Cambridge Audio Azur 851N Network Music Player-DAC-Digital Preamplifier
October 7, 2015 Comments Off on Cambridge Audio Azur 851N Network Music Player-DAC-Digital Preamplifier
No DAC should have a tailored frequency response, and the Cambridge Azur 851N didn’t. It sounded as flat and linear as every other DAC I’ve heard in the past couple of years. For the first week or so of background listening, I struggled to pick out what set the Cambridge 851N apart from the Benchmark DAC2 DX that had been in my system for the preceding several months. Slowly but surely, I spotted a couple of fine differences.
MAGICO M PROJECT LOUDSPEAKER $129,000
October 6, 2015 Comments Off on MAGICO M PROJECT LOUDSPEAKER $129,000
While the D-5’s ported bass and contoured frequency response are laughably “inaccurate” by Magico’s linear, low-distortion standards, the D-5 is anything but laughable in the listening. The added mid-to-upper bass sock that this speaker generates, the dark, rich, beautiful tone color from top to bottom, the Magico-equaling transient speed, and the superb treble are, in the words of my friend and colleague Andre Jennings, “simply addictive.” Another way of putting this is that the D-5 and the Wilsons are gorgeous, powerful, and finely detailed on every kind of music. Whether they also sound plausibly like the real thing on every kind of music is a different question. But let me say something else here that’ll rock the boat. For most listeners, the absolute sound doesn’t matter. Let me repeat that again: For most listeners, the absolute sound doesn’t matter. For most listeners, it is the effect of the absolute sound (or of the canned one, for that matter)—the horripilating visceral excitement and ravishing beauty of music and not a fool-ya simulacrum of, oh, a violin or a piano—that matters most.
Krell Solo 575 monoblock power amplifier
October 6, 2015 Comments Off on Krell Solo 575 monoblock power amplifier
Both versions sounded better than I’d ever heard them—but that was because I hadn’t heard this album in many years, during which time my system has greatly improved. What I learned was that the original pressing’s richer sound came at the great expense of image precision, focus, and clarity. The reissue put all of the instruments and voices in far more precise focus, though the warmth of Young’s voice in the original was now somewhat harsher. The bottom end had greater punch and precision. Though I found the reissue better focused overall, especially the drums, I could make a case for either pressing—and both demonstrated that the Solo 575 didn’t produce the velvety transients and textures I expect from class-A. With both pressings, the cymbals sounded neither romantic nor soft. In fact, they were a bit crunchier than I’d expected
CUSTOMART EI.3
October 6, 2015 Comments Off on CUSTOMART EI.3
Going balanced either works or it doesn’t for monitors. In example the Lime Ears Aether (5-driver) becomes sublime when using it in balanced configuration but the Ei.3 is one of those monitors that sound best when used single ended. In balanced you do get a more clear and spacious sound with more room between the instruments, but the mids and especially the great bass Peter put into the Ei.3 kind of disappear. When using the stock single ended cable on a non-balanced output you get good body, great impact and better focus. I fully advise to listen to the Ei.3 unbalanced but you should of course try it yourself.
64 Audio A12 Custom In-Ear Monitors
October 5, 2015 Comments Off on 64 Audio A12 Custom In-Ear Monitors
Sometimes being a reviewer, literally, is a dangerous job. Not just with hearing damage or testing the limits of a component, as over the years have broken toes on hefty amplifiers, threw out my back moving gear, etc. When it comes to causing actual (and quite permanent) hearing damage is when one should clearly and precisely state that we’re getting close to the edge of actual harm. So be careful when using Noble K-10 and deep electronic bass at extremely high volume levels, as it might feel good at first yet am not sure of the long-term effects. This is where the ADEL part of 64 Audio comes into play as it does do as they claim, which is to reduce the physical air pressure of deep bass as it affects your ear drums. It might also be protecting your hearing too! Another benefit, there is no ear drum or ??? ‘lockup’ and thus no matter how loud I was willing to push the audio envelope the sound never became congested. Oh the things we reviewers do with devices under test. Again, please, pretty please with sugar on top and a cherry; do not try this deep bass test yourself. Again, DO NOT DO THIS!!!
NUPRIME DAC-10H DAC/PRE AND ST-10 POWER AMPLIFIER
October 5, 2015 Comments Off on NUPRIME DAC-10H DAC/PRE AND ST-10 POWER AMPLIFIER
Among its technical advantages, the ST-10 has a damping factor of 400, which means it should be able to control any excess diaphragm movement better than an amplifier with a lower damping factor. The ST-10 also has far lower amounts of phase shift than most amplifiers, due to its unique closed-loop circuit.
GamuT RS5 Loudspeakers
October 5, 2015 Comments Off on GamuT RS5 Loudspeakers
The RS5 does not reach quite the level of dynamic slam as the much bigger S9, but in many ways the new speaker betters even the old flagship. Already great to begin with, the sheer coherence that the new speaker exhibits, along with greater ability to define minute detail and spatial cues. When not listening to music with overbearing energy beneath 30hz, the RS5 comes out on top. These are definitely the speakers I’m going to retire with…y
ASTELL & KERN AK380 HIGH-RES DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER
October 4, 2015 Comments Off on ASTELL & KERN AK380 HIGH-RES DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER
First and foremost, the AK380 consistently serves up a precise and firmly controlled sound characterised by transparency, openness, nuance, and an overarching sense of almost boundless attention to detail. Stated another way, the AK380 serves up clarity with a capital ‘C’ and an enchanting quality of musical lucidity that just won’t quit. In my experience, these qualities often caused even casual, first-time guest listeners to stop in their tracks and take notice of the pocket-sized player. I suspect this is because the AK380 tends to shatter preconceived notions of how a portable product will sound, instead delivering the sort of self-confident and self-assured sound that many would associate with premium-priced full-size components.
Klipsch R-115SW Subwoofer Reviewed
October 4, 2015 Comments Off on Klipsch R-115SW Subwoofer Reviewed
great example can be heard on “Playground” from David Friesen’s Where the Light Falls. Friesen plays a Hemage bass, an unusual stand-mounted electric upright design that looks almost more like a club than a bass. I got to hear Friesen play it live a few weeks ago, and I was happy to hear that the R-115SW portrayed its unique tone–a big, resonant, almost bass-guitar-like bottom end with the singing, clear upper notes of a well-made, impeccably played upright
Wharfedale DS-1 review
October 4, 2015 Comments Off on Wharfedale DS-1 review
f you’re after small desktop speakers with Bluetooth streaming at an affordable price, you can’t go wrong with the Wharfedale DS-1s.
Their well-balanced and articulate performance is a steal at this price. We urge you to give them a listen.
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