German Physiks HRS-130 Loudspeaker $18,775 Review
December 24, 2017 Comments Off on German Physiks HRS-130 Loudspeaker $18,775 Review
“What you get here is a world-class wide-range driver that is exceptionally well engineered and superbly integrated into a speaker that is almost perfect for a small-to-medium-sized room. In my estimation, the carbon-fiber DDD is one of the top five driver innovations of the past 40 years, delivering the coherent phase and uniform power response first envisioned by Lincoln Walsh. Given the right amplifier and room setup, the HRS-130 ticks all the important sonic boxes and clearly edges out the competition when it comes to palpable imaging. No wonder the German Physiks HRS-130 is currently my favorite speaker under $25k.”
Magico M6 $172,000 REVIEW
December 23, 2017 Comments Off on Magico M6 $172,000 REVIEW
“Having just come off the mind-boggling experience that is the Magnepan MG30.7, I wasn’t sure how I was going to react to yet another dynamic speaker in a cabinet. Once heard, the big Maggie’s boxless, “freed-up” presentation—with its lightning transient response, sensational resolution of musical detail, and uncannily natural tone color—is indelible. But the M6 matches it, strength for strength. Indeed, it exceeds it in the treble and the power range and the bass, where, as superb as they are, the MG30.7’s true ribbon and huge twin bass drivers are comparatively limited in power-handling and dynamic range (due to driver-excursion limits). While it is true that the M6 does not have quite the same lifelike size as the 30.7s on really big instruments (such as Clifford Curzon’s concert grand on the great Decca recording of the Brahms First Piano Concerto with Szell and the LSO [ORG]), it has much fuller low end and power-range color and impact (startling impact on tuttis). Moreover, unlike the Maggies, the M6 doesn’t make smaller instruments or voices sound outsize or bring them forward in the mix or add excessive sting (once again due to excurision limits) to high-pitched instruments played very loudly. In sum, it is far more naturally robust and faithful-to-sources and, ultimately, realistic.”
Cayin i5 Review
December 23, 2017 Comments Off on Cayin i5 Review
“Cayin i5: The i5 user interface looks a lot like that of the N5ii but that last one has some more option. Versatility and user wise these DAPs are very much alike but the new N5ii is the easiest to use. Its jacket fits better, the volume dial is smoother and the smaller and lighter N5ii just is easier to work in your hand. The screen on the i5 is somewhat nicer though as the N5ii’s screen has a more blue color. Sound wise I find the i5 to have a noisier background but the i5 still sounds really good. To me the N5ii and i5 are very close to each other and the biggest different is in the mids (layering) and the vocals. The voices are a tad softer from the N5ii where they have a sharper edge from the i5, making them sound more forward. In general I also find the N5ii is the better balanced one, where the i5 has the tendency to put the upper mids and treble more upfront. But these are very close to each other, there’s no night and day difference.”
Monoprice’s new M300 in-ear headphones $150 Review
December 23, 2017 Comments Off on Monoprice’s new M300 in-ear headphones $150 Review
“The iSine10 and iSine20 were game changers when they were introduced back in 2016. Audeze was the first to release what looks like an on-ear headphone, but one with an extension nozzle that directs the sound into your ear canals, the way in-ear headphones do. But unlike other in-ears Audeze’s were “open-back,” so they don’t isolate the user from the environment. Neither does the M300.”
Chord Dave Ultimate Reference DAC Review
December 21, 2017 Comments Off on Chord Dave Ultimate Reference DAC Review
“With Hifiman’s flagship planar magnetic headphone, the Susvara, I heard all that’s great about Dave’s sound: Jaw dropping transparency, big as the outdoors stereo imaging, and pristine highs. Still, the Susvara is a power hog, and Dave didn’t quite have enough juice to push the Susvara to very loud levels. At saner volume Dave and Susvara made beautiful music together.”
Fiio F9 Pro $100 Review
December 21, 2017 Comments Off on Fiio F9 Pro $100 Review
“Due to a multitude of vents on the inner face of each earpiece, the F9 Pro provides just average levels of isolation, just sufficient for public transport but they’ll get drowned out in louder environments. They are relatively low-profile and can be slept in comfortably, they also produce average amounts of wind noise despite their rippled texture. The F9 Pro wears comfortably, with a minor ache forming at the rear of my ears after several hours due to their slightly larger dimensions.”
MCINTOSH MA8900 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER $15,000 REVIEW
December 20, 2017 Comments Off on MCINTOSH MA8900 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER $15,000 REVIEW
“The MA8900 was inserted in a system comprising SME 20/11 turntable, SME V tonearm and Koetsu Rosewood cartridge, Audio Research Reference 7 MK2 CD player, Elektra Audio pre and power amplifier driving Wilson Sasha speakers. Cabling used was Inakustik throughout, including the tonearm cable.
From the get-go, the new McIntosh drove the wicked Sasha speakers with arrogant ease. The sound was full-bodied, detailed, rhythmic, clear as a summer sky and effortlessly dynamic.”
FOSTEX TH610 HEADPHONES AND HPA4BL DAC/HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER REVIEW
December 20, 2017 Comments Off on FOSTEX TH610 HEADPHONES AND HPA4BL DAC/HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER REVIEW
“For those looking for a beautifully made pair of headphones, which can do bass like the best of them, you should definitely audition these headphones. However, for me, they are a much more attractive proposition teamed up with the HBA4BL as a partner, which is not only an excellent Headphone/DAC amplifier for the money, but also is a match made-in-heaven for the headphones.”
Pass XP-17 Phono Preamplifier Review
December 19, 2017 Comments Off on Pass XP-17 Phono Preamplifier Review
“The XP-17 finally is positioned several price classes higher, but very much deservedly so. Although the Pass has no tubes, it does sound every bit as fluid and organic as the SW1X. It is perhaps not quite as spritely nor as nimble and speedy, but it makes up for this with an even more sonorous sound with more powerful and more sonorous bass and a harmonically richer midrange, while simultaneously sounding more even-handed. Importantly, regardless of its full-bodied bass and rich midrange, the Pass sounds clear and articulate, well-balanced and very neutral. It actually combines virtues that are often contradictory: tonally full yet neutral, organic, rich and fluid yet clean, clear and detailed, and all aspects in equal measure.”
TIDAL FORCE WAVE 5 PLANAR MAGNETIC $300 REVIEW
December 18, 2017 Comments Off on TIDAL FORCE WAVE 5 PLANAR MAGNETIC $300 REVIEW
“Overall I loved my time with the Tidal Wave 5 headphones. Everything from the top flight construction, included accessories and impressive sound quality impressed! If you have always wanted to try a pair of planar magnetic headphones, then I can think of no better starting point than these wonderful headphones and you really need to check these out!”
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