Tidal Audio Akira loudspeaker $215,000 Review
October 27, 2018 Comments Off on Tidal Audio Akira loudspeaker $215,000 Review
“While the Tidal Akiras always sounded superb, throughout my auditioning of these speakers I was never sure I had fully gotten the best from them. Changes in cables and amplifiers were more audible than I had experienced with other speakers; it’s possible that further experimentation with ancillary components would have produced even better sound. (After replacing that torched tweeter, Doug White left with me Tidal’s Impulse LPX dual-mono solid-state amplifier. It is our policy not to comment on the sounds of products we have not yet reviewed in our review of another product. However, as might be expected, the pairing of Tidal speakers with Tidal amplifier was to the benefit of both.)
No matter: The Akiras are the best-looking, best-built, best-sounding speakers I have had in my listening room—as they should be at the price.”
Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/tidal-audio-akira-loudspeaker-page-2#qhMM1wzTCFwpXihe.99
FELIKS AUDIO EUFORIA HEADPHONE AMP REVIEW
October 27, 2018 Comments Off on FELIKS AUDIO EUFORIA HEADPHONE AMP REVIEW
“Bass is detailed, fast, tight and perfectly in balance. Impact and body-wise you don’t get the biggest bass but it’s in no way flat or absent. You get quality over quantity but it will depend on the headphone and even the tubes used. Differently said, the Euforia doesn’t really add any extra bass unless you’re pushing it but it will get the best possible bass to your headphone. Bass layering is very good as well. A clean, yet powerful bass, I certainly appreciate it.
The mids flow perfectly from the bass with the same characteristics body and impact-wise. The mids are always in-line and neutrality here also is a key characteristic. Nothing is being pushed forward or to the back and you get a clean, detailed and spacious sound which is realistic and engaging. The mid dynamics are exemplary and again you get just enough of that tube richness and smoothness to make the amp really shine in this area. The voices also are to dream away with. I read another review where they said the mids weren’t engaging, but if you don’t fond them engaging with the stock tubes, I can only advise to get a better set of tubes, cause they are very engaging with my setup”
ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 Floorstanding Speaker Review
October 26, 2018 Comments Off on ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 Floorstanding Speaker Review
”
But that’s not the most noteworthy thing about these speakers’ performance with this song. Unsurprisingly, Michael’s inimitable vocals take centerstage, ringing through with such authentic timbres that at one point I actually looked behind the speakers to make sure I hadn’t accidentally left the cables connected to the pair of Paradigm Studio 100 towers sitting to either side of the ELACs.
This is a heavily reverberant track, and as such speakers with less-than-stellar transient response can deliver the vocals as a sort of wide blanket of wet sound. Through the ELACs, Michael’s voice still undeniably emanates from a weighty center of mass between the speakers, but the waves and echoes that follow flow from wall-to-wall, like ripples ebbing outward from a pebble tossed into a pond. Even with the overdubbed backup vocals kick in–“And I’ll go where I’ve longed/To go, so long…”–and the mix spreads to fill the stereo soundstage out past the limits of the speakers themselves, you can still undeniably close your eyes and point to Michael’s lead vocals in the mix.”
VICOUSTIC MULTIFUSER DC2 ROOM TREATMENT PANELS
October 26, 2018 Comments Off on VICOUSTIC MULTIFUSER DC2 ROOM TREATMENT PANELS
“First, the characteristic midrange and upper midrange brightness of the room was corrected, yet with no apparent loss of musical energy or information in either frequency band. Second, imaging became more continuous, meaning there was little if any tendency for there to be a sonic ‘hole in the middle’ between the speakers, while perceived imaging focus and specificity were dramatically improved. In layman’s terms, the diffusors seemed to take the room out of the equation, so that I could more clearly hear what the loudspeakers were doing. Third, spatial cues in the music, including very subtle recorded echoes and reverberations, became much easier to hear, as did sounds of instruments and voices interacting with the acoustics of various recording venues. The upshot was an increase in overall soundstage size and three-dimensionality. Finally, the panels worked equally well with dipole and with forward-firing loudspeakers. When you put all of these virtues and benefits together, the Vicoustics panels seemed like nothing less than acoustical miracle workers.
