IO Audio Cielo $999 Review
June 21, 2026 § Leave a comment
https://www.headfonia.com/io-audio-cielo-review
The bass range is not as elevated as some of the other IEMs in the kilobuck bracket, but it is far from flat. While the overall bass quantity is modest rather than dominant, the low extension is great, and the control is excellent. There is also a subtle mid-bass lift, which I appreciate, that helps the fundamentals of the timbre and the naturalness of the midrange.
Many Chi-Fi manufacturers have been dialing down the 150-300Hz region to introduce extra air to the presentation, but IO Audio did not follow that trend here. That decision gives the Cielo a more natural foundation and prevents the midbass and the midrange from sounding dry or overly clinical.
Overall, the Cielo’s bass is tight, nimble, and tonally rich. It reaches low when the recording demands it, but the quantity remains strictly controlled. This is not an IEM that adds excessive bass weight to every track you play. Instead, it gives you a clean, fast, and disciplined low-end response that serves the recording rather than completely reshaping it.


Chord Sarum T loudspeaker cable Review
June 21, 2026 § Leave a comment
https://www.hifinews.com/content/chord-sarum-t-loudspeaker-cable
The ‘Taylon’ moniker may be the product of an excitable marketing department but this fluoropolymer dielectric is real enough and clearly possessed of genuine ‘high-end’ properties. The same is true of Sarum T itself – a well-built and usefully flexible cable that promises wide compatibility. Arguably best suited to compact rather than the boldest of floorstanders, Sarum T’s inherently balanced composure makes it a safe and compelling choice.

World Premiere Review!Charisma Audio Musiko Turntable $2995 Review
June 20, 2026 § Leave a comment
https://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0522/Charisma_Audio_Musiko_Turntable_Review.htm
Bernard Li’s journey in high-end audio began as a young man in Hong Kong where he wrote reviews for the number one audio magazine, Audiotechnique. He has always been an analog fan. Now, with his successful retail and distribution company in Toronto, he has completed his dream of manufacturing a complete analog front end. He began with phono cartridges and progressed to his Musiko tonearm. The Musiko turntable now completes the package.
Without knowing the actual price, I way over-estimated the price of the table based on what I heard. A closer examination reveals a simplicity of design and knowledge of materials gained from years of experience. Bernard Li’s knowledge has far surpassed many designs requiring intricate or complex machining. The Musiko reminds me of the old saw attributed to Einstein: “Everything should be as simple as it can be, but not simpler.” He is also not burdened with the overhead of large-scale manufacturing or a dealer network. The savings are passed on to the customer.

Børresen X3 loudspeaker Review
June 19, 2026 § Leave a comment
https://www.hifinews.com/content/b%C3%B8rresen-x3-loudspeaker
These floorstanders create a large picture of sound with impressive soundstage spread. However, the sense of inner detail and depth is influenced by how far apart the cabinets are placed and the degree to which they are toed-out (crossing behind the listening position, as set out in the manual). But there was always plenty of low-end power – a theme with these speakers – with the star-studded Gorillaz album The Mountain [Kong KONG 001CD], thumping out ‘The Plastic Guru’ without overshadowing the contributions of Anoushka Shankar and Johnny Marr. Even on the stately ‘Casablanca’ the balance remained rich and weighty, with treble details sweet and informative rather than incisively sharp.

Nordost QNet7 reclocking network switch Review
June 19, 2026 § Leave a comment
https://www.stereophile.com/content/nordost-qnet7-reclocking-network-switch
The QNet has one oscillator—one clock; the QNet7 has two. The two layers of ports 1–5 are handled by a single clock, while those of port 6 are separated into two dedicated circuits, one for each layer, and handled by two clocks. Port 7, in turn, uses a single clock.Why does an Ethernet switch need clocks? “When the Ethernet signal arrives at the QNet7, it is undone, so to speak, and redone,” Bonotto explained. “The bits (information) are transformed, encapsulated, and made into symbols so they can travel down the line in a more efficient and noise-proof way. Rather than send the packets down the cable directly, they are forwarded to the PHY unit, whose role is to take those packets and ‘line code’ them. Essentially, this makes the data more immune to noise. The whole process becomes more reliable. When the symbols arrive, everything must be de-encapsulated, as it were, and transformed back into bits. Then it gets routed and re-encapsulated and resent out on the other port. For this to happen, you need a clock base—a timing base. It’s the oscillator that makes it possible.”


World Premiere Review!AGD’s Allegro Unleashed: GaN-Powered Stereo Integrated Phono Review
June 18, 2026 § Leave a comment
he AGD Allegro integrated amplifier is certainly a powerhouse. It was designed and built to produce emotions, and it does so without a doubt. No stone was left unturned in its design, and the no-holds-barred approach definitely paid off in its performance. It certainly impressed me with just how much power and performance can be packed into one chassis.
The AGD Productions Allegro reproduced the material with a level of clarity that was totally unexpected. In fact, in some cases, it was a clarity that I had here that I had not even experienced before. It revealed a hidden layer of depth by removing noise that didn’t even seem to be there. Additionally, its inherent neutrality helps it avoid influencing the sound, again reducing noise and increasing blackness.
The AGD Allegro definitely changed how I look at integrated components in general and especially integrated amplifiers. It is certainly one of the most thoroughly complete and thought-out components I have come across in some time. Its performance and artistry should make its creator proud and bring the company to new heights. It certainly has the potential. Personally, I will be sad to see it go, since it has become a member of the family and is one of the few things I will truly miss


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