JL Audio Fathom F113 V2 13.5” Subwoofer Review
April 21, 2020 Comments Off on JL Audio Fathom F113 V2 13.5” Subwoofer Review
“Unsurprisingly perhaps, the big Fathom couldn’t quite match the speed and grip of my usual 10” VAF Veritas subs, or for that matter JL Audio’s smaller E-110. What is surprising is how little the bigger sub yielded in terms of speed to the smaller ones. Its speed ensures that it complements the extension of the main speakers, without overwhelming them. Able to fill the listening room with powerful, visceral bass, it has real ability to dig in to lower frequencies, making for an exciting listening experience.
Action films are what typically come to mind when evaluating subwoofers, yet a good one can add an extra layer of detail to even the subtlest of movie fare. Unusual for horror movies, Anabelle Comes Home has its share of ambient cues designed to unsettle the viewer, intermingled with the soundtrack and of course, more than a few jump-scares. Here it added welcome extension to the eerie Dolby Atmos soundtrack without getting in the way of the other speakers. More often than not, the extension was felt rather than heard, making for a more engaging and exciting – if somewhat terrifying – listening experience.”
WooAudio WA8 Eclipse amp / DAC review
April 21, 2020 Comments Off on WooAudio WA8 Eclipse amp / DAC review
Abyss AB 1266 TC – best sounding headphone on the planet
April 20, 2020 Comments Off on Abyss AB 1266 TC – best sounding headphone on the planet
ProAc Response D2R loudspeaker $4500 Review
April 20, 2020 Comments Off on ProAc Response D2R loudspeaker $4500 Review
“After two weeks of break-in, during which I streamed music from Tidal at a low level on my Asus laptop, the D2R impressed me immediately with its lucid, clear top end, rich-sounding midrange, and, for a cabinet of its size, well-defined and extended bass—and also its transparency: I was surprised more than once by bells, glockenspiel, and flutes that sounded real and live. The speaker delivered a detailed, tangible soundstage that often was larger than you’d expect from such small speakers.”
Vincent Audio SV-200 Integrated Amplifier $799 Review
April 20, 2020 Comments Off on Vincent Audio SV-200 Integrated Amplifier $799 Review
“Smartly designed, the Vincent SV-200 fits today’s digital and analog sources seamlessly. Its sound output is much bigger than I expected – rich and detailed with a touch of warmth, I especially like its design and small footprint. This little amp exceeded expectations for its price point in every way. If you’re in the market for well-priced, authentic high-end performance gear that’s easily portable, the Vincent SV-200 is a fantastic place to start. Glad I met you, Vincent. Highly recommended!”
Rega P10 Turntable | Review
April 19, 2020 Comments Off on Rega P10 Turntable | Review
“As far as the sound of the Rega P10 goes, it’s pretty flawless. If I were to nitpick, the P10 is merciless in revealing any and all transient information, similar to playing digital sources but with a certain additional alive-ness that may not fit every system or taste. I realize some of this observation might be due to the Dynavector, so take this comment as provisional. And don’t expect the Rega P10 to have any of that upper bass-low mid resonance which gives a warm yet smeary sound that can be flattering in some systems. Personally, I’d rather start with as much information off the record as I can get and adjust the upstream components accordingly.
For any serious, vinyl oriented audiophile searching for the kind of performance usually found at the BMW i8 level, but at an i3 price (approximately $5,495 without cartridge and $6,695 supplied with Rega’s Alpheta 3 MC cart), the P10 offers more than just great value. For a lot of folks, this might be as good as it gets.”
IFI AUDIO XCAN PORTABLE HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER $299 REVIEW
April 19, 2020 Comments Off on IFI AUDIO XCAN PORTABLE HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER $299 REVIEW
“As an example, consider the organ bass notes in Felix Hell’s Symphony Concertante, Op. 81: 1. Allegro-Molto Moderato from Barber, Guilmant & Jongen: Orgel & Orchester [perc.pro]. With the aid of the xCAN the low range of the track seemed to be truly unearthed with a weighty, resonant, rock-solid bass performance not unlike what you would expect to hear when listening through a very high dollar desktop headphone amp. Disconnecting the xCAN after this experience revealed an auditory gulf that was painfully evident, so that I think most users would yearn for the added gravitas the xCAN provides.
In summary, while some might scratch their heads for a moment to wonder whether a product like the xCAN is necessary or beneficial, the proof is in the listening. To my ears, the xCAN delivers a sizeable sonic payoff beyond all proportion to its modest price.”
GoldenEar Technology BRX Bookshelf Speakers $1,599 Review
April 18, 2020 Comments Off on GoldenEar Technology BRX Bookshelf Speakers $1,599 Review
“Starting out with test tones, a low-frequency sweep indicated usable bass extending down to, and even below, the 40-Hz limit GoldenEar cites in its specifications. Such a result boded well for playback of a big blues-band track like Van Morrison’s “I Love the Life I Live” from The Prophet Speaks (24-bit/96kHz FLAC, Qobuz), which was presented with lifelike dynamics and a sense of scale that transported me to a close-up table in an intimate club. While the bass on this track didn’t wasn’t particularly deep, there was a marked fullness to the sound that didn’t leave me wanting. Van’s voice, meanwhile, sounded nicely fleshed-out and free of any “shouty” or edgy character; it also integrated smoothly with instruments in the mix like Hammond organ, brass, and guitar, all of which came across as lush, yet detailed.”
Schiit-Hot Integrated Amplifier The Ragnarok 2 Review
April 18, 2020 Comments Off on Schiit-Hot Integrated Amplifier The Ragnarok 2 Review
“When evaluating equipment, I seldom listen to complete LP sides, let alone one after another. But that simple change of gain setting turned the sound from merely OK to really good. When the Ragnarok 2 first arrived, I wondered why the choice of gain settings had been included — most integrated amps lack them. Now they make more sense.
Raves, reservations, recommendations
The Just An Amp version of Schiit Audio’s Ragnarok 2 integrated amplifier isn’t cheap at $1499, or — especially — by the standards of this column, which focuses on components costing under $1000. However, it’s as much of a bargain as anything I’ve reviewed that costs less. From its build quality to its styling to its idiosyncratic feature set to its sound, I loved everything about it — and for a great price. I believe that the only reason the Ragnarok 2 doesn’t cost, say, $3000, or even more, is because Schiit sells factory direct, eliminating the distributor and dealer markups that can easily double the wholesale price. Such an approach scores a big win for the consumer.”
Audiophilepure 
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