Campfire Audio Cascade Cloth Pads Review
December 8, 2018 Comments Off on Campfire Audio Cascade Cloth Pads Review
“Bass is most changed and strikes as sounding more even with more defined notes. It is less present overall, a prime contributor towards the cloth pad’s more balanced sound in general. Sub-bass extension is reduced a touch, lacking the visceral slam of the better sealing leather pads. Most notably, the pads attenuate the headphone’s notable mid-bass hump. As mid-bass no longer holds as much focus, the headphones sound appreciably more linear, coherent and less bloated. Control actually comes across as slightly reduced with slightly longer decay and hazier edged transients. Still, bass speed remains admirable and reduction in note focus is counteracted by reduced mid-bass presence that provides a cleaner tone and greater separation and definition regardless.”
Amphion Helium 510 Speakers $1,130 Review
December 7, 2018 Comments Off on Amphion Helium 510 Speakers $1,130 Review
“Even slightly beyond reasonable and prudent limits, the 510s give solid, defined, tuneful bass response, providing an excellent foundation to your selections. Tracking through a series of Kruder & Dorfmeister and Tosca tracks, the 510s prove that they can dig deep.
The 510s exceptionally clean midrange will keep vocal music lovers glued to their chair. The combination of smoothness and three-dimensional imaging lends an extra dose of realism. Listening to a major portion of Ella Fitzgerald performing the Cole Porter song book is wonderful, with Ms. Fitzgerald’s voice having the right combination of extension, smoothness, and clarity. Precious few budget speakers can deliver this level of tonal perfection.”
FIIO M9 REVIEW
December 7, 2018 Comments Off on FIIO M9 REVIEW
“As an Android player, the FiiO M9 gets a modern processor from Samsung, the Exynos 7270. It’s faster than the old Mediatek SoC previously in use and that’s one of the main reasons the player feels snappy. More than just a processor, it’s a full system taking charge of the many aspects of the player. That’s how the M9 became compatible with 24-bit Bluetooth transmission or how it’s able to transfer your music in WiFi directly now.
As for the FiiO Q5, the brand also employ futuristic technology like this multi-layered PCB. Each layer is only 0.08mm wide and that alone is already impressive, even more if you recall how tough it might be to isolate the chips from all this parasites waves. Gone are the days WiFi and Bluetooth polluted your audiophile experience, the FiiO M9 is fully shielded now.”
VPI Avenger Reference Turntable $17,000 Review
December 6, 2018 Comments Off on VPI Avenger Reference Turntable $17,000 Review
“Yes, you can get really good analog sound out of VPI’s much less expensive alternatives, as well as out of many of its competitors. To go back to a point I made earlier, however, no real audiophile can resist exploring the limits of a turntable like the Avenger Reference if he has the resources to buy one. It really is a great unit, and if you are going to buy a top cartridge and phono preamp, you are going to need a turntable-tonearm combination of this quality to match them.
I also have to say in defense of the Avenger’s price that it is a practical exercise in technology and physics. There are some “extreme” turntable designs which seem to be more exercises in high tech than practical units. Don’t get me wrong, some much higher ne plus ultra competitors are superb, but some aren’t. I’d wanted to be sure I could hear real differences—if any—before I paid more and not simply judge by the price tag. I’d also wanted to ensure what I bought was built to last. You can always pay more, but getting more over time can be a different thing.”
SVS PC-4000 Subwoofer Review
December 6, 2018 Comments Off on SVS PC-4000 Subwoofer Review
“I should start this review by saying that if I was thinking of buying an SVS 4000 Series subwoofer, then this cylindrical version would probably be my choice. It doesn’t have quite the titanic sub-sonic range of the huge ported model, which can get down to a staggering 13Hz, but it’s a damn sight less intrusive. It also isn’t as small or nimble as the sealed unit, but it can deliver deeper bass, going down to 15Hz compared to the sealed unit’s 19Hz. While I appreciate we’re at the limit of what the human ear can even register, there’s a lot to be said for bass you can feel.
