Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC Headphones £4950 Review
June 5, 2020 Comments Off on Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC Headphones £4950 Review
“However, listening to the cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras in his new Harmonia Mundi collection Complices [HMM902274] I didn’t quite get all the magic of the Saint-Saens ‘Le Cygne’. In the John Coltrane ‘Improvisation on Bach: Alabama’ Queyras is partnered by tenor saxophonist Raphaël Imbert and you hear occasional sharp spitty noises, but these became merely buzzy ‘noises off’ with the AB-1266.
The upper strings from Vladimir Jurowski’s live Moscow recording of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet [Pentatone PTC5186761; 96kHz/24-bit] aren’t that well reproduced – or not that good in reality – so track 2, more low register and winds, was more enjoyable than the Overture with these ‘phones. Overall their clarity within the soundstage kept my attention over a longer tract, and they do capture subsidiary details well – as with the Johann Strauss II. And the flow of the music is engaging – toe-tapping or head-nodding, if you like.”
Sonus Faber Olympica Nova II $10000 review
June 5, 2020 Comments Off on Sonus Faber Olympica Nova II $10000 review
“I’d actually asked a friend over to help with some fine-tuning and tweaking, but it turned out it wasn’t necessary because the minute the music started playing, it was obvious that the positioning was perfect, not least because the soundfield I experienced was virtually holographic from the outset, so that there was no way I could localise the sound as issuing from the speakers. It was as if the speakers didn’t exist, just the musicians.
I have experienced this before, of course, but rarely so perfectly from such large multi-driver loudspeakers, because a prerequisite for this level of performance is that the left and right speakers are perfectly matched, so this must certainly have been the case with my review pair. And by holographic soundfield, I am referencing not just the stereo imaging, but also the height and depth of the soundstage. It was the sonic equivalent of a hologram.”
TECHNICS SL1500C TURNTABLE $1199 REVIEW
June 5, 2020 Comments Off on TECHNICS SL1500C TURNTABLE $1199 REVIEW
“The Technics SL1500C turntable is an outstanding performer for its price class, and then some. It distills and refines all the elements that made the original SL1200 turntables such a favorite with Hi-Fi enthusiasts and does away with the more DJ-centric features that are now available in the purpose-built SL1200 Mk 7. At $1199.99, with a modern direct-drive system, a fine-sounding Ortofon 2M Red cartridge, and a more than capable built-in MM phono preamp, the SL1500C is almost a “no-brainer” purchase for someone who is looking for a turntable at this price point. Yes, the auto-lift tonearm feature is a little indecisive and the action of the cueing arm annoys me. All the turntables I’ve seen at this price point have cueing arms that unfortunately act and feel the same way, so I do wish the SL1500C stood out better in this regard. Still, If your heart is set on a nice quality belt drive table (and there are some nice ones at this level to be had out there) then this whole discussion is moot. But if you want your records to be spun by something a little more advanced than a rubber band, or you always liked the idea of owning an old SL1200, the SL1500C has you covered every which way from Sunday. Don’t bother with the knock offs or the SL1200 wannabe tables out there, you know you’ll only use the pitch control and strobe light to show off to your friends. Go for the legit “Son of Kon”
Focal Kanta No.3 $11999 review
June 4, 2020 Comments Off on Focal Kanta No.3 $11999 review
“The science of loudspeaker design is like any science: it obeys the law of diminishing returns. For anyone buying loudspeakers, this means that the more you pay, the better the sound will be, but there will eventually come a point at which the increased costs are not matched by similarly satisfying increases in sound quality.
The ideal is to find a speaker at the ‘sweet spot’ where the balance is just right for both your ears and your own budget. For me, the Focal Kanta No.3s represent that ‘sweet spot’. For you? You’ll obviously have to make that judgement for yourself – but I do sincerely recommend that you at least listen to a pair of Kanta No.3s… no matter what price you might originally have had in mind.”
