Clearaudio Innovation Basic Turntable | Review
April 17, 2019 Comments Off on Clearaudio Innovation Basic Turntable | Review
“Its hard to tell if my enjoyment was due to the Clearaudio table, the new TRACER or the Hana ML cartridge. But I do know that the combination of the three seemed to offer a level of synergy that left an impression on me.
Over the past few years I have come to appreciate wood body cartridges like the Miyajima Zero Mono or Miyajima Madake Snakewood that create a hypnotic sound with soul…. The Hana ML isn’t a Snakewood, but it had the ability to create a similar experience on a smaller scale, and I think that is what attracted me to it.”
TEAC Reference NR-7CD Network CD Player and Integrated Amplifier-DAC Review $4999
April 17, 2019 Comments Off on TEAC Reference NR-7CD Network CD Player and Integrated Amplifier-DAC Review $4999
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Seattle-based indie electronic group Odesza was in heavy rotation during my time with the NR-7CD, and the latter’s reproduction of “Higher Ground,” from Odesza’s A Moment Apart (16/44.1 FLAC, Counter/Tidal), had an immediacy and bite that lent itself to the punctuality that characterizes so much modern electronica, including this. I loved this track’s air and reverb through the TEAC — it sounded enormous in my long, narrow listening room. I was also taken with the lazy falsetto of guest singer Naomi Wild — it was superdetailed, with excellent stereo imaging. The bass line was similarly impressive, the NR-7CD exerting above-average control over my KEFs’ 5.25” midrange-woofers. At low to medium volume levels I was seduced by the TEAC’s multitude of talents; its synchronized routine with my LS50s produced a sound as transparent as mountain spring water.”
Aurender N10 Music Server $7,999 Review
April 16, 2019 Comments Off on Aurender N10 Music Server $7,999 Review
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“A very cool operating function of the N10 is the fact that if a song, album or playlist is already cached to the 250GB SSD, then the 4TB HDD doesn’t even spin-up – it remains asleep – eliminating any possibility of acoustic noise emanating from spinning discs. The fact that everything in the N10 is also optimized for the quietest audio playback possible – it has no extraneous hardware or software-processing overhead – contributed to an instantly noticeable drop in the noise floor; this is the “black background” reviewers love to chin-wag about and I won’t let you down here. Regardless of file played, the background haze I hadn’t really noticed was there was lifted through the Aurender and when this happens, regardless of how it happens, it’s like the window into the recorded event has suddenly been wiped clean: It’s impossible not to hear it once it has occurred. There was also a dynamic and rhythmic uptick to drive in music playback. I wish I had a Roon Nucleus to compare the N10 to, but I’m still waiting for my review sample, as I feel that’s a more fair comparison. That said, I think it is the most logical and applicable choice to use my laptop for comparison as the bulk of potential buyers of an Aurender (or other music server) would be migrating from a PC or laptop as their digital-audio source.”
HYLA TE5B & TE5T REVIEW
April 16, 2019 Comments Off on HYLA TE5B & TE5T REVIEW
“Now we have the TE-5B and the TE-5T models from Hyla, of which only 200 units will be made/sold and they’re available to purchase at the moment. Make sure to place your order fast if you plan to get one.
Trident Engine 5 Bass & Treble, those are the full names of these new IEMs. The B model stands for “bass” and the T model stands for “treble”. So obviously these two companions are tuned differently to appeal to varying tastes. Both IEMs consist of 1 Dynamic driver + 2 BAs + 1 Piezo Ceramic Driver, just like the CE-5. I don’t have the information if they used the exact same drivers or not, but for sure they sound different.”
Audio-Technica AT-LP7 Turntable Review $799
April 15, 2019 Comments Off on Audio-Technica AT-LP7 Turntable Review $799
“That definitely describes the LP7, but it’s not a bad thing. This basic design is more or less universal at this price point for a reason: It’s simple and it’s effective. It allows people who maybe aren’t too into the fiddly-ness that naturally comes with vinyl playback to experience a more advanced turntable. The LP7 even has a built-in phonostage (that can be bypassed) for those who don’t have electronics with a phono preamp. It’s a compromise between form, function, and user ability. The LP7 is a step up from your entry-level turntables, both in cost and in functionality, and I was really interested to find out how it sounded.”
