Audiophilepure

https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1300-burmester-232-integrated-amplifier

The Burmester repeated this level of excellence on the Rolling Stones classics “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Street Fighting Man” from Beggars Banquet (50th Anniversary Edition) (24/192 FLAC, ABKCO / Qobuz). Mick Jagger’s voice was ideal, Nicky Hopkins’s piano contributions had great presence, and the drive and pace were electric. The way it all hung together, with everything in its place in a large image, pressed all my buttons.

The Burmester’s warmth was evident in the 2019 mix of “Something” by the Beatles, from Abbey Road (Super Deluxe Edition) (24/96 FLAC, Universal / Qobuz). The deep bass really kicked, while the dynamics and level of detail were extremely high.

The Spanish ensemble Cuarteto Casals has released a stunning cycle of Dmitri Shostakovich’s string quartets. Part of the second volume of this cycle (24/96 FLAC, Harmonia Mundi / Qobuz), String Quartet no. 8 in C Minor, op. 110, is one of Shostakovich’s most profound and popular works. I enjoyed the wonderful rich string tone the Burmester conveyed here, in a recording that offers power, realism, and atmosphere in equal measure. The image size and depth were ideal.

The Egret’s Sub-bass is solid and well-extended, providing a firm foundation for orchestral timpani, synthesizer drones, and modern electronic production.

It digs down with good authority without overwhelming the presentation, although fans of hip-hop and electronic music may themselves want more bass quantity.

Mid-bass elevation adds warmth and body to bass guitars and kick drums without bleeding into the midrange or creating bloat. Bass guitars benefit particularly from the warm tilt, gaining natural weight and presence while maintaining clarity and definition in dense mixes.

Texture and speed are where the Egret truly excels. Individual bass notes have clear attack and decay characteristics, and the planar driver’s inherent speed keeps the low end tight and articulate.

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/nagra-preamp-ii-s-preamp

For those who already own a Nagra power supply, the PREAMP II-S can be purchased on its own for $24,500. We’ve also been told that Nagra expects additional Series II entries will most likely be arriving later within the year. If you don’t want to wait and would prefer to get one of their separate phono preamps now, Nagra offers the Compact Phono model from their more entry-level lineup — and that unit has an SRP of ~$6,000.

https://pt.audio/2026/01/25/fyne-audio-f500s-loudspeakers-review/

Bass and midrange reproduction were strong in such a way that treble was almost an afterthought. For me, the highs should sound extended and airy, yet unforced. I personally don’t focus as much on this part of the spectrum, unless it somehow gets in the way of my listening enjoyment. Really good reproduction can keep me engaged for hours on end, but hard, glassy treble can send me off to do work I had been avoiding for days. Fortunately for the fine folks at Fyne, I found nothing in the treble reproduction of the F500S to offend and lots to like. I got the extension and airiness I crave, along with the really cool spatial cues in the soundstage that only this region can deliver. Which leads me to yet another great strength of this speaker…

For the sound evaluation, I used a wide variety of ear speakers, including the Tipsy M5, Binary Audio EP321 MEMS, QoA Martini IEMs, Sennheiser HD 6XX, FiiO JT3, FiiO JT7, and Moondrop Horizon headphones.

Instead of doing my standard 24-hour burn-in, I did more than 50 hours of burn-in as I was busy with other reviews and could not review the XM2 right away. And also to test the battery life and charging times.