LEGACY AUDIO FOCUS XD FLOOR STANDING SPEAKER REVIEW
October 25, 2023 § 1 Comment
The bass produced by the active dual 12-inch woofers felt powerful enough to scramble your insides in that basement listening space. It was tight, visceral, and unrelenting. At times and depending on the track I felt, while fun, the bass level might have been a little too much for that room. This is saying something as I’ve heard all manner of speakers and subwoofers in Craig’s basement over the years, and while I loved the powerful bass for most tracks, on select others I came away thinking the bass was a bit too much on certain tracks. The way Craig had the speakers configured with the Marantz AV10 pre-pro allowed for adjustments to the bass levels. I didn’t ask him to turn it down as the room pressurization was too enjoyable. If one is planning to bi-amp the Focus XD while using a standard stereo preamp and some Y-cables, then getting the optional Nobsound external attenuation box (mentioned in the Design section) might be a good idea.
PS Audio Aspen FR20 Loudspeakers $18,999 Review
October 24, 2023 § 1 Comment
If you are looking to get off the runaway audiophile rollercoaster upgrade craziness, this is the speaker that will save you from the constant upgrade whiplash and never-ending poverty. The intensely involving, seamless textured musical tapestry that the FR20 provides is rare. It has left an indelible mark on this somewhat weary audiophile. As a result, I feel refreshed and enlivened—and that’s exactly what music is supposed to do.
NuPrime Audio Evolution Two Mono Power Amplifier $3999 each Review
October 24, 2023 Comments Off on NuPrime Audio Evolution Two Mono Power Amplifier $3999 each Review
To my ears, the Purifi Eigentakt based NAD Masters M23 stereo/mono power amplifier, which I reviewed in March, sets the standard for a truly high-performance amplifier at a reasonable price—by a wide margin. With a retail price of only $3749, it sounds superb, measures spectacularly well, and has a healthy power rating of 200Wpc into 8 ohms. As I said in my review, it is a “screaming bargain.” Bryston’s spectacular 4B3 ($7495), which I reviewed in June 2017, is also a stellar performer on the test bench, albeit at twice the price. Rated at 300Wpc into 8 ohms, it delivers significantly more power than the NAD, and has a beefier but very neutral sound. There is nothing like a brawny class-AB amplifier to instill a sense of confidence and pride in ownership. These are my two favorite power amplifiers among those I have reviewed in the past few years. I’ll be interested to see Diego Estan’s measurements of the Evolution Two. It may not be quite as neutral as the NAD and Bryston, but I found that its overall high level of performance and marginally warmer sound was just as pleasing and, in fact, may be preferable to some listeners.
Conclusion
NuPrime Audio had fallen off my radar in recent years. The last NuPrime product I reviewed was the IDA-8 integrated amplifier-DAC, which I loved. It was an absolute steal, providing fantastic sound and a healthy amount of power for under $1,000. But that was almost eight years ago. The Evolution Two has reintroduced me to this innovative brand. The market for power amplifiers at the Evolution Two’s price level is now very competitive. But NuPrime has more than kept pace with their reference mono amp, and by keeping its price relatively constant, the Evolution Two rivals the very best in its class.
JBL 4329P active loudspeaker $4500 Review
October 23, 2023 § 1 Comment
https://www.stereophile.com/content/jbl-4329p-active-loudspeaker
Wanting to move on to highest-resolution playback, I connected the speakers together with their CAT5e tether and plugged an Ethernet cable into the primary speaker. I selected the network/streaming input on the JBL remote and fired up Roon software on my office desktop computer, which was set up as a Roon Core. It found the JBL speakers on the network, noting that they were not “Roon Tested” but were available as a designated endpoint. I selected them and started streaming music from my own library and Qobuz. Although JBL folks didn’t say the speakers needed break-in time, all new woofers, in my experience, benefit from some limbering up, so I played music for hours on end for a few days. By the third day, the bass was sounding deeper, fuller, and less like it was pushing against the tide. The horn tweeters seemed a little less jangly, and the bass-treble balance settled in. I felt refreshed from all the hard rock, metal, and old-school hip-hop I’d played as the speakers worked out their birth pangs.
World Premiere Review!Art Audio Opus 4 And Carissa Vacuum Tube Amplifier$13,499 Review
October 23, 2023 Comments Off on World Premiere Review!Art Audio Opus 4 And Carissa Vacuum Tube Amplifier$13,499 Review
These days, there are many choices for amplifiers and decisions are not easy without personally listening to them in your own home. Overall if I did not already have another push/pull amp available at my home to use with the Quad 63s, I would have considered keeping the lovely Opus 4 monoblock amps. I suggest anybody seeking an amp of this design and style give it an audition in your home. It is quite a remarkable achievement that the 50 Watts triode power from the Opus 4 amps managed to portray so much strength and control for the Quad 63s.
