Audio Research • Reference 6 SE Preamplifier $17,000 Review
March 30, 2021 Comments Off on Audio Research • Reference 6 SE Preamplifier $17,000 Review
http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/audio_research_reference_6_se.htm
The Reference 6 did an admirable job of reproducing the sound of one of the world’s great halls. But this is a disc that reveals the entirety of the musical benefits of the Reference 6 SE, the walls expanding and the hall boundaries becoming distinct, the dynamic range growing wider and more pronounced at the macro end, the overall resolution an absolute to my ears. I have heard this music reproduced to even greater effect, with a system featuring the Wadax Atlantis Reference DAC and Robert Koda K15 line stage at the 2019 High End show coming to mind; but that’s topping a couple hundred thousand dollars for just those two components. For a tenth of the cost, the combination of Reference 6 SE and Neodio Origine CD player came affordably close to the otherworldly sound produced by
seriously, and seriously expensive, state-of-the-art products.
AURALIC ALTAIR G1 WIRELESS STREAMER/DAC $2889 REVIEW
March 29, 2021 Comments Off on AURALIC ALTAIR G1 WIRELESS STREAMER/DAC $2889 REVIEW
Finally, I’d like to note that the headphone amplifier feature of the ALTAIR G1 is much improved over the one in the original ALTAIR. AURALiC seemed to add the headphone feature in the original ALTAIR as just a throwaway convenience and did not care about its performance much. But, the improved headphone sonic performance in the ALTAIR G1 makes me think that AURALiC considers it as one of the important features of the product now. Clarity and transparency were the sonic attributes that were noticeably improved when listening using Massdrop X Sennheiser HD6XX headphones through the ALTAIR G1. Midrange sounded solid, treble was extended but not excessive, and bass was plentiful and well defined. The sense-of-space presentation was no slouch either, although as noticeable on some tracks, this seemed to be the area that could use some improvement. But overall, the headphone feature of the ALTAIR G1 is respectable and should satisfy casual to moderately serious headphone listeners.
FOCAL CLEAR HEADPHONE REVIEW
March 29, 2021 Comments Off on FOCAL CLEAR HEADPHONE REVIEW
https://www.monoandstereo.com/2021/02/focal-clear-headphone-review.html
There is a general expectation of soundstage with open headphones, unfortunately, the Clear does not meet that expectation. Instruments are placed closer to you and high up, rather than spread out in front of you. That said, the instrument separation is good. While it’s not the best option for orchestral music, the soundstage doesn’t cause any fatigue in any music genre.
Icon Audio HP8 MkII Signature Headphone Amplifier Review
March 28, 2021 Comments Off on Icon Audio HP8 MkII Signature Headphone Amplifier Review
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2021/2/1/0t4as8dlvsipy6zuup151430h32qvc
I started with a record I recently imported from Japan, Julie IV, Ima Boku Ha Shiawase Desu (I’m Happy Now), the fourth solo album by former Tigers and PYG vocalist Kenji Sawada. This record is a unique album in his discography as he strays away from the pop-rock he was known for on his previous outings and embraces a more intimate folk and country sound. Much of the album features dueling acoustic and electric blues guitar, as well as various piano and organ overdubs. One of the first things I noticed was how well the HP8 portrayed different instruments harmonic qualities. The last time I listened to this album on my speaker setup, the various guitars tended to blend into one another, but here they were individual voices with their own timbral characteristics. I could hear the different picking styles employed as well.
Aurelia XO Cerica XL Loudspeakers $11,000 Review
March 28, 2021 Comments Off on Aurelia XO Cerica XL Loudspeakers $11,000 Review
https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1525-aurelia-xo-cerica-xl-loudspeakers
By describing the Cerica XL’s bass as slightly rich, I’m not sugarcoating a shortcoming. The Aurelias’ bass was plenty tight, and worked perfectly—I wouldn’t change a thing. Just listen to Gord Sinclair’s lithe bass guitar in the title track of The Tragically Hip’s Fully Completely (LP, Geffen 4704109). Sinclair’s bass playing is understandably underrated, given that this band’s sound orbited around the late Gord Downie’s singing. But Sinclair’s got the chops. Through the Cerica XLs I could hear his bass’s warm, rich growl with a touch more roundness than I can from my Focus Audio FP60 BE speakers. Admittedly, the Focus Audios are minimonitors, but they punch far above their weight, and I’ve never found their bass lacking in any way. So yeah—the Cerica XL was just a bit warmer down there.
