HED Unity Headphones Review
March 7, 2024 Comments Off on HED Unity Headphones Review
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2023/8/22/unity-headphones
I found “Ballet Music” from Faust on Qobuz, at 24/88.2, a king of audiophile recordings. From the opening low brass invocation to the triangles and upper woodwinds’ answer, and then the delicate violins on the main theme, the playback was superb. And very detailed. This was among the best sounds I’ve heard, wires or no wires. Very impressive.
On Miles Davis’ Live Around the World, “Time After Time” (Cyndi Lauper cover) reminded me, that even though time and troubles had cost Miles at least a couple of steps (and under so much Unity scrutiny, it reminded me how much I dislike “whoop whoop” posers when it’s quiet and the artist has played one note), Miles still has enough in his tank to break your heart. Cyndi Lauper never had it so good. The clarity afforded this track by the Unity allowed me to hear every embouchure move no matter how minute. Exquisite sound and artistry.
FIIO JH5 REVIEW
March 6, 2024 Comments Off on FIIO JH5 REVIEW
Last but not least, the JH5 also packs no less than four balanced armature drivers – blended in two structure – allowing the IEM to produce ultra-high frequencies with ease, even with low-powered source. FiiO also explained how they chose those specific drivers so they could be able to match the frequency response of the dynamic driver, to have a resonance peak at 2.8kHz, which is supposed to be a resonance frequency formed by the shape of the human ear, says FiiO
JBL Synthesis SDR-38 $8550 Review
March 5, 2024 Comments Off on JBL Synthesis SDR-38 $8550 Review
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/jbl-synthesis-sdr-38
Rounding out our film test with something slightly quieter, we switch to Interstellar, specifically the scene in which the team discovers Mann and awakens him from cryosleep. Here we can decipher how the JBL handles quieter and more emotive moments, as the team discusses the possibility of bringing humanity to the frozen planet. The earnest nature of the discussion is delivered with gravitas and a sprinkle of optimism and hope through the subtleties within the characters’ delivery.
The SDR-38 transfers its sonic talents to music playback well. We described its predecessor as “about as hi-fi as home cinema products get”, and that’s a statement we’re more than willing to repeat for this latest model. Switching to stereo for Taylor Swift’s Ivy, we’re rewarded with rhythmic precision and a rich vocal presentation, with plenty of detail to be found in the intricate string section that underpins the track.
The big question is: does this JBL outperform its Arcam counterpart? The answer is yes, but the differences certainly aren’t night and day. The JBL is a touch more powerful, and it shows with the enhanced dynamic control and punchier low end. If you’re looking for value for money, we certainly wouldn’t blame you for opting for the Arcam, but where performance is concerned, the JBL is the better amplifier.
Aurender N20 Ultra High Performance digital output network transport $12,500 Review
March 5, 2024 Comments Off on Aurender N20 Ultra High Performance digital output network transport $12,500 Review
Many of the functions and the aesthetic aspects of the A20 discussed in the earlier review apply here, so the curious reader should look to that review for such information. A notable advanced feature the N20 has which the A20 does not have is the Word Clock input, which allows an external clock, such as the Aurender MC10 or MC20, to be used with the N20. This is a decidedly upper end solution for the discerning audiophile. Some of the finest digital sources in the industry utilize external word clocks. The prospective buyer of either the A20 or the N20 is strongly encouraged to compare the units’ features and settings to gain confidence regarding a purchase decision. Dealers of Aurender products would be a good resource for such comparisons. A good follow up to this article would be to explore the internal storage and USB attached storage capability of the N20, and one of Aurender’s external clocks.
D’Agostino MxV Integrated Integrated Amplifier £73,998 Review
March 4, 2024 Comments Off on D’Agostino MxV Integrated Integrated Amplifier £73,998 Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/dagostino-mxv-integrated-integrated-amplifier
How could I not know that this amplifier’s lower registers would have reach and mass tailor-made for head-banging? Whitesnake shows greater finesse, or rather employs a lighter touch than, say, Motörhead, so it wasn’t all screaming and buried meter needles. What iced this (bottom octaves) cake was the layering which gave the drums and bass their own sonic strata.
If that sounds like the flat images of Viewmaster 3D or the antithesis of soundstage or imaging cohesion, forgive my failure to communicate precisely how these layers of sound complement each other. You just know by the way it all comes together that the art of creating a flawless wall of sound isn’t solely a skill belonging to Phil Spector. This amplifier rocks.
