Linear Tube Audio ZOTL40 Mk. II Power Amplifier $5800 Review
July 22, 2017 Comments Off on Linear Tube Audio ZOTL40 Mk. II Power Amplifier $5800 Review
“I’ve left the best for last. My gut-level reaction to a particular audio component is driven by its dynamics, its ability to coax the full spectrum of emotional nuance from a given recording. It starts with microdynamic nuances, and these the ZOTL40 was able to convincingly bring back to life. It didn’t shy away from giving full scope of expression to macrodynamics, either. When the occasion demanded, each orchestral climax was reproduced with plenty of startle factor. But keep in mind that the ZOTL40 is nominally a 40Wpc amplifier and should therefore ideally be matched with speakers of at least 88dB sensitivity, unless you’re happy to listen in a small room at low-volume levels.”
Abyss AB-1266 Phi headphones $4495 Review
July 21, 2017 Comments Off on Abyss AB-1266 Phi headphones $4495 Review
“Many headphone connoisseurs consider the Stax SR-009 electrostatic headphones ($3825 + dedicated amplifier) to be the best-resolving of all candidates for best headphone. My numerous but brief auditions of this venerable classic suggest that the SR-009 does indeed generate the most beautiful and fascinating midrange, but it also sounds identifiably electrostat-like—and, hence, less natural than the Abyss AB-1266 Phis, which appear to have almost no sound of their own.”
Pandora Premium Music Service Review
July 21, 2017 Comments Off on Pandora Premium Music Service Review
“Is Pandora’s Premium service a formidable competitor to major players like Apple Music, Spotify, and TIDAL? Maybe the best answer is: not just yet. On paper, it doesn’t yet compete with those services in terms of overall functionality: access is limited primarily to phones, and it can’t serve as your all-in-one music player, since it can’t integrate your personal files. Still, there’s a lot to like about it, especially if (like me) you’ve used Pandora’s free service for years and created/fine-tuned a large collection of stations that you like. Premium builds more functionality and flexibility into those stations while giving you more direct access to specific songs, artists, and albums–all through a nice, streamlined interface.”
FiiO’s nifty i1 headphone amplifier $40 Lightning adapter
July 20, 2017 Comments Off on FiiO’s nifty i1 headphone amplifier $40 Lightning adapter
“Naturally, we had to compare the two adapters, FiiO and Apple. Starting with a Sennheiser Momentum 2.0, the i1’s bass definition firmed up compared with the Apple Adapter. With “Pink Up” from Spoon’s “Hot Thoughts” album, the drums and vibes have a lot of reverb, and the i1 sounds clearer than the Apple adapter. Not by a huge amount, but the differences are there.”
Schiit Launches A New Power Amplifier $700 – The Vidar
July 19, 2017 Comments Off on Schiit Launches A New Power Amplifier $700 – The Vidar
“The class AB amplifier is an interesting proposition given a market where class D topology tends to be the leaning option at this price point. Given Schitt’s large impact in the personal audio space, it will worth keeping an eye out for how everything comes together for this new 2 channel wallet-friendly option. You can check out all the extra details on the site, and as of today the rare-for-Schiit black finish is still available to order.”
AUDEZE ISINE20 IN-EAR HEADPHONES
July 19, 2017 Comments Off on AUDEZE ISINE20 IN-EAR HEADPHONES
“Overall I absolutely love the iSINE20 in-ear headphones. Offering Audeze’s first in-ear experience in such a revolutionary planar magnetic product is quite an impressive engineering feat. The resulting sound quality is something that has to be experienced to be believed. If you thought you had to sacrifice sound stage and imaging with a portable product without spending north of $2000 US; well, that has now changed! This is simply the best value for a portable pair of headphones/IEMs that I’ve come across and if you don’t require noise isolation due to their open-back design, I can think of no better option! Well done Audeze”
Palmer Audio 2.5 turntable & Audio Origami PU7 tonearm Review
July 19, 2017 Comments Off on Palmer Audio 2.5 turntable & Audio Origami PU7 tonearm Review
” Through the Palmer-Origami-Etna there was more midrange warmth than I’d become accustomed to, but that accentuation reproduced greater hall space, a larger stage, and more depth, though with perhaps a bit less air on top. Bennett’s voice was more fully fleshed out, which was mesmerizing, and the string tones of the Ralph Sharon Orchestra were rich, woody, and silky-smooth—but Candido’s congas lost a bit of pop, and the brass and percussion lost some bite.”
Grace Design m9XX DAC $799 Review
July 19, 2017 Comments Off on Grace Design m9XX DAC $799 Review
“Sonically the Grace m9XX performed with flying colors when used as a DAC/pre. The well-controlled and extended bass that I heard through headphones was readily apparent when auditioned in a nearfield or room-based system. The m9XX’s unfatiguing upper-frequency presentation made listening through my all-solid-state and Class D amplification system a very natural and relaxed affair. My only quibble is that if you have built a system that is already soft and forgiving the m9XX might be too much of a good thing. However, if you want a neutral, revealing, but still listenable DAC, the m9XX checks all the right boxes.”
AURALiC ALTAIR REVIEW
July 18, 2017 Comments Off on AURALiC ALTAIR REVIEW
“However, there should be a way to combine one’s Favorite stations with one’s manually added stations on a single screen. Currently it isn’t possible to mark something in My Stations as a favorite, and the stations listed in My Favorites don’t provide the URL enabling one to switch back to My Stations and make a manual entry. Lightning DS users will understand this easily. Those who are unfamiliar with Lightning DS, just need to understand that there are two screens with one’s “selected” internet radio stations and they can’t be combined.”
Core Power Technologies Equi=Core 1800 Power Conditioner $1999 Review
July 18, 2017 Comments Off on Core Power Technologies Equi=Core 1800 Power Conditioner $1999 Review
“I was bowled over by the positive effects the Equi=Core 1800 had on my gear. Both vinyl and digital were improved. Noted improvements — the usual suspects with quality conditioning — blacker backgrounds with concomitant drop in noise floor, zero hum, with that ever so slight white noise our ears recognize as distortion, all gone. The proverbial veils were lifted. Like diving into a crystal clear glacial lake untouched by humanity. ”
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