Wells Audio Majestic integrated amplifier Review $3,599
May 4, 2017 Comments Off on Wells Audio Majestic integrated amplifier Review $3,599
“Though a budget design in the company’s offering, the Majestic possessed such competency nonetheless that it showcased the superiority of the $8,000 Bricasti M1 dual-mono DAC over the $3,100 Arche Audio Opus 5 DACT and Opus 501 Power Supply in increased three-dimensionality and spectral extension.”
COPLAND DAC215 HEADPHONE DAC/AMPLIFIER REVIEW
May 4, 2017 Comments Off on COPLAND DAC215 HEADPHONE DAC/AMPLIFIER REVIEW
“The Copland DAC215 is the gateway between the worlds of personal and traditional audio. Traditionalists who remain slightly dismissive of the personal audio world will see this device as a lovely sounding DAC that can also do ‘that headphone thing’ very well, and personal audio enthusiasts will see a lovely sounding headphone amplifier and DAC that can speak to traditionalists and their audio equipment. If you want a satisfying and musical sound that you can listen to for hours on end (and let’s face it, isn’t that the point?), the Copland DAC215 is an ideal travelling companion in your trek through your musical canon. Recommended.”
Cayin N3 review
May 2, 2017 Comments Off on Cayin N3 review
“Navigating the UI is done by a mixture of capacitive touch activated and physical buttons. Down the left side of the unit, we have the power switch and volume rocker while on the right we have three evenly proportioned ovals that act as forward, back and play/pause. My biggest gripe with these is the lack of an identifier for in your pocket fumbling. On the front we have a tactile circle that is your select key surrounded by 4 touch sensitive icons that give off a right buzz when you select them. I like something confirming my action but after a while I did opt to turn the vibration off”
Pass Labs INT-60 Integrated Amplifier review
May 2, 2017 § 1 Comment
“OK, there’s not much more I can say about this honey of an integrated amplifier. It’s lovingly made by one of the best companies out there (in the USA to boot…), and it’s everything I could expect from a no holds barred design. Outside of its somewhat unexpected inability to drive my ATC SCM 19 speakers to their stellar limits, I couldn’t trip it up. In short, the Pass Labs INT-60 met or exceeded all of my expectations.”
NOBLE AUDIO KAISER ENCORE REVIEW
May 2, 2017 Comments Off on NOBLE AUDIO KAISER ENCORE REVIEW
“Many weeks and more than 5200 words into the review later I can honestly say, the Encore is a masterfully crafted in ear monitor with outstanding clarity and detail, superior control and coherence and the most natural iem I know. An earphone that undoubtedly deserves to be positioned at the top of the line. It has replaced K10 as my favorite in ear within one listen and is currently unrivaled at this spot and out shines any other earphone I have heard to this date”
KEF LS50 Wireless Loudspeakers $2199 Review
May 1, 2017 Comments Off on KEF LS50 Wireless Loudspeakers $2199 Review
“That the LS50 Wireless are rather grand, I would hope you understood by now—I can’t think of any component in recent memory that has been this much fun to unbox, setup and take around the house, room to room so to speak, identifying its various commitments to multi-room, multi-condition sound. My Sony TV and Playstation sounded better than ever via Toslink leash; Bluetooth either via superior aptX or standard brew, sounded equally great.”
MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 Loudspeakers $6495 – Review
April 29, 2017 Comments Off on MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 Loudspeakers $6495 – Review
” The ML could also dig deeper than the KEF. The very deepest bass in “Rock You Gently,” from the Warnes disc, was definitely less pronounced through the KEFs, making its sound seem a bit lightweight in comparison — it was missing the song’s subsonic foundation. The KEF’s lack of subterranean bass on this track tended to make Warnes’s voice more prominent in the mix — which was not a bad thing, as even the MLs couldn’t match the KEF’s ultrasmooth, ultrarefined midrange. In songs that have plenty of good but not superdeep acoustic bass, such as Adam Cohen’s “Love Is,” it was harder to tell the difference between the two speakers — but I still give the nod to the Classic ESL 9, which sounded slightly faster and tighter.”
UE 18+ Pro $1500 Review
April 29, 2017 Comments Off on UE 18+ Pro $1500 Review
“While the UERM presented a mild U-shaped imposition on its midrange frequencies, the UE 18+ Pro brings the mids more to the forefront. However, the UERR is perhaps the most forward sounding and intimate of these three Ultimate Ears Pro monitors. While not the largest of soundstages, my preference leans towards the UE 18+ Pro’s rendering of midrange frequencies which sound natural and immersive. Mids are full-bodied which is something often lacking in balanced armature earphones”
Mark Levinson No.526 preamplifier $20,000 Review
April 29, 2017 Comments Off on Mark Levinson No.526 preamplifier $20,000 Review
“The Mark Levinson No.526 costs more than 15 of the 21 preamplifiers listed in Class A of the current edition of Stereophile’s “Recommended Components.” Yet most of those are line-stage preamplifiers only—and many would see their prices raised above that of the No.526 if equipped with phono stages and DACs of commensurate value (in some cases, the manufacturer’s own onboard options). On the other hand, those who buy a pure line-stage preamp can then mix and match separate DACs and phono stages, based on their budgets and what sounds best in their system. ”
2017 Editors’ Choice: Power Amplifiers $1,000 – $3,000
April 28, 2017 Comments Off on 2017 Editors’ Choice: Power Amplifiers $1,000 – $3,000
“Basic solid-state power amplifiers are not, due to their essential nature (boxes with parts inside), sexy objects that inspire a lot of audiophile lust. The STA200 will never be accused of looking sexy or especially stylish unless you’re into stark minimalism. But if sound quality and solid-state reliability are your primary purchasing criteria, the STA200 should be on your radar. You may not be blown away by the STA200’s looks, but its sound turns it into one sexy beast.”
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