Bluesound’s Powernode Edge REVIEW
October 16, 2022 Comments Off on Bluesound’s Powernode Edge REVIEW
NuPrime Audio Evolution STA Power Amplifier $5000 Review
October 15, 2022 Comments Off on NuPrime Audio Evolution STA Power Amplifier $5000 Review
On a challenging piece, such as the “Intolerance” track from The Mighty Wurlitzer: Music for Movie Palace Organs (New World Records 80227), the NuPrime was able to nicely capture the tonal complexity of a four-manual, 34-rank Wurlitzer Special that was built in 1928 for the Fisher Brothers (of auto-body fame). Here, but not with the Fleetwood DeVille, I was a bit disappointed with its limited macrodynamic reach. I expected more from an amp that is said to generate instantaneous power in excess of 360W into 3 ohms. It sounded like it was just stopping short of fully scaling dynamic peaks. For a better perspective, I switched over to a recent acquisition of mine, the SMc Audio DNA-1/GT-21 Ultra. This Class AB amplifier represents a complete overhaul of the venerable DNA-1 and incorporates Steve McCormack’s latest circuit refinements and tweaks. On the Omega, the GT-21 Ultra was just crushing it with stupendous bass slam and macrodynamics that reached Olympian heights. It also became clear that the GT-21 Ultra offered better image focus, and as a result, more incisive spatial resolution. However, the NuPrime did have an edge in terms of soundstage dimensionality. Both amps resolved low-level detail exceedingly well, though the edge goes to the GT-21 Ultra.
Astell and Kern SP3000 Review
October 15, 2022 Comments Off on Astell and Kern SP3000 Review
It may not be hard to find a portable source that has a great interface and allows for easy music playback. If that is your only goal then look no further than Apple’s ecosystem. It also may not be as hard to find a portable player that is capable of rendering digital files back with pristine transparency. It may also be possible to find a portable device that offers a massive amount of connectivity, both wired and wireless, in an
d out. And yet again, it may be possible (albeit much harder) to find an amplifier that expresses supreme control over headphone transducers. What you get from the Astell and Kern SP3000 is all four of these things in a single package. And that collective is what hopefully adds some value to consumers for the high end ticket price. Once you tack on a layer of luxury aesthetics you start to see the vision that AK was taking when they set forth to produce the top of the line for their top line. The SP3000 has all the tech, specs and high fidelity sound available at the moment, get it while it’s hot.
How close are they? $20k vs $4k DAC
October 15, 2022 Comments Off on How close are they? $20k vs $4k DAC
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless noise-canceling headphones Review
October 15, 2022 Comments Off on Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless noise-canceling headphones Review
Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G $900 Review
October 13, 2022 Comments Off on Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G $900 Review
https://www.the-ear.net/review-hardware/monitor-audio-silver-100-7g-standmount-loudspeaker
We have here a compact loudspeaker that’s capable of delivering a refined sound, fairly neutral in its balance, free from unwanted aberrations and audibly clean and detailed. There is good integration between the drive units and the ability to discard both the grilles and port plugs means it can be tuned for a wide variety of acoustic settings. The bass performance was way better than one might expect from an enclosure of this size, it goes deeper and plays louder than I had first imagined. Stereo imaging is to a high standard and the reproduced soundstage is far wider and deeper than is often achieved at this price point.
Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Closed REVIEW
October 13, 2022 Comments Off on Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Closed REVIEW
https://www.hifichoice.com/content/dan-clark-audio-aeon-2-closed
With its 2m cable and neat folding action for easy storage, it would appear that the Aeon 2 Closed is best suited to listening to music on the move and its comfortable earpads and lightweight design will certainly make your journey a congenial one. For those that like their lower frequencies, the impressive bass extension is a real boon although the treble could do with being a touch more extended. Having said that, the soundstage is spacious and insightful, meaning that at the price this deserves to be on your audition list
Vertere SG-1/SG-1 PTA HB Turntable Review
October 10, 2022 Comments Off on Vertere SG-1/SG-1 PTA HB Turntable Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/vertere-sg-1sg-1-pta-hb-turntable
With the SG-1 flaunting undeniable finesse above palpably powerful lower registers in recordings so endowed, it seemed to be in direct contradiction to my near-religious belief that an LP should be all-but-glued to the platter. Yes, the truly commanding TechDAS Air Force III Premium [HFN Jun ’19], at twice the price and with vacuum hold-down and air-bearing, can extract a trace more mass and solidity, but that’s not the point. The SG-1 satisfies nearly as much by going in a different direction. Like I said, Touraj is an iconoclast.
Even cacophony doesn’t faze the SG-1. Few saxophone solos are as madly screechy as that in ‘Astronaut Food’ from Sopwith Camel’s The Miraculous Hump Returns From The Moon [Reprise MS2108]. Think of the weirdest noises ever made by the astounding Sun Ra and you’re close: soaring treble, rapid attack, red hot transients. By the time I got to Carole King’s Tapestry [Ode Records SP-77009], chosen to relax me by wallowing in its deliciously convincing piano and yet more floor-filling bass, I was hooked
Nagra Classic Phono Phono Preamplifier Review
October 10, 2022 Comments Off on Nagra Classic Phono Phono Preamplifier Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/nagra-classic-phono-phono-preamplifier
Revisiting earlier tracks revealed them to be just as exhilarating, but now with the additional smoothness and revelation possible with a good MC cartridge. The Classic Phono really does ‘step aside’ to let your chosen pick-up do its stuff, and this combination of cartridge and phono stage gelled stunningly. It made the most out of anything I chose to play, finding the best in even the most underwhelming of recordings.
That said, there’s real magic when you give it something good to work with, such as Fearon & Galaxy’s ‘Dancing Tight’ [12in single, Ensign Records 12ENY 501]. Here, the delivery of the drum beats and bassline was masterful, and I revelled in the impact, scale and sheer joie de vivre of the performance. If machines have a soul I would swear that the Classic Phono was having a whale of a time, too.
The irony that the most listening fun I’ve had in weeks was thanks to a £17,000 phono stage playing a 1980s 12in single didn’t escape me, but it bothered me not one jot – I was too busy enjoying it.
Audiophilepure 
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