Hands On: Roon Music Playback, Management System

April 6, 2019 Comments Off on Hands On: Roon Music Playback, Management System

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“What is Roon, you ask? Roon is a music playback and library management system for usage with digital devices not unlike, say, iTunes, but — spoiler alert — the depth of Roon’s all-encompassing library-based reach and top-shelf sound quality preferences are what makes it the most superior interface currently on the market. Here’s why.

Roon supports output to a myriad of gear and gadgets either individually or through your home network, including Roon-certified network players and DACs, computers and tablets, as well as to any Sonos, Chromecast, or AirPlay device. You can earmark playback in multiple listening zones, enable family/multi-listener access, and choose to default to hi-res audio output. Roon accesses information about your locally stored digital music library, as well as your personal library and playlists on services like Tidal and iTunes, in addition to harvesting as much related metadata that’s available.

Pangea Vulcan Turntable Stand Review

April 6, 2019 Comments Off on Pangea Vulcan Turntable Stand Review

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“When it comes to a turntable rack, function is as important as form, and the Vulcan has both of them going for it. It feels and sits rock solid, its aesthetics easily pass the spouse acceptance factor and it’s bargain priced to boot. In less than half an hour my living room was transformed, and the storage shelves give me plenty of space for future LP purchases.

Turntables are back. So are spin-cleaners, stylus gauges and carbon fiber brushes, among other doodads and tweaks. Consider the turntable stand as one of the most important among these. And consider the Vulcan TT as an easy, attractive, effective and economical option that delivers everything you’d hope for from it. Enthusiastically recommended and HRAC-approved.”

Tweet Share SHOOTOUT: RECORD CLEANING MACHINES

April 1, 2019 Comments Off on Tweet Share SHOOTOUT: RECORD CLEANING MACHINES

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“Back to the comparison between Okki Nokki and Consonance record cleaning machines – they differ in size, they have a different visual appeal, are similarly priced, but one is much louder than the other. Ultimately, they do the same job.With the quality included accessories, a full range of replacement parts readily available online, comprehensive instruction manuals, and potentially higher quality internal components, there’s a good reason why Okki Nokki has become a popular choice.Greg Osborn has informed me that spare parts are also readily available from Consonance too, which is good news.”

Audiophile IKEA Hack, Sound Diffuser Under $20

March 28, 2019 Comments Off on Audiophile IKEA Hack, Sound Diffuser Under $20

AudioQuest Niagara 1000 Low-Z Power Conditioner $995 Review

March 24, 2019 Comments Off on AudioQuest Niagara 1000 Low-Z Power Conditioner $995 Review

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“The 1000 model is smaller in dimension and form factor than the Niagara 5000 and 7000 priced above it. Unsurprisingly, it lacks some of their heavier parts, so it also weighs far less: just a featherweight 5.5 pounds. Placement is easy; it’s been designed to sit on a rack or on the floor, even behind your system. AudioQuest also provided an AC power cable (sold separately), its NRG-10 ($779/6-ft.), which will be replaced soon. A more affordable option for the Niagara 1000 is AudioQuest’s new NRG-Z cord ($249.95/6ft.). I’m told that the design advancements in the company’s entry-level NRG line mean t”

hat the new NRG-Z will outperform the NRG-10, while costing far less. (Of course customers can select from other AQ power cords too.)

The Truth About Vinyl – Vinyl vs. Digital

March 15, 2019 Comments Off on The Truth About Vinyl – Vinyl vs. Digital

Naim Mu-so AirPlay 2 Speaker

March 2, 2019 Comments Off on Naim Mu-so AirPlay 2 Speaker

Joe Morello Take Five Solo | STUDY THE GREATS

February 14, 2019 Comments Off on Joe Morello Take Five Solo | STUDY THE GREATS

PS Audio P20 and P15 AC Regenerators $7499 Review

February 13, 2019 Comments Off on PS Audio P20 and P15 AC Regenerators $7499 Review

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“The effect of all this effort to deliver clean AC power was not subtle. Every aspect of the sound is touched, elevated, and refined. Everything we seek in great sound, dimension, depth and space, color, dynamics, transparency, and detail are boosted in seeming equal parts. Without the P series in the chain, the sound I have lived with, while enjoyable, now can be characterized as “you don’t know what you are missing until you know what you’ve been missing.” Like moving from an adequate camera to a professional caliber camera in the hands of a great photographer, the sound-picture really pops, where before laid a bit flat in retrospect. I’m wracking my brain trying to pick one aspect of the sound that benefited most, but since AC power is the life blood of all aspects of reproduced sound, it makes sense as to why it is so difficult to pick just one, or even two qualities that jump out. It really depended greatly on what ever recording I was listening to as to what the dominant strengths or characteristics of the recordings were. Some recordings such as Stanley Clark’s East Riverside Drive, with its pounding bass on “I’m home Africa,” a track played through every component I have ever reviewed, the low end gained definition and greater focus, becoming a more discrete part of the sound. Mid range heavy recordings, such as those by Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane, reveals subtle inflections and denser color of both Hartman’s honey toned baritone and Coltrane’s flying, lyrical alto runs.”

AUDIOQUEST NIAGARA 1000 POWER CONDITIONER

February 2, 2019 Comments Off on AUDIOQUEST NIAGARA 1000 POWER CONDITIONER

“When I switched the big ATC P2 power amp from the wall to the high power output on the Niagara, I got a very worthwhile increase in soundstage depth and width, with increased separation between instruments and no sense of dynamic compression; the former was expected, the latter a relief. It also seemed worthwhile to contrast the NRG Y3 with the Isotek EVO3 Premier I usually use on the amp. This did something very similar to the Niagara by calming and adding weight without undermining timing, a perceived reduction in volume level suggesting that distortion and noise had dropped.

The Innuos Zenith SE server should benefit from this sort of power conditioning and the Niagara did not disappoint. A veil was lifted from low level detail which opened up the room and further enhanced musicality, turning a good piece of music into an inspiring one. As a vinyl lover, it was necessary to see if the AudioQuest would improve the sound of my Rega RP8 turntable and Tom Evans Microgroove phono stage. Here the change was more subtle, and it mainly consisted of a slight darkening of the balance alongside a slight calming with quieter backgrounds. There was an improvement but not one that matched the price. ”

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