Aavik Acoustics I-580 Review

October 5, 2022 Comments Off on Aavik Acoustics I-580 Review

Just as driving a high-performance electric car requires a few slight tweaks on the driver’s part to accommodate and genuinely understand how an electric car performs, we are at a point where listeners are starting to shift their perceptions about how recorded music sounds through amplification. All of which means this amplifier is very likely the Tesla Model S Plaid of the audio world!

On the face of it, the fact the Aavik Acoustics I-180, I-280 and I-580 look similar and share a similar essential performance would make it seem that the big boy is a poor proposition. However, the proof is in the listening, and this is one of the best Class D amps out there, and one of the best amps irrespective of amp design. While understandably at its best in the sublime company of its Ansuz and Børresen peers, it’s both a remarkable performer and a perfect gateway into the company’s ethos… and probably many products from these companies.

Ampsandsound Red October Amplifier $12,000 Review

October 4, 2022 Comments Off on Ampsandsound Red October Amplifier $12,000 Review

I was in awe of the Red October within about five minutes of letting it warm up. Its presentation is exactly what I love, engaging, toe-tapping, fun, and tonally correct. It makes me want to sing along and it makes me smile. It is what HiFi is all about. It engages you and drives you to want to listen more. It has been a while since I have had that experience, and I am happy to have had it again. The Red October is not a cheap headphone amplifier, but when you compare it with other statement amplifiers, not only will you find that it sounds as good if not better, but you will also find that its price tag is actually cheaper then its direct competitors at the same performance level. This is not your first headphone amplifier, it could be, but I personally think you should start smaller. Instead this can easily be your last headphone amplifier, heck, I think it could even be your last speaker amplifier.

It is the first amplifier that I have heard that can actually do both jobs so well that I cannot find a real compromise. Yes you cannot use super-efficient, easy to drive headphones without a little background noise. It is a 6 to 8 watt DHT amp and that is not a reasonable expectation. Yes, you cannot drive lower efficiency speakers to concert levels without compression, once again this is a 6 to 8 watt DHT amp, that is not a reasonable expectation. If you pair this amp with any flagship headphone and a pair of higher efficiency speakers (like Klipsch, Zu, or others) then you really may never buy another amp again.

Magnepan LRS+  Review

October 4, 2022 Comments Off on Magnepan LRS+  Review

Another series is History of Audio, which aims to teach viewers a little about the History of Audio, which might be a trip down memory lane for many. It also hopes those who watch will learn from the varying experiences of other audiophiles through their trials and tribulations with different equipment.

While you’re on our YouTube channel, be sure to check out our Audio Basics series. So far, this series has covered what makes a great stereo system and how to find a great stereo system.

Soon, you can find reports from manufacturers at audio shows from around the world. You can see the likes of Aurender, Focal Naim, AudioThesis, Schiit Audio, and Magnepan, just to name a few. Right now, you can see what debuted at AXPONA 2022 and a bit from the Texas Audio Roundup, including background on the Magnepan LRS+. New videos from Pacific Audio Fest in Seattle are also being uploaded every week.

Wilson Audio Alexia V Full $80,000 Review

October 3, 2022 Comments Off on Wilson Audio Alexia V Full $80,000 Review

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/wilson-audio-alexia-v-full-review-r1141/

The Alexia V has more than enough slam and attack to pressurize a room and pound the listener in the chest, should the music call for it. That’s a hallmark of Wilson speakers, that I know my friends in the music business appreciate and will enjoy even more through the V. What really grabbed me immediately when listening through the Alexia V, was the midrange. It’s just magical. The midrange is liquid in the way that mercury is liquid, rather than an undefined globule of water. Mercury has delineated edges yet a smoothness and an unmistakable appearance. The Alexia V’s midrange is also unmistakable and will present one’s favorite music, on a platter, again for the first time. 

I couldn’t be happier with my new Wilson Audio Alexia V loudspeakers. The look of the Silver Ice Pearl premium finish is stunning and the sound quality is second to none. It feels good to own an instant classic.  

NAIM UNITI ATOM HEADPHONE EDITION MUSIC STREAMING SYSTEM $3,800 REVIEW

October 3, 2022 Comments Off on NAIM UNITI ATOM HEADPHONE EDITION MUSIC STREAMING SYSTEM $3,800 REVIEW

However, this single unit can act as the centralized brain of a stereo system when used as a preamplifier, but it’s also a brain that can be attached to a network, which greatly expands the capability of a typical preamplifier. I enjoyed the quality and convenience of the Naim Uniti Atom HE so much I am considering selling off older components to fund the purchase of one.

