Rotel RB-1590 Power Amplifier Review
February 21, 2016 Comments Off on Rotel RB-1590 Power Amplifier Review
” I was very eager to get the Rotel broken in and warmed up as I had wanted to see how it would compare to my 50 wpc tubed Audio Research VS55, and a 120/240 wpc (4 Ohms/8 Ohms) Simaudio 760A. After a generous warm up, the first thing I noticed about the RB-1590’s presentation is how very deep the soundstage was. The music seemed to stretch back very far behind the speakers and spatial cues were easy to understand. A highly impressive start, as soundstage depth is more important to me as a listener than soundstage width. This is a personal preference.”
MYCROFT IZOPHONES-30 AND 30S KAIZEN REVIEW
February 21, 2016 Comments Off on MYCROFT IZOPHONES-30 AND 30S KAIZEN REVIEW
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” Not that splash and ring are unique to IzoPhones. The more expensive Grado PS1000 are dirtier, and suffer a strange stereo suckout in the upper midrange around percussions. IzoPhones, 30 and 30S, never, ever lose stereo pressure. The non-S version outputs a wonderfully round, 3D midrange with good air similar to the IzoPhones-60. The transition zone from bass to mids is phenomenally wide and detailed. 30S plays a different game. But 30 and 60, while not quite oceanic, offer one of the most cohesive, realistic 3D sound stages this side of a concert hall.”
Vienna Acoustics Liszt Loudspeakers $14,998 – Review
February 20, 2016 Comments Off on Vienna Acoustics Liszt Loudspeakers $14,998 – Review
“But as impressive as these Vienna Acoustics speakers are on large-scale classical recordings, their quality really starts to shine on smaller, more intimate material, where their portrayal of individual instruments is almost ghostly at times. Just listen to the track “St. Thomas” from Sonny Rollins’ Saxophone Colossus LP [Prestige OJC20 291-2] and you’ll hear it in the attack and hollow tone, the different volume and timbre of each of Max Roach’s drums. You’ll hear it in the unmistakable nature of Rollins’ sax, the column of vibrating air and bell-mouth that produce the sound. And you’ll hear it in the effortless separation of the four instruments on this mono recording. There’s a real sense of instrumental presence and substance, harmonic development and tonal breadth to the sound, with no glaze, glare or edge to distract from the work and identity of the instruments.”
AudioPax MAGGIORE l50 REVIEW
February 20, 2016 Comments Off on AudioPax MAGGIORE l50 REVIEW
” These Brazilian amplifiers feature vertical design. Just like top Mark Levinson amps, these also are build in layers. There is a steel frame with aluminum plates bolted to it. The top cover is made of polished, stainless steel. This is where three EAT KT88 power tubes sit accompanied by three drivers – CV4024. Tubes work in single ended configuration in class A. Drivers are placed very close to the inputs. Input tubes deliver high gain (x35) and output tubes work mostly as current amplifiers.”
Art Loudspeakers Alnico 12 Review
February 20, 2016 Comments Off on Art Loudspeakers Alnico 12 Review
“But the jewel in the Art’s crown is the reproduction of voices. Familiar vocals had an instantly recognizable quality, a sense of presence and substance, clear diction and articulation, a directness of communication that brought each singer into the room and made each song seem as if it were being sung just for you. On that old audiophile chestnut “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” from the CBS/Sony reissue of Paul Simon’s Graceland [Legacy 88691914721] the arc of voices arranged behind the lead vocal has rarely seemed so clearly defined, so natural in terms of scale or tonal separation, the acoustic space so apparent or utterly divorced from the speakers generating it. Mind you, the Clearlight Recovery turntable, Breuer ‘arm and Decca London cartridge might also have had a bit to do with that. As I said, nothing if not eclectic!”
Bel Canto Design e.One REF600M Mono Amplifiers
February 19, 2016 Comments Off on Bel Canto Design e.One REF600M Mono Amplifiers
“Overall, the e.One REF600Ms sounded nearly as transparent as the M27, but with more power and weight. This gave recordings a bigger, more commanding sound that was simply more musical. I strongly preferred the REF600Ms to the M27, but considering that the M27 costs $991 less than a pair of REF600Ms and can drive up to seven channels simultaneously, I’m more than happy to keep it as part of my reference multichannel system. And as good as the REF600M was, it couldn’t equal the sound quality of the more expensive and more powerful Anthem Statement M1. But this does nothing to disparage the REF600M in my mind. Both the NAD and Anthem are standout products at their price points; the fact that the REF600M could hang with them in direct competition only speaks to its quality and value.
Bloc & Roc Galvanize S1 headphone
February 19, 2016 Comments Off on Bloc & Roc Galvanize S1 headphone
“Over the course of the Bloc & Roc S1 review I have found myself quite impressed by both the build quality and sonic performance. The styling of the headphones was a big issue. From an aesthetic standpoint I would have really liked to have seen the S1 utilise some unique design as opposed to following an already well used off the shelf model. Instead of a premium product in its own right I feel like I have a fancy set on Urban Ear Plattan. When you put the styling to the side though the S1 headphones themselves did make for an excellent travel companion and I found myself impressed by the comfort, build quality and the reasonably fun sound. ”
MURAUDIO PX1 OMNIDIRECTIONAL ELECTROSTATIC HYBRID LOUDSPEAKER $63,000 REVIEW
February 19, 2016 Comments Off on MURAUDIO PX1 OMNIDIRECTIONAL ELECTROSTATIC HYBRID LOUDSPEAKER $63,000 REVIEW
“Each approach has its virtues and its drawbacks—I would not call them failings in either case—compared to the other. The omni approach with its room-filling sound has a kind of scale and an independence of listener position that gives some truly compelling naturalness. At the same time, one could have a certain sense that all that sound bouncing around the room was not exactly on the recording and that the space generated is in part generated by the room, and thus tends to be somewhat similar from recording to recording. And the imaging is less tightly focused and more impressionistic, albeit convincing in its stability. The choice is a personal one, since of course one cannot have both things at once.
Spiral Ear SE 5-way Ultimate Review
February 18, 2016 Comments Off on Spiral Ear SE 5-way Ultimate Review
“I have spent many hours with the SE5U, comparing it with many other newer CIEMs not yet on the chart as well as the top performers and it outshines. Is the SE5U for everyone? No, as sonic preference should also be a major factor in selection. There are those that don’t like the SE5R, and it seems like there are some bad ones out there that are sold and passed on to others, tainting more views. If you think the SE5R is for you when you read the review and comparisons, the SE5U will also be for you.”
FOCAL ARIA 948 LOUDSPEAKER REVIEW
February 18, 2016 Comments Off on FOCAL ARIA 948 LOUDSPEAKER REVIEW
” The huge soundstaging strikes me with great width, depth and even with height, giving a great presentation. But my attempts to replicate the magical surround-like soundstage when previously paired with the Mcintosh was futile with my BAT. That being said, the soundstaging has already exceeded almost all, if not all speakers within its price range or higher. The entire sound was simply expansive and there was never once the 948s felt constricted spatially. Simply put, soundstaging is the greatest strength of the 948s.”
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