Audiophilepure

The amp runs cool, and provides a sound not as romantic as a vintage Mcintosh, Marantz or Dynaco amp, yet still delivers plenty of tubey, midrange magic that you’d expect. And of course, with only three input tubes, you can roll em’ if you’ve got em’ to fine tune and experiment.

Thanks to careful design, this little jewel plays louder than you would expect a 25Wpc amp to play, even with less efficient speakers like a pair of Harbeths, or your favorite LS3/5a variation on the theme.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/hifi-rose-ra180-integrated-amplifier

Perhaps the GaN transistors’ decreased “dead time” helped music’s sense of smoothness and continuity. Maybe their speed aided quick and sharp transient attacks and overall dynamics. It’s hard to say, but I do know I enjoyed my time with HiFi Rose’s RA180 flagship. At times it felt hyper-responsive. Its heightened detail lent an exciting intensity to most material.

Except perhaps for this impression of heightened detail, the RA180 remained mostly neutral in its tonal balance. If anything, it ran slightly cool rather than warm. Once in a while, the RA180 verged on leaning a little too far to light, clean, and shiny, like a new penny. Yet, in any kind of music—delicate classical, hard funk, crystalline electronica, all the other stuff I played—the RA180 maintained its cool sense of control.

Audiophiles who appreciate a unique visual and functional design and fast, clear, detailed sound—especially those with biampable speakers (or, even more, who use supertweeters)—should give the HiFi Rose RA180 a long look and listen.

We’re truly spoiled at the cutting edge of digital audio, and CH Precision D1.5 is very much at that cutting edge. I feel that any review that fully covers what this player does would probably run longer than a Proust novel, so this barely scratches the surface of what the player does and how it does it. Regardless, the sound it produces is so ineffably musical I can’t help but be drawn into listening to the D1.5 every time I walk past it. I just wish we had the vocabulary that matches its sublime performance.

https://www.hifichoice.com/content/exposure-introduces-3510-mono-power-amplifiers

Key features of the new monos include what the company describes as: “a high-capacity power supply circuit designed around a large custom-made toroidal transformer and massive smoothing capacitors to ensure a high current reserve for the output stage with electronic smoothing for low noise on the supply rails to the gain stage”. It’s DC coupled throughout with balanced and unbalanced inputs, enabling compatibility with a wide variety of preamps. It also boasts bi-wire speaker outputs using high-quality shrouded sockets and an electronic, non-invasive overload protection circuit and thermal trip to ensure longevity.

https://www.hifinews.com/content/audio-research-i50-integrated-amplifier

Nothing had prepared me for what might be just another fine, mid-priced, 6550-powered all-tube integrated. ARC’s I/50, though, is so categorically musical, competent and complete

that I’m tempted to believe it signifies the ‘second coming’ of Audio Research, following a change of owners and the passing of its first half-century. This astounding amplifier heralds a golden age. Yes, it’s that good.

https://www.hifinews.com/content/nad-m23-class-d-power-amp

I can tell you exactly the last track I auditioned through the M23: ‘Safari Inn’, an instrumental by Slash featuring Miles Kennedy and the Conspirators [World On Fire; Roadrunner Records RR75582]. Playback from CD, so nothing too exotic, but – wow – was I captivated. It starts out broody, with deep bass sliding to a stop above the drum track, and Slash’s distinctive Marshall/Gibson guitar tone laying down a bluesy riff. Then the soloing starts… and doesn’t let up for the next three minutes. I found myself stood before my speakers, playing air guitar, soaking up the NAD amp’s sheer power, drive and projection.

This black and silver slab rocks. And that was the last track I played, because I realised if I listened to any more I was in danger of having to buy an M23 for myself.

The spectre of audio’s rose-tinted view of the past should be exorcised. We sometimes prize those classic big pre/power combinations from the 1980s, but if we listened to them today on a level playing field, I suspect a few of the Anointed Ones of audio wouldn’t hold a candle to this Audio Analogue pairing. It’s gentle, refined and sophisticated touch with music – that not only rolls with the punches but can also deliver a neat haymaker when required – is extremely alluring, especially for those who do not simply choose audiophile-approved recordings. The Audio Analogue Bellini Anniversary and Donizetti Anniversary is the pre/power combo that puts a smile on your face.

ove to take claim for this, but the news is already out about how damn good the PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid sounds. I was supposed to get one of these amps at the tail end of 2021, but the first batch sold out as they were being made. And so did the second, and it looks as if that trend is set to continue. It’s not hard to see why though; a lot of those EVO 300 Hybrids go to distributors, dealers, and everyone else who gets to listen to them before they make it to the public. Everyone’s trying on a few new excuses not to give the amp back once heard and I’m going with distractions and subject changes. I’ve even tried a few old homework excuses, but no one believes that I left the amp on the back seat of the bus. I don’t know how long that will last but I am really reluctant to part company with this excellent sounding amplifier.

The musicality brought forth by the NAD C 700 BluOS Streaming Amplifier has to be heard to be believed. This amp has just about perfect tonal balance and scale, making it a magic box that handles any music you throw at it with remarkable finesse.

In addition, the simplicity and elegance of its design are hard to beat for the price. This little powerhouse is remarkably flexible from a streaming standpoint, so you can just hook up your favorite speakers and go. The only thing it’s really missing is a Phono input, but Phono pre-amps aren’t that hard to come by. This is my new favorite amp under 2k!

If you’re looking for an amp to be the centerpiece of a modern yet capable hi-fi system, you should check this one out! Highly Recommended!