Core Power Ground Zero $599 Review
June 26, 2021 Comments Off on Core Power Ground Zero $599 Review
Core Power Ground Zero
When operated within its operational limit, the Ground Zero brings no compromise to the musical signal. Like a good doctor, we want power products to do no harm to the audio waveform. Running through a long playlist of both dynamic rock and classical music, along with a number of delicate acoustic pieces, it’s clear that neither dynamics nor tonality are affected by inserting the Ground Zero.
The Ground Zero works as promised, solves the problems it was designed to address, and is reasonably priced. Right now, Underwood HiFi is offering an intro price of $399 – even better. There’s no point in buying exotic four and five figure power conditioning products for an $800 vintage component, or a budget tube amplifier. For that, we are happy to award the Ground Zero one of our Exceptional Value Awards for 2021. If you’re having this problem, you need one.
FIIO M11 PLUS LTD REVIEW
June 25, 2021 Comments Off on FIIO M11 PLUS LTD REVIEW
To ensure the best performances, FiiO developed a fourth-generation FPGA chip with “more advanced algorithms, more accurate clocks, and even further reduced jitter”. Add a set of two custom Japanese NDK femtosecond crystals, and here you have your full DSD512 / PCM 32bit/768kHz support.
And to top of all that, the M11 Plus LTD continue to use THX-AA78 amps, the same found in the previous M11 Pro. Glorious amp chips even if a bit less powerful than the one found in the M15. In fact, the M11 Plus LTD output the same level of power as the M11 Pro, with a 1mW variance.
Rotel Michi X3 Integrated Amplifier Review
June 25, 2021 Comments Off on Rotel Michi X3 Integrated Amplifier Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/rotel-michi-x3-integrated-amplifier
The combination of great recordings and the kind of loving transcription that are the hallmark of the 2xHD project makes the music spring to life anew, and the Michi X3 has all the speed, warmth and control to make the most of it. And that held true whether with my big old PMC OB1 speakers or the smaller, faster Neat Iota Xplorer.
And if there was any doubt of the massive clean power here, a swift play of the big, magnificent LSO/Noseda recording of Shostakovich’s 9th Symphony [LSO Live LSO0828; DSD256] shows that soundstaging, agility and massive clout off to great effect. Despite the dynamic swings involved – and you can crank the volume level as high as you want – there’s no hardening of the sound or suggestion of the X3 raising a bead of sweat as it breezes through the huge musical event.
AUDIOVECTOR R6 ARRETÉ FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKER REVIEW
June 24, 2021 Comments Off on AUDIOVECTOR R6 ARRETÉ FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKER REVIEW
Audiovector R6 Arreté floorstanding loudspeaker
So, I come back to my opening gambit. The Audiovector R6 Arreté deserves to be better known. It’s part of a new shape to high-end audio; a distinctly European approach that meets the demands of smaller rooms and listeners without man-caves. It’s a younger, possibly more chic approach that recognises the importance of sonic performance and domestic styling. It’s also a distinctly Continental sound too, with a performance that doesn’t just maximise a single quality but goes for a more well-rounded approach. The fact it does that with a new ‘compound bass’ isobaric loading system making good, deep, fast bass a realistic goal moves this speaker into the ‘must hear’ stakes. As a result, it’s galling not to see this fine loudspeaker rubbing shoulders with the biggest names in high-end audio. In terms of sonic appeal, build quality and looks, it more than deserves its place at the top table. Partner this with good electronics (not simply good Danish electronics, but that aforementioned Gryphon does make a lot of sense) and you have a system that can take on all comers from around the world. And
Audio Research Reference 80S Tube Power Amplifier Review
June 24, 2021 Comments Off on Audio Research Reference 80S Tube Power Amplifier Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/audio-research-reference-80s-tube-power-amplifier
If Audio Research’s first act of freedom was to embrace the ‘everyday’ audiophile then the forthcoming I-series looks to be just the ticket, just as this REF80S is surely the most accessible and compelling gateway to its top-tier Reference range yet offered. It’s hardly beer-budget stuff but the fiscal strain will likely prove secondary to the emotional wrench if you hear this amp in full flight but then must walk away.
