FOCAL ARCHE REVIEW
July 7, 2020 Comments Off on FOCAL ARCHE REVIEW
“Without a doubt, the most interesting feature of the Arche is its ability to switch between individual preset modes for each of Focal’s range of audiophile headphones. Using the volume dial, the user is able to choose the setting for their headphone of choice, and a unique EQ profile is applied. Using the Stellia, the effect is extremely noticeable – there’s a distinct smoothing of the Stellia’s top-end, and its signature aggression is mildly reigned-in. I’m looking forward to testing-out the Arche with a range of non-Focal headphones to understand whether it’s a worthwhile contender as a do-all, all-in-one unit – it’s features and form-factor are all looking positive so far. The Focal Clear will also be joining the Arche in-house in the next week or so (review on that one also inbound!), so the Clear/Arche pairing will also get a thorough testing. Stay tuned!
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Noble Audio Sultan Review $2900 Review
July 6, 2020 Comments Off on Noble Audio Sultan Review $2900 Review
“Vocals on the Sultan are forward, particularly for higher-pitched vocals but they are not quite as forward as the Khan. The Khan was fairly strong around 2-3k and the Sultan feels closer to 1-2k and slightly milder which is great for some male vocals which often get a nice natural sounding lift without diminishing lower-mids instrumental presence.
Female vocals, depending on the pitch, sound a little further forward than male vocals for me and they do get a little cleaner with a slightly heavier mix of upper harmonics from the Sultan treble tuning.”
Monitor Audio Bronze 100 $595 Review
July 6, 2020 Comments Off on Monitor Audio Bronze 100 $595 Review
On the plus side, those changes in mid/bass and cabinet size help the speakers produce an output of impressive scale and authority. Play Hans Zimmer’s Interstellar OST and the Bronze 100s render a huge sound underpinned by a good hefty slab of bass. They can play loudly too, retaining their composure even when pushed to high levels with demanding music such as this.
The Monitor Audios are also clear and manage to dig up a fair amount of detail. On a dense and demanding track, such as Where We’re Going, they do a good job of separating the various instrumental strands and keeping them easy to follow.
Switching to Melody Gardot’s The Absence shows off the Bronze’s even tonal balance and their impressive agility. They’re upfront, punchy and decently precise, and Gardot’s distinctive voice is well-projected and securely placed front and centre.”
MAGICO A1 STAND-MOUNT LOUDSPEAKER £8,888 REVIEW
July 5, 2020 Comments Off on MAGICO A1 STAND-MOUNT LOUDSPEAKER £8,888 REVIEW
“Naturally, such an inherently informative loudspeaker gives good dynamic range and soundstaging, but these elements are more ‘there’ than ‘directly noticeable’. Some systems are so dynamic they can make a piccolo sound like an atom bomb, but the Magico has more restraint. Not too much restraint though. It’s like the dynamic equivalent of the Han Solo ‘fly casual’ quote. Ultimately, there are few things the Magico A1 doesn’t do really well, and most of those are more to do with not trying to bend the laws of physics with respect to cabinet size. In other words, what it doesn’t do is be dishonest with the music.”
Amazon Music Unlimited Review
July 5, 2020 Comments Off on Amazon Music Unlimited Review
Amazon Music Unlimited also works on its homegrown Echo and Dot wireless speakers, as does Spotify.And Amazon has worked to further its service’s functionality, integration and intelligence with its voice-control assistant. For example, saying “Alexa, try Amazon Music Unlimited” gets you up and running with the service.You can ask it to play certain songs, albums or artists (“Alexa, play Stormzy” will shuffle his songs) or, for example, 80s pop.
You can even search by lyrics; say “Alexa, play the song with the lyrics ‘hello, is it me you’re looking for?’” and it complies – even if it does choose a cover rather than Lionel Richie’s original. “What cover is this?” we ask. “Zooey Deschanel’s from the Trolls soundtrack” we are told. Like we didn’t know.
MBL Noble Line N11 line preamplifier $14,600 Review
July 2, 2020 Comments Off on MBL Noble Line N11 line preamplifier $14,600 Review
I switched to Nordost Titanium Sort Kones under the HDPlex LPS that powers my Roon Nucleus+ music server/streamer, external USB hub, and the final Sonore optical Module—MBL’s N11 preamp seemed an ideal match. Engaging Unity Gain provided the best bass control I’d ever heard from my system, save when I used the far more expensive D’Agostino Momentum HD preamp ($40,000), which in my opinion deserves a Product of the Year award. The N11’s Unity Gain also toned down the noisy top ends of some recordings, making for easier listening. Tonalities were spot on, the range of colors varied and intriguing, and the listening experience a joy.
ANDOVER AUDIO PM-50 $500 REVIEW
July 2, 2020 Comments Off on ANDOVER AUDIO PM-50 $500 REVIEW
“I’m sure many of you haven’t heard about the US based Andover audio, certainly when it comes to headphones. But the team behind Andover comes from several famous companies such as Apogee Acoustics, Acoustic Research, Harman, Bose and a/d/s/. Since its formation in 2012, Andover Audio has provided its design and manufacturing services to the most recognized brands in automotive, telecommunications, and high-performance consumer audio. Andover is now focusing on its own branded products, blending innovative audio technologies with distinctive design.”
Tannoy Revolution XT 6 loudspeaker $1050 Review
July 1, 2020 Comments Off on Tannoy Revolution XT 6 loudspeaker $1050 Review
“The sound was relaxed and clear. Best of all, the voices, especially the gravelly voice of Miles—as performed by Carl Lumbly—were there in all their textural and tonal glory. This positioning, only 6″ from the wall behind them, seemed to make the 50–300Hz octaves smoother, more correct-sounding and better integrated than they were on stands in my floor system. I’m not sure why I wasn’t getting similar room reinforcement when they were placed on the stands; maybe the difference comes from the different listening positions. In any case, this should be one of the key takeaways from this review: the XT 6 should sound spectacular on your bureau or desk.”
LIME EARS PSI €625 REVIEW
July 1, 2020 Comments Off on LIME EARS PSI €625 REVIEW
“Buttery smooth finish and bubble-free as you would expect in terms of finishing, however, what it did notice is the little change under lighting. Under indoor conditions, the finish has a darker look but when you shine the light on it then it has more brilliance in the shine. I suspect that is the translucent shell allowing natural sunlight to exaggerate the visual aesthetic.
Lime Ears have also gone for a wide nozzle ‘nub’ and a flat dual-bore finish so this is not a Vari Bore design since the two bores are of equal size. The bass switch to the base of the faceplate on each side is also very easy to adjust and not too close to the surface. The sockets are 2-pin 0.78mm and sit flush to the outer shell in an over-the-ear configuration for cable use.
Audiophilepure 
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