Klipsch Heresy IV Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review

December 20, 2021 Comments Off on Klipsch Heresy IV Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review

https://www.stereonet.com/au/reviews/klipsch-heresy-iv-floorstanding-loudspeaker-review

Klipsch’s latest Heresy IV is an iconic loudspeaker, one that has been developed and finessed over many decades. Think of it as the Jack Daniels of the speaker world due to its quality, classic styling and constant presence over such a long time. Many people love the Klipsch sound, and I can see why. It’s not as delicate and nuanced as some modern designs, but its strengths are many and highly apparent. That big-hearted visceral sound – with its puppy-dog enthusiasm for musical timing – is hard not to like. 

It’s also why Klipsch loudspeakers can be found in the second largest chain of cinemas in the USA. The ability to conjure up such a big sweet spot where there is a large audience sitting in a wide variety of places, really counts for something. Picky audiophiles might not warm to it, but I think that when properly matched to the right amp, the Heresy IV makes a great case for itself. Also, the way it makes low power amplifiers thrive is something that needs to be heard to be believed – and a huge and oft-overlooked bonus. Properly partnered, this is one hell of a speaker!

Spotify Car Thing, An Audiophile Perspective

December 20, 2021 Comments Off on Spotify Car Thing, An Audiophile Perspective

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/spotify-car-thing-an-audiophile-perspective-r1064/

The real use case for Car Thing is for cars without CarPlay or Android Auto. There is a nice preset feature, enabling quick access to anything playable via Spotify as well. In my previous car with an Alpine head unit, installed before CarPlay or touchscreens were a thing, the Car Thing would have been a great add-on. Again, with the immanent release of lossless audio from Spotify and the data path that sends music from the cloud to the phone to the audio system (bypassing the Car Thing), this Bluetooth remote would be a welcomed addition to certain cars. 

I also thought about using Car Thing in my house as a remote control for Spotify. Yes, this is a kludge but I’m sure there could be a neat use for this at home. I connected the Usb C port of Car Thing to my Leviton T5835 30 watt / 6 amp power outlet with built-in USB C ports. The Car Thing wasn’t happy. It gave me the following message, “Use adapter – TO power Car Thing, use the adapter provided with your device.” 

I then connected Car Thing to my Apple Pro Display XDR’s USB ports and the unit powered up perfectly. Car Thing controlled my phone identically to how it had while in my car. Use cases will vary, but I’m sure there is a situation where one’s phone is in another room or physically connected to a stereo, and the little Car Thing mounted to a wall would be a nice way to control music. Keep in mind, there are no speakers or audio outputs on the Car Thing. It’s only a remote. Have I said that enough?

The Audioquest Niagara 1200 Review

December 20, 2021 Comments Off on The Audioquest Niagara 1200 Review

Wilson Audio Alexx V

December 19, 2021 Comments Off on Wilson Audio Alexx V

A really interesting new feature is the possibility to adapt the Alexx V on location from front-ported to rear-ported or vice versa. Just what suits the situation and acoustics best. The crossover has also been scrutinized and fitted with Wilson Audio’s proprietary AudioCapX capacitors for the very best signal integrity and virtually negligible tolerance. Extra attention has also been paid to the speaker’s impedance curve and efficiency so that the Alexx V is slightly easier to drive than its predecessor.

Synergistic Research Ethernet Switch UEF, Foundation Ethernet Cable

December 19, 2021 Comments Off on Synergistic Research Ethernet Switch UEF, Foundation Ethernet Cable

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1121/Synergistic_Research_Ethernet_Switch_UEF_Ground_Block_SE_Purple_Fuses_Review.htm

I’m in real trouble here though with the Purple fuses. In the September issue of Enjoy the Musc.com‘s Review Magazine, I raved about High Fidelity Cable’s new NPS 1260 contact enhancer being the greatest tweak in twenty years of reviewing. Then, in the October issue I had to call the outstanding Acme Silver Cryo fuses the greatest tweak I’ve reviewed in the past 30 days, when in fact, it was in the same league as the NPS 1260. And now, only another 30 days later, I’m here to tell you that for many, if not most audiophiles, the Synergistic Research Purple fuses are the greatest thing since pre-sliced cellophane on CD jewel cases. I feel like my credibility may be going downhill faster than a four-man bobsled in the Winter Olympics.

On the web page for the Purple fuse Synergistic claims the improvement made with this generation of fuse is greater than any previous generation. Having reviewed all four now, I have to emphatically agree. It is a big step up over the Orange and it even readily surpasses the Acme fuses in all manner except for one, which will be a personal preference call for some. Once again we have trickle-down technology crossing over this time from the SRX Series cables in the form of a “three-stage long duration high voltage conditioning process” and a new UEF compound featuring Graphene — the wonder drug of high-end audio.

Vitus Audio RI-101 with Audio Solutions Virtuoso!

December 19, 2021 Comments Off on Vitus Audio RI-101 with Audio Solutions Virtuoso!

Technics SU-R1000 integrated amplifier $9499 Review

December 18, 2021 Comments Off on Technics SU-R1000 integrated amplifier $9499 Review

https://www.stereophile.com/content/technics-su-r1000-integrated-amplifier


The Technics SU-R1000 Digital Integrated Amplifier provides nearly everything I could hope for in a contemporary integrated amplifier. It reproduces vinyl and digital files with high levels of transparency, dimensionality, spaciousness, and dynamics. Its various modern technologies actually, obviously work, allowing me to achieve the highest levels of realism I’ve heard in my circa-1865 listening space.

The Technics does not equal my reference Shindo amplification in the areas where they—the Shindo components—excel: tonal and timbral verisimilitude. Nothing else I’ve tried does; that’s why they’re still my reference. But the Technics was superior in every other way. The SU-R1000 is a technological breakthrough and a remarkable integrated amplifier.

Bryston B1353 integrated amplifier $6995 Review

December 18, 2021 Comments Off on Bryston B1353 integrated amplifier $6995 Review

https://www.stereophile.com/content/bryston-b1353-integrated-amplifier


The system I was using to play William Basinski’s Disintegration Loops, as described in my intro, consisted of Roon’s Nucleus+ server connected (via Ethernet) to the dCS Bartók DAC, on into the B1353, which powered my Falcon “Gold Badge” LS3/5a speakers. On that recording, the sound was tone-neutral, not cool (as in my Bryston auditions at shows), and well-focused. The chief pleasure that day was the way the Bryston amplifier refused to get between me and the Basinski ambient experience.

That made me want to leave the Bryston in the system and forget about it, which I did, until, after three weeks of Bryston-only listening, I decided to compare it to the similarly priced ($7250) Pass Labs INT-25 integrated, which I have long regarded as the most transparent, naturally dynamic solid state amplification I’ve used.

NEW Avantgarde Acoustic TRIO G3

December 18, 2021 Comments Off on NEW Avantgarde Acoustic TRIO G3

VIOLECTRIC CHRONOS REVIEW

December 17, 2021 Comments Off on VIOLECTRIC CHRONOS REVIEW

For a very tiny device, the Chronos’ sound performance is very impressive from the get-go. The sound is precise and clean from top to bottom. There’s excellent clarity and resolution. The presentation is neutral and flat, so it doesn’t add anything to spice it up. You may find the performance quite sterile but this is exactly how it should be in my opinion. A USB dongle should give you a high-resolution sound without any colouration.

In that sense, the Chronos is quite an impressive DAC/Amp, especially for its size. Violectric has done it once again when it comes to technicalities and high-quality sound. The sound performance is quite close to the entry-level DAP territory. Let me get into details.

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