Audiophilepure

The brand-new Point Grande Ultimate speakers are Perfect8’s ultimate take on the open-baffle, full-dipole, point-source loudspeaker concept.

I prize a DAC that offers resolution and transparency because those qualities bring you closer to the material. In other words, they dissolve mechanical barriers, allowing you to connect to the material on a deeper level and create some kind of memorable emotional and/or intellectual experience. I was not surprised the DX5 II could accomplish this because Topping has been refining and improving its implementation of ESS DAC chips for years now. What was surprising, however, was that, in an age in which everything from gasoline to groceries has become borderline or unaffordable, this sub-$300 DAC and Headphone Amplifier is essentially without fault. The performance of the Topping DX5 II was consistently spectacular. Once price is considered, it is easily one of the greatest bargains I have come across in all of audio. Unequivocally, it is beyond reproach.

I have had a lot of speakers go up and down my stairs in the last few years, but few have left as lasting an impression as the Pylon Jasper 25 mkII Tower Speakers. Tonally, they sound excellent with no need for adjustment or room correction. I would describe their sonic quality as balanced, with a sweet top end, robust midrange, and strong bass foundation. They sound great with all types of music and are built with attention to detail. Pick a color or wood finish that meets your individual style, because Pylon offers quite a selection. Paired with a decent-quality amplifier, the Jasper 25 mkIIs will reward the listener with years of musical enjoyment.

But, in addition to that, I decided to push things a bit further in terms of speakers, and if initially I just intended to pair my Waterfall Iguescu with the EA13, after a few hours of listening I decided to follow the trend and get a proper set of vintage speakers to fit. Followed by the usual forum reading, store visits and friend discussions, which finally ended by the acquisition of… a pair of NOS JBL 4435.

Yes, big, heavy (115kg… each), vintage speakers that sit in complete opposition of my sleek Waterfall or egg-shaped Devialet, but after a few pairing tests with the FiiO, those were the ones that convinced me.

As for the source, music was streamed to the Fosi S3, used as a streamer and DAC, from Apple Music (Hi-Res when available), Spotify Lossless, and my own Plex library, the Fosi feeding the FiiO EA13 via RCA. I also plugged the FiiO M27 out of curiosity, the two of them standing at the exact opposite side of the chart in the audiophile world, but knowing the DAP prowess as a source, I’d be dumb not to try.

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The new ES9081 in the D100 has all the positives of ESS DAC chips and fewer, if any, of the negatives I criticize in older ESS DAC chips.

The D100 has a very neutral tonality with a flat, extended perceived frequency response. The sound is very transparent, clear, detailed, and highly resolved, as if the chip has decoded every micro nuance of the recording with nothing hidden and served it to the headphone output for enjoyment.

Yet the D100 never sounds clinical, with plenty of bass warmth and subbass elasticity and weight when the music demands it. The midrange and treble details are unforced, with gentle delivery and immediate response depending on the music.