BEL CANTO REF600M POWER AMPLIFIER $5,000 REVIEW
February 19, 2017 Comments Off on BEL CANTO REF600M POWER AMPLIFIER $5,000 REVIEW
“In the past I’ve reviewed lots of power amplifiers. Once I even had a dream that I was twenty feet tall with a Krell 160 monoblock under each arm striding across the urban landscape yelling, “I am Amp Man!” (imagine Godzilla, only prettier). Luckily I had that dream only once. But with the advent of compact and lightweight switching amplifiers such as the REF600M no audiophile need experience the “pleasures” of lugging around a 60-plus-pound amplifier because it was the only device that could deliver the power and finesse needed to drive a top-echelon system.”
Kharma Enigma Veyron EV2 , Lamm Industries, CES 2017 – Video
February 14, 2017 Comments Off on Kharma Enigma Veyron EV2 , Lamm Industries, CES 2017 – Video
Peachtree nova300 $2299 Review
February 11, 2017 Comments Off on Peachtree nova300 $2299 Review
“Music taste will determine preference here but how many US$2299 integrateds do you know of that can hold their own against the thrice more costly Devialet? I find the nova300’s greater headroom and more overt macro-dynamic shifts better suited to the KEF standmounts than the Devialet, especially with indie rock and electronica/techno. Want a little more warmth? Add a tube buffer to the nova300’s input/output loop (untested here).
ROTEL RA-1592 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER $2,500 REVIEW
February 11, 2017 Comments Off on ROTEL RA-1592 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER $2,500 REVIEW
“The RA-1592’s sense of reserve power and dynamic headroom was suggestive of the hulking RB-1090 in its bass extension, slam, and pitch definition. During Jen Chapin’s cover of “Master Blaster,” the acoustic bass reproduction attached itself to the acoustics of my listening room and delivered the resonance, snapping string attack, and bloom that I’ve come to expect from this superb Chesky SACD track. Compared with the relentless power and control of the 1090, the RA-1592 comes up a little short in extreme grip and backbone at high outputs (”
Audio Note Meishu Silver Signature integrated amplifier Review
February 10, 2017 Comments Off on Audio Note Meishu Silver Signature integrated amplifier Review
“There’s a simultaneous infectious weight, and gravitas mixed with Aero-Bar lightness to the 300B sound of the Meishu that kept me playing album after album in some weird quest to see if i could trip it up, and I just couldn’t. This mix of heft, and airiness is something I’ve heard before, but at a much higher price point, and always in separates. This is an integrated amplifier for music lovers first, and foremost, and well… why the hell wouldn’t you want an amp that wasn’t all about the music? While the form factor may be intimidating for some who might be space-challenged, (or unsure of embracing tubes) if you’ve got room to house it, ”
Boulder Amplifiers 2150 monoblock power amplifier $99,000/pair Review
February 6, 2017 Comments Off on Boulder Amplifiers 2150 monoblock power amplifier $99,000/pair Review
“The Boulder 2150 is a state-of-the-art powerhouse of an amplifier designed to impart little or none of its own character on the sound of the incoming signal. Boulder has accomplished this by engineering noise to an absolute measurable minimum. The 2150 did likewise with distortion and every other sonic parameter. Its 0 ohm, nonreactive output impedance ensures that its behavior won’t vary, regardless of the electrical characteristics of the loudspeaker in use.”
Vivaldi 2.0 Digital Playback System Review
February 6, 2017 Comments Off on Vivaldi 2.0 Digital Playback System Review
“Often when I’m writing a review I try to think about the person who might audition and then buy the product at hand. How would his or her wants and needs inform the buying decision? For much of my time with the Vivaldi 2.0, I was too preoccupied with my own wants and needs, greedily shuffling through my CDs and SACDs and raiding John Quick’s USB and NAS drives, to consider anything beyond the simple pleasure of listening to music. While it’s staggering how many ways you can integrate a Vivaldi 2.0 system into your audio system and home network, I personally would keep it simple (so to speak) and use it primarily for playing discs, relegating file replay to what could be copied to thumb drives”
DCS VIVALDI VERSION 2.0 REVIEW
February 3, 2017 Comments Off on DCS VIVALDI VERSION 2.0 REVIEW
” Much of the emphasis of these Version 2.0 upgrades is targeted at improving the ability of users to employ high-resolution sources. I personally continue to like playing CDs, but the industry is clearly moving with the introduction of servers. So when Quick proposed setting me up with a router and a NAS, I was eager to give it a go, especially because I have a cache of private recordings bestowed upon me by recording engineer Peter McGrath that I always enjoy playing.”
VTA ST-120 POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
January 31, 2017 Comments Off on VTA ST-120 POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
” Since I have no electronic test equipment other than a multi-meter, I could not measure or verify the specifications. I will comment, however, that the distortion specification quoted by the manufacturer (1.5%) is the distortion at the clipping point (full power) and the amp runs at a much lower number throughout its functional range.”
Raven Audio Silhouette MK2 Reference Preamplifer and Shaman MK2 Mono Power Amplifiers $49,995 Review
January 25, 2017 Comments Off on Raven Audio Silhouette MK2 Reference Preamplifer and Shaman MK2 Mono Power Amplifiers $49,995 Review
” If you are fortunate enough to be shopping in the price range of the Silhouette MK2 Reference preamplifier and Shaman MK2 power amplifiers, I hope you get a chance to hear the Raven gear and decide for yourself if their list of attributes scores on your sonic checklist. I should also note that if you purchase a pair of Shaman MK2 amplifiers, Dave Thomson will personally deliver them to your house and set them up for you”
Audiophilepure 
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