Mytek HiFi Manhattan DAC II Review
February 20, 2019 Comments Off on Mytek HiFi Manhattan DAC II Review
“I have read the Manhattan II’s optional phono card is very competitive and the headphone amplifier is a revelation for those who use headphones. It wouldn’t surprise me, knowing Jurewicz’s design prowess. It also doesn’t surprise me that he has designed a superb volume control for both the digital and analog domain. Your choice, or bypass them completely, and it’s potentiometer heaven. The network card is also a very viable downsize option if you dig streaming above all.
But it’s the conversion and myriad of settings that’s the star turn. And why I would purchase it. The 55K Black is out of reach for most, but the Mytek Manhattan DAC II, ten times cheaper, gives you much of what Black delivers.
Devialet Phantom Reactor $1300 Bluetooth Speaker
February 20, 2019 Comments Off on Devialet Phantom Reactor $1300 Bluetooth Speaker
MrSpeakers Ether 2 Over-The-Ear Headphones $1999 Review
February 19, 2019 Comments Off on MrSpeakers Ether 2 Over-The-Ear Headphones $1999 Review
“The reduction of weight is just one of the many improvements that Ether 2 has over its predecessors. It boasts an entirely new motor designed around MrSpeakers TrueFlow technology. This also includes a diaphragm that’s 70% lighter than used in previous models. The driver baffle is composed of carbon fiber, helping further reduce weight while maintaining rigidity. MrSpeakers employs their trusty flexible NiTinol metal headband support system, while upgrading the headband strap to webbed leather. Further helping comfort are high quality synthetic leather ear pads that utilize an ear shaped opening (opposed to a rectangle or oval shape). Finally the all metal cup and mounting arm not only looks fantastic, but feels premium and built to last.
Also introduced with the Ether 2 is MrSpeakers new premium VIVO cable, which replaces the venerable DUM cable used with previous Ether models. The DUM cable was a quality cable, but the VIVO is a big upgrade in many ways. The VIVO feels robust, yet is incredibly flexible without being microphonic. It also uses silver plated OFHC copper which is an excellent match to the Ether 2’s tuning. Included as well is a standard black MrSpeakers clamshell hard-case and certificate of authenticity.”
McIntosh C2600 Tubed Preamplifier Review
February 19, 2019 Comments Off on McIntosh C2600 Tubed Preamplifier Review
“Delicate, signal-centric analog and digital sections are kept separate thanks to an internal, two layer dual-chassis design which according to the company was developed to prevent signal corruption, shielding intricate circuitry from RF and EMI interference. Analog inputs consist of three balanced (XLR), four unbalanced (RCA – gold plated, solid brass) and dedicated MM and MC phono stages (40dB/60dB voltage gain respectively). Digital inputs include one asynchronous USB Type-B, two coaxial, three optical and one proprietary McIntosh MCT (DIN) which offers a secure DSD connection for McIntosh SACD/CD transports. A headphone amplifier featuring McIntosh’s Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD) is built-in as well “to allow high quality recordings to image like conventional speakers in your headphones” according to the company (A claim I can attest to after extensive listening sessions, the sensation is less ‘in the centre of your head’ if I had to briefly describe it). You can utilize or bypass Tone controls and all inputs can be individually named to custom tailor them to your specific gear or nomenclature and be input level-matched to +/-6dB, bass and treble settings can also be adjusted on a per-input basis. The unit also has a Home Theatre PassThru, Power Control Output (one main, four trigger), RS232 Control Input and a rear panel IR sensor input.”
Monitor Audio Platinum PL100 II Loudspeaker $5,795 Review
February 19, 2019 Comments Off on Monitor Audio Platinum PL100 II Loudspeaker $5,795 Review
“Of the speakers that I have reviewed recently, the PL100 II sounds most similar to the $2140 Xavian Perla Esclusiva, but has deeper bass and a small increase in treble resolution. The Xavians are not as particular about toe in or room position. The $4,000 per pair Revel M126Be is higher resolution across the audible frequency range while being much more particular regarding the associated power amplifier.
