Rhapsodio Solar Review
May 13, 2016 Comments Off on Rhapsodio Solar Review
” The overall stage depth is better on Zeus and it is airier with a bit wider stage. Zeus spreads neutral air between instruments, while Solar has much warmer air in the area due to mid-bass presentation. Both have an impressive instrument separation, but Solar’s background is blacker by very small margin. On the other hand, Zeus has definitely clearer and cleaner background. Zeus has better imaging, but Solar is more coherent with a bit better focusing ability.”
VTL • S-400 Series II Reference Stereo Amplifier $33,500 Review
May 12, 2016 Comments Off on VTL • S-400 Series II Reference Stereo Amplifier $33,500 Review
” But the S-400 II is that rarest of beasts, a genuinely capable all-rounder. With enough power, control and adaptability to drive all but the most outrageous speaker loads, the big VTL is agile and deft enough to work with far less demanding partners too. Focal’s Sopra No.2 and the Coincident Pure Reference Extreme both proved willing partners, despite their easy loads and high efficiency; and this, it should be noted, without resorting to the triode setting on the amp (something which frankly and as usual in such cases only serves to draw a veil over proceedings; if this amp sounds better in triode mode, then you have problems elsewhere in the system). This isn’t just one of the best and most enjoyable amps I’ve ever used, it’s also the most versatile, meaning not only that it will work in an astonishingly wide range of system contexts, but that it will embrace system upgrades and changes in circumstances with equal aplomb — and when it comes to hidden value, that’s not to be underestimated.”
CARDAS A8 INNER EAR MONITORS REVIEW
May 12, 2016 Comments Off on CARDAS A8 INNER EAR MONITORS REVIEW
“Cardas is primarily a high end cable firm, so as you’d expect, the A8s have a nicely innovative cable with just the right amount of springiness in them. The cable, a version of their acclaimed Cardas Clear line, is woven around a semi-elastic center core with the Clear wire stranded in a helix. It looks cool and distinctive, and terminates at the amp end with an angled 1/8 inch jack. They are comfortable too, and I did experiment with the several “tips” that are included in the zippered faux leather circular pouch that they are bundled in.”
Verity Audio Sarastro IIS Review
May 12, 2016 Comments Off on Verity Audio Sarastro IIS Review
” From this point on I left the reference records on the shelf. There were no anomalies that called for further investigation. After only one day it was obvious that during upcoming reviews of other components I would be able to rely on the Veritys just as much as on my Lumens, which I have trusted for a whole decade now. The Sarastros possess such an amazing fine resolution that you can easily judge the amount of fine detail in different Ethernet cables. When mastering engineer Christoph Stickel, who I successfully collaborated with on a number of productions in recent years, joined me to compare the Ayon S-3 to the Auralic Aries Femto combined with a Chord Hugo TT for a bit of fun, the Sarastros clearly revealed the difference in representing room depth and height.”
Kronos Adds Optional D.C. Accumulator Power to Pro Turntable
May 11, 2016 Comments Off on Kronos Adds Optional D.C. Accumulator Power to Pro Turntable
Devialet Phantom Wireless Speaker System Review
May 11, 2016 Comments Off on Devialet Phantom Wireless Speaker System Review
“Midrange and treble response wasn’t as extraordinary—I didn’t get that liquid, juicy feeling you can sometimes get from great speakers—but what I did hear I can only characterize as competent and neutral…maybe slightly hard sounding in the mid- and upper-midrange. The Phantoms can play very loud. A 55/100 volume in the Spark app produced a solid listening level. The Phantoms seemed to remain quite composed at any listening level I could stand, though their slightly hard midrange became more apparent as volume increased. Of course, that could have been my ears and brain telling me to turn it down.”
MOJO-KAI REVIEW
May 10, 2016 Comments Off on MOJO-KAI REVIEW
” Whatever the case, Mojo-Kai is especially well suited to earphones. If you’re a balanced earphone user worried by the shameful output of your DP-X1 and AK380, not to mention Opus#1, Mojo-Kai is your best bet. It plays nice with any device with USB protocol, and thanks to transformer coupling, is less susceptible to RF interference through coaxial input (tested with Lynx HILO with nearby iPhone 6). It is a good design. It is, in fact, a design that makes more sense to me than the stock Mojo, whose second output is redundant.”
Dynaudio Xeo 2 Powered Loudspeakers Review
May 10, 2016 Comments Off on Dynaudio Xeo 2 Powered Loudspeakers Review
” was also curious to hear how my passive KEF LS50s ($1499.99/pair) would fare against the Xeo 2s. The LS50’s sculpted cabinet allows it to “disappear” from a room more completely than the Dynaudio, provide more finely delineated imaging, and sound even more spacious. The LS50’s midrange and treble, while ultimately more detailed than the Xeo 2’s, has a slightly relaxed, laid-back quality that contrasts with the Xeo’s slightly forward sound. At low to medium volumes, the KEF’s bass was actually outshone by the Dynaudio’s. The Xeo 2 dug lower and maintained its composure while doing so”
Xiao Mi Headphones Review
May 8, 2016 Comments Off on Xiao Mi Headphones Review
” The Mi headphones are extremely easy to drive be it with my Nexus 6 phone’s headphone output or my laptop. I also tried it with the Geekout 1000 alone and with the O2 headamp but decided i like the Geekout 1000 alone better as it is slightly less veiled. With the PC running a sample of 24-bit high definition tracks in native sampling to the Geekout, I tested a few familiar tracks. The Sennheiser HD650 will serve as a reference that the Mi would be pitted against.”
Centrance DACport HD Review
May 8, 2016 Comments Off on Centrance DACport HD Review
” The sound is detailed and engaging, bass respond is good and impactful without any sense of sluggishness. Mid is good and proven when I play Amanda Mcroom’s songs, it is a balanced presentation and definitely has good nuance in the vocal too. The thing that surprised me a lot is the soundstage performance which is really excellent, even if I judging it by desktop standard (not portable) it is still very good, it is an open, wide and shaped soundstage, amazed me really. As far as audio quality goes, I can’t complain anything, the goodness of HD’s sound quality has actually made me less visit my more serious, way more expensive desktop DAC and amplifier too, what a shame, I am getting older and portability (with excellent audio quality) is what I am looking for now.”
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