RHA CL2 REVIEW
December 7, 2019 Comments Off on RHA CL2 REVIEW
https://headfonics.com/2019/10/rha-cl2-review/
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You get some excellent depth on the CL2, no doubt about that. It is a closed headphone so it is not an expansive or super airy soundstage but it doesn’t lack in power and more than neutral of neutral sub 100Hz.
The dip in the lower-mids pulls back instruments as does the fade from 4k onwards. It is not dark though, there is a small boost from 8-10k but again, it is really that 1-4k boost that pushes everything front and center and can lead to percussion and some higher pitching vocals dominating the stage.
Lower pitching vocals can lose a little presence also, especially if pitching the same as surrounding instruments. They tend to sound a little diffuse and lacking in separation. If you need strong guitar work to resonate and step forward in staging presence the CL2 is not working to its strengths.
Audio Note DAC 5 Special Review $43,500 Review
December 7, 2019 Comments Off on Audio Note DAC 5 Special Review $43,500 Review
https://www.audiostream.com/content/audio-note-dac-5-special-review-43500-question
“So, it’s not a DAC that can handle every file format in the known universe. If that’s the case, what is it supposed to be focused on? The goal of the DAC 5 in it’s two guises (Special, Signature), according to Qvortrup, is to wrest every last ounce of emotional, sonic engagement from 16-bit/44.1kHz (Redbook) files, and to be used as a bridge for one of the company’s CD transports, if not as a stand-alone proposition. In numerous discussions with Qvortrup and others at Audio Note UK over the years, the feeling one comes away with is that there is more than enough information to be retrieved from a CD, or Redbook file to compete sonically with any other format, if the digital-to-analog translation is handled properly. Properly, in this context, means building a technology altar where this service can be worshipped with what AN UK considers the finest D/A construction specifications possible”
Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL MZ3 Headphone Amplifier Review
December 6, 2019 Comments Off on Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL MZ3 Headphone Amplifier Review
https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/linear-tube-audio-microzotl-mz3-headphone-amplifier-review
“They’re at the current pinnacle of audio engineering excellence and a pair of headphones which I consider to be among the best I’ve ever had the opportunity to hear. Pairing them with the Linear Tube Audio MZ3 wasn’t merely because they cost roughly the same price, or shared the letter ‘z’ in thier name. it was because they were a holostic, sonic ecosystem. One complimented the other perfectly in my estimation. Does that mean the MZ3 didn’t play as nicely with other headphones that were current hungry or more difficult to drive? No. It came down to the 4z allowing every facet of what the MZ3 had on tap to be revealed without adding anything to its flavor. I can say without hyperbole that in my experience this is a headphone amplifier with few peers at this price point: it is an honest and forthright amp that does that unique job of bringing warmth to music without sacrificing resolution.”
WESTONE B30 & B50
December 6, 2019 Comments Off on WESTONE B30 & B50
https://www.headfonia.com/westone-b30-b50-review/
“Treble-wise it’s the same story. The B50 has more detail, extension and air in treble with better articulation. You have more transparency and resolution in highs, resulting in a more open presentation. The distance is the same however; cymbals sounding from behind so they’re not the focal point.
Sound-stage is also better with the B50, thanks to its capabilities in the mid & treble sections. The sound has more room and width, and that creates more space between the elements of a song. This provides a better imaging with a more 3D staging performance. The overall transparency is quite good, despite the sound signature which is darker than many IEMs.”
TECHDAS AIRFORCE V TURNTABLE £12,500 Review
December 6, 2019 Comments Off on TECHDAS AIRFORCE V TURNTABLE £12,500 Review
http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/techdas-airforce-v-turntable/
“There is no such thing as the One Deck at this or any price. Turntables introduce a degree of observational and subjective nuance that is only matched by the loudspeaker in a system. Different turntables will work best in different systems, but in the case of the Air Force V, it is versatile enough to work its way into several very good systems and sound good. Unless you have rigged the sound of the system to make it work in a very narrow set of conditions – making it ideal for one kind of turntable and few others – the TechDAS AirForce concept and the AirForce V, will always come close to or top of the list. There are very few turntables that could lay claim to the same universality, and all those that do are generally more expensive than the V and receive near universal praise.”
