Shinola Runwell Turntable Review
February 3, 2017 Comments Off on Shinola Runwell Turntable Review
“For those of you that haven’t been following the Shinola story, Mat Weisfeld, and his father Harry, the guys behind VPI have been very involved with the Shinola table, and this turntable shares a lot of visual as well as sonic DNA. Yet, this isn’t just a Camaro rebadged as a Firebird. On one level, the visual styling of the Runwell is a step above the basic VPI tables, with an overall look that is more reserved, yet more sophisticated than the VPI Classic Line. (And I say this as a happy owner of a Classic One and Two.) The Runwell is also more compact than the VPI tables, and even though these tables are brothers from the same father, they each have unique identities.”
Sound Lab Ultimate U-4iA electrostatic speaker $21,300 Review
February 2, 2017 Comments Off on Sound Lab Ultimate U-4iA electrostatic speaker $21,300 Review
“Depending on the music, the amount of bottom-end energy could be excessive and would call for tonal adjustments to the speaker. Hootie and the Blowfish’s “Use Me” continued the impressive demonstration of the U-4iA’s bottom-end capacity, but was so overtly present in the lower frequencies that it was in danger of overrunning the upper half of the spectrum. I adjusted the midrange and treble to +3dB to compensate and an acceptable balance was restored. To my ear, leaving the tonal controls flat brings a more “tube like” character from the Sound Lab, versus adjustment upward of them bringing out a touch of solid-state forwardness. Note that this effect can also be further increased or decreased to one’s satisfaction by proper selection of cables.”
SVS SB16-Ultra Subwoofer Reviewed
February 2, 2017 Comments Off on SVS SB16-Ultra Subwoofer Reviewed
“Probably everyone considering the SB16-Ultra would also consider the $1,599 SB13-Ultra, but the SB16-Ultra looks like the better buy. The SB16-Ultra is a little larger and $400 more, but surely has substantially higher output. The SB13-Ultra does offer parametric EQ, but it has two bands compared to three in the SB16-Ultra, and the center frequencies are fixed in 1/6th-octave steps rather than the 1-Hz steps of the SB16-Ultra. The SB16-Ultra’s EQ offers narrower Q settings, which would make it easier to “notch out” narrow peaks. However, the SB13-Ultra has an integral high-pass filter that can filter the bass out of your main speakers, which will come in handy in stereo systems using a preamp with no subwoofer crossover.”
Roon Labs release major update with version 1.3
February 2, 2017 Comments Off on Roon Labs release major update with version 1.3
“According to a release put out by Roon this morning, the latest build includes new streaming hardware support (Sonos anyone?), a new 64-bit pipeline architecture for audio processing, user-configurable DSP, faster file handling, and metadata management.”
VTA ST-120 POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
January 31, 2017 Comments Off on VTA ST-120 POWER AMPLIFIER REVIEW
” Since I have no electronic test equipment other than a multi-meter, I could not measure or verify the specifications. I will comment, however, that the distortion specification quoted by the manufacturer (1.5%) is the distortion at the clipping point (full power) and the amp runs at a much lower number throughout its functional range.”
Monitor Audio Platinum PL300ii Loudspeakers Review
January 30, 2017 Comments Off on Monitor Audio Platinum PL300ii Loudspeakers Review
” Perhaps the standout element of the sound from these speakers is their treble. The ribbon tweeter, or Micro Pleated Diaphragm high frequency transducer if you prefer, is a wonderful addition whatever you wish to call it. When I met Dean Hartley he explained that the distortion from the MPD had been reduced dramatically from the previous incarnation’s ribbon tweeter. It is an improved version of Dr. Oskar Heil’s Air Motion Transformer design and is a folded design which works almost like an accordion and gives a flat and even response right up to 100kHz. It really does sound excellent and produces highs that are crystal clear with real panache and not one iota of over emphasis which can lead to a fatiguing overall sound.”
Jabra Elite Sport Truly Wireless Earphone – REVIEW
January 30, 2017 Comments Off on Jabra Elite Sport Truly Wireless Earphone – REVIEW
“Physics is physics, and a 5cm driver just isn’t going to disperse high frequencies as broadly as a conventional one-inch tweeter. This didn’t cause the “cupped hands” coloration I feared, but it did reduce the openness of some vocal recordings, such as Cecile McLoren Salvant’s “What’s the Matter Now?” That appealing vividness I heard before was still audible, but the sound did seem more directional–more like it was coming from speakers rather than actual performers–than it did with my reference Revel F206 speakers. Granted, the F206s have perhaps the most open sound of any dynamic speakers I’ve tested. Still, I have to say that the Viotti Ones sound no less open and spacious than many speakers with a conventional one-inch dome tweeter.”
REVEL CONCERTA 2 F35 FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKER REVIEW
January 28, 2017 Comments Off on REVEL CONCERTA 2 F35 FLOORSTANDING LOUDSPEAKER REVIEW
” The other thing the F35 gets spot on is its top to bottom balance. I’m sure the consistent driver materials help, but so too does the carefully judged top-end extension, with enough energy and detail to deliver satisfying air and locational cues, but not so much that the top-end sounds spotlit, bright, or harsh. The Revel’s musical range isn’t just seamlessly integrated, it’s satisfyingly rich of colour and tonal warmth to make for long-term listening pleasure. ”
SVS PB16-Ultra and SB16-Ultra Subwoofers Review
January 28, 2017 Comments Off on SVS PB16-Ultra and SB16-Ultra Subwoofers Review
“My home theater is just shy of 5,000 cubic feet, so it definitely needs a big subwoofer or two to pressurize the space. My PC-Ultra sits in the front left-hand corner of the room in a relatively tight space that just fit the SB16-Ultra. The PB16 wouldn’t slip into my usual secondary location and was temporarily placed directly behind our couch in a spot where the bass response makes for one of the best sub locations in the room, but which also put it close to foot traffic. Obviously, if you’re bringing either of these subs into your home permanently, you’ll know exactly where they’re going in advance and have a plan to properly integrate them.”
SoundStage! 2016 Products of the Year
January 27, 2017 Comments Off on SoundStage! 2016 Products of the Year
“These days, everyone does the Product of the Year thing, and in that regard, we at SoundStage! are no different. What makes us different is our breadth of coverage. Not only do we review traditional home stereo gear, we also have writers who address home theater, Bluetooth speakers, desktop audio, and portable devices, including the increasingly important headphone and earphone markets. I’m proud of the fact that we at SoundStage! cover so many different product genres, and our awards reflect that breadth”
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