SHANLING M6 PRO $500 REVIEW
June 4, 2020 Comments Off on SHANLING M6 PRO $500 REVIEW
“The M6 Pro runs on Bluetooth 4.2 and supports all of the popular Bluetooth codecs, allowing you to connect to all the latest Hi-Res receivers or earphones.
Connecting to TWS or Bluetooth headphones is smooth and the M6 Pro can work two-way as a remitter or receiver for LDAC and SBC codecs when you select “Bluetooth Amp mode” in the Bluetooth settings. For aptX HD and HWA, it can transmit the signal outwards only.
I am getting a stable signal out of the M6 Pro to other receivers with no glitches in connection even when placing the player in my pocket/ bag. There is an LED indicator above the volume wheel that shows the BT connection status. The color codes are green is for LDAC, SBC Blue, aptX purple and aptX HD will get you yellow. The M6 Pro is certified for Hi-Res wireless standard.”
Record Doctor V and VI record cleaning machines
June 4, 2020 Comments Off on Record Doctor V and VI record cleaning machines
Alta Audio Celesta FRM-2M Loudspeaker Review
June 3, 2020 Comments Off on Alta Audio Celesta FRM-2M Loudspeaker Review
“Yes, that low frequency response figure in the Specs is correct. And spot on. The FRMs still plumb the depths like few stand mounts. They shock guests just how low they go with complete authority. Although mine is a small listening room, it is fully pressurized by Levy’s XTL technology. I’ve heard the same effect wow listeners in two NYC listening rooms larger than mine. And, the bass is timbrally accurate—no cheap thrills or mid bass bumps like many bookshelf loudspeakers. As such, you’ll hear the Kingsway rumble from the Picadilly Line tube on the Martinon/LSO/Shaded Dog/Shostakovich 1st Symphony clearly and the wiry sound of Ray Brown’s string bass when bowed on We Get Requests.”
PS Audio DirectStream Power Plant 12 REVIEW
June 3, 2020 Comments Off on PS Audio DirectStream Power Plant 12 REVIEW
“I tried both and neither was deleterious to my musical picture. MultiWave did alter the sound, but no better or worse than without, just a different perspective. I discovered that my system did not require any of the 12’s considerable bag-o-tricks, simply, its amazing base technology. YMMV. Mileage is different for Audiophilia’s Karl Sigman, where MultiWave on setting 3 rocks his Manhattan world. He gives CleanWave a run every once in a while, too, with positive effect. I’ll give CleanWave another run when I’ve had the 12 in my system for longer. I’ll report the effect in Comments below. ”
Naim NAIT 5si Integrated Amplifier Review
June 3, 2020 Comments Off on Naim NAIT 5si Integrated Amplifier Review
“When you get right down to it, in so many different ways, the Naim NAIT 5si just isn’t the sort of integrated amp I would have gone out of my way to audition for my own two-channel listening room for so many of the reasons listed above, if not for the fact that I was tasked with reviewing it. Generally speaking, I wouldn’t put any integrated amp that lacks a USB input into my “to audition for personal purposes” pile.
But the NAIT 5si simply won me over with its price-to-performance ratio and its distinctive character. So if you’re looking for an all-analog integrated amp — whether you plan to use it with an all-analog hi-fi system or simply look elsewhere for D-to-A conversion — the NAIT 5si is absolutely a component that I think you should check out, assuming you can schedule an audition anytime soon.”
12 of the world’s most expensive loudspeakers
June 2, 2020 Comments Off on 12 of the world’s most expensive loudspeakers
“Horn speaker specialist Cessaro Horn Acoustics has a top of the range model which is 2.8m tall and weights 4.5 tonnes. Just in case you were wondering, The Omega I system is not meant for normal living rooms, according to the website. You haven’t got one of those, have you?
Six 40cm bass units drive the front-loaded horns which, you’ll be pleased to hear, can be ordered in any colour you choose. Equally, the cabinets and side panels come in a pretty extensive range of veneers. ”
Audiophilepure 
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