Pass Labs HPA-1 Headphone Amplifier Review
April 29, 2018 Comments Off on Pass Labs HPA-1 Headphone Amplifier Review
“Matt enthusiastically preferred the Pass to the Mjolnir. Matt and David sometimes differed in their reactions, a matter of taste, but keep in mind the Mjolnir was designed to emulate a classic triode circuit, which saturates a bit as things get loud. Single tone tests on the Mjolnir show predominance of 2nd and 3rd harmonic. However, harmonic distortion is a funny beast, sometimes it can manifest itself as presence, sometimes as warmth, and often as fat bass, very dependent on the material, so I’m not surprised at the sometimes apparently contradictory reactions depending on the musical source. Distortion is compression, it can subjectively soften dynamics, but when it’s enhancing a range, that range can seem louder and counter intuitively dynamics can appear to increase.”
Shunyata Research Denali D6000/S Power Distributor Review
April 29, 2018 Comments Off on Shunyata Research Denali D6000/S Power Distributor Review
“The next things I heard. With the ARC GS150 in the system, and standing a foot or so away from either speaker with no music playing, I could hear a very soft buzz much higher in frequency than a 60Hz hum. The buzz didn’t trouble me — I’d heard it with other amps, such as my Blue Circle Audio BC204; it was at a very low level, and was completely masked by even the quietest music. Nevertheless, though the Shunyata setup didn’t eliminate the buzz, it cut its volume by at least half. Last but not least, the sound was now slightly more dynamic in the bass, and subtly smoother and just a bit more detailed overall, which tended to make recordings with big soundstages”
HIFIMAN SUSVARA PLANAR MAGNETIC HEADPHONE REVIEW
April 28, 2018 Comments Off on HIFIMAN SUSVARA PLANAR MAGNETIC HEADPHONE REVIEW
“How does the Susvara compare to the best of the best? Well, it’s voicing is highly reminiscent of that of HiFiMAN’s Shangri-La electrostat, though with perhaps just a touch more bass energy and, if anything, even more dynamic swagger. The Susvara offers almost as much transient speed, transparency, and resolution as the Shangri-La… and even where it falls short it does not miss the mark by much. Perhaps that is the point; the £50,000 Shangri-La system is superb but priced beyond reach for many of us, whereas the £5,000 Susvara, though undeniably expensive, can get us surprisingly close to the sonic mountaintop for a much more approachable sum. True, the Susvara requires a powerful top-flight amplifier, but for now it stands as the finest planar magnetic headphone HiFiMAN has ever made.”
EAT B-Sharp Super Pack review
April 28, 2018 Comments Off on EAT B-Sharp Super Pack review
“Detail levels are good, and the 2M Blue remains as even-handed as we remember. This is a fine choice of cartridge to start off with, but we think the EAT is talented enough to be used with pricier, more capable alternatives.”
KEF Reference 1 Review
April 27, 2018 Comments Off on KEF Reference 1 Review
“or a speaker that stands just 44cm high, they dig deep and render the song’s relentless, rolling bass line with a great deal of power, punch and precision.Moving up the frequency range, the Uni-Q delivers a seamless, cohesive and impressively focused sound from the midrange upwards. Voices come through with clarity and conviction. The 1s deliver a full dose of subtlety and expression.”
Audio Research DAC 9 $7,500 Review
April 26, 2018 Comments Off on Audio Research DAC 9 $7,500 Review
“Another amazing quality of the DAC9 is the ability to render layered depth. Images are placed with three a dimensional presence that is surrounded by air allowing for great separation and a front to back precision that keeps individual instrumental timbre distinct and untangled. The accuracy of front to back distances or layering goes back, all the way back with stunning clarity. Orchestras are mapped out to the performer. All the modern studio recordings I sampled benefited greatly by the hologram like presence put forth by the DAC9 and holds true to the reputation Audio Research has earned over the years.”
YG ACOUSTICS SONJA 2.2 FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKER $76,800/ REVIEW
April 25, 2018 Comments Off on YG ACOUSTICS SONJA 2.2 FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKER $76,800/ REVIEW
“First, much like the XV, the 2.2 conveys both an immediate and lasting impression of offering superabundant sonic transparency. The speaker makes joyful child’s play of rendering small, elusive, low-level sonic details with effortless clarity and definition. Unlike many other speakers that claim to be good at detail retrieval, however, the Sonja 2.2 manages to be highly informative while also remaining uncannily smooth sounding and unflustered, whether playing loudly, softly, or anywhere in between (where competing speakers often achieve perceived detail at the expense of a subtly bright, brittle, and edgy sound). The upshot of this is that the 2.2 is a wonderfully natural sounding loudspeaker; there is absolutely nothing strained or forced about it presentation. ”
Brinkmann Audio Nyquist DAC Review
April 25, 2018 Comments Off on Brinkmann Audio Nyquist DAC Review
“Keep in mind for your reference; my own bias is for overall system balance to be ever so slightly on the warm/natural/neutral side of straight-up neutral. I like as much detail as I can get without the overall presentation getting harsh, yet I crave as much warmth as possible before things become slow, or sloppy. Tracking through the original Chicago Transit Authority, the enormous sonic landscape painted is tremendous, with a smoothness to the layers of drums and percussion incredible.”
Focal • Utopia and Elear Headphones Review
April 24, 2018 Comments Off on Focal • Utopia and Elear Headphones Review
“It’s the upper-frequency reproduction that separates merely excellent headphones from world-class performers, and at four times the price of the Elear, the Utopia proves that returns are not diminished as the cost escalates. The Utopia’s performance in this area was significantly better than that of the Elear, but it was also significantly better than the performance of high-priced headphones from other manufacturers.”
RHA MA750 WIRELESS $169 REVIEW
April 24, 2018 Comments Off on RHA MA750 WIRELESS $169 REVIEW
“First, the tips. Slip on the foam tips and you will get a better seal, a smoother treble response, and more low-end impact. Second, check your source. Those without aptX might find the sound a little lacking in dynamic range and impact whereas those with aptX signals will get a more dynamic performance. Finally, check your source. They do not all deliver the same level of performance or tonality.”
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