Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III
December 21, 2019 Comments Off on Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III
https://www.hifichoicemag.com/content/rogue-audio-cronus-magnum-iii
“Any niggles with the setup soon evaporate once you start listening. It is a rare pleasure to run my relatively insensitive Neat Momentum 4i floorstanders on the end of a valve amp and the result is extremely satisfying. This is unquestionably a valve amp in the way it performs – I don’t believe that Rogue Audio set out for it to sound any other way – but thanks to the power in reserve, it manages to have a level of drive and authority that gives it traits you might more commonly associate with solid-state designs.
The 24/96 Qobuz stream of The National’s You Had Your Soul With You demonstrates this to wonderful effect. With a SOtM SMS-200 Neo network audio player (HFC 449) and Chord Electronics Hugo 2 DAC (HFC 425) acting as a neutral source for it, the Cronus Magnum III is still a big, lush and wonderfully invigorating performer. Voices leap out of the mix, not because there is any unnatural emphasis to them, but simply as they are startlingly vivid. There is an effortless three-dimensionality to the music with the relationship between the performers feeling utterly self explanatory. As I close my eyes, the music is happening in a meaningful fashion right in front of me.”

JBL 4312G LOUDSPEAKER $2,500. REVIEW
December 20, 2019 Comments Off on JBL 4312G LOUDSPEAKER $2,500. REVIEW
https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/speaker/bookshelf/jbl-4312g-loudspeaker-review/
“Of course, there may have been more at play here than just the sound that was giving me the “warm & fuzzies” with these speakers. The overall look of the JBL 4312G was bringing on a healthy dose of nostalgia to these eyes. Memories came flooding back of similar-looking speakers from various Toronto Hi-Fi shops where I spent an inordinate amount of my time as a youth. The 4312G also looked like miniature versions of the monster-sized StudioLab speakers my college friend’s dad had in their rec-room so many years ago. We listened to tons of Pink Floyd, Genesis and Rush on those beasts and a very similar fondness returns to me when I turn up the volume on these JBLs”

GOLD NOTE PA-10 POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
December 20, 2019 Comments Off on GOLD NOTE PA-10 POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/gold-note-pa-10-power-amplifier/
“The PA-10 features a lot of innovations which have always distinguished Gold Note’s design. Its most unique function is a GN property Adjustable Damping Factor that allows for an ideal matching of the power amplifier with almost any kind of loudspeaker. Use the default setting for large speakers or activate the low damping factor via an easy button on the rear when driving high sensitivity or mini-monitor speakers.
Moreover, the proprietary GN LINK technology allows putting the PA-10 into a Master-Slave-Mode with other sources like the DS-10 or a second PA-10. When connected via the GN Link cable, the unit will go in standby mode and will re-activate itself only when receiving a signal from the master unit. The GN Link-Function guarantees major user-friendliness since you will be switching ON/OFF the entire audio chain from one source only.”


BEYERDYNAMIC XELENTO WIRELESS REVIEW
December 19, 2019 Comments Off on BEYERDYNAMIC XELENTO WIRELESS REVIEW
https://headfonics.com/2019/12/beyerdynamic-xelento-wireless-review/
Lower mids on the Xelento wireless are dipped so some of its instrumental timbre lacks a little presence despite the good bass fundamental.
Lower pitched male vocals slip and slide among the instruments and sound a little distant. Mind you they do not lack clarity and the separation is better than what I was expecting for a V-shape. If your main fare is hard rock or classic indie guitar work where a lot of energy comes from 500Hz to 800hz including male vocals you might find the Xelento is not the most ideal pairing.
However, that 1-5k gentle rise does tease out some cracking higher pitched vocals, especially female vocals such as Winona Oak and Samantha James. This is where I feel the Xelento wireless really excels.


HEGEL AUDIO SYSTEMS H390 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
December 19, 2019 Comments Off on HEGEL AUDIO SYSTEMS H390 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/hegel-audio-systems-h390-integrated-amplifier/
“It had that effortless dynamic range and grip over the loudspeakers we have come to expect from Hegel, with a comprehensively good performance in all other aspects, and as I said that mild upper-frequency zing of its predecessor has been replaced with ear-opening neutrality and honesty. But most of all, it’s a fun thing; listening is a journey of musical discovery that is never dry or fusty. It’s got passion and energy in its output, and it expresses that on every loudspeaker I paired it with, even ones that normally wouldn’t get out of bed for a £4,900 amp. In fact, that little jaunt through any loudspeakers I had to hand was telling; the amp’s character was like musical smoke in all the right ways – aside from a universal grip over the bass units from its high damping factor and an innate sense of musical space and rhythm, descriptions of performance were loudspeaker-related, not amp-related. I would say that I can’t recall the last time an integrated amplifier did that, but I can… it was the Hegel H590. The H390 doesn’t quite get out of the way as much as the ‘straight wire with gain’ H590, but it gets damn close. “


Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Review
December 18, 2019 Comments Off on Pro-Ject T1 Phono SB Review
https://www.tonepublications.com/review/the-pro-ject-t1-phono-sb/
“Tracking through the crate full of classic rock LPs that are in the “party bin” in my living room, the T1 continues to impress. While digital audio converters (especially the ones in the $350-$1,000 range) have improved tremendously, there’s still a level of warmth and continuity to the sound that you won’t get with something like an AudioQuest Dragonfly. Granted, streaming 24/192 via Qobuz might offer a little more ultimate resolution, but the Pro-Ject wins hands down in the organic way it assembles the sound molecules from a vinyl LP. And Vinyl is all about the tactile experience.
An impromptu gathering of a few neighbors, has everyone joining in, playing a few records and marveling at how easy the T1 is to use. While the T1 makes a great start to your vinyl journey, I highly suggest that even seasoned audiophiles have one, for casual listening. And starting out your friends with one of these means that their records won’t get damaged either. Nearly everyone buying those cheapie tables is not doing their records a favor.”

ampsandsound Stereo ST15 Special Edition Amplifier $2800 Review
December 17, 2019 Comments Off on ampsandsound Stereo ST15 Special Edition Amplifier $2800 Review
“The fit and finish are top notch, even if the cabinet and overall look is a bit retro. I love retro. I got some serious compliments on both the overall look and the size. Not everyone wants ginormous amplifiers and thundering towers of speakers, and I suspect those audiophiles would do well to check out the entire line of ampsandsound products. As for the Stereo ST15 Special Edition, I can wholeheartedly recommend it if you are careful about speaker pairing and using a high efficiency speaker to get the most out of this amplifier, I doubt you would be sorry. You might even think about pairing it with a self powered speaker that powers the lower end, but can still be run on the top end by the ST15 SE. VonSchweikert Active speakers come to mind. Ether way, this is a amplifier that defies its relatively inexpensive price tag, and delivers way above that price with the right speaker pairing. I may well consider this or a set of the monos when I eventually downsize my system and go with a set of Avantgarde Unos! Now that would be a heavenly pairing.”

Audeze LCD-1 & Rosson Audio Designs RAD-0 Headphones
December 17, 2019 Comments Off on Audeze LCD-1 & Rosson Audio Designs RAD-0 Headphones
“While the Audeze LCD-1 attempts to tackle the lucrative, but competitive $500 mark for personal audio enthusiasts, the RAD-0 has a more bespoke approach to design and cost. For those familiar with both company’s RAD founder Alex Rosson started working at Audeze and was among the founding cast of the LA-OC based company. His first dip into the market appears at the higher end of the hobby, with most headphones costing around $2,600. A look at his product page gives you a better idea of the custom leanings he has” chosen, no two headphones appear at first glance to be colored the same.

ABYSS DIANA V2 $4000 REVIEW
December 16, 2019 Comments Off on ABYSS DIANA V2 $4000 REVIEW
https://www.headfonia.com/abyss-diana-v2/
“Diana V2 has an organic sound, with excellent body throughout the entire signature. It sounds life-like with really good imaging and resolution. The Diana Phi in comparison sounds more open, faster and more precise. But the Diana V2 has this meaty sound, that makes listening to it a big pleasure.
Both headphones give the listener a respectively different approach to music. While Diana Phi uncovers just about every little detail there is, Diana V2 invites you to sit back and just enjoy your music in the highest form.”

Astell & Kern SR15 A&norma Review
December 16, 2019 Comments Off on Astell & Kern SR15 A&norma Review
https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/astell-kern-sr15-anorma-review
“If you’re looking for something pocket-friendly that can take advantage of digital audio in both a wireless and wired world and replace your mobile phone as your main music experience that does streaming services like TIDAL, Qobuz, Deezer or Spotify via wi-fi, has gobs of internal storage, can handle every file type imaginable, and won’t break the bank, then the Astell&Kern SR15 at $699 USD is a no-brainer. The increase in SQ over the iPhone/Lightning/Buetooth pairing is obvious, and the fact you don’t get interrupted by a call or text while listening is a huge bonus for me personally. When I’m listening to music, I’d rather not be distracted with social media, the Internet, etc. That said, the fact that the A&norma is a separate unit, it allows unhindered listening while you work on your laptop or scroll Instagram on your phone, so it’s a bit of a win-win from either angle. For the level of SQ, wired and wireless feature set, and future-fi that the SR15 has built-in at its price point, I can only highly recommend it.

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