Arendal Sound 1723 Tower S Loudspeaker Review
March 4, 2024 Comments Off on Arendal Sound 1723 Tower S Loudspeaker Review
My first impression of the Tower S was that it’s built like a tank. As I mentioned, this instilled some unfounded notions in my mind about how it must sound. Those preconceptions, it turned out, were in fact correct. The bombastic “War Dance,” from Respighi: Belkis, Queen of Sheba Suite (CD, Reference Recordings RR-95CD), with the Minnesota Orchestra, was delivered with ease by the Arendals in all its power and drive. During my time with the Arendals, I also had an SVS SB-4000 subwoofer at my disposal and could have added it to the mix. But the Arendals generated such tight, solid bass, there was no need for a subwoofer (at least not for music).
Within the bounds of volume level I could tolerate, the sonic character of the Tower S remained the same. If you enjoy loud playback, the Arendals will oblige. As all other speakers, they too have their limits, but I never approached them. A shortcoming I did notice occurred midway through “War Dance,” when a solo clarinet enters. On some speakers, this clarinet passage captivates your attention as it gracefully floats in space. Not so much with the Arendals. The clarinet was reproduced clearly enough; it just didn’t have the presence to command the spotlight.
Feliks Envy headphone amplifier Review
March 3, 2024 Comments Off on Feliks Envy headphone amplifier Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-81-feliks-envy-headphone-amplifier
I’ve worshipped at the altar of David Lindley, singer-songwriter and master of all stringed instruments. His 1981 debut album with his band El Rayo-X (Asylum LP 5E-524) is spectacular on black disc, but the digital streaming version (16/44.1 FLAC Electra Asylum/Qobuz) has never grabbed me; I never listened all the way through until I listened with the ZMF Verité–Feliks Envy combo. With that, “Mercury Blues” came all the way alive, and my feet weren’t tapping the floor; they were pounding it. My head was bouncing, and I was cruising on down the road. Plus! I can’t mention this album of full-tilt rhythms without a shout-out declaring Ian Wallace, once a member of King Crimson, the alpha dog of funky drummers. On “Mercury Blues,” Wallace was so good and having so much fun, he made me laugh out loud in the middle of a song.
After parking my new Mercury, I entered a seaside tango bar, and there she was: the beautiful Argentinian chanteuse Susana Natividad Rinaldi, sounding like Edith Piaf and looking like a singer in a David Lynch film. The seductive tones of Rinaldi’s voice forced me to adore her. The dense reverb that framed her voice and made the band’s instruments vibrant did not fog the recording’s transparency or soften its focus. The album that supplied that vision is called A Homero Manzi (16/44.1 FLAC RP Music/Qobuz), and I swear that every instrument and player in her small orchestra was delineated clearly enough to watch and follow what they were doing on the stage.
MBL System By 3mA Audio
March 3, 2024 Comments Off on MBL System By 3mA Audio
“When Tron is your favorite movie franchise you build your listening/theater room accordingly. And not a more fitting speaker to recreate the sounds of Tron Legacy.
Audio Hungary Qualiton A75 Integrated Amplifier $9250 Review
March 2, 2024 Comments Off on Audio Hungary Qualiton A75 Integrated Amplifier $9250 Review
The further upshot of time with Audio Hungary’s Qualiton A75 was making plain to me, again, that music is about enjoyment not extraction of every iota of sound. More information is more information it is not necessarily more joy. As an audiophile, my musical interests have blossomed and include far more genres of music than when I started. I’m not going into a hermit state. I’ve poked into a lot of corners of music that I was never interested in. Some proved just interesting and some really enjoyable. So it goes.
The Qualiton A75 is a compelling offer to buy, simplify, and just enjoy. Have great sound without having to give up so much real estate while retaining some visual beauty. It’s an opportunity to bask in the joy of an evolved system. Instead of studying reviews of amplifiers to determine what your next audio purchase should be. Maybe what’s next is to continue exploring new music or it’s immersing yourself more deeply into your record collection or taking friends to your desert island system and basking in the full glory of what you’ve constructed. Audio Hungary’s Qualiton A75 could be that. Highly recommended.
Audiophilepure 
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