Matrix Audio MP1 and MA1 Review
January 3, 2026 § Leave a comment
I have spent a considerable amount of time with the Matrix Audio MP-1/MA-1 pre and power amplifiers. Arthur at Power Holdings Inc and Mr. Cao at Matrix Audio should be commended for their patience with me while I asked questions regarding the manufacturing process of these components. These two pieces stayed in my system for a number of months and I became intimately familiar with them. What I have experienced reflects the vision and goals that Mr. Yang Jing has for Matrix Audio, and provides insights into what the future may hold for high performance audio in East Asia. The circuit design of these components are based on solid engineering principles, and have been implemented with precision manufacturing processes. The innovative H frame that is the heart of these two components provides a robust foundation for the power supply, audio boards, and output devices to be anchored to. Parts are either machined in company owned facilities, or sourced from the finest suppliers such as WBT, Mundorf, or ONSEMI. The machined aluminum panels are works of art with impeccable fit and finish. The controls and operation of the MP-1 preamplifier are as smooth and refined as a courtier to the royal family. The MA-1 amplifier is reminiscent of a finely tuned sports car where power and control are the calling cards of the day. I suspect the power output rating of 250 WPC is a conservative one, as this amplifier has no difficulty controlling the woofers in my JBL 4367 monitor speakers, and the volume levels I achieved were spectacular.
PMC twenty5.23i Active Review
January 2, 2026 § Leave a comment
https://www.hifichoice.com/content/pmc-twenty523i-active
Interestingly, something I’ve long regarded as a slight shortcoming of the 23i might also have been dealt with too. Pushing the speaker at high levels with bass-heavy music can result in the bass taking on a quality that isn’t so much the port becoming audible, but there being a sense of air moving to help achieve it. I had felt that this was a baked-in element of the performance and something that’s an acceptable trade-off for the sheer heft that the 23i delivers. The presence of the Bluesound NODE ICON on test at the same time – able to function as a preamp with Dirac room optimisation – demonstrates that this need not be the case. It tightens up the low-end of the PMC considerably, keeping the impact but tightening up everything to be even cleaner and more potent. I suspect that the same can also be achieved with a little room treatment if you’re invested in extracting the most from the PMC.
Marantz Grand Horizon Wireless Speaker Review
January 2, 2026 § Leave a comment
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/marantz-grand-horizon-wireless-speaker-review
The Marantz Grand Horizon is a rare all-in-one speaker that truly competes with traditional hi-fi gear in tone, fidelity, and musicality. It excels in real homes placed on dressers, consoles, kitchen counters, and in open living areas, and it does so without requiring racks of electronics or floorstanding loudspeakers.
Look, I’m well aware of what you can get for the money if you buy into a traditional stereo system, but the reality of the Grand Horizon is that it packages the vast majority of a system of that cost into such a unique device that it simply cannot be compared. It is, frankly, the finest single-speaker bedroom stereo system that I am aware exists. It is, in fact, a sexy speaker.
Noble Audio AGIS II $1799 Review
January 1, 2026 § Leave a comment
The bass is quite impressive for a BA setup. I know a lot of people do not always gel with BA bass, but this one has a few tricks up its sleeve to surprise you.
The midrange offers plenty of detail without turning into a razor-sharp delivery. The treble is tuned to tickle the trebleheads, with notes pushing out the tiniest detail and sparkles like it is scratching a long-standing itch for more top end.
A lot of the tuning simply depends on how much bass the track itself carries. On bass-heavy tracks, the low end swells in and pushes warmth into the midrange. On leaner tracks, the bass just folds its wings and stays out of the way.
ELAC Concentro 2.0 M 807 loudspeaker Review
January 1, 2026 § Leave a comment
https://www.hifinews.com/content/elac-concentro-20-m-807-loudspeaker
During something of a folky interlude, I moved on to Folk Bitch Trio’s ‘That’s All She Wrote’ from Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar download], enjoying the focus of the M 807s, the three voices distinct yet blending beautifully. Meanwhile, ‘Timbuktu’ from Les Amazones d’Afriques’ Amazones Power [Real World CDRW228] was offered with room-busting weight and beautiful resolution, a scale matched by the massive, unstoppable ‘Whirl-Y-Reel 1 (Beard And Sandals Mix)’, from Afro-Celt Sound System’s trendsetting Vol.1: Sound Magic [Virgin 7243 8 41736 2 3]. This eclectic mix of growling bass, unusual electronica and transcontinental instruments – Gaelic pipes whirling above synthesised sub-Saharan percussion – was totally joyful.
Loud and proud
And what about Peat & Diesel’s ‘Stornoway’, from their folk/thrash crossover set Uptown Fank [Wee Studio Records]? Well, the wistful opening sounded lovely and then, after a few beats on the drumstick, the musicians leapt into life – accordion, bass and drums blazing, and the snarling vocals clean and clear. Well, as clean and clear as they can be – this band carries its rawness as a matter of pride, and the effect was both infectious and irresistible via ELAC’s new flagships.
Audiophilepure 
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