Naim Audio NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier $8999 Review
July 14, 2023 Comments Off on Naim Audio NSC 222 Streaming Preamplifier $8999 Review
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2023/5/3/dl8b6p1p0nk9xi7nywkbshspjq1kl1
My streaming (and CD) test track to end all tracks, “Dead Already” from Thomas Newman’s score to American Beauty, had life and super energy on the Personas, less so on the smaller Founder bookshelves. I was somewhat surprised considering comparison to my several super high-end frames of reference, the 222 had more air around all the whizzing and buzzing instruments; very impressive and immersive. Also, the bass from the recording via the 222 was monstrous and incredibly deep. Same on two of my favourite “electronic” albums (I’m so late to the party!), Boards of Canada Music Has The Right To Children (Trip Hop and mesmerically beautiful) and the raucous, fun debut album from Tranquility Bass, Let The Freak Flag Fly.
PMC Twenty5.26i Loudspeaker $15,950 Review
July 14, 2023 Comments Off on PMC Twenty5.26i Loudspeaker $15,950 Review
https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1187-pmc-twenty5-26i-loudspeaker
A somewhat surprising loudspeaker, then—having experienced earlier transmission-line designs from IMF Electronics and TDL Electronics, I was expecting to hear incredibly extended but potentially boomy bass. But PMC has refined its transmission-line designs to the point where they sound extremely controlled and tight. The Twenty5.26i goes low but with zero overhang; bass is very clean, all the way down.
Despite its size, this loudspeaker was extremely flexible in terms of placement. It wasn’t sensitive to room boundaries, and never boomed. On the contrary, it had an extremely articulate and controlled bass response. My only gripe was that the low end was somewhat dry. Just occasionally, I found myself wishing for a little more upper- or mid-bass fullness so that tom drums hit a little harder and pianos sounded a little more sonorous.
A Guide to High-End Room Construction & Acoustic Treatment | Robert Harley’s Listening Room
July 14, 2023 Comments Off on A Guide to High-End Room Construction & Acoustic Treatment | Robert Harley’s Listening Room
RAAL REQUISITE SR-1B $3,750 REVIEW
July 13, 2023 Comments Off on RAAL REQUISITE SR-1B $3,750 REVIEW
When ordering the SR-1b on Raal’s site, there is a special option called “ProPac”. When you choose this, the SR-1b includes Raal’s foam-lined, waterproof flight case. If you opt for any of the other versions, the SR-1b and TI-1b will come in a normal, yet high level box, which also has the foam cut out. The hard case options ups the price to $3,750 USD.
If you plan on traveling with this headphone, I absolutely recommend this option. The SR-1b, even though robust, isn’t the kind of headphone to just throw inside your bag. I don’t think I ever will take the SR-1b outside of my office, so I have gone for the normal packaging.
All-in-all RAAL delivers a nice box in all cases, and the headphone interface, cables, and OBs are perfectly safe in it as you can see in the pictures.
Gryphon Heaven
July 13, 2023 Comments Off on Gryphon Heaven
New Børresen Flagship Loudspeaker: M6
July 13, 2023 Comments Off on New Børresen Flagship Loudspeaker: M6
Sony NW-A306 $350 Review
July 10, 2023 Comments Off on Sony NW-A306 $350 Review
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-nw-a306
The Sony is adept enough to turn its hand to various genres and even discern the differences in file qualities, but it doesn’t make a meal out of it at all. In fact, there’s a familial throughline from the high-end NW-WM1ZM2 to the A306 in terms of just how mature and capable it’s able to sound. We can spot the same sound signature, even if the detail resolution is at vastly different levels. Where the A306 differs (and has the upper hand) is with volume: it had no problem driving the Grados, and we found it played more than loud enough for our needs.
As with the NW-WM1ZM2, though, we find ourselves yearning for an ounce more dynamic punch and drive. We think the Sony A306 could sound a whole lot more fun and immersive if it let its metaphorical hair down and stayed up past its metaphorical bedtime. It’s a polite, undemanding listen that could become an absolute barnstormer with just a bit more bite, fluidity and insight.
The Analog Ethos Legendarium 2a3 Stereo Amplifier $1799 Review
July 10, 2023 Comments Off on The Analog Ethos Legendarium 2a3 Stereo Amplifier $1799 Review
Once I remembered that I was supposed to be writing a review, I put on a few of my classic test tracks. Up first was Mika’s Live at Brooklyn Steel album. Listening to the song “Popular” you could feel the energy of the crowed. Mika’s voice was positioned more forward then I am used to, but the stage in general felt deeper. Instruments were well separated throughout the song and detail retrieval seemed to be consistent at high and lower volumes. As other songs on the album played, I continued to be impressed. The song “Tomorrow” thundered over my speakers and the clarity and depth of the stage was really felt. There were a few points where the sound stage lost a little definition, but these were also the most complex parts of the song (which again is okay in the context of a single ended DHT amplifier), turning the volume down slightly would restore the detail that was lost.
Listening to Use Me by Vanessa Fernandez, which is one of my favorite DSD albums, the Legendarium really delivered. The album played to all of its strengths. Female vocals came alive via the 2a3, and the minimalist soundstage was rock solid and picture perfect. Dynamic shifts were handled as well as I could ever expect and I found myself listening to the whole album, at times forgetting to write things down.
Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 loudspeaker $3400 Review
July 8, 2023 Comments Off on Bowers & Wilkins 705 S3 loudspeaker $3400 Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/bowers-wilkins-705-s3-loudspeaker
Considering my well-established predilection for large speakers with extended bass, I didn’t expect that much from these small standmounts. I should have expected more. Even though my listening room was not as favorable to the 705s as a smaller, more damped room would be, their performance was rewarding and enjoyable—no apology need be made on account of their size. Their midrange and treble resolution is outstanding, and their bass is musically satisfying. When properly set up, they will readily pull off that little trick and disappear into their own soundstage.
Audiophilepure 
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