Perlisten Audio S7t Loudspeaker Review
June 6, 2022 Comments Off on Perlisten Audio S7t Loudspeaker Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/perlisten-audio-s7t-loudspeaker
Surprisingly, however, I felt I was hearing it in a way I hadn’t before, not in terms of microscopic detail, but in imaging. And at this scale, this resolution and with this dynamic flavour, you remember why it’s a track destined to lurk in every audiophile’s collection. It was spine-tingling, emotional stuff, and I never wanted Gilmour to stop wailing.
As for getting a sense of the recording space, and painting a visual picture, the S7t doesn’t fail. Rogrido y Gabriela’s furious flamenco guitar jam ‘Terracentric’ [Mettavolution, Rubyworks; 44.1kHz/24-bit] had a degree of physicality that was tangible. The feeling of air being shifted by these speakers was palpable, as was the evocation of the duo on a small stage. Again, these speakers do ‘loud’ with real class so, naturally, you wouldn’t buy the S7t (or SE) to play them quiet. But you should definitely think about buying them.
Rega Research io Integrated Amp Review
June 6, 2022 Comments Off on Rega Research io Integrated Amp Review
Based on my experiences with the Rega io, it definitely makes for a superb headphone amplifier. Headphone listeners will adore the Rega io’s sonic characteristics alongside its small, sleek physical footprint. Those seeking low-level background music may also appreciate the piece’s potential. However, given its relatively low power output one must take great care in choosing loudspeakers. Neither the 85dB efficient KEF LS50 Metas nor the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52s were well served by the io. Perhaps driving more efficient speakers the io might not produce the listening fatigue I experienced. Those crafting new systems must carefully pair their new Rega io with suitable and efficient loudspeakers. Those with a preexisting system including higher-output AV receivers likely haven’t thought as deeply about loudspeaker pairing. If you’re ditching your AV receiver for Rega’s io, please ensure your loudspeakers are either efficient or you’ve budgeted for new, more efficient loudspeakers. Pairing inefficient loudspeakers with the Rega io will only send beginner audiophiles back to their AV receivers where a recording’s detail, dynamics, and three-dimensionality often die. What’s certain is that dealers recommending the io to drive the KEF LS50 Metas are doing their customers and Rega Research for that matter a great disservice.
Warwick Acoustics BRAVURA electrostatic headphone system
June 5, 2022 Comments Off on Warwick Acoustics BRAVURA electrostatic headphone system
The BRAVURA treads lightly over the same ground, benefitting from that subtle DSP; that ‘modified pseudo-diffuse field’ frequency response curve, which already created a remarkably natural presentation. Having heard what the Sonoma M1 can do, this was the key ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ part of the overall performance and remains unchanged between Sonoma M1 Headphone and BRAVURA. This yields an even greater consistency to a system that is already inherently consistent, but the combination of BRAVURA and the DSP on the Sonoma M1 Amp has an additional level of clarity and tonal precision that most other headphone systems fail to get close to achieving. This comes over as sublime clarity and extension to voices, such as that of Joyce DiDonato [Stella De Napoli, Erato]. Here, she sounds on peak form, which is impressive because she always sounds on peak form, but the BRAVURA just lets her get on with singing with absolute clarity and extension. A true delight… as it was with the Sonoma M1 Headphone.
Marantz Model 40n Streaming Amplifier Review
June 5, 2022 Comments Off on Marantz Model 40n Streaming Amplifier Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/marantz-model-40n-streaming-amplifier
The Marantz ’40n/DALI set-up turned out to be an able pairing for – don’t shoot me – TV viewing, especially content featuring a lot of music. Case in point: ‘Letter To You’ on Apple TV+, a poignant ‘making of’ documentary featuring the latest album from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
It’s not the portentous tone of the narrator or the black-and-white photography that makes this documentary worth watching, but the excellent fidelity of the songs, and it’s certainly a step up to hear them played through the refined Model 40n. The Boss’s vocal reminiscences are suitably gritty, and when the band breaks into its first tune the amp handles the sudden jump in dynamics without hesitation. There’s something here for everyone.
Simaudio Moon Voice 22 Loudspeakers Review
June 4, 2022 Comments Off on Simaudio Moon Voice 22 Loudspeakers Review
https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1677-simaudio-moon-voice-22-loudspeakers
After a few weeks in the living room, I moved the 22s up to my main listening room, which is bigger—the ceiling is 8′ high again, but the main listening space is about 16′ wide by 18′ long. On top of that, the listening space behind my main listening chair opens into another 16′ by 18′ space that I use for storage. The speakers were atop the BBC stands, placed about 9′ apart from each other and 9′ from the listening chair, thus forming an equilateral triangle. The backs of the speakers were about 7′ from the wall behind them and 5′ to the walls beside them. This kind of setup puts small speakers at a severe disadvantage because they can’t benefit from room gain due to the significant speaker-to-wall distances, but it does allow me to hear more of the speakers and less of the room.
