Linn Klimax Solo 800 monoblock power amplifier Review
May 25, 2024 Comments Off on Linn Klimax Solo 800 monoblock power amplifier Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/linn-klimax-solo-800-monoblock-power-amplifier
Linn monitors the current flowing in the output transistors and uses a digital algorithm to extract the bias signal from the music signal. “That allows us to control that parameter on its own,” Smith explained. “It’s something that you can only achieve by having good knowledge of traditional analog amplifier design, digital electronics, and digital signal processing. It’s a kind of marriage of two different worlds. Digital signal processing is my specialty, so that’s the part of the design I was involved in.”
He emphasized, though, that the audio signal is not digitized. “The signal path remains completely analog. But we have digital assistance to ensure the amplifier performs consistently and runs at its best. It’s almost like the engine-management system in a car. … We have a completely linear transistor amplifier with a digital engine-management system that is keeping operating conditions constant and ensuring that performance is always optimal.
Sonus Faber Il Cremonese Floorstanding Loudspeaker $50,000 Review
May 25, 2024 Comments Off on Sonus Faber Il Cremonese Floorstanding Loudspeaker $50,000 Review
The real problem, and the one that was to dog the company for quite some time, was musical, not visual. The top of the lineup – the Reference line – maintained the exquisite aesthetics associated with the brand. But nearly everything that was distinctive of its musical presentation changed abruptly. Gone was the expansive musical envelope, glorious midrange, density in the higher frequencies, a warmish, full (sometimes too full) if not extended bass; if not lost entirely, the Sonus Faber signature sound had gone missing. Those seduced by Sonus Faber felt abandoned. Seduced then abandoned – and for what? Sonus Faber left its past behind in favor of pursuing what by then had become the modern sound: a musical presentation fueled by propulsive dynamics, leading-edge transients, sharply focused images, high resolution (in the audiophile sense of the term), and so on. In a phrase, Sonus Faber had gone all-in on becoming the Italian Wilson, Focal or Magico.
VERUM 2 Planar-Magnetic $350 Review
May 25, 2024 Comments Off on VERUM 2 Planar-Magnetic $350 Review
Nagra Classic DAC II, PSU Power Supply, And VFS $18,500 Review
May 24, 2024 Comments Off on Nagra Classic DAC II, PSU Power Supply, And VFS $18,500 Review
I will not pretend that the Nagra Classic DAC II is an “affordable” audio component: The list price of the Nagra Classic DAC II, Classic PSU Power supply, and VFS (Vibration-Free Support) combination is $40,900. Some might decide to forgo the PSU power supply, which lowers the price by a bit, and the two VFS bases will drop it a bit less. That means one could add the Nagra Classic DAC II to their system for $18,500.
This is still a good deal of money. But is it worth it? You bet! This Nagra digital combo is one of the best digital front ends that I have ever used in my system. It boggles the mind to think that this isn’t the best (or most expensive) in Nagra’s line of digital components. I feel that the Nagra Classic DAC II / Classic PSU / VSF package is worth every penny. But if one does purchase it, a donation to help those in need would also be nice.
The Nagra Classic DAC II, Classic PSU Power supply, and VFS bases made digital audio in my reference system sound excellent — better than it ever has in recent memory. This Nagra Classic digital front-end is highly recommended for those who can afford it!
GoldenEar T66 Loudspeaker $6900 Review
May 24, 2024 Comments Off on GoldenEar T66 Loudspeaker $6900 Review
https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1859-goldenear-t66-loudspeaker
I compared the GoldenEars against my Monitor Audio Gold 300 5Gs ($9500/pair), which are designed in England and manufactured in China. Like the T66, the Gold 300 5G is a three-way design that also features an AMT-style tweeter. Monitor Audio calls its high-frequency driver a Micro Pleated Diaphragm, but the basic design principle is the same. The similarities between the two speakers mostly end there. Unlike the T66 with its powered sub, the all-passive Gold 300’s bass is generated by a pair of high-end but conventional 8″ woofers. To accommodate these large drivers, its cabinet is considerably wider than the GoldenEar’s, but not nearly as tall. Whereas the GoldenEar speaker augments its low end with a passive radiator on each side of the cabinet, the Monitor Audio has dual, rear-facing ports.
ROTEL RB-1582 MKII STEREO AMPLIFIER $1999 REVIEW
May 24, 2024 Comments Off on ROTEL RB-1582 MKII STEREO AMPLIFIER $1999 REVIEW
Because the minimum load impedance specified for the RB-1582 MkII is 4Ω and the maximum power consumption is rated at 550W (it would need to be >1600W for full power into a 2Ω load), I didn’t test with lower impedances. Within its stated design parameters, the RB-1582 MkII’s results are excellent with a doubling of power into a halved impedance on a single channel. It would be interesting to see what this amplifier could do with a larger power transformer as its ten transistors per channel are clearly capable of delivering 400 watts per channel (800 watts total) into four ohms and probably even more into lower impedances.
I’ll also mention that the protection circuitry on the RB-1582 MkII kicked in momentarily during disconnecting and reconnecting the unbalanced cables and at one point during high-frequency, high-power testing. This gives peace of mind that the amplifier knows its limits and will intervene if it sees something wrong. The protection circuitry was never activated during normal listening.
Always Impressive Alsyvox with Pilium
May 24, 2024 Comments Off on Always Impressive Alsyvox with Pilium
HiFi Rose RA280 Integrated Amplifier £2999 Review
May 23, 2024 Comments Off on HiFi Rose RA280 Integrated Amplifier £2999 Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/hifi-rose-ra280-integrated-amplifier
Anyone who has ever attended a live gig of the band will know the sensation of being overwhelmed by the sheer scale (and volume!) of their music, an experience the RA280 had a fair stab at emulating. This is a track in particular that benefits from a bit of roughness, and it’s testament to the RA280 that it doesn’t try and smooth things over too much. The amplifier packed a punch, especially with the large Focal Sopra No2s floorstanders.
Back to DALI’s Rubicon 2s and the Womack set sounded more reserved on these smaller, nominal 4ohm speakers, with the amp’s reduced bass emphasis being apparent. Yet there was still lots to love, such as the way it put all the intricacies of the violin playing of Janine Jansen, on the familiar ‘La Primavera’ of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons [Decca 475 6293; 96kHz/24-bit], on show.
TAD Grand Evolution One loudspeaker $65,000 Review
May 23, 2024 Comments Off on TAD Grand Evolution One loudspeaker $65,000 Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/tad-grand-evolution-one-loudspeaker
When I dropped the needle on “Black Cow,” my ears turned red from pure pleasure; you should have seen my face. Fagen and Becker went to extraordinary lengths to generate great drum tracks, chewing up drummers in the process. Pow! Each drum hit here was laid on me like it was some sort of firearm. Don’s unique vocals, delivered with that little lisp he has, were tactile and clear. Emerging from the TAD GE1’s, the diction was unique and excellent, each syllable precise, compared to my experience hearing this “Sgt. Pepper of the ’70s” album over so many years from so many stereos.
I had one more trick up my sleeve. The McIntosh C12000 preamplifier is part of Mac’s “Hybrid Drive” series. It is unique in having two pairs of XLR outputs, one solid state, the other tubed. I usually use the latter, as I am running the preamp into the solid state MC462 amplifier and like the hybrid mix. Would Aja, which itself is a hybrid of sorts (a blend of jazz with rock and pop), sound better full-bore solid state? Would the GE1 reveal this change?
Audiophilepure 
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