AVM Ovation SD 6.2 Preamplifier-DAC-Streamer $9990
December 24, 2018 Comments Off on AVM Ovation SD 6.2 Preamplifier-DAC-Streamer $9990
‘As I listened more, I began to concentrate less on the performance of the SD 6.2 within specific frequency bands. For instance, when I tried to focus on what the AVM was doing in the bass, I realized I was assessing more the sound of the speakers than of the electronics. This became obvious when I swapped out the EgglestonWorks Kivas, which are fairly large, three-way floorstanders, for Monitor Audio’s smallish, two-way, Studio stand-mounts, then swapped the Kivas back in again. My takeaway from all of that was that the Ovation SD 6.2 had no problem of bass lightness or heavy-handedness. Its sound seemed perfectly neutral, feeding each pair of speakers exactly what it needed to produce excellent bass within that model’s capabilities.
Eventually, as I began to focus more on soundstaging, I came to find out that this largely depended on how the SD 6.2 handled high-frequency subtleties. Basically, the AVM’s reproduction of the treble was so delicate and precise that its re-creations of the subtle cues of the acoustics of live venues were stunningly realistic. Concert recordings took on a more holographic nature in terms of soundstage depth, and my perception of the AVM’s ability to reproduce the ambience that placed me at the center of a soundfield — as opposed to looking in at it from a distance, from the outside — also increased.”
Auralic Aries G1 wireless streaming transporter
December 23, 2018 Comments Off on Auralic Aries G1 wireless streaming transporter
Cambridge Audio Edge NQ Review
December 9, 2018 Comments Off on Cambridge Audio Edge NQ Review
“It provides a solid foundation for the Edge NQ’s full-bodied and often luscious-sounding midrange. Voices in particular are treated impeccably with a combination of detailed timbre and impressive scale, while those considerably higher in pitch or more caustic in tone are allowed to break free.
Timing generally is a struggle inherent in streaming music, but Cambridge has succeeded here as well. Across all inputs, there is a strong, musical sense of rhythm, which adds to a well-rounded performance”
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PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player and DirectStream DAC $5,999 Review
December 5, 2018 Comments Off on PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player and DirectStream DAC $5,999 Review
“The Digital Lens imposes a small penalty on user experience. The interface to the Memory Player is the same symbols and functions we are accustomed to for CD and DVD playback – and for tape before that – except you engage with it via the touchscreen in place of physical buttons. But because the Digital Lens needs to accumulate the data before sending it along, the Memory Player is overall less responsive than CD and DVD players. Not agonizingly so, and certainly not a deal breaker for me, but having lived with CD players for decades, it’s something you notice and may find frustrating. We’re used to ever-increasing speed with our technology (among other things); it’s hard to go back.”
Roon Nucleus Plus Network Streamer
December 2, 2018 Comments Off on Roon Nucleus Plus Network Streamer
Linn Selekt DSM: First Listen $5,200 Review
November 6, 2018 Comments Off on Linn Selekt DSM: First Listen $5,200 Review
“During the listening sessions I really liked what I heard from the Selekt DSM in all configurations. Connected directly to Wilson Sabrina speakers the Selekt had tight control of the loudspeakers and delivered a very clean sounding source that hadn’t been compromised prior to hitting the speakers. The Selekt DSM sounded far superior to another brand’s product there for demonstration. In addition, when Linn engaged the Space Optimization feature on the Selekt, the sound quality was elevated even further. The newest version of Space Optimization is available on the Selekt DSM and given what I’ve heard in my own listening room in the past and what I heard in this system, it can be very advantageous. Space Optimization is digital done right and used for great benefit rather than using technology just because one can. ”
AURALiC ARIES G2 $3,800 Review
October 28, 2018 Comments Off on AURALiC ARIES G2 $3,800 Review
“Moving to another artist that has pleased many an audiophile ear over the years, I pulled up some Patricia Barber. On Barber’s Modern Cool (MFSL) album the track titled Company is what sold me on trading in a pair of Martin Logan ReQuests for a pair of B&W Nautilus 802 loudspeakers at HiFi Sound & Electronics in Minneapolis in 1999. Listening this time through TADs and the Auralic Aries G2 rather than a Krell CD player, this track was mighty impressive. The deep bass, yet also extremely controlled, that reaches down as low as my speakers can go is something to behold. However, the real star of the show is Mark Walker’s drum solo that starts about 2:40 into the track. I can’t say I’ve ever hear this solo sound better or more like a real drum set in my entire audiophile life. There just isn’t much more to say than that. Best I’ve ever heard this track? Probably. ”
LINN SELEKT DSM DIGITAL STREAMING PLATFORM
October 19, 2018 Comments Off on LINN SELEKT DSM DIGITAL STREAMING PLATFORM
“The other big punch-pulling was with regard to where Selekt DSM sits in the Linn echelon. In it’s standard guise, it’s better than Majik, but it’s more expensive than Majik. The full-up Aktiv Akurate DSM system is better than Selekt DSM, but it’s also a very narrow, very expensive Linn-related option. But the big issue is that bit in-between, where Selekt DSM takes on an Akurate DSM with Akurate amps in a passive context. Now it gets nuanced. The full Katalyst-enabled Selekt DSM with its brace of on-board Class D amps gets extremely close in performance terms to the Akurate DSM and power amp combination, and in many respects outguns the older platform. And yet, Selekt DSM is cheaper than Akurate in this setting. In fairness, I can’t see many Akurate users side-shifting to Selekt DSM, but I also can’t see many freshly minted passive Akurate users now that Selekt DSM exists. It’s that good.”
Shazam Is Now Completely Ad-Free (Thanks to Apple)
September 25, 2018 Comments Off on Shazam Is Now Completely Ad-Free (Thanks to Apple)
‘Apple Music vice president Oliver Schusser commented positively on the acquisition saying, “with a shared love of music and innovation, we are thrilled to bring our teams together to provide users even more great ways to discover, experience and enjoy music.”
Shazam helps its users identify over 20 million songs per day, so that’s a lot of ad revenue that Apple is giving up in favor of a different strategy. Shazam will be ad-free on both iPhone and Android, though Android users have access to Google’s superior Sound Search.”
LUMIN X-1 AUDIOPHILE NETWORK STREAMER REVIEW
September 14, 2018 Comments Off on LUMIN X-1 AUDIOPHILE NETWORK STREAMER REVIEW
“UMIN X1 is a straightforward contemporary digital high-end audio apparatus. It can be obtained in the black or silver finish. The review sample as you’ve most probably already identified on the photographs arrived in a very nice Batman’s’ black tint. I like the modern, stealth look of the dark LUMIN X-1. When in action, the small monochrome blue display will indicate the song info and a circle marks the duration of the song. This ring can be tracked even from a few meters away. ”
Audiophilepure 
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