XI AUDIO FORMULA S REVIEW
July 29, 2018 Comments Off on XI AUDIO FORMULA S REVIEW
“I actually think the Studio 6 has excellent treble detail and it is on par with the Formula S in that regard. However, the positioning and timbre are slightly different. The Formula S treble has a bit more presence and perceptible articulation. I would content it is neutral in positioning though slightly further forward and more energetic sounding than the Studio 6. The 6 is more relaxed in its top-end, easier going but that should be no surprise given its tube design.”
Playback Designs MPD-8 Dream DAC (US$22,000)
July 28, 2018 Comments Off on Playback Designs MPD-8 Dream DAC (US$22,000)
“One feature that is very important to many users is the MPD-8’s digitally driven analog volume control. Using the balanced outputs, I connected the MPD-8 directly to my Ayre Acoustics MX-R Twenty monoblocks. The MPD-8’s analog volume control did not seem to color the sound or detract from the overall quality of sound obtained from the DAC. The remote allowed me to control the volume easily and precisely. Comparing the MPD-8’s analog volume control with my Ayre Acoustics KX-R Twenty preamp resulted in sonic differences that were small, but perceptible. While I favored the overall sound of the Ayre preamp when included in the playback chain, I could easily live with the MPD-8’s direct connection to my power amps.”
Burmester Phase 3 System
July 28, 2018 Comments Off on Burmester Phase 3 System
“he sophisticated app for iPad, which came already downloaded on the iPad Mini that Burmester supplied, connected to my local WiFi network easily enough but presented some configuration issues that unfortunately impeded the 161’s functions requiring WiFi connectivity, such as streaming and Internet radio. A support call with a leader from Burmester R&D Digital confirmed that I was following the correct set-up steps but couldn’t determine why the 161 didn’t “accept” my local WiFi to complete and exit the app’s configuration mode. Fortunately, entering a few codes on the remote allowed me to bypass the home WiFi and run the iPad app and network player in “source” mode. Soon after, however, Burmester provided a more recent firmware update that resolved the local connectivity issue and allowed me to stream via my Tidal account. The app has a wonderfully user-friendly interface with intuitive navigation. You can build and edit playlists by tapping on selected albums and tracks, and sort and search easily. You can adjust phase and gain levels for different outputs. You can import files from an external USB drive and rip CDs. Essentially you can do it all within the app. Although the robust iPad Mini app presented some challenges as noted, these /should be fixable. The app really provides all you could ask for and, once all is connected, is blissfully easy to use.”
RHAPSODIO GALAXY V2 REVIEW
July 27, 2018 Comments Off on RHAPSODIO GALAXY V2 REVIEW
‘The Galaxy V2 has that classic drop from the mid-bass through the upper bass into the lower mids by around -10dB. It stays relatively linear until about 2k before starting to elevate into the upper mids and lower treble. This pushes the lower mids behind a lot of higher pitched vocals and its peppier upper mids and treble but unlike some cheaper dd v-shaped drivers I do not find this particular midrange to sound muted or veiled.”
Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless Headphones Review
July 27, 2018 Comments Off on Beyerdynamic Amiron Wireless Headphones Review
“The Amiron’s size might be a turn off to some because of travel restrictions, but they fit nearly any head comfortably. Their ease of use is also at the front of the pack as compared with the competition. There is little that these headphones don’t do right.”
MRSPEAKERS ÆON FLOW OPEN PLANAR MAGNETIC HEADPHONES
July 26, 2018 Comments Off on MRSPEAKERS ÆON FLOW OPEN PLANAR MAGNETIC HEADPHONES
“The ÆON Flow Open is an extremely well built and good sounding headphone and many will consider it another in a growing line of MrSpeaker instant classics. Across genres the ÆON Flow Open back edition seems to consistently find new eye-opening ways to shake listeners out of complacency and reinvent the music anew with artistic intentions intact. Do these $799 headphones do everything perfectly? No, of course not. But, do they make you wonder why you would consider spending another $500–$1000 for just a small potential uptick in performance? Yes, they certainly do!”
Pass Laboratories XA200.8 monoblock power amplifier $42,000 Review
July 25, 2018 Comments Off on Pass Laboratories XA200.8 monoblock power amplifier $42,000 Review
“Few power amplifiers I’ve heard have sounded as beautiful as Pass Laboratories’ XA200.8 monoblock. Having to stick to Stereophile’s policy of not commenting at length on a product’s sound quality until that product has been reviewed in our pages, when all I wanted to do was wax ecstatic about the sound of these amps, has been frustrating indeed.”
Tidal Piano G2 Loudspeakers $39,900 Review
July 24, 2018 Comments Off on Tidal Piano G2 Loudspeakers $39,900 Review
“But in terms of build quality, I must respectfully disagree with Scott Hull: The Piano G2 is less Rolls-Royce than Bugatti. I have never seen a pair of loudspeakers crafted with such artisanal care. Yes, they’re expensive. Yes, there are other speakers on the market that offer more in terms of deep-bass extension and utter neutrality for less money. But, as with a Bugatti, what you pay $39,900 for is not the highest sound quality alone. You pay for a bespoke visual and aural experience by way of musical seduction, and Tidal’s Piano G2 has seduced me as has no other speaker.”
KLIPSCH HERITAGE HP-3 HEADPHONES $1200 REVIEW
July 23, 2018 § 1 Comment
“The Klipsch Heritage HP-3 Headphones are everything you would expect from a reference headphone produced by a company with Klipsch’s pedigree. They are definitely a look into the limits of dynamic driver headphones, producing extreme dynamic range with epic concert levels of bass, without compromising the tonal balance of the low mids, mids and highs. If you are familiar with Klipsch’s Legacy speakers, you will know what to expect from the HP-3s as they have truly captured that big horn sound. While not forgiving of certain recordings, they appear to work well with any source and are efficient enough to run off a phone or one of those tweaky “high end” DAPs that usually require an external amplifier.”
Cary Audio DMS-500 Media Center Review
July 23, 2018 Comments Off on Cary Audio DMS-500 Media Center Review
“The DMS-500 not only comes with a quite serviceable dedicated remote control, but also an extremely good control app for both iOS and Android devices. The dedicated remote’s layout is clean and easy to navigate, despite the fact that it was designed to work on multiple Cary components. I especially like the mute button placement–right at the top right corner of the remote–because when you need to mute, you need to mute right now. The iOS version of the app proved to be rock-solid and fully-featured. My only complaint is that it looks much better and is easier to use on a tablet than on my iPhone SE’s smaller display.”
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