McIntosh C53 Preamplifier and MCT500 SACD/CD Transport Review
June 8, 2021 Comments Off on McIntosh C53 Preamplifier and MCT500 SACD/CD Transport Review
So that I don’t come out sounding like a complete spoilsport when it comes to my earlier broadside against superhero movies, my 14-year-old daughter has become quite the fan of Marvel Comics and the movies made from them. During the pandemic she watched them all, and I will confess to having a good time joining her for some of these, notably Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which is filled with more action and CGI than any ten movies can handle. The sound work is genuinely sensational, which is exactly the way it sounded with the soundtrack routed through my two-channel setup: everything clear, clean, well separated and registered, with dynamic range wider than can be comfortably accommodated in a domestic setting—during some of the battle scenes the detonations were such as to make me happy our house is anchored to its foundation. And, yes, I confess, very dramatic, very exciting, very entertaining, and no, never once did we miss back channels.
Muarah MT-1 EVO and PSC Precision Speed Controller Review
June 7, 2021 Comments Off on Muarah MT-1 EVO and PSC Precision Speed Controller Review
Associating the illuminated green Muarah logo and red LED with the McIntosh company is quite a stretch. If we are to look for the similarity of our logotype to other brands, we recommend the automotive direction, in particular the logo of the iconic Maserati car – Merak…
I assume you will be using the PSC power supply. The rotational speed is changed with a small switch located on its bottom. On the display we can read a current speed, and a small diode placed next to this indication will inform us that the motor has entered its Silent Mode. It consists in the fact that after accelerating the platter to proper speed, the voltage for the motor is reduced by 30%, which significantly reduces its vibrations, and thus noise. This power supply can now be ordered for Transrotor (3 motor control), VPI (10W version) and others.
Simaudio MOON 740P Preamplifier $9000 Review
June 5, 2021 Comments Off on Simaudio MOON 740P Preamplifier $9000 Review
If you are looking for a preamp and you have a system (without a preamp) that has a retail price of $25k and up, the Moon 740P is well worth auditioning. I have not experienced a better preamp at this point in my audiophile journey. If I was not in the process of buying a new home, the 740P would not have left my system, and maybe one day will come back to it. It did nearly everything right, and looked great while doing it. I look forward to hopefully having the chance to explore the rest of the MOON line, if the 740P is any indicator I need to first make sure my wallet is ready.
MUSIC HALL CLASSIC TURNTABLE $599 REVIEW
June 5, 2021 Comments Off on MUSIC HALL CLASSIC TURNTABLE $599 REVIEW
The Music Hall Classic turntable has the look and features that can rival the more expensive ones out there. It is a well-built and attractive-looking turntable that is loaded with features such as touch-sensitive speed selector buttons, the auto-lift/auto-stop feature, and a built-in phono stage preamplifier. More importantly, the Classic backs up those desirable operational features with its strong vinyl-playback performance, producing highly musical sonic traits that brought me a delightful listening experience. With the combination of strong sonic performance and desirable features, the Music Hall Classic turntable is a product of significant value that is hard to beat in its price range.
SVS SB-1000 Pro and PB-1000 Pro Subwoofers $499 Review
June 4, 2021 Comments Off on SVS SB-1000 Pro and PB-1000 Pro Subwoofers $499 Review
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/svs-sb-1000-pro-and-pb-1000-pro-subwoofers-review
A good example of the SB-1000 Pro’s musical competency could be heard on Norah Jones’ debut album Come Away With Me. This album is now nearly 20 years old, but arguably her best as it offers a great mix of soul, pop, jazz, and country tunes. Her cover of Hank Williams’ “Cold, Cold Heart” is still one of my favorite renditions of that tune due to its simple arrangement—just bass, piano, and Jones’ silky-smooth voice. The bass sets the mood out of the gate and it’s important for the subwoofer to convey it because most speakers can’t dig deep enough to do the track justice. The SB-1000 Pro sub really shined here, rendering the bass in a tight, punchy manner and never overpowering the vocals or piano.