Legacy Audio Valor speaker system
April 14, 2019 Comments Off on Legacy Audio Valor speaker system
“Speaking of horn speaker sound, the V never mimicked the pinpoint propagation of a horn’s concentric driver, but the Valor does. The post-convergent array of the 4-inch NeoRibbon drivers do not allow for a sloppy result. Dare I say the concentric 14” resolves the informational landscape between the speakers realistically, while the array of Stereo Unfold drivers propelling their signal outwards renders the wider, peripheral imaging cleanly. Just as whatever is in our eyes’ focus is clear, while the periphery is softened, so also the space between the Valor’s towers is clear, while the periphery is less distinct. That is perfectly ok, as our hearing discerns the immediate effect and subjugates the secondary stimuli.”
FIIO FA1 REVIEW $100
April 14, 2019 Comments Off on FIIO FA1 REVIEW $100
“Using the FA1 with phones, you will notice the boost in clarity especially in the treble, the bass is quite shy and attacks comfortably not covering up the sub-bass content. This helps the bass extension sound deeper and makes the overall tuning more dynamic. The tuning is not veiled on either the treble or the lows although it is limited by a single driver’s capability. The soundstage is fairly large and there are no obvious flaws in the tuning.
In particular, I like how the crispiness in the treble makes the upper vocal range and percussion instruments more pronounced, strengthening the texture and resolution of female vocals and violins.”
Krell K-300i $7,000 Review
April 12, 2019 Comments Off on Krell K-300i $7,000 Review
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Compared to my reference McIntosh MB50 streamer, the Krell provides a more intense presentation to the Mac’s slightly sweeter rendition. If I didn’t already have an outboard streamer, I could happily live with the one built into the Krell. For the less than the price of a decent pair of signal cables and a power cord, you can have it all inside the chassis. A great thing for those craving simplicity.
Just a quick note about the HDMI performance of the K-300i. In a word, it is phenomenal. Watching Mary Queen of Scots, my wife and our friend agreed, it was like we had upgraded our modest Epson projector several levels. Color saturation and detail rendition was startling as was the contrast and brightness. If you are like me and your audio system does double duty as your home theater, the upgrade in video quality alone not to mention the ease of integration is worth at least half the overall cost the K-300i.”
FIIO M9 DAP REVIEW
April 12, 2019 Comments Off on FIIO M9 DAP REVIEW
“The FiiO M9 uses a locked down Android and only supports specific applications. Repeat after me: “The FiiO M9 uses a low-power processor meant for wearables and only allows white-listed Android apps or else performance will suck”. And say it over five times, please. As one of the main contributors to Head-Fi’s FiiO M9 thread, it is excruciating to get the plethora of tin foil hat theories of why FiiO limits the apps you can install despite low-level engineering explanation and even James (CEO of FiiO) coming into the thread and confirming. The M9 comes with Tidal and some other music apps that are more relevant in Asia like KKBOX or MOOV with the ability to install Spotify through downloading the APK onto the SD card manually.”
Elac Navis ARB-51 Active Loudspeaker $2000/pr Review
April 11, 2019 Comments Off on Elac Navis ARB-51 Active Loudspeaker $2000/pr Review
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Audiophiles who delight in mixing and matching components have largely rejected active speakers. And maybe at the upper end of our hobby they always will. But where space and design are considerations, I think the scenario is rosy for actives, in that they can make a major musical statement without blowing up the room décor. I couldn’t have been more impressed with the electrifying performance and value of the Elac Navis ARB-51. It’s one of the rare small compacts that you don’t have to scale back expectations to enjoy. So, audiophiles, you’re on notice. Elac’s latest is rising fast on my short list for next year’s Product of the Year Awards.”
Audiophilepure 
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