Sonus Faber Extrema Review
February 25, 2021 Comments Off on Sonus Faber Extrema Review
https://www.whathifi.com/us/features/that-was-then-sonus-faber-extrema
Detail levels are pleasing, though outright resolution and distortion levels are areas in which advancements in drive units and cabinet designs have resulted in significant improvements since the Extremas were made. A good modern high-end speaker will simply sound cleaner and clearer, but is it more enjoyable? Now, that’s open to debate. In much the same way that many enjoy driving a classic car more than a modern equivalent, so it is here.Advertisementhttps://39e25acc62da76679a6e3c478aec02db.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html
We put on Bjork’s Vulnicura set and revel in the sonic textures and dynamic shading. There’s plenty of punch here, and the Extrema are more than happy to play at high volume. We enjoy the insight and effortless fluidity, not to mention their ability to make listening to music really feel like an all-enveloping experience rather than just a mere activity to pass the time. The Extrema seem to have a little bit of magic baked into their sonic DNA.
Willsenton R8 Tube Integrated Amplifier 2 Review
February 25, 2021 Comments Off on Willsenton R8 Tube Integrated Amplifier 2 Review
Classé Audio Delta Mono Amplifiers $21,998 Review
February 24, 2021 Comments Off on Classé Audio Delta Mono Amplifiers $21,998 Review
https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1013-classe-audio-delta-mono-amplifiers
The Classé Delta Mono balanced the audible advantages of tubed and solid-state amplification better than has any other amp for south of $30,000 that I’ve reviewed. It conveyed all of the qualities of sound I love in the McIntosh MC1.25KW—e.g., the latter’s robust, punchy bass and beautifully fluid midrange—but expertly balanced them with some of what I love about the Simaudio Moon Evolution W-7M: high levels of resolution, transparency, power, focus, and unrelenting drive. And the Delta Mono is cheaper than either.
The Delta Mono fell short in the materials of which its case is made. The McIntosh MC1.25KW, with its thick faceplate of solid glass, huge backlit wattmeter, massive rack handles of solid aluminum, and elaborate case of stamped and polished stainless steel, is one of the most robust-looking amplifiers on the market. Similarly, the Moon Evolution W-7M and all its successors have 1/2″-thick faceplates, huge corner posts machined from billet, 1.5ʺ-thick heatsinks, and beautifully milled and textured top panels—all of solid aluminum. While Classé’s Delta Mono, with its 3/4″-thick wraparound front plate, may look robust, closer examination reveals thicknesses of little more than 1/8″ everywhere else on the case. But while the Delta Mono may not feel as robust or as vault-like as the others mentioned here, as one who’s lived with these amps for over three months now, I urge you not to judge a book by its cover.
Wilson Benesch Precision P2.0 Review $14,000
February 24, 2021 Comments Off on Wilson Benesch Precision P2.0 Review $14,000
https://www.whathifi.com/us/reviews/wilson-benesch-precision-p20
That same ability to dig up low-level details gives us convincing instrumental textures and a degree of finesse in tracking subtle dynamic shifts that we haven’t heard bettered at this price. Of course, there’s muscle here too, with crescendos rendered with conviction and no shortage of brute force. We’ve heard rivals with more in the way of punch, but nothing that combines that with the degree of control and delicacy these towers have.
Stereo imaging is well planted, with precisely located instruments and a wonderfully stable presentation. Things stay layered and focused even when the music becomes demanding or volume levels rise. We find the Precision P2.0 have a fairly narrow sweet spot, though, so you need to be careful about where you sit relative to them.
