Kii Audio Three Monitors $12,900 with Kii Controller Review
September 29, 2017 Comments Off on Kii Audio Three Monitors $12,900 with Kii Controller Review
“And consider that there’s no need for loudspeaker cables and/or interconnects. Just a digital cable and power cords. One might think that 1500 watts is way too much power for such a small loudspeaker, but on first listen one can hear an incredible sense of assuredness belying its small stature. Simply put, there’s a lot of fight in this small dog. I have been enjoying the Greg Allman and the Allman Brothers Band of late. “Live at the Fillmore East” especially. Listening to a rock band is not my usual cup of tea but I find their music enjoyable and toe-tapping. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to hear how much soul this group actually possesses.”
NOBLE AUDIO SAGE WIZARD $800 REVIEW
September 28, 2017 Comments Off on NOBLE AUDIO SAGE WIZARD $800 REVIEW
“The Sage has more upper mids and treble energy than the Savant and in general, has a more neutral sounding presentation. Vocals and percussion are more forward with a cleaner attack and overall you get a better level of headroom and spaciousness with the Sage. Those who felt the Savant was missing a little in terms of top end sparkle might prefer the Sage in that respect with its more audible final octave and better vocal presence.”
QUAD Platinum Stereo Amplifier Review
September 28, 2017 Comments Off on QUAD Platinum Stereo Amplifier Review
“The overall character of the Platinum amplifier is similar to the Inspire Fire-Bottle vacuum tube amplifier with 6V6 output tubes installed. As noted in the Inspire review, the 6V6 tubes deliver a nice warm midrange, but with noticeably limited treble response. The QUAD amp has very good bass. The Class A Pass XA30.8 amplifier has a very linear and extended treble range that will sound bright and forward in a system that is voiced for the more laid back character of the QUAD amp. These amplifiers are not interchangeable without significant system alterations to maintain a proper tonal balance across the audio frequencies, from low bass to uppermost treble.”
KEF LS50 WIRELESS STANDMOUNT LOUDSPEAKERS REVIEW
September 27, 2017 Comments Off on KEF LS50 WIRELESS STANDMOUNT LOUDSPEAKERS REVIEW
“The reason why the KEF LS50 Wireless is so important is that it’s an ambitious project that is correctly realised. A lot of companies have notebooks filled with similarly ambitious projects that never got past the late-night brainstorming session. A handful got as far as making a testbed sample in the lab, but the project was stopped because no-one could ever quite join all the dots. KEF is one of the very few companies that went the distance, and delivered a fine end result in the process. Dozens and dozens of hours into my own listening and the LS50 Wireless is still getting better, too”
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Grandinote SHINAI Integrated amplifier Review
September 27, 2017 Comments Off on Grandinote SHINAI Integrated amplifier Review
“The amplifier is delivered in a professional, Italian-made case made of a rigid, impact-resistant plastic. This case features wheels, which is a welcome addition when you have to move this heavy device around”
Oracle Audio Origine Turntable World Premiere $2560 Review
September 25, 2017 Comments Off on Oracle Audio Origine Turntable World Premiere $2560 Review
“Comparing a Corolla to Ferrari is not fair, so I did not want to waste time doing that. The bottom line for my initial review was simple. If playing a few songs on the Origine turntable, and then playing the same songs on my Technics SL-D3 turntable to see if it made an obvious difference to my musical enjoyment. And if so, then, why or why not. And finally, would it be worth the cost of obtain that level of enjoyment? Within 3:57 minutes I had my answer. Yes. Yes, it would! My very first critical listening session took place on Christmas day, 2016 (I told you I’ve had the Origine turntable for a long time). The holidays are a perfect time for listening to music, in my home. It’s my time off. I don’t do the holiday hassle that most people do. I just don’t do it. Low-key family events, lots of food and booze; that’s the holidays for me. And music. Always music.”
Rega’s Vivacious Brio $995 Review
September 25, 2017 Comments Off on Rega’s Vivacious Brio $995 Review
“The Brio’s 50 watts per channel is enough to drive most speakers to realistic levels, and more than enough to get most apartment dwellers evicted, so you can look forward to distortion, fatigue free music, regardless of how loud or how long you listen. After initial listening with the Totems, we auditioned the Brio with a number of different speakers, some considerably more expensive and came away highly impressed with the level of refinement that this amplifier delivers. TONEAudio Magazine gave their overall Product of the Year award, judging the $995 Brio-R against other components with six-figure pricetags. A side by side comparison with a friend’s last generation Brio-R proves the new model sonically better in every way.’
STAX SRS-3100 ELECTROSTATIC EARSPEAKER SYSTEM REVIEW
September 24, 2017 Comments Off on STAX SRS-3100 ELECTROSTATIC EARSPEAKER SYSTEM REVIEW
“There are many advantages to using an electrostatic audio system. The most obvious of which is the amazingly low distortion produced compared to a traditional dynamic driver. As well as this, an electrostatic rig will have unparalleled levels of detail and accuracy, especially in the midrange and high frequencies.”
SW1X DAC 1 – REVIEW
September 24, 2017 Comments Off on SW1X DAC 1 – REVIEW
” Under the same circumstance, above all the active DAC 1 is more controlled overall and more precise in the bass than the passive version, as well as more “immediate”, with faster transients and more attack. The active DAC’s sound seems more balanced, more even, but because it is more controlled, also seemingly less freely enthusiastic than the passive version. Although the active version would perhaps measure more accurately, perhaps due to its midrange being more well-behaved, the active DAC 1 comes across as being less enthusiastic than the passive DAC 1. On the other hand, although it may be not strictly be the case, subjectively speaking the active DAC’s frequency curve seems flatter and it strikes me that this may be objectively speaking the more accurate sound. The midrange is now more neutral, less forward so to say. Switching to the Wadia confirms that the DAC 1 active indeed sounds more alike, but I’m not sure if I prefer the higher precision of the active version, or the freeer sound of the passive version.”
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