AudioSolutions Figaro M Loudspeakers $7500 Review
December 5, 2019 Comments Off on AudioSolutions Figaro M Loudspeakers $7500 Review
https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1360-audiosolutions-figaro-m-loudspeakers
“Starting at the low end — my primary complaint about the Figaro B’s sound — I cued up some hip-hop: “Practice,” from Drake’s Take Care (16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC, Cash Money). The bass drops at 0:54 in, deep synth tones pulsing and pounding through the woofers. The Figaro Ms handled the onslaught of low frequencies and maintained their composure even at high volume, providing me with deep, taut, detailed bass. I could easily distinguish the bass notes’ various pitches. The Figaros’ overall bass output didn’t overwhelm my room; in fact, for cabinets of this size, I was somewhat underwhelmed. The overall experience was satisfying, but bass-heads should know that the Figaro M is not the last word in bass slam and extension.”
Deep Core 1800 Power Conditioner
December 5, 2019 Comments Off on Deep Core 1800 Power Conditioner
https://www.tonepublications.com/review/the-deep-core-1800-power-conditioner/
I’ve always experienced power line conditioning products to have a more noticeable effect on vacuum tube gear than solid-state, and the Deep Core offers the same result. Interestingly enough, regardless of circuit topology in the source component, the Deep Core had a more profound effect on lower priced gear, no doubt because these components do not have as sophisticated power supplies as those further up the range.
Proof for the snubbing effect took no more than powering up my vintage Dynaco Stereo 70, which always makes a nasty click through the speakers. Via the Deep Core, tweeter destroying clicks are a thing of the past. My mid 80s vintage Linn LP-12 is guilty of the same offense. Again, its crimes pardoned with the Deep Core in place. If you happen to be riddled with noise in your environment from an older furnace or appliance somewhere, the Deep Core may be the only thing that cleanses the artifacts these things produce from your listening environment.
Power products are basic – you either hear the difference they make in your audio system or you don’t. Some change the sound without necessarily improving the presentation or revealing more musical detail.”
Warwick Acoustics Sonoma Model One review
December 3, 2019 Comments Off on Warwick Acoustics Sonoma Model One review
https://www.whathifi.com/us/reviews/warwick-acoustics-sonoma-model-one
You’ll need to be a little careful if you’re using the analogue inputs. Both have specified upper signal limits – the RCA will take 2.1v while the 3.5mm jack is limited to 0.85v – and if you go beyond these it’s possible to overload the circuit, though the only consequence is likely to be distorted sound rather than any real damage. If you need to use analogue it’s probably best to use a source that has a volume control built-in so you can turn down the signal level if the energizer has any issues.
All input signals are handled in the digital domain, so any analogue input is converted before any other processing is done. This conversion is done by a 32-bit/384kHz AKM Premium ADC, which is claimed to have a signal to noise ratio in excess of 120dB. There’s a good deal of signal processing done in the box with the aim of accounting for the headphones electrical characteristics and so getting the optimum sound possible”
ASTELL&KERN AK T9IE REVIEW
December 3, 2019 Comments Off on ASTELL&KERN AK T9IE REVIEW
https://www.headfonia.com/astell-kern-ak-t9ie-review/
“From a build quality perspective these are very nice. They consist of three separate parts. The bottom shell, the top shell and the face plate. Top and bottom shell are in the same gunmetal colour, but the face plate is slightly lighter. The entire body is pretty shiny and if you are worried about getting your smudgy fingerprints on there, you should be. Because the AK T9iE shows you every little bit of dirt and leaving prints on it is very easy. If you’re like me and you hate that, you’ll clean them every day.
The T9iE comes with an MMCX connection, so you can cable roll if you have a suitable cable on hand. The original AK T8iE had massive problems with its MMCX sockets. Back in 2016 I owned a pair of them as well. After two months they died on me because of a failing socket. Of course the warranty covered that, but still a bummer. With the T9iE it seems A&K/Beyerdynamic is now using a more robust socket. I haven’t had any issues in the months that I used them.”
Nagra Classic Integrated amplifier Review
December 2, 2019 Comments Off on Nagra Classic Integrated amplifier Review
https://audiofi.net/2019/11/nagra-classic-integrated-amplifier-precise-and-engaging/
“The Classic was not overtly powerful or explicit in presentation but one does get a level of panoramic soundstage with believable depth and presence when they were in the recordings – the Damien Rice O and live Chick Corea Akoustik Band albums were just exquisite.
Treble purity was excellent, sounding free of grain and any artefacts like hiss or sibilance, again save where one perceived them to be part of the recording (or generated by the other components used!). The midrange sounded unadulterated, the Classic just seeming to be less in the way in recreating the sounds of individual instruments which, in a string quartet recording, could be picked out of the precisely defined soundstage as though it was physicality present with the music.”
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