This is a speaker that draws little attention to itself sonically and you don’t really think about them while the music is playing. The cabinets are very nicely finished. The almost 34 pound weight of each speaker is heavier than almost any other 2-way speaker, including some with metal or proprietary-material enclosures. They don’t impress as being spectacular sounding in any area, but are quite competent at delivering an enjoyable listening experience. ”
Dan D’Agostino Momentum Integrated Amplifier w/DAC & Audio Streaming World Premiere $50,000 Review
February 18, 2019 Comments Off on Dan D’Agostino Momentum Integrated Amplifier w/DAC & Audio Streaming World Premiere $50,000 Review
“My concentration changes focus throughout the piece, in sort of a meditative way as it ebbs and flows throughout the piece. I found this happening when listening to the MLife play my favorite power orchestral pieces. Regardless of how boisterous the music might become, my focus changes throughout the piece, focusing on different instruments, different sections of the orchestra, and to its soloists. As it does in real life. The dynamic distance the MLife can create with this large group of instrument is second to none in my experience, regardless of whether I’m listening to the internal DAC fed by the Ethernet connection or a source connected through an interconnect, digital or analog. The internal DAC of the MLife was the best at conveying the characteristics inherent to the MLife itself. And sounded the best out of all the sources. Yes, there will always be something special about playing LPs, and the MLife did not diminish this pleasure. But to have digital playback sound as good as the MLife could was new to me. And quite a pleasure.
One of the pleasures of a high-end system is being to step back in time, and thus come as close as humanly possible to what bewildered audiences heard in the very early 19th Century when Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony, or Eroica, was premiered. We’re hearing modern instruments, of course, but that’s not my point. At the time of its premier it was thought as too “structurally rigorous”, and at nearly 45 minutes, much too long. It was quite a ground-breaking piece of music. Now it is regarded as one of his most celebrated works, and for good reason. It probably surprises no one that my favorite movement is the Adagio, the second movement, which Beethoven titled “Marcia funebre”, or “Funeral March”. The DSD file of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, conducted by: Kurt Masur Symphony is not only well read, it is a great recording. Via the MLife’s internal DAC it is amazing to hear how it enables the sections of the orchestra to occupy distinct areas within the huge soundstage, projecting itself between, behind and to the sides of the speakers, making the speakers very difficult to locate when closing my eyes.”
Audio Physic Step Plus loudspeaker $2599 Review
February 18, 2019 Comments Off on Audio Physic Step Plus loudspeaker $2599 Review
“Digitally sourced music gave further evidence of the Step Plus’s prowess. As I played CDs through an ATC CDA2 Mk.II CD player into the Parasound integrated amplifier, the Steps reproduced quality bass tonnage that was extraordinary. I’m not talking a merely passable low end, but deep, round frequencies. The best example of this was Forq, from the scrappy funk-jazz quartet of that name (CD, groundUP 8829514692). Forq includes members of Snarky Puppy, and their organ-generated robo funk sounds as if recorded inside a bass drum. Every ounce of bass-drum air—most plentifully produced by jazz drummers who don’t mute the drum—is present on this bass-grip-of-doom CD. Imagine Chic by way of the Meters and Tower of Power: Forq is that lowdown and dirty.”
CH Precision I1 Universal integrated amplifier $38,000 Review
February 18, 2019 Comments Off on CH Precision I1 Universal integrated amplifier $38,000 Review
“I also felt that the I1 conveyed music’s full emotional impact. When I wrote in my notes that Shostakovich’s Quartet 15 “ends with a tragic epilogue in which each disruptive pluck and skirmish conveys unadulterated fright . . . [in] music that chills with its emotional honesty and despair,” I did so in full confidence that I was hearing all the music had to offer.
Nonetheless, it was my trusted reference tracks—whose every note, dynamic shift, and emotional nuance is now inscribed in my DNA—that truly told the tale. While that long tale began to unfold, I soon confirmed that adding an outboard clock—in my case, the dCS Scarlatti—invested the sound with considerably more depth and life. Music became more involving because images were more realistically defined and three-dimensional, and set farther back on a more resonant and convincing soundstage. With additional air around individual instruments as well, the sound seemed to expand more organically in acoustic space. Bass was also more profound.
Audiophilepure 
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