Moon by Simaudio Neo 330A Stereo/Mono Amplifier Review
July 27, 2016 Comments Off on Moon by Simaudio Neo 330A Stereo/Mono Amplifier Review
“A second performance of “O Fortuna,” from a 1969 recording of Carmina burana by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Seiji Ozawa, demonstrated different sorts of details (16/44.1 AIFF, RCA). With the Neo 330A I had a new experience: I could make out the voices of individual choristers. In this recording, the chorus is more forward; the orchestra is in more of a supporting role. Throughout this entire “profane cantata,” as Orff called it, I could easily discern individual choral voices and orchestral instruments. With equal clarity, the Neo 330A presented highly detailed reproductions of the vocal soloists in the quieter arias, and deep, powerful, full choral passages. Loud or soft, there was never a hint of sounds smearing together.”

ROGUE CRONUS MAGNUM 2 REVIEW
July 26, 2016 Comments Off on ROGUE CRONUS MAGNUM 2 REVIEW
” The addition of the KT 120 New Sensor tube increased the power of the amplifier to 100 watts per channel. The KT120 added thunderous bass and added more power while maintaining the Cronus’s magical liquid midrange. The additional power increased headroom and gave the amplifier a wider soundstage with increased depth. The KT120 is a powerful tube that will handle large scale recordings easily and will satisfy any classical music lover with lighting fast transients and speed. The quickness of the Cronus also makes recording with deep bass a treat to listen too. If you a headbanger who loves the growling bass the Magnum 11 produces and not be disappointed.”

Ayre Acoustics AX-5 Twenty Integrated Amplifier Review
July 23, 2016 Comments Off on Ayre Acoustics AX-5 Twenty Integrated Amplifier Review
“As good as the AX-5 was with acoustic music, it was no slouch with recordings of rock or fusion. On Allan Holdsworth’s All Night Wrong (DSD64, Sony Music), bassist Jimmy Johnson and drummer Chad Wackerman sounded propulsive and meaty in “Lanyard Loop,” providing counterpoint to Holdsworth’s rhythm and lead-guitar licks.”

Bryston 2.5B3 stereo power amp $3,695 Review
July 22, 2016 Comments Off on Bryston 2.5B3 stereo power amp $3,695 Review
” My Bowers & Wilkins 805 D3 speakers need a lot of power to fully come alive, and that’s what the 2.5B3 delivered when I pumped up the Black Keys “Brothers” album, it felt more powerful than I expected from a 135 watt per channel amp. The more I played it, the more I liked the sound.”

LINN MAJIK DSM NETWORK MUSIC PLAYER REVIEW
July 21, 2016 Comments Off on LINN MAJIK DSM NETWORK MUSIC PLAYER REVIEW
” If you’ve had the stamina to read this far you should have good idea of how and why the Linn Majik DSM, Majik 140 loudspeakers, and Majik Exaktbox-I, along with Space Optimization room-correction system work together to form a high-resolution, yet musical system that can be placed into an environment that is less than ideal and still offer optimal results. In short, if you have a lousy-sounding room wherein sonic issues can’t be fixed easily with room treatments, the Linn Majik system offers a viable alternative to giving up all hope of decent sound. While not magic, Linn’s Majik system comes as close as possible to musical alchemy, by turning leaden-sounding rooms into sonic gold.”

FIRST WATT F7 STEREO POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
July 12, 2016 Comments Off on FIRST WATT F7 STEREO POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
” Since just about all pop music is being recorded in a studio and mixed on a multitrack console, sound engineers are given the opportunity to play various games with the final mix, which may include vocal overdubs, canned reverb for individual tracks, pan-potting, eq, flanging, gain riding, and compression. The F7 was able to dig deep into a mix and resolve such trickery without much effort, a tribute to its superb transient control and laser-sharp image focus. The Eximus DP-1 DAC makes it possible to upsample a Red Book 44.1kHz input to 192kHz on the fly. Discerning a sonic change with some amps is not an easy task. That was not the case with the F7 in the chain. It highlighted significant sonic changes, the opening up of the treble range and tightening of image focus being two major ones. There’s no doubt in my mind that this amp is a high-resolution device.”

KR Audio – Vacuum tubes made in the Czech Republic – Video
July 9, 2016 Comments Off on KR Audio – Vacuum tubes made in the Czech Republic – Video
McIntosh Home Theater and Streaming Audio – Video
July 5, 2016 Comments Off on McIntosh Home Theater and Streaming Audio – Video
McIntosh MC75 Monoblock Tube Amplifier Review
June 29, 2016 Comments Off on McIntosh MC75 Monoblock Tube Amplifier Review
“One thing that always concerns me with tube gear is noise but with these two units it never became an issue. This combination of C22 preamplifier and MC75 amplifiers was a joy to have in my home. Not only did they sound marvelous but their throw-back look took me back to a time of my youth that was wonderful to remember. While it is impossible to go back to those days it certainly is possible to purchase these units with which to enjoy music today. Buying older McIntosh gear is fun but here with this combination you need not worry about restoring the units physically or electronically and guess what? They come with a McIntosh factory warranty and to me that means a great deal. If pushed to sum up my experience with the C22 and MC75 in just one word it would have to be “amazing”. I loved them both and each one gets a big thumb up! Bravo to the people at McIntosh Labs.”


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