QUESTYLE CMA TWELVE REVIEW
October 16, 2020 Comments Off on QUESTYLE CMA TWELVE REVIEW
“The CMA Twelve also operates as a preamplifier, with both balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs. Unlike the CMA600i, the output from the DAC section can be switched to either line-level or variable output, a neat feature that I did find lacking in the earlier model. Another studio-friendly feature is the ability to switch the gain level of the preamp section from 14 dBu to 20 dBu. Questyle really has gone above and beyond with the included remote for the CMA Twelve, which I can honestly say is the best remote I’ve come across on a DAC/desktop device, at any price. Far from being simply a volume control, it allows for input switching as well as playback control when the CMA Twelve is paired with its companion QP2R+Super Hub SHB2 lossless audio player, which can be connected via the CMA Twelve’s inbuilt 5 GHz wifi functionality.
Straight out of the box, the CMA Twelve reeks of high-quality manufacturing, and (like its other family members) is probably the most solid-feeling piece of personal audio equipment I’ve encountered thus far. The black, sand-blasted aluminium casing is 10mm thick and constructed by Foxconn, the manufacturers of the iPhone. It’s a great-looking piece of gear, and the CMA Twelve straddles the line neatly between ‘hifi’ and ‘pro’ in terms of aesthetics.”
How Speakers Are Made Inside The Factory of Axiom Audio
October 16, 2020 Comments Off on How Speakers Are Made Inside The Factory of Axiom Audio
Shunyata Research • Everest 8000 Power Conditioner $8000 Review
October 15, 2020 Comments Off on Shunyata Research • Everest 8000 Power Conditioner $8000 Review
“The Everest 8000’s impact on the sound of my audio system reminds me of the kick I get out of listening to well-executed remasters — analog or digital. It provides the clearest view into recordings I’ve been able to attain. Because the Everest 8000 banishes so much extraneous, distracting noise from playback, I find myself appreciating changes in the sonic character of vocals from track to track on a single album or being in awe of the height and depth of some recording venues as well as the warmth and intimacy of another studio. My brain is not fighting to process the audible noise pollution from the electrical grid or the noise generated by my components. The Wilson Sasha 2’s in my system still sound like the balanced, neutral speakers they are, but the Everest 8000 has enabled my front-end components to feed them more of the bass energy, instrumental bloom, timbral fidelity and lifelike transients that were always present on even modest recordings.”
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition Review
October 15, 2020 Comments Off on Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition Review
“Listen to the self-titled track from The Scotts and the improvements are obvious, with the new version delivering harder hitting, more layered lows. The previous model sounds bloated and blurred in comparison. The extra control at low frequencies helps rhythmic drive and agility.
Move up the frequency range and the steps up in articulation and clarity are striking. Voices come through with greater subtlety, and it’s easier to hear changes in intonation and phrasing. The Series 2 offers a clearer view of the recording and sounds more balanced overall.
The differences between the speakers are just as stark when we play The Road OST from Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. The title track has a sparse piano opening and we’re struck with just how much more defined and open the new speakers sound.
Their presentation is tauter, and a little more forward than the originals, but also sounds more natural and transparent. Tonally, there’s been a shift away from what now seems like a slightly over-blown bass and overly rich lower midrange to something more neutral.”
HiFiMAN Arya vs Focal Clear vs Audeze LCD-X
October 15, 2020 Comments Off on HiFiMAN Arya vs Focal Clear vs Audeze LCD-X
Audeze LCD-1 headphones Review
October 13, 2020 Comments Off on Audeze LCD-1 headphones Review
“The sound the LCD-1 produce is more approachable to the average ear than other studio monitors without sacrificing the detail that audiophiles are looking for. They do all this while being more reserved in the highs than the Grado Hemp Headphones (no near-aching treble), but more robust in the lows than the M-200s (more rigidly neutral).
Though the design does mean that the soundstage is opened up when compared to closed-back designs, these do not isolate sound well at all for either you or anyone around you. These in particular blast music out the sides at a considerable volume, so if you plan to use these in any shared space, just know everyone around you can hear what you hear as clear as you can. My wife works in the next room and she can clearly hear the words to the songs I listen to from that far away.”
TLP Audio TF130 Power Conditioner Review
October 13, 2020 Comments Off on TLP Audio TF130 Power Conditioner Review
Causing no harm to the music is all fine and good, however if you are going to spend money on a component a person is going to want to experience an improvement in sound quality. Electrical noise on the AC line is an insidious gremlin, and rarely does a hobbyist listen and immediately identify it. When an effective power conditioner is introduced to a system a person will notice the improvements since instruments and performers have increased focus, along with a higher degree of resolution due to a lowered noise floor. Instruments will have a natural tone because an artificial high frequency sheen is stripped from the music. “This Train Revised” by the Indigo Girls [Swamp Ophelia, Epic ET5721] will sound bright, etched, and compressed when played on an audio system that is tethered to compromised AC power. My home is in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and most of our power is provided by the large dams on the Columbia river, and honestly its quite good straight from the wall socket. Even so, the TLP Audio conditioner can remove layers of noise from the AC, and on this song the absence of electrical artifacts peels away any etching and accompanying glare. Having purified AC current results in instruments that are tonally bold and vibrant. This track employs a large band, and each instrument is distinct in its location within the soundstage, with the two vocalists located precisely in front of the backdrop of instruments. The result is a greater degree of focus and clarity to all the music I have listened to with the TF130 installed in my system
iFi Audio Hip DAC Headphone Amplifier
October 13, 2020 Comments Off on iFi Audio Hip DAC Headphone Amplifier
Focal Diablo Utopia Colour Evo Loudspeakers $16,990 Review
October 12, 2020 Comments Off on Focal Diablo Utopia Colour Evo Loudspeakers $16,990 Review
“Sonus Faber’s Electa Amator III ($10,000/pair) is different. In many ways, lining up this two-way minimonitor next to Focal’s flagship stand-mount is a study in contrasts. From its solid-walnut (not MDF!) cabinet to its use of marble and brass, it looks far more artisanal than the average bookshelf model, and its price includes matching stands of very high quality. The EAIII has the same 1.1” fabric-dome tweeter used in Sonus Faber’s flagship model, the Aida ($130,000/pair), and a 7.1” paper-coned midrange-woofer based on drivers higher in the Italian brand’s line. The EAIII is voiced differently from most of today’s speakers, with a “smiling” frequency response: that is, it slightly boosts the bass and treble. I adored it when I reviewed it in 2019, having greatly admired its build quality and visual charm. It also sounded very good, with punchy output in the all-important midbass. This, allied to its detailed yet rich, almost golden midrange, made listening through the EAIIIs great fun with every type of music I played.”
MEZE AUDIO RAI SOLO REVIEW
October 12, 2020 Comments Off on MEZE AUDIO RAI SOLO REVIEW
“The general sound signature of the Rai Solo is bright, airy, and with an upward shift in frequency dominance towards the upper mid-range. I found it fairly cold and tending towards a balanced accuracy of reproduction than a smothered mid-range to help with being fun and multi-genre friendly. It’s an IEM with a purpose and it knows what it’s targeting. ”
Audiophilepure 
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