GamuT Audio D-200i Stereo Power Amplifier $13,990 Review
March 21, 2017 Comments Off on GamuT Audio D-200i Stereo Power Amplifier $13,990 Review
” As I mentioned previously, there are different classes of amplifiers by design but I’m referring here to the different classes in terms of performance. The GamuT D-200i is a high-performance piece of kit that belongs in the upper echelon of high-end gear [and so good, I purchased the review unit]. It’s fair to say that the D-200i shares the GamuT house sound which is characterized by an open, airy sound with very good detail. It’s well balanced from the treble to the bass. It has an uncanny tube-like ability to present an almost holographic sound stage without edge or glare.
Sony TA-ZH1ES Headphone Amp/DAC 2,200 REVIEW
March 21, 2017 Comments Off on Sony TA-ZH1ES Headphone Amp/DAC 2,200 REVIEW
“At that point, I started comparing the TA-ZH1ES with the Pass Labs HPA-1 headphone amp, a well-regarded reference that, at $3,500, is considerably more expensive than the Sony. The two amps sounded surprisingly different, though the Sony was richer and fuller, which by contrast made the Pass Labs sound too lean. But, as I continued listening, I felt that the Sony’s honeyed rendering went too far, mellowing out the sound balances of familiar recordings (albeit in a very agreeable way). I came to prefer the more transparent sound of the Sony headphones paired with the Pass Labs amp. Of course, you might go the opposite way and crave the lusher sound of the all-Sony combo; it’s a matter of taste.
Revel Concerta2 F36 Floorstanding Speaker Review
March 21, 2017 Comments Off on Revel Concerta2 F36 Floorstanding Speaker Review
“The F36’s treble sounds neutral–not boosted or rolled off–but it’s exceptionally clear. This means if a recording is bad, the F36 will let you know it. I can’t say the speakers highlighted the grating surface-noise effects added to parts of Freddie Joachim’s “Shoulder Kiss,” but they did nothing to cover up what to me is a regrettable aesthetic decision. I had to turn the system down about 10 decibels to tolerate this recording. A speaker with a soft-dome tweeter (and a soft-sounding soft dome at that) would probably sound more pleasing on recordings like this, or on Toto’s somewhat bright-sounding Toto IV, but there’s no way it would deliver the detail and sense of space that the F36 presents.”
BEYERDYNAMIC XELENTO REMOTE $1,000 REVIEW
March 21, 2017 Comments Off on BEYERDYNAMIC XELENTO REMOTE $1,000 REVIEW
“If you’re a girl, or a guy with very small ears, both Xelento, and AKT8iE are two of the only high-end earphones that will fit your ears. I’ve now met three people that get on neither with the AKT8iE chassis, nor selection of ear tips. Xelento’s shape hasn’t changed, but as I mentioned above, it comes with more ear pieces. Two of them are massive, oblong things. They don’t work in my ears, but they may work on yours. The Comply tips, however, work brilliantly. My wife really, really digs these two earphones. And she agrees that the AKT8iE is the nicer looking of the two.”
Cavalli Audio Liquid Carbon 2.0 headphone amp $799 Review
March 20, 2017 Comments Off on Cavalli Audio Liquid Carbon 2.0 headphone amp $799 Review
“That said, the Liquid Carbon 2.0 is best appreciated with great recordings, like mandolinist-singer Chris Thile and pianist Brad Mehldau’s brilliant self-titled new album. The sheer clarity of their music, Mehldau’s touch on the keys, and the texture of Thile’s strings are fully revealed over the Liquid Carbon 2.0.”
Sony MDR-Z1R Headphones $2,300 Review
March 18, 2017 Comments Off on Sony MDR-Z1R Headphones $2,300 Review
“I switched from vintage CSN to new hi-res files released by one of my favorite audiophile labels, MA Recordings, and the MDR-Z1R seemed to melt away and transport me directly to the sessions. The rarefied sounds of the La Segunda and Será Una Noche albums were exquisite, with finely focused and precise stereo imaging. I hope more mainstream recordings sound like this someday. Still, I find exceptional recordings here and there from mainstream labels; the Swiss Army Man soundtrack is to die for.”
BRYSTON BP26 PREAMPLIFIER AND 7B3 POWER AMPLIFIER – REVIEW
March 18, 2017 Comments Off on BRYSTON BP26 PREAMPLIFIER AND 7B3 POWER AMPLIFIER – REVIEW
“Switching between the Brystons and the Hegel P30 ($7500) preamp and H30 stereo power amp ($15,000, Issue 223) as respective combos pretty much mirrored what each component brought to bear individually. The Brystons sounded more rhythmically nimble and imparted a shade more upper-frequency openness. The Hegels sounded more continuous and a bit more revealing, and they rendered depth better, too—both of individual images and of the larger soundscape. The pairing of the Bryston BP26 preamp with the Hegel H30 power amp actually sounded quite good. The quick, pristine quality of the BP26 complemented the more tube-like liquidity and sonic sophistication of the H30”
COZOY REI REVIEW
March 18, 2017 Comments Off on COZOY REI REVIEW
“When we look at sound alone REI does not have to fear this giant. The uber-resolving Mojo does beat REI when it comes to details but to my ears Mojo is less lively than its competitor. REI has more blood in its veins, meaning a fuller body and a more pleasing sound signature. Soundstages are similar but REI’s background is darker and hissing is absolutely not given, whereas I can hear Jupiter go nuts with Mojo. Layering from both devices is about the same and instrumental separation is pretty much equal with the REI being a tad in front. I personally think REI outperforms Mojo for what it was made. An add on DAC for your smartphone, whereas Mojo is more like an audiophile Swiss army knife with the same purpose, but REI simply does this job better than the Chord.
Paradigm’s Persona 9H Loudspeaker Review – Video
March 17, 2017 Comments Off on Paradigm’s Persona 9H Loudspeaker Review – Video
McIntosh Labs • MC75 Mono Amplifiers $7500 per pair Review
March 17, 2017 Comments Off on McIntosh Labs • MC75 Mono Amplifiers $7500 per pair Review
“I began my listening with the MC75s connected to a pair of Altec Valencias that are on long-term loan from a local audio buddy. As expected, the very efficient Valencias proved to be no challenge for the MC75s, and they appreciated the extra power on tap. There was a definite break-in period for the amps of at least 100 hours. At first listen, the treble was attenuated, closed in and hooded. Changes to interconnects and speaker cables didn’t change the sound much, so I just let the amps settle in for the first couple of weeks. After break-in, I did swap the supplied power cords for a pair of Shunyata Zi-Tron Sigmas, and there was slightly improved lower treble, so I left them in the system for the rest of the listening period. Once broken in, the MC75s usually needed between 15 and 30 minutes of warm-up time to sound their best, so consider that if you are in a store for an audition.”
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