Magnepan 2.7i three-way quasi ribbon panel speakers $6,495
February 19, 2026 § Leave a comment
While I strongly prefer to conduct reviews in my own system, that is not always possible given that my reference speakers, namely the Acapella Audio Arts Triolon Excalibur, weigh 1000 pounds and are not easily moveable. A local dealer Timbre Audio offered to allow me use of their listening rooms and systems for purposes of the review over a number of listening sessions. Given that I had previously spent many pleasant hours at this store listening to their systems, that seemed to be a reasonable path forward.
Effect Audio Horizon Series $1,199 Review
February 19, 2026 § Leave a comment
https://www.headfonia.com/effect-audio-horizon-series-review/#google_vignette
Ergonomically, this trio of two-braid cables is slightly stiffer than average four-braid designs, but it’s not unmanageable. The UltraFlexi insulation does a decent job of keeping things pliable despite the thickness, and once the cable settles, it behaves more predictably. Still, there’s no hiding the fact that you feel the cable’s presence and weight, especially with lighter IEMs. With custom IEMs, I think I could live with them more easily, but with my 64 Audio Volür, I definitely notice the weight and a slight downward pull when moving around.
Børresen Acoustics T5 SSE Loudspeaker $230,000 REVIEW
February 18, 2026 § Leave a comment
The Børresen Acoustics T5 SSE superbly represents that elusive amalgam of the “not too much, not too little, but just right” balance – completely owning that optimal middle ground. Its blend of capabilities, wide-ranging achievement, and accountability of execution is truly remarkable, boatloads of fun, and has completely won me over! While the M range obviously represents the pinnacle of the Børresen Acoustics experience, the T range in general, and the T5 SSE in particular, may just be my personal favorite so far. Give them a listen and see just how many of your personal boxes they successfully check off. Their inspired balance of performance and value might just make them the perfect choice for you as well!
Furutech Project V1-S Speaker Cable Review
February 18, 2026 § Leave a comment
Furutech Project V1-S speaker cable offers a unique ability to capture the atmosphere and enhance the emotional impact of music, regardless of genre. In music reproduction, atmosphere and emotional interaction are everything, especially at the top tier of high-end audio.
From the outset, it was clearly designed not to be transformative, but to provide an aural truism without creating a false perception. Project V1-S delivers musical impact that positively shapes the entire listening experience, leaving a lasting impression that is hard to describe yet consistently uplifting.
Some high-end audio cables build in a crescendo, but quickly lead to listener fatigue. In contrast, Furutech reference-level speaker cables belong to a rare category that operate with quiet gravity – present, yet leaving no sonic imprint.
Audio Research D-80 Stereo Amplifier $12,950 Review
February 18, 2026 § Leave a comment
https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1296-audio-research-d-80-stereo-amplifier
One of the first albums I played after hooking up the D‑80 was Rain Tree Crow (16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC, Virgin Records / Qobuz), from the group of the same name. This atmospheric album, loaded up with David Sylvian on vocals, could easily be considered as a reprise to Japan, the early 1980s group that was also fronted by Sylvian. It’s a spacious dreamscape, one that’s easy to sink into. That first listening experience was satisfying. I got the large, billowing images from the backing instruments, with Sylvian’s tight, defined vocals layered coherently over top. The bass, most notably Mick Karn’s delicate fretless noodling, was tight and clear in both its extension and definition. There was no slop here. In all, this album sounded like it should, and made for a perfect, if uninformative start to the review period.
Over the next few weeks, I’d unconsciously find myself returning to albums with the same vibe as Rain Tree Crow. As I’ve mentioned in the past, rather than using any sort of logical auditioning protocol, I let a component pull me around and let it show itself to me. And part of this process is letting the component choose the music I’ll listen to.
iBasso Epitome Review
February 18, 2026 § Leave a comment
https://www.headfonia.com/ibasso-epitome-review/
Epitome keeps the low end relatively linear, and it has a noticeable presence lift through the upper mid / lower treble region, but they spent a lot of time refining the severity of these decisions. I think they were quite careful when increasing certain frequency groups and didn’t proceed until they found the happy medium. I believe this explains why it sounds clean, open, and honest, while also explaining why it does not feel brittle or sharp, too forward. I genuinely believe that iBasso spent a long time fine-tuning the midrange to find this golden ratio.
Revox B77 MK III Analog Reel-to-Reel Tape Deck Review
February 16, 2026 § Leave a comment
Bench measurements confirmed the deck’s excellence: frequency response within ±1.5 dB across the audible spectrum, low harmonic distortion dominated by benign even-order harmonics, crosstalk of -57.5 dB, and wow and flutter of just 0.06%. These numbers meet the published specifications.
More importantly, the listening sessions revealed what measurements cannot fully capture. Jazz recordings exhibited natural warmth, realistic transients, and that ineffable sense of presence that draws listeners into the performance. Electronic music lost its digital edge without sacrificing detail or dynamics. The B77 MK III delivers the sonic characteristics that have fueled the analog revival: smoothness, dimensionality, and musical engagement, while providing the reliability and precision that modern enthusiasts expect.
Audiophilepure 
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