Audiophilepure

https://www.hifinews.com/content/emm-labs-premtrs

When there’s less of a need for the MTRS to dig deep, this system still lives up to its premium positioning thanks to that sense of transparency and balance across the frequency band. Given cellist Redi Hasa’s ‘Little Street Football Made Of Socks’ [The Stolen Cello; Decca 44.1kHz/24-bit], EMM Labs’ pairing sounded biting and sweet at the same time, highlighting the physicality of his playing alongside well-resolved treble. And as the piece builds, layer upon layer, it was hard not to be swept up by its lush detail and lilting rhythm.

With Johan Johansson’s brooding electro-orchestral ‘The Beast’, recorded for 2015 film Sicario [Cutting Edge 302 067 369 8], the PRE and MTRS sounded as confident as they did with Elton John’s more conventional ‘Rocket Man’ [Honky Chateau; Mercury 528 162-2] with its rich piano and crystalline percussion. As for the dance single ‘Ratchets’, from quality-conscious Danish producer Hedegaard [Spinnin Records, 44.1kHz/16-bit], this absolutely banged, as the younger generation might say. Impossibly heavy synth and bass, playing in unison, loaded the room, and ramping up the level rewarded me with simply more weight, more scale and more drama.

The Serene KTE is a neutral sounding pre-amplifier that produces a rich, organic and full sound. It has superb low-end body and texture, a neutral but natural midrange and a delicate and extended top. It delivers heaps of resolution and an open vocal presence that fills the room. The Serene doesn’t color the music much but offers an enormously clear view of it without the added harshness.

The bass of the Serene KTE is well pronounced and offers high end levels of texture and resolution. It is precise and dynamic, with an excellent body and weight. Bass feels natural and organic throughout. The Serene KTE reaches deep with good authority and thunder. It has a life-like body and presentation, where low-ends come out with nice impact and heft.