Pass Labs XA25 Stereo Amplifier $4,900 Review
February 4, 2018 Comments Off on Pass Labs XA25 Stereo Amplifier $4,900 Review
“There is an old platitude often used in high-end audio: the perfect amplifier would have the best of both worlds–the beautiful colors, lack of grain, and space/imaging of a great tube amplifier and the dead quiet nature, rock-bottom/tight bass, and transient speed of a great solid-state amplifier. In my 30 years of listening to great amplifiers from Threshold/Pass Labs, I believe that Nelson Pass and his team have come closest to this utopian ideal with the new XA25 amplifier than ever before in their long and illustrious history.”
Gold Note Mediterraneo Turntable $5,973 Review
February 4, 2018 Comments Off on Gold Note Mediterraneo Turntable $5,973 Review
“It’s worth noting that Gold Note offers an excellent instruction manual, something not all turntables offer. And the table comes well packed. Once removed, the Mediterraneo should take you about 10 minutes to assemble; install the platter on the spindle assembly, string the belt and then fine tune the tonearm for your cartridge. Tracking force is straightforward, and anti-skate is adjusted with a small weight on a string. This table is easy to work with, falling into place quickly. Even analog newcomers should have no problem setting it up quickly and easily.”
Yamaha R-N803 Stereo Network Receiver – Hands On Review
February 4, 2018 Comments Off on Yamaha R-N803 Stereo Network Receiver – Hands On Review
TAD Evolution Series D1000MK2 Disc Player $14,995 Review
February 3, 2018 Comments Off on TAD Evolution Series D1000MK2 Disc Player $14,995 Review
‘The beautiful thing about owning a device like the TAD D1000MK2 Disc Player is you don’t have to worry, you just have to be happy. I did spin some shiny discs on the TAD’s disc spinner and they all sounded good. Really good. Better than the file? I wouldn’t say better but if you own lots of discs, CDs and perhaps more importantly SACDs that you don’t plan to turn into files, you can rest assured that the TAD will serve them very well. For my personal listening preferences, the TAD TAD-DA1000 DAC ($10,995) makes more sense because the physical music media I enjoy is of the vinyl variety but part of me really loves the sexy silent machined smooth beauty of the D1000MK2’s disc mechanism. It certainly plucks at my lover-of-lovely-things heartstrings.”
Bluesound Node Review
February 3, 2018 Comments Off on Bluesound Node Review
“A streaming DAC with a variety of inputs, outputs and features, all wrapped in a low profile package. No giant black boxes here! And even though the hardware has been on the hump for some years, Bluesound’s ongoing series of software updates slows the ageing process. And who doesn’t want that? It wasn’t so much the Node 2’s sound quality that led me to its purchase. Parent company Lenbrook’s pedigree with NAD and PSB means that was almost a given. It was Node 2’s broad feature set that tipped me over the line. Because function matters.”
XACT Audio, Stillpoints, Schröder tonearmsRMAF 2017
February 3, 2018 Comments Off on XACT Audio, Stillpoints, Schröder tonearmsRMAF 2017
Magnepan • MMGi Loudspeakers $650 Review
February 2, 2018 Comments Off on Magnepan • MMGi Loudspeakers $650 Review
“A final test of the MMGi’s came when I sought to re-create an event recently experienced in New York City. A month before this review was submitted, my significant other and I were treated to the Joe Lovano Nonet performing just a few feet from our ears in the claustrophobic cellar of Max Gordon’s iconic Village Vanguard. With ten musicians — five saxes (including the leader), trumpet, trombone and rhythm cutting loose on tunes inspired by the late, great Tadd Dameron, the sound came close to overpowering the room. It was hair-raising, but in a good way. Nothing went unheard, including the occasional subway train.”
Astell&Kern Michelle Limited Headphones $399 Review
February 2, 2018 Comments Off on Astell&Kern Michelle Limited Headphones $399 Review
“The Michelle Limited is more transparent, with more precise imaging, but the ample bass will either be welcomed or sound like too much of a good thing. Personal tastes vary, but I will say that when I’m listening away from home, a little extra low end helps mask some of the rumble of a train, plane, or bus. At home in a quiet room, the bass could be intrusive.
TOP 5 Affordable Record Players! – video
February 2, 2018 Comments Off on TOP 5 Affordable Record Players! – video
ZMF EIKON $1399 REVIEW
February 1, 2018 Comments Off on ZMF EIKON $1399 REVIEW
“At the end of the day, the Eikon sounds great, looks great and feels great. It performs very well and is set up for a flat EQ line, most of the time. If you like a natural tonality that isn’t overly clinical or cold at all, but also one that isn’t very warm, something with a very good coherency factor that makes vocals and the center image instrument in the track seem lifelike and very well formed, then I suggest you pick this up asap. Zach does great work”
Audiophilepure 
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