The Naim Uniti Atom HE is expensive but extremely versatile. Its appearance, construction, and materials befit what you pay for it. You can extend it with essentially any kind of source, whether analog or digital, and you can attach it to a network, whether wired or wireless. It is scalable, because you can attach other components in the Naim Uniti line to it, and you can update its operating system. The Naim App is a joy to use, it sounds great with headphones, and it can act as the control center for almost any kind of audio system. Recommended

SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer Review

October 2, 2022 Comments Off on SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer Review

For music lovers short on space (and cash), hungry for added low-end content to enhance the listening experience, and willing to experiment to obtain optimal main speaker/subwoofer set-ups in their rooms, the SVS 3000 Micro subwoofer delivers—in spades. Its exceptional setup flexibility allows it to integrate into just about any high-end system. SVS’ 3000 Micro Subwoofer speed and tonal precision mean that it can keep pace with even very expensive main speakers. And the SVS 3000’s serious good looks and major cuteness factor are enough to make a mother blush.

What more could one ask for?

As for me, I’m keeping SVS’ 3000 Micro Subwoofer little wonder as a permanent addition to my reference system. Whether you pair it with a musically compelling but bass shy sub-$1000 mini monitor or a $25,000+ upper-crust stalwart, the littlest member of the SVS subwoofer family will not disappoint.

KEF LS60 Wireless Speaker System $7,000 Review

October 2, 2022 Comments Off on KEF LS60 Wireless Speaker System $7,000 Review

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/reference-components/1735-recommended-reference-component-kef-ls60-wireless-speaker-system

As a comparison to the LS60 Wireless, Gordon used his current Simplifi reference system, comprising “an NAD C 658 streaming DAC-preamp ($1999.99) connected with Benchmark Media Systems Studio&Stage XLR interconnects to a pair of Elac Navis ARF-51 active floorstanding speakers ($5399.96/pair).” While his system had “more ringing clarity in the middle and upper octaves” when he played “Fool on the Hill,” Gordon described in his review how the KEF’s sound was superior with almost everything he heard. To Gordon’s ears, the KEF system emerged as the winner. In fact, just after the review was published, Gordon decided to purchase the LS60 Wireless system and make it his new reference.

Gordon’s high praise for the LS60 Wireless system is the reason why we recognized this KEF offering with a Reviewers’ Choice award when the review was published. And while it’s too early to know if the LS60 Wireless will receive a Product of the Year award (or if it’s a contender for Product of the Decade, as Gordon mused), the system is being recognized with a Recommended Reference Component award right now.

Musical Fidelity M6x DAC/Headphone Amplifier $2100 Review

October 1, 2022 Comments Off on Musical Fidelity M6x DAC/Headphone Amplifier $2100 Review

https://www.hifinews.com/content/musical-fidelity-m6x-dacheadphone-amplifier

Move along if you’re after a networked DAC for your system, but demand an audition of the M6x if you can handle a little cable clutter. Musical Fidelity’s latest converter is a winning combination of foolproof usability, wide file compatibility and accomplished performance that favours any musical genre. Add in the eminently sensible price tag, and this full-width DAC has serious X appeal.

Audiovector R6 Arreté $37,000 Review

October 1, 2022 Comments Off on Audiovector R6 Arreté $37,000 Review

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/audiovector-r6-arrete

We’re pleased with the stereo imaging. That rear-firing midrange is subtle in operation but helps to give the R6’s soundstage a lovely sense of air and space. Image focus is sharp and the speakers have the ability to layer the soundstage well and keep the image stable even when the music becomes demanding. 

Oh, and the R6s play loud without issue, keeping their composure even when listening levels rise to party levels. Of course, your amplifier has to be able to deliver the grunt necessary for that to happen. A rather specific claimed sensitivity of 91.5dB/W/m and a nominal impedance of 8 ohms certainly suggests that these towers aren’t going to be particularly awkward to drive. But, the rated power handling of 450 watts indicates that Audiovector expects customers to partner them with some beefy electronics.

Gradient 1.4 Loudspeaker $7600 Review

September 30, 2022 Comments Off on Gradient 1.4 Loudspeaker $7600 Review

The Gradient 1.4s are thrifty, indeed, in the realm of high-end prices. And there really are no other speakers that I know of that can do exactly what they do. Like their ancestors, the Gradient 1.3s, they present the sound of recordings in a unique way. They are available in the USA, but not very widely as yet. When shows resume, I hope many people will get to hear them. Meanwhile, if you are really serious about getting your room out of your system and hearing recordings as they actually are, the Gradient 1.4s are, in the words of the Michelin Guides, worth a journey.

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