VISION EARS VE7 REVIEW
July 7, 2021 Comments Off on VISION EARS VE7 REVIEW
The Vision Ears VE7 is the latest addition to this classic portfolio of VE and based on VE’s track record, the expectations are once again very high. We all know the mighty VE8 and how precise and coherent it is. But how does the VE7 perform? Well, we’ll find out on the next page but for now, let’s focus on the other details.
AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-ART9XA AND AT-ART9XI MOVING COIL PHONO CARTRIDGES REVIEW
July 4, 2021 Comments Off on AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-ART9XA AND AT-ART9XI MOVING COIL PHONO CARTRIDGES REVIEW
The higher output XI cartridge was no problem. If I held my ear right up to the speaker, I could hear a little preamp noise, but at a significantly lower level. The gain difference needed to make up for the lower output of the XA over the XI is 8 dB, so my preamp was right on the edge in terms of noise for the lower output unit. Ideally, I think you’d want something with closer to 70 dB gain for the XA and 60 dB for the XI. I set loading to 1 kohm. A-T recommends loading of at least 100 ohms. I did a little experimenting but decided to limit variables and just leave the loading at 1k for the test as I was happy with what I got. But you can experiment to your heart’s content.
ASTROTEC VOLANS REVIEW
July 4, 2021 Comments Off on ASTROTEC VOLANS REVIEW
The Astrotec Volans have a rounded not-so-agile low end. They reproduce the low region in a very clean and delicate way. The bass quantity is adequately tuned, not overwhelming but also not light. It is not flat by any means, it is a little more emphasized than that. The sub-bass quantity fares similarly, it provides essential harmonics without any issue and that is of course, nice. Don’t get me wrong though, if the track calls for it, Volans’ bass can get pretty impactful but they tend to stay gentle for most of the time. On another note, the whole signature never feels digital and manages to stay natural and organic. You do not feel anything left out here.
Zen Master Series Open Baffle Loudspeaker demo
July 4, 2021 Comments Off on Zen Master Series Open Baffle Loudspeaker demo
Parasound JC 1+ Monoblock Power Amplifier $8495 Review
July 3, 2021 Comments Off on Parasound JC 1+ Monoblock Power Amplifier $8495 Review
No doubt you can spend a lot more money on amplifiers ranging from $50,000 and up, and I’d be the last to dissuade anyone from chasing audio rainbows as vigorously as they please. The gains will be there in tonality, dynamics, and filigree of detail, particularly in the treble. But the JC 1+ monoblocks come so darned close to the best, in so many categories, that for more than a few listeners it may seem an otiose pursuit to look elsewhere. Parasound and John Curl deserve a rousing round of applause for producing a real-world-priced amplifier that delivers otherworldly sound.
BOWERS & WILKINS 702 SIGNATURE FLOORSTANDING £4,499 LOUDSPEAKER REVIEW
July 3, 2021 Comments Off on BOWERS & WILKINS 702 SIGNATURE FLOORSTANDING £4,499 LOUDSPEAKER REVIEW
Bowers & Wilkins 702 Signature floorstanding loudspeaker
This source proved highly engaging with a variety of records, the less smooth among them were not masked but neither were their shortcomings emphasised. For a contrast I swapped amplifiers for a Rega Elex-R integrated, a musically inspiring few days ensued with what turned out to be a surprisingly well-matched combination. The bass wasn’t as solid but it still went down low with adequate control and the mid and treble provided a spark that was hard to put down. It proved to be highly enjoyable with everything from Nick Drake to Blind Faith (the live version of ‘Can’t Find My Way Home’ is a blinder) and Terry Callier to name a few. All had three dimensionality, pace and good projection when the recordings allowed it.
100 All Analog In Print Reissued Records You Should Own
July 3, 2021 Comments Off on 100 All Analog In Print Reissued Records You Should Own
Cleer Crescent Wireless Smart Speaker $700 Review
July 1, 2021 Comments Off on Cleer Crescent Wireless Smart Speaker $700 Review
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/cleer-crescent-wireless-smart-speaker-review
For one last hurrah, I connected my PC to Cambridge Audio’s DacMagic XS USB digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and ran a cable to the Crescent’s analog input to enjoy a wide-reaching selection of 24/96 hi-res downloads, stopping to rock out to “Lone Star” by Supertramp guitarist Carl Verheyen. His squeaky clean Strat was appropriately twangy or fat and raucous when he hit the distortion pedal, punctuated by the powerful (and realistic) crack of the snare drum. On the whole, the character of the sound wasn’t perfect—it could be boomy and a bit strident a times—but it was still darn good for a single-speaker solution.
SVS SB-1000 Pro and PB-1000 Pro Subwoofers $599 Review
July 1, 2021 Comments Off on SVS SB-1000 Pro and PB-1000 Pro Subwoofers $599 Review
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/svs-sb-1000-pro-and-pb-1000-pro-subwoofers-review
I enjoyed my time listening with the SVS SB-1000 and PB-1000 Pro subwoofers and would easily recommend either model to anyone looking to get good bass on a budget. The harder choice will come down to which one to go with. If you’re a movie fan and don’t have space constraints, go for the PB-1000 Pro and get that extra bit of extension. If space constraints or SAF is an issue, check out the SB-1000 Pro. The build quality of both is impeccable and getting to control them wirelessly using the best-in-class SVS app is a very impressive extra feature in an affordable, entry-level subwoofer.
Audiophilepure 
You must be logged in to post a comment.