Primare i35 Integrated Amplifier Review
November 11, 2023 Comments Off on Primare i35 Integrated Amplifier Review
Focal Maestro Utopia Evo loudspeaker $76,000 Review
November 10, 2023 § 1 Comment
https://www.stereophile.com/content/focal-maestro-utopia-evo-loudspeaker
One moment, the Maestros take on the character of a 200lb street brawler, the next, that of a ballerina. They did the only thing that matters in the wild world of hi-fi: connect me to the music. I produced pages of notes full of terms like authority, grace, ebullience, grandeur, brawn. But maybe this says it better than reams of descriptors: During the evaluation of almost every new piece in my system, I make a fresh Roon playlist of songs that show off the product particularly well. On average, I end up with a list of 30, 40 songs. After two months with the Maestros, I was up to 157 tracks. From chamber quartets to EDM, orchestral showpieces to Appalachian folk, delta blues to big band, these exceptional French speakers brought the joy. Astute and revealing, they’re among the hautest of haut-parleurs.

Antipodes Oladra Music Server | REVIEW
November 10, 2023 Comments Off on Antipodes Oladra Music Server | REVIEW
Did my time with the Antipodes Oladra provide me with the clarity I needed to make a decision about music servers? To tell the truth, I think that day is still off in the future, and I wonder if my own digital rig will be sophisticated enough to explore the potential of this astounding and organized device. So yes, I’m going to suggest that a device that can accomplish this much and sound this good might be reserved for those of you who already have a magnificent DAC and streamer in place. You know what great digital is supposed to sound like–a lot like analog–and the Antipodes Oladra is it.

Rockport Technologies Lyra Loudspeaker $190,000 Review
November 8, 2023 § 1 Comment
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2023/6/28/rockport-technologies-lyra-loudspeaker
For several years now I’ve been surrounded by Danish beauties of all sorts that value noise elimination above all. Noise sucks. It’s just that so much of it is inaudible yet experienced as it degrades the bottom line of our aural pleasure. Rockport’s aim to drop the noise floor and distortion to infinitesimal levels makes the whole design a total winner. It allows its advanced technologies, both outer and inner, to shine at their very best. And these Lyras are among the very best. Certainly, one of the finest full range floor standing dynamic driver loudspeakers I’ve heard, capable of effortless dynamics, thunderous, chest-imploding bass and the sweetest highs imaginable.


SWEEAR AUDIO AURORA $2,499 REVIEW
November 8, 2023 § 1 Comment
Aurora uses a total of four balanced armature woofers and is able to reproduce a big, bold bass. The bass’ power comes from the sub-region, as the subs feel more elevated compared to the midbass. This particular side of Aurora’s sound design enhances the perceived spaciousness, especially in vocals and natural instruments, while maintaining a good body and allowing a more seamless bass-to-midrange transition. The bass texture is commendable, and its tonality is both punchy and true to the track’s mastering. Moreover, the impact feels natural, and the control is excellent.

Wilson Audio • Alexia V Loudspeakers $67,500 Review
November 7, 2023 § 1 Comment
https://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/wilson_audio_alexia_v.htm
is Alexia V the last word — the best speaker I have ever heard? Of course not. There are much more expensive and larger speakers that have impressed me in certain ways that no others have come close to matching. When I heard the WAMM in David Wilson’s house, it had a high-frequency delicacy and lucidity that nothing else has equaled. And more recently, I visited the Göbel factory/showroom where their 1200-pound Divin Majestic produced bass density, resolution, and dynamics that I have not heard in any other system. However, those speakers cost seven to nine times the price of Alexia V, and they would not fit in my home or the homes of most audiophiles.
I have paid close attention to Wilson Audio speakers over the years. I fell in love with Yvette and was sorely tempted by Sasha DAW. However, the Alexia V is now the sweet spot of the Wilson lineup, with its breathtaking dynamics, improved sensitivity, and acute tonal accuracy. Combined with these attributes, its adjustability makes it possible to fit this fairly large speaker into a somewhat modestly sized room. Most of all, the Alexia V has rekindled my love affair with records. I’ve spent the last couple of months playing treasures I acquired over the years that only now are revealing their hidden beauty. The Alexia V stands out among a select few audio products I have reviewed over the years. This is a pair of speakers that will not be leaving anytime soon

Audiophile Visit
November 7, 2023 Comments Off on Audiophile Visit
2023 EMMA/IASCA/MASQ Finals Competitor Spotlight
November 7, 2023 Comments Off on 2023 EMMA/IASCA/MASQ Finals Competitor Spotlight





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