Paradigm Premier Series Speaker System Review
July 7, 2019 Comments Off on Paradigm Premier Series Speaker System Review
“The Surround 1 speakers come with a wall-mount bracket, safety strap, and a stencil guide to properly attach the speakers to a wall if you aren’t placing the speakers on a flat surface. The wall-mounting process was relatively straightforward; however, I found having an extra set of hands available made the mounting process easier.
A personal litmus test that I have for speakers is that they have to look good without grills. The Premier Series speakers pass this test with flying colors. I doubt many will complain with how these speakers look, which should help ease the frustrations of weary significant others less keen on having large speakers in the house. The 700F, in particular, looks stunning without its grill on. These speakers would make a statement in just about any room. The speaker grills are magnetic, too, which I prefer allowing the cabinet to have a cleaner, more seamless look when the grills aren’t attached.”
Aric Audio Alpha 300B Push Pull Amplifier World Premiere Review
July 7, 2019 Comments Off on Aric Audio Alpha 300B Push Pull Amplifier World Premiere Review
“Since I had warming tubes in front of me, and a room full of vinyl, my choice was obvious. A quick cleaning cycle on the OkkiNokki Record Cleaning Machine and Beth Hart’s “37 Days” album was ready for a spin. It was time for my favorite choice, and of the three turntables the Pro-Ject RPM 5 Carbon gets the nod. Have spent the past several weeks with a turntable / preamp / amplifier setup I enjoyed via the Pro-Ject turntables, Parasound pre-amp and Bryston amp. Swapping the Bryston amplifier for the Aric Audio amplifier was the most logical way to begin the review session.
Connections from the Pro-Ject RPM 5 Carbon turntable to the Parasound JC 3 Jr. Phono Preamp were completed with the Audioquest Big Sir RCA cables. The Audioquest Mackenzie (XLR) balanced cables fed the signal to the balancing inputs on the Audio Research LS27 preamplifier (coming from the Parasound JC3 jr outputs). Normally, I would connect to the Bryston amplifier with Audioquest Mackenzie (XLR) balanced cables. As mentioned earlier, the XLR’s were swapped for the Audioquest Big Sir RCA cables.”
BLUETOOTH Audio Technica LP60XBT Review
July 7, 2019 Comments Off on BLUETOOTH Audio Technica LP60XBT Review
Campfire Audio Solaris IEMs $1499 Review
July 6, 2019 Comments Off on Campfire Audio Solaris IEMs $1499 Review
“Overall then, Campfire Audio have outdone themselves with the craftsmanship, solid aesthetics, and fantastic sound quality of the Solaris. The hybrid IEM produces a cohesive sound, which draws on the brand’s many years of audio experience. In addition, the flagship IEM offers an open sound with high levels of resolution and detail without ever sounding clinical. It is also nice to see the premium level of accessories included with the Solaris, which fits in with its flagship status. Unlike many other brands, Campfire Audio have always pushed the envelope, and constantly are redefining the standards in the world of portable audio. With an IEM to match, the $1499 Solaris represents a significant, but recommended investment for those wishing for top quality sound in a top quality form factor.”
Accustic Arts Amp II Mk 3 Stereo Power Amplifier $20,900 Review
July 6, 2019 Comments Off on Accustic Arts Amp II Mk 3 Stereo Power Amplifier $20,900 Review
“I’d be engaging in a stretcher, as Huck Finn likes to put, if I didn’t confess to indulging in playing some CDs and LPs by the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd at what might be safely termed robust levels. Pushed to these volumes when driving the Wilson Audio WAMMs, the amp didn’t falter but I did pick up on a hint of fatigue. Driven to reasonable SPLs, I never experienced any sense of the Amp II faltering. Rather, it offered a wealth of tonal colors and detail that made it a delight to listen to for hours on end.
