Keces Audio Ebravo digital transport Review
September 8, 2024 Comments Off on Keces Audio Ebravo digital transport Review
Dan D’Agostino Master Audio preamplifier $149,500 Review
September 6, 2024 Comments Off on Dan D’Agostino Master Audio preamplifier $149,500 Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/dan-dagostino-master-audio-systems-relentless-line-preamplifier
After a walk with my dear friend Anna Frank, who some months back spent time alone with Pink Floyd in my music room, I invited her to take another listen to the 2023 50th Anniversary remaster of The Dark Side of the Moon (24/192 FLAC, Legacy Recordings/ Qobuz). After declaring that the impending doom of “On the Run” left her short of breath, she reported that she heard elements of hi-hat, keys, and bass lines that she had “actually not noticed before.” Individual instruments sounded crisper and more location-specific, and the album’s concluding heartbeat had a lower depth of tone than heard previously. “I’ve listened to this album 100+ times, but I loved this listen more than any,” Anna declared.
I felt similarly when I turned to a beloved fave, the final movement of Mahler Symphony No.4 performed by soprano Kathleen Battle and the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Lorin Maazel (16/44.1 MQA, Sony (Columbia)/Tidal). The expanse and warmth of the hall, the natural acoustic surrounding the voice, and every small vocal nuance stood out as never before. For an alternative to the Mahler heavies, play this movement and the rest of the Fourth Symphony and discover a succession of rare instances when Mahler allowed himself to be happy for more than a few minutes at a time.
Siltech Launches Master Crown Cables Review
September 6, 2024 Comments Off on Siltech Launches Master Crown Cables Review
Make no mistake, this level of commitment to research and development, design and its implementation, and perfected execution comes at considerable cost. As an example, at the one-and-a-half meter lengths, an interconnect set sells for $91,000, and a power cable sells for $37,000. A two-and-a-half meter set of speaker cables goes for $150,800! While this pricing will clearly limit the number of music lovers who will be able to own these exceptional products, I must admit to both my sense of wonder and admiration that a manufacturer as accomplished as Siltech is willing to demonstrate such dedication, devotion, and fanatic attention to detail and execution, in pursuit of advancing the state-of-the-art of connectology. Such monumental and bold strides not only bring excellence to the hyper-audio community today but have the potential to ultimately contribute to the improved performance of cables of all price points in years ahead.
BINARY ACOUSTICS DYNAQUATTRO $259 REVIEW
September 5, 2024 Comments Off on BINARY ACOUSTICS DYNAQUATTRO $259 REVIEW
The Binary Dynaquattro features CNC-milled & anodized steampunk faceplates made of aluminum along with a semi-transparent 3D-printed shell. The faceplate design cleverly represents the 3DD+1PR system by matching the wheel sizes to the dynamic driver dimensions. I love these kinds of design details; we all need a touch of creativity once in a while in this crowded market. In addition, the center of the bottom wheel, which appears as part of the faceplate design is actually a hole that serves as a vent for the dynamic drivers, another aesthetically pleasing detail!
SME Model 20 Mk 2/Series V $35,619 Review
September 4, 2024 Comments Off on SME Model 20 Mk 2/Series V $35,619 Review
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sme-model-20-mk-2series-v
The Model 20’s transparency is highlighted when we switch to Orff’s Carmina Burana. The soundstage grows massively, giving a firm sense of the recording venue’s scale. The stereo imaging is as stable as it gets with the orchestra and massed choir firmly planted in place. There is never a hint of stress or loss of focus even as the music becomes dense and demanding. Dynamics are explosive and delivered with breathtaking impact. There is a palpable feeling of power here, and the kind of authority that one rarely hears, even at this level.
A cartridge largely dictates the tonality of a record player. The Ortofon Windfeld Ti is about as even-handed as they come, delivering voices and instruments in a natural way. That said, if you partner this cartridge poorly it wouldn’t be hard to make it sound a little thin and lacking in body. We would expect the selling dealer to advise on the specifics. Make sure that the partnering phono stage has enough gain and quality to cope with the Ortofon’s relatively low output, too.
Reference Audiophile HiFi Set-up Tour 2024
September 4, 2024 Comments Off on Reference Audiophile HiFi Set-up Tour 2024
JBL L42ms Integrated Music System $1,000 Review
September 3, 2024 Comments Off on JBL L42ms Integrated Music System $1,000 Review
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/jbl-l42ms
While I wouldn’t consider the L42ms to be a substitute for a full-sized stereo system, it comes close enough to that experience whereby in any situation that space is limited or where the convenience and aesthetics of an all-in-one system increase its appeal, this JBL fits the bill. Movies, Games and TV
I’ve already covered the caveats and qualifiers about how this JBL is not really a soundbar. But if you use it for AV, the truth is it is an excellent-sounding unit that offers exceptional dialogue clarity. You won’t get surround-sound or Atmos out of it, but with the subwoofer output you can easily hook up a monster sub—I tested it with an 18” Perlisten—and experience movies with impact that’s almost as if you were in a theater. This was certainly the case when I screened Bad Boys: Ride or Die. With the sub, the crazy action scenes had all the impact you expect from an explosion and gunshot-filled Jerry Bruckheimer production.
Grimm Audio MU2 streaming preamplifier Review
September 3, 2024 Comments Off on Grimm Audio MU2 streaming preamplifier Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/grimm-audio-mu2-streaming-preamplifier
The Grimm MU2 is a bang-up success. It combines cutting-edge digital processing and digital-to-analog conversion with a Roon Core and a remarkably transparent volume control and input/ output selector. It would be an ideal central element in a sophisticated stereo system in which streaming and file playback are the most important music sources but where other sources, analog or digital, are supported without compromise. The MU2 is not inexpensive, but it offers completely satisfying sound and flawless ergonomics. It is worthy of the very best amplifiers, speakers, and critical listeners.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 Review
September 2, 2024 Comments Off on Bowers & Wilkins PI7 Review
https://www.hifichoice.com/content/bowers-wilkins-pi7
The PI7’s noise cancelling is effective in the reduction of external noise without any really perceivable effect on the tonal balance of the music itself and the app-controlled adjustment works like a charm too. Sending audio via the case has also worked well. The 3.5mm-to-USB connection is noisier than the standard Bluetooth hookup, but it works without dropouts and provides a genuinely interesting unique selling point. Some brief testing over AAC Bluetooth via an iPad Pro are listenable, but less capable than the higher bandwidth Bluetooth options but this isn’t really the PI7’s fault.
AURIS AUDIO HEADONIA 300B REVIEW
September 2, 2024 Comments Off on AURIS AUDIO HEADONIA 300B REVIEW
The Headonia 300b logically uses 300b power tubes, and it combines it with 6SN7 input tubes, delivering 7W of power, driving even the most power-hungry headphones. The Headonia 300b of course has a low and high gain setting, but I hardly ever needed that. More on that later.
Here are some of the Headonia 300b features:
The power supply inside the Headonia is designed to provide a staggering 1000 times less ripple than standard PSU units. Complemented by amorphous double C core output transformers, meticulously tuned input and output impedances ensure optimal performance
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