STAX SRM-D50 ELECTROSTATIC DRIVER AND DAC REVIEW
May 24, 2019 Comments Off on STAX SRM-D50 ELECTROSTATIC DRIVER AND DAC REVIEW
“In all my years as a headphone listening enthusiast, one thing has remained clear from the very start – there is nothing quite like listening to a Stax system. There’s a certain charm to it; the retro and unashamedly bulky styling of the earspeakers and the proprietary energiser system combine to create an unusual and very untraditional (in the modern world) Head-Fi encounter.
Listening to a Stax system always leads me on a listening journey. I start with my familiar test tracks and end up winding down an experimental path of music and genres I’ve never listened to before… just to experience it.”
Parasound Halo Hint 6 integrated amplifier $2995 Review
May 24, 2019 Comments Off on Parasound Halo Hint 6 integrated amplifier $2995 Review
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Is Parasound’s Halo Hint 6 Integrated Amplifier a party amp? A hard-rock enabler? A suave, swinging jazz proselytizer? It’s all these things. The Hint 6 worked well with every speaker I threw at it, delivering an upfront, slightly cool, dynamic sound, LP after LP. Even at its higher price of $2995, the Halo Hint 6 offers good value in true Swiss Army knife fashion. I can’t think of another integrated amplifier that offers so many options and has such solid, generous sound. Recommended.
Benchmark Media Systems HPA4 Headphone Amplifier $2995 Review
May 23, 2019 Comments Off on Benchmark Media Systems HPA4 Headphone Amplifier $2995 Review
“It would be nice to say that the sound of the HPA4 is the sound of nothing getting in the way of the music. However, I think some listeners would say that it has a certain, albeit subtle, character with tight bass and a very slight treble dryness. I’d comment that the bass is a feature, not a bug, but you need the right headphones. And the more I listened, the more I concluded that the dryness was actually the HPA4 revealing a character of the recording chain.
This adds up to a super-revealing amp that isn’t going to correct the mistakes of the rest of your system. I thought top-flight headphones sounded great as a result, but that doesn’t necessarily make it the amp for you. I, however, wish the review sample didn’t have to go back.”
Conrad-Johnson Announces Reference Headphone Amplifier
May 23, 2019 Comments Off on Conrad-Johnson Announces Reference Headphone Amplifier
“The conrad-johnson design team is particularly excited to announce the release of our latest product, a headphone amplifier that just sounds right. The HVA1 is a reference quality single-ended class A triode amplifier designed to power low-impedance headphones (around 20 to 32 Ohms). The HVA1 accommodates two line-level inputs. Power output is 3 Watts into 20 Ohms. The enhanced triode circuit (similar to that introduced in our flagship GAT preamplifier) employs two 6922 vacuum-tubes (one for each channel) for voltage gain coupled to a high-current FET buffer stage (source follower). Each of the two channels is powered by its own independent DC regulator. CJD Teflon capacitors and Vishay resistors are featured in the circuits. The level control is a discrete stepped attenuator constructed entirely with Vishay resistors. The circuitry is housed in a heavy, elegant aluminum chassis dressed with anodized brushed aluminum panels on front, sides, and top”
Unisinger UIA – 2 Series Platinum loudspeakers $28,990 Review
May 22, 2019 Comments Off on Unisinger UIA – 2 Series Platinum loudspeakers $28,990 Review
“In actuality, the integration of the drivers was such that it was impressively conducive toward piano music listening. The Unisinger’s portrayal of the slowing aging Murray Perahia’s Chopin 24 Etudes was first-class in dynamic contrast and tonal integrity. The reproduction of harmonics was ethereal and surreal. This level of integration makes listening to solo classical piano fun, because their way of reproducing music was complete and completely spectacular.
It’s not unconventionally long in development history for a speaker to be created in nineteen months, and now in hindsight, seeing what Dr. Zhang and his team can do, I wish they had taken a bit longer to amaze us with something even more extraordinary.”
Air Tight ATC-1 and ATM-1 f Review
May 22, 2019 Comments Off on Air Tight ATC-1 and ATM-1 f Review
“Actually, that’s unfair, because the preamp sounds ‘younger’ than the power amplifier, most of the Mills & Boon effects coming from the ATM-1. What both share sonically are ghostly silences by both valve and solid-state standards, phenomenally wide and open soundstages and absolute freedom from edginess. But while the preamplifier is detailed and precise enough to be regarded as modern, the power amp has a softness – however enticing – that might be too romantic for those weaned on transistor equipment or current era valve powerhouses such as the big EAR, Audio Research or Beard amplifiers. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to apologise for the Air Tight duo because I loved the lushness.
