THIEAUDIO ORACLE MKII REVIEW
February 20, 2023 Comments Off on THIEAUDIO ORACLE MKII REVIEW
ThieAudio Oracle MKII Review
As I mentioned above, the mid-bass of the MKII is surprisingly linear. And so are the midrange. The Oracle MKII utilizes midrange drivers of the Monarch MKII, which is, in my opinion, ThieAudio’s best IEM to date. The Oracle MKII has a similar, neutral and balanced midrange with great resolution, articulacy, and detail retrieval. The instruments are breathy, clean, and natural. The strings are clear and precise. Due to the enhanced subs, vibrations are a delight to follow. However, things do get complicated around the upper midrange region. The Oracle MKII offers a lot of energy right around here, and the instruments that feed directly from this region – hi-hats, cymbals, crashes – take up a bit more space on stage than I would like. This ultimately hurts the staging and layering, especially as the number of instruments on stage increases. So to all metalheads, rock aficionados out there, make sure you select a good source to pair with the Oracle MKII. My recommendation would be a Mojo 2 or a Topping G5. Avoid analytical sources to achieve the best tonal balance, imo.
Sonus faber Sonetto III Loudspeakers $3999 Review
February 20, 2023 Comments Off on Sonus faber Sonetto III Loudspeakers $3999 Review
It is not common to be able to compare two excellent loudspeakers from the same manufacturer, on the same systems, in the same room, for a long enough period to truly understand the differences between them. I am extremely thankful for this experience. Both the Lumina V, which still hold a spot in the listening line-up, and the Sonetto III represent the entry of what “real” Sonus faber loudspeakers can do. Undoubtedly, the Sonetto III present the sound in a manner that is worth their price of $3999.99 per pair. They are $1000 better than the Lumina V, however be warned: The Sonetto III is an honest and sophisticated loudspeaker capable of tremendous staging and dynamics that belie its small size. This means they will reveal weaknesses in recordings and problematic electronics. The Sonetto III however, are certainly recommended, and a great representation of modern loudspeaker technology.
Auris Blume Pro HiFi Bluetooth 5.0 Music Receiver Review
February 19, 2023 Comments Off on Auris Blume Pro HiFi Bluetooth 5.0 Music Receiver Review
$169
If your looking to add music streaming to your system without the need for additional software or Wi-fi, the Auris bluMe Pro is a great sounding and affordable option. It will be a godsend for people in rural areas that don’t have speedy Wi-fi service.
I also like the screen that shows you what’s going on along with the music being played, even if it may be hard to read while sitting on your listening chair. Additionally, its well built with top notch components and its easy to use.
If you have a very analytical system, and you want add a little warmth to your setup, you may want to check out the iFi ZEN Blue V2, but if you’re looking for a flatter, more neutral sounding Bluetooth DAC, then you’ll probably like the bluMe Pro. The ability to use the Auris unit as a USB DAC (which the iFi unit doesn’t do) is also a nice touch. Highly Recommended!
JBL 4349 2-Way Loudspeaker $8250 Review
February 18, 2023 Comments Off on JBL 4349 2-Way Loudspeaker $8250 Review
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/jbl-4349-2-way-loudspeaker-review
These powerful and precise JBLs made everything I listened to through a pair sound fresh and vital. The 1970s studio monitor styling may not suit everyone’staste, but the mesmerizing sound they produce is sure to captivate any music lover’s imagination.
When it comes to speakers, I’ve learned not to judge a design by its looks. But when you first meet a JBL 4349, it’s impossible not to start thinking about the company’s professional studio monitors. The prominent horn, with its curved and bulging shape, takes center stage. The woofer is hidden behind a removable cloth grill, while the horn remains exposed. This speaker takes the tried-and-true hardware combination of a 12″ paper cone woofer plus a compression driver horn-loaded tweeter, combining them to deliver near-perfect sonic performance with refined precision
CH Precision C1.2 D/A processor $36,000 Review
February 18, 2023 Comments Off on CH Precision C1.2 D/A processor $36,000 Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/ch-precision-c12-da-processor
In my review of the D1.5, using it as a player, digital conversions carried out by its dual-mono DAC boards, I found—this surprised me—the external clock made a big, meaningful difference. I did not find that to be the case this time, with the C1.2. I heard differences, subtle and difficult to describe, but none that substantially increased or decreased my pleasure in listening. The X1 power supply made a bit more difference, adding, I thought, a touch more flesh, more tangibility, to acoustic objects, but I could live without that, too. Call me easy to please, but I’m willing to settle for just the $38,500 version (with the options I’d need installed)—although I’d also be tempted to include the analog input board for another $2500. I guess a $40,000 DAC—this $40,000 DAC—is good enough for me. So sue me.
