Grandinote Mach 8 XL Floorstanding Loudspeaker $31,600 Review
May 12, 2025 Comments Off on Grandinote Mach 8 XL Floorstanding Loudspeaker $31,600 Review
I have some experience with the Grandinote Essence integrated, and the ethos of Grandinote comes through similarly. Grandinote is not for those looking to analyze their system’s performance, dissect the difference between this cable and that isolation device, or determine the tonal colorations of this DAC versus that DAC. The Mach 8XL is, first and foremost, a product focused on reproducing the heart and soul of what was recorded and helping the owner / listener extract as much enjoyment from that recording as possible. You will not want for anything, nor will most Enjoy the Music.com music lovers even think about what you could have.
NAD Masters M66 Streaming Preamplifier Review
May 12, 2025 Comments Off on NAD Masters M66 Streaming Preamplifier Review
Using BluOS with either the PSB Alpha iQ speakers or the NAD Masters M66 Streaming Preamp allows easy high-res audio streaming from any of several integrated streaming sources directly to either component. As it stands, the BluOS platform is the only real direct competitor to something like ROON. There are differences and it isn’t as brand agnostic as ROON is, but BluOS is free when you purchase compatible hardware, and it integrates with far more streaming services and online music sources.
Speaking of hardware, I found the NAD Masters M66 Streaming Preamplifier to be a world-class analog preamp that has extensive digital resources and “Swiss Army Knife” flexibility in the bargain.
The PSB Alpha iQ BluOs Streaming speakers are a fun and great-sounding turnkey streaming solution for small to moderate spaces. Both are great examples, at different ends of the spectrum, of what the BluOS platform can do.
Dynaudio Contour 20 Black Edition Review
May 12, 2025 Comments Off on Dynaudio Contour 20 Black Edition Review
Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature Loudspeaker $55,000 REVIEW
May 9, 2025 Comments Off on Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature Loudspeaker $55,000 REVIEW
From the first notes, the 801 D4 Signature speakers captivated and enthralled Jason, and he is as passionate about them today as he was while he had them. His admiration for this speaker earned it a Reviewers’ Choice award, when the review was published, and a 2024 Product of the Year award in the Hall of Fame category (the Hall of Fame award is presented to products with outstanding sonic performance that have either been on the market for an exceptionally long time or are the latest incarnation of a historically significant model). This month, based on Jason’s review and undiminished enthusiasm for the 801 D4 Signature, we award it our Recommended Reference Component designation.
Hegel Music Systems H190v Streaming Integrated Amplifier Review
May 9, 2025 Comments Off on Hegel Music Systems H190v Streaming Integrated Amplifier Review
I briefly used the H190v with my Paul Carmody–designed DIY Amiga speakers, though the majority of my time with the H190v was spent using the Focal Theva N°2 loudspeakers. A pair of AmazonBasics 14AWG OFC speaker cables conferred power to the Focals. A Micro Seiki DQ-3 with an Audio-Technica AT95SH cartridge at the end of its MA-707 tonearm served as an analog source, while an Oppo BDP-105 universal disc player served as a digital source. The Oppo has a multitude of output options, so I was able to use both Have, Inc. RCA cables and Blue Jeans Cable DA202 XLRs to link to the H190v’s analog inputs, while a Tributaries Delta coax linked to the digital input. I used a generic Cat6 ethernet cable to connect my Netgear R6080 router to the H190v for streaming. And, as I’ll soon delve into, I used a Creek OBH-8SE phono preamp to compare against the H190v’s built-in phono stage.
Focal Diva Utopia Connected Loudspeaker System $40,000 Review
May 8, 2025 Comments Off on Focal Diva Utopia Connected Loudspeaker System $40,000 Review
One can almost picture the meeting between Focal’s design team and Naim’s engineers. “Let’s take our Focal ‘W’ membrane speakers and design an integrated system. Let’s take the same drivers from a $40,000 pair of speakers but put them into a simpler cabinet. Then let’s add separate Naim amps for the ‘W’ woofer quad pack in each speaker, plus one for the ‘W’ 6.5-inch bass-midrange for each speaker AND another for the “M” profile Beryllium Tweeter. While we are at it, we are going to add a Naim streamer and a Naim DAC, and control it all from an app. We aren’t done yet. Let’s not charge $60,000 for putting all of this into one cabinet. No, let’s keep the price at $40,000 USD and make it accessible for more to get our sound in one easy-peasy package!”
k.d. lang’s All-Analog Ingénue
May 8, 2025 Comments Off on k.d. lang’s All-Analog Ingénue
https://www.stereophile.com/content/revinylization-64-kd-langs-all-analog-ing%C3%A9nue
Opening with strummed guitars and accordion, “Constant Craving,” the only radio hit of lang’s solo career, won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. As Ingénue‘s closing statement, it seems absolutely right, eloquently embodying the searching and desiring that energize the album.
Did Ingénue single-handedly create a new genre—one that no one else could follow because they lacked lang’s monumental vocal prowess and versatility? Perhaps. Whatever its larger significance, this was clearly a peak moment in a musical career that remains unique, an album utterly unlike anything else made before or since. It has never sounded better.
Audiophilepure 
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