Aurender FLOW REVIEW
February 8, 2016 Comments Off on Aurender FLOW REVIEW
” That’s the general idea. Business travelers, for example, would pack their laptop and the FLOW and…that’s it! No other bulky hardware needed (aside from headphones, obviously) for access to a huge library and high quality playback. Is that a compelling differentiation from the flood of more conventional devices out there? Though I suspect a lot of people won’t ever have need of the internal storage option, I do know a few who would find this device absolutely compelling. It’s quite literally the answer to a question they may not have known they had. Thankfully though, Aurender doesn’t just count on that one aspect alone. There’s also iDevice and Android connectivity, each with its own dedicated mode to maximize compatibility. Indeed, I had more luck with the FLOW using my iPad and various Android tablets/phones than I’ve had with most any other portable DAC/amp. So this is no one-hit wonder. But…is the sound on equal footing with the diverse feature set?”
WILSON BENESCH A.C.T. ONE EVOLUTION REVIEW
February 8, 2016 Comments Off on WILSON BENESCH A.C.T. ONE EVOLUTION REVIEW
” don’t want to get carried away by the bass. There is a lot more to this loudspeaker than bottom end. It’s just that the loudspeaker does bass so well, and so deep: that unbraced cabinet makes it TARDIS like and far bigger on the inside than you’d expect and that means more cabinet volume and that means more bass – but the level of control the A.C.T. One Evolution has over that bass is insane. But, let’s move on. What the speaker also does extraordinarily well is create a good soundstage. That requires some space around the loudspeakers that my tiny room generally precludes, but even here it was clear the loudspeakers were doing something remarkable to the soundstage. There was greater depth and width that extended far beyond the limits of the room: so deep in fact, I kept expecting passers-by to be hit in the face by an invisible tympani player”
Simaudio Evolution 850P Preamplifier Review
February 8, 2016 Comments Off on Simaudio Evolution 850P Preamplifier Review
‘ Its soundstaging prowess was not the only prominent sonic characteristic of the 850P revealed by listening to this album. “Sancta Maria” is ethereal — it washes over you like a wave, due in large part to its ample high-frequency content. The highs present in the vocals were delicately reproduced by the Simaudio but were always present, distinctly layered within the vast soundfield. A shallower soundstage, or one that appears only between the speakers, would not faithfully re-create this music. Just as important, a sound that lacked the last iota of high-frequency detail would rob Dark Sky Island of much of its magic. The 850P’s sound was big and spacious, and its reproduction of the treble was perfectly balanced.”
HiFiMAN HE1000 REVIEW
February 8, 2016 Comments Off on HiFiMAN HE1000 REVIEW
” Midrange is likewise stellar, smooth, even and musically rich. It sounds very coherent throughout and gives great presence to most instruments from lower to upper, including guitars, pianos and violins. Sometimes I only wish vocals had a bit more heft to them. It is not that they sound recessed, rather they sound ever-so-slightly small at times. This again depends on the mastering to a substantial degree although it is something I noticed recurring. Midrange registers do sound enveloping, cohesive and natural, and like the bass was well incorporated into the encompassing mix.”
