Arcam A5 $699 Review
November 27, 2023 Comments Off on Arcam A5 $699 Review
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/Arcam-A5
As we switch between sources we cover a wide range of music in our time with the Arcam A5, and it never disappoints. This is a superbly rounded performer that simply gets on with the job of playing music without intruding on the experience. Partner it with suitably capable sources and speakers, and it will invariably deliver musical and enjoyable results. It has been many years since we’ve heard such a convincing stereo amplifier from Arcam. If you are thinking of buying at this level, this one has to go at the top of your shortlist. It really is that good. Welcome back Arcam.
Audio Research’s Reference 160M MkII Mono Amplifiers Review
November 27, 2023 Comments Off on Audio Research’s Reference 160M MkII Mono Amplifiers Review
PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier $2999 Review
November 26, 2023 Comments Off on PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier $2999 Review
Running the Gamut- PS Audio Stellar Phono Preamplifier
My last course of listening is much less conventional. Rather than switching to a second tone arm, I change the settings of the Stellar over to another turntable, as mentioned earlier. A bit of a departure from the $15,000 Triangle Art, my somewhat humbler Music Hall mmf1.3 is set up strictly for the purpose of playing 78s, complete with proper mono 78 needle and all.
First up, a release from July of 1946—Roy Acuff and His Crazy Tennesseans, “Great Speckled Bird” b/w “My Mountain Home Sweet Home.” Entering into this 75-year-old, monaural, high-revolution experience with no expectations, I lower the needle, and quickly sit down.
While scratchy and clearly showing every bit of age, what ends up coming forth from this record is truly a surprise. The Stellar Phono Preamplifier brings fresh life out of this recording, which now belies the antiquated single microphone in the room that was used to capture the three instruments and voices. There is an unexpected expansiveness from a disc that was originally played on a parlor Victrola. An illusion of stereo almost creeps in a time or two as vocal harmonies work in and out. I cannot resist but to dive deeper into my completely un-audiophile audiophile test.
BELLOS AUDIO X4 REVIEW
November 26, 2023 Comments Off on BELLOS AUDIO X4 REVIEW
In essence, Bellos Audio is revolutionizing the design and production of CIEMs with significant quality-of-life innovations that optimize the build and repair process while improving sound fidelity, comfort, and product longevity. I admire their approach, and this is the kind of engineering that we need to see more in this ever-expanding industry.
Castle Windsor Duke Loudspeaker £4500 Review
November 25, 2023 Comments Off on Castle Windsor Duke Loudspeaker £4500 Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/castle-windsor-duke-loudspeaker
The crossover is a fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley type set at a moderate 2.1kH and featuring air-cored inductors. While it is more common to use iron-cored inductors in the bass arm of the crossover for their reduced copper turns, the slightly higher resistance of these air-cored types is allowed for in the design of the bass/mid driver. The result, according to Castle, is ‘a flat response with an easy load for amplifiers and low distortion’, claims that are largely backed up by PM‘s independent measurements.
Fit and finish of the loudspeakers is immaculate, and they are glorious pieces of furniture in their own right. Magnetically attached grilles are supplied but they are best left in the box, for reasons I’ll return to. Dedicated open-frame metal stands are available for an additional £500 but these were not supplied for review, so the Dukes were auditioned atop mass-loaded Atacama SL-600 stands, and connected to my regular Yamaha C/M-5000 pre/power amplifiers
Rotel Michi X5 Series 2 Integrated Amplifier-DAC $7999 Review
November 25, 2023 Comments Off on Rotel Michi X5 Series 2 Integrated Amplifier-DAC $7999 Review
As someone who has heard his share of integrated amplifiers—I’ve been reviewing components since 2006—I can say unequivocally that Michi’s X5 S2 offers a lot for the money. I wouldn’t have been surprised if I had been told that it cost $15K. There are integrated amplifiers on the market with a larger set of features: room correction, bass management, and network streaming, among others. However, apart from Musical Fidelity’s M8xi (reviewed by Roger Kanno in 2020), which boasts a whopping 550Wpc into 8 ohms and an obscene 870Wpc into 4 ohms, no other integrated amplifier that I am aware of can claim 350Wpc into 8 ohms and 600Wpc into 4 ohms. With its power and premium parts and design, that the Michi X5 S2 sells for $8K has me shaking my head in disbelief. If you’re in the market for a high-powered integrated amplifier with a top-notch DAC and phono stage that rival standalone separates, the Michi X5 S2 is peerless.
BMW X7 – Audiophile Stereo Upgrade
November 25, 2023 Comments Off on BMW X7 – Audiophile Stereo Upgrade
Von Gaylord Audio Review
November 22, 2023 Comments Off on Von Gaylord Audio Review
Well, enough of the chatter about history and specs and time to discuss the sound of this little system. By my calculations this system would go for right about $21,000 and some change. That gives you a very symbiotic system sans front end. With a budget of $2000-3000 for a entry turntable, cartridge, phono stage, and another $2000 for a good streamer you are around $25-26,000 for a complete system. Twenty eight years ago I did a huge upgrade to my stereo system. I bought my Quicksilver KT88s, Golden Sound Tube Preamp with phono stage, a VPI 19JR upgraded to a MKIII, with a Sumiko Blue Point Evo cartridge, Parasound CD player, and Totem Mani-two speakers, all strung with Kimber Kable throughout. In today’s money that system would be roughly the same as this Von Gaylord system and it was a wonderful system in the day but I began almost immediately upgrading to the point where I am now.
Audiophilepure 
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