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”
QUAD TO DEBUT NEW INTEGRATED AMP AT CES
January 19, 2017 Comments Off on QUAD TO DEBUT NEW INTEGRATED AMP AT CES
“It looks like United Kingdom hi-fi stalwart, speaker, and amplifier designer/manufacturer legend Quad has been busy indeed. Jonathan Derda of MoFi Distribution gave me a heads-up this morning that Quad will be making their North American debut of the VA-One EL-84-based integrated amplifier at CES in Las Vegas next week. What made this valve amp catch my eye immediately was it’s modern design, and small footprint.?”
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Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems $50,000 Momentum Lifestyle Integrated Amplifier w/DAC & Audio Streaming – Review
January 14, 2017 Comments Off on Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems $50,000 Momentum Lifestyle Integrated Amplifier w/DAC & Audio Streaming – Review
” My concentration changes focus throughout the piece, in sort of a meditative way as it ebbs and flows throughout the piece. I found this happening when listening to the MLife play my favorite power orchestral pieces. Regardless of how boisterous the music might become, my focus changes throughout the piece, focusing on different instruments, different sections of the orchestra, and to its soloists. As it does in real life. The dynamic distance the MLife can create with this large group of instrument is second to none in my experience, regardless of whether I’m listening to the internal DAC fed by the Ethernet connection or a source connected through an interconnect, digital or analog”
Marantz HD-AMP1 Integrated Amplifier & DSD DAC Review
January 13, 2017 Comments Off on Marantz HD-AMP1 Integrated Amplifier & DSD DAC Review
I listened to the HD-AMP1’s analog inputs by connecting the Simaudio 280D DAC, with built in MiND ethernet streamer. The results were the same, mirroring my impressions of the overall character of the USB input. This speaks very well of the analog output stage. (Oh, and the Simaudio DAC costs two and a half times more than the HD-AMP1, so color me impressed.) I am quite pleased that Marantz chose to include analog inputs, as this allows for use of an SACD player, tape deck, or vinyl/outboard phono stage setup.”
Simaudio’s $120k Moon 888 mono amplifiers: First take at CES 2017 – Video
January 12, 2017 Comments Off on Simaudio’s $120k Moon 888 mono amplifiers: First take at CES 2017 – Video
OPTOMA NUFORCE STA200 POWER AMPLIFIER $1299 REVIEW
January 9, 2017 Comments Off on OPTOMA NUFORCE STA200 POWER AMPLIFIER $1299 REVIEW
“On my own recordings played back through my nearfield system I found the STA200 was among the more truthful amplifiers I’ve used. I did some A/B testing where I compared it with the NuForce ST-10 amplifier. I found the NuForce produced a bit larger soundstage, but it was a dead heat between the two amps in image specificity, low-level detail, dynamic contrast, and bass extension.”
ELAC Element amp Review
January 8, 2017 Comments Off on ELAC Element amp Review
“o check that hunch I put the Element aside and hooked up my NAD C 316BEE stereo integrated amp. That did it; the .7 speakers’ innate clarity, big soundstage and dynamics returned. The C 316BEE is rated at 40 watts per channel for 8-ohm speakers, same as the Element, but it’s a lot less expensive, just $380/£199. I much preferred the C 316BEE’s sound over the Element.”
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