AYA AUDIO SIREN REVIEW
March 27, 2021 Comments Off on AYA AUDIO SIREN REVIEW
The treble is very bright in the Siren with good definition and extension. It’s also articulated and nicely separated. But in busy tracks, the treble tends to be a bit mixed and congested. This doesn’t happen usually but happens to depend on the recording.
So the treble is a bit aggressive and forward and it’s the focal point of the Siren. If you like to hear your cymbals in front, then this is your answer. While I think this presentation is a bit over the edge, I think there are people who would like this certain character. Once again, there’s a good resolution and transparency here, a strong suit of the Siren.
NAD C 298 Stereo Amplifier Review
March 27, 2021 Comments Off on NAD C 298 Stereo Amplifier Review
https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1528-nad-c298-stereo-amplifier
I let the rest of the album play out, enjoying all the layers of detail presented to me by the C 298 with such apparent ease. In each track, voices and synths are added over electric bass and those drums, layer upon layer. Random Access Memories highlighted some of the NAD’s strengths—the C 298 delivered huge amounts of detail across the entire audioband. The album’s high energy came through in spades, the amp always providing quick-sounding bass, mids, and highs. Its reproduction of the treble was excellent—I heard no faults whatsoever. I soon began to prefer its ever-so-slightly more “polite” sound over the slightly splashier highs I’m used to from my Bryston, whose sound can, at higher volume levels, be a little too hot for my taste.
MoFi UltraDeck+M Review
March 26, 2021 Comments Off on MoFi UltraDeck+M Review
https://www.hifichoice.com/content/mofi-ultradeckm
In terms of midband clarity, the UltraDeck+M scores a full house once again. Instruments are beautifully rendered and positioned perfectly within a capacious yet well-ordered soundstage. Even better, vocals have an exceptional sense of air, space and, above all, realism. Playing Let’s Eat Grandma’s Donnie Darko gives the UltraDeck+M a real chance to shine. Rosa Walton’s vocals are projected out into the room perfectly and the backing guitar work has just the right amount of edge to it. Add in a thundering synth bassline and the composure it maintains as the track draws to its crescendo is difficult to better at this – or any – price.
Usher Audio SD-500 Loudspeaker Review
March 26, 2021 Comments Off on Usher Audio SD-500 Loudspeaker Review
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2020/11/30/usher-sd-500-loudspeaker
One of my reference recordings for its sense of space is the Cowboy Junkies 1988 sophomore release The Trinity Session (RCA), which was recorded after hours in a gothic revival church. The recording took place almost entirely in one session using a single mic and DAT recorder. Trigger alert—this is one recording where the original CD sounds better than its vinyl counterpart. I own both and I’ve compared them. The band’s desolate readings of country and folk classics audibly fill the large church and the beautiful reverb adds to their haunting power. To be sure, it’s a simple recording that sounds great on most equipment, but the DMD tweeter takes it to the next level.
Novafidelity HA500H £2,200 Review
March 25, 2021 Comments Off on Novafidelity HA500H £2,200 Review
https://www.hifichoice.com/content/novafidelity-ha500h
Unlike the other models in the range, this is a headphone amplifier/DAC lacking any kind of network connectivity, let alone the internal storage options also produced by Novafidelity. But if that makes the HA500H sound a bit bare-bones for the money, it’s anything but. This is a particularly flexible device for those committed to headphone listening, not to mention one capable of exceptional performance.
With casework and design likely to remind those with a long memory of the much-lamented Oppo HA-1 headphone amp (HFC 390), which like some very fine headphones became a victim of its parent company’s decision to withdraw from the audio market to concentrate on mobile phones, the Novafidelity offers a wide range of options for the headphone listener. For starters, it’s both a headphone amp and a DAC, and with its built-in volume control can also be used as a preamp straight into a power amplifier or even active speakers. Both unbalanced and XLR balanced outputs are available, with the HA500H also having the same choice of analogue inputs, so that it can be fed straight from a source component or the line outputs of a conventional amplifier.
Audiophilepure 
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