Aurender N100SC caching music server and streamer $3,300 Review
September 21, 2020 Comments Off on Aurender N100SC caching music server and streamer $3,300 Review
“Primary auditioning of the N100SC took place in conjunction with the new $23,000 Esoteric K-01XD SACD player and the $19,000 Bricasti Design M21 DSD DAC, although the Aurender also saw action with the $150,000 Audio Note Fifth Element/Fifth Force 24bit/96KHz DAC and the $8,500 Audio Research DAC 9 Tube (review forthcoming). Operating the Aurender involved downloading the company’s app onto my iPad Mini, which would control the choice of accessing the internal hard-disk directly for playback, or to connect up to two external USB hard-disks, or to access the Tidal streaming platform via Ethernet. Digital cable was the Light Harmonics Lightspeed USB.
The Aurender was connected to my home network via an Ethernet connection through a pair of Zyxel Powerline adaptors, one near the Xfinity router in the other room that transmits and another one in the same room as the Aurender for the receiving end. During the review period, the transmitting module malfunctioned and derailed the auditioning process; good thing Zyxel sent me a replacement two days later. Price to pay for Ethernet until the day comes when a new standard would allow wireless connection all the way.”
NOBLE AUDIO ZEPHYR REVIEW
September 21, 2020 Comments Off on NOBLE AUDIO ZEPHYR REVIEW
“The Zephyr from 2-4k has a more of a bump than the Tux 5 but also less of a treble dominance around 5-7k. Female vocals have a smoother richer tone to them on the Zephyr, as do percussion timbre. The Tux 5 is a little leaner with more treble shimmer on the overtone down to about 2k so higher-pitching notes have this slightly more ethereal quality to them.
On the low-end, the Tux 5 is tuned for a deeper and more powerful response with an L-like dip from the sub-bass down to that 1k marker. The Zephyr does not have the same sub-bass weight, instead it sounds punchier with more of a mild mid-bass rise and a sub-bass response that is more or less linear to the mid-bass.”
Boulder 3010 Preamplifier and 2108 Phono Preamplifier $130,000 Review
September 20, 2020 Comments Off on Boulder 3010 Preamplifier and 2108 Phono Preamplifier $130,000 Review
“So what really let the Boulder strut its stuff? One of the most impressive albums I heard on it was the soundtrack of Super Fly with Curtis Mayfield. If one album lets you know that this equipment isn’t playing around, this is it. Take the track “Pusherman.” The deep, fat, and sassy electronic bass instantly emerges with propulsive power. The drums in back possess crushing impact. At the very same time, Mayfield’s crooning voice loses none of its insinuating silkiness as he announces, “I’m your pusherman.” Once again, total relaxation allied to stygian power.
As always, there are some caveats. If you’re wedded to tubes, the Boulder is not going to give you a sumptuous tonal balance or the kind of holographic soundstage that is often associated with glowing bulbs. The Boulder is after different game, which is to say that it’s seeking fidelity to the source. Its incredible rhythmic accuracy and clarity are pretty much bound to exert a spellbinding effect. At times, I was left looking rather like a goggle-eyed Bertie Wooster contemplating an acute observation from Jeeves. If you have a chance to listen to the Boulder gear, let it fly, as it were. I suspect that you, too, will find it a highly addictive experience.”
SCHIIT AUDIO MAGNIUS $199 REVIEW
September 20, 2020 Comments Off on SCHIIT AUDIO MAGNIUS $199 REVIEW
“Schiit is known for providing quality products at reasonable prices, and they have not failed in doing so with the Magnius. They have managed to create an op-amp based balanced amplifier that has lots of power, with a fast and detailed presentation, while remaining fairly neutral.
Despite being neutral, the Magnius manages to have a dynamic low end, texturized midrange, and a smooth and detailed treble. I wish they just moved the power switch to the front though, but that might be asking for too much from Schiit.”
Buchardt Audio’s A500 hi-fi system
September 20, 2020 Comments Off on Buchardt Audio’s A500 hi-fi system
qdc Dmagic 3D Review
September 18, 2020 Comments Off on qdc Dmagic 3D Review
“I do not know why companies have largely dropped the multi-dynamic driver design approach that seemed to be all the crazy a few years back. Ok, so some of them did not turn out to be all that popular, and the BA driver count wars were gathering a lot of marketing speed at the time.
Still, with a bit of time and studied tuning they can, and often do, have a much better timbre than balanced armature drivers, especially on the low-end. They have their fans and for good reason. the Dmagic 3D tuning and that gorgeous design should go some way to proving the doubters wrong. This is a very smooth tuning.Stay tuned for the main review which will include more detailed Dmagic 3D sound impressions, synergy/pairings, and those all-important comparisons in the coming weeks!”
Goldmund Mimesis 37S NextGen Analog Preamplifier and Telos 280 Stereo Analog Power Amplifier$39,975 Review
September 18, 2020 Comments Off on Goldmund Mimesis 37S NextGen Analog Preamplifier and Telos 280 Stereo Analog Power Amplifier$39,975 Review
“The Mimesis Preamplifier offers a lot of flexibility, including seven single-ended RCA and two balanced inputs and one single-ended and one balanced output. A switch on the back turns the preamplifier on and off. The remote control supplied with the preamplifier controls volume, balance, input, standby, and muting. Baseline volume levels for each input—to compensate for different output levels between sources—take no more than five seconds to set. One simply selects the desired volume level and then presses memo on the remote control. Done. One knob on the front adjusts volume an the other selects input. ”
modified JBL Paragon delivery to Japanese style hotel
September 18, 2020 Comments Off on modified JBL Paragon delivery to Japanese style hotel
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