Roon Labs Version 1.8
June 2, 2021 Comments Off on Roon Labs Version 1.8
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2021/3/17/ddp234k7sqarz2rnpfr8vwyt8ce6d7
When Roon Labs jumped into the arena, the cool thing was its use of the internet together with its knowledge base to supply you in real time active metadata about the music it played or it would make suggestions. You could explore/investigate/research/learn/discover while listening to music supplied by your own sources. One could even stop playing music and continue reading/discovering. Roon is not just a player software—just as an iPhone is not just a phone. And machine learning was part of its game: offering you `intelligent’ suggestions, once it got the hang of your listening habits by studying it (i.e., using it as data to feed its algorithm). It was exciting and fun.
AUDIO-GD NFB-1 AMP HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER/PREAMP Review
June 2, 2021 Comments Off on AUDIO-GD NFB-1 AMP HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER/PREAMP Review
a solid-state amp sounds tuby is rolled off highs and anemic bottom end, with high levels of THD added in to boot), what the NFB-1 AMP does sound like is what an amplifier should sound like, which is nothing, no coloration, or more to the point, like music, completely transparent.
For anyone looking for a top-notch headphone amplifier that works well with all types of headphone and music or an inexpensive preamp with a built-in headphone amp, then Audio-gd has your ticket and it is called the NFB-1 AMP.
iFi iDSD Diablo Headphone DAC/Amplifier Review
June 1, 2021 Comments Off on iFi iDSD Diablo Headphone DAC/Amplifier Review
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2021/4/23/ifi-diablo
Bass notes by the late Chi Cheng had all the visceral buzz and pop you could ask for, and none of it was lost in the incredibly dense mix. Tone was good, if a little on the dry side, but the transient attacks were remarkably vivid. The aggressive drum fill that begins the next track ‘Rapture’ was startling, ferocious, but every head stroke was exquisitely defined, and filled with energy. On ‘Beware’, a long time demo-track for me, the frequency range presented by the Diablo-Sennheiser combo was impressive, almost other-worldly, with deep controlled bass, and extended airy highs. However, the synthesizer and other electronic samples didn’t have the warmth and body that I come to expect in truly high end DACs.
Reel-to-Reel for Life
June 1, 2021 Comments Off on Reel-to-Reel for Life
https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/international/soundstage-uk/1550-reel-to-reel-for-life
Ultimately, though, the valve comeback surprised everyone. In 2021, tube supplies are no longer an issue, and the dark years of dodgy valves from China are pretty much over. Indeed, the standards for many tubes today are as high, if not higher, than they were when tubes were the sole electronic device prior to transistors. Just look closely at today’s best 300Bs, 6550s and KT88s; the more recent KT90s, KT120s, and KT150s; or the smaller input tubes such as ECC88s from the specialists. Tube-o-philes have, indeed, been blessed.
If you now substitute “LPs,” “vinyl,” or “records” for every mention of valves or tubes above, it’s the same state of blessed rescue, but with an even greater, more successful rebirth because the appeal of LPs is broader than that of tube electronics. Whatever the numbers, though, the point here is that not once but twice the hi-fi industry responded to resurrections of dead or near-dead technology, and the music biz revived a deceased format. As one who witnessed the decline and rebirth of both, I remain stunned.
SILVERSMITH AUDIO FIDELIUM SPEAKER CABLES
May 31, 2021 Comments Off on SILVERSMITH AUDIO FIDELIUM SPEAKER CABLES
Silversmith Audio Fidelium Speaker Cables
I love a great entrepreneur story. A designer has a concept and the engineering chops to see it through to completion and then devotes years to perfecting that concept. I particularly love it when the engineer is also a military veteran who continues his work and passion between deployments overseas. Jeffrey Smith followed his dream for twenty years while on active duty or the reserves. Now that he has retired and has at the same time developed this best iteration of his research, it is time to get the word out about the Fidelium Cable. In the world of high-end cables, it is a steal. $995 USD for each 6ft. stereo set. These cables do compete with higher-priced cables. They also look terrific—a deep gold river running from your amp to your speakers.
Over time great values in audio reveal themselves. Gear that performs to an audiophile’s expectations yet leaves room in the budget for other gear or more music. Gear like an ELAC speaker or KEF LS50, a Luxman integrated or a VPI Scout turntable. Each find improves the system yet leaves some budget on the table for later. Seasoned audiophiles recognize these products for their performance versus their affordable prices. The Silversmith Audio Fidelium speaker cables should join the conversation, and as an audiophile, you should take notice and find a way to schedule an audition. I suspect you will have some new cables in your system soon. Highly recommended.
Audiophilepure 
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