SEEAUDIO YUME REVIEW
June 23, 2021 Comments Off on SEEAUDIO YUME REVIEW
On each side, the brand emblazoned a different picture. While the left side displays SeeAudio’s logo (a mystic eye) and the brand name, the right side exhibits a blade-like sigil, underlined by the IEM’s name, Yume.
The cable is equally good and if you can find better ones on the market, there are far worse options than this one. It’s braided, straight-shaped at the end, and feels pretty robust. At least enough to withstand a daily dose of commuting abuse.
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO Turntable $499 Review
June 23, 2021 Comments Off on Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO Turntable $499 Review
By the time I finished with this review, the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO had disappeared into my system. It sounded terrific, and for a while there I was totally content with a turntable that costs a fifth of my main deck. That’s almost astonishing, but not quite, not really, since I know Pro-Ject makes great-sounding gear at reasonable prices. The EVO is no exception, and I can easily recommend it to anyone looking for an entry-level turntable that’ll perform for years to come. It’s the sort of turntable that a first-time audiophile could build a system around, and not need to upgrade for a long while. To my ears, this is the one to beat.
Rotel RA-1572MKII Integrated Amplifier-DAC Review
June 18, 2021 Comments Off on Rotel RA-1572MKII Integrated Amplifier-DAC Review
Lyngdorf Audio’s similarly priced TDAI-1120 integrated ($2199, review coming soon) has many more features, including streaming, bass management, and room correction—but it couldn’t drive my MartinLogan electrostats to the room-filling levels I could get with the Rotel RA-1572MKII. However, for driving smaller, more efficient speakers—e.g., the PSB Alpha T20s—in a smaller room, and/or for integrating a subwoofer(s) and using room correction, the Lyngdorf is an excellent choice at this price. But when used as a straight stereo integrated driving nearly full-range speakers, the Lyngdorf couldn’t compete with the Rotel.
Spendor A4 $3795 Review
June 18, 2021 Comments Off on Spendor A4 $3795 Review
The Spendor A4s have a lot of positive aspects. They do not overtly attempt to redefine basic concepts of speaker design, the way the Gradient 1.4s do, for example. But they are small and elegant looking; they will play quite loudly with surprisingly good bass extension; they are easy to drive with no impedance glitches, although they are only medium in sensitivity; and they have a smooth and natural-sounding top end. Above 1kHz there is little to object to about them although there is a bit of excess energy around 7kHz and there is a (harmless and perhaps even advantageous) dip at 3kHz. But they have an unusual overall balance that is not really correct, and not really consistent with the sound of live music, unless the balance is corrected somehow. However, their smoothness makes such correction easy, and, fixed up properly, the A4s sound very good indeed, and very true to the source material. Smoothness counts, if it is balanced right.
HIFIMAN HE-R10P REVIEW
June 17, 2021 Comments Off on HIFIMAN HE-R10P REVIEW
Sound stage-wise the Hifiman HE-R10P scores very well in both width and depth, though the Susvara still outperforms it. For a closed headphone however this is really good and the layering and extension are really nicely done. What I am missing a bit in the R10P compared to the level of the Susvara is the note extension and decay, especially in the mid-section. Treble-wise the R10P is softer, very easygoing and more limited. It’s probably its least strong point, especially when compared to the Susvara.
As expected from a flagship headphone, the R10P also shines when it comes to PRaT, preciseness and detail rendering. You at all times get a very rich sound with excellent L/R balance and stereo imaging. From highs to lows, the R10P has a great dynamic feeling to it. The R10P produces a very clean sound, though the clarity could still be a bit improved (
Audiophilepure 
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