IFI AUDIO IDSD DIABLO 2 PORTABLE DAC/AMP $1299 REVIEW
June 23, 2024 Comments Off on IFI AUDIO IDSD DIABLO 2 PORTABLE DAC/AMP $1299 REVIEW
When the Diablo 2 came out it was advertised as having 5 watts output. That’s quite a lot for a portable amp, and as it turned out, that 5 watts was really a peak power measurement, not an RMS or continuous power measurement as most users were expecting. iFi says it has learned from the storm of negative press coverage, and now states the RMS power of the unit. Consumers can expect 1-3 watts of continuous power, and I do think the initial spec was misleading. Still, the box for the Diablo 2 features “up to 5,180 mW output” which could confuse some buyers. The company would do itself a favor and drop any reference to peak power.
WESTONE AUDIO AM PRO X30 $479 REVIEW
June 22, 2024 Comments Off on WESTONE AUDIO AM PRO X30 $479 REVIEW
Let’s talk a bit about the cable. Westone’s collaboration with Estron Linum is well known at this point, especially in their Mach series, as the majority of the line-up arrived bundled with Linum cables. While the AM Pro X30 is listed as using the Estron T2 connector, it is not explicitly stated whether the cable is from Estron Linum. Nevertheless, the thinness and shape of the cable suggest an Estron design, although the connectors have a different housing than those used in the Mach series.
Detective work aside, the cable’s build quality and feel are impressive. The outer jacket is soft to the touch, and the microphonic effect is minimal. In addition, the shrink-wrapped earguides are thin and comfortable to wear. Terminated with a gold-plated L-type jack, this cable and its sturdy T2 connectors should last many years without damage.
Fern & Roby Amp No. 2 integrated amplifier Review
June 22, 2024 Comments Off on Fern & Roby Amp No. 2 integrated amplifier Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/fern-roby-amp-no-2-integrated-amplifier
One night, as I was listening to my system with the Amp No. 2, I found myself thinking, Omg! This amp is really lighting up those DeVores! I wondered how F&R managed to get this much vivid, high-energy excitement out of an amp that looks laid-back and tasteful. Then I remembered that the Amp No. 2’s designer, Michael Bettinger, and his company G.A.S. have carried on a 40-year relationship with the designs of one of my heroes, James Bongiorno, chief designer at SAE, G.A.S., and Sumo.
As I remember it, Bongiorno’s wild-style Ampzilla was the opposite of tasteful and domestic. It had an industrial look and a type-A personality, and it was the first solid state amp I felt I could marry and settle down with. During these auditions, Fern & Roby’s Amp No. 2 performed like a silk-suited version of that renowned monster. And that is extremely high praise.
Voxativ Ampeggio 2024 loudspeaker $13,900 Review
June 21, 2024 Comments Off on Voxativ Ampeggio 2024 loudspeaker $13,900 Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/voxativ-ampeggio-2024-loudspeaker
At that task, the Ampeggios excelled. Out of the gate, the combination of the two PrimaLuna components—the EVO 100 phono stage and EVO 300 integrated—pushed a vast soundstage out from the Ampeggios, with the best low-end slam I’d hear in my Ampeggio listening sessions.
The Ampeggio 2024s were unique in their ability to remove themselves from my listening space while filling it with physical, natural-sounding music, from delicate vibraphones and glistening guitars to punchy vibrating drum skins and vocals that were spookily real. Repeatedly, I relaxed into the music and forgot about my reviewing task. When I did manage to focus on the sound, I marveled at how the Ampeggios transmitted sound in the upper mids through the treble with such fine layering, lucidity, tonal keenness, and textural precision that the sum bordered on holographic. These characteristics joined with a low end delivered with oceanic impact while remaining consistent with the natural-sounding fluidity of the higher frequencies.
Linn Klimax Solo 800 monoblock power amplifier Review
June 21, 2024 Comments Off on Linn Klimax Solo 800 monoblock power amplifier Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/linn-klimax-solo- Review800-monoblock-power-amplifier
The amp’s support feet, derived from those on Linn’s flagship Klimax DSM network music player, are machined stainless steel with an impressed silicone O-ring to aid isolation. Their height ensures that Linn’s natural convection cooling process functions as intended. Nonetheless, Rodger gave me the okay to try aftermarket feet, noting that during the design process, Linn listened with its own feet and “very standard interconnects and speaker cable.”
