Audiophilepure

And FiiO clearly paid attention to the details this time. On the side of my AKM version sits a discreet VERITA logo, while both headphone outputs, 3.5mm and 4.4mm, are outlined by a golden ring. Even the power button got a makeover, now surrounded by a backlit ring. Small things, but the kind that make a device feel special, right?

Sadly, the volume wheel of the M15S didn’t make the cut. In its place, you get classic physical buttons on the edge, like the M33 R2R. A bit sad, I’ll admit, but they still did the job well, with the D.MODE and HOLD switches sitting right next to the playback controls.

The most important thing about an IEM, to me, is its sound quality and performance. I am sure most people agree. So, in this segment we will focus on Zencarb’s strengths and weaknesses regarding its sound.

During my review-time of the past weeks, I mainly used the Zencarb with my Astell&Kern SP3000M and the SP4000T on the go, while reaching for my Lotoo PAW Gold Touch 2 and my LAiV Crescendo Verse in the office and at home.

Zencarb is a well-balanced IEM with a tilt towards lows and highs. Bass has good body, density and impact, while the midrange is held mostly neutral in positioning and weight. Treble, however, is an area where I can see some conflicts, as it is brighter and forward placed in the signature. In technicalities Zencarb will find its fans, as it provides a revealing and detailed nature. Instead of smoothing over harsh edges, Zencarb presents music with rawness, which can sound unapologetic.

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/2126-nad-masters-m33-v2-streaming-integrated-amplifier

I am not sure how much the new ES9039PRO DAC with MQA QRONO processing has to do with the V2’s performance, but another example of how well digital recordings were resolved was in the outright command of Madonna’s “Express Yourself,” from The Immaculate Collection (16/44.1 FLAC, Sire). I used to think that this was a great-sounding track, with the percussion and synth imaging and bouncing around the sides of the room. But as I acquired progressively better components over the years, I came to realize that the QSound-processed mix was a little blurry, even though it imaged crazily to the sides of the speakers. Such was the case with the V2. While the soundstage was insanely huge and extended well outside of the speakers, each element of the mix was slightly indistinct and vaguely placed, and the whole effect was just a little bit phasey. But when I switched to “Express Yourself (Remix Edit) [2022 Remaster]” from Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (24/88.2 FLAC, Warner Records / Tidal), the aural images were drawn with razor-sharp outlines and the bass was much tighter and deeper. While the soundstage collapsed to a space mostly contained between the speakers, it was like everything just snapped into focus and became more dynamic. With the V2, these differences between the two mixes of the song were laid bare.

https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1322-audioquest-niagara-5000-power-conditioner

If we go beyond these two asks, things get more complicated. There are a multitude of products on the market that purport to filter noise from AC power, and I don’t profess to know whether the Niagara 5000 is the best on the market, because I haven’t tested them all. But I will tell you that it made a marked improvement in my system’s imaging and in the realism of how it presented music. In my experience, it’s rare for an ancillary component to deliver this level of change, especially in such an unexpected way. Highly recommended.

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/esoteric-grandioso-t1-turntable

I keep several turntables to use in my reviewing process — SME 30/2, Brinkmann La Grange, Roksan TMS, Garrard 301, plus a few others — because each one offers a different set of strengths. The Esoteric Grandioso T1 turntable is the first turntable I’ve heard in my system that I feel could replace all of them on a sonic — though not a personal — level.

I liked the T1 best when the torque was cranked up to deliver the most PRaT, though the more relaxed sound resulting from lower torque seemed more appropriate for some music. Yes, the asking price is crazy, but presumably, if you’re shopping in this price range, you’re not digging through the couch cushions looking for a few lost pennies.

It’s good to see companies pushing the limits of what’s possible; hopefully we’ll soon see some of this technology trickle down to more approachably priced ‘tables. If the Esoteric T1 is within your budget, I can’t think of a better option.

The M2s start at $16,500 per pair, and for perspective, the flagship XL2s start at $42,000. I’m a fan of flat black finishes for any speaker because they disappear when the lights are off and I’m watching a movie. So, I went for Anthracite Black, which is a bespoke satin finish that carries an $830 upcharge. For the rear section of the cabinet, I chose textured black, which is included. The front trim consists of a metal plate around the tweeter plus two more bits that say Figaro and carry the Audio Solutions logo. I specified Titan, which added $760. Further choices included the top plate, wire terminals, and driver mount covers, which I kept at the base prices. My final pick was ISO Acoustics Gaia II isolator feet, which added $810. The final figure was $18,900.