U1wFOqCvr1693546655763/ELECTROCOMPANIET-AW-800-M.jpg)
The finest soup I ever tasted was served in Kamakura City, Japan, in 1992. After climbing a mountain to a shrine that held a lock of Buddha's hair, I descended to Kamakura and walked to its Great Bronze Buddha. By the time I had taken my fill of the image's 730-year-old wonders and the countless picture-taking tourists at its base-a mild precursor to "the world is a backdrop for my ego" snappers of the smartphone ageI noticed that my stomach was growling.
Exhausted, I walked back into town and descended stairs into a conveniently located corner restaurant. I had to eat fast because my train back was departing soon. Looking for something quick, I ordered miso soup and eel over rice. Imagine my surprise when I found myself gazing into the most wondrous bowl of soup I'd ever seen. Floating on top of its clear, brown broth were various vegetables and herbs, each perfectly positioned in relationship to the other, as in a handcrafted textile. I felt as though I'd been granted private access to a great work of art.
And the taste. Oh, the taste. It was as perfectly proportioned, complex, and multilayered as the soup's surface. If I had not been forced to eat fast in order to make the train-trains in Japan are never late- I would have spent 15 or 20 minutes eating slowly, savoring each mouthful and contemplating the myriad tastes and sensations.
What does all this have to do with the Electrocompaniet AW 800 M Reference mono power amplifiers ($22,500/each) that are the subject of this review? You'll have to read on to find out.
Before the soup, there was Electrocompaniet
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![My last Far East trip](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5798/1789372/aEItiXEGu1724762735486/MY-LAST-FAR-EAST-TRIP.jpg)
My last Far East trip
First comes the anticipation, that initial jet of warm water, that miraculous searching, finding the sweet spot, then heaven on earth as it cleans and caresses.
![Riding the Common Wave](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5798/1789372/m5s8eYaZl1724762611904/RIDING-THE-COMMON-WAVE.jpg)
Riding the Common Wave
In the e-commerce era, brick-and-mortar dealerships must give customers compelling reasons to stop by. Los Angeles hi-fi dealership Common Wave's owner Wesley Katzir keeps customers coming through the door with a simple idea: that music matters in our everyday lives and that what he enjoys, other people will enjoy, too.
![Mind Games to the bottom of the rabbit hole](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5798/1789372/X4tEo86l21724762439034/MIND-GAMES-TO-THE-BOTTOM-OF-THE-RABBIT-HOLE.jpg)
Mind Games to the bottom of the rabbit hole
After a wild decade in the biggest pop music group ever, John Lennon's post-Beatles years were spent in protest, in various kinds of therapy, in immigration court, and in search of a new musical identity.
![Trane meets the Motor City](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5798/1789372/4-LZL7hkh1724762332940/TRANE-MEETS-THE-MOTOR-CITY.jpg)
Trane meets the Motor City
Detroit became a destination for migrating African Americans early, starting with the Underground Railroad; the city's proximity to Canada was convenient for those seeking to escape Southern slavery.
![Vital art never rests](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5798/1789372/8Uk3N32Tf1724762169534/VITAL-ART-NEVER-RESTS.jpg)
Vital art never rests
At this late date, it seems impossible that there could still be \"lost\" albums lingering in the vaults by musicians as important and successful as Johnny Cash and Paul McCartney.
![DUKE IN 10](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5798/1789372/Ped4C6r-R1724761656461/DUKE-IN-10.jpg)
DUKE IN 10
TO COMMEMORATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF DUKE'S DEATH, ROBERT BAIRD SELECTS A DOUBLE HANDFUL OF EXEMPLARY TRACKS FROM PERHAPS AMERICA'S GREATEST MUSICAL GENIUS.
![Piega Coax Gen2 811](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5798/1789372/EcFc4VTnI1724761024565/PIEGA-COAX-GEN2-811.jpg)
Piega Coax Gen2 811
It's funny how we discover some music in unexpected, twisting ways.
![Pass Laboratories XP-27](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5798/1789372/6qbCjKWEC1724760143040/PASS-LABORATORIES-XP27.jpg)
Pass Laboratories XP-27
One of the pleasures of reviewing-and also using-products from Pass Laboratories is an encounter with Nelson Pass's writing, which can usually be found in the owner's manual and is always competent, insightful, and sometimes funny.
![EMT 928 II](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5798/1789372/2Vty9XUsU1724759639934/EMT-928-II.jpg)
EMT 928 II
Modern turntables are a paradox.
![Dynaudio Contour 30i](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5798/1789372/YoRj_o-0w1724758944223/DYNAUDIO-CONTOUR-30I.jpg)
Dynaudio Contour 30i
Ah, Denmark. Land of the Vikings and blue-eyed, blond-haired folk with faces sculpted just so.