Q Acoustics Concept 500 review Review
November 24, 2017 Comments Off on Q Acoustics Concept 500 review Review
“That’s not to say these speakers don’t need anything better to shine. The downside of the Concept 500’s aggressive pricing – remember we’re talking high-end standards where £4000 is considered entry-level – is there’s a strong likelihood they be partnered with similarly priced sources and amplification.”
ASTELL&KERN KANN DAP $1,000 REVIEW
November 23, 2017 Comments Off on ASTELL&KERN KANN DAP $1,000 REVIEW
‘Admittedly the KANN doesn’t have the deep bass extension and control of my reference unit, and I prefer a little more musical midrange, but those who enjoy the Astell&Kern sound, as well as, lovers of pop music will truly appreciate the KANN’s ability to drive full sized headphones, while tube amp fans will most likely want to stick to using an external amp.”
Systemdek • 3D Reference Mk II Turntable £29,995 Review
November 23, 2017 Comments Off on Systemdek • 3D Reference Mk II Turntable £29,995 Review
“One area that challenges any suspended design is speed stability, and in this respect the Reference Mk II was no different. Bracketing on the Feickert Platter Speed app was noticeably more lax than on the close-coupled decks like the Kuzma Stabi M or VPI Classic 4, and playing piano recordings in particular, the lack of absolute pitch and temporal security was apparent, whether in the diminished dexterity of Benedetti Michelangeli or the subtle lack of physical substance underpinning the instrument on Nick Cave’s “Into My Arms” (The Boatman’s Call [Stumm 142]). Is this a deal-breaker? No. Indeed, until the appearance of decks like the VPI Classic and the Grand Prix Audio Monaco, the sonic impact of relatively poor speed stability was the dirty secret we all lived with. Those decks weren’t the first (or even close to being the first) to advance the cause of temporal accuracy — but they were the ones that dragged the issue kicking and screaming into the harsh light of audiophile day.”
Sonus faber Il Cremonese Floorstanding Speaker $45,000 Review
November 22, 2017 Comments Off on Sonus faber Il Cremonese Floorstanding Speaker $45,000 Review
“Sonus faber’s Il Cremonese is an astonishing speaker. I was very impressed with its performance. Imaging is wide and deep. The speaker is articulate without being overly analytical and fatiguing. Balance is another strong characteristic, along with excellent dynamic range, clarity, and detail. Of course, these attributes are to be expected at this price level. What really sets this speaker apart is its ability to communicate the most subtle and delicate differences in pitch, inflection, and tone. If there is one word to describe the Il Cremonese, it’s finesse.
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PIONEER XDP-30R DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYERV REVIEW
November 22, 2017 Comments Off on PIONEER XDP-30R DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYERV REVIEW
“While there are a few bugs that should easily be addressed in future firmware updates and a few features the head-fi community is still patiently holding out for, this player is still a great option.
If you’re not a fan of Android, or perhaps you aren’t quite ready to splash out and consider Pioneer’s flagship offerings, the XDP-30R offers high-performance at a much more wallet-friendly price.
Jadis JA 200 monoblock power amplifier $18,990 Review
November 21, 2017 Comments Off on Jadis JA 200 monoblock power amplifier $18,990 Review
“It is vitally important that the music’s inherent harmonic colors are fully fleshed out. The music’s true colors demand accurate reproduction of the harmonic palette. With the JA 200s, the upper mids turned slightly gray and dull, as if a dark cloud were blocking out the sun. The sweetness and sheen of violin overtones and soprano voice were blunted, at least to the point of fuzzing over some harmonic nuances. The vitality with which these instruments sang was subdued. But it doesn’t take much of a swing of the harmonic compass from sunny and sweet to overcast and gray to tick me off.
Focal Clear headphones Review
November 21, 2017 Comments Off on Focal Clear headphones Review
“Stepping up to Focal’s flagship Utopia headphone brought not only more clarity, but also more body to the sound of the instruments, populating cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s “The Goat Rodeo Sessions” classical/bluegrass fusion album more than what I heard from the LCD3 or the Clear. The Utopia doesn’t just deliver vivid transparency; there’s an organic wholeness to the sound.”
Devialet Gold Phantom Loudspeakers $5980 Review
November 20, 2017 Comments Off on Devialet Gold Phantom Loudspeakers $5980 Review
” was surprised that the Gold Phantom’s high resolution didn’t seem to be the result of bumping up certain frequencies to create a heightened but artificial sense of detail. Instead, to quote Hans, I found the Gold Phantom’s sound “broadly neutral” — that is, fairly linear throughout the audioband, but not as ruthlessly neutral as, say, Revel speakers. I’ve reviewed Revel’s Ultima2 Salon2 ($21,999/pair) and Performa3 F206 ($3500/pair), and found their sounds as accurate as accuracy gets. But in the midrange, the Gold Phantom sounded ever so slightly recessed — not laid-back or too relaxed, but definitely not in my face. For example, Cockburn’s and Margo Timmins’s voices were rock-solid between the speakers, but a few inches back from where a Revel would place them.”
GoldenEar Technology Triton Reference Loudspeakers Review
November 18, 2017 Comments Off on GoldenEar Technology Triton Reference Loudspeakers Review
“In my review last month of Devialet’s amazing Gold Phantom, I wrote about how they could play extraordinarily deep in the bass — right down to 20Hz. But they didn’t make me feel as immersed in the space of the recording venue as fully as the References did — that pressurizing of the room I talked about in the preceding paragraph. For the tracks mentioned so far, the only speakers that have reproduced them as authoritatively and with as much control in my room have been the KEF Blade Twos, which puts the References in good company indeed. The Reference wasn’t the be-all, end-all for bass — the Blade Two, though it didn’t go any deeper, still sounded a little punchier and more forceful in my room. Still, that’s very good for a speaker that costs about one-third as much as the Blade Two.”
Triangle Esprit Antal Ez Speakers $2,750 Review
November 17, 2017 Comments Off on Triangle Esprit Antal Ez Speakers $2,750 Review
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Another hot spot for me is the reproduction of the harmonica, which easily gets shrill and brittle with lesser speakers. The EZs make this an instrument you’ll look forward to hearing, whether it’s classic Bob Dylan, Neil Young, or any other favorite track you might have in mind. Mick Jagger’s intro to “Hoo Doo Blues” is simply sublime, giving this instrument the smoothness and texture it deserves.”
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