When time came to part with the amp, I did so not with a heavy heart—my far more expensive Ypsilon Hyperion monoblock amplifiers are superior, which is what you would expect—but with respect and admiration for a musical amplifier that is punching beyond its weight class. This Amp II is a classic example of what Germany has become the envy of the world for—its Mittelstand, or medium-sized industry, that produces reliable and high-quality products. For anyone seeking a reasonably priced, as the high-end goes, amplifier, the Accustic Arts offers an extremely enticing design.”
GoldenEar Triton Reference Speakers Review
July 6, 2019 Comments Off on GoldenEar Triton Reference Speakers Review
KLH Ultimate One Headphone $379 Review
July 5, 2019 Comments Off on KLH Ultimate One Headphone $379 Review
“Apparently the headphones were picked to be handed out at the 2019 MTV Movie awards as well, for whatever that’s worth. In all honestly I’m more interested that a brand with such pedigree was revived by an executive from Klipsh, who has recently put out a very competent headphone. Furthermore, the fact that they’re open-backed and that premium materials have been used in the cable and drivers is another positive sign. KLH claims they’re neutral enough to use for music, movies and even in the recording studio. Tall orders from a first-effort headphone, so we shall see if they deliver.”
Sonus Faber Serafino Tradition $21,900 Review
July 5, 2019 Comments Off on Sonus Faber Serafino Tradition $21,900 Review
“What I heard was the right amount of detail, wrapped in lovely timbre, presented with a sense of intimacy. Vocals, especially, practically glow through these loudspeakers; someone clearly spent a great deal of time listening to them during their voicing, someone with the mandate of ensuring that the human voice would be presented in all its raspy, guttural, breathy, round, clarion glory. “Hair-raising” was something I wrote in my notes. Overall, the speakers had a warm, robust, and forgiving presentation that I have come to call the Sonus Faber “house sound”.
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GRADO’S GH3 REVIEW
July 4, 2019 Comments Off on GRADO’S GH3 REVIEW
“The soundstage was always wide, deep and delivered a layered performance of large scale recordings with speed making them come alive. Classical and large scale recordings were always exceptional while listening to the GH3, with its expansive soundstage and fast dynamic presentation. Tympani whacks and finales are always exciting and the GH3 with its fast drivers never disappointed, recreating the finales and delivering a masterful presentation.
Rock lovers will enjoy the dynamic sound of the GH3 with its lightning fast driver which has the speed to make instruments come to life. Drum solos had excellent slam and made the music exciting to listen to and always kept my body moving. Tonality of instruments for me is important in reference transducers and the ability of the GH3 to recreate the tone of instruments was exceptional.”
Ayon Audio Crossfire III PA Power Amplifier Review
July 4, 2019 Comments Off on Ayon Audio Crossfire III PA Power Amplifier Review
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The SET amplifier circuit dates back to the beginning of the electronic age and has generally been discarded in favor of the higher-power push-pull circuit. But Ayon has proven that, if you devote sufficient resources, it’s possible to build an SET amplifier that can overcome most of the shortcomings of the genre and that can drive a much wider range of speakers. The Crossfire still needs thoughtful loudspeaker-matching, but the amp is much more flexible than most SETs. It handily exceeded all my expectations.
Normally, I try to avoid listening to really expensive gear because I’m afraid I’ll like it enough to wreak havoc on my budget. But sometimes I let an expensive item like the Crossfire III PA slip past my guard. And as I said earlier, there are a lot of amps way more expensive than $12k. Few, if any, of those are as attractive as the Crossfire III PA. Even more important than how it looks, in my system the Ayon Crossfire III PA power amp is easily the best amplifier I’ve ever heard. It effortlessly jumped through all the usual audiophile hoops, but, most significantly, it genuinely enhanced my music-listening experience. Frankly, listening to hi-fi had been getting a bit stale and boring lately, but the Ayon Crossfire III PA made it fun again—and I truly needed that. If it fits your budget and your speakers, I urge you to audition it. It’s a great amplifier.”
Audiophilepure 
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