REL No.31 powered subwoofer Review
March 11, 2025 Comments Off on REL No.31 powered subwoofer Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/rel-no31-powered-subwoofer
After I began using my dedicated listening room, in early 2023, my hankering for high-quality subwoofers returned. Pinging REL Acoustics seemed like a good idea. There are other great subwoofer manufacturers, but REL—born in Britain but especially prominent in the US—is the brand that pops up more than any other when audiophiles talk about high-end subs. Owner John Hunter readily agreed to lend Stereophile a pair of REL’s No.31 Reference models ($7500 each). For my 21′ × 15′ space, the No.31, with a 12″ carbon-fiber driver and a 900W class-D amp, seemed the ideal choice. REL’s larger, louder top dog, the No.32 ($10,000), which has a 15″ driver powered by a 1000W amp, might be overkill for spaces under 400 square feet or so. The models are so named, by the way, because they were designed 31 and 32 years after the company’s founding.
Fyne Audio F501E $1299 Review
March 11, 2025 Comments Off on Fyne Audio F501E $1299 Review
https://www.whathifi.com/speakers/hi-fi-speakers/fyne-audio-f501e
We like the Fyne’s sense of scale and are impressed with the low-end authority and punch they generate on demand. Bass is taut, tuneful and articulate by class standards. We push the volume levels northward to see how the F501E cope – they tick that box confidently at anything that passes for normal listening levels.
These towers are a fun listen too, as a trip down memory lane with The Low End Theory from A Tribe Called Quest proves. The F501E are fluid and expressive. They track rhythms with determination while communicating changes in musical momentum in a natural and convincing manner. Having the acoustic centres of the tweeter and mid/bass aligned helps with integration; the result is a crisp and forthright performance with vocals that captures nuances and subtle shifts in intensity superbly. The rival Q Acoustics 5050 sound a touch disinterested and mechanical in contrast.
Linn Klimax LP12 Turntable $30,968 Reviews
March 8, 2025 Comments Off on Linn Klimax LP12 Turntable $30,968 Reviews
https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1262-linn-klimax-lp12-turntable
At the beginning of this piece, I wrote that meeting your heroes often risks disappointment, but thankfully the Klimax LP12 exceeded my expectations by some margin. Given the LP12’s towering reputation, which has been sustained for over 50 years, this is no mean feat. I’ve had some truly exceptional turntables pass through my system over the past couple of years, from the SME Model 60 to the AVID Acutus Dark Iron last month. The LP12 predates all of them by decades. Yet, by continually refining its design, Linn has maintained the LP12’s position as one of the most enjoyable ways of playing back a vinyl record since 1973.
Margules I-240 Tube Integrated Amplifier $7000 Review
March 8, 2025 Comments Off on Margules I-240 Tube Integrated Amplifier $7000 Review
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2025/2/1/margules-i-240-tube-integrated-amplifier
I’ve always lived in the north of Mexico, except for a brief period when I lived in Guadalajara (in the state of Jalisco); that was a long time ago, and it was during my stay that I got to listen for the first time to the Margules brand. Since Margules appeared in the late 1920s, they’ve made a mark. They appear at the most well-known audio expos (especially in the US) and always seem to surprise and leave the public in awe with their gear (a quick search for reviews of their products will suffice). Their designs seem very nature-based, with woods, curved lines, and dark metals that are quite unassuming—their minimalist colour selection captures the eye.
Grand ORIVETI Supremacy $1999 Review
March 7, 2025 Comments Off on Grand ORIVETI Supremacy $1999 Review
The bass on the Grand ORIVETI Supremacy feels purposefully tuned to provide both impact and accuracy, creating a foundation that’s powerful and elegant. This is the kind of bass that audiophiles can appreciate for its balance and depth, regardless of the genre.
A couple of the standout qualities of the bass are the level of detail and texture. You can hear the nuances in basslines, whether it is the pluck of a bass guitar string or the resonance of a kick drum.
This gives the low end a lifelike, organic quality, while simultaneously remaining tight and well-controlled.
The bass is deep and impactful without being overwhelming. It has a natural warmth that provides a solid foundation for music, with excellent control and texture.
DALI Epikore 9 Loudspeaker $40,000 Review
March 7, 2025 Comments Off on DALI Epikore 9 Loudspeaker $40,000 Review
https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/1261-dali-epikore-9-loudspeaker
This time, I focused on Roger Daltrey’s voice in “Behind Blue Eyes.” Here I noted that unique dynamic initiation of the waveform again, but now through the midrange. The Epikore 9s gave Daltrey’s voice a solid, meaty feel, making the image of his head seem slightly larger than life, as if his mouth was about a foot wide. I heard the same effect when I switched over to the Steven Wilson remix of Larks’ Tongues in Aspic from the King Crimson 1972–1974 box set (Discipline Global Mobile KCLPBX503). I always get a giggle out of hearing John Wetton in “Easy Money” trying to play the bass line in 3/4 time while singing in 4/4 time—it sounds like he’s really concentrating. Here, Wetton sounded full, rich, and appropriately chocolatey; no surprise, given what I’ve already noted.
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