Art Audio’s Opus 4 monoblocks managed to convey an impression to me of nearly as much depth of overall musicality as the 275 Watts of ultra-linear power of my other reference system amp, the CJ Premier 8A. I ultimately decided to keep the Carissa amplifier as part of my system to use with the Quad 57s and as an alternative for the 63s when they are not connected to the big CJ amps. The power, control, and sound along with the lavish and lovely looks of this latest revised Art Audio 18 Watt SET amp as designed by Tom Willis is highly recommended to be seen and heard.
Symphonium Audio Meteor Review
October 22, 2023 § 1 Comment
In terms of fit, the Meteor’s compact size is a major advantage, providing a comfortable fit even for those with smaller ears. The well thought-out design ensures that the IEMs sit well in the ear, providing a stable, deep and secure fit, which is essential for an optimal sound experience. There’s an excellent article by Symphonium Audio that covers this subject in depth and it’s a great read for audiophiles new and old. The seal is of vital importance and this is true of any portable audio wearable.
The metal construction, coupled with the meticulous design, not only adds to the overall aesthetic appeal, but also contributes to the premium feel when held and worn. In my opinion, the design of the Meteor strikes a harmonious balance between style and practicality. The intricate etchings give it a distinctive flair and make it visually appealing, while its compact and robust construction ensures both durability and comfort. It’s clear that Symphonium Audio has put a great deal of thought and craftsmanship into the Meteor’s aesthetic
Ars-Sonum Armonía Stereo Amplifier $5250 Review
October 22, 2023 Comments Off on Ars-Sonum Armonía Stereo Amplifier $5250 Review
https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1827-ars-sonum-armonia-stereo-amplifier
Yes, some care needs to taken when choosing speakers to use with the amp—that’s true of almost all tube amps and other amps with similar or lower power outputs. That is where I (your friendly Ars-Sonum distributor) come in. I am more than happy to talk with anyone interested in a Ars-Sonum amplifier (new or used!) to answer any questions about compatibility with whatever gear and speakers the customer may have. As well, for those (tube-head) Ars-Sonum amplifier owners who wish to “roll” different EL34s (n.b., KT77s are not recommended), I am happy to test their set of EL34s in our Amplitrex tube tester and then try them in the Filarmonía or Armonía on my test bench to verify matching and that self-biasing measurements meet factory specs for the amp.
Sonus faber Homage Amati G5 Loudspeaker Review
October 20, 2023 Comments Off on Sonus faber Homage Amati G5 Loudspeaker Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/sonus-faber-homage-amati-g5-loudspeaker
Meanwhile, the two G5 bass drivers, with their ‘ultralight CCAW voice coils’ and neodymium-boosted magnet, work into a larger vented enclosure, but even this is unusual. Its use of ‘Stealth Ultraflex’ bass tuning, realised as long alloy slots that exit via the speaker’s spine, aim to reduce the size of bass chamber required for a given LF extension while also smoothing out the airflow.
They’re handsome beasts, these Amati speakers, taking their name from Nicolò Amati, active in the 17th century as part of a dynasty of violin makers stretching back to his grandfather Andrea, who first formulated the modern shape of the violin, viola, and cello. Nicolò is acknowledged as the greatest of the family, and later had as his student Andrea Guarneri, and possibly Antonio Stradivari (though this is disputed).
Fezz Audio Lybra 300B Integrated Amplifier $5995 Review
October 20, 2023 Comments Off on Fezz Audio Lybra 300B Integrated Amplifier $5995 Review
When I threw the Totems into the mix, I did a bit of a head-explody. The Sky Towers matched so well with the Lybra that I’ll likely find myself cornering people at parties, poking them in the chest as I insist that they purchase this combination for themselves. The clarity, the extension, the imaging, the flat-out flavor that this amplifier excavated from these speakers startled me and made me re-evaluate the concept of value in audio.
This is Ultra audio, right? So let’s consider, shall we, that there’s a whole constellation of speakers with physical and electrical characteristics similar to the Sky Towers that’d likely pair perfectly with the Lybra while mounting a full assault on the state of the art. You could quite feasibly purchase a Lybra, and—what the heck—a pair of Sky Towers from my Canadian homies at Totem Acoustic while performing a rigorous search for the perfect speakers that hew to your exact tastes.
Audiophilepure 
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