Audiophilepure

This time, MOONDROP explicitly stated that the Skyland aligns ideally with their VDSF target curve and features excellent non-linear distortion.Testing it across multiple gears, it is indeed tuned to be on the bright and extended side, yet it remains nicely controlled at high volumes and with intense, sharp vocals.

This actually aligns closer to my impression of MOONDROP, a brand with an ACG-targeted background, more so than the COSMO, which takes a more traditional audiophile approach and does not favor the ACG genre as directly.Conversely, its bass-light character may turn Rock and R&B fans away. I initially thought the spare pads would shift the tuning toward a more bass-heavy direction, but they somehow make it sound even cleaner, and in a good way, as they do not make the treble sharper, but rather more extended and airy.It is also a relief that the Skyland is much easier to drive compared to the COSMO, which I compare below.

I’ve heard various implementations of the CS43198 chip in other dongle DACs, and none of them sound the same; they range from bright to slightly dull. So, I didn’t know what to expect from the ICEBORNE.

Luckily, the ICEBORNE’s sound is the one I like: neutral and transparent, without sounding dull or borinICEBORNE has a flat perceived frequency response, an accurate, balanced sound presentation, and good energy, which prevents it from sounding boring, dull, or dry.The bass might not be the tightest, but for dongle DACs this size, it’s acceptable. I don’t hear any ‘boomy’ sounds or artificial warmth, and the bass remains tonally neutral regardless of the volume.

Midrange is very neutral with no warmth or thinness in sound. I hear no elevation in the lower midrange, which causes a warm sound, and no elevation in the upper midrange, which pushes the instruments forward.

The treble has a flat, extended frequency response with smooth sound, yet maintains good energy and reasonable liveliness.

https://www.headfonia.com/fiio-tt11-review

Head to head with my SL-1500C, the difference remained immediately noticeable. The Technics delivered details that the FiiO could only dream of. But, to be fair, the SL-1500C is a turntable six times the price, made by a brand known for producing some of the best turntables in the world. So let’s scale it down a bit and compare the TT11 with something more in its league – like the Teac TN-180BT, the TN-280BT, or the Audio-Technica AT-LP3, for example.

This time, I found the FiiO in very comfortable territory. Same fight as the TT13, really: the FiiO gave me higher dynamic range, better control on low extension – rumble was much more noticeable on the Teac – and surprisingly better voices, even though several of these turntables share the exact same cartridge family. For the money, the TT11 punches right alongside its pricier competitors, and that’s not nothing for a sub-$200 turntable.

https://www.headfonia.com/noble-audio-fokus-apollo-pro-review

First off, the signature is more balanced now. The midrange is not as recessed, and the presence and brilliance regions feel more evenly and linearly tuned. The top extension energy is still there, but the area between the upper mids and the high treble is smoother and better integrated into the signature. The ear gain is tuned in a way that feels exciting without becoming overly sharp, so the Apollo Pro sounds energetic, detailed, vivid, and lively without pushing you too hard.

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/rel-line-array-subwoofer-system

Yes, I am impressed. Yes, I am ecstatic. Yes, I have a system that I can rely on to review and is emotionally engaging. No, it is not perfect. The challenge of adding six more components that require AC, all connected to each other and to the wall and to the amplifier, has introduced a bit of noise that previously was not there. The noise floor from the speakers is dead quiet and unaltered. But I am getting some noise from the subs that I am working through. A pair of VooDoo PowerMatik 4 power distributors running the sub AC to the same outlets as the amps helped to reduce ground-loop issues. Moving the ground from the amp chassis to shared RCA signal ground also made a big improvement. Getting the most from your system isn’t easy; even the most experienced of us have to put in time and elbow grease to squeeze that last bit of performance out of our systems. 

Yes, I did add some complexity with six subs as opposed to a pair of full-range speakers, but overall I have achieved what I set out to do. I have reclaimed funds, established a wonderful and “simpler” system that draws me in and won’t let me go, and I have a pair of speakers that, while heavy, are movable as needed for other reviews. I have less, but I have more. I have reduced and removed but increased and added. I should have titled this, “My audiophile dichotomy.”