Stenheim • Reference Ultime Loudspeakers $195,000 Review
August 29, 2018 Comments Off on Stenheim • Reference Ultime Loudspeakers $195,000 Review
“Which in turn raises the question, what price the active option? Bearing in mind that the switch to the active version of the Reference Ultime involves far more than simply shelling out extra to buy the crossover itself — you need to double up on your main amplifier, as well as add a couple of levels of equipment support and some extra cables. It’s far from a straightforward or affordable option. So what does it deliver — more of the same or something different — and does it risk throwing the baby out with the technological and conceptual bath water? After all, given that the Reference Ultime passive is built around the concept of topological simplicity, doesn’t adding all that extra hardware rather undermine that philosophy?”
AIR TIGHT ATC-5 PREAMPLIFIER REVIEW
August 29, 2018 Comments Off on AIR TIGHT ATC-5 PREAMPLIFIER REVIEW
“When it comes to the purity of sonic deliverance Air Tight ATC-5 is anything but. One of the biggest surprises was the open, transparent yet always palpable sonic performance. Being all tube preamplifier one would expect the complete opposite.Yes, Air Tight ATC-5 is a single-ended preamplifier and as such it provides only RCA inputs. It was undoubtedly designed to fit within the Air Tight’s family tree of products and to be accompanied with other non-balanced front ends and power amplifiers.”
Balanced Audio Technology VK-53SE Preamplifier Review
August 26, 2018 Comments Off on Balanced Audio Technology VK-53SE Preamplifier Review
“BAT’s VK-53SE errs on the warm side of neutral. But to say that it lacks any specific capabilities because of this warmer personality is not really accurate because the information is still there — it just needs the right speakers and ancillaries to coax it out. If the buyer takes the time to do so, the VK-53SE can sound momentous — and, like all other BAT products, the VK-53SE is wonderfully engineered and built like a tank. It’s also one of the most ergonomically friendly preamps I’ve used, and highly flexible in its connectivity and customization.”
EMM Labs DA2 Digital-To-Analog Converter (DAC) $25,000 Review
August 25, 2018 Comments Off on EMM Labs DA2 Digital-To-Analog Converter (DAC) $25,000 Review
“To my ears, it was the treble that the DA2 was able to reproduce that stood out during this particular listening session and that too was the finest I’ve ever heard from a digital source. No, this SACD of course didn’t have a 20 kHz ceiling imposed by the Nyquist frequency that prevents the treble of “normal” CDs of having any ultrasonic extension, but I’ve heard this through many other DSD capable DACs in the past. Although, this time it was different, because the treble didn’t sound like it was being reproduced from an SACD file, it sounded like it was simply being reproduced. Period. And of course, the audible frequencies were reproduced with the utmost in realism and extension, and all the other things us audiophiles like to talk about in the high-end when we hear the best components, such as the ultimate soundstage, imaging, transient response, etc., but now all these things hardly mattered, as the DA2 became an invisible component simply doing its job. I’ve dreamed of the day when digital would sound as good as was promised back in the day. It’s here. Finally.
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Focal • Sopra No.2 Loudspeakers $14,999 Review
August 25, 2018 Comments Off on Focal • Sopra No.2 Loudspeakers $14,999 Review
“The No.3 delivers the scale and expansive soundstaging that the No.2 struggles with. It offers greater dimensionality and intimacy, but above all it allows a greater expressive range, particularly on the subtle textures and harmonics of acoustic material. It also goes louder and does so with greater discrimination and grace. In short, it allows the music to breathe significantly more easily — at the price of a bigger cabinet and more space. So far so good, but that extra performance comes at a price, not just in monetary terms but in terms of size, domestic impact and space requirements. It’s harder to set up too.”
ASTELL&KERN ACRO L1000 REVIEW
August 24, 2018 Comments Off on ASTELL&KERN ACRO L1000 REVIEW
“I’ve never been the biggest fan of DAC/AMP combo’s but the Acro L1000 has won me over. AK gave it a high end, audiophile tuning and the result is very impressive. Not only does the L1000 sound great it also looks gorgeous, unlike anything you’ve ever seen. On top of that it’s also a very versatile unit that has a large number of single end and balanced outputs, as well as a 15W/channel speaker output.”
PS Audio P20 Power Plant $9,999 Review
August 24, 2018 Comments Off on PS Audio P20 Power Plant $9,999 Review
“Seriously, it only takes about 5 minutes to evaluate the P20, and a few more hours with a wide range of tracks to stop pinching yourself. Starting my evaluation with the fairly current heavy Pass Labs INT-60, plugging into the P20 was an instant epiphany. Fortunately, with a pair of 20 amp circuits and a 15 amp circuit near the equipment rack, it was a breeze to switch back and forth between P20 and the straight AC line.”
KEF LS50 Wireless Nocturne Active Loudspeaker System $2500 Review
August 23, 2018 Comments Off on KEF LS50 Wireless Nocturne Active Loudspeaker System $2500 Review
“. A listen to LCD Soundsystem’s “Dance Yrself Clean” delivered expansive dispersion and some rather impressive lower-octave oomph. I never really felt tempted to bring out the subs. We’re not talking nightclub-level, cage-rattling bass here, but still far more depth than expected, especially from compacts. Of course, when I turned up the volume a few notches, some edges and aspects softened slightly in the bass, but the big picture didn’t fall apart. Per the specs, SPL maxes out at 106dB but I didn’t push that far. The LS50s conveyed this track’s broad-spectrum layers and gave all a great sense of groove and potent energy. I switched to Lila Downs’ “Aqua de Rosas” from La Cantina (Red Book CD rip), where multi-layered percussion was reproduced with crispness and clarity within a pleasing sense of airy openness. There was a rich smoothness to her smoky contralto vocals.”
AUDEZE LCDI4 REVIEW
August 23, 2018 Comments Off on AUDEZE LCDI4 REVIEW
“There has been a lot of debate on the comfort levels and degree of fit online due to this system. Ultimately, it is a personal thing getting a good fit and my own experience has been largely positive. That is only after moving the hooks around to get the right fit. Depending on where exactly you snap them on the experience can be comfortable or painful.
Threshold T-200 power amplifier $4300 Review
August 22, 2018 Comments Off on Threshold T-200 power amplifier $4300 Review
“The T-200 is protected from overload and short circuits by fast-blow fuses, accessed by removing the cover. I managed my usual trick of shorting the speaker cables, and one of the fuses did blow—and fast—so there was no damage to the amplifier. The type of fuse is sufficiently exotic that the guy at my neighborhood Radio Shack just shook his head in bewilderment when he looked at it. Threshold quickly Fed-Exed me a full set of fuses; they might consider including a set with each amp in case consumers are as butterfingered as reviewers.”
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