Playing both modern, glassy recordings and sonic masterpieces of the era of the Air Tight amps’ inspiration, I noted an unerring facility these products have for sweetening whatever sounds they are fed. Is it accurate? Hell, no. But neither is it offensive in the way that identifiable distortions or wild colorations are. The Air Tight combination doesn’t really add anything which would annoy, it merely shaves off the edges which could become nasty.
Audio Solutions Figaro M Speaker Review
May 21, 2019 Comments Off on Audio Solutions Figaro M Speaker Review
“Today, Audio Solutions offers five attractively styled product ranges that go under the names Vantage Classic, Vantage 5th Anniversary, Guimbarde, Figaro and Overture. In the spring of 2019, Audio Solutions will add a sixth line, called Virtuoso, which will sit Visually, I love the styling of the Vantage 5th Anniversary series the most, perhaps because these speakers look like they would fit perfectly into a sci-fi movie like TRON. Sonic Artistry’s owners Jonathan and Ed promised for the Figaro M to deliver a stunning performance to price ratio, but of course they would say that – after all they are a retailer for the brand. As a reviewer, I hear such promises all the time so naturally I take such statements with a grain of salt. There is only one way to judge a loudspeaker: you have to give it a good listen.
But first, let’s examine the range of products offered by this company. The Audio Solutions Figaro M loudspeaker hails from company’s third-from-the-top series in terms of performance and price. There are four floor standing models in this series – the Figaro S ($5,750 US), Figaro M ($7,500 US), Figaro L ($10,000 US) and the headlining Figaro XL ($15,000). The series also includes the Figaro B bookshelf speaker ($3,250 US) as well as the Figaro C center channel ($2,500 US). The inclusion of a center channel of course indicates that the company intends these speakers for use in both 2-channel music systems and home cinema setups. All the prices I mentioned are for the standard finish, and like most high-end loudspeaker manufacturers today, Audio Solutions’ speakers can be ordered in many custom options – in this case there are 17 custom side-panel colors to choose from.”
ROGUE AUDIO CRONUS MAGNUM III INT. AMP. / PHONO STAGE $2995 – REVIEW
May 21, 2019 Comments Off on ROGUE AUDIO CRONUS MAGNUM III INT. AMP. / PHONO STAGE $2995 – REVIEW
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Of course everyone is different and has their preferences. Having described some of the basic differences, I leave it up to you to decide. Of course every other thing comes into play, too. What size is your room, what kind of speakers do own, and most importantly what kind of music do you like. The performance of Rogue Audio’s Cronus Magnum III is very easy to listen to and satisfying in both modes. I could easily build a very rewarding system around this integrated amplifier with phono stage. Rogue Audio has my admiration for the overall build quality and sonic performance of their Cronus Magnum III musical instrument. My advice, you need to audition the Rogue Cronus Magnum III even if you only had but one motivation. And that motivation is your love of music.”
Simaudio 390 Review
May 20, 2019 Comments Off on Simaudio 390 Review
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Pushing the 390 a little more, “The Dark” from the latest Thrice album Palms, delivers thundering toms and brooding guitars with enough space to hear how well the 390 can unpack even the most complex modern recordings. There’s plenty of air, detail, as well as bass extension as the track manically swings between the quieter verses and heavy chorus. The overall sound that the 390 produces reminds me again why the previous 380D DAC that the 390 builds on was such an amazing value. (you can read the original 380D TONE review here for additional listening reference: http://www.tonepublications.com/review/simaudio-neo-380d-dac/) It’s clear that Simaudio has eclipsed the already excellent 380D with their latest release.”
Dali Callisto 6 C Wireless Loudspeakers $5,747 Review
May 20, 2019 Comments Off on Dali Callisto 6 C Wireless Loudspeakers $5,747 Review
“Master volume can be adjusted via the app, the Sound Hub’s remote control or volume knob, or by swiping across the top front of either Callisto speaker. Any way you go, data is relayed to the Sound Hub so that all components remain fully synchronized, and a row of white LED indicators on the 6 C’s front reflect the adjustment. While DALI’s remote handles the system’s control basics, I found myself relying on the BluOS app for everyday use. Compared with many other wireless control apps I’ve encountered, this one proved extremely easy to setup and use. It instantly recognized the NPM-1 module installed in the Sound Hub and making a wireless connection with a Bluesound Pulse 2i speaker in my kitchen was a simple matter of selecting it in my iPhone’s Wi-Fi setup panel and entering my password. The app features two control panels: one for selecting individual players (or multiroom player groups) and a second for playback sources like streaming apps, Internet radio stations, or UPnP servers. (BluOS has already been covered in-depth in multiple Sound & Vision Bluesound and NAD product reviews.) For my purposes, I linked the app to my Tidal, Qobuz, and TuneIn accounts. I also verified that both the DALI Sound Hub and Bluesound Pulse 2i worked as Roon endpoints,”
Audiophilepure 
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