This Hong Kong Shop Has the World’s Rarest Records
February 24, 2021 Comments Off on This Hong Kong Shop Has the World’s Rarest Records
Spotify HiFi is a lossless streaming tier coming later this year
February 23, 2021 Comments Off on Spotify HiFi is a lossless streaming tier coming later this year
https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/22/22295273/spotify-hifi-announced-lossless-streaming-hd-quality
Spotify HiFi will be available later this year and “will deliver music in CD-quality, lossless audio format to your device and Spotify Connect-enabled speakers, which means fans will be able to experience more depth and clarity while enjoying their favorite tracks
DAN CLARK AUDIO AEON 2 NOIRE REVIEW
February 23, 2021 Comments Off on DAN CLARK AUDIO AEON 2 NOIRE REVIEW
Users are given the option to choose between two stock ‘DUMMER’ cables (a derivative of DCA’s humourously named ‘Distinctly Unmagical Cable) at checkout – either a two-metre 4-pin XLR balanced cable or a two-metre 3.5mm single-ended cable with a 6.3mm adapter. A range of other connections, including 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced terminations and shorter cable lengths are available but will add between $200 and $250 USD to the asking price of the Aeon 2 Noire, pushing it over the $1K USD mark. The Aeon 2 Noire uses Dan Clark Audio’s preferred and proprietary locking cable connections at the earcups. It’s an entirely secure option and gives a nice tactile ‘click’ when seated, but occasionally takes a bit of fiddling to get into place. I opted for a full-size 4-pin XLR to accompany my Aeon 2 Noire review unit – the fabric-sheather DUMMER cable isn’t as nice to the touch as their more premium (and expensive) VIVO options but it is made reasonably well and more than fit for purpose for desktop listening, albeit with some rubbing microphonics on the front of my shirt when moving about.
9.1.6 Dolby Atmos JTR Home Theater Tour
February 23, 2021 Comments Off on 9.1.6 Dolby Atmos JTR Home Theater Tour
Clearaudio Concept Active MM revi
February 22, 2021 Comments Off on Clearaudio Concept Active MM revi
https://www.whathifi.com/us/reviews/clearaudio-concept-active-mm
The turntable itself has some points of interest. At the rear, next to the set of RCA outputs, are flick-switches to adjust gain (low, medium or high), choose between MM and MC cartridge modes, and apply a Subsonic filter that aims to reduce any unwanted low-frequency noise. The final one determines whether your RCA output is passive (for when bypassing the integrated phono stage and connecting to an outboard one), variable (for using the connected integrated or pre-amplifier’s volume control) or active (for adjusting volume via the Concept Active’s on-unit dial).
Thankfully for those keen to listen to their vinyl through headphones, the 6.3mm headphone output doesn’t join the switches at the rear, instead taking up a place on the right-hand side panel. Its location does, however, mean that those who use the smart power supply will have to place it on the left-hand side of the deck, or some centimetres away from it altogether, so as not to physically block the socket.
Those rear-panel discreet switches and the right-edge socket aside, the Concept Active is an advert for modern minimalism, with its business-looking matte black plinth sitting on a choice of silver or black, or the more premium-priced light wood or dark wood chassis, with nicely rounded corners. For the benefit of symmetry, though, we wish the small roller volume wheel on the plinth’s front right-hand side matched the larger rotary speed dial on the opposite side.
Questyle CMA Twelve DAC/Headphone Amplifier Review
February 22, 2021 Comments Off on Questyle CMA Twelve DAC/Headphone Amplifier Review
The Questyle CMA Twelve DAC/Headphone Amplifier
With so much emphasis put on high-resolution files, it’s easy to forget about 16/44. Considering that most of us still either have or stream the bulk of our music at this resolution level, it’s important to note that Questyle hasn’t abandoned CD quality resolution in pursuit of high res. Whether we were playing files from a streamer or disc transport (and we highly suggest the $599 Cambridge CXC for this task) the CMA Twelve shows just how engaging CD playback can be in the year 2021.
The overall sound of the Questyle is dynamic and neutral – neither embellishing nor detracting from the music being played. You can easily fine-tune to your personal preference with your choice of headphones. Questyle offers a high/low bias switch on the CMA Twelve’s front panel, offering more current drive for lower impedance phones. Even with a few lower impedance phones, we struggled to hear a difference with this switch in either position, in this case, your mileage may vary, and this is worth investigating.
Audiophilepure 
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