Margules Audio U-280SC 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Vacuum Tube Amplifier $12,000 Review
October 31, 2023 § 1 Comment
I learned that even in ultra-linear mode, this amplifier could easily drive the Scansonic speakers to a volume that I considered “realistic.” Not only was the volume more than satisfactory but so was their sound, due to the sound quality prowess of the Margules U-280SC 30th Anniversary tube amplifier. Even though the Scansonic MB5 B speakers cost less than half the price of the speakers that were used for the majority of the audition period, their midrange transparency made it so I felt as if I could hear not only details from the musical signal being sent to the speakers but the details from the musical signal that was sent to the Margules amplifier.
The above description might seem a bit obtuse. Yet, it was the relative amount of transparency of these speakers that led to a feeling that I could imagine hearing through to the Margules amp, and therefore could sense that I could clearly hear the intentions of the musicians, engineers, and producers that were responsible for the recording I was listening to at the time. The Margules amp’s level of transparency was often frighteningly lifelike sounding on some recordings.
Focal Grande Utopia EM EVO Loudspeaker Review
October 31, 2023 Comments Off on Focal Grande Utopia EM EVO Loudspeaker Review
crystal cable art series monet speaker cables
October 31, 2023 Comments Off on crystal cable art series monet speaker cables
Down low, the Monets sounded great. Good, tight, tuneful bass. That said, both my Audience and Nordost cables excel in the bottom octaves, and the Monets were more alike than different in this regard. This is still high praise, as I’ve been digging some of the best bass of my experience with both of these cables, and having the Monets keep up is a triumph.
More alike than different. That doesn’t mean identical. I just listened right through to the 1995 reissue of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme remastered by Michael Cuscuna (LP, Impulse! GR-155), and despite years of familiarity with this recording, it’s still as fresh to me as ever—triumphant and soaring, crisp and snappy. As with most olde-tyme jazz recordings, the bass suffers most, but there’s still that thick, twangy intro to “Acknowledgement,” which feels like it’s coming out of a deep hole in the ground. It’s an easily hummable anchor that carries through the piece, and the Monets kept all of the weight (any loss of grounding here would be fatal to the integrity of this track) while adding just a small amount of detail to the sense of Jimmy Garrison’s fingers on the strings themselves.
D’Agostino Progression Integrated Review
October 30, 2023 § 1 Comment
https://www.hifichoice.com/content/dagostino-progression-integrated
By way of an admittedly unfair comparison, we opt to run the Progression Integrated up against D’Agostino’s costlier Momentum Stereo. The former’s amplifier section is undoubtedly less bold and forceful than its pricier sibling, but the differences are impressively close. The Momentum offers a perceptible added measure of control and extension, but the Progression really isn’t far behind.
In fact it takes the subtlety of George Benson’s guitar work on The Other Side Of Abbey Road to show how two amplifiers from the same stable can sound different, yet share common ground. Considering that the Momentum will set you back far in excess of £40k, the fact that the Progression Integrated’s performance can be considered to be even in the same sonic ballpark underlines just how good it is and reveals that – in absolute relative terms – it can actually be considered something of a bargain. Now there’s something we never thought we’d say…
Acoustic Energy CORINIUM REVIEW
October 30, 2023 Comments Off on Acoustic Energy CORINIUM REVIEW
All these ground-breaking new drive unit and crossover developments are housed in a beautifully curved, exquisitely finished inert enclosure. The hybrid ‘Resonance Suppression Composite’ (RSC) cabinets have a minimum thickness of 22mm and vary up to 50mm for optimal performance. The 4° tilt improves the time alignment of sound to listener, whilst the 6mm ultra rigid aluminim front baffle firmly houses the drivers and isolates any cabinet resonances from the listening environment.
Dynaudio Emit 50 Loudspeaker $2249 Review
October 29, 2023 § 1 Comment
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/dynaudio-emit-50-loudspeaker-review
The Emit 50 may be Dynaudio’s entry-level offering, but it serves as a shining example of the Emit line. These towers reveal an impressive amount of information, making them one of my favorite options in this price range. They perform admirably even in less-than-ideal conditions, a feat many speakers fail to achieve. When attention to the room is given, such as adding acoustic treatments and digital signal processing, the Emit 50s rise to the occasion, making the improvements audible and appreciated.
While not a “budget” speaker, the Emit 50 is within reach and a worthwhile investment for anyone seeking a quality pair of 2-channel towers or the foundation of a home theater system. Whether you opt for a minimalist 2-channel setup or a full-blown home theater, the Dynaudio Emit 50s consistently impress. Their exceptional soundstage and imaging capabilities make them stand out, providing hours of enjoyable listening and rediscovering familiar songs in new ways. Dynaudio’s commitment to quality shines through in the Emit 50, offering a natural, easy sound that anyone can enjoy.
Gryphon Audio Heaven
October 29, 2023 Comments Off on Gryphon Audio Heaven
A complete high-end audio system from Gryphon Audio, based around the Trident II speakers. Photos via our friend Lê Sơn Hà.
Arylic TQWT 2-Way Floor Standing Speakers
October 29, 2023 Comments Off on Arylic TQWT 2-Way Floor Standing Speakers
Vivid Audio Giya G3 Series 2 Loudspeaker $43,000 Review
October 28, 2023 § 1 Comment
https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1206-vivid-audio-giya-g 3-series-2-loudspeaker
As an aside, Laurence Dickie shared, “The watchword from the beginning for our company has been freedom from resonance and reflection. It is what defines the non-sound from Vivid Audio.” Having spent several months with Vivid Audio’s Giya G3 Series 2, I can confidently confirm the former, but would qualify the latter. There’s no such thing as a perfect loudspeaker, and the Vivid is no exception. That said, the G3S2 is the closest thing to perfection I’ve heard. This loudspeaker does everything well, from macrodynamics to microdynamics, transparency to the source, you name it. It’s also impossibly fast and has exceptionally holographic stereo imaging. Combine that with a superbly well-controlled, punchy bottom end, and it leads me to the inexorable conclusion that Vivid Audio’s Giya G3 Series 2 is more than just a superlative loudspeaker. It’s a dream machine.
Audiophilepure 
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