Powering the 22s through QED Supremus speaker cables was the Purifi Audio Eigentakt engineering-sample power amp I wrote about in September 2020. Driving the amp was an Anthem STR preamp-DAC (ARC room correction turned off), fed by streamed and SSD-stored digital music files from an Asus Zenbook UX303U laptop via a USB connection. Other cables and accessories were from Crystal Cable and Shunyata Research, as outlined in the equipment listing at the end of this review.
Ubiqaudiolab Ubicube Power Amplifier Review
June 4, 2022 Comments Off on Ubiqaudiolab Ubicube Power Amplifier Review
https://www.monoandstereo.com/2022/05/ubiqaudiolab-ubicube-power-amplifier.html
An uncompromising approach has also been implemented in the other supporting ancillary components such as the unique MCU control of all the amplifier’s vital protection functions, the special copper plates thermal management for the heat dissipating enclosure, the soft-start circuitry, the solid-state output switches with less than 1 milliohm, and so on.
Special attention has been paid to the rear panel of the amplifier, which houses one of the best connection sockets available on the market, as well as a beautiful design and an easy-to-understand explanation of the correct connection use and functions of this unique ubicube amplifier.
Vivid Audio G1 Spirit Loudspeakers Review
June 3, 2022 Comments Off on Vivid Audio G1 Spirit Loudspeakers Review
My obvious conclusion is that the Vivid Audio G1 Spirit loudspeakers are capable of simply magnificent transparency. I’m completely convinced. Does this come down to the acoustically slick enclosure design that mitigates any edge diffraction? Is it the driver complement, purpose-engineered and built specifically for these Vivid speakers? Or is it the result of some kind of magic that Laurence Dickie himself has conjured like Harry Potter into his flagship product? I can’t give you the answers to any of those questions (although I know for a fact that Laurence doesn’t look much like Harry). What I can tell you is that Vivid’s G1 Spirit loudspeakers are equipped with a resolving capability that is truly groundbreaking. And gosh, do they ever make dissecting the differences between connected electronics an absolute cinch.
My takeaway on the Vivids is this: The G1 Spirits will allow anyone to hear the true stereophonic beauty of the equipment they’ve so carefully assembled in their listening room. And since that beauty is only displayed when a system is actually playing back music, it’s the music lover who ultimately wins when listening to Vivid’s G1 Spirits.
Chord ClearwayX $19.70/m Review
June 3, 2022 Comments Off on Chord ClearwayX $19.70/m Review
https://www.whathifi.com/us/reviews/chord-clearwayx
With the Chord speaker cable linking the amplifiers to the speakers, we get an organised and musically cohesive performance. Listening to Hans Zimmer’s Interstellar OST, we can’t help but be engaged by the vivid dynamics and punch on offer. There’s an excellent level of insight and a sense of spaciousness that’s impressive.
Tonally, things are nicely even-handed, with the crisp yet controlled higher frequencies being balanced by a taut and authoritative bass. That feeling of cohesion is helped by a surefooted handling of rhythms and a fine sense of drive.
These strengths are highlighted when we play Massive Attack’s Heligoland where our systems render the sound with punch and power. We love the way instrumental textures are reproduced and the expressive way vocals come across. There’s plenty of clarity here and enough insight to dig deep into the dense production should you wish. Most importantly of all, we’re having fun.
KEF LS60 Wireless HiFi System
June 2, 2022 Comments Off on KEF LS60 Wireless HiFi System
https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/bits-and-bytes/kef-ls60-wireless-hifi-system-r1106/
The digital part of the LS60 Wireless is very close to the LS50. The same input platform is used (my guess is StreamUnlimited card) and the same reasonable restrictions are in place. A wired Ethernet connection between the speakers enables up through 24/192 playback, while a wireless connection is good up through 24/96. The speakers support receiving 24/384 and DSD, but this will be not be played natively.
Given that these speakers have internal digital signal processing (KEF calls its DSP suite the Music Integrity Engine), the input of anything above 24/96, or even DSD, is likely going to be downconverter anyway for processing. Not a big deal at all because the benefit of this DSP will greatly outweigh any real or perceived benefit of the higher resolution music.
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