Sendy Apollo Headphones $499 Review
November 21, 2022 Comments Off on Sendy Apollo Headphones $499 Review
The Beatles “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” (24-bit/96kHz) makes for an instant treat, and more clearly demonstrates the Apollos’ capabilities. As the intro notes pan back and forth, the Sendys become spacious and open, throwing the tones out into a farther reach. Vocals sit tight against the ears, while the drums distinctively come from behind my head. It is now an expansive, multi-dimensional sphere, weightless and tremendously enjoyable.
Wrapping It Up
During my time with Sendy Apollos, I compared them to a few of my own headphones, plus another pair on loan to me. With each comparison, I found the Apollos to be far and away a more comfortable, balanced, and better fit around my ears. Since some of my listening sessions with them went long, this comfort was hugely appreciated. Sonically, the Apollos performed well above their $499 price point, even with the use of a mobile phone. I may even invent a few reasons to escape before our time is done.
MUSICIAN AQUARIUS $3,199 REVIEW
November 20, 2022 Comments Off on MUSICIAN AQUARIUS $3,199 REVIEW
The Aquarius is also featuring a twin oscillator design, which “supplies” a constant temperature, always improving the unit’s performance. Aquarius also sports an O-type single crystal copper transformer as packaged linear power supply, resulting in low distortion and low noise. The linear regulator can isolate the digital and analog parts of the multi-level power supply, to ensure low noise and stable power supply voltage for the DAC.
Using the main control ALTERA high-efficiency chip, the audio signal transmission is not distorted, and the sound quality can reach the HIFI standard hardware. The simple design makes the signal circuit reach a more ideal state, and the sense of hearing is clearer and more balanced than the traditional design.
Tuning wise, the Aquarius offer a series of self-developed and designed digital filters, working in 16 X Over Sampling mode, each Level of filter has a 32-bit input resolution, which can greatly increase dynamic contrast, analysis, and more natural and delicate timbre, etc.
Estelon XB Diamond Mk.2 loudspeaker $58,000 Review
November 20, 2022 Comments Off on Estelon XB Diamond Mk.2 loudspeaker $58,000 Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/estelon-xb-diamond-mk2-loudspeaker
How’s the maximum volume? More than ample for my needs—I never came close to running out of power—though I’m not sure I’d choose speakers with ceramic membranes as party speakers. These are too good for that anyway.
And the bass? Ample quantity, approaching full-range depth while perhaps not quite plumbing the lowest reaches. Certainly, the bass was present at full volume down to the bottom note on acoustic or electric bass (41.2Hz), and it comes very close to full volume down to the lowest notes on a standard grand piano (27.5Hz). Acoustic (double) bass was lively and articulate. On tracks with lots of bass—I’m thinking of EDM tracks like Cristoph’s “Reachin’,” from Consequence of Society Vol.1 (16/44.1 FLAC, Noir Music/Tidal), the bass is fun, although the XB Diamond Mk IIs don’t quite provide the bass massage of the big-sister Forzas. In a room smaller than mine, perhaps they would.
PS Audio FR30 Loudspeaker $28,499/ Review
November 19, 2022 Comments Off on PS Audio FR30 Loudspeaker $28,499/ Review
If you are wondering about my emphasis at the start of this review on how impressed I was with IRS Reference and Genesis I in their day, let me stress that I’ve been reviewing for far too long to let hope or nostalgia substitute for real-world performance in a constantly evolving high end. If anything, I tend to be a bit hypercritical in evaluating anything I consider for purchase. The FR30, did more than live up to my hopes, however, and one way to sum up is to state that I’m buying my review pair as another set of reference speakers. The FR30 is truly outstanding, highly recommended, and well worth the set-up effort necessary to make it perform at its best!
LSA Warp 1 Power Amplifier $1499 Review
November 19, 2022 Comments Off on LSA Warp 1 Power Amplifier $1499 Review
At the opening of this review, I posed the question as to whether the LSA Warp 1 Class D amplifier could replace a solid-state Class A power amplifier. My conclusion is if you use a Class A amplifier partially because of its effect on the harmonic balance of your system, then no, the Warp 1 will not be an interchangeable substitute, because it has a different and, to my ear, more neutral, slightly less euphonic harmonic balance than a traditional Pass Class A design. But if you’ve ever wanted to hear what your system would sound like with an exceedingly noise-free power amplifier that produces a remarkably even-handed harmonic balance, then yes, the Warp 1 would be a viable power amplifier option.
