crystal cable art series monet speaker cables

October 31, 2023 Comments Off on crystal cable art series monet speaker cables

https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1202-crystal-cable-art-series-monet-speaker-cables

Down low, the Monets sounded great. Good, tight, tuneful bass. That said, both my Audience and Nordost cables excel in the bottom octaves, and the Monets were more alike than different in this regard. This is still high praise, as I’ve been digging some of the best bass of my experience with both of these cables, and having the Monets keep up is a triumph.

More alike than different. That doesn’t mean identical. I just listened right through to the 1995 reissue of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme remastered by Michael Cuscuna (LP, Impulse! GR-155), and despite years of familiarity with this recording, it’s still as fresh to me as ever—triumphant and soaring, crisp and snappy. As with most olde-tyme jazz recordings, the bass suffers most, but there’s still that thick, twangy intro to “Acknowledgement,” which feels like it’s coming out of a deep hole in the ground. It’s an easily hummable anchor that carries through the piece, and the Monets kept all of the weight (any loss of grounding here would be fatal to the integrity of this track) while adding just a small amount of detail to the sense of Jimmy Garrison’s fingers on the strings themselves.

D’Agostino Progression Integrated Review

October 30, 2023 § 1 Comment

https://www.hifichoice.com/content/dagostino-progression-integrated

By way of an admittedly unfair comparison, we opt to run the Progression Integrated up against D’Agostino’s costlier Momentum Stereo. The former’s amplifier section is undoubtedly less bold and forceful than its pricier sibling, but the differences are impressively close. The Momentum offers a perceptible added measure of control and extension, but the Progression really isn’t far behind.

In fact it takes the subtlety of George Benson’s guitar work on The Other Side Of Abbey Road to show how two amplifiers from the same stable can sound different, yet share common ground. Considering that the Momentum will set you back far in excess of £40k, the fact that the Progression Integrated’s performance can be considered to be even in the same sonic ballpark underlines just how good it is and reveals that – in absolute relative terms – it can actually be considered something of a bargain. Now there’s something we never thought we’d say…

Acoustic Energy CORINIUM REVIEW

October 30, 2023 Comments Off on Acoustic Energy CORINIUM REVIEW

All these ground-breaking new drive unit and crossover developments are housed in a beautifully curved, exquisitely finished inert enclosure. The hybrid ‘Resonance Suppression Composite’ (RSC) cabinets have a minimum thickness of 22mm and vary up to 50mm for optimal performance. The 4° tilt improves the time alignment of sound to listener, whilst the 6mm ultra rigid aluminim front baffle firmly houses the drivers and isolates any cabinet resonances from the listening environment.

Austrian Audio Review

October 30, 2023 Comments Off on Austrian Audio Review

Dynaudio Emit 50 Loudspeaker $2249 Review

October 29, 2023 § 1 Comment

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/dynaudio-emit-50-loudspeaker-review

The Emit 50 may be Dynaudio’s entry-level offering, but it serves as a shining example of the Emit line. These towers reveal an impressive amount of information, making them one of my favorite options in this price range. They perform admirably even in less-than-ideal conditions, a feat many speakers fail to achieve. When attention to the room is given, such as adding acoustic treatments and digital signal processing, the Emit 50s rise to the occasion, making the improvements audible and appreciated.

While not a “budget” speaker, the Emit 50 is within reach and a worthwhile investment for anyone seeking a quality pair of 2-channel towers or the foundation of a home theater system. Whether you opt for a minimalist 2-channel setup or a full-blown home theater, the Dynaudio Emit 50s consistently impress. Their exceptional soundstage and imaging capabilities make them stand out, providing hours of enjoyable listening and rediscovering familiar songs in new ways. Dynaudio’s commitment to quality shines through in the Emit 50, offering a natural, easy sound that anyone can enjoy.

Gryphon Audio Heaven

October 29, 2023 Comments Off on Gryphon Audio Heaven

A complete high-end audio system from Gryphon Audio, based around the Trident II speakers. Photos via our friend Lê Sơn Hà.

Arylic TQWT 2-Way Floor Standing Speakers 

October 29, 2023 Comments Off on Arylic TQWT 2-Way Floor Standing Speakers 

Vivid Audio Giya G3 Series 2 Loudspeaker $43,000 Review

October 28, 2023 § 1 Comment

https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1206-vivid-audio-giya-g 3-series-2-loudspeaker

As an aside, Laurence Dickie shared, “The watchword from the beginning for our company has been freedom from resonance and reflection. It is what defines the non-sound from Vivid Audio.” Having spent several months with Vivid Audio’s Giya G3 Series 2, I can confidently confirm the former, but would qualify the latter. There’s no such thing as a perfect loudspeaker, and the Vivid is no exception. That said, the G3S2 is the closest thing to perfection I’ve heard. This loudspeaker does everything well, from macrodynamics to microdynamics, transparency to the source, you name it. It’s also impossibly fast and has exceptionally holographic stereo imaging. Combine that with a superbly well-controlled, punchy bottom end, and it leads me to the inexorable conclusion that Vivid Audio’s Giya G3 Series 2 is more than just a superlative loudspeaker. It’s a dream machine.

World Premiere Review!Art Audio Opus 4 And Carissa Vacuum Tube Amplifier $13,499 Review

October 28, 2023 Comments Off on World Premiere Review!Art Audio Opus 4 And Carissa Vacuum Tube Amplifier $13,499 Review

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/equipment/1023/Art_Audio_Opus4_Carissa_Vacuum_Tube_Amplifier_Review.htm

Art Audio’s Opus 4 monoblocks managed to convey an impression to me of nearly as much depth of overall musicality as the 275 Watts of ultra-linear power of my other reference system amp, the CJ Premier 8A. I ultimately decided to keep the Carissa amplifier as part of my system to use with the Quad 57s and as an alternative for the 63s when they are not connected to the big CJ amps. The power, control, and sound along with the lavish and lovely looks of this latest revised Art Audio 18 Watt SET amp as designed by Tom Willis is highly recommended to be seen and heard.

Art Audio’s Carissa vacuum tube stereo amplifier has character, a distinctive beauty, and elegance that it continues to be part of my reference system. If you are looking for an elegant-looking design and musically refined, and lovely sounding amp in a more powerful rating range, then seek out an audition of the Art Audio Opus 4 monoblocks that have a diminutive look and weight yet produce a prodigious, powerful, and excellent quality output. Bravo to both Tom and Scott for their excellence in design, musical listening, and customer support throughout this evaluation period.

 HiFiMAN Susvara Planar Magnetic Headphones Review

October 28, 2023 Comments Off on  HiFiMAN Susvara Planar Magnetic Headphones Review