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.”
Stax SR-Omega headphones $7000 Review
August 17, 2020 Comments Off on Stax SR-Omega headphones $7000 Review
“If you want the truth, however—at least as honestly as I’ve heard it in any headphones—you want the Stax SR-Omegas. They’re nothing less than stunning. In fact, short of an inherent headphone inability to render an accurate soundstage or that truly visceral feeling of power and weight through the bass, the SR-Omegas will stack up against any loudspeaker I know of in overall balance, definition, and sheer ability to convince the listener that he or she is indeed hearing exactly what’s on any given recording.”
Quad Vena II Play Integrated Amp/DAC Review
August 17, 2020 Comments Off on Quad Vena II Play Integrated Amp/DAC Review
“Piano stage left, ringing out with all the naturalness you could hope to hear. Audience arrayed around and to the sides, percussion on the right. Ray himself just left of centre, precisely where the pianist/vocalist would be sitting. Silky, smooth, open – ‘Hallelujah I Love Her So’ was punctuated by authentic-sounding saxophone and brass while the ‘door knocking’ on the snare drum had punch and crispness to dazzle.
Above all, it was sounding so spacious that it delivered what I couldn’t quite derive from the live McCartney feed. The Vena II Play was an open window into this audiophile-grade recording. £799? I am humbled.”
1MORE TRUE WIRELESS ANC IEM REVIEW
August 17, 2020 Comments Off on 1MORE TRUE WIRELESS ANC IEM REVIEW
As for controls, there is a multi-purpose button and a touch sensor on each side. You can control pretty much anything. This means that you can start & pause the playback, increase & decrease the volume, summon voice assistant, answer, decline & hang-up calls, tune in to the next or previous track. Call quality is also good for the price. It does handle calling in tough situations like a crowded Cafe. The people I called did not have a problem understanding me. Kudos!”
Pro-Ject’s T1 Phono SB is a turntable Review – Video
August 16, 2020 Comments Off on Pro-Ject’s T1 Phono SB is a turntable Review – Video
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