Audio Research VT80SE Power Amplifier Review
December 1, 2018 Comments Off on Audio Research VT80SE Power Amplifier Review
“Each amplifier had its strengths. The Berning was generally slightly more detailed; the VT80SE, more harmonically rich and just prettier sounding. They were both very enjoyable, but the VT80SE produced over twice as much power as the Berning, making it more capable of driving lower-sensitivity speakers like the KEF Q700s. I don’t believe the Berning is in current production, so there’s really no choice between them. If there were, I would be happy to live with either amplifier. The differences noted were really quite slight.”
MRSPEAKERS ETHER2 OPEN BACK ORTHODYNAMIC HEADPHONES $1,999
November 30, 2018 Comments Off on MRSPEAKERS ETHER2 OPEN BACK ORTHODYNAMIC HEADPHONES $1,999
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Once again MrSpeakers has hit it out of the park with the ETHER2 Planar Magnetic Headphones. Well deserving of the name flagship this top of the line headphone offers incremental improvement over all previous planar models while maintaining the natural tonality and musicality that MrSpeakers is known for. When it comes to music reproduction the ETHER2 is a one size fits all headphone. That is to say that it has the deep bass extension and dynamics for dance music and rock, the detail, soundstage, transparency and clarity for classical, the warm musicality for vocal music and the speed and tight bottom end for jazz. If you are looking for a reference quality headphone, there is no need to spend three or four thousand dollars, this is the one. I would happily include the MrSpeakers ETHER2 among to the top five or so headphones I have heard and they currently rank number two among my favorites right behind the VOCE.
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Boulder 1110 Preamplifier $21,000 and 1160 Power Amplifier $28,000 Review
November 29, 2018 Comments Off on Boulder 1110 Preamplifier $21,000 and 1160 Power Amplifier $28,000 Review
“The Boulder 1110 preamplifier and 1160 power amplifier are truly superb pieces of gear. They do have their own sound character, and this is audible even using a wide variety of front ends, interconnects, cables, and speakers. If you are building or improving a great system, you still need to listen carefully to the Boulders’ nuances and give them the same attention you do in auditioning every other component. You also need to be aware that you will hear the different mix of nuances imposed by your other components once you insert them into your particular system.”‘
Cayin N8 Review
November 29, 2018 Comments Off on Cayin N8 Review
“The noise floor is very good on both outputs. You should have no fears running super-efficient IEMs from the Cayin N8, though we will test further in the final review. For example, our Campfire Andromeda had only a very low level of hiss using the N8 low-gain setting. Only something you can pick up on the very quietest of tracks.
There also seems to be plenty of gain and volume for harder to drive headphones though quite how well it drives them we shall soon find out. TOTL cans such as the HE1000 V2 I could only go to about 75% of the possible volume output on the N8 before it got too loud. Dynamic range and timbre were actually pretty good with this pairing on the tube output.”
Jomo Audio Déux $999 Review
November 28, 2018 Comments Off on Jomo Audio Déux $999 Review
“Airflow Control Unit technology is the second of Jomo Audio’s latest innovations. But, this one is specifically limited to the Melangé line of IEMs. What ACU allows the user to do is customise the amount of air present within the dynamic driver’s chamber. Altering this would shift how the dynamic driver behaves and – therefore – how bass is delivered to the ear. What’s unique about this technology is it isn’t a bass switch per se that increases or reduces the output of the driver. Rather, more esoteric aspects like speed, texture and balance are altered to deliver entirely different flavours.”
Totem Acoustic Sky Tower Loudspeakers $2250 Review
November 28, 2018 Comments Off on Totem Acoustic Sky Tower Loudspeakers $2250 Review
“But they didn’t sound the same. Through the Monitors, the second, final, “hidden” version of “Possession” on Sarah McLachlan’s Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (16-bit/44.1kHz AIFF, Nettwerk), sounded cooler than through the Totems. As the piano’s hammers struck the strings, they conveyed more detail than the Skys, which sounded fuller. Through the 200s, McLachlan’s voice sounded superb — I could more easily hear such nuances as the rhythm of her breathing and movements of her mouth. Through the Totems, McLachlan’s voice seemed to pop into the room, more upfront in the mix, surrounded by more space. As her voice rose into her upper register, it was as if the ceiling in my room disappeared — her voice seemed to soar above it. Its incredible presence through the Totem Skys helped convey a haunting character that lent itself well to this song’s dark subject matter.”
Shunyata Research Hydra Typhon QR Power Distributor $9000 Review
November 27, 2018 Comments Off on Shunyata Research Hydra Typhon QR Power Distributor $9000 Review
“Noise Isolation Chamber (NIC): A passive copper circuit developed and patented by Shunyata that provides the Typhon QR with much of its passive filtering abilities. It contains ZrCa-2000, a proprietary, nonreactive, ferroelectric crystalline material that is the subject of a patent separate from the one granted for NIC. According to Samuelsen, this material absorbs high-frequency power-line noise without the frequency-response anomalies often associated with transformer, choke, coil, or other ferrite-based power conditioners.
Typhon QR/BB Noise Reduction: A passive copper circuit, developed and patented by CIS, that allows the Typhon QR to provide components with instantaneous access to an AC reserve or coulomb charge. By eliminating the inductive reactance inherent in standard AC power conditioners without the use of low-pass filters or inductive devices, this circuit is said to enhance dynamics.”
LUMIN X1 $13,990 Network Music Streamer REVIEW
November 27, 2018 Comments Off on LUMIN X1 $13,990 Network Music Streamer REVIEW
“A dedicated device like Lumin X1 is a proof of importance for a reference class digital front end. As much I’m a hard-core computer fan and have tried to stay solely dependant on the Mac or PC as the main digital hub (with all the tricks, tweaks and optimizations), I have no doubt for some time that dedicated music streamer or DAC with an integrated streamer/server can deliver a major step up in the performance. As I’ve written above, the difference is not even funny. The Lumin team can happily grim with the big smile by thinking… you’re being served and served properly sir!”
Rega’s New Planar 1 Plus Turntable $599 Review
November 26, 2018 Comments Off on Rega’s New Planar 1 Plus Turntable $599 Review
“Even if you aren’t using a traditional two channel system, with amp or receiver and speakers, the P1 Plus is a great choice for those with powered speakers, or an all in one box like the B&W Zeppelin or Naim MuSo. We just happen to have both on hand here, so merely switching the line level cable for one with standard RCA plugs on one end and a 3.5mm stereo plug on the other, it was easy to add vinyl playback to these systems. Taking things further, we plugged the P1 plus into a pair of powered Klipsch “The Sixes” as well. Again, a fantastic combo that works well for those living in a small living space, yet still wants to enjoy their record collection. Or perhaps start their first one.
As someone who has owned and reviewed nearly every turntable Rega has made for the last 35 years, I remain astounded at how they keep refining this platform. There is no easier record playing platform than Rega’s Planar 1 Plus, and I doubt a better value either. Definitely Exceptional Value Award material!”
BOWERS & WILKINS 603 FLOOR STANDING LOUDSPEAKERS
November 26, 2018 Comments Off on BOWERS & WILKINS 603 FLOOR STANDING LOUDSPEAKERS
“Bowers & Wilkins’ 603 is absolutely the floorstander of choice for under $3000. I seriously doubt that you will find a floor standing speaker with the same brand heritage, beautiful midrange tone, detail, soundstage and versatility, for less than five grand.
The addition of a subwoofer just adds to the experience, but unless you are using the 603 floor standing loudspeaker in a home cinema or you prefer a bit more bass, you’ll love them just as much without it.”
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