Merrill Audio ELEMENT 110 Power Amplifiers Monoblocks Review
August 26, 2025 Comments Off on Merrill Audio ELEMENT 110 Power Amplifiers Monoblocks Review
A fundamental splendor emerges when music is reproduced properly, revealing the essential magic when everything sounds just right. This is expressed through several indicators, including stereo field realism, rich harmonic content, texture, dynamic contrast, and physical depth, contributing to a complete, upper-echelon level of resolution.
With limited review time annually, curiosity and enthusiasm must guide discovery, and I’m more than happy that I’ve taken a deep dive into Merrill Audio’s latest offering. Merrill Wettasinghe purveys something deeper and extraordinary, evident in every musical turn. The ELEMENT 110 monoblocks counteract amplifiers that induce listener disenchantment. These US-made amplifiers deliver profound musical gravitas rather than entry-level catharsis.
Pilot Radio Vacuum Tube Stereo Preamplifier Review
August 26, 2025 Comments Off on Pilot Radio Vacuum Tube Stereo Preamplifier Review
want to congratulate the fine folks at Pilot Radio for their first step in resurrecting a venerable audio brand. The Pilot Radio Preamp is a component that brings out the emotional nuances of the music. It is clear to me that this preamp was a product of love and pride in the Pilot Radio heritage. It has a look and feel that reminds you of the early days of hi-fi, yet it is a thoroughly modern-sounding preamp. The fact that it has both MM and MC stages at this price point makes the Pilot Radio Preamp an incredible bargain.
Eversolo AMP-F10 power amplifier Review
August 25, 2025 Comments Off on Eversolo AMP-F10 power amplifier Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/eversolo-amp-f10-power-amplifier
When I swapped in the AMP-F10 and idled my Benchmark AHB2 power amp, I noticed right away that the system sounded different, especially in the lowest octaves. The Eversolo brought out usefully more bass weight than I had noticed before, but sometimes it was too much. Turning to the “Bass Test” playlist again, there was a bit too much boom in “Flea” by St. Vincent, from All Born Screaming (24/48 FLAC, St. Vincent/Qobuz) and a lot too much in the remix of Paramore’s “This Is Why” by Foals, from Re: This Is Why (24/44.1 FLAC, Atlantic/Qobuz). But Charlie Watts’s kickdrum in “Honky Tonk Women”—the version from Forty Licks (24/96 FLAC, Polydor/Qobuz)—sounded massively exciting, as if the song’s heartbeat had grown a size or two
MOONDROP Horizon $199 Review
August 25, 2025 Comments Off on MOONDROP Horizon $199 Review
The Horizon has a nice mix of warm and slightly U-shaped sound signatures, with a laid-back sound, yet it presents details with many nuances in the vocals and instruments.
There is a perceived reduction in response in the lowest part of the bass, known as the sub-bass, which is prevalent in open-back headphone designs.
However, there is a slight boost in the mid-bass, making the roll-off in the sub-bass sound less noticeable. The Horizon has the most sub-bass among the headphones in this review.
A slightly rounded, soft-textured yet articulate characterizes its bass sound, which adds to its overall warm, relaxed, and pleasing tonality.
Midrange is lush, warm, and slightly thick, combined with a somewhat relaxed perceived upper midrange response, which gives instruments and vocals proper note weight and body, preventing them from sounding thin.
Treble is slightly relaxed, smooth, and dark, but not too dark; it conveys a lot of information and detail, rendered in a somewhat laid-back manner and never aggressively. Suffice it to say, the upper midrange and treble never become shouty, piercing, or fatiguing.
TAD-ME1TX Monitor Speaker $18,200 Review
August 24, 2025 Comments Off on TAD-ME1TX Monitor Speaker $18,200 Review
If I were to put a bucket list together of speakers to review, somewhere near the top would be a pair of TAD Laboratories speakers. I have done that now, and someday a pair of Reference would be nice, if anyone is listening.
I have been fortunate to have reviewed some really great speakers lately, but the TAD left their mark as some of the best stand-mounted speakers I’ve reviewed – tight, razor sharp, and yet soft and soulful. The ME1TX were as close to perfect as I could imagine.
What the TAD-ME1TX does so well is play back music uncolorized and transparent. Far from clinical and sterile, the ME1TX has a marvelous sense of warmth and grace. It is almost sad that this type of listening is a luxury to most, including myself. Given any opportunity to listen to the TAD-ME1TX (or any TAD Labs speakers), do yourself a favor: grab a listen and enjoy.
Bryston Bi-200 Integrated Amplifier Review
August 24, 2025 Comments Off on Bryston Bi-200 Integrated Amplifier Review
On a critical note, the display text is very small, which is not a problem for nearby on-device configurations, but the volume level is not readable from any distance unless one has 20/20 vision. It would have been nice if the chosen volume setting were briefly displayed in a large font covering the entire vertical display size. Furthermore, I wish the display could always be on so you can see the volume level at a glance (as long as you’re close), but presumably, this option has been intentionally left out to prevent OLED burn-in.
Optional phono modules are available for MM or MC. The latter is available in two versions, with either a 20dB or 26dB gain. For MC cartridges with an output between 0.1 and 0.2 mV, the 26 dB version is recommended. For MC cartridges with a sensitivity greater than 0.3 mV, both versions are compatible. For MC cartridges with an output of 0.4 mV or higher, the 20dB version is recommended.
New Vandersteen L5 Audio Control Center Preview
August 24, 2025 Comments Off on New Vandersteen L5 Audio Control Center Preview
HIFIMAN ISVARNA Hybrid Headphone $2,899 Review
August 23, 2025 Comments Off on HIFIMAN ISVARNA Hybrid Headphone $2,899 Review
I’ll admit that when I first listened to the HIFIMAN ISVARNA Hybrid Headphone at CanJam, I was intrigued but did not love them, feeling they were a bit Rock&Roll for my tastes, but after having had them in hand and really spent some time with them, I have completely turned around. As I mentioned above, they are not particularly forgiving headphones, so I think electronics choice is going to make a huge impact on how much you like them. I think bass heads are going to be blown away with their ability to cover the full spectrum and really thump. The HIFIMAN GOLDENWAVE SERENADE R2R DAC/Headphone Amplifier proved to be an excellent match for the ISVARNA, but hardcore audiophiles are going to want to pair them with a good tube amp and a top-notch DAC.
Most surprising was the fact that they are pretty much genre agnostic, I really expected them to muddy up classical and complex musical pieces and nothing could be farther from the truth, on the other hand given the right source material they can give you that real club feel, and live but musical appears to be the name of the game.
Audiophilepure 
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