More on this topic follows. Linn doesn’t think the Klimax Solo 800’s Utopik power supply requires external power conditioning, and Rodger doesn’t think the monoblock will feed back noise into the line. “That said, if an end user wants to employ a high-end [power] conditioner, and they like what it does to the sound of the whole system, we have a saying in Scotland: ‘Fill your boots,’ which means ‘that’s your prerogative, so go for it.'”
Upon receiving the Linns, I was advised to leave them on 24/7. Standby kicks in after 20 minutes of silence; when it happens, what Rodger called “a jaunty little animation” appears on the tastefully illumined LED roundel in the center of the front panel.
HiFi Rose RA280 Integrated Amplifier £2999 Review
June 20, 2024 Comments Off on HiFi Rose RA280 Integrated Amplifier £2999 Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/hifi-rose-ra280-integrated-amplifier
There’s no power or agility lacking here, so the RA280 typically communicates dynamics and excitement without edging into extreme warmth or betraying an undue focus on high treble detail. However, what might be described as a pleasantly ‘organic’ sound can have its balance tipped by the speaker. Its coupling with the DALI Rubicon 2s appeared a little lighter-sounding than usual, for example.
If it wasn’t for Damon Albarn standing in as producer, Bobby Womack’s The Bravest Man In The Universe [XLCD561] wouldn’t have sounded like the album it does. Or even existed, as the soul crooner seemed to be fin de carrière until he met with Albarn on the Gorillaz project. Fortunately, the record came to be, and contains some fabulous tracks, including ‘Dayglo Reflection’ featuring the backing vocals of Lana Del Rey. Here, the RA280 floated her typically languid voice above the electronic beat and grittier lines sung by Womack.
Acora Acoustics QRC 2 Floorstanding Loudspeaker $37,000 Review
June 20, 2024 Comments Off on Acora Acoustics QRC 2 Floorstanding Loudspeaker $37,000 Review
The music completely escaped the speaker and was spread over a soundstage that was as wide and deep as the Kharma. The outer edges of that soundscape, particularly toward the front corners of the stage, were even more transparent than any speaker I’ve had in-house. I found my head turning to those extremes when a musician on either side broke into a solo. Overall, it was a very fine presentation but I still felt a gnawing sense of disappointment that they didn’t sound as good as I heard them at the shows. Was it just the much more expensive rigs that achieved such greatness?
SPL Phonitor SE $1199 Review
June 19, 2024 Comments Off on SPL Phonitor SE $1199 Review
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/spl-phonitor-se
As the Mahler symphony builds we note the pleasing sense of space in the Phonitor’s presentation and its ability to avoid sounding cluttered. It helps that details are crisply rendered with little in the way of blur or vagueness when it comes to defining the leading edges of notes. This is particularly praiseworthy at low frequencies where the SPL delivers exceptional grip without sacrificing tunefulness.
That same bass quality works wonderfully with Massive Attack’s Heligoland set. Here, the SPL headphone amp delivers bass with considerable conviction, thumping it out with punch and power. Move up the frequency range and you will find that the midrange is crisp and clean while retaining the natural warmth of vocals. We are pleased to report that the Phonitor SE is the kind of product that you can listen to for hours on end without issue. For all its insight and resolution, it avoids sounding hard-edged and sterile. Feed it a poor or aggressive recording, we used Bruce Springsteen’s heartfelt Terry’s Song, and the SPL refuses to make a meal of things. It is highly revealing of the recording’s shortcomings but never goes out of its way to be rude.
GrooveMaster 3 Tonearm $2598 Review
June 19, 2024 Comments Off on GrooveMaster 3 Tonearm $2598 Review
The Audio Creative GrooveMaster 3 tonearm came with a well-earned reputation for excellence for the money, and it left no doubt that inserting it in place of my stock tonearm was an excellent upgrade. Like switching from a bulky mountain bike to a svelte racing bicycle for a street rally—or loudspeakers using a pair of fast eight-inch drivers instead of a single 15″ woofer—the GrooveMaster was fleeter and more nimble, making a noticeable improvement in responsiveness, sensitivity, and detail. It’s a beautiful instrument, a versatile, universal tonearm suited for a wide variety of turntables, and one that I can’t see myself parting with anytime soon. I highly recommend it.
Audiophilepure 
You must be logged in to post a comment.