AURALiC ALTAIR G2.1 REVIEW
February 17, 2023 Comments Off on AURALiC ALTAIR G2.1 REVIEW
Just out of interest I put on a few DSD tracks. This is not generally my format of choice but it seems that some DACs deal with it rather better than others. Bill Evans’ Explorations swings beautifully and avoids the papery airiness that often seems to accompany DS and instead it sounded natural and relaxed which are the more appealing characteristics of the one-bit system. Another contrast was made between the USB and streaming inputs, both supplied by a Melco N10 music library/server. Here the streaming option had quieter backgrounds, fuller bass and less time smear. Which is quite an achievement given that the ethernet cable has to be about a tenth of the price of the USB that was making the connection. USB had the advantage in timing, image scale and smoothness of delivery, however, so it’s safe to say that the ALTAIR is a very capable DAC.
The most comprehensively equipped member of AURALiC’s G2.1 family does an awful lot of what matters in high-resolution streaming with consummate ease. It doesn’t offer the upgradeability of AURALiC’s separates but those looking to hear what a serious streamer is capable of will find an awful lot to like in this superbly executed piece of kit. Build quality is first class and ease of use via the Lightning app is top notch. Combine the ALTAIR G2.1 with a good pre and power amp, or perhaps a pair of those active ATC loudspeakers AURALiC used at Axpona, and you’ll have a system that’s going places.
PS Audio BHK M600 Power Amplifier £30,000 Review
February 16, 2023 Comments Off on PS Audio BHK M600 Power Amplifier £30,000 Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/ps-audio-bhk-m600-power-amplifier
More controlled aggression was also in evidence with The Stone Roses’ cheekily titled sophomore album The Second Coming [Geffen 424 503-2], which might be blighted by vocalist Ian Brown’s slap-dash approach to singing in tune but has a thrilling ‘in-the-live-room’ production. The standout track ‘Daybreak’ benefited from the BHK M600’s out-of-the-blocks slam, giving the loose-limbed rhythm section an epic scale to match the spotlight shone on John Squire’s outro guitar solo.
From the same album, ‘Good Times’ ends in a glorious upbeat jam, drummer John ‘Reni’ Wren flitting between ride and crash cymbals, bassist Mani running up and down the fretboard and Squire again squealing away on his Les Paul. It was a performance of extravagant energy, detail and panache. These amps let the good times roll.
CH Precision • D1.5 CD/SACD Player and Transport $46,000. Review
February 16, 2023 Comments Off on CH Precision • D1.5 CD/SACD Player and Transport $46,000. Review
https://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/ch_precision_d15.htm
Where the CH Precision D1.5 MQA playback really shines, however, is with exceptionally well-recorded classical music, and nothing shines brighter than the Lisa Batiashvili and Daniel Barenboim disc of Tchaikovsky’s and Sibelius’s Violin Concertos. It comes in a standard CD package [Deutsche Grammophon 479 6038] but also in a UHQCD package with MQA encoding [Deutsche Grammophon Uccg-41048 484 2089]. It is a modern recording, made in 2016, and is thus fully MQA Studio. The improvement with the UHQCD/MQA disc is not subtle. The original disc was an exceptional-sounding CD, but the improvements with the MQA version, played on the CH Precision player, are nothing short of stunning. The soundstage opened up and details lost in the digital haze were fleshed out. How much does all this boil down to improvements from the UHQCD manufacturing and how much to the MQA? The newer disc is certainly a significant improvement played on a non-MQA player like the Neodio simply because of the UHQCD manufacturing, but MQA Studio encoding takes it into another league.
The Greatest edition of Jazz at the Pawnshop? Mind-blowing Tapes, Vinyl & CDs
February 16, 2023 Comments Off on The Greatest edition of Jazz at the Pawnshop? Mind-blowing Tapes, Vinyl & CDs
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