AmpsAndSound Hudson Review
February 18, 2018 Comments Off on AmpsAndSound Hudson Review
“Time for some female vocals, said I. I’m an unabashed Sade fan. Unfortunately, I find the digital versions of her recording pale in comparison to the vinyl. So into the system went my ModWright preamp and VPI Avenger turntable (with 3d tonearm and Ortofon 2m Black). I dropped the needle on Sade’s Promise album and from the first track (Is it a Crime) was blown away. The richness of her vocals was lovely and the placement of the instruments was precise. The speakers were able to handle the dynamic range from the loud intro to the quietest details with equal aplomb. There were rare times when I felt like I could discern the crossover between the midrange and treble, but I can’t swear it wasn’t my own imagination and me listening for something that wasn’t there. When I let myself relax, it was ultimately just involvement and enjoyment of the music.”
HEADAMP GILMORE LITE MK2 REVIEW
February 17, 2018 Comments Off on HEADAMP GILMORE LITE MK2 REVIEW
“certainly high praise for a $499 amplifier! The dead flat frequency response of the GS-X Mk2 was all there; as was a holographic soundstage. Now if you’re looking for the absolute best in these characteristics, then the GS-X Mk2 would be at the top of my list to procure. But if you’re on a tighter budget and want to hear what your headphones are truly all about, you need to try the Gilmore Lite Mk2!”
NFAUDIO NF3U & NF6I REVIEW
February 17, 2018 Comments Off on NFAUDIO NF3U & NF6I REVIEW
“If you look on NF’s stores you will note there is both a NF6 as well as the NF6i. Both are 6 balanced armature custom in-ear monitors but unlike their two NF3 options, they do not differ based on tuning. Instead, while the response to the NF6 was supposed overwhelming in terms of how good it sounded, many end users struggled to drive the earphone due to a lower sensitivity. For this reasoning they set out on making a new model that captured the same performance but was easier to drive so they upped the sensitivity and gave us a new, less demanding option.”
Holbo Turntable Review
February 16, 2018 Comments Off on Holbo Turntable Review
“The Holbo turntable is difficult to set up and all other elements of the system have to be carefully selected – it plays like much more expensive turntables and does not tolerate lack of attention to detail. There is also a problematic noisy pump, which one has to find a way to deal with. Despite everything, it’s worth considering, because Mr. Bostjan’s record player copes well with communicating emotions contained in music. Its sound can be described as warm, but only if we understand it as natural. It offers excellent resolution, great differentiation, although at first glance, its sound is calm and unobtrusive.”
PS AUDIO DIRECTSTREAM MEMORY PLAYER – REVIEW
February 16, 2018 Comments Off on PS AUDIO DIRECTSTREAM MEMORY PLAYER – REVIEW
“If you’ve bought into streaming source components in a big way, you may find PS Audio’s DirectStream Memory Player will force you—in the nicest, gentlest, and most rewarding way—to reconsider the sonic merits of disc-based music playback. Streaming sources can be very, very good, but in many cases and in many ways, the DirectStream Memory Player often proves to be that extra ‘Nth degree’ better, in the process helping music to sound more vivid, emotionally rich, and alive.”
Astell&Kern KANN Portable Media Player $1,000 Review
February 15, 2018 Comments Off on Astell&Kern KANN Portable Media Player $1,000 Review
“Astell&Kern took a gamble by tapping a different design team on their KANN player. The resulting product looks fairly unique compared to prior AK designs, and handles very differently thanks to those front panel controls. Obviously that massive battery is the headlining feature, but we also get increased power and connectivity thanks to the expanded real estate. The $999 price tag is certainly not cheap, though for an Astell&Kern product it is actually on the low side.”
VITUS AUDIO SS-103 POWER AMPLIFIER £30,000 – REVIEW
February 15, 2018 Comments Off on VITUS AUDIO SS-103 POWER AMPLIFIER £30,000 – REVIEW
“There are many amplifiers with remarkable resolution and an ability to draw and resolve the finest of filigree detail from the recordings and there are also many that have enormous control, impact, and command from the big to the infinitesimally smallest of things. The Vitus certainly is supremely capable in these areas but there is something rather wonderful about the way it moves the music through time. This is where the flowing water analogy came from. Tempo, timing, and musical phrasing are all massive weapons in any musician’s list of gifts and I think that appreciating them lies at the very core of our emotional relationship with the music we love to listen to. Every musician aspires towards expression regardless of technical ability. Few amplifiers can swing like a Vitus in full flow and the SS‑103 seems to have gained an extra edge of speed here. It is enormously articulate at its leading dynamic edge but also in its recovery, so the amplifier can utilise its considerable assets to full rhythmic effect whether the tempo itself is high and percussive, gentle and slow, or anywhere between.”
Acoustic Research AR-H1 Headphones – Review
February 13, 2018 Comments Off on Acoustic Research AR-H1 Headphones – Review
“Acoustic Research’s AR-H1 headphones not only won a Reviewers’ Choice award when Brent’s review was published, they’re now also the latest addition to our list of Recommended Reference Components — the first AR product to be included. Their high level of sound quality was a big surprise — welcome back to the world of audiophiles, Acoustic Research.”
Custom Art FIBAE 3 – Review
February 12, 2018 Comments Off on Custom Art FIBAE 3 – Review
“Highs: The transition from the midrange to the treble does not have a spike and carries no excess energy, meaning these don’t suffer from sibilance. Where these have a lift is in the upper treble creating a great sense of ambiance and air in recordings. Cymbals are not in your face, but they are not taking a back seat, again the initial crash is not overbearing but the highs are still there with great detail. What I like about these is the lack of fatigue inducing factors, but without making them a dull and boring sounding monitor.”
ULTRASONE NAOS PORTABLE HEADPHONE DAC REViEW
February 12, 2018 Comments Off on ULTRASONE NAOS PORTABLE HEADPHONE DAC REViEW
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“It should be noted that when the NAOS was paired with headphones approaching the £250 price barrier like the Audio Technics ATH-MSR7 (£200) and Final in-ear F7200’s (£400) that the NAOS was much less effective. This loss of utility with the more expensive (and presumably higher performing) cans seemed to be consistent and ultimately I considered it inconclusive if the NOAS substantially enhanced the music after breaking the $250 mark with the selected headphones listed above. Fortunately for Ultrasone most of us live in the world (especially on the go) where the virtually limitless variety of superior quality headphones under £250 will do just fine. In this vast price plateau the NAOS was able to augment virtually all facets of the musical presentation (treble, bass, mid-range) regardless of the quality of source”
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