Recommended Components: 2018 Edition
March 20, 2018 Comments Off on Recommended Components: 2018 Edition
“Components listed here have been formally reviewed in Stereophile and have been found to be among the best available in each of four or five quality classes. Whether a component is listed in Class A or Class E, we highly recommend its purchase.”
Ayon Titan Evo Monoblock Amplifiers $57,000 Review
March 20, 2018 Comments Off on Ayon Titan Evo Monoblock Amplifiers $57,000 Review
“I have come to appreciate just how good Ayon products are; the line has something for everyone and I have yet to be in the presence of any of their gear and not been pleased and impressed because I have always been presented with quality and sonic delivery that made for a very good value at all levels for the asking price. The Titans are no exception to the Ayon rule. Definitely the pinnacle of their line the amps and they hold that distinction with well deserved pride and honor. If you are looking for a high end, top of the line set of monoblock amplifiers to live out the rest of your life with you might be able to find some others that will please you but I seriously doubt you would find any better at any price. If that sounds like where you are in your audio journey I suggest you run to audition a pair!”
ELAC EA Series Integrated Amplifier Review
March 17, 2018 Comments Off on ELAC EA Series Integrated Amplifier Review
McIntosh Labs MA5300 Integrated Amplifier $5000 Review
March 10, 2018 Comments Off on McIntosh Labs MA5300 Integrated Amplifier $5000 Review
“Nothing is lost and nothing is added passing through this MA5300 amplifier. In actuality it functions like a central switch board becoming a faithful conduit of the music from the source. If I were to begin building (once again) a highly accurate laboratory reference audio system. I would base everything on the corner stone that is the McIntosh 5300 Integrated amplifier. It is the McIntosh Labs reputation carried forward, the build quality and performance is exemplary! Considering the range of prices of modern high-end audio amplifiers, it is not expensive at $5000. Almost a bargain, actually, all things are considered. I know the phrase highly recommended has been totally worn out to death, but it still is true, go and listen to the McIntosh MA5300 integrated amplifier with phono stage, and you’ll probably find yourself extremely happy.”
Audionet WATT Integrated Amplifier Equipment Review – video
March 10, 2018 Comments Off on Audionet WATT Integrated Amplifier Equipment Review – video
Aurender N100H Caching Network Streamer Plus X725 USB DAC / Amplifier Review
March 9, 2018 Comments Off on Aurender N100H Caching Network Streamer Plus X725 USB DAC / Amplifier Review
“I’m a sucker for the French Impressionists. No, not the painters, the composers – Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Sometimes Eric Satie is lumped into this category, but he doesn’t have enough recorded works to really be part of this group. If I would have to pick only one piece of music to represent this subgenre, though, it would be Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe. I have many recordings of this work in my collection, my favorite digital version, which also happens to be my favorite analog version, is the Living Stereo issue conducted by Charles Munch. His Boston Symphony Orchestra recorded this for RCA that was originally released in 1960. I have a Red Book CD versions ripped from the two-layer SACD and an older CD, and a DSD file of this on my hard-drives, and all of them sound incredible. I’ve read that some aren’t as enamored as I am of this recording, mostly because of the tape hiss that’s been faithfully reproduced. I suppose I’m used to it. It doesn’t bother me at all. I played both the 16-bit and DSD version through the N100H, sometimes connected to the X725 and sometimes not, and I had the same impression of their sound quality as I did when listening to the Peter Gabriel, but on this album it was amazing to hear how well the N100H was able to handle these real instruments recorded in a real space.”
McIntosh Laboratory MA9000 Integrated Amplifier-DAC $10,000 Review
March 9, 2018 Comments Off on McIntosh Laboratory MA9000 Integrated Amplifier-DAC $10,000 Review
“Overall, the Devialet D-Premier’s primary traits of transparency, resolution, and a slight coolness were fully revealed in comparison to the McIntosh MA9000’s closer, more intimate sound, the latter displaying denser, more tangible images. Which will you prefer? As obvious as were the differences between these sounds, the differences in how these two integrateds are styled and built are even greater. The Devialet is sleek, compact, and European; the McIntosh is substantial, bold, unabashedly American. I can appreciate either look, my preference depending on the day and my mood. Devialet’s amps have received many awards from the SoundStage! publications over the years — and the McIntosh equaled them. High praise indeed.”
Valvet E2 Stereo Power Amplifier $2,990 Review
March 3, 2018 § 1 Comment
“The constant connection to the music and outstanding level of enjoyment that is felt with the Valvet E2 can cause a complete rethink of your system, especially your speakers. After hearing what the E2 can do, it will seem unwise to have inefficient speakers that require gobs of inferior power. This is so obvious. No, you won’t be forced to replace your favorite speakers with huge horns that offer >100 dB efficiency. But speakers with sensitivities in the upper 80 to low-mid 90 dB range could be considered. As more audiophiles understand how great this and maybe other single-ended amplifiers are and demand higher efficiency speakers, speaker manufacturers will focus on developing more sensitive speakers. There are already some good options available today. The old wisdom of first buying speakers and then choosing an amplifier to drive them has a serious flaw. There are many good speakers, but very few amplifiers are on par with this Valvet E2. The sound system for the Orgasmatron will surely use this amplifier!”
D’Agostino Master Audio Systems Momentum Series 400 Monoblock Power Amplifiers $35,000 Review
March 1, 2018 § 1 Comment
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Still, the inner devil is going to emerge. You don’t buy an amp and speakers like the WAMMs to sit around drinking out of porcelain cups in the sonic equivalent of a dainty tea party. There come moments when it’s time to put on your big-boy pants, crank the dial, and get those air molecules vibrating. So I plopped on an SACD of Monty Alexander—actually, Sir Monty—playing Bob Marley tunes, and gave the volume ring of the Momentum preamplifier a healthy twist. Yeah, baby! On cuts such as “Running Away,” I defy you to hear more realistic instruments than what I heard emanating via the Momentums—a robust, resonant, life-sized trombone backed by an emphatic rhythm section. The scale of the soundstage wasn’t big; it was cavernous.”
PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium Tube Rolling KT150 Review
February 22, 2018 Comments Off on PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium Tube Rolling KT150 Review
“Change speakers, or speaker position, and the preference for one or the other tube type based on tonality may change. I found that with the speakers positioned such that the room supported their bass by means of a sympathetic room-mode, resulting in a bass-heavy sound, the EL34’s sounded best but with the speakers placed such that the room contributed as little as possible, resulting in a clean and non-coloured sound, the KT150’s sounded better.”
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