Magnepan LRS+ $995 Review
November 13, 2022 Comments Off on Magnepan LRS+ $995 Review
Bottom line: The LRS+ is a big improvement over the original LRS. It adds enough color, power, detail, and extension in the midbass and smoothness and coherence in the upper mids and lower treble to make it far more of a true full-range contender than its predecessor. Though you can do better in the Maggie line for about three times the money (the MG1.7i), you’re not going to get the same condo-friendly form factor from the 1.7, which is a foot and a half taller and a half foot wider than the Plus. In cone speakers, you can find much smaller boxes at this price point and, for a bit more money, some self-powered models, but not a one of them that I’ve heard comes as close to sounding like the real thing as this baby Maggie. For folks who are new to the high end or have small listening spaces or are working with limited budgets or just want a second high-fidelity system in a different spot for music or TV, I can think of no better choice for the dollar, particularly if you treasure the sound of acoustic instruments. Its limitations notwithstanding, this is a great little loudspeaker and a sure-fire nominee for one of TAS’ 2022 Product of the Year Awards.
JBL HDI-3800 £3,999 REVIEW
November 13, 2022 Comments Off on JBL HDI-3800 £3,999 REVIEW
I suspect that these JBLs had not been given much of a run-in prior to delivery because the results they produced improved markedly over the weeks that they were in the system. I played a lot of music through a variety of sources and amplifiers and came to the conclusion that they are really rather good, their high sensitivity is a definite bonus but ultimately the HDI-3800s are a lot more sophisticated than they look. This combined with their competitive pricing makes them look like rather good value if you have the space.
Chord Company RumourX (2022) $21/m review
November 11, 2022 Comments Off on Chord Company RumourX (2022) $21/m review
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/chord-company-rumourx-2022
We have a sample of the previous generation RumourX to hand, but it doesn’t take long to hear the improvements. Listening through either of our systems, it’s clear that the basic character of the cable hasn’t changed. This is still a detailed and dynamically expressive performer that’s unusually surefooted when communicating rhythmic drive. Yet, as we listen to the likes of Olafur Arnald’s Found Songs and Hans Zimmer’s Interstellar OST, it is clear that the latest version of the cable is more balanced with a tauter, more controlled bass performance. There is a greater sense of openness about the sound and a little more subtlety in the way it renders dynamic nuances. At the top end, our system sounds just that touch more refined whereas the last generation cable adds a small degree of previously easily-ignored hardness in this region.
We switch to Carnage by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis and enjoy the 2022 edition’s extra clarity and improved transparency. It feels like the inclusion of ChorAlloy has just increased the RumourX’s ability to pass the signal without messing with it too much. Anything that allows us to enjoy Cave’s heartfelt music even more is just fine with us.
iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon Headphone Amp/USB DAC Review
November 11, 2022 Comments Off on iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon Headphone Amp/USB DAC Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/ifi-audio-xdsd-gryphon-headphone-ampusb-dac
However, until Qualcomm releases a chipset with lossless support – apparently in the works – Bluetooth will remain a lossy experience. At least iFi Audio seems determined to make it as high quality as possible, utilising the current top-spec QCC5100 silicon, and – crucially – the xDSD Gryphon supports an exceptional range of compression codecs. AptX HD and LDAC are the main, high-performance options, but even the HWA/LHDC codec, which supports (lossy) 96kHz/24-bit, is included. Of course, this last one is only relevant if you happen to own a Huawei smartphone, which is a rarity nowadays in Europe and the US.
There are plenty of other input options – USB caters for hi-res audio from a computer or network transport, and there’s an S/PDIF input too. If you want to use the device purely as an amp, a third-party DAC can be hooked up via single-ended or balanced 4.4mm Pentaconn rear-panel connections. This is another departure from the past, as the earlier xDSD sported only digital ins. Around the front there’s a similar dual-port arrangement of 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs.
AVM A 30.3 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER $4,795 REVIEW
November 10, 2022 Comments Off on AVM A 30.3 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER $4,795 REVIEW
There’s a lot to like about the AVM A 30.3. Yes, it’s pricey, but not overpriced given the quality of the audio presentation and marvelous build quality, and attention to detail. This could be a great choice for a full-blown high-end 2-channel system in a home or apartment. The dual amps can drive just about anything with super sharp imaging and inaudible distortion. The electronics are free of audio clicks when changing inputs, but there is a nice physical click confirming the input change. The AVM A 30.3 can handle digital inputs as well, and I could find no fault with the high-quality DAC that’s part of the package.
MARK LEVINSON NO. 5909 WIRELESS NOISE CANCELING BLUETOOTH HEADPHONE $999 REVIEW
November 10, 2022 Comments Off on MARK LEVINSON NO. 5909 WIRELESS NOISE CANCELING BLUETOOTH HEADPHONE $999 REVIEW
The Mark Levinson No.5909 ended up completely overturning my preconceptions of these headphones being more style than substance. Besides their elite good looks, a serious level of R&D has gone into these cans to not only make them sound exceptional but also to make them almost effortless to use. In a very real sense, they are two headphones in one. The benefits of enhanced range and bandwidth found in the latest Bluetooth 5.1 chipset, meshed with effective ANC performance, selectable bass tuning, and great comfort make them an excellent set of wireless travel headphones. The Beryllium-coated drivers not only deliver the sonic goods when operating wirelessly but they continue to do so when listening completely passively. It’s actually a better-than-enjoyable experience. No longer are you stuck with the sound of “last resort” when the power runs out. I like the passive sound of the Mark Levinson No.5909 better than some more expensive wired headphones out there. It’s that good. Looking at the entirety of what the No.5909 can do, they are certainly worth the price. They are the best of their breed thus far, with no qualifiers. Highly Recommended!
Denon CEOL RCD-N10 stereo receiver Review
November 10, 2022 Comments Off on Denon CEOL RCD-N10 stereo receiver Review
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