SVS has the cylindrical subwoofer market to itself, which is surprising because I think it’s a great idea. The concept allows for a relatively small footprint and greater freedom in terms of positioning, especially in the corners of rooms. However the vertical size of this sub also allows for some serious low frequency action. In testing, the PC-4000 proved to be an impressive performer, delivering deep and controlled bass that you can genuinely feel. Much like the PB-4000 that I reviewed earlier in the year, this cylindrical version also revealed a surprisingly nuanced performance.”
Allo DigiOne Signature Review
December 6, 2018 Comments Off on Allo DigiOne Signature Review
“I started my evaluation using Allo’s standard, 5V PSU across the board for both the DigiOne Player and Signature Player. Allo strongly recommends not using this PSU for the feeding the clean side of the Signature, but it is technically an option if you are very limited on funds. It’s perfectly safe, but they claim it hinders sound quality. Allo recommends buying some reputable 18650 batteries and using their own battery pack. Buy eight batteries, and a charger that will handle four batteries at once, if you want to rotate and never lose power. Nonetheless, I thought I’d use their standard, 5V PSU as a bare minimum baseline and wanted to report on it for those that might utilize it in this configuration.”
Read more at https://www.audiostream.com/content/allo-digione-signature-review#K86PU1BOoDe0MCzo.99
PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player and DirectStream DAC $5,999 Review
December 5, 2018 Comments Off on PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player and DirectStream DAC $5,999 Review
“The Digital Lens imposes a small penalty on user experience. The interface to the Memory Player is the same symbols and functions we are accustomed to for CD and DVD playback – and for tape before that – except you engage with it via the touchscreen in place of physical buttons. But because the Digital Lens needs to accumulate the data before sending it along, the Memory Player is overall less responsive than CD and DVD players. Not agonizingly so, and certainly not a deal breaker for me, but having lived with CD players for decades, it’s something you notice and may find frustrating. We’re used to ever-increasing speed with our technology (among other things); it’s hard to go back.”
QUESTYLE AUDIO SHB2 MASTER DAC/PREAMP/HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER/WIRELESS RECEIVER $2,499
December 3, 2018 Comments Off on QUESTYLE AUDIO SHB2 MASTER DAC/PREAMP/HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER/WIRELESS RECEIVER $2,499
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As a final test I set the CMA Twelve MASTER to high gain and standard bias and while I don’t own a pair of headphones that would require such massive amounts of power I do know they exist, so it was important to verify that owners of said headphones would not be making fatal sacrifices. The noise floor remained ridiculously low (although to listen to music I had to lower the volume to a little over ¼ ). Harry Nilsson’s “The Lottery Song” (Son of Schmilsson – 16/44.1 kHz) was exceptionally musical despite being 16/44.1 kHz and running Class A/AB. Nicky Hopkin’s piano was full and rich and Harry’s voice was intimate and silky amidst a completely enveloping soundstage. I will admit though that the same track was a bit more honeyed in pure Class A.”
ZMF Auteur $1,600 Review
December 2, 2018 Comments Off on ZMF Auteur $1,600 Review
“The bulk of my listening was done with a Mytek Brooklyn digital converter and headphone amp, which sounded fine, but after switching over to the much less expensive Schiit Valhalla 2 tube headphones amp, the Auteur’s charms were hard to ignore on Paul Simon’s beautifully recorded In the Blue Light album. The lushness of the tube amp really clicked with the Auteur, and it had a more dynamic kick over the Valhalla 2. The Brooklyn and Auteur combination was more transparent, but the Valhalla 2 had more soul. I like soul.”
Elac Adante AF-61 loudspeaker $5000 Review
December 1, 2018 Comments Off on Elac Adante AF-61 loudspeaker $5000 Review
“The EQ, of course, affects only frequencies below the crossover frequency to the subwoofer (I chose 80Hz). And most audiophile preamps don’t offer the ability to deal with a subwoofer, which is best used when both high- and low-pass filters are available. You can drive the AF-61s full range and simply cross over the subwoofer itself at a low-pass frequency selectable in the app, but that could well make it more difficult to blend the outputs of the sub and AF-61s. This arrangement, in which both the main speakers and the subwoofer overlap across a wide range in the midbass, is one reason audiophiles often have problems incorporating a sub, abandon the effort, and become convinced that subwoofers have no place in audiophilia.”
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