BRYSTON BP26 PREAMPLIFIER AND 7B3 POWER AMPLIFIER – REVIEW
March 18, 2017 Comments Off on BRYSTON BP26 PREAMPLIFIER AND 7B3 POWER AMPLIFIER – REVIEW
“Switching between the Brystons and the Hegel P30 ($7500) preamp and H30 stereo power amp ($15,000, Issue 223) as respective combos pretty much mirrored what each component brought to bear individually. The Brystons sounded more rhythmically nimble and imparted a shade more upper-frequency openness. The Hegels sounded more continuous and a bit more revealing, and they rendered depth better, too—both of individual images and of the larger soundscape. The pairing of the Bryston BP26 preamp with the Hegel H30 power amp actually sounded quite good. The quick, pristine quality of the BP26 complemented the more tube-like liquidity and sonic sophistication of the H30”
McIntosh Labs • MC75 Mono Amplifiers $7500 per pair Review
March 17, 2017 Comments Off on McIntosh Labs • MC75 Mono Amplifiers $7500 per pair Review
“I began my listening with the MC75s connected to a pair of Altec Valencias that are on long-term loan from a local audio buddy. As expected, the very efficient Valencias proved to be no challenge for the MC75s, and they appreciated the extra power on tap. There was a definite break-in period for the amps of at least 100 hours. At first listen, the treble was attenuated, closed in and hooded. Changes to interconnects and speaker cables didn’t change the sound much, so I just let the amps settle in for the first couple of weeks. After break-in, I did swap the supplied power cords for a pair of Shunyata Zi-Tron Sigmas, and there was slightly improved lower treble, so I left them in the system for the rest of the listening period. Once broken in, the MC75s usually needed between 15 and 30 minutes of warm-up time to sound their best, so consider that if you are in a store for an audition.”
Peachtree Audio nova300 Amplifier Review
March 12, 2017 Comments Off on Peachtree Audio nova300 Amplifier Review
” The nova300’s way with music also makes for a more forgiving all-arounder as compared to the Lumin. Funkadelic’s Free Your Ass And Your Mind Will Follow is not the greatest sounding recording (streaming from Tidal) but it completely kicks major ass through my own rig and the nova300 delivers its own robust goodness. The Lumin, less so, because it accentuates the mid-upper and upper frequencies by making them stand a bit apart from the rest. Getting even pickier on the Lumin, I’d say it has a slightly metallic sound up top as compared to the honeyed smoothness of the nova300.”
Read more at http://www.audiostream.com/content/peachtree-audio-nova300-amplifier#8g5x6hgs2fVTv3My.99
AURIS AUDIO FORTE 150 MONO POWER AMPLIFIERS REVIEW
March 11, 2017 Comments Off on AURIS AUDIO FORTE 150 MONO POWER AMPLIFIERS REVIEW
” At the end of the day, there is only one valid question; what do you want and expect from your system/power amplifiers? If energetic, transparent sound, that daringly lurks on the solid state side of affairs for the speed and power, but keeps the harmonic, non over overblown richness of the tube world as raison d’être, then Auris Audio Forte 150 tube monoblocks might light your sensory green lights.”
YAMAMOTO A-03S TUBE POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
March 10, 2017 Comments Off on YAMAMOTO A-03S TUBE POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
” Yamamoto A03S has shown its real nature and DNA through rendition of copious harmonic guitar notes structure and not detached reality as with many of the tube amplifiers. A03S formed a performance of both emotional and realism bound. ”
T+A elektroakustik 3100 HV Integrated Amplifier and PDP 3000 HV SACD/CD-Player with DSD/PCM DAC $21,500 Review
March 7, 2017 Comments Off on T+A elektroakustik 3100 HV Integrated Amplifier and PDP 3000 HV SACD/CD-Player with DSD/PCM DAC $21,500 Review
“Highs are exemplary for all three. There is more of a golden glow with the PDP 3000 HV and slightly more extension with the K-01X, yet you would be hard pressed to really hear this without some very very intense evaluation. Several words seem to pop up again and again in my notes during individual listening sessions for each: resolution, texture, attack, immediacy. Rarely if ever did I experience edge or grain. All three demonstrate how fabulous digital can be when executed properly in the upper frequencies.”
EMOTIVA XPA GEN3 POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
March 6, 2017 Comments Off on EMOTIVA XPA GEN3 POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
“In closing, I would like to restate that the Emotiva Gen3 amplifier impressed in the listening sessions and then the actual bench tests further supported the objective aspect of the amplifier that made this performance possible.
Emotiva also provided us with details of the circuit designs of the Gen3 amp. They have a seasoned and accomplished design team and the design of this amplifier is a fine example of the science and the art of audio engineering.”
PRIMALUNA DIALOGUE PREMIUM PREAMP AND HP STEREO/MONO AMPLIFIERS TUBE AUDIO
March 5, 2017 Comments Off on PRIMALUNA DIALOGUE PREMIUM PREAMP AND HP STEREO/MONO AMPLIFIERS TUBE AUDIO
“While these PrimaLuna DiaLogue components may have been inspired by the milestones of yesteryear, gone here is any hint of that syrupy, dark, blatantly euphonious sound common in those earlier components. Even today, with lesser designs, the over-editorializing of color and texture that has put me off many of today’s more affordably priced tube gear—even some held in high regard—never reared its ugly head throughout my months of audition. PrimaLuna has set an incredibly high bar for performance, with equally incredible pricing.”
Elac Element EA101EQ-G Integrated Amplifier/DAC Review
March 4, 2017 Comments Off on Elac Element EA101EQ-G Integrated Amplifier/DAC Review
” In direct contradiction to my above statement, I began to wonder if the amp had a certain affinity for soundstaging. Tracks with generous hall sound (or high-grade studio reverb), and tracks with unusually wide stereo imaging, seemed just a shade more alive, distinctly wider, and even a bit “taller” than I remembered. A track I’ve heard countless times, Diana Krall’s version of “Frim Fram Sauce,” ballooned its gorgeously recorded vocal’s natural reverb above, behind, and around the piano in convincing fashion, but it kept unblurred the punchy pianoness of the occasional sharp accents from Krall’s fingers. With my worldview shaken, I tried to compare, but the process of switching source inputs and speaker outputs is laborious enough to make such comparisons inconclusive at best. Suffice it to say that the Elac not once suffered from the contrast.”
McIntosh C2600 Vacuum Tube Stereo Preamplifier With DAC, Phono Stage And Headphone Amplifier $7000 – REVIEW
February 27, 2017 Comments Off on McIntosh C2600 Vacuum Tube Stereo Preamplifier With DAC, Phono Stage And Headphone Amplifier $7000 – REVIEW
” I could only imagine the performance of McIntosh’s MP1100 phono preamplifier! The internal phono stage of the C2600 matches its linestage perfectly – it has a beautiful sounding midrange that brings out the best in vocals and string sounds, and although the very lowest bass and highest treble frequencies seemed a bit attenuated, with good system matching this might not come into play that much. The internal DAC of the C2600 is that it is as transparent as one could ask for.”
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