Pass Labs XP-12 Line-Level Preamplifier Review
November 12, 2020 Comments Off on Pass Labs XP-12 Line-Level Preamplifier Review
“In today’s world, many listeners want a hifi that can provide high-fidelity listening from a number of popular sources, including streaming, Red Book CDs, as well as the always popular vinyl records.
So, for this article I thought it would be useful in characterizing the XP-12’s performance while listening to both digital and vinyl, as the output from a digital source goes directly into the XP-12, giving a clear picture of its line-level performance attributes without the additional sonic signature from a phono preamp and its associated cabling.
I haven’t had a dedicated Red Book CD player in my primary music system in quite a long time. As a result, I have not listened much to my 1000+ Red Book CD collection in ages, and until the arrival of the Audio Note (UK) CD 2.1x/II Level Two Red Book CD player, I had considered most Red Book CDs to be a lost cause for music listening based on past experiences.
Empire Ears Odin Review $3399 Review
November 10, 2020 Comments Off on Empire Ears Odin Review $3399 Review
“The low-end shaping contributes much to the slightly cooler nature of the Odin lower-range instrumental and male vocal timbre. That sub-bass tuning is incredibly potent but importantly, very controlled in terms of dynamic range. That means it hits hard when loud and stays quiet and nuanced when not required.
This is not a bloomy, dense, and omnipotent bass presence primarily due to the drop around 100Hz and dipped lower-mids right up to 1k. This keeps the warmth in check but also means instruments in this range lack a little girth, richness, or liquidity. That is a preference call because on the flipside the separation, clarity, and articulation from the lower-mids are outstanding.
And the power, oh my. The lowest fundamental on the Odin’s instrumental timbre is just fantastic. Combine that with the aforementioned dynamic range and control and it is a tailor-made tuning for that sparse but weighty modern R’n’B sound but at the same time really add some critical authority to double kick drums so critical to metal standards.”
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo review
November 10, 2020 Comments Off on Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo review
https://www.whathifi.com/us/reviews/pro-ject-debut-carbon-evo
Of course, that is of little surprise. The company has long proven its ability to offer up a magnificently plush midrange, with vocals so often a particular treat when given so much warmth and held up by plenty of weight in the bass.
It is also partnered with a great deal of detail and texture. Where competitors might beef up their sound in an attempt to disguise a lack of real insight, Pro-Ject here welcomes you to explore its vast sonic range, proving its aptitude for making a deck that is both easy to listen to and prepared for deeper, more analytical sessions.
That easy listening, unfussy nature is invaluable for a turntable of this type, at this price, given the vast array of products with which it might be partnered, but again that would be next to worthless if the new Debut lacked the ability to engage.
HIFIMAN DEVA WIRED REVIEW
November 9, 2020 Comments Off on HIFIMAN DEVA WIRED REVIEW
Extensive, airy, energetic. This is the portrait DEVA draws for me. Some may find the bite a tad excessive, but with the right source selection, this becomes an advantage for PRaT. The attack & decay of transients are impressive to say the least. Treble does not feel artificial just like the rest of the spectrum. It stays true to tone and stays within the limits of the excellent coherency DEVA possesses. Crashes and upper piano keys have very definitive texture to them. The overall treble presentation is clear and well-done like the rest of the spectrum.”
Simaudio MOON 780D v2 Network Attached DAC Review
November 9, 2020 Comments Off on Simaudio MOON 780D v2 Network Attached DAC Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/simaudio-moon-780d-v2-network-attached-dac
“But don’t be fooled into thinking this is one of those hi-fi components only really suited to hyper-clean recordings of the kind used for hi-fi demonstrations which, after all, just about any decent system can play well. Push it harder with the full-on attack of parts of Arabella Steinbacher’s Four Seasons [Pentatone PTC 5186746; DXD], combining Vivaldi’s familiar warhorse with Piazzolla’s less-known work on the same theme, and it does a fabulous job with the tango rhythms of the Piazzolla, both with the stabs of strings and the rumble of the basses of the Munich Chamber Orchestra. Then it goes on to drive hard with Steinbacher’s ‘take no prisoners’ charge through the Winter section of the Vivaldi, delivering it in truly thrilling fashion as those snowflakes seem to blizzard out of the loudspeakers!
Up the scale of the musical forces to a full symphony orchestra – in this case the Oslo Philharmonic under Petrenko playing Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Festival Overture [Lawo Classics LWC1198; DXD] – or some charging rock, and the ability of the 780D v2 to deliver low-end power and grip while laying open all that’s going above, however complex, is never in doubt.”
