Audio Technica AT-LP5 Turntable Review
December 15, 2015 Comments Off on Audio Technica AT-LP5 Turntable Review
” The Audio Technica is a full size turntable that is built around a direct current motor that spins the platter via fixed connection. The advantages of this should be a level of pitch stability and accuracy that are challenges with belt drive. Equally, with the motor acting directly on the playing surface, any noise in this process risks being transmitted directly to the stylus of the cartridge. The reputation of direct drive as a home audio concept suffered from decks with cheap motors introducing audible rumble into the playback. As a direct deck, one immediate bonus of the design is that speed control is available via a switch rather than changing the position of a belt.”
Monitor Audio Gold 300 Loudspeakers Review
December 15, 2015 Comments Off on Monitor Audio Gold 300 Loudspeakers Review
” The Gold 300 seemed to breathe a little extra life into the music – which I found appealing and perked up my ears and my attention. Focusing on the bass, I was impressed with the punchiness and heft that I heard, while the treble offered plentiful detail and was well extended with a refined smoothness. Though the soundstage produced was appreciably open, I perceived a subtle warmth in the air surrounding and between the various elements, as though it possessed more consistency.”
Klipsch Palladium P-39F Speaker $20,000 – Review
December 14, 2015 Comments Off on Klipsch Palladium P-39F Speaker $20,000 – Review
” The Klipsch P-39Fs with dual P-312W subs is bass that smacks you in the face, warps walls, massages your scalp, shakes cobwebs off corners and frightens small creatures. This is volcanic tremor, tsunami wave bass. It is ominous, portending of imminent danger. It is live and tangible. When the canons blast, your first instinct is to turn and flee. Great stereo systems do just that. They go beyond the auditory to add tactile and emotional information to the enjoyment of music and movies”
Auralic Aries and SBooster Linear Power Supply
December 14, 2015 Comments Off on Auralic Aries and SBooster Linear Power Supply
“And that is what the SBooster is doing with the Aries. It is letting the Aries sing and swing. Dynamics, space, presence… damn. Now anyone using the power supply included with an Aires is doing really well. It is not like you are sucking it here as I stand by what I wrote about the Aries previously. It is killer with its own power supply and it is not like you are sitting there asking yourself how it can be improved, what is missing, what is that I am hearing and what can I can do to make it better, etc. No, the stock Aries with its power supply rocks, but for sure it can be elevated to compete with the way bigger, badder boys by spending more money on a better NAS and so on—tweak it. And certainly by adding the SBooster… yeah baby, now we are clearly hanging with the really, really cool people at school. Check me out. Highly recommended for anyone with an Aries.”
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Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL 2.0 Headphone Amp & Preamp $1100 Review
December 14, 2015 Comments Off on Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL 2.0 Headphone Amp & Preamp $1100 Review
” I note to readers that I am not a headphone expert and I do most of my listening through speakers, but the sound of the MicroZOTL 2.0 with the Grado and RHA cans were a real revelation. The word intimacy comes to mind. This feeling may have been brought to the forefront due to the total lack of background noise and virtually seamless tonal balance.”
Chord Hugo TT $3,500 Review
December 13, 2015 Comments Off on Chord Hugo TT $3,500 Review
” I can wholeheartedly recommend the Chord Hugo TT! It hits on all cylinders for me: from its diverse number of inputs (SPDIF, OPTICAL, USB x2, and even Bluetooth), to its world class DAC to it incredibly powerful and dynamic amplifier. The build quality of the construction and the addition of the LED lights to always let you know what’s going on with your audio system is among the very best that I’ve seen. When it comes to my vote for “component of the year”, the Hugo TT will most certainly be in the mix for me to consider. Highly recommended!”
Pioneer SE-MASTER1 $2,500 Headphones Preview
December 13, 2015 Comments Off on Pioneer SE-MASTER1 $2,500 Headphones Preview
” Again with a $2,500 price tag, the SE-MASTER1 headphones are ideal for discerning listeners and are more than suitable for recording, mixing and mastering in a professional studio environment. We hope Pioneer will eventually take this technology down to more affordable price points so all audiophiles on more modest budgets can enjoy them too”
WOULD YOU SPEND $100,000 ON A TURNTABLE?
December 12, 2015 Comments Off on WOULD YOU SPEND $100,000 ON A TURNTABLE?
” Where vinyl really starts to show off, however, is when you climb a few rungs up the ladder. Boutique branded turntables, bespoke tone-arm and phono cartridge choices, along with dedicated pre-amps, really do offer significant sonic benefits. You could expect to pay anywhere from $2500 to $20,000, with the benefit of being able to upgrade individual components as you go.”
2016 BUYER’S GUIDE: PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYERS
December 12, 2015 Comments Off on 2016 BUYER’S GUIDE: PORTABLE MUSIC PLAYERS
” hese portable players are best thought of as iPods on steroids. With their finely-brushed black aluminum cases and intuitive controls, they give up nothing to Apple in industrial engineering. But iPods max out at a tepid 48/16 resolution, whereas the AKs go to 192/24. ”
BURMESTER MC151 MUSIC CENTER $25,000 Review
December 12, 2015 Comments Off on BURMESTER MC151 MUSIC CENTER $25,000 Review
“These differences in sound quality are very limited, however, when compared across a very wide range of recordings, and you would probably prefer the Burmester if you like nearfield listening or enjoy sitting in the front of the concert hall—to be as close to the performance as possible.
There also are important trade-offs in features that you need to carefully consider. The EMM Labs XDS1 sells for $25,000. It is only a DAC and SACD/CD player, and does not store music, allow downloading, or have any network features.”
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