Given its rather modest price of $1495, you might be tempted to write off the Warp 1 as just another me-too, mid-fi Class D power amplifier. That would be a mistake. I have, over the years, listened to plenty of Class D power amplifiers…so far, the Warp 1 is the best-sounding one I’ve reviewed. If you have loudspeakers that are at least reasonably efficient (or better), and you have no need to warm up their sonic personality, the Warp 1 power amplifier could be an excellent and exceedingly rational choice as your next reference power amplifier.
Music Hall mmf-1.3 turntable $350 Review
November 18, 2022 Comments Off on Music Hall mmf-1.3 turntable $350 Review
The Music Hall mmf-1.3 turntable combined with the built-in phono stage and the Audio-Technica AT-3600L phono cartridge provided a very pleasant sound and an enjoyable listening experience. There was not much record surface noise, which I normally would expect with such an inexpensive turntable. I could not hear any inner groove distortion no matter which record I played. This could be because the tracking was excellent. This inexpensive phono cartridge was quite a bit better than I had expected and I felt it integrated well with the turntable. If there are any errors, they are of omission, so you get that nice vinyl sound that only records can provide. The turntable is good enough that, down the road, you could improve things with a better phono cartridge, such as a Sumiko Rainier or an Audio Technica AT-VM95E, or even a different phono stage. My comparably priced Goldring turntable really benefited from upgrading to a Talisman moving coil phono cartridge, which most people would consider overkill. The Music Hall turntable’s built-in phono stage was also quite good. There was no noise and when playing records you may forget the phono stage is there. I did play a variety records so I could see how it compared with my other turntables.
TOTEM KIN PLAY TOWER SPEAKER $2,250 REVIEW
November 18, 2022 Comments Off on TOTEM KIN PLAY TOWER SPEAKER $2,250 REVIEW
More speaker makers are introducing powered speakers and I think that is a great thing. It’s fun to review these products and read up on their design philosophies to see how each one sets out to produce a versatile and sonically superior product. The Totem KIN Play Tower Speakers met my expectations and make me want to explore some of their higher-end speakers, like the Element Metal V2 or Wind. Some of these come in a gloss red or real wood veneers…yeah, baby! If you are in the market for good-sounding towers that are easy to install, easy to move, and don’t call a lot of attention to themselves, place the Totem KIN Play Tower Speakers on your shortlist.
GoldenEar BRX Loudspeaker £1499 Review
November 17, 2022 Comments Off on GoldenEar BRX Loudspeaker £1499 Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/goldenear-brx-loudspeaker
Its styling might not suit all listening rooms, but the final GoldenEar loudspeaker design from Sandy Gross is a triumph. Low-end power and poise, courtesy of its ABRs, is a standout trait, and the BRX doesn’t overdo it at the expense of instrumental and vocal presence, nor fall short when the volume is set high. When compact speakers can be this good, you might wonder why slender floorstanders even exist!
Aavik Acoustics S-280 Network Music Player
November 17, 2022 Comments Off on Aavik Acoustics S-280 Network Music Player
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2022/6/9/ijrv97bybjaybjn7uaq6smcvox0ppn
192 files such as the glorious RCA Boston Munch Ravel La Valse were both incredible for demonstrating Munch’s total idiomatic Ravel and the power of the Boston Symphony. Play this or a HiRes of Reiner’s Chicago Scheherazade, even next to the Analogue Productions vinyl, and the S-280 compares well. In my books, that’s a first. And when comparing the S-280 files to my standalone MBL CD/DAC (a Red Book-only $15,400 CD player), probably one of the most musical digital playback devices I know, the streamer was comparable on a superb SACD (played back at MBL Red Book only)—Mischa Maisky plays Schubert with Martha Argerich, ESOTERIC SACD remaster. The Qobuz comparison file was also Red Book not the fancy remaster. I could live happily with the S-280 playback level. Yes, that good.
HIFIMAN SUNDARA CLOSED-BACK $400 REVIEW
November 16, 2022 Comments Off on HIFIMAN SUNDARA CLOSED-BACK $400 REVIEW
I think lows are the best part about the new Sundara Closed-Back, giving great slam, kick, rumble and also recovery. I’m not sure if it’s because of the closed-back design or the driver technology, but in terms of bass performance, this is one of the best headphones I’ve heard for the price. The punch and speed are certainly impressive, with great pace and decay. It also doesn’t affect the other parts of the spectrum
Audiophilepure 
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