How are the Vicoustics panels mounted in one’s room? The answer is that in many applications the panels would be affixed to wall or ceiling surfaces using special flex glue that Vicoustics makes for this purpose. At the same time, though, I should point out that the panels don’t have to be attached to walls at all to be effective. In my case, for example, I found it perfectly acceptable to place panels on the floor, butted up against the wall, and then to stack additional panels on top. The beauty of this approach is that you can experiment with different panel placements as you wish without having any glue residue to clean up.”
Borresen Acoustics Loudspeakers World Premere
October 26, 2018 Comments Off on Borresen Acoustics Loudspeakers World Premere
Monoprice Monolith 15” THX Ultra Subwoofer $ 1,300 Review
October 25, 2018 Comments Off on Monoprice Monolith 15” THX Ultra Subwoofer $ 1,300 Review
“The Monolith 15” THX Ultra holds THX’s “Ultra” performance class certification, which means it should be able to help to present a THX experience in a 3,000 cubic foot room with a 12’ viewing distance from the screen. That is a big space to fill, and the laws of physics dictate that a large sub is needed for that task (or at least a whole lot of small subs). The 15” THX Ultra is such a behemoth that, at a glance, it does look like it might be up to the task, but the THX certification is verified proof, so no guessing is needed. However, the 15” THX Ultra is only certified for that level of performance in one of its operating modes: all ports open and EQ switch set to “THX.” It isn’t that other operating modes will perform significantly worse, it’s just that they don’t have very specific behavior needed to act totally predictable by the THX controlling processor otherwise.”
Schiit Audio Lyr 3 Review – Video
October 25, 2018 Comments Off on Schiit Audio Lyr 3 Review – Video
EMPIRE EARS NEMESIS $1,599 REVIEW
October 25, 2018 Comments Off on EMPIRE EARS NEMESIS $1,599 REVIEW
“You won’t really need to upgrade unless you really find a DAP ‘tonality win’ for yourself in a more expensive product. I own a Colofly C8 that is hyper-expensive, I also own a budget AP80 and I enjoy the sound of the AP80 with this CIEM more than with the expensive DAP. It always isn’t about fidelity. Of course, the C8 wins there. But, tonality is absurdly good on the AP80 and the powerful EQ system adheres to my personal tastes best.
If you are into a balanced and dense feeling CIEM, you will really enjoy this model. It isn’t set-up for bass enthusiasts though so be careful. Empire Ears scored a real winner with this one in the way of coherency and natural appeal. If they would drop more bass potential in, I’d be much happier than I am already. Great job, Jack! I enjoyed this one a lot.”
Benchmark Media Systems’ DAC3 HGC $2195 Review
October 24, 2018 Comments Off on Benchmark Media Systems’ DAC3 HGC $2195 Review
“This is the problem the AHB2 is intended to solve with its claimed dynamic range of 135dB—that’s the ratio of the noise (inputs shorted) relative to the full output voltage. A more relevant figure is 0.0003%, the AHB2’s total harmonic distortion plus noise at full power, relative to the maximum output voltage. That corresponds to an SNR of about 110dB. That number should be better bridged, and JA’s measurements show that just below full power, the distortion is lower by at least a factor of 10, so it should be possible to achieve significantly better SNR by listening just below maximum volume. Which means that 120dB is in sight.
Assuming, then, that there are no other noisy components in the signal path—no preamp—the AHB2 delivers to your speakers more of the resolution and dynamic range of the DAC3 (or other high-performing DAC) than will most other amplifiers.”
Campfire Audio Cascade Headphones $799 Review
October 24, 2018 Comments Off on Campfire Audio Cascade Headphones $799 Review
“The real magic with the Cascade happened in the midrange when I played Diana Krall’s Live in Paris collection: her vocals sounded so full of life. There was something really special about Krall’s intimate connection with the microphone; it was as if there was no mic at all. The Cascade was making all the right moves, rendering her exquisite touch on the piano keys, her dynamics, and most importantly her sense of swing.
With a sound that seduces rather than dazzles with detail, the Campfire Audio Cascade isn’t equipped to compete in the high-resolution audio sweepstakes. While its treble isn’t soft or rolled-off, the rich midrange and voluptuous- sounding bass are the Cascade’s star attractions. That’s enough for me, and it might also be enough for you.
Audiophilepure 
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