NAD C 298 Class D Power Amp Review
December 12, 2021 Comments Off on NAD C 298 Class D Power Amp Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/nad-c-298-class-d-power-amp
With less dramatic recordings, or those without extravagant low-end heft, the C 298 did sound more pedestrian, although its knack for creating a spacious, unmuddied soundstage, and emphasising musical detail, was still in evidence. I kicked back with Patsy Cline’s gentle country ballad ‘I Fall To Pieces’ [The Complete Releases 1955-62; Acrobat Music ACTRCD9064] and the experience was way more than pleasant – the C 298 brought a plump feel to the walking bassline and the clear, transparent nature of its sound allowed me to focus on Cline’s despondent lyrics.
I’ll not fall into the ‘but it’s a Class D amplifier’ trap. There’s no elephant in the room here, just a relatively compact black box sat on a kit rack. Yes, NAD’s C 298 might not bring the mug-of-cocoa warmth and smoothness one might expect (or demand) from a hot-running transistor or tube amp but that’s because it’s voiced for a very direct sound, presenting the music without gloss. In this instance there’s no fear the experience becomes clinical or dry, turning listening from a relaxed pleasure into something more demanding. There’s so much excitement to be had from its exuberance, power and rhythmic ability that any craving for something mellower doesn’t last for long.
Kudos Audio Cardea C20 Loudspeaker Review
December 11, 2021 Comments Off on Kudos Audio Cardea C20 Loudspeaker Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/kudos-audio-cardea-c20-loudspeaker
Wired to the crossover using the company’s own KS-1 speaker cable – yours for £30 per mono metre – are drive units developed in co-operation with Norwegian SEAS. These comprise a custom version of the SEAS Crescendo K2 29mm tweeter, and a 180mm mid/bass unit with a coated paper cone, and as open a chassis as possible. Both drivers and crossover are designed in accordance with Gilligan’s ‘keep it simple’ philosophy.
With its rated 88dB sensitivity and 8ohm nominal impedance, the C20 is hardly the trickiest of loads for an amplifier, and at 20kg apiece the speakers are manageable for most of us. They come with their ‘floating’ plinth – onto which the downward-facing reflex port vents – ready attached, so it’s just a matter of screwing in the high-quality spikes provided, levelling and positioning them, and connecting them up.
SMSL DO200 REVIEW
December 11, 2021 Comments Off on SMSL DO200 REVIEW
With 4 ultra-low distortion precision linear feedback circuits, a custom ultra-low noise power supply, and Texas Instruments capacitors, the DAC is advertised as “noiseless, or almost”. On paper, the SMSL DO200 should be able to match, my Cayin iDAC-6 which remains my personal choice in this price range.
Yet, the “piece of resistance” remains the fully-balanced circuitry. I couldn’t open this device as I didn’t have my iFixit kit at the moment, but from the official pics, you can easily see how clean the build is: blackboard, symmetrical supply lines, topped up by capacitors perfectly aligned and ready to work.
Top 20 Record Collectors! Iconic & Essential Vinyl Records
December 11, 2021 Comments Off on Top 20 Record Collectors! Iconic & Essential Vinyl Records
MBL 126 $11,800 REVIEW
December 10, 2021 Comments Off on MBL 126 $11,800 REVIEW
At just shy of twelve grand, plus those gorgeous stands, the 126 represents a considerable outlay, even amongst the high-flyers of the high end. Admittedly, I’ve sometimes struggled to justify the price versus the performance of more than a few components. However, that is not the case with the MBL 126. They exceeded my sonic and musical expectations by a wide margin.
Let me conclude with an observation—it has to do with the way audiophiles and reviewers alike tend to downplay the achievements in the compact loudspeaker segment, reserving our highest praise for the latest statement or flagship product, creations suited only to the large audio canvas. Though MBL’s 126 is designed for the parlor rather than the palace, it’s as good as anything this esteemed company has ever made. In spite of its humble size, it is truly a statement loudspeaker of the first order. If you consider yourself a thoughtful audiophile and are preparing to take the plunge into this price range, don’t even consider making a move until you’ve auditioned the MBL 126. It is must listening. Hats off to Jürgen Reis and the MBL team.
