Building My Dream Listening Room: The Sound Shed is Complete!
December 13, 2023 Comments Off on Building My Dream Listening Room: The Sound Shed is Complete!
LampizatOr Pacific 2 DAC Review
December 12, 2023 Comments Off on LampizatOr Pacific 2 DAC Review
https://www.enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/equipment/1223/LampizatOr_Pacific_2_DAC_Review.htm
The tube complement of the LampizatOr Pacific 2 extracted a more robust presentation of saturation and color. The Elektra is an exceptional tool for reviewing but demands equally statement level everything else to get all it can give. For $20,000 less, the Pacific 2 was an exceptional tool for listening, no matter what I moved into or out of the system. As I remember with the Golden Gate 2, the Pacific 2 is more forgiving of the imperfections in the remainder of the system, cabling, recording, file format, room, everything. I could (and did) make it more accurate and detailed with tube swapping, but it just didn’t feel right with Pacific 2. My final preference for tubes was the Tungsram 200/600 4V rectifier with adapter, EML PX4 driver tubes in a balanced quad configuration. The LampizatOr wants to give you a big hug, not just a simple handshake.
The Pass Labs HPA-1 – A Superb Headphone Amp
December 11, 2023 Comments Off on The Pass Labs HPA-1 – A Superb Headphone Amp
I employ the Dan Clark Audio Stealth headphones for the focused portion of this review, and to provide a more worthy comparison, I forego using my $650 SGA-1 Soncoz Headphone Amplifier that, while an excellent value for the money, is a lighter-bodied pinot noir to the bolder HPA-1’s cabernet sauvignon. Hence, I enlist the services of the powerful, but discontinued Cypher Labs Prautes tube headphone amplifier with a rebuilt power supply.
I had been very impressed by the Prautes when I reviewed it in 2019, and Joe Jerzec, who was a reseller and lent me the review sample when he ran JAM’n Audio (he’s currently a partner at Purity Audio Design), lent it to me again. A veritable tank, only 50 units were made, retailing for $3900 (that would be $4714 in 2023 dollars, according to Amortization.org). One of its standout features is an impedance selector switch to accommodate various headphone and speaker impedances, as follows: 300 Ω, 100 Ω: Standard for many Studio headphones, 32 Ω: Standard consumer headphones, 8 Ω: Speakers or very low impedance headphones, and IEM: In-Ear-Headphones.
Now, the Stealth headphones have a 23 Ohm impedance and a sensitivity of roughly 86 – 87 dB/mW, so they’re not the most efficient headphones, meaning you have to crank up the volume on a headphone amp to hear them properly.
Make Your Room Sound AMAZING! Audio Treatment Step-by-Step Guide
December 11, 2023 Comments Off on Make Your Room Sound AMAZING! Audio Treatment Step-by-Step Guide
Pro-Ject Award-Winning X2B True Balanced Turntable Review
December 11, 2023 Comments Off on Pro-Ject Award-Winning X2B True Balanced Turntable Review
Krell Illusion II/KSA-i400 Pre/Power Amplifiers Review
December 10, 2023 Comments Off on Krell Illusion II/KSA-i400 Pre/Power Amplifiers Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/krell-illusion-iiksa-i400-prepower-amplifiers
An Ethernet port is provided on the power amp for software updates, but the only means of control from the preamp is via 12V triggers for on/standby. The Illusion II itself has two sets of balanced analogue inputs and three on RCAs, plus two coaxial, optical and one AES/EBU digital input. Outputs are also on XLRs and RCAs, alongside 12V trigger in/outs, and a socket for an external IR receiver should you want to hide the preamp away.
Front panel controls are via traditional ‘pin-head’ pushbuttons, duplicated on the chunky metal remote handset. There’s no volume knob, but the balanced resistor-ladder adjustment has a rather a large number of very fine steps controlled by up/down buttons. This makes for precise if rather slow adjustment, but at least the blue light-bar on the preamp, which initially glows red in standby, flashes to show you that commands are being received and acted upon. There’s a mute button on the remote should you wish for a swifter pause or restoration of output level.
Marantz 40n Streaming Amplifier Review
December 10, 2023 Comments Off on Marantz 40n Streaming Amplifier Review
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2023/4/1/yamaha-a-s1200-integrated-amplifier
Components like the 40n are priced well, feature and function-packed, and have a huge PR/hype push machine behind them at launch. Research the first two carefully, and ignore the latter by listening to lots of music you know and love. Your ears (and wallet) will eventually make the right design. The Marantz 40n Streaming Amplifier is a high-end winner in looks, functionality, and price. But even at a relatively reasonable $2499, you want your investment to sound good. Rest assured, it does. It’s a well-designed high-end product I imagine will fit into many modern, lifestyle systems. Is the sound right for you in the long term? That’s what an in-home audition is for. There are so many top integrateds of all stripes and topologies at this price point that it behooves the prospective purchaser to part with their money only when they are assured musical satisfaction. As for me, a warm recommendation.
Audiophilepure 
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