Kronos Sparta Turntable c/w Helena Tonearm & ZYX Premium Omega MC Cartridge Review
January 26, 2016 Comments Off on Kronos Sparta Turntable c/w Helena Tonearm & ZYX Premium Omega MC Cartridge Review
” Now that we know the Kronos/ZYX combo is super silent and highly transparent, we can touch on tonal quality. Tonal response is dead neutral, which I believe is contributed by the cartridge. There’s not a hint of warmth, felt during play back. Having said that, the sound never, never seemed cold either. Highs are succinctly refined with a laid-back air of exquisiteness thrown in for good measure. The highs are always given the right degree prominence, just slightly behind in the sound stage, but yet with every attack and decay intact, before the next note rises. ”
Soundkaos Wave 40 speakers $20,000 REVIEW
January 26, 2016 Comments Off on Soundkaos Wave 40 speakers $20,000 REVIEW
“The speaker has a beautifully carved interior and the speaker body’s two halves lined with Aramid honeycomb and joined by four invisible bolts. As a speaker generates sound, it does so in two directions, out to the listener and into the enclosure. The pressure inside the speaker box activates the walls of the enclosure and, by the time these waves escape, they arrive to your ears delayed in time, which causes ‘an audible smear and fuzziness – often mistaken for warmth,’ according to soundkaos. When these vibrations are addressed properly, they arrive to your ear with a greater clarity. As light and delicate as this speaker appears, it is carefully designed to handle and release the sound pressure generated within.”
Hegel H160 Integrated Amplifier Review
January 25, 2016 Comments Off on Hegel H160 Integrated Amplifier Review
” Timing and perspective from the H160’s high frequencies was excellent. I never found cymbals to be jarring or forward, and yet their characteristics were tightly in focus. Even on heavy tracks like Lamb of God – Walk with Me in Hell, Chris Adler’s remarkable ability to place a perfectly timed cymbal was evident without being harsh through the H160, even at unneighbourly volumes.”
Wharfedale Diamond 220 Loudspeakers Review
January 24, 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”
QUESTYLE CMA800R DUAL MONO REVIEW
January 24, 2016 Comments Off on QUESTYLE CMA800R DUAL MONO REVIEW
” Then again some companies choose to do this by default with the single ended Tektron Head Amp I have using separate channel volume knobs by default, but it is freaking annoying. The other method is my preferred way of controlling these amps and that is using a DAC that doubles up with pre amp functionality and of course has XLRs out the you can set the Questyle’s to max volume purely as power amps and the attenuate the volume on the DAC. Honestly this is the best method and every one of the last ten or so DACs I have reviewed double as pre amps, even the cheaper ones so is not a hardship to find. I personally use my totaldac d1-tube-mk and its gives me tight volume control even with lower impedance cans, which is handy due to the high gain of the CMA800R.”
Raven Audio Cirrus Tube Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
January 23, 2016 Comments Off on Raven Audio Cirrus Tube Stereo Preamplifier Reviewed
“I believe that Dave Thomson and his company, Raven Audio, have now attained a position as one of the finest American audio companies that is manufacturing tube-based equipment on today’s market. Each piece of Raven equipment is built with the finest materials, craftsmanship, and innovative design, no matter if it’s the least expensive entry-level product or an Elite Series design”
Art Loudspeakers Alnico 12 Review
January 23, 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!”
IZOPHONES-60 $1,300 Review
January 22, 2016 Comments Off on IZOPHONES-60 $1,300 Review
“Well, I’m dually impressed; you might even say that I’ve become addicted. What set me up for this addiction is my predilection for a massaged studio sound. I like it long and flat, and detailed. But, if possible, I like a rounder, fuller bass, and a high range that doesn’t squeak too much.”
JBL 4367 Studio Monitor Speakers $15,000/pair
January 21, 2016 Comments Off on JBL 4367 Studio Monitor Speakers $15,000/pair
” JBL has been making great speakers for more than half a century, but their recent high-end designs have really starting to catch the attention of audiophiles and pros alike. The JBL 4367 play on the stellar reputation of the M2 speakers, but in a package that is intended for the home. While they aren’t cheap, it’s a safe bet that the JBL 4367 will drop jaws with their sound quality. The JBL 4367 Studio Monitor are shipping now at a suggested retail price of $15,000 per pair.”
JANSZEN ZA1.1 ELECTROSTATIC HYBRID STAND-MOUNTED LOUDSPEAKER $4495 REVIEW
January 19, 2016 Comments Off on JANSZEN ZA1.1 ELECTROSTATIC HYBRID STAND-MOUNTED LOUDSPEAKER $4495 REVIEW
” The JansZens have a refinement and focus all their own, based on the purity of the electrostatic tweeter and the narrowed radiation pattern in the top end. For those with the appetite for this, there is nothing else quite like the JansZen zA1.1s. If your budget encompasses this price point, these are speakers you really should hear before you buy anything else. Old brandy may be the only drink for you.”
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