ELAC Debut F5 Floorstanding Speaker $558 pair Review
February 7, 2016 Comments Off on ELAC Debut F5 Floorstanding Speaker $558 pair Review
” Imaging of instruments across the sound plane and depth was perhaps not the very last word. The Muncho-Expensivo Audio Note silver-wired speakers were far better, including when I was playing some fun 3D audio tricks on the guests. The ELAC F5 floorstanders fell a bit short in the imaging department as compared to the very best hand-matched to 0.25dB speakers that cost 8x the price. Still, there was a nice smooth sense of musicians within the room. As you have probably guessed, my listening notes used the word “smooth” quite a bit. And when one considers that those who buy $558 per pair speakers are not going to be using a $90,000 pure silver tube amplifier or a $50,000 solid-state alternative, the designer should pay a bit more attention to how lower-priced amplifiers generally handle things”
Red Dragon Audio S500 Stereo Amplifier Reviewed
February 7, 2016 Comments Off on Red Dragon Audio S500 Stereo Amplifier Reviewed
” The Red Dragon S500 stereo amplifier competes against products like the Bel Canto e.One REF500S stereo amplifier. Listing for a bit more at $2,595, the Bel Canto has a slightly more upscale appearance, if aesthetics matter to you. Incorporating a proprietary amp module design, it has similar specs to the Red Dragon but lacks the ability to operate in BTL bridged mode. The CI Audio E200S stereo amplifier delivers a little less power, with a rating of 200/400 wpc into eight/four ohms, respectively, but also costs a bit more at $2,500. Like the Bel Canto, it also lacks the ability to operate in bridged mono mode. If that’s not an important feature for you, I suggest auditioning these amplifiers along with the Red Dragon. If the option of operating in bridged mono mode is an important feature, the choice at this price range is a straightforward one.”
Wharfedale Diamond 220 Loudspeakers Review
February 7, 2016 Comments Off on Wharfedale Diamond 220 Loudspeakers Review
” The Wharfedales also excelled at imaging. I could easily place musicians in space with laser accuracy. In “Dream in Blue,” from Los Lobos’ Kiko Live (16/44.1 FLAC, Shout! Factory), Cougar Estrada begins drumming slightly to the right of center. Then the rest of the band enters — Cesar Rosas, Louie Perez, and David Hidalgo on guitars to left and right of center, bassist Conrad Lozano starting in the right speaker and moving over to the left, Steve Berlin’s saxophone coming into the center, and finally, Hidalgo’s voice at center stage. The Diamond 220s’ soundstage effortlessly reproduced this band layout, and I could easily picture the musicians in my room”
Heco Direkt Speakers Review
February 6, 2016 Comments Off on Heco Direkt Speakers Review
” Michel and fellow foam funkers will sleep easy knowing that the big driver surrounds are butyl rubber. Haters of reflective gloss finishes like yours give two thumbs up for Heco’s matte finish which is far easier on finger prints, dust and high maintenance. Despisers of sharp edges applaud not only the profile’s round corners but the slightly curved transitions between vertical edges and cheeks; and fine roundovers elsewhere. Given that the Direkt is a box with three sets of parallel walls, not a trendy wind slippery boat-hull affair, our Germans from Pulheim have craftily shaved off bits of material here and there to soften their rectangulosity. In the finely painted MDF flesh, actual cosmetics were even more attractive than the photos had promised.”
Echobox Finder X1 Review
February 6, 2016 Comments Off on Echobox Finder X1 Review
“As Echobox first IEM, the Finder X1 speaks quality – both sonically as well as aesthetically. If you already got the early bird US$79 deal, I’ll congratulate you for getting a lot of IEM for quite a small price. Even If you are on the January deal of US$149, it is still a good bargain overall. The final retail price of $199 however will definitely put Finder X1 in stiffer competition since that is the same space where some of the best value / performance IEM occupy. So if you are already planning on getting a pair, do it before it is too late – of course, I do want to put the emphasis that the Finder X1 is not for everyone – just make sure you do like a mild U-shaped sound with a bit of brightness. I can imagine music like EDM and string instrument will go particularly well with the Finder X1’s clean and slightly sterile presentation.”
Vapor Audio Joule White 3 Speaker $16,895 Review
February 6, 2016 Comments Off on Vapor Audio Joule White 3 Speaker $16,895 Review
“Vocals were recessed more than with the Red Dragon amps, however they were not obscured in any way. The effect on the ears of the Red Dragon amps in the system might be compared to the water fountain show at Bellagio in Las Vegas, while the First Watt amplification scheme was like sitting in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome. With these gentle amps the music could not overwhelm the senses but passed gently across the expanse of the room to the ears.”
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