PS Audio Aspen FR5 loudspeaker Review
January 16, 2025 Comments Off on PS Audio Aspen FR5 loudspeaker Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/ps-audio-aspen-fr5-loudspeaker
Though very good, the FR5s can’t perform miracles. Like the 6.5″ midwoofers in the B&W 705s, those in the FR5s, even aided by those passive radiators, could not compete in bass extension with larger speakers. Moreover, when driven at high levels with low-frequency content, their output is affected—somewhat coarsened—well up into the midrange. It’s just physics.
The solution—my solution anyway—is to add a subwoofer or two. Adding a pair of KEF KC92s and an 80Hz crossover produced an Aha! experience. On the Berio and Vollenweider recordings, low notes that were only hinted at previously were now felt. I was also pleased to note that at high listening levels, no matter the source, there was an added clarity, subtle but greatly appreciated, throughout the midrange, probably because the FR5 midwoofers were no longer also responsible for producing the lowest bass.
Jazzon V2Cube Audio Jazzon V2 Speakers Review
January 15, 2025 Comments Off on Jazzon V2Cube Audio Jazzon V2 Speakers Review
The Jazzon V2 reveals the music in full disclosure, with a sense of effortless fineness. It uncovers layer after layer of musical complexity without imposing its character or signature. Cube Audio’s smallest floor standers reveal the music for what it is, with a higher-than-usual level of engagement, achieving a harmonious balance between sound, space, and emotional bonding with the presented music material.
Any loudspeaker, or high-end audio product, is subject to voicing, to deliver proper equilibrium and sonic balance. A touch of character can be meaningful, but it should not overwhelm the music. Cube Audio expertly balances tonal accuracy and dynamic expression without breaking the elusive quality of sound.
Wells Audio Innamorata III Stereo Power Amplifier $8500 Review
January 15, 2025 Comments Off on Wells Audio Innamorata III Stereo Power Amplifier $8500 Review
Jeff Wells has a never-satisfied mindset that strives for the ultimate reality. Last year in a conversation at the Capital Audiofest 2023 he mentioned that he has been voicing his amplifiers for 14 years. I can identify on a personal level with his hunt for the very best. Years ago I bought a wreck of an old Dynaco Pas 2 preamplifier and stripped it down to its bare bones. I replaced the old phenolic circuit board with a fiberglass board and searched for the best audiophile Teflon wiring, metal-film resistors, and plastic-film capacitors that I could find. I installed a new Zener-regulated power supply. After every part substitution, I placed the preamplifier into my system to listen for the results. I learned firsthand that nothing is unimportant, everything matters. And that in an electronic chain nothing can sound better than the poorest performing part.\
ZMF Headphones Aegis $3499 Review
January 14, 2025 Comments Off on ZMF Headphones Aegis $3499 Review
The Aegis delivers a natural to smooth response, produced with a satisfying reproduction of the fundamental frequency when required. Those headphones with a good bass performance will not sound underwhelming.
The sound signature with the stock tube configuration sits somewhere in between the airy and hyper-spacious holographic sound of the HA-300MK2 and the ‘chocolatey girth’ from the darker tuning of the EUFORIA evo.
What that means is a slight diminution in the highs compared to the HA-300MK2 but more treble sparkle and headroom than the EUFORIA evo. And on the other side of the coin, the Aegis has more weight and punch than the Cayin but less sub-bass bias compared to the Feliks.
RDacoustic Silentmax 3D Luxury Edition
January 14, 2025 Comments Off on RDacoustic Silentmax 3D Luxury Edition
Reverberation time is the main acoustic parameter of an enclosed space. It is relatively easy to measure and should range from 0.2 to 0.5 seconds. An overly dampened room feels oppressive, whereas in a room without any damping there is a noticeable echo; for example the unpleasant reverberation of a clinking spoon. Put simply, the issue is that of accumulation of acoustic energy caused by reflections from solid surfaces of the ceiling, floor, windows and especially the walls. Reverberation time can be controlled using a variety of soft, acoustically absorbent materials. In addition to specifically developed acoustic materials in the form of panels and diffusers, these include, for example, thick curtains, carpets, upholstered furniture and so on.
Topping D90 III Discrete $999 Review
January 13, 2025 Comments Off on Topping D90 III Discrete $999 Review
Turning to the back panel, the D90 III Discrete offers everything you’d expect from a high-end DAC, with connectivity that covers a wide range of setups. All of the unit’s inputs and outputs are located on the rear panel. The D90 III Discrete has unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR outputs. The inputs are USB-B, optical, coaxial, AES, and IIS. The quality of the connectors is great, as you would expect from Topping. The sockets feel rigid and durable without any wobble. For added convenience, you also get 12V trigger I&O.
Overall, the D90 III Discrete feels like a solid and reliable DAC. The sturdy materials, rich I/O options, and user-friendly layout make it a solid option in the market. That said, I can’t help but feel that Topping missed an opportunity to update the design to match their newer, more aggressive monoblock aesthetic. This feels particularly relevant considering their new flagship D900, which uses a similar PSRM module but doubles the 16-phase design to 32-phase for even greater performance and sports a more modern and premium look. While this decision might be a way to differentiate the two products, I would have preferred a sleeker, more contemporary iteration for the D90 III Discrete.
APL Hi-Fi Endless Reference Speakers $120,000
January 13, 2025 Comments Off on APL Hi-Fi Endless Reference Speakers $120,000
With a sensitivity of around 86 dB, bi-amplification is possible, allowing the sub-bass active driver and the rest of the drivers to be powered separately via the Main and SLF binding posts. In other words, the sub-bass driver and the rest of the drivers each have separate binding posts of the highest quality, manufactured by Furutech. These binding posts feature a torque guard for optimal speaker cable connections when using spade connectors.”
Audiophilepure 
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