LOXJIE D30 REVIEW
December 10, 2021 Comments Off on LOXJIE D30 REVIEW
The Loxjie D30 can be controlled with the integrated volume wheel or the included remote controller. Both of those options are easy to use. It is very simple to use and access the menus and navigate through them. The remote control provides some additional features such as muting the device with one tap and toggling on the pairing state, etc. It is slightly faster to use included remote control so I recommend you throw in some batteries in it and use it to navigate through the menus. The UI is super nice and simple and it looks identical to SMSL’s S & M series. There are a lot of options on the menu and I’ll list them here, for you. For starters, you have the option to choose input & output, you can select a PCM filter out of three available filters (fast linear, slow minimum & minimum phase), you can toggle on the PRE-mode or DAC mode (vol-fixed), you can clear Bluetooth pairing list, you can toggle on the dimmer and adjust its timer, you can change the brightness of the device’s screen. Apart from that, during the playback, the screen provides vital info such as the decode details, sample rate, MQA status, active output, and input, plus the volume level.
DCA Aeon X Closed & Open – The Drop Aeons compared
December 10, 2021 Comments Off on DCA Aeon X Closed & Open – The Drop Aeons compared
XavianSTELLA ESCLUSIVA
December 9, 2021 Comments Off on XavianSTELLA ESCLUSIVA
The loudspeakers can perfectly show the properties of a given recording and a given release, but they are not malicious, they do not try to bring out the problems of the albums, but rather their advantages, their beauty. They complete the midrange with a soft, natural-sounding bass with great focus, and although they show a lot of treble, they are more like tube amplifiers – that is, with a lot of energy, and without a sharp attack. They show a very deep and stable sound stage, which, however, does not extend widely to the sides. At the same time, they seem not particularly sensitive to placement in the room – I assume that this is due to the passive diaphragm.
Because the XAVIAN STELLA ESCLUSIVA are very good designs with well-organized sound with its calm inner peace. They require a fairly powerful amplifier, that is, one with good current efficiency, and a quality source. Don’t expect fireworks from them, because they are usually fireworks of vanity, not quality. Here we have quality, truth and exceptional workmanship. They are truly worth your interest!
HiFi Rose RS250 audio & video streaming D/A preamplifier Review
December 9, 2021 Comments Off on HiFi Rose RS250 audio & video streaming D/A preamplifier Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/hifi-rose-rs250-audio-video-streaming-da-preamplifier
For my first listening session, I selected the HiFi Rose RS250’s network connection as Roon’s active Audio Zone and played files from the internal hard drive I had fitted to my Roon Nucleus+ server. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Had the efforts of the HiFi Rose design team been focused on versatility and functionality rather than sound quality? The RS250’s diminutive chassis contained a powerful computer and what appears to be a hefty power transformer close to the signal circuitry; won’t the analog output be contaminated with noise? Finally, my system has been based on balanced analog connections for many years; would substituting the RS250’s single-ended analog outputs compromise the sound?
I started my auditioning with an album I know intimately, having engineered and mixed it at the end of the 1990s for release as a Stereophile CD: Jerome Harris’s Rendezvous (16/44.1 ALAC files, STPH013-2, footnote 3)). Electric bass player Harris had assembled an all-star band for the sessions at Chad Kassem’s Blue Heaven Studios: Art Baron on trombone, Marty Erlich on alto sax, Steve Nelson on vibes, and Billy Drummond on drums. Listening to “Cool Pursuit” played back from the USB stick, the RS250’s soundstaging accurately preserved what I had intended in the mix. Harris’s Taylor bass guitar was dead center, Erlich’s saxophone was positioned far right, Baron’s trombone slightly right of center, Nelson’s vibes, which I had miked in stereo, were spread across the left of the stage. Drummond’s kit was placed slightly behind the other players, his drums illuminating the studio’s churchlike acoustic. The kickdrum sounded a little tubbier than I was used to, and the bass guitar had a touch of extra upper-bass bloom.
Audiophilepure 
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