Apple Music vs Spotify: which is better?
August 22, 2020 § 1 Comment
“Apple has cut exclusive deals, including Dr Dre’s Compton album, Drake’s Views From The 6 and Britney Spears’ Glory, all of which initially appeared on Apple Music only – although they are now available on Spotify. Still, the lure of a paid-for service clearly works when it comes to securing artists, at least for a period of time.
Time will tell whether Apple Music’s artist-exclusives will hurt Spotify in the long run, but Spotify is rumoured to be considering keeping some music off its free tier to get more artists on board.”
Altec 19 McIntosh 2125 McIntosh C28
August 22, 2020 Comments Off on Altec 19 McIntosh 2125 McIntosh C28
McIntosh Labs C2700 Preamplifier $8,000 Review
August 21, 2020 Comments Off on McIntosh Labs C2700 Preamplifier $8,000 Review
“And I’ve saved the best for last. The price of this preamp is $8000. To say the C2700 is far greater in value than the sum of its parts is a vast understatement. The C2700 is a bargain in a world full of over priced, under performing audio products. To replicate or best its performance through separates would easily reach well into the five figures, plus the cost of interconnects and power chords.
McIntosh could have never imagined a product like the C2700 way back when it was amplifying Muzak to listen to while waiting for the Zenith customer service agent to pick up the line. Despite all McIntosh has had to weather through the years, it is no accident they are here and now offering the C2700 preamp. Staying true to the initial mission, McIntosh knows good sound, knows its customers and has delivered on that promise made long ago spectacularly with the C2700.”
SONUS FABER SONETTO V SPEAKER $4,999 REVIEW
August 21, 2020 Comments Off on SONUS FABER SONETTO V SPEAKER $4,999 REVIEW
“I realize that aesthetics is not needed to showcase a sound system, but having beautifully designed speakers will not hurt with the wife acceptance factor. The Sonetto Vs look and sound expensive, yet they are more affordable for music lovers looking to up their game. They display an ideal combination of design and function that helps make the music more emotionally engaging. You may find other speakers in the $5,000 range, but not many have the design details and sound qualities of the Sonetto Vs. As I get older, my desire to reach the summit in this hobby becomes more important to me. The Sonus faber Sonetto V Speakers remind me that I still have time to reach for something a bit higher without mortgaging my future to obtain it. Bravo Sonus faber!”
Icon Audio Stereo 40 MkIV ‘Plus’ Integrated Amplifier $4350 Review
August 20, 2020 Comments Off on Icon Audio Stereo 40 MkIV ‘Plus’ Integrated Amplifier $4350 Review
“Well recorded piano music had a crystalline quality. Some of the felts’ softness was hardened somewhat, but returned when playing in Triode. Interestingly, the crystalline quality remained in Triode in addition to the tactile sensitivities. For example, my old mate John Bingham (a long time, beloved piano Prof at London’s Trinity College of Music) sounded as beautiful as ever via the Icon on his ‘70’s benchmark Schubert Songs, arr. Liszt on a Meridian LP (audiophiles, you should search for this record). His delicate touch sounded as effective as ever in Ultralinear. You’ll be one happy, tube-loving audiophile. But, in Triode, the sweetness on the trailing edge of notes was beguiling. ”
SME Model 12A: Model 12 Turntable and 309 Tonearm $11,900Review
August 20, 2020 Comments Off on SME Model 12A: Model 12 Turntable and 309 Tonearm $11,900Review
“Now, obviously, short of mastertapes, there is no way one can with absolute certainty pronounce one component truer to the source than another. But thanks to DSD technology, not to mention carefully implemented PCM, you can come pretty close. Take Robert Silverman’s beautiful recital Chopin’s Last Waltz, produced by Ray Kimber for his IsoMike label. The original recording was made with DSD sampled at the quad specification of 11.2MHz. Commercially it is available only as a DSD download from Native DSD Music in 64, 128, or 256, or else on vinyl. According to Kimber, the transfer to vinyl is as accurate as is technologically possible and completely free from any processing of any kind except conformation to the standard RIAA curve. This, then, makes it possible in effect directly to compare the source in native DSD—in my setup at 128fs via an Aurender A20—to the vinyl. Such a comparison isn’t necessarily perfect, but it’s pretty damn close, especially as no decent or better music server or DAC that I’ve ever used has frequency-response aberrations that result in much other than tiny tonal anomalies (certainly not the Aurender), and nothing anywhere remotely as gross as most vinyl setups. The SME/Shure acquitted itself astonishingly well in the comparison. Was there a tad more warmth with the vinyl? Maybe. There was certainly a smidgeon less top-end extension, but that has always been the case with this Shure pickup (I should add that it was properly loaded as regards capacitance). Of course, the 12A can’t do anything about the slightly off-center pressing, so beautiful as the analog transfer is, I prefer the DSD file.”
I spent $25,113.00 on a Audiophile Jazz and Classical Record Collection
August 20, 2020 Comments Off on I spent $25,113.00 on a Audiophile Jazz and Classical Record Collection
CHORD ELECTRONICS HUGO TT2 REVIEW
August 18, 2020 Comments Off on CHORD ELECTRONICS HUGO TT2 REVIEW
Chord Electronics’Chord Electronics’ Hugo TT2 is a wonderful piece of equipment. It’s beautifully finished with superb craftsmanship and its sound is nothing short of spectacular. The only thing I would have liked different is in the use of headphone outputs. I know Chord Electronics says a balanced output is not needed for their products, but just for the ease of use it would be great to replace the 3.5 and one of the 6.35mm outputs with one 4-pin XLR output. Although for headphones I still stick to my dedicated amplifiers, as they take the TT2’s sound just a bit further.
This has been a long journey, but such a great one. Over the last months I have gotten to know the Hugo TT2 inside and out. From the start it has made its place at the very top of my DAC list clear. I can absolutely see why people would call it quits after getting the Hugo TT2. Personally, I could be so very happy with just the Hugo TT2 and my Kef LS50 system.
It hurts me a little to say this, but since the Hugo TT2 has been installed as my main two-channel DAC I have somewhat questioned my headphone inventory. Don’t get me wrong, I still like to listen to my full-sized headphones at home, but I deeply enjoy listening to my LS50’s a whole lot more now. The Hugo TT2 has given me a perspective on the speaker set-up that I didn’t think I could get in our small living-room in the apartment. Chord Electronics’Chord Electronics’ TT2 has transformed my listening experience at home drastically. The Hugo TT2 is by no means a cheap product, but I don’t regret having spent a single Cent. In fact, it made me very curious to hear what the Hugo M Scaler would do to the sound. The chase of the white audio rabbit continues…”
Musical Fidelity M8xi Integrated Amp/DAC £5649 Review
August 18, 2020 Comments Off on Musical Fidelity M8xi Integrated Amp/DAC £5649 Review
“If you’re of the persuasion that no amount of power is ever enough, or perhaps simply want to future-proof yourself against the unlikely purchase of impossibly insensitive speakers, then Musical Fidelity’s M8xi is your man. But this integrated amp, bluff exterior and all, is not only capable of driving a short piece of damp string, but does so with a dexterity and fleetness of foot that utterly belies its bulk. Chalk one up to Austria.”
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