Rotel Michi P5 preamplifier $3999 Review
November 8, 2020 Comments Off on Rotel Michi P5 preamplifier $3999 Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/rotel-michi-p5-preamplifier
Beck’s Sea Change MQA (Geffen Records 0694935372, 24/384 Tidal MQA stream) rendering via the P5 was an unalloyed delight, each instrument full of tone and super-intimate, his voice dead center and massive in an upfront but rather flat soundstage. Morning Phase (Capitol Records XUNI30711F96, 24/384 Tidal MQA stream) was the best-sounding file of the MQA bunch that I played through the P5, a vast improvement over the 16/44.1 file in depth, impact, clarity, density, and aliveness. The sound was beautiful but also eerie in a way I couldn’t put my finger on.
My conclusion: MQA via the P5’s DAC is allowing me to hear deeper into these recordings for what they actually sound like. Each MQA file sounded very different. Some sounded incredible, some ordinary, a few hard to listen to. The Beck files were incredible on every level.
Overall, MQA files played through the P5 had superior resolution, clarity, weight, intimacy, saturated tones, and a seemingly bottomless noise floor, while also sounding somewhat “treated” and otherworldly.
NAIM AUDIO NAIT XS 3 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
November 7, 2020 Comments Off on NAIM AUDIO NAIT XS 3 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
Naim Audio Nait XS 3 integrated amplifier
I began this review discussing selling a lot of Naits 30 years hence. The sound of Naim has changed since then. Those who want a time machine instead of an amplifier prefer that more characterful, chummy sound, but that sound may have been well suited to the loudspeakers and music of 30 or 40 years ago. The XS 3 is perfect for someone who might also want to listen to music recorded after 1986… and some of that music is really quite good too!
The reason why I used to sell so many Naits 30 years ago was down to one big thing; it sounded damn good. Thirty years on, the core concepts have not changed: the Nait was a damn good amplifier then, and the Naim Audio Nait XS 3 is a damn good amplifier now. If we’ve come full circle, that seems like it’s a good thing… although sadly I’m not holding out for Nirvana reforming any time soon.
Focal Utopia Phones Flagship Review
November 7, 2020 Comments Off on Focal Utopia Phones Flagship Review
”
As you take the Utopias out of their supplied carrying case, you’ll quickly notice the high level of fit and finish these headphones offer – just like a pair of Grande Utopia Ems. Everything is machined to a standard that you might expect from an F1 car or fine wristwatch. With Focal, engineering and craftsmanship always serves the art. Beautiful to behold, yes. But remarkable to listen to.”
YG ACOUSTICS VANTAGE FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKER £39,990 REVIEW
November 6, 2020 Comments Off on YG ACOUSTICS VANTAGE FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKER £39,990 REVIEW
“Last, let me reference the track ‘The Town Burns’ from John Williams’ original soundtrack for the film Rosewood [Sony Masterworks, 16/44.1]. ‘The Town Burns’ conveys a dark sense of foreboding conveyed in no small part by deep, very low-pitched percussion that seems, at times, to arise out of nowhere. Here, the powerful, but also tautly controlled and sharply focussed, bass of the Vantages comes into play. One moment the listener is following the track’s vocals and melodic lines and the next one is aware of the deep, potent, but never overblown or boomy, presence of very low-pitched percussion instruments that fairly bristle with ominous portent. Then, just as suddenly as they appeared, the low percussion sounds decay and vanish—as if inviting the listener to wonder is s/he even heard them at all. Great low bass is often this way; it’s not present until the music calls for it, and it doesn’t linger around once its impact has been heard and felt. The Vantages are great low-frequency”
ZMF Vérité Closed Headphones Review
November 6, 2020 Comments Off on ZMF Vérité Closed Headphones Review
ZMF Vérité Closed Headphones
“If I had to find a con, it would be their efficiency. At 99dB/mW these headphones make it a little harder to pair with higher powered tube amps unless those tube amps use a decent amount of negative feedback, which I personally do not like. This is not a fault of Vérité Closed, but simply a reality of their efficiency. It is just a shame as they sound incredible with tubes. For a long time people wanted high end headphones to be more efficient, it’s clear headphone manufacturers in general have listened to this request. I just wish there would be more reference level headphones being sold with 88dB/mW – 92dB/mW efficiency as